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recent landslide. It's not safe."
    "Bullshit." His gaze narrowed on Keller's face. "You told me that the dam disaster was probably caused by an earthquake. This second landslide seems to indicate an aftershock. Has anything changed?"
    "No, it's the most likely explanation. There doesn't appear to be anything suspicious."
    "Well, I want to go there and see for myself."
    "Sir, we weren't compromised."
    " Compromised? What a nice clean word when you're talking about the death of over a hundred people." He met Keller's gaze. "I'll accept the possibility that natural disasters happen. I won't accept the possibility that we may not be exploring every avenue to determine that's what it really was."
    "The CIA assures me that there's absolutely no sign there was terrorist involvement at Arapahoe Dam. Ben Danley says Cordoba and his Matanza group were too busy staging the bombing in Mexico City. They may be widespread, but it would take enormous resources to attack us on our own turf. That hasn't been their modus operandi in the past."
    "That doesn't mean they can't change. Maybe they're graduating to the big leagues."
    "Mexico City was fairly big league, sir," Keller said quietly. "Two of our embassy workers were killed. I know it pales in comparison to Arapahoe Junction, but I'd say Matanza was stepping up to the--"
    "I know," Andreas said. "I wasn't thinking." He was so tired it was difficult to focus. "So tell me the real reason you don't want me to go to Arapahoe Dam."
    Keller hesitated. "It's not just this trip. I believe you should stick close to the White House for the next few months. I've proved I can keep you safe here. We've managed to foil two attempts on your life since the last election."
    "And I'm duly grateful." He grimaced. "I'm particularly grateful you managed to keep the attempts from Chelsea."
    "I don't want gratitude for doing my job. I'm only saying that the Matanza threats against you are becoming increasingly frequent and pointed. There'll come a time when Cordoba and his group will have to put up or shut up and lose face among their fellow terrorists. I think that time is very near."
    "So do I."
    "Then don't go. The Vice President can make the trip. You know he's offered to go wherever we think there may be a threat to you."
    "And I let Shepard stand in for me at two hot spots I'd rather have handled myself."
    "But it would be perfectly logical to let him go to Arapahoe. He's already visited there once with Homeland Security, right after the break. This would just be a follow-up. You could empower him to do anything you would do."
    "We don't even know that there is a threat at Arapahoe. And I'm not going to let just the possibility that it might have been Matanza change my schedule. I've cooperated, I've given in to your restrictions more than I like, Keller. Since you have no proof, I'm going to Arapahoe Dam as planned." He smiled as he bent over his desk. "It's your baby. Protect me. I guarantee my wife will have your head if I lose mine."
    He sighed. "I don't have the slightest doubt of that, Mr. President."
    Ben Danley got to his feet as Keller came out of Andreas's office. "No luck?"
    Keller shook his head. "He's going." He grimaced. "I might have had a leg to stand on if you and your CIA buddies hadn't sworn that Matanza had nothing to do with the dam break. Want to change your mind?"
    Danley shook his head. "I have to call them the way I see them. Unless new evidence surfaces, I have to stand by my intelligence reports."
    "Well, your intelligence reports could have been a little timelier about the Mexico City bombing."
    "I don't have to take that from you, Keller," he said coldly. "You have no idea the problems we're facing."
    "If I did, then I'd be better able to make judgment calls. Under Homeland Security we're supposed to be one big happy family." He waved his hand as Danley opened his mouth to reply. "I don't give a damn about anything the CIA does as long as you don't get in my way." He jerked his