The mole, p.8
The Mole, page 8
Fang glanced over her shoulder at Mai. “It is. If the Chinese find out we have this, we’re all dead.”
21 |
Chan’s Safe House Beijing, China
Kane lay on the bed, his eyes closed, though he was wide awake. Chan was pacing while they waited for news that Fang had received the classified intel. He had signaled an SOS that indicated for her to get the ops center up and running. She would have sought help, and that would likely be Tommy Granger. There was no one else she could bring in. This had to be kept outside the Agency. Leroux, Sherrie, Tong, and Child were aware of his secret setup. Tong was out of commission, Leroux and Child would be under scrutiny by the agency, and Sherrie was in Russia. It would be up to Fang to save them, if saving were even possible.
His comms squawked in his ear, paired to the encrypted app on his phone, and he bolted upright, Chan spinning toward him.
“This is Arrow, do you copy?”
He smiled at Fang’s voice, giving a thumbs-up to Chan. “I read you. Status?”
“Are we secure?”
“Yes.”
“We’ve received your message.”
“And the attachment?”
“Read.”
“Assessment?”
“If it’s legit, the implications are terrifying.”
“What does it say?”
“You mean you haven’t read it?”
“I couldn’t risk it. We don’t have the proper equipment here to securely open it. I just transmitted it.”
“Do you want me to transmit it back to you?”
“Do it.” His phone indicated a message received through the secure app. He brought it up and his chest tightened as he read through the screenshots. “Holy shit!”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too. Is this legitimate? Do you trust the source?”
“I trust that the source wouldn’t try to bullshit me, so I’m sure he thinks it’s real.”
“What’s going on at the Agency? Why Sierra Protocol?”
“One of the analyst supervisors committed suicide last night and left a note suggesting she had betrayed the Agency. Right now, they’ll be trying to figure out the extent of the damage. My op has been compromised, Chan’s shop has been taken down and his wife arrested. That can’t be coincidence.”
“There’s another possibility,” said Fang.
“What’s that?”
“That the intel’s fake and that they used it to expose your network. They suspected your contact was a traitor, gave him intel he couldn’t resist getting to his handlers, then they just wait to see where he went.”
Kane chewed his cheek. She was right. It was a classic taken straight out of the tradecraft playbook. Yet, again, the timing was just too coincidental. He paused. Casey killed herself, leaving the note knowing that it would be found. If he assumed she was working for the Chinese, did she kill herself because her taskmasters were about to act and take down people she knew? Or did they act because she killed herself and they were about to be exposed? It was the chicken and egg, but it was critical to know which. One meant he was exposed, one meant this was a well-planned takedown of a spy network, which meant the intel could indeed be fake, or this was a hastily planned op where his enemy was working with little information and they might not even know what Duan had handed over.
For now, he had no way of knowing what the truth was, and he’d have to hope that Langley figured things out sooner rather than later. In the meantime, they had two jobs to do.
“What’s the plan?” asked Fang.
“We need to get that intel into Chris’ hands. Any idea how?”
There was a pause before she replied. “I have an idea. Leave it to me, I’ll take care of it. Now, what do we do about you?”
“Forget about me. Our priority now is to rescue Bing. Tell Tommy to work his magic. Check the cameras around Chan’s shop. Try to find out where they took her, then get back to me.”
“We’re on it. Be safe.”
“You too. We don’t know how bad things are at the Agency, so be careful.”
22 |
OC Sub-level, CIA Headquarters Langley, Virginia
Leroux stood in the corridor with his entire team, save Tong. Everyone was shaken up about what was going on, but the fact their coworker was no longer in any danger and could be back at work shortly had them more angry about what had happened to her than anything else. “All right, can I have everyone’s attention?”
The side conversations ended.
“The Chief has put me in charge of trying to get to the bottom of what’s going on. I’ve vouched for you all, however, we have to accept the possibility that one of us could be a traitor.” Heads swiveled and he raised a hand, cutting off things before they got out of hand. “I’m not saying I believe anyone here is. I’m just saying we have to accept that there’s a possibility, no matter how remote. I personally think it’s bullshit, however, this situation means we can’t be concerned with feelings. I proposed a plan to the Chief and he’s agreed it’s the best way to go about this.
