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Jake laid the plastic model on the diagram and leaned back in his chair。 He stretched。 〃Okay； I guess。 They didn't tie me to the wooden post where they shoot traitors； and nobody said anything about a court…martial； so I guess I'm still in the navy。〃 He winked at her。 〃It's going to be all right。 Don't sweat it。〃
She poured a cup of coffee and blew across it gently； then took an experimental sip。 She stood looking at him over the rim of the cup。 〃Where will you be working？〃
〃It's a little shop； some cubbyhole that belongs to NAVAIR。 I'll be working on the new Advanced Tactical Aircraft。〃
〃Oh； Jake。〃 She took the seat beside him。 〃That's terrific。〃 For the first time in months； her voice carried genuine enthusiasm。
〃That's about all I can tell you。 The project is classified up the wazoo。 But it's a real job and it needs doing； which is a lot more than you can say for a lot of the jobs they have over there。〃
He shouldn't have added that last phrase。 The muscles around her eyes tightened as she caught the edge in his voice。 〃After all you've done for the navy； they owed you a good job。〃
〃Hey； Callie； it doesn't work like that。 You get paid twice a mouth and that's all they owe you。 But this is a navy job and Lord knows how it'll all turn out。〃 Perhaps he could repair the damage。 〃I'd rather have a navy job than be president of a bank。 You know me； Callie。〃
Her lips twisted into a lopsided smile。 〃Yes； I guess I do。〃 She put her cup on the coffee table and stood。
Uh…oh！ Here we go again！ Jake took out his shirttail and used it to clean his glasses as she walked into the kitchen。 You'd better be cool now； he decided。 Help her along。 He called out； 〃What say we go get some dinner？ I'm hungry。 How about you？〃
4
The ringing of the telephone woke Jake Grafton。 As he groped for the receiver on the stand by the bed he blinked mightily to make out the luminous hands of the alarm dock： 5 A。M。 〃Grafton。〃
〃Good morning； Captain。 Admiral Henry。 I wanted to catch you before you got started this morning。〃
〃You did； sir。〃
〃How about meeting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial about oh…seven…hundred in civilian clothes。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
〃Thanks。〃 The connection broke。
〃Who was that？〃 Callie asked as Jake cradled the phone and loosed his eyes。 The alarm wouldn't ring for half an hour。
〃One of my many bosses。〃
〃Oh；〃 she mattered。 In less than a minute be heard her breathing deepen with sleep。 He wondered what Tyler Henry wanted to talk about that couldn't be said at the office。 After five minutes he gave up trying to sleep and got out of bed。 He tiptoed for the bathroom。
By the time the alarm went off he had showered and shaved。 He had picked out dark gray slacks and a tong…sleeved 3W shirt。 Over this he had added a tie； an old sweater and a blazer。
〃Good morning；〃 he said as he pushed the lever in on the back of the clock to silence it。
〃e hug me。〃 She smelled of warm woman and sleep。 〃It's so nice having you here to give me my morning hug。〃 She pushed him back so she could see his face。
〃I love you； woman。〃 He cradled her head in his hands。 〃You're going to have to quit trying to analyze it and just accept it。 It's true。〃
〃Hmmm。〃 She flashed a smile and became all business as she moved away from him and got up。 〃Why the civilian clothes？〃
〃I'm playing hooky with the boss。〃
〃And it's only your second day on the job。 Lucky you；〃 she said as she headed for the bathroom。 With the door closed she called； 〃How about turning on the coffeepot and toasting some English muffins？〃
〃Yeah。〃 He headed toward the kitchen； snapping on the lights as he went。 〃You're a real lover； ace。 One look at your sincere puss and they tighten up like an IRS agent offered a ten…dollar bribe。〃
Vice Admiral Henry was sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial when the taxi deposited Jake in front。 He came down the steps as Jake approached and joined him on the wide sidewalk。 〃Morning； sir。〃
The admiral flashed a smile and strolled to the curb。 As he reached it a gray Ford Fairmont sedan sporting navy numbers on the door pulled to a stop。 Henry jerked open the rear door without fanfare and maneuvered his six…foot…three…inch frame in。 Jake followed him。 When the door closed the sailor at the wheel got the car in motion。
〃Why the cloak and dagger？〃
〃I don't know who all the players are；〃 the admiral said without humor。
Jake watched the occasional pedestrians braving the blustery wind under a raw sky until he became aware that the admiral's attention was on the vehicles on the street behind them。 Jake glanced over his shoulder once or twice； then decided to leave the spy stuff to Henry。 He watched the sailor handle the car。 The man was good。 No wasted motion。 The car glided gently through the traffic； changing lanes at the last moment and gliding around corners without the application of the brake； all quite effortlessly。 It was a show and Jake watched it in silence。
〃Could have picked you up at your place；〃 Henry muttered； 〃but I wanted to visit the Wall。〃 The Wall was the Vietnam Memorial； just across the street from the Lincoln Memorial。 〃It's been too long and I never seem to have any time。〃
〃I understand。〃
〃Turn left here；〃 Henry said to the driver； who plied。 The car headed east on Independence Avenue。 Henry ordered another left turn on Fourteenth Street and directed the driver to go by the Jefferson Memorial。 〃I think we're clean；〃 he muttered to Jake after yet another careful look through the rear window。 At the Jefferson Memorial； Henry asked the driver to pun over。 〃e back for us at nine。〃
He led Jake toward the walkway around the Tidal Basin。 Across the basin the Washington Monument rose toward the low clouds。 Beyond it； Jake knew； but not visible from here； was the White House。
Jake broke the silence first。 〃Does Admiral Dunedin know we're having this talk this morning； sir？〃
〃Yeah。 I told him。 You work for him。 But I wanted to brief you personally。 What do you know about stealth？〃
〃The usual；〃 Jake said； snuggling into his coat against the chill wind。 〃What's in the papers。 Not much。〃
〃The air force contracted for two prototype stealth fighters under a blanket of absolute secrecy。 Lockheed got the production contract。 They call the thing the F…117A。 It's a fighter in name only； it's really an attack plane…performance roughly equivalent to the A…7 without afterburner but carries less than half the A…7 weapons load。 Primary weapons are Maverick missiles。 It's a little ridiculous to call a subsonic minibomber a fighter； but if they can keep the performance figures low…key they might get away with it。〃
〃I thought that thing was supposed to be a warp…three killing machine。〃
〃Yeah。 I suspect the congressmen who agreed to vote for a huge multibillion…buck project with no public debate probably did too。 But even supersonic ain't possible。 The thing doesn't even have afterburners。 Might go supersonic in a dive…I don't know。 Anyway； the air force got more bang for their buck with the stealth bomber； the B…2； which Northrop is building。 It's also subsonic； a flying wing； but big and capable with a good fuel load。 The only problem is the B…2s cost 51