CHAPTER TEN
1209 Words
CHAPTER TEN
Deputy Director Ashleigh Riker kept her head high and her eyes straight as she strode across the third level of the parking garage in Langley, Virginia. She did not want to appear suspicious or attract any scrutiny as she made her way to the meeting place at the farthest end of the deck, a rare and narrow blind spot from cameras and prying eyes.
Director Mullen was already there, leaning against a black SUV and puffing on the last few inches of a cigar. As she approached, he dropped it and stomped it under a heel.
“Riker,” he nodded casually. Mullen was head of the entire Central Intelligence Agency, a man that answered only to the Director of National Intelligence and the president. Though fifty-six and thoroughly balding, Mullen was as much a spy as he was a statesman, as adept at reading people as he was at concealing his own disposition and nature. “These meetings of ours have been pleasantly infrequent lately.”
“Yes, sir. There hasn’t been much to report.” For the past several weeks, Agent Zero had been quiet and busy with his double life, teaching at the university and working for the National Resources Division. No pots had been stirred; no chatter had arisen. But now… “Zero is in Switzerland.”
Mullen’s eyebrow arched. “Switzerland? What for?”
“You didn’t know?” Riker tried to sound surprised, but she had suspected that the director had not been informed of Zero’s sudden departure a day earlier. “He requested an immediate leave of absence. Went right over the head of his director in the NRD and had Deputy Director Cartwright sign off on it.” Riker gave Mullen a moment to process that before innocently asking, “Did Cartwright not tell you?”
The director grunted by way of response, which meant no, Cartwright had not told Mullen about Zero’s “vacation.” How interesting, she thought. “Zero claims it’s a ski trip with his girls.”
“Skiing? In April?” Mullen shook his head. “Seems a bit suspicious, doesn’t it? What’s in Switzerland that we don’t know about?”
“Well, yesterday it would seem they were actually skiing,” Riker admitted. “Today they’re in Zurich.” She had a tech tracking the whereabouts of Zero’s daughters at all times; the subcutaneous implants had become quite handy. “Currently his daughters are at the Swiss National Museum.”
“And you’re sure he’s with them?”
Riker nodded. “I’m quite sure. By all accounts, he’s hardly let them out of his sight since last month. He certainly isn’t about to do so in a foreign nation. Not after what happened.”
Mullen stroked his chin contemplatively. “It feels like there’s more to this. Zero is keen. He hasn’t made a move in weeks; I’d bet he’s been biding his time. Keep an eye on them. I want to be aware the moment there’s a step out of line.”
“Should we have a failsafe, sir?” Riker asked. “A specialist, perhaps?”
“Probably a good idea,” Mullen agreed. “Put someone in Zurich on standby.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about this mess with the embassy in Iraq?” Mullen asked.
“They’re still clearing the debris,” Riker told him. “The explosives used were quite extensive; the entire building collapsed on top of the blast zone. A few survivors have been found, but…”
“The delegation?” Mullen asked.
Riker shook her head. “No. Senator Conroy and four other representatives are presumed dead.” Conroy and his people were an attaché from New York—specifically Manhattan. The city would soon be mourning the loss of its leaders.
“Who’s on it?”
“Agent Strickland is en route,” Riker answered, “with an attachment of Rangers. Johansson is due back at regional HQ in Zurich, and then she’ll be sent to rendezvous—”
“Wait, wait,” Mullen waved a hand. “Johansson is in Zurich while Zero is in Zurich? Don’t those two have a history?”
“Yes,” Riker admitted, “but…” She paused, considering the notion. “You don’t think he would try to sway her in some way, do you?”
“I know there’s no such thing as coincidence in our line of work,” Mullen said, “and we know that she defied CIA orders to help him before.”
Riker scolded herself for not seeing that herself. It was true that Maria Johansson had caused trouble for the agency alongside Zero in Eastern Europe, but she had been pardoned with him and Agent Watson in the aftermath—a move that was intended solely to keep Zero close to them so that they might keep tabs on him.
“I have an idea,” said the director. “Let’s interrupt Zero’s ‘vacation.’”
“How so?” Riker asked.
“I want you to reinstate him in the field. Put him on this Brotherhood nonsense with Strickland and Johansson.”
“That might be troublesome,” Riker said. “Apparently Agent Strickland and Zero have developed a strange sort of friendship these past weeks.”
“So they’re all pals. Jesus, is there anyone he won’t sink his teeth into?” Mullen scoffed. “That won’t do. We’d have the makings of collusion. It’s difficult enough just dealing with him alongside everything else going on…” He trailed off, deep in thought.
“Sir?”
“Pull the Rangers off,” Mullen instructed. “I’m going to put someone else on it, a private organization. Someone who can keep an eye on Zero and his friends—and act if necessary. But let’s tread carefully. Zero is cunning, and apparently he’s got Cartwright in his corner.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Does Cartwright…?”
“No,” Mullen confirmed. “Cartwright doesn’t know anything about this, so play nice with him. He’ll agree to reinstate Zero if he gets the chance.”
“And if Zero refuses to return?”
“He won’t,” Mullen said confidently. “Not if he’s given the right reasons. Is there anything else?”
“No, sir.”
“Alright then,” said Mullen. “I want a full briefing as soon as anyone knows anything about what happened in Iraq. Get going. I’ll take the elevator back down.”
Riker nodded and started away.
“Ashleigh.” She turned back and met the director’s sober gaze. “I know you. I know you want to sit in my chair someday. I know you want the office. And if that’s ever meant to be, then this cannot get out. I don’t think I need to remind you of the severity of the situation. We’re talking about a tower crumbling, and it goes all the way to the top.”
“Of course, sir. I understand.”
“Good girl.”
Riker cringed and gritted her teeth, but refrained from saying anything further. Instead she spun on a heel and hastily clacked across the parking deck.
“Good girl.” What an ass.
Mullen was right about one thing, though. She did want his chair. It was her goal to become the first female director of the Central Intelligence Agency—and she was on the fast track for it. But it wasn’t her work ethic or record that put her there.
Only two years earlier, as an intelligence officer, she had discovered something, the very same something that Agent Zero had discovered too: the makings of a plot, the very whisperings of which could be grounds for treason against no fewer than nineteen Congressmen, three governors, and a handful of other politicians—including the American president himself. And that wasn’t including key members of the EPA, NSA, and of course, the CIA.
Zero had acted like an agent. He kept his mouth shut and tried to build a case. But he never had the full picture of what it meant, and he didn’t get the chance to share it. Intelligence Officer Ashleigh Riker did the exact opposite. She took what she knew straight to the top, to CIA Director Mullen. She had her suspicions that Mullen was clued into what was going on, and she was right.
But she wasn’t after hush money. She simply wanted a promotion to assistant director. And after nearly two years she had now made another leap up, this time to deputy director. She would be only one step removed from being able to succeed Mullen as director, and with the combination of her intelligence, cunning, and knowledge, she was certain she could do it.
Two years ago, Zero didn’t have the whole picture, but if Riker understood his memory issues accurately, even the simplest combination of the right words could jog something in his mind.
And as both she and he knew all too well, tragic accidents befell people every day.
- Writer