“We’re going to be splitting into two teams. I’ll be leading Team One in OC-Two. Marc, you’ll be leading Team Two in OC-Four. All intel that we discover will be shared between both teams and investigated thoroughly by both teams. Nothing will be split. The work will all be duplicated. That work will then be compared and any discrepancies flagged. That way, we’ll get the answers we need. If there is a traitor among us, they’re going to have to either expose themselves by creating a discrepancy, or potentially implicate themselves by passing on the correct intel that could lead to their discovery. Either way, we get our answers. Any questions?”
“What if we do have a traitor and we expose them?” asked Child.
Leroux jerked a thumb over his shoulder at members of Echo Team. “Two members of Echo Team will be in each room, fully armed. If the traitor does try to harm anyone, they will be taken down. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Let’s just do our job, do it well, and find out what the hell is going on. We need to prove whether or not Avril was a traitor, and if she was, just how far was the Agency compromised. The sooner we have those answers, the sooner we can end Sierra Protocol and get our people home. Any more questions?”
Heads shook.
“Good.” He indicated five of his team members. “You’re with me, the rest with Marc. Let’s get to work.” The two teams filed into their respective operations centers as Morrison emerged from the elevators and flagged Leroux down.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, sir, we are.”
“I got an earful from Neary. You really pissed him off.”
Leroux grunted. “He pissed me off.”
Morrison regarded him. “A little piece of advice, son. Choose carefully whom you piss off. Guys whose job it is to investigate people like us independently, aren’t the ones you want to make enemies of.”
“He can crawl all the way up my ass if he wants, I’ve got nothing to hide. I just want to get to the truth as quickly as possible so we can get Sherrie and Dylan and everyone else back home safely.”
“I understand. Just remember, that’s his goal as well. He’s just coming at it from a different angle.”
“And what angle is that?”
“Everybody’s guilty until proven innocent. He’s good at his job. Let him do it. I’ll try to keep him off your back for now, but if you can find something that points him in the right direction, don’t hold back. Show him you’re cooperating and not hiding anything. That’ll divert attention from you and your team, and he’ll be able to point his resources in the right direction. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make nice.”
Morrison chuckled. “I’m not saying you have to French kiss the man, but you might have to pucker up and kiss his ass a bit.”
Leroux grunted. “I’m not sure which image is worse.”
Morrison tossed his head back and laughed, smacking Leroux on the shoulder. “Neither visual is particularly appealing, is it? Now, get to work. I’ve got thousands of assets out there getting more desperate by the minute.”
“You don’t have to remind me, sir. Two of the most important people in my life are up shit’s creek right now.”
23 |
Kane’s Off-the-Books Operations Center Outside Bethesda, Maryland
Mai stepped into the room, yellow rubber gloves up to her elbows, her hair tied back in a bun. “When was the last time you pigs cleaned this place?”
Tommy glanced over his shoulder at her. “Hey, don’t blame me. I’ve only been here a few times.”
“Yeah, and have you ever cleaned anything?”
He hesitated to answer, knowing it might mean a toilet brush getting shoved into his hand. “I’m sure I’ve done something.”
“Uh-huh. Just like at home.”
“Hey, you said you liked cleaning.”
“You’re lucky I do.” And she did. Every time she was cleaning their apartment, she happily hummed away, scrubbing with a passion, as she liked to say. “Any luck?”
He nodded as he returned his attention to his station. “I’ve managed to hack a few cameras around the shop that are using cloud storage with compromised passwords. Looks like Dylan was planning on this day happening, so he did most of the footwork for me.”
“So, did you find her?”
“Yeah. She was led out in handcuffs a few minutes after Dylan escaped and put in the back of a police vehicle. I traced it to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. It’s a local police station, though Dylan’s database indicates it has a Ministry of State Security office in it.”
“Do you think they’ll be able to get her out?”
“I don’t see how. Hopefully, Fang can get that intel to Leroux. You’d have to think if the CIA knew what this was about, they’d help him.”
Mai leaned against the wall of the storage container. “But is this what it’s all about?”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, rescuing her isn’t the mission. It’s Dylan’s mission, but not the Agency’s. The intel was the mission, if I’m interpreting things correctly. If the Agency finds out what he’s trying to do, they might actually want him to stop. Rescuing her could create an international incident.”
