Chapter 33
MCLEAN, VIRGINIA
Connor had grown disenchanted with D.C. and it was evident in his tone. Staring right at her, he replied, “Which agency?”
“State,” Vaughn answered. “Diplomatic Security Service.”
Erin felt her stomach tighten. “DSS protects foreign dignitaries.”
“And the secretary of state when he’s overseas,” Vaughn added. “High-risk movements. Advance work. Protective intelligence.”
Connor’s eyes flicked back to the photo. “Was he active?”
“He was when I worked with him,” said Vaughn. “We participated in a joint detail. Large footprint. Multiple agencies.”
“Here in the U.S.?”
The Secret Service agent nodded.
“And now he’s doing hits on American citizens in the middle of the night. How is that even possible? Better yet, why me?”
“That’s what I was about to ask,” said Vaughn. “What reason would anyone have to kill you?”
Leaning back, Connor thought about it for a moment. When he replied, however, he kept his eyes fixed on Erin. “Because I’ve been saying something nobody wants to hear.”
Taking a sip of her whiskey, the Secret Service agent said, “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but would you mind filling me in?”
“He doesn’t believe the Taiwan buildup is real,” said Erin.
“Define real,” Vaughn responded.
“China’s not posturing for an invasion,” said Connor. “They’re posturing for a reaction.”
Erin folded her arms. “In other words, the intel community, the National Security Council, the Pentagon, all the experts, are wrong, but somehow Connor has it all figured out.”
Vaughn could feel the tension between these two. She sensed it wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation about China and Taiwan. But who was right and who was wrong wasn’t the most important consideration at the moment. What mattered right now was who was trying to kill them.
Looking at Connor, she said, “Explain it to me.”
“Ever heard of Operation Fortitude?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“It was a deception campaign the Allies launched in 1944 to fool the Germans regarding D-Day. Fake armor divisions. Inflatable tanks. Phantom radio traffic. They convinced Hitler that the invasion was going to come at Pas-de-Calais instead of Normandy.”
“Maskirovka,” Vaughn said.
Connor nodded approvingly. “Exactly.”
“And you think China’s doing the same thing?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“For starters, they’re the world’s largest energy and food importer,” Connor stated. “They know that if we went to war, one of the first things we’d do, after sinking their navy, is to impose a crippling embargo.”
“So?”
“So, where’s the stockpiling? Crude oil, natural gas, grain, soybeans.
If they really believed we were going to lock horns, they’d be buying everything they could get their hands on.
From Shenzhen to Chengdu, warehouses and fuel depots would be overflowing.
Rail transport and trucking would spike. None of that is happening.”
“I can see your point,” Vaughn agreed. “But the PLA buildup across the Taiwan Strait is real. Those tanks and landing craft aren’t inflatables. We’re also seeing weapons systems they’ve never allowed to be photographed before. What would be the endgame?”
“They want to provoke us—to see how we’ll respond.
It’s a probe. How do we reposition our assets?
What’s our reaction time? How about alliance cohesion?
What are our domestic political fracture points?
There’s only so much you can learn from satellites.
The other stuff you learn by triggering a crisis. ”
The Secret Service agent looked at him. “The largest PLA mobilization in history is nothing but theater?”
“There’s another possibility,” Connor said.
“Which is?” Erin pressed.
“That Taiwan is Pas-de-Calais,” he replied. “And China has the world staring at the wrong beach.”