“The GAO Director came by to see me about not getting what they needed for the audit you charged them with. It seems this General Devin basically told him to shove it,” Harper explained.
“Hold on. A general is refusing to obey my orders?”
“Indirectly, it seems that way.”
“I’ll be damned if that is going to happen. I want you to go see the Secretary of Defense and get to the bottom of this. I want to know who the hell he thinks he is and why he thinks he can sidestep the Commander-in-Chief,” the President said, his face starting to redden around his white collar.
“Sir, I respect the Secretary of Defense but we don’t see eye to eye on many subjects. We have a strained relationship at present. Would you mind giving that to me in writing?”
“Larry, I won’t have squabbling and petty bickering in my White House. I want you to get together with Craig Hollister and get this resolved. I do not have time to worry about hurt feelings and who is stepping on whose toes. Understand?” he said, leaning forward in his chair.
“Yes sir,” Harper replied.
He should have kept his mouth shut about his feelings about the Secretary of Defense.
“Good. Now get over to Hollister’s office and find out just who this General Devin answers to. I want to know within the next four hours.”
“Yes sir,” Harper said and took his leave.
“Damn,” Harper said when the door had closed behind him.
He would have to go to Hollister’s turf and that didn’t put him in a position of strength. It would have been better if Hollister had to come to him but the President's orders were specific enough that he knew he couldn’t claim he misinterpreted them. Grudgingly he went to make an appointment to see the Secretary of Defense.
Fortunately the Secretary of Defense was out of the office so all he had to do was make the appointment for when he returned without having to actually talk to him. If Hollister didn’t know, then someone had dropped the ball along the way, and he would have to spend additional time finding out whom that person was and why no one had looked into this before.
All of this had started because Adam Carter had been ordered to do a full investigation of military expenditures. If the man wasn’t so anal retentive about making sure
The dark gloomy weather matched the disposition of General Devin as he left the Hay-Adams Hotel. A uniformed driver opened the door for Devin and he entered the limousine that was waiting for him.
“Good morning General Devin,” the driver said.
Devin tossed his briefcase in the backseat and got in, not bothering to acknowledge the driver’s greeting. The ride to the White House, which is only a few blocks from the hotel, took twenty-five minutes.
Traffic was snarled and he considered getting out and just walking but decided if he was a few minutes late that would show he wasn’t intimidated by being summoned to a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief. After showing his credentials to the guards he was dropped off on the west side and escorted to a room, just off the Oval Office.
When he was shown into the room he stood at attention and saluted the President.
“You’re late General,” the President said, looking at his watch.
“Yes sir. It seems the traffic was worse than usual today according to the driver.”
“Mondays can be like that at times. Anyway, you’re here. You know the Secretary of Defense, Craig Hollister,” the President said, motioning to the Secretary who was seated.
“Sir,” Devin said, “I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in person,” he said and extended his hand.
The Secretary got up and took his hand, “I’ve heard a great deal about you these past few weeks,” he said, looking the general in the eye.
“I suppose you have or I wouldn’t be here this morning,” Devin replied.
“Now gentlemen,” the President said, “We need to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding about who you report to, General Devin. It seems that your commanding officer is difficult to ascertain. Just who do you answer to general?”
“My superior is the Commander-in-Chief, you Mr. President,” he replied.
“Yes, yes. Everyone in the military answers to me ultimately but I want to know who is directly above you?”
“You are. I answer directly to the President of the United States. Just like I have since I took over the Nellis Facility.”
“Wait a minute, are you telling us that no one is between you and the President. Not even me?” Hollister asked. Devin could almost feel the temperature rising in the room. He was actually enjoying this.
“Sir, Mr. President, maybe I should explain how this all works,” Devin said.
“I damn well hope so,” Hollister replied.