Tommy paused, facing her. “I never thought of it that way. But does it matter?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, rescuing her is the right thing to do, and Dylan’s going to try whether the CIA agrees or not. It’s our job to give him the best shot at succeeding until somebody tells us otherwise.”
Mai stared at him. “What if somebody does tell us otherwise?”
Tommy tensed at the question and its implications. “I don’t know. I think unless it were Chris or Fang, I’d tell them to go to hell.”
Mai frowned. “Just remember, those you’re telling to go to hell might have guns.”
24 |
Inova Fairfax Hospital Falls Church, Virginia
Tong scarfed down her lunch, starving. She was feeling remarkably well considering everything that had happened to her, and she attributed that to a number of factors. Leroux had essentially confirmed he had feelings for her, Nathan had declared them in writing, but also, she was determined to get back to work. The Agency was in trouble and her duty was to be there so she could help get to the bottom of what was going on.
An orderly entered the room and smiled. “Someone was hungry.”
She groaned. “You have no idea. Can I have more?”
He chuckled, checking her chart. “Well, Oliver, you’ve got no dietary restrictions according to this. Just be careful, though. You were on anesthesia. Some people find they can’t keep food down.”
“All the more reason to bring me round two.”
He laughed, policing her tray. “Round two coming up.”
She leaned back and rubbed her stomach. She wasn’t normally a big eater, but all the excitement had built an appetite and she needed her energy. She had to get herself back in fighting form because she wanted back in.
There was a tap at the door and she looked up, a smile spreading at the sight of Fang sneaking into the room. “What are you doing here?”
“Breaking the rules.” Fang held a finger to her lips. “Let me speak before they kick me out.” She held up a USB key then pressed it into Tong’s hand, closing the fingers around it. “This is from you know who. It’s the intel he was sent to retrieve. The op has gone to shit. The shop was hit and the asset’s wife has been arrested. They’re now in hiding, planning a rescue. We need this intel in Leroux’s hands.”
“What is it?”
Fang shook her head. “It’s incredible if it’s true.”
“Can you tell me?”
“No, the walls might have ears, but let’s just say that if it’s true, the impact on China could be massive.”
Tong frowned. Her heritage was Chinese, but she was American born and raised. She felt an affinity for the people of China, but in no way supported their government. “This impact, good or bad?”
Fang shrugged. “It could go either way, but it’s critical Chris gets that. It could be what this is all about.”
“You mean Sierra Protocol?”
“Yes. If the Chinese knew this intel was in play, they’d do everything they could to get their hands on it, even if it meant burning their entire network to the ground.”
Tong’s heart rate monitor beeped a little quicker. She was dying to know what the intel was, but Fang was right, the walls could have ears.
“So, can you get that into Chris’ hands?”
“Yes, but it might not be until tomorrow.”
“That’ll have to do. I have a copy of it. I’m going to be swinging by home to leave him a note that it’s urgent he contacts me.”
“Will you be at your apartment?”
“No, our friend needs our help so I’m heading back. You know where?”
“Yes, I just wish I could help.”
Fang smiled at her and patted her hand. “You just worry about getting better.” She gestured toward the flowers sitting on the ledge. “Roses. Interesting. Who are those from?”
Tong’s cheeks grew hot. “Um, a friend.”
“Chris?”
A nervous laugh escaped. Did Fang know about their feelings for each other? If she did, would she tell Sherrie? “No, it’s somebody I met on the bus.”
“One red rose. I think he likes you.”
Tong giggled. She desperately wanted to talk to Fang about Nathan, but she couldn’t. Fang was part of the inner circle, and while Tong was within that group’s circle of trust, Fang was Sherrie’s best friend, and the girlfriend of Leroux’s best friend. She could never confide in Fang her conflicted feelings about Leroux and this new man in her life.
Fang took her hand, clasping it in both of hers. “Go for it. Chris will always be there.”
Tong inhaled sharply, her stomach in knots. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”
Fang smiled and patted Tong’s hand. “That’s fine. You don’t have to say anything.” She tapped Tong’s other hand gripping the USB key. “You just make sure you get that to Chris.” She nodded toward the flowers. “And give that guy a chance. You deserve to be happy. Now, I have to head back and try to save my boyfriend from my former colleagues.”
