Echo of War by Grant Blackwood

things: one, the physical evidence at the scene; two, my gut feeling. As I said, this was a professional job. These kind of people don’t hire outsiders unless absolutely necessary. And three, the alarm system. Of all the obstacles the intruders faced, that would have been the biggest. If they’d chosen to coopt one of the guards, it would have been to gain access to the house.”
    â€œI’m not following,” said Len Barber.
    â€œThe system wasn’t disengaged; it was bypassed—basically tricked into believing the house was still secure. Chances are, if one of the guards was involved, the system would have simply been turned off.”
    â€œUnless it’s a ruse: One of the guards turns off the system, they bypass it for a red herring, take Ms. Root, and reengage the system on the way out.”
    â€œWe checked that,” Oliver replied. “The monitoring center logs each time the system is turned on and off. It was engaged at seven thirty-seven in the evening and stayed that way until we called one of their technicians out at two A.M.”
    â€œStill …”
    Oliver nodded. “Which is why we’re taking a hard look at the guards. If one of them was involved, it’d be for money, in which case we’ll find telltales: odd spending patterns, credit problems that suddenly disappear … But, as I said, I think we’re going to find this was an outside job.”
    Carolyn Fitzpatrick said, “Which brings up the question, Who are they and what do they want?”
    â€œAnd why the Roots?” added Charlie Latham. “The kidnappers had to have known who they were dealing with. Why a former DCI? I can’t imagine it’s money; there are richer targets out there—not to mention less well guarded.”
    Bingo, thought Joe McBride. Latham has just asked the question. Though McBride had nothing to support it, his instincts were telling him the kidnapping had everything to do with Jonathan Root’s background and nothing to do with money. What was it, then? Information? Root’s tenure at the CIA had ended a decade ago; what could he possibly know that would be of interest today? If in fact it was information the kidnappers were after, it had to be something earth-shattering to warrant a gamble like this.
    Concentrate on Root, McBride thought, then scribbled on his pad: What are they going to ask for, and what will they really want ?
    â€œJoe, you have something?” asked the director.
    McBride glanced up. “Pardon me?”
    â€œYou’ve got a light bulb hanging over your head.”
    â€œOh … yeah. Most money-driven kidnappers make contact very quickly, usually with a note at the scene or a phone call within hours. Their focus is on getting the money, losing the hostage, and slipping into the woodwork. Charlie said it: This is about Root. If these people are smart enough to mount this kind of operation, they’re smart enough to know exactly who they’re dealing with and what kind of heat it’s going to bring down on them.”
    There was silence around the table for a few moments. Len Barber of the CIA said, “We’re checking our side of the house right now. Here’s the problem: Professionals or not, the kidnappers might have bought into the popular view of DCIs—that they know every secret in the kingdom. Truth is, the need-to-know rule extends all the way to the top; DCIs rarely get down-and-dirty briefings.”
    â€œExplain that,” said Carolyn Fitzpatrick.
    â€œThe DCI takes his policy cues from the White House, sets the agenda for the directorates, then turns them loose. How exactly things get done is decided by the deputies, division heads, station chiefs, and ultimately the case officers on the ground. Squeezing Jonathan Root for operational details would be like asking a former Procter and Gamble executive for the chemical formula for toothpaste—he just wouldn’t