“We killed Martin Ramsey.We’re about to kill someone else.”
"Ramsey was a lunatic who, by all appearances, had a heart attack after overdosing on cocaine.The person Asset Sierra-9 will target will be one of millions of insignificant ants crawling through the streets of our nation's capital.Dr.David Friedman is a highly valued contractor for the premier criminal investigations agency of the United States.He's married to the most celebrated field agent of all time.If we kill him, that field agent will dedicate her life to finding out who killed him and bringing all of them to justice.All ofusto justice.If we must kill him, we’ll do what is necessary, but I would very much like to avoid that if it’s at all possible.”
Whitaker sighed.She sincerely doubted itwaspossible, but Colonel Chastain wasn’t ready to hear it, so she let the subject drop.“Of course, sir.I’ll carry out my mission.”
“I have absolute faith that you will carry it out to perfection.”
Whitaker saluted him.He chuckled and returned the salute, then clapped her on the shoulder and left her in the hotel room.Her skin crawled a little where his hand touched her, but he had never shown any sexual interest in her—or anyone else for that matter—and she could deal with the occasional friendly squeeze.She didn’t feel like telling him that she didn’t like to be touched.It seemed like a weak thing to say.
She looked at Asset Sierra-9 and frowned at the stupid, cow-eyed stare.“Asset!”she snapped.
Asset Sierra-9 flinched and looked at her, still cow-eyed but more alert than before.
“Bed.”
Asset Sierra-9 marched to the opposite wall and lay down facing the door.She closed her eyes and was asleep within seconds.Whitaker marched dubiously to the bed and reached for the cover.A cockroach skittered across her hand, and she gasped and flung it onto the wall.The insect impacted with a hard splat, fell to the floor, and scuttled away like nothing had happened.
“Fuck,” Whitaker hissed.“Goddamnit.”
She sighed heavily and grabbed the rickety wooden chair from the room’s table.She set it in front of the TV and switched the set on.The image flickered and appeared to be missing one of its colors.Everything had a sickly greenish tinge.
She put on reruns of a sitcom that was popular when her parents were younger than she was and reminded herself that it would all be worth it in the end.They were saving American lives.
Thus mollified, she settled in for a long, boring night.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Kenneth Still rubbed his face.It felt like sandpaper.He wasn’t sure if that was his hand, his face, or both.He read the notice again.He had a general idea of what it said, but sometimes the terms differed depending on jurisdiction.He needed to understand those terms very clearly.He couldn’t afford a night in jail right now.
EVICTION NOTICE
Due to nonpayment of rents, KENNETH STILL, hereafter referred to as TENANT, is considered in default of his lease.He is therefore instructed, along with all other tenants, occupants, visitors, and all other persons inhabiting 558 GRASS LANE #10, QUANTICO, VA 22134, to vacate these premises within thirty days of receipt of this notice.
The rest of the notice detailed the rent owed and informed Kenneth that he would still be required to pay his back rent plus fees even after he was evicted.Pretty standard stuff.
“Sorry, Ken.I didn’t have a choice.”
Kenneth turned around and saw Buck, his manager, standing at the foot of the stairs with his hand in his pockets.Buck stared at his feet, his shoulders slumped.“The landlord’s pressuring me to collect this rent, and since you can’t pay, they want me to kick you out.I tried to tell them you’ve been doing your best, but—”
“It’s all right, Buck,” Kenneth interrupted.“It’s not your fault.”He forced a smile, which Buck didn’t see because he didn’t look up.“I’ll be all right.I can stay with my brother in Atlanta.”
Buck perked up very slightly at that.“Okay.Sounds good.And you’ve got all thirty days too.They won’t pull any of that crap like trying to move your stuff out early or show the apartment while you’re still there.”
“Got it.Thanks, Buck.”
He walked inside before Buck could say anything else.He let the door close behind him, took a deep breath, and let it rush out of him.
His brother didn’t live in Atlanta.The parts of him that hadn’t rotted yet lived in Arlington National Cemetery, but if those parts and all the rest were still alive, they wouldn’t have taken Kenneth in.It looked like he was going to spend a while on the street again.
He rubbed his face once more and walked to his refrigerator.He would have to drag his furniture to the curb at some point with a paper sign that read FREE.Same with his TV.He might take the mattress with him so he could have something to sleep on at night.It was a little foam thing that didn't weigh more than thirty pounds.And he didn't want to sleep in the bed of his truck anymore.
He opened the fridge and grunted when he realized there was nothing there.He had a few dollars in his pocket, enough to grab a burrito from the Taco Bell.It was too bad he couldn’t have taken the cash from the people he’d killed, but even that slight risk would have been too dangerous.Quantico was a small town.He knew this eviction notice was coming eventually.Someone might have seen it on his door and thought, “Where here’s a man who has motive to rob people.”
He sighed and rubbed his temples.He’d run to Taco Bell later.He was weary to the bone right now.
He trudged to the couch and dropped heavily onto the cushion.The ancient springs shrieked in protest.Something snapped inside, and he settled another inch into the cushion.Whatever.
He heard footsteps outside his door.Probably Buck putting an eviction notice on another unit.Kenneth was almost certainly not the only person to default on his rent in this shitty complex.
