Page 124 of Casualties of War
He grimaced. “You must listen. There’s no one elseI can tell. No one I trust.”
Her heart squeezed. “Tell me.”
“This isn’t me telling my daughter. You understand?” His gaze met hers.
Olivia swallowed. “I’m not American anymore, Dad.”
“That’s why I can tell you.” He paused for breath. His face, she noted with alarm, was losing color even as he spoke. There was a gray cast around his lips. “Daniel…is a spy. You don’t have to confirm that. Justbring him here. He can figure it out.”
She made herself speak despite the tightness in her throat and the searing ache in her eyes. “Figure out what?”
“The other spy.”
Her blood chilled. “In theWhite House?” she breathed. She didn’t dare look over her shoulder, for she knew everyone who had shuffled out of the room would be peering through the door.
Her father gasped for breath, wheezing.He got control of himself once more. “I don’t know who to trust. You’re outside. Thank god you’re out of it all. You and your Daniel. I think the President might be in danger, Livvy.”
She bent closer, for his voice was weakening. “Why do you think that?”
“I came here. L.A. To meet Falworth.”
Sydney Falworth, Director of the CIA. Olivia squeezed her father’s fingers. “You were meeting him hereat the hospital, weren’t you?”
He closed his eyes. “Then the damn place fell in on top of me.”
She drew back, horror curling through her. “Was Falworth there, Daddy? Did he make the meeting?” She shook his hand. “Dad!”
His eyes opened. Mere slivers. The blue everyone said was the same as hers peered at her. “Risk everything, Livvy.”
“What?”
“Every day, take risks. Love, live, cherish…” Hisvoice wavered. “I was wrong to ever limit you.”
Her eyes blurred. She thought crying would be a release yet her throat, her chest, her face, all ached. Every tear was agonizing. “Dad….”
He sighed. His fingers loosened.
Olivia rested her head against his hand and wept.
