X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X]. National Command Authority will advise the president.”
“Vic, you know if the president tries to go through diplomatic channels, he’s signing Hanna’s death warrant.”
“I promise I’ll do everything I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Reece leaned back in his chair, his mind racing to analyze the possible contingencies.
“I need to be there.”
“Negative, Reece. You’ve never trained for SDV ops,” Vic countered, having anticipated the request.
“All I’d do is get in the back and breathe whatever concoction they breathe. It’s not like I’d be driving the thing.”
“First off, they don’t ‘drive’ it, they ‘pilot’ it. The answer is no.”
“Well, at least put me on the [XXX] op.”
“No.”
“They don’t know this guy.”
“Neither do you.”
“I know him better than you think,” Reece snapped.
Vic interlaced his hands and brought his index fingers to his lips.
“There’s something else,” Reece said.
“I’m not going to like this, am I?” Vic asked.
“Raife is headed for Medny Island. He signed up for a hunt on the Dark Web. They left a URL with a log-in and password in Hanna’s kitchen in Romania. He’s going to get her.”
“Shit! You didn’t try to talk him out of it?”
“I can see you don’t know Raife very well.”
“Did you get the URL and password?”
“Sure did,” Reece said, passing the CIA executive a piece of paper from his pocket.
“Shit,” Vic said again. “Just what we need: a former SEAL in the hands of Russian intelligence.”
“I can help, Vic. Get me on this op.”
“Again, no.”
“What if I go full-time?”
Vic had been trying to convince Reece to come work as a Ground Branch officer in the Special Activities Division of the CIA since they first met.
“You put me on this mission, and I come in for at least four years.”
Vic tapped his index fingers together in front of his face, contemplating the offer.
“You’re on.”
“You knew I was going to offer that up, didn’t you?” Reece asked.
“Let’s just say I was prepared for your offer. The assaulters are already down at [XXX] [XXX] training on a mock-up of the lodge on Medny Island.”
“You move fast.”
“We’re the CIA,” Vic said, rising to shake hands with his newest recruit. “Nicole Phan and Andy Danreb are already down there. Remember them?”
“I remember,” Reece said, thinking back to Andy’s role in exposing the assassination and chemical weapon threat to Odessa the previous year.
“As gruff and cynical as he is, with the Russia connection, Andy is our foremost expert. Nicole will be the connection back to Langley and the Counterterrorism Center. She plays much better with others than your friend Andy.” Vic looked at his watch. “If you leave now, you can make it in time for tonight’s brief and FTX.”
Reece wondered if Vic knew about Oliver Grey’s connection to his father’s death, or his obsession with taking out the sniper who had killed Freddy. He knew Vic would think those emotions would cloud his judgment and he didn’t want to discuss anything that would threaten his involvement in the mission. If Vic didn’t know that the real reason Reece was coming on board was to settle a personal score, Reece certainly wasn’t going to tell him.
Reece left the executive level and made his way back to the lobby. This time he didn’t stop at the Wall of Honor, though he did pause ever so slightly as he walked across the eagle and compass rose of the Agency seal. Visions of Freddy Strain and Thomas Reece had been replaced with the file photos of Nizar and Grey; the Syrian and the traitor were clearly focused in his crosshairs.
CHAPTER 57
[Redacted X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X]
IT TOOK JUST OVER [Redacted] to drive the Agency Suburban down to the CIA training facility. Situated on a peninsula [Redacted X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X] is a secluded [Redacted] training site that had gained notoriety as the rehearsal site for the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. A full mock-up of the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, had been built so the