Deception Game Read Free Page A

to assume the mantle of leading the world’s foremost intelligence agency before too long. That was until an abrupt reshuffle of the Agency’s executive level had seen Hunt effectively demoted to divisional leader. Still a position of some power and influence, to be sure, but the message was clear – there was a new star player on the field, and his name was Marcus Cain.
    Drake was certain that such a demotion, especially in the closing years of Hunt’s career, must have left a deep impact on him. Deep enough, perhaps, for him to aid Drake in destroying the man who had so derailed his plans. It was a rotten trick to use a man’s bitterness and resentment for one’s own ends, but the chance to win an ally in the highest levels of the Agency’s power structure was something Drake couldn’t pass up.
    ‘Because I’m not the only one who wants to see Cain take a fall,’ Drake answered. ‘I know he replaced you as Deputy Director, and I’m guessing it wasn’t your decision to step down. He fucked you over, just like he fucked over everyone else he’s ever come into contact with. Whatever you were expecting to do with the rest of your life, it’s all been taken away because of him. Well, this is your chance to take something back. Help me expose the things he’s done. Help me stop him before more innocent people get killed. I can’t promise you’ll get back everything you’ve lost, but I can promise he’ll lose a lot more than you ever did.’
    Drake had never been one for stirring speeches or impassioned monologues. All he could do was set out what he knew, what we wanted, and what Hunt could do to make it happen. It was a gamble, to be sure – this whole meeting had been a leap of faith, in fact – but it was a gamble he felt he had to make.
    And now, his sentiments delivered, all he could do was wait for Hunt’s reply. It wasn’t long in coming.
    Whatever reaction he’d expected, it wasn’t the fit of laughter that suddenly overcame the man seated beside him. ‘And I’m supposed to just take you at your word on all this, right? Some random field agent contacts me out of the blue with wild stories of secret conspiracies and an offer to resurrect my career, and I just leap in with both feet and hope for the best?’ Hunt shook his head in disbelief. ‘Mr Drake, you’re still a young man, so I can forgive a little naiveté on your part, but what you’re asking is ridiculous.’
    And yet, Drake couldn’t help but notice that Hunt had made no effort to defend Cain, or to warn him of the treasonous nature of his proposal. Taking his lack of reprimand as tacit acknowledgement that his accusations had merit, Drake pressed on.
    ‘You said you were willing to show a little faith.’
    ‘Faith and blind faith are two different things, son. So far you’re not giving me a hell of a lot to put my faith in.’
    Drake couldn’t blame him for that. ‘I’m here. We both know you could have me arrested after everything I’ve said to you. But I came anyway because I’m willing to risk my life to bring that fucker down. I want to do that, but I can’t do it alone. I need people in positions of influence. People who still have the power to hurt him. People I can rely on. People like you.’
    ‘Very touching, but what makes you think you could trust me even if – and this is a big if – I agreed to help you?’ Hunt asked.
    Drake nodded to the watch on Hunt’s left wrist. ‘That’s a nice watch. You were with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Division in Vietnam. Did two tours. Wounded at Khe Sanh while trying to rescue a squad that was cut off and surrounded, even though you’d been ordered to wait for support. Before that, you petitioned to bring charges against a fellow Marine for terrorizing Vietnamese civilians, even if it meant betraying one of your own.’
    If it was important to know your enemy, it was even more so to know a potential friend, as Drake had learned through bitter experience. When he’d