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.Push the hospital into agreeing to that tomorrow morning, if possible.To date, he's not under arrest or wanted for any crime we know about, so don't go too far, not that he strikes me as a man who would know much about his rights.'Mark,' Stames said, turning his head, 'I want you to go back to the hospital immediately and make sure the Met are there.If not, stay with Casefikis until they do arrive.In the morning, go round to the Golden Duck and check him out.I'm going to make a provisional appointment for us to see the Director tomorrow morning, at 10:00 am, which will give you enough time to report back to me.And if, when we check the fingerprints through the identification computer, nothing comes up at all, and the hotel and the restaurant exist, we may be in a whole heap of trouble.If that's the case, I'm not taking it one inch further without the Director knowing.For the moment, I want nothing in writing.Don't hand in your official memorandum until tomorrow morning.Above all, don't mention that a senator could be involved to anybody - and that includes Grant Nanna.It's possible tomorrow, after we have seen the Director, that we will do no more than make a full report and hand the whole thing over to the Secret Service.Don't forget the clear division of responsibility - the Secret Service guards the President, we cover federal crime.If a senator is involved, it's us; if the President's involved, it's them.We'll let the Director decide the finer points - I'm not getting involved in Capitol Hill, that's the Director's baby, and with only seven days to play with, we don't have time to sit and discuss the academic niceties.'Stames picked up the red phone which put him straight through to the Director's office.'Nick Stames, WFO.''Good evening,' said a low, quiet voice.Mrs McGregor, a dedicated servant of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was still on duty.It was said that even Hoover had been slightly frightened of her.'Mrs McGregor, I'd like to make a provisional appointment for myself and Special Agents Galvert and Andrews to see the Director for fifteen minutes, if that's possible.Anytime between 9:00 am and 11:00am tomorrow.It's likely that after further investigation tonight and early tomorrow, I won't need to bother him.'Mrs McGregor consulted the Director's desk diary.'The Director is going to a meeting of police chiefs at eleven but he is expected in the office at 8:30 and he has nothing marked in his diary before eleven.I'll pencil you in for 10:30, Mr Stames.Do you want me to tell the Director what the subject of your discussion will be?'‘I’d prefer not to.'Mrs McGregor never pressed or asked a second question.She knew if Stames called, it was important.He saw the Director ten times a year on a social basis, but only three or four times a year on a professional basis, and he was not in the habit of wasting the Director's time.'Thank you, Mr Stames.Ten thirty tomorrow morning, unless you cancel beforehand.'Nick put the phone down and looked at his two men.'Okay, we're fixed to see the Director at 10:30.Barry, why don't you give me a lift home, then you can take yourself off afterwards, and pick me up againfirst thing in the morning.That'll give us another chance to go over the details again.' Barry nodded.'Mark, you get straight back to the hospital.'Mark had allowed his mind to slip away to visualise Elizabeth Dexter walking down the corridor of Woodrow Wilson towards him, red silk collar over the white medical coat, black skirt swinging.He was doing this with his eyes open and the result was quite pleasant.He smiled.'Andrews, what the hell is so amusing about a reported threat on the President's life?' Stames demanded.l Sorry , sir.You just shot my social life down in flames.Would it be okay if I use my own car? I was hoping to go directly from the hospital to dinner.''Yes, that's fine.We'll use the duty car and see you first thing in the morning.Get your tail in gear, Mark, and hope the Met makes it before breakfast.'Mark looked at his watch.'Christ, it's already 8:00 pm.'Mark left the office slightly annoyed.Even if the Met were there when he arrived, he would still be late for Elizabeth Dexter.Still, he could always call her from the hospital.'Like a plate of warmed-up moussaka, Barry, and a bottle of retsina?’'It was more than I was expecting, boss.'The two men left the office.Stames mentally checked off the items on his nightly routine.'Barry, will you double-check that Aspirin is on duty, as you go out, and tell him we won't be back again tonight.'Calvert made a detour to the Criminal Room and delivered the message to Aspirin.He was doing the crossword from The Washington Star.He had finished three clues; it was going to be a long night.Barry caught up with Nick Stames as he stepped into the blue Ford.'Yes, boss, he's working away.'They looked at each other, a night of headaches.Barry got in the driver's seat, slid it back as far as it would go, and adjusted the seat belt.They moved quietly up Constitution Avenue, then past the White House on to the E Street Expressway, and on towards MemorialBridge.'If Casefikis is on to something, we've got one hell of a week ahead of us,' said Nick Stames
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