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."And, as you also know, she was taking the place of a woman who was out onmaternity leave.""Right.What was her name? Smythe something, wasn't it?" asked thepresident."Right,GaySmythe.She was originally fromLiverpool , then came to workwith us for awhile inDenver , then helped us open theLondon office.""Sure, sure, I know her," said the president."The redhead, right? Hadtwins, didn't she?""She did, that's right."McCoy suddenly knew whereBennett was headed, and she was mortified."Oh,Jon , don't."Now McCoy was blushing, butBennett just smiled.It wasn't just that he hadregained the upper hand.It was also because he couldn't help but notice-forthe first time really-how attractive she looked in her soft pink cashmeresweater, black wool skirt, black pumps, string of pearls, tiny pearl earrings,and black-and-goldCartier watch.Sure, his life had just radically changed.But maybe this could be fun."Jon, you can't.I mean.how do you evenknow this story?"Page 116ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Ah, ah, ah-you had your chance."Of course, the more she squirmed, the moreBennett loved it."So, Mr.President, as I was saying.soMissSmythe was out on maternityleave andErin came in to replace her.So, I don't know, maybe about two orthree months afterErin arrived, she's downstairs at the health club, you know,working out." Jon."She finishes working out and she heads to the lockers, and as I hear thestory, she gets undressed and steps into the shower room.""I don't even believe this is happening.""So she's in there taking a shower.and there's only one other woman inthere.and you know,Erin 's a very friendly, very nice person.""That's true," agreed the president."Exactly.She's very friendly.So lo and behold,Erin sees this redhead inthe corner taking her shower, and she thinks, oh, maybe this is the womanwhose job she filled."McCoy closed her eyes and covered them with her hands."So sweet Miss Erin McCoy-ever the friendly one, ever the CIA operative,you know, looking to build new strategic relationshipsdecides to walk over tothe woman and she says, `Excuse me, are youGay ?' "The president began to laugh out loud as McCoy turned multiple shades ofred."And the stunned woman says in this beautiful British accent, `I beg yourpardon?'.so Erin-not realizing what she's sayingactually repeatsherself."The president was roaring andBennett was having trouble getting the wordsout.".soErin goes again, `I said, are youGay ?' And the two of them arestanding there in the steaming showers, completely naked, and this woman justscreams, `No, I'm not gay,' and she races out of there.And suddenlyErinrealizes what she's just said and she goes running after the woman into thelocker room-completely nakedsaying, `No, no, I'm not gay.I just thought youmight have worked with one of my girlfriends-no, no, I mean.' "Even the Secret Service agents began laughing so hard they were havingtrouble breathing."JonathanBennett, I'm gonna get you for this.""Revenge?" laughedBennett."Is that what they teach you in the CIA?""Gotcha," he shouted in Hebrew.The young intelligence officer couldn't believe it.His adrenaline startedPage 117ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlpumping.His heart started racing.He doubled-checked his electronics to ruleout the possibility of a malfunction, then grabbed the red phone in front ofhim and punched #212.The call was picked up instantly."Ken?'"Acshav.""Tov.Now it wasCaptainJonahYarkon 's turn to grab a phone and relay the message,and he did just that.A split second later, a red phone rang inside the IDFoperations bunker eight stories underneath the Ministry of Defense indowntownJerusalem.Defense MinisterChaimModine picked it up and listenedcarefully."Tov.Fire up the birds and stand by."The accent was as thick as the tone was urgent.Modine put the phone onhold and turned quickly to Prime Minister David Doron, standing beside a largeconference table with Mossad chief Avi Zadok, Shin Bet chief Yossi Ben Ramon,Aman head Brigadier General Yoni Barak, and General Uri "The Wolf" Ze'ev,chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces."That's Yarkon.We just picked up a signal close to the Jordanian border.""Can we be sure?" asked the prime minister."No, sir.But we can't afford to be wrong.""Uri?""I agree, sir.We've got to move quickly."Zadok andBenRamon both nodded.The prime minister didn't hesitate."Do it."Modine took the phone off hold."Captain, you have clearance.Operation Ghost Lightning is a go.Bennettwas settling down now, pouring everyone another glass of brandy andstoking the fire."OK, so really," he pressed."How do you guys know eachother?""Well, actually,Jon , I knewErin 's dad," said the president, quieting downnow and getting serious."SeanMcCoywas a Navy SEAL inVietnam when I first methim.Then we got out, I went to Wall Street and he joined the CIA and workedhis way up over time to become the DDO, first underNixon and later underCarter.""Really?"Bennettcould sense the president's changing demeanor.Page 118ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"BesidesJulie ,Erin 's dad was my best friend.I've never met anyone elselike him.""Was?""Seanwas killed on an undercover mission-inAfghanistan , actually, afterthe Soviets invaded in '79.""Oh.I'm so sorry."He looked atErin.She wasn't smiling any more."Thanks," she said."It's OK.Mr.President, you really don't need to
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