Minute Zero by Todd Moss Page B

get things done with
a small team
. No bigger than it needs to be. If you need a team, the smaller the better.”
    “Okay . . .”
    “And everyone has to be clear on what skills they bring to the mission. You know about the great literature on this, right?”
    “More Emily Dickinson?”
    Jessica shook her head.
    “Shakespeare?” he asked.
    “DC Comics,” she said.
    “What?”
    “The Justice League, Judd. You know: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash. The team of superheroes. Didn’t you read comic books as a kid?”
    “Yeah, sure. I loved Iron Man.”
    “No,” she scoffed. “Iron Man was the Avengers. That’s Marvel Comics.” Jessica took another sip of wine.
    “I obviously don’t know my superhero teams like you do,” Judd said.
    “No, you don’t.”
    “What’s your point, Jess?”
    “Did Batman try to fly the invisible airplane?”
    “What?”
    “No, he didn’t. That was Wonder Woman’s plane. You get it?”
    “I think so.”
    “They each brought something special to the team. They knew their role. They did their jobs.”
    “They stayed in their lane,” he added.
    “Exactly, Judd,” she said.
    “You sound like Rogerson.”
    “Forget him. You need to find
your team
. Each member brings a special skill and does their job. You need your own powerful team.”
    “I need my own Justice League?”
    “Precisely. You have to know your allies and what they can do.”
    “Right. Okay, I get it.”
    “And, item three, don’t forget you are fighting supervillains. You need to know who they are. You need to be very clear about who is really working against you. Who in the U.S. government is on your side and who is making trouble? You need to figure that out right away. Same goes for Zimbabwe once you get on the ground. Who’s on your team and who’s not?”
    “I don’t know yet,” Judd rubbed his temples again. “Everyone is lying. The national security guys, the State Department’s old boys’ network. I’m sure when I get to Harare the Zimbabweans will do the same.”
    “What about the ambassador?”
    “Tallyberger? He’s an old friend of Rogerson’s. I don’t expect any help from him.”
    “Do you have any leverage on this guy Tallyberger?”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t know. Anything you can find out that might be useful later. You’re going to need him at some point. Doesn’t hurt to do some homework.”
    “You’re cold-blooded, Jessica Ryker.”
    “Don’t say that. You know I hate that,” she snapped.
    “You’re right. I take it back. I’m sorry.”
    “I’m trying to help you,” she said.
    “You’re right, Jess.”
    “Judd, dear. Look at me.” Jessica placed both hands on the table and stared directly into his eyes. It was her
I’m serious
glare. “Suck it up.”
    “Suck it up? That’s your advice?”
    “Yes. You are being thrown into the deep end on this. If you think about all the problems, and what you don’t know, and who’s lying to you, then you will lose. Don’t focus on what you don’t know or can’t control. Determine your goals, figure out who you can trust, build your team. Then use what you have and scrap it out.”
    Judd nodded. “That’s all?”
    Jessica lifted her wineglass, and her face relaxed. “That’s all. Cheers. To your Justice League.”
    “To my Justice League,” Judd said.
    “And to regime change.”
    Clink.

13.
    U.S. Ambassador’s Residence, Harare, Zimbabwe
Friday, 1:35 a.m. Central Africa Time
    N o, Bill. You haven’t woken me,” Arnold Tallyberger lied. “I’m always happy to hear from you.”
    “I know it’s late, Arnold. I’m sorry to call at this hour. How is Bernice?”
    “She’s fine. She misses Helsinki.”
    “Those were the days, Arnie. You still owe me for that one. You might still be sitting in a Finnish jail if it weren’t for me.”
    “I know, I remember, Bill. Pass Bernice’s regards to Valerie.”
    “I will, Arnie, thank you. I’m calling you so late to give you a