C leaned forward in her chair, pouring for herself what Crocker thought was a self-congratulatory second cup of tea from the china pot, before sitting back and looking at him with a slight smile. Rayburn, in his chair, and Szurko, beside him on the couch, were likewise jubilant, all of them in their proper place for the traditional morning meeting.
"She'll be all right, then?" C asked.
"They operated on Chace as soon as she was aboard Illustrious," Crocker said. "As of an hour ago, she was stable, and had regained consciousness, though only for a short while. Her shoulder was badly damaged by a rifle round; will most likely require reconstructive surgery."
"And Shirazi?"
"Minders Two and Three took him out via RAF from Kuwait as of oh-four-hundred," Crocker said. "They should have him at the Farm before nightfall. Minder Two reports that Shirazi brought a goodie bag out with him: a list of all VEVAK agents working abroad, including within the U.K."
C moved her cup of tea to her mouth, but not before Crocker saw the smile. "That should earn us some favors from Box."
"I'd hope so," Crocker said.
She took a sip from her cup, set it back on the saucer, then set both on the side table and regarded him. "The Prime Minister phoned me this morning, Paul, once he'd received word of the successful completion of Icecrown. He made a point of saying to me, specifically, that I was to pass on his compliments to you for executing such a successful reversal of fortune. You not only spared the Government a humiliation, you handed them a triumph."
"The Prime Minister is being generous."
"If that's everything?" C asked.
"There is one more thing…," Crocker said.