It was live ammo. In Reel’s and Robie’s world there always came a time when there was no other kind.
As the rounds whizzed over their heads Robie and Reel moved forward as a team. They had a mission and a goal, and the sooner they got to it, the better, because the bullets would stop.
Marks hung back since the op was designed for a two-person team. But she watched the pair closely for more than one reason.
She marveled at how Reel and Robie moved as a unit. They each seemed to know what the other was thinking. In less than twenty minutes they had achieved their goal and Marks ordered the live fire to stand down.
On the Jeep ride back Marks told them that they had a visitor.
“Who is it?” asked Robie.
“Someone you know well.”
The Jeep dropped them off about a mile from the facility and then drove on. A minute later Blue Man stepped from behind a tree to greet them.
“You’re both looking fit,” said Blue Man. He was, as ever, dressed in a suit and tie with polished shoes. He looked decidedly out of place in the forest. His hair was white, his features grizzled, but his eyes were light and alert and his handshake strong.
Reel gave him a hug and whispered, “Thank you,” in his ear.
Robie stared expectantly at Blue Man.
“I got a phone call from someone you’ve been interviewed by here,” he began.
Robie and Reel exchanged a glance. Reel said, “Male or female?”
Blue Man said, “Male. He apologized for how late your session went and for the degree of wetness involved.”
“Nice of him,” said Reel dryly.
“He also told me that there is a Plan B in place in the event that your vetting here does not go well.”
“And what is Plan B?” asked Robie.
“The B Team, actually. For the upcoming mission. You two are the preferred unit, of course.”
“How flattering,” commented Reel. “And do we know what the mission is?”
“One person at the agency knows, and that person is not me.”
“Only one?” said Robie, looking startled.
“So Evan Tucker, then?” suggested Reel.
Blue Man nodded. “Highly unusual. I’m used to small circles of need to know, but a circle of one is problematic.”
“We’ve survived so far,” said Reel. “Do you see something coming up that might change that?”
“I won’t mince words, because that won’t do either of you any good. The director is enormously conflicted at this point. Facts that I have gathered demonstrate a man perilously near the edge. He both needs you and wants to punish you. And it is unclear at this point which of these competing views will win out.”
“He tried to waterboard us into a confession,” said Robie. “That might indicate the ‘punishment’ side is winning out.”
Blue Man nodded. “First blush might indicate that. But it’s unfortunately more complicated than that. He seems to be changing his mind not day by day but hour by hour.”
“And how do you know this?” asked Robie.
“We are an intelligence-gathering agency,” replied Blue Man with a smile. “And there is no law against turning that skill inward.”
Robie looked at Reel. “That may be why Tucker came calling here.”
“He came here to see you?” asked Blue Man.
Robie said, “He wanted to ‘assure’ us that he has no personal vendetta against us and that everything they’re throwing at us here, including the waterboarding, is part of the vetting.”
“And did you believe him?” asked Blue Man.
“Hell no,” snapped Reel. “And there are no assets we can call on to stop his vendetta against us?”
“That has been tried and his heels dug in. Personnel at the agency are convinced of the culpability of the former DD and the analyst. They were traitors pure and simple and their deaths are not unduly troubling. Unfortunately, none of those people run the CIA.”
“We understand that some deal has been struck with the president,” said Reel.
“That’s the rub. This mission runs all the way to the White House. I’ve learned that there was a transmission at the Sit Room involving only the president, the DCI, and the APNSA.”
Reel looked confused. “What about the Watch Command?”
“Walled off. First time in history, I believe. Literally no one other than the three men in that meeting was privy to who was on the other end of that satellite. Certainly a breach of normal protocol.”
“So the VP wasn’t there?” said Robie.
Blue Man shook his head. “Ominous, since the VP is normally part of the loop on something like that.”