‘I’m sorry Bond but if he’s got presidential authority then I have to hand over Santana to him, if I catch him.’ Oxford apologised.
‘Well if he can’t be bothered to tell me about it, then I can’t act on something I can’t see.’ Bond said flippantly. Carter had reported to him, seeing Rothman flashing a Presidential Authority to Oxford. Rothman had demanded that Oxford hand over Santana to the CIA when captured.
Too late he thought, seeing one of Rothman’s men walking back to him. Rothman after a brief exchange with him stormed towards Bond. He got only half way before Mac intercepted him.
‘Back off, Rothman.’ Mac said firmly, ‘This is our jurisdiction not yours and if your going to interfere with our case then I’ll have you removed from this site or arrested for obstruction.’
Rothman stood his ground against an over bearing opponent. ‘I’ve got presidential authority and when you bring Santana in you’ll hand him over to the CIA.’ Handing a document, he pulled from his pocket to Mac.
To Mac, it may as well have been blank. ‘Presidential Authority only puts you on the same ballpark Rothman, if you find him first he yours, however he’s ours if we get their first. We already operate with presidential authority anywhere within the United States of America, if you’ve forgotten that’s our job, we may not have a fancy piece of paper to wave around threateningly. If you’ve got a problem with the situation then the lawyers can sort it out later.’ Mac flung the note he considered worthless back at Rothman.
Agent Rothman looked furious. His shoulders tensed and if he could blow smoke from his nose and breath fire Bond felt sure he would have done. Instead he took one step backwards and turned his back to McIntire. Holding a mobile phone to his ear, he spoke but no one else could hear whom he was talking with.
‘The Assistant Director for Washington wants a word Bond.’ Rothman stated smugly handing Bond the mobile phone.
‘Yes sir,’ Bond said, he could not believe the CIA would pull a stunt like this.
‘What the hell is going on!’ Matthews asked in what was not a pleasant tone. ‘I’ve got the Director of the CIA in my office and he’s not happy.’ Bond imagined two old school boys, sitting in Matthews’ office, idly talking over old times and swapping pictures of their children, their friendship thrown into turmoil by two pawns in the field.
Drawing a deep breath, he started to explain. ‘Sir, Agent Rothman seems to have a problem with our jurisdiction on this case and has been talking it over with my legal department.’ Even Bond thought that sounded good, he knew with Matthews in his current mood that Matthews would not be congenial towards him.
‘Listen carefully, I don’t enjoy the grief I get when your lot are in the field. You will co-operate with the CIA and hand over Santana to them, that is, if he is still alive.’ Matthews paused. ‘Do you understand Bond, I don’t want another repeat of this incident.’
Bond got the message loud and clear, but it unnerved him, had Matthews insinuated that he should kill Santana so the CIA would not get their target. He was probably a misunderstanding on his part, but why would he say ‘if he is still alive’?
‘I understand, fully sir.’ Bond returned irritated at the lack of support from on high.
Turning to Mac, he said. ‘We are to hand over Santana to the CIA, if we catch him.’ Mac’s eyes narrowed his face a reflection of his own. Why is it that everyone except him got what they wanted, was his position within the FBI so insignificant? Was Matthews not concerned about their current case remaining incomplete? Did Matthews want Bond’s team to fail and tarnish their record? Mac left and Rothman just smiled as Bond handed him his mobile phone.
Tiredness was beginning to take its toll, pulling another caffeine tablet from a strip in his pocket, Bond popped it in his mouth and washed down with his cold coffee. He had only had six hours sleep in the last four days this night felt like it would never end. There was no one about to take his place here. Tiredness made him fell rattier and his thoughts slipped again to Knight’s harsh injustice to himself. He was not going to tolerate his behaviour anymore, it was quiet for the moment so Bond undone his laptop and started a memo to Assistant Director Matthews.
I am writing to insist on the reassignment of Agent Knight, his presence is not conducive to a team environment and only stifles the creativity and productivity of other team members. I understand that he was assigned to the team to assess their mental condition after the traumas suffered but resent the constant analysis and obstacles thrown at the team whilst in the field. This job is challenging enough without mind games from a team member.
On several occasions Agent Knight has purposely tried to incite or provoke team members whilst in the field, I not only find this disturbing and disrupting, but it demoralises the team. This kind of analysis should be left for one on one and not in the field.
I feel my team has been handicapped by the inclusion of a physiologist as it inhibits free and lateral thinking for fear of what the physiologist will think. As you know sometimes, the most absurd suggestions and actions can solve a case.
Whilst I have already spoken with Agent Knight regarding these issues I feel there has been no improvement from Knight and his presence within the team can only be destructive.
It made Bond feel better, the tiredness seemed to slip away, he may not be the best team leader in the FBI but he did not need a psycho desk jockey pointing it out to the rest of the team.