“No. We still do not know why Dr. Martinez is being targeted,” Director Steele said. “Sure, Dr. Martinez has been a pain for the CLA, but our analysts and their foreign counterparts can find no direct link between the women that would level this type of attack.”
“What about between Dr. Martinez and Benjamin Jackson, the husband?” President Barnes asked.
“Believe it or not, that’s even murkier,” Steele admitted.
“Is Martinez part of this Foundation group?” Murphy asked.
“That would be something you’d have to ask your contact on the ground,” Steele said. The look on his face showed that this was a line of questioning he wasn’t comfortable with, even on a secure line.
“To what extent should I trust The Foundation?” Murphy asked as her follow-up.
“Murphy, for the record,” President Barnes said, “The Foundation does not exist. We”—and he looked directly into the camera—“and I mean all three of us, have never heard of them, nor have any of my predecessors.”
“That’s correct, Agent Murphy. Sometimes concerned citizens, independent of governmental agencies, bring their concerns to the US government, and we fully investigate those matters,” President Barnes clarified. “It’s like a knitting club that calls the police when they see someone’s house being broken into.”
Well, I was just put in my place. The message was clear, ‘toe the fucking line’.
“Yes, sirs. I completely understand you, sirs.”
The rest of their meeting flowed in this same vein. Murphy would try to ask a question and be immediately informed that the information either didn’t exist, the players involved didn’t exist or no one had any idea what she was talking about. She also got the sneaking suspicion that every question she asked also told the men something. They all spoke in code about something that didn’t exist. It was a game of Schrödinger’s intelligence.
By the time she got into their large conference room with her agents, she was still trying to figure out how to spin everything.
“Good morning,” Murphy began as she walked to the front of the room. “Concerned citizens have provided actionable intelligence about an imminent attack against the life of Dr. Olivia Martinez, a professor of political science at Pennington University.”
She looked around the room as everyone started taking notes. “We’ve been in touch with the head of security at Pennington University, and they’ve decided not to cancel the anti-extremism rally scheduled on campus,” Murphy informed. “If they won’t cancel it, then we need to secure it. I need ideas on my desk by eleven. We’ll have a full meeting at noon before heading to the campus. Put everything else aside. Protection of this event has been made our top priority,” a few people in the room grumbled. “This came from the President of the United States himself. I had a meeting with the President and Director Steele today.They, and as a result,we, are taking this seriously. Is that understood?” She scanned the room to see if anyone would openly object. When no one did, she said, “Questions?”
* * * *
Ethan
Ethan tossed and turned all night long. He needed to talk to Blayne, so he woke up early and had Ms. Z. drive him to Blayne’s apartment but not before stopping by the Dream Bean for coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Ethan promised to call Ms. Z. and report in if he left the apartment. He also texted Lucas and said he was at Blayne’s and to call him on his cell if he needed him.
Ethan walked up to the door and pulled out his key but wasn’t sure if he should use it. He knocked. He waited. Blayne didn’t answer the door, so he knocked again.
Finally, he pulled out his cell and texted Blayne.
Are you awake? Why aren’t you answering your door?
A few seconds later there was a click, and Blayne stood with ruffled hair, wearing only a pair of pajama bottoms.
“Morning, sunshine,” Ethan said.
Blayne grumbled acknowledgment before holding the door open for Ethan to enter. Ethan walked into the kitchen and did a quick look at the place.
“Anyone else here?”
“Just us,” Ethan confirmed, handing Blayne the cup of coffee. “Drink up. It’ll help you feel better.”
Blayne nodded and took a sip of coffee before sitting down at the table.
“Late night?” Ethan asked.
“Yeah. Murphy got here. Wow, was she fucking pissed off.”
“I’m glad I left before all that went down.”
“I wish I could have gone with you,” Blayne said. “How are the guys?”
