Chapter 21: Stateside
The group around the conference table quieted as Eric Byer rubbed his tired eyes in frustration. He prided himself on self-restraint, but even he was taxed to a near-breaking point with the failure to neutralize the Aaron Cross issue. Jason Bourne was still on the loose as well, and though Treadstone was not his problem, the maelstrom surrounding that dead albatross was threatening to drag the National Research Assay Group down with it.
Having to terminate the Outcome program was a huge blow to NRAG. The escape of Cross and Dr. Shearing was disastrous. It was imperative his team find them-the fate of the experimental LARX program hung in the balance, especially with its recent loss. CIA Director Ezra Kramer was already threatening to end their research contract for fear of exposure under the Senate and public scrutiny.
Suddenly, a disheveled Arthur Ingram bumbled into the room, pushing up his glasses excitedly. "We've got a viable lead. A couple just reported their boat missing off a tiny island just outside of our grid."
"Thank god!" exclaimed Zev Vendel, leaning back in his seat with relief.
"How far out of the search grid?" Dita asked.
"That's the thing; it's west of our estimates." Arthur wiped sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.
Dita glanced at Byer with her eyebrow raised. "Cross back-tracked?"
"Could be," Arthur responded. "But the CIA will intercept the fishing boat we know they boarded within the hour so we'll know which trail to follow shortly."
"Forget the fishing trawler," Byer interjected. "Concentrate our resources on the missing boat. That's him."
The group stood and filed out of the room, re-energized in light of the new information. Dita lingered until they were alone then asked, "Do you know what he's doing?"
"The only flaw with Outcome was the inability to medically repress emotional responses to the desired degree," he answered. "Aaron Cross was the agent most susceptible to an emotional reaction. It was in him I first detected the vulnerability."
Dita nodded her head silently in agreement, she knew this already, but let Byer vocalize his thoughts. She understood he needed to talk out his mental deductions. Her quiet intelligence and intuitive prompting partnered well with his sharp logic and clinical brilliance. Though Eric Byer was unquestionably the leading force of the team, Dita was his unacknowledged second. They had worked together a long time over the years; Byer recruiting her to each new appointment as he climbed the ranks. Together they were an ambitious combination of cold calculation. Despite their history, they were never close on a personal basis. Dita often wondered if her invaluable contribution even registered with him, but recognition didn't matter to her, as long as they achieved their objectives.
"Perhaps it was the low cognitive ability of the original subject," Eric continued, "that made Cross especially resistant to the adherence aspect of the enhancements. Whatever the reason, this agent is prone to emotional reaction and is, therefore, volatile and less predictable."
"But perhaps knowing that, we can evaluate his likely response given the specific circumstances," she countered.
Catching on to her line of reasoning, Byer replied, "And figure the logical emotional reaction that should be the agent's motivation, giving us a probable action to anticipate."
"We would be a step ahead of Cross and finally intercept him if we can ascertain his next move, based on his emotional state," Dita concluded.
"Emotional state..." Byer repeated, thinking. He wondered aloud, "Fearful? Angry? Vengeful? Fight or flight? We should review his psych files."
Dita smiled knowingly. "I don't think we need them."
He turned to her, curious.
"The woman," she stated, no need to elaborate.
Eric Byer's eyes took on a distant look, his mind racing ahead. "Marta Shearing, the doctor-of course."
He walked purposefully into Operations and addressed the group. "We need to get ahead of this. Find that missing boat and determine it's direction. Narrow your parameters to reports of a Caucasian couple. That should cut our lag time drastically."
"Cross and the doctor together?" Vendel questioned. "The agents act alone. You think Cross is using Marta Shearing for cover? I would've guessed she was shark shit by now."
Arthur spoke up. "Cross has a history of counter-minding his training. It makes sense he would do the opposite of what he's expected to do and keep the doctor around to throw us off his scent."
"Actually," Dita interjected, "we suspect Aaron Cross has formed an attachment to the doctor, given his emotional proclivity. If this is true, he would likely rebel against Outcome training, despite his genetic programming."
"The woman is his weakness," Byer clarified. "Exploit that vulnerability."