Fang left the room and it took a few moments for Tong to notice that the monitor she was attached to had her heart rate up at least ten points, and she cursed. It was a human lie detector, and if Fang had any doubts about her suspicions, they were gone now. She sunk into the bed, closing her eyes as she sighed heavily, letting her mind drift to the handsome Nathan. There was no doubt he was interested, and as more time passed, especially since the flowers had arrived, any doubt she had as to whether she was interested was slowly falling to the wayside.
She had to give him a chance. They might go out for coffee and she could discover that he was an asshole, colossally stupid, or a political extremist. But he could turn out to be an intelligent, funny, rational man, and exactly what she needed in her life. Even if it weren’t to work out, it would break the cycle she had been trapped in for years. Her heart needed to focus on a new target, even if that target might break her heart down the road.
At least her love for Leroux would be a thing of the past.
And the thought broke her heart.
25 |
Chan’s Safe House Beijing, China
Kane stood back and watched as the high-tech piece of machinery printed a face mask that would fool any facial recognition system. He glanced over at Chan. “I can’t believe you have one of these. You realize how classified these are?”
“Clearly it was a good thing that I stole it.”
Kane had to agree with his friend’s assessment. But if Langley ever found out that this piece of tech was sitting in a converted garage in the middle of Beijing, they would be having a conniption fit, and would likely mount an op to retrieve it. While it didn’t function in the same way as Mission Impossible’s Hollywood creation, the end result was as equally good and had been in use for decades by the CIA. He had used its creations himself on countless occasions, and tonight it just might be the key to saving Bing.
Chan stood in front of a nearby mirror, turning to his side and rubbing his pot belly. “Not exactly the trim figure the People’s Liberation Army likes to recruit.”
Kane chuckled. “You’re going in as a colonel. They’re more forgiving of the higher ranks letting themselves go a bit.”
“Yeah, but I’m too old for this.”
The machine beeped, indicating it was done, and Kane gently removed the face mask, helping Chan apply it. Kane stepped back, his head slowly shaking, never ceasing to be amazed at the end result. “Too old, my ass.” He stepped out of the way so Chan could see himself in the mirror, and the old man gasped, gently stroking his cheeks.
21 |
Chan’s Safe House Beijing, China
Kane lay on the bed, his eyes closed, though he was wide awake. Chan was pacing while they waited for news that Fang had received the classified intel. He had signaled an SOS that indicated for her to get the ops center up and running. She would have sought help, and that would likely be Tommy Granger. There was no one else she could bring in. This had to be kept outside the Agency. Leroux, Sherrie, Tong, and Child were aware of his secret setup. Tong was out of commission, Leroux and Child would be under scrutiny by the agency, and Sherrie was in Russia. It would be up to Fang to save them, if saving were even possible.
His comms squawked in his ear, paired to the encrypted app on his phone, and he bolted upright, Chan spinning toward him.
“This is Arrow, do you copy?”
He smiled at Fang’s voice, giving a thumbs-up to Chan. “I read you. Status?”
“Are we secure?”
“Yes.”
“We’ve received your message.”
“And the attachment?”
“Read.”
“Assessment?”
“If it’s legit, the implications are terrifying.”
“What does it say?”
“You mean you haven’t read it?”
“I couldn’t risk it. We don’t have the proper equipment here to securely open it. I just transmitted it.”
“Do you want me to transmit it back to you?”
“Do it.” His phone indicated a message received through the secure app. He brought it up and his chest tightened as he read through the screenshots. “Holy shit!”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too. Is this legitimate? Do you trust the source?”
“I trust that the source wouldn’t try to bullshit me, so I’m sure he thinks it’s real.”
“What’s going on at the Agency? Why Sierra Protocol?”
“One of the analyst supervisors committed suicide last night and left a note suggesting she had betrayed the Agency. Right now, they’ll be trying to figure out the extent of the damage. My op has been compromised, Chan’s shop has been taken down and his wife arrested. That can’t be coincidence.”
“There’s another possibility,” said Fang.
“What’s that?”
“That the intel’s fake and that they used it to expose your network. They suspected your contact was a traitor, gave him intel he couldn’t resist getting to his handlers, then they just wait to see where he went.”
