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June 2010, the White House, Washington, D.C.

FBI director Robert Mueller is back in the Oval Office.

The first time he entered this room,

it had the dreamlike feel of a film set.

Now, coming here feels routine.

But there's nothing routine about this morning's meeting with the president.

President Barack Obama stares at Mueller and CIA director Leon Panetta.

His gaze is cool, and there's a barely detectable trace of annoyance on his thin face.

So you're saying you've spent the last decade just watching as these people work their way

into the fabric of this country, going where

they wanted, meeting whoever they liked. And you want to act on this now, just when I'm about

to host a visit from Russia's president. Obama's not taking the news about Operation Ghost stories

and the FBI's plan to arrest Russia's deep cover spies well.

He's sitting almost casually on the edge of his oakwood desk, but his tightly folded arms

betray his irritation. Panetta, a kindly presence down to his neat gray hair and

rimless glasses, clears his throat. Sir, our source is about to be extracted from Moscow,

where he has served us at great personal danger.

The moment he leaves, the Russians put all the pieces together

and the entire operation will be blown.

All these people will go to ground.

...