Operation: Eagle’s Claw functions under the highest security clearances.
You are, by this point, aware that your family will pay the price if you decide to:
A: Defect;
B: Sell proprietary information belonging to the United States government to a foreign entity;
C: Manipulate any code you see here and use it for your own purpose and/or gain.
The rules of the game have not changed, Mr. O’Donnelly.
Yours faithfully,
Sheridan Reinier
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Below,there were details of the comms platform that had been developed by Langley and my task ahead. I scanned them, but my attention returned to the signature.
Reinier—I mentally sneered—as if I bowed to him anyway.
The piece of shit was a New World Sparrow, so I didn’t know where he got off pretending that he was working to ‘secure’ the president. And that shit about using or manipulating their jackass code for my own purpose when he was selling his agents as sex slaves if they didn’t behave? Where did he get off on that?
Still scoffing, I cast a look at Black. “I’d like to make it known that the rules of the game have definitely changed.”
For the first time, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Excuse me?”
I waggled the letter at her. “Your boss. Mr. Reinier. He wrote that, ‘The rules of the game have not changed.’ That’s a lie.
“This relationship was established between the NSA and me. Not the CIA.”
“You serve at the government’s pleasure, Mr. O’Donnelly.”
My top lip quirked up. “Thank God I don’t or I’d be wearing a shitty suit like yours as well.”
Though irritation flashed in her expression, I ignored her and started going through my mission details more precisely.
With the information in hand, I cracked my knuckles twice, cricked my neck on each side, and began the process of unveiling my laptop.
When it was on the table, I waggled the cord at Black. “Make yourself useful.”
While she glowered at me, she did as asked, and once I was plugged in, a few moments of exploring my environs had me taking over the hidden speakers and microphones in the room.
Only whennoxxiouswas blaring from the speakers at a volume that was loud enough to make my ears bleed was I ready to start playing.
Because, as the director had said, this was a game.
And whether he knew it or not, I’d already won round one.
6
CONOR
WARRIOR’S DANCE - THE PRODIGY
THREE HOURS LATER
Riggs’head popped around the door, her brow puckered as she watched me dig into a mega slice of pizza. “Still uncaring about damaging your hearing, I see,” she chided.