Kane chewed his cheek. She was right. It was a classic taken straight out of the tradecraft playbook. Yet, again, the timing was just too coincidental. He paused. Casey killed herself, leaving the note knowing that it would be found. If he assumed she was working for the Chinese, did she kill herself because her taskmasters were about to act and take down people she knew? Or did they act because she killed herself and they were about to be exposed? It was the chicken and egg, but it was critical to know which. One meant he was exposed, one meant this was a well-planned takedown of a spy network, which meant the intel could indeed be fake, or this was a hastily planned op where his enemy was working with little information and they might not even know what Duan had handed over.
For now, he had no way of knowing what the truth was, and he’d have to hope that Langley figured things out sooner rather than later. In the meantime, they had two jobs to do.
“What’s the plan?” asked Fang.
“We need to get that intel into Chris’ hands. Any idea how?”
There was a pause before she replied. “I have an idea. Leave it to me, I’ll take care of it. Now, what do we do about you?”
“Forget about me. Our priority now is to rescue Bing. Tell Tommy to work his magic. Check the cameras around Chan’s shop. Try to find out where they took her, then get back to me.”
“We’re on it. Be safe.”
“You too. We don’t know how bad things are at the Agency, so be careful.”
22 |
OC Sub-level, CIA Headquarters Langley, Virginia
Leroux stood in the corridor with his entire team, save Tong. Everyone was shaken up about what was going on, but the fact their coworker was no longer in any danger and could be back at work shortly had them more angry about what had happened to her than anything else. “All right, can I have everyone’s attention?”
The side conversations ended.
“The Chief has put me in charge of trying to get to the bottom of what’s going on. I’ve vouched for you all, however, we have to accept the possibility that one of us could be a traitor.” Heads swiveled and he raised a hand, cutting off things before they got out of hand. “I’m not saying I believe anyone here is. I’m just saying we have to accept that there’s a possibility, no matter how remote. I personally think it’s bullshit, however, this situation means we can’t be concerned with feelings. I proposed a plan to the Chief and he’s agreed it’s the best way to go about this.
“We’re going to be splitting into two teams. I’ll be leading Team One in OC-Two. Marc, you’ll be leading Team Two in OC-Four. All intel that we discover will be shared between both teams and investigated thoroughly by both teams. Nothing will be split. The work will all be duplicated. That work will then be compared and any discrepancies flagged. That way, we’ll get the answers we need. If there is a traitor among us, they’re going to have to either expose themselves by creating a discrepancy, or potentially implicate themselves by passing on the correct intel that could lead to their discovery. Either way, we get our answers. Any questions?”
“What if we do have a traitor and we expose them?” asked Child.
Leroux jerked a thumb over his shoulder at members of Echo Team. “Two members of Echo Team will be in each room, fully armed. If the traitor does try to harm anyone, they will be taken down. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Let’s just do our job, do it well, and find out what the hell is going on. We need to prove whether or not Avril was a traitor, and if she was, just how far was the Agency compromised. The sooner we have those answers, the sooner we can end Sierra Protocol and get our people home. Any more questions?”
Heads shook.
“Good.” He indicated five of his team members. “You’re with me, the rest with Marc. Let’s get to work.” The two teams filed into their respective operations centers as Morrison emerged from the elevators and flagged Leroux down.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, sir, we are.”
“I got an earful from Neary. You really pissed him off.”
Leroux grunted. “He pissed me off.”
Morrison regarded him. “A little piece of advice, son. Choose carefully whom you piss off. Guys whose job it is to investigate people like us independently, aren’t the ones you want to make enemies of.”
“He can crawl all the way up my ass if he wants, I’ve got nothing to hide. I just want to get to the truth as quickly as possible so we can get Sherrie and Dylan and everyone else back home safely.”
“I understand. Just remember, that’s his goal as well. He’s just coming at it from a different angle.”
“And what angle is that?”
“Everybody’s guilty until proven innocent. He’s good at his job. Let him do it. I’ll try to keep him off your back for now, but if you can find something that points him in the right direction, don’t hold back. Show him you’re cooperating and not hiding anything. That’ll divert attention from you and your team, and he’ll be able to point his resources in the right direction. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make nice.”
Morrison chuckled. “I’m not saying you have to French kiss the man, but you might have to pucker up and kiss his ass a bit.”
