We’re here when you want to talk.”
“Adam,” Ben called out before his friend slipped out the door. “Thanks for the coffee.”
Five minutes later, Ben was in a cab headed to Southwest, DC and the Department of Homeland. Secretary Lyle was already at her desk. Unlike him, she was showered and, from the looks of it, had slept in an actual bed the night before.
Ben fingered the micro card in his pocket containing a copy of the operating system for VOYEUR. He felt a bit conflicted turning it over to the NSA. But the artificial intelligence program had passed its trial run with flying colors last night—including its original purpose in identifying Quinn, astoundingly. There was no reason it shouldn’t be rolled out to the rest of the US intelligence community. It would be a critical tool. Still, it felt a little like giving up a puppy he’d raised from birth.
“One of last night’s guests was found murdered,” she blindsided him by saying.
He shook his head briefly to regroup. “I just spoke with Agent Lockett. He didn’t mention they’d found a homicide victim when they were searching through the White House.”
“That’s because the Secret Service didn’t find him. The Russians did.”
Ben swayed slightly trying to process the information. “Who was he?”
“Kir Abramov.” She passed him a file folder. “Russia’s representative to the board of governors with the World Bank.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
She gestured to the folder.
Ben opened it and quickly scanned its contents. “Abramov worked for us?”
“In a manner of speaking,” she replied. “There are times when our two countries need to share intelligence for the greater good. Abramov was often the conduit of sanctioned information from Moscow. And vice versa.”
“So, his own country didn’t off him?”
Shaking her head, she wandered over to the big window overlooking the harbor. “We were supposed to meet at the White House last night. He had some information to share with me regarding the Phoenix.”
“The Phoenix? Isn’t he some legendary spymaster?”
“Was. Past tense.”
“There are some who say he isn’t dead.”
“I was at Langley when the Phoenix was active. Trust me when I tell you the spymaster is no more.” She headed back to her desk. “There’s a rumor circulating that a manifest of all the operatives who served under the Phoenix exists, however. And it’s for sale.”
“That would be devastating if it fell into the wrong hands.”
“Yes.” The secretary massaged her brow. “Except I have my doubts such a list even exists. There were only seventeen agents being handled by the Phoenix. More than half were from other intelligence agencies in allied countries. Only the Phoenix knew all seventeen names.”
“Then someone’s selling false information? Why?”
“If we find the who, we’ll discover the why.”
“And you think whoever this is may have killed our Russian?”
She sighed wearily. “I think there is enough interest in the Phoenix to warrant chasing down that lead. I’ve stalled the NSA director’s demands for VOYEUR for now. I want you to work your magic with it, the dark web, and whatever else you need to dig up any intel on those individuals most impacted by the Phoenix Project. Start with Vladmir Ronoff. He laundered two billion dollars of rubles into dollars before the Phoenix caught him. The Russian president recently pardoned him. Ronoff would have a big axe to grind against the World Bank and the Phoenix.”
Ben stilled at the mention of Ronoff. “He wouldn’t happen to be related to Alexi Ronoff, would he?”
“Alexi is his son. And, yes, I saw his name on last night’s guest list. It’s too strong of a coincidence if you ask me.” Secretary Lyle eyed him carefully. “Make sure your search takes place off the grid. Until we know who’s out there selling classified intel, I don’t want to share my theories with the rest of the intelligence community.”
“Understood.” The familiar adrenaline rush that always preceded the hunt surged through him. Solving puzzles was his jam. Working to hide his trail would only make the hunt sweeter. And he had just the place to carry out his mission. “I’ll get right on this.”
He shoved the micro card back into his pocket before tucking the folder beneath his arm and heading for the door.
“Agent Segar,” she called after him. “Keep me in the loop.”
As he made his way out of the secretary’s office, his fingers were already itching to get to a keyboard. The assignment would certainly take his mind off solving the mystery of Quinn Darby’s reappearance. Except for the fact that she was somehow