Page 40 of The Last Kingdom

More honesty. “Langley did stand down.” He paused. “I didn’t.”

“Are you actually going to fall on your sword for this one?”

“I prefer not to, but will if need be.”

“Remember what happened the last time you did that.”

“So good of you to remind me.”

“Somebody has to.”

Maybe so. But he still didn’t like to hear it.

“Derrick, you’re at the end of your time. We both know you’re not going to Langley. You’re divorced. No kids. No life. What are you going to do once your career is over?”

He had no idea.

“Take some advice from an old friend. Don’t make it end sooner than it needs to.”

That was a lot of words for TOO.

This was indeed serious.

“They have to be stopped,” he said. “You know that.”

“I do. But, like I said, others have this. The CIA was ordered to stay out of Germany’s affairs. Bad enough what Danny Daniels did a few months back. The president was furious.”

“This is different.”

“How so?”

“I have someone on the inside. I can make this happen.”

More silence.

“You’re leaving me no choice,” she said. “The president will have to be informed.” She paused. “And you recruited Cotton Malone.”

“You have eyes and ears right on me, don’t you?”

“It’s the name of the game.”

That pissed him off. “Tell who you want.”

“I plan to do just that.”

He’d always liked her. She was a savvy player. And never stupid.

“I called as a courtesy to our friendship,” she said. “My time here at the White House is ending.”

“You can’t look after me anymore?”

“Something like that. You’re a big, giant pain in the ass. But you’re also usually right. I’ll be back to you shortly.”

“Can I keep going?”

“That’s your call. As you say, this one is all on you.”

“I’m prepared to take the hit.”

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