the Broker (2005) by John Grisham

Author:John Grisham [Grisham, John]
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2010-12-19T00:41:50.468000+00:00

"They're gonna put the pressure on Teddy, and that's why I wanted to talk." He shoved the half-eaten pizza aside and leaned in closer. "There will soon be a meeting in the Oval Office. Teddy will be there, and he'll be asked by the President to see the sensitive stuff on Backman. He will refuse. Then it's showdown time. Will the Prez have the guts to fire the old man?"

"Will he?"

"Probably. At least Teddy is expecting it. This is his fourth president, which, as you know, is a record, and the first three have all wanted to fire him. Now, though, he's old and ready to go."

"He's been old and ready to go forever."

"True, but he's run a tight ship. This time it's different."

"Why doesn't he just resign?"

"Because he's a cranky1, contrary, stubborn old son of a bitch, you know that."

"That's well established."

"And if he gets fired, he's not going peacefully. He'd like balanced coverage."

"Balanced coverage" was their long-standing buzzword for "slant it our way."

Sandberg slid his pizza away too and cracked his knuckles. "Here's the story as I see it," he said, part of the ritual. "After eighteen years of solid leadership at the CIA, Teddy Maynard gets sacked by a brand-new president. The reason is that Maynard refused to divulge details of sensitive ongoing operations. He stood his ground to protect national security, and stared down the President, who, along with the FBI, wants classified information so that it, the FBI, can pursue an investigation relating to pardons granted by former president Morgan."

"You cannot mention Backman."

"I'm not ready to use names. I don't have confirmation."

"I assure you the money did not come from Backman. And if you use his name at this point, there's a chance he'll see it and do something stupid."

"Like what?"

"Like, run for his life."

"Why is that stupid?"

"Because we don't want him running for his life."

"You want him dead?"

"Of course. That's the plan. We want to see who kills him."

Sandberg settled back against the hard plastic bench and looked away. Lowell picked slices of pepperoni off his cold rubbery pizza, and for a long time they thought in silence. Sandberg drained his Diet Coke, and finally said, "Teddy somehow convinced Morgan to pardon Backman, who's stashed away somewhere as bait for the kill."

Lowell was looking away but nodding.

"And the killing will answer some questions over at Langley?"

"Perhaps. That's the plan."

"Does Backman know why he was pardoned?"

"We certainly haven't told him, but he's fairly bright."

"Who's after him?"

"Some very dangerous people who carry grudges."

"Do you know who?"

A nod, a shrug, a nonanswer. "There are several with potential. We'll watch closely and maybe learn something. Maybe not."

"And why are they carrying grudges?"

Lowell laughed at the ridiculous question. "Nice try, Dan. You've been asking that for six years now. Look, I gotta go. Work on the balanced piece and let me see it."

"When is the meeting with the President?"

"Not sure. As soon as he gets back."

"And if Teddy's terminated?"

"You'll be the first person I call."

As a small-town lawyer in Culpeper, Virginia, Neal Backman was earning far less than what he had dreamed about in law school.

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