Leroux grunted. “I’m not sure which image is worse.”
Morrison tossed his head back and laughed, smacking Leroux on the shoulder. “Neither visual is particularly appealing, is it? Now, get to work. I’ve got thousands of assets out there getting more desperate by the minute.”
“You don’t have to remind me, sir. Two of the most important people in my life are up shit’s creek right now.”
23 |
Kane’s Off-the-Books Operations Center Outside Bethesda, Maryland
Mai stepped into the room, yellow rubber gloves up to her elbows, her hair tied back in a bun. “When was the last time you pigs cleaned this place?”
Tommy glanced over his shoulder at her. “Hey, don’t blame me. I’ve only been here a few times.”
“Yeah, and have you ever cleaned anything?”
He hesitated to answer, knowing it might mean a toilet brush getting shoved into his hand. “I’m sure I’ve done something.”
“Uh-huh. Just like at home.”
“Hey, you said you liked cleaning.”
“You’re lucky I do.” And she did. Every time she was cleaning their apartment, she happily hummed away, scrubbing with a passion, as she liked to say. “Any luck?”
He nodded as he returned his attention to his station. “I’ve managed to hack a few cameras around the shop that are using cloud storage with compromised passwords. Looks like Dylan was planning on this day happening, so he did most of the footwork for me.”
“So, did you find her?”
“Yeah. She was led out in handcuffs a few minutes after Dylan escaped and put in the back of a police vehicle. I traced it to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. It’s a local police station, though Dylan’s database indicates it has a Ministry of State Security office in it.”
“Do you think they’ll be able to get her out?”
“I don’t see how. Hopefully, Fang can get that intel to Leroux. You’d have to think if the CIA knew what this was about, they’d help him.”
Mai leaned against the wall of the storage container. “But is this what it’s all about?”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, rescuing her isn’t the mission. It’s Dylan’s mission, but not the Agency’s. The intel was the mission, if I’m interpreting things correctly. If the Agency finds out what he’s trying to do, they might actually want him to stop. Rescuing her could create an international incident.”
Tommy paused, facing her. “I never thought of it that way. But does it matter?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, rescuing her is the right thing to do, and Dylan’s going to try whether the CIA agrees or not. It’s our job to give him the best shot at succeeding until somebody tells us otherwise.”
Mai stared at him. “What if somebody does tell us otherwise?”
Tommy tensed at the question and its implications. “I don’t know. I think unless it were Chris or Fang, I’d tell them to go to hell.”
Mai frowned. “Just remember, those you’re telling to go to hell might have guns.”
24 |
Inova Fairfax Hospital Falls Church, Virginia
Tong scarfed down her lunch, starving. She was feeling remarkably well considering everything that had happened to her, and she attributed that to a number of factors. Leroux had essentially confirmed he had feelings for her, Nathan had declared them in writing, but also, she was determined to get back to work. The Agency was in trouble and her duty was to be there so she could help get to the bottom of what was going on.
An orderly entered the room and smiled. “Someone was hungry.”
She groaned. “You have no idea. Can I have more?”
He chuckled, checking her chart. “Well, Oliver, you’ve got no dietary restrictions according to this. Just be careful, though. You were on anesthesia. Some people find they can’t keep food down.”
“All the more reason to bring me round two.”
He laughed, policing her tray. “Round two coming up.”
She leaned back and rubbed her stomach. She wasn’t normally a big eater, but all the excitement had built an appetite and she needed her energy. She had to get herself back in fighting form because she wanted back in.
There was a tap at the door and she looked up, a smile spreading at the sight of Fang sneaking into the room. “What are you doing here?”
“Breaking the rules.” Fang held a finger to her lips. “Let me speak before they kick me out.” She held up a USB key then pressed it into Tong’s hand, closing the fingers around it. “This is from you know who. It’s the intel he was sent to retrieve. The op has gone to shit. The shop was hit and the asset’s wife has been arrested. They’re now in hiding, planning a rescue. We need this intel in Leroux’s hands.”
“What is it?”
Fang shook her head. “It’s incredible if it’s true.”
“Can you tell me?”
“No, the walls might have ears, but let’s just say that if it’s true, the impact on China could be massive.”
