“What’s their Biosafety level?” Katieasked.
“Four,” Nazarireplied.
“That’s high enough to handle restrictedchemicals.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, having that ranking doesn’t necessarily mean they have clearance to handle the specific chemicals needed to create Splice. Which is why we need more information.” Nazari gestured at the data shining brightly in the center of the conference table. “The evidence linking them—Wolcott, Hayes, and Graham—together right now is circumstantial at best. But paired with what we do know about the Pavluhkins and the criminal alliance they’re leading, it was enough to get a FISA court order to monitor thosethree.”
Sean wasn’t at all surprised about that revelation. He’d previously been briefed on the possible collusion between the Wolcotts, Valerie Hayes, and Senator Graham before being handed the Wolcotts mission. That the MDF had gone before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and been granted a court order for surveillance warrants to spy on a member of Congress and American citizens meant the director believed this was an avenue worthlookinginto.
“When does the order go into effect?” Katieasked.
“It already has, but we all know there are ways to hide your digital trail. Setting up a surveillance connection on the Wolcotts and Hayes has been exceedingly difficult so far. Senator Graham we have covered, but not the other two. Our best hope is direct access to Declan’s property, and that’s where Root Source, Inc. comes in. If we go through Adrian, who has his brother’s ear and can vouch for our people and our company, we have a better shot at getting thataccess.”
“How clean is North Star International?” Jamie wanted to know. “Any chance we could go after it from a business regulations angleaswell?”
Nazari switched out the financial records on the holoscreen for a list of court cases across various jurisdictions. “We’re working on it. North Star International keeps getting federal contracts, but they’ve racked up quite a few lawsuits over the years. For the most part, they’re sued over loss of life. Standing is usually held by spouses left behind by some of their deceased employees, though several foreign civilians have sued in an effort to target the US government. Most of the lawsuits have either been sent to private arbitration that ended in a confidential settlement or they’ve been thrown out of court for lack of standing. Very little of the litigation makes its way into the mediasphere.”
Jamie frowned, staring at the data in his terminal. “A bad rep is still something we canworkwith.”
“Right now, we’re focusing on getting into the Wolcotts’ and Hayes’ security systems to find out what dirty deals they’ve agreed to.Being vouched for by Stanislav Pavluhkin will only burnish our credentials with these kinds of people. That’s a way in I don’t want to lose, but we’re still bound by the current situation where your cover identities are concerned. Delaney has already explained away your absence to Adrian Wolcott while they were being held in New Miami,Callahan.”
Sean watched as Jamie’s attention shifted from the information at hand to the director. Other than his unwavering gaze, Sean couldn’t see any hint of tension in Jamie’s body, even though he knew it had to bethere.
“Then we give them a new explanation. Updating everyone’s itinerary is an easy fix to make,” Jamiepointedlysaid.
Nazari shook his head. “We move too quickly, put too many of you on the field, and we’re liable to spook them. Delaney got us an invite as Adrian Wolcott’s special guest and we’re running with that. He and Dvorkin will head to Las Vegas with Brown, Chan, and Sanchez as backup to embed themselves in the Wolcotts’ inner circle. The sooner we get them on the ground and get surveillance bugs in place, the better. You and Brannigan will still be on the campaign trail and unavailable. Ovechkina will be in the UK on business with Donovan as her bodyguard. She’ll factor in later for the actualhacking.”
While it sounded easy, Sean knew the mission would be anything but simple. Forging a relationship with people took time and money. Trust wasn’t going to happen in a couple of days, which meant it would probably take multiple trips and meetings over the course of weeks before they got any chance of closing out a business deal and getting into the Wolcotts’ security system, to say nothing ofHayes’.
“I don’t like it,” Jamie said after a heavypause.
“You don’t have to like it, Callahan. You just have to follow my orders,” Nazaritoldhim.
Sean had heard that tone from the director before, and it usually resulted in everyone toeing the line. As an agent, and a metahuman, Sean was privy to more information than the average person working at the MDF, but he didn’t—would never—know everything. What he did know was all the various missions that put boots on the ground resulted in bits and pieces building into a solid picture the director was putting together to help keep the nation safe. That work was important, and Sean would alwaysbelievethat.
He thought Jamie, coming from the Marines Corps, would believe it too. But belief was a tricky thing, and would always ring with a different truth for everyone. Sean had seen it in London, the way Jamie’s concern for his team took precedence above almost everything else. To Jamie, the mission would almost always come first, but he’d be damned certain he got every last member of his team out with him on theotherside.
Jamie never took his eyes off the director, the anger in his voice impossible to see in his face. Sean was quietly impressed at Jamie’scontrol.
“You’ve already had Delaney running missions without us and vice versa. If you want to make sure we don’t miss anything, then we need to all be on the same page. Going in as a team wouldsolvethat.”
“You’re informed of what you need to know,” Nazarireplied.
“Need to know isn’t good enough with these people, especially not with Stanislav and his precognitionpower.”
“May I remind you that it’s your father who is running for the presidency, not you? And neither he, nor you, are sitting in the White House as of yet. Neither of you are in any position to be giving meorders.”
Jamie tilted his head in a way that could be read as either agreement or mockery. Sean mentally took notes on the way Jamie’s sheer presence could command the room. He doubted it would be something he could duplicate in the field for a cover without extensive practice. Some traits and habits were inherent to a person, incapable of being learned by others. That didn’t mean Seanwouldn’ttry.
“If you don’t want us to make a mistake where the Pavluhkins are concerned, then put Delaney on secondment to us for any future missions concerning the cover Root Source, Inc. provides. In the event something goes wrong, Alpha Team should be called in for his extraction. Sending anyone else will give the appearance of MDF support, which we’ve done our hardest to minimize,” Jamie saidflatly.
Nazari raised an eyebrow. “I think this is an actual first. Youaskingto bring someone ontoyourteam.”
“I do what’s best for my team and Delaney thinks quick onhisfeet.”
Sean blinked, hiding his surprise with long practice. Jamie’s praise was noteworthy only because everyone at the MDF knew Jamie’s expectations wereridiculouslyhigh.
“I’ll have Stirling put in the paperwork,” Nazari said after a moment. “AgentDelaney?”
