Code of Conduct: A Thriller by Brad Thor

Author:Brad Thor [Thor, Brad]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781501125270
Google: BNEatAEACAAJ
Amazon: B00P1PD344
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Published: 2015-05-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

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The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park stretched a hundred eighty-five miles from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. Many of its thirteen hundred historical structures were open to the public. Six “lockhouses,” or “canal quarters” as they were known, could be rented for overnight stays in order to experience what life was like along the once thriving canal that ran parallel to the Potomac.

Lockhouses 6, 10, 22, 25, 28, and 49 all came complete with kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and showers. The “blue” lockhouse, so named for the color of its shutters and front door, was also historic, and equipped for overnight stays, but had never been opened to the public—and with good reason.

A short drive from D.C., the blue lockhouse was the property of the Central Intelligence Agency and had hosted debriefings of some of the most valuable Soviet defectors during the Cold War. The term “behind the blue door” became synonymous with interrogations at the highest level. Most agents who had used the phrase had no idea where the blue door was, much less that it was attached to a tiny C&O canal house. Many assumed the door simply existed somewhere deep within the bowels of the Central Intelligence Agency where only the Director and a handful of privileged others were ever allowed to go.

As they drove up to the canal house, Harvath couldn’t help but notice the reds and golds of so many leaves that were already starting to turn color. Things had been so crazy that he hadn’t had a chance to ask Carlton what Lara was doing down here from Boston and how she had connected with him to get the keys to his house. He hadn’t even texted or called to let her know he was back, though he suspected she probably already knew. If the Old Man had given her the keys, he had probably also provided her with his itinerary. He wasn’t looking forward to the showdown that was coming.

Inside the canal house, Harvath started a fire in the fireplace. Mordechai pulled up a chair to warm his hands. He kept kosher, and so Palmer was sent to a special deli near Dupont Circle. He came back with shopping bags full of food and bottled water.

He grabbed a sandwich for himself and one for Ashby, and then the pair sat outside, discreetly keeping watch. As far as they knew, no one was aware that Mordechai had fallen into their custody, but Dulles was a crowded airport, and there was no telling who saw what. It would be very foolish to underestimate the Israelis.

Two of Ryan’s people had taken Mordechai’s bag to his hotel, had checked him in, and placed it in the room. If anyone came looking for him, there would at least be some appearance that he had made it that far without incident.

Once they had eaten, Carlton conducted the Israeli intelligence operative’s debriefing while Harvath and Ryan took notes. It was like watching a fencing match with clever patinandos and passata-sottos to spare.

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