Chapter 15

A file was tossed on Flint's desk, accompanied by an exasperated sigh. "Have you seen what your girlfriend's company has done now?"

Flint groaned, looking up at his supervisor. "Number one, she is not my girlfriend. The answer to your question is, no. You've had me so buried with this Middle Eastern shit that I don't even know what the weather is outside!"

Daniel Foster leaned down, resting his hands on the desk. "You know, Faireborn, it's a good thing I like you. However, you might want to read up on this since it affects the…shit….you're working through now. Or rather, it eliminates some of it." The supervisor shook his head. "It's amazing what the private sector can get away with nowadays."

Flint picked up the file and glanced at the latest intelligent report. His frown grew deeper the farther he read into it. "What the hell?" he mumbled.

Foster nodded his head. "Yeah, that's what I thought at first. Imagine, having that kind of power to go through with that….makes you wonder who the client was," he mused.

"I wonder…" thought Flint aloud, then caught himself. He didn't want his supervisor to know about the threat Phoenix had only a few weeks ago. Was this their way of dealing with it? If so, he was surprised. He didn't think Ali had it in her to go through with this. Then again, what did he know anymore of his former fiancée? he thought darkly. By now, he thought she would have established the company, like she said she wanted to, and gotten out. She didn't seem to be in too big of a hurry anymore.

"How can you make an entire village, an entire terrorist group disappear?" Foster demanded. "One day they were there, under satellite surveillance, but then the next day, poof! It was like they were stolen in the night! Somehow I think our satellite was jammed and whatever was done, was done. Don't ask me how. God knows what MARS has created for Phoenix at this point."

"I hear they get all the cool stuff," snickered a female voice. Becky Benson sat on the edge of Flint's desk. "How come we don't get budgeted for that?" the agent teased Foster.

Becky continued. "So, what? You want a mole in Phoenix Industries? Is that what this is about? Heaven knows, we're not mourning the loss of this gang," she said, indicating the file.

Foster nodded his head. "I'm beginning to think that way. We know we can't post an advertised agent with them. We know what happens then," he said, frowning. "I'm wondering….Fareborn, since you were offered a position there once, it might be a good time to take them up on that offer. I can have Becky working undercover with you as well. Yes," he continued, more to himself than to the others, "maybe that's the key. On the inside, we'll know more about what's going on. Let me talk to my boss about it and get the okay. Don't look so glum, Fareborn. You've been complaining about deskwork…..maybe it's time you were back in the field."

"I don't like it!" Zartan declared angrily. "You have got to be kidding me. It is so obviously a trick! I can't believe you would consider it!"

Jaye sighed. "Look, I had offered the man the position to work with Major Blood since Blood keeps going on and on about retiring, and he's the best strategic coordinator that I think we can get! It's not like I can rescind the offer!"

"I think we need to be suspicious of any new activity, and that means new hires as well! The man is not up and quitting the CIA. They are planting a mole in the company and figure it's so obviously him, we won't think it is!"

"Well, then maybe we hire him just to keep an eye out, right? If he is working as a double, then he'll have some sort of contact and then we take care of it, ok?"

"You're not going to give up, are you?" sneered Zartan. "I thought your days with 'loverboy' were over."

Jaye's face turned red and she narrowed her eyes at Zartan. "Don't even go there. This has nothing to do with past relationships! It's ridiculous that you even brought it up!"

"Is it?" he muttered softly. "Anytime he's around," he said, louder this time, "you get distracted. We can't afford to do that at this juncture, too much is at stake. What we did on our last mission, that's just the start of what we have to do. 'Operation Clean Sweep' has hardly begun. We don't need any interference with someone who is going to fight us about morals," he sneered.

"Enough!" Jaye said coldly. "We'll assign him in a different department, away from this mission, and with a mentor who can keep an eye on him and report back to us. That's my final word on the matter. Have you found the replacement for our other opening?"

"Yes," Zartan replied, his tone just as cold. "I have. She starts the same day as Flint. Convenient, I'd say."

Jaye sighed. "If it was up to you, everyone would be suspect. Don't you trust anyone?"

"Only myself," she heard him say as he walked away. "And you," he said so softly, she barely heard him as he shut the door.