"Well, rescuing those kids was something special. I hope they get a pat on the head for it."
A chuckle. "Depend on it. The Boss sent off his own message this morning."
"What's it called?"
"Sure you want to know?" George asked.
"What's in a name?"
"True." SecTreas nodded. "It's called Rainbow. Because of the multinational nature."
"Well, whoever they are, they scored some points last night. You know, I really ought to get briefed in on stuff like this. I can help, you know," she pointed out.
"So, tell the Boss you want in."
"I'm kinda on his shit list now, remember?"
"Yeah, so dial back on your environmental stuff, will you? Hell, we all like green grass and tweety birds. But we can't have Tweety Bird telling us how to run the country, can we?"
"George, these really are important scientific issues I have to deal with," Carol Brightling pointed out.
"You say so, doc. But if you dial the rhetoric back some, maybe people will listen a little better. Just a helpful hint," the Secretary of the Treasury suggested, as he opened his car door for the two-block ride back to his department.
"Thanks, George, I'll think about it," she promised. He waved at her as his driver pulled off.
"Rainbow," Brightling said to herself as she walked across West Executive Drive. Was it worth taking it a step further? The funny part about dealing with classification issues was that if you were inside, then you were inside… Reaching her office, she inserted the plastic key into her STU-4 secure telephone and dialed up CIA on the Director's private line.
"Yeah?" a male voice answered.
"Ed, this is Carol Brightling."
"Hi. How'd the cabinet meeting go?"
"Smooth, like always. I have a question for you."
"What's that, Carol?" the DCI asked.
"It's about Rainbow. That was some operation they ran in Spain last night."
"Are you in on that?" Ed asked.
"How else would I know the name, Ed? I know one of your people set it up. Can't remember the name, the guy the President likes so much."
"Yeah, John Clark. He was my training officer once, long time ago. Solid citizen. He's been there and done that even more than Mary Pat and I have. Anyway, what's your interest?"
"The new tactical-radio encryption systems NSA is playing with. Do they have it yet?"
"I don't know," the DCI admitted. "Are they ready for prime time yet?"
"Should be in another month. E-Systems will be the manufacturer, and I thought they ought to be fast-tracked into Rainbow. I mean, they're out there at the sharp end. They ought to get it first."
On the other end of the line, the Director of Central Intelligence reminded himself that he should pay more attention to the work done at the National Security Agency. He'd allowed himself to forget, moreover, that Brightling had the "black card" clearance that admitted her into that Holy of Holies at Fort Meade.
"Not a bad idea. Who do I talk to about that'?"
"Admiral McConnell, I suppose. It's his agency. Anyway, just a friendly suggestion. If this Rainbow team is so hot, they ought to have the best toys."
"Okay, I'll look into it. Thanks, Carol."
"Anytime, Ed, and maybe get me fully briefed into the program someday, eh?"
"Yeah, I can do that. I can send a guy down to get you the information you need."
"Okay, whenever it's convenient. See you."
"Bye, Carol." The secure line was broken. Carol smiled at the phone. Ed would never question her about the issue, would he? She'd known the name, said nice things about the team, and offered to help, just like a loyal bureaucrat should. And she even had the name of the team leader now. John Clark. Ed's own training officer, once upon a time. It was so easy to get the information you needed if you spoke the right language. Well, that's why she'd gone after this job, frustrations and all.