Tong frowned. Her heritage was Chinese, but she was American born and raised. She felt an affinity for the people of China, but in no way supported their government. “This impact, good or bad?”
Fang shrugged. “It could go either way, but it’s critical Chris gets that. It could be what this is all about.”
“You mean Sierra Protocol?”
“Yes. If the Chinese knew this intel was in play, they’d do everything they could to get their hands on it, even if it meant burning their entire network to the ground.”
Tong’s heart rate monitor beeped a little quicker. She was dying to know what the intel was, but Fang was right, the walls could have ears.
“So, can you get that into Chris’ hands?”
“Yes, but it might not be until tomorrow.”
“That’ll have to do. I have a copy of it. I’m going to be swinging by home to leave him a note that it’s urgent he contacts me.”
“Will you be at your apartment?”
“No, our friend needs our help so I’m heading back. You know where?”
“Yes, I just wish I could help.”
Fang smiled at her and patted her hand. “You just worry about getting better.” She gestured toward the flowers sitting on the ledge. “Roses. Interesting. Who are those from?”
Tong’s cheeks grew hot. “Um, a friend.”
“Chris?”
A nervous laugh escaped. Did Fang know about their feelings for each other? If she did, would she tell Sherrie? “No, it’s somebody I met on the bus.”
“One red rose. I think he likes you.”
Tong giggled. She desperately wanted to talk to Fang about Nathan, but she couldn’t. Fang was part of the inner circle, and while Tong was within that group’s circle of trust, Fang was Sherrie’s best friend, and the girlfriend of Leroux’s best friend. She could never confide in Fang her conflicted feelings about Leroux and this new man in her life.
Fang took her hand, clasping it in both of hers. “Go for it. Chris will always be there.”
Tong inhaled sharply, her stomach in knots. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”
Fang smiled and patted Tong’s hand. “That’s fine. You don’t have to say anything.” She tapped Tong’s other hand gripping the USB key. “You just make sure you get that to Chris.” She nodded toward the flowers. “And give that guy a chance. You deserve to be happy. Now, I have to head back and try to save my boyfriend from my former colleagues.”
Fang left the room and it took a few moments for Tong to notice that the monitor she was attached to had her heart rate up at least ten points, and she cursed. It was a human lie detector, and if Fang had any doubts about her suspicions, they were gone now. She sunk into the bed, closing her eyes as she sighed heavily, letting her mind drift to the handsome Nathan. There was no doubt he was interested, and as more time passed, especially since the flowers had arrived, any doubt she had as to whether she was interested was slowly falling to the wayside.
She had to give him a chance. They might go out for coffee and she could discover that he was an asshole, colossally stupid, or a political extremist. But he could turn out to be an intelligent, funny, rational man, and exactly what she needed in her life. Even if it weren’t to work out, it would break the cycle she had been trapped in for years. Her heart needed to focus on a new target, even if that target might break her heart down the road.
At least her love for Leroux would be a thing of the past.
And the thought broke her heart.
25 |
Chan’s Safe House Beijing, China
Kane stood back and watched as the high-tech piece of machinery printed a face mask that would fool any facial recognition system. He glanced over at Chan. “I can’t believe you have one of these. You realize how classified these are?”
“Clearly it was a good thing that I stole it.”
Kane had to agree with his friend’s assessment. But if Langley ever found out that this piece of tech was sitting in a converted garage in the middle of Beijing, they would be having a conniption fit, and would likely mount an op to retrieve it. While it didn’t function in the same way as Mission Impossible’s Hollywood creation, the end result was as equally good and had been in use for decades by the CIA. He had used its creations himself on countless occasions, and tonight it just might be the key to saving Bing.
Chan stood in front of a nearby mirror, turning to his side and rubbing his pot belly. “Not exactly the trim figure the People’s Liberation Army likes to recruit.”
Kane chuckled. “You’re going in as a colonel. They’re more forgiving of the higher ranks letting themselves go a bit.”
“Yeah, but I’m too old for this.”
The machine beeped, indicating it was done, and Kane gently removed the face mask, helping Chan apply it. Kane stepped back, his head slowly shaking, never ceasing to be amazed at the end result. “Too old, my ass.” He stepped out of the way so Chan could see himself in the mirror, and the old man gasped, gently stroking his cheeks.
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