Last War Read Free Page A

could remember, it never failed him.
         : :New message from 3155559827 Maxwell Bradley to Christine Upton.::
         Jason clicked on the intercept button.
         "Hey sweetie nothin much, how did you enjoy last night?"
         Jason forwarded the message.
         Last night? Where was I ? Jason thought about it for a while. Brendenhall meeting. Figures.
         ::New message from Christine Upton::
         “It was a blast, but it was too short. I'm gonna see when Jason's next assignment is, then we will plan a longer time together, maybe even a weekend.”
         Jason forwarded the message; his heart felt as if a vice clamp was winding tighter to it. It tightened to the climax of discomfort before sitting still with no release.
         Glimpsing at the monitor again, he was right. Jacinda missed the African.
         At that same moment, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was his partner, the Acting Secretary of DHS; his workmate and best friend, Michael Young. “Looks like you’re going to have to have a chat with her, huh?” He said.
         Michael was a tall muscular man, with the perfect shade of tanned-skin and dark-gelled hair. He often wore button up shirts with the top few buttons free.
         They had been through college together, were members of the same fraternity, served in the military, and had, seemingly, worked together their entire lives.
         “Who?” Jason responded. “Jacinda or…”
          Michael was eating a muffin he had balanced on the top of his coffee cup lid. Much to Jason's chagrin, he played, at times, Jason's life advisor.
         "You still watching those messages, I see. Give yourself a break. You know what they say, don't you? ‘What you don't know can't hurt you.’"
         "Mike, one: I already know. And two:  Jacinda doesn’t know she just let a terrorist board a plane. And three: what if you didn't know that I put rat poison in your muffin and coffee? In those cases, what you didn't know could  hurt you and others, right? Possibly kill you."
          Mike took a bite out of his muffin. With his mouth full he said, "Well, I guess we'd have to just see. Anyway, what you are doing is highly illegal. In addition, you should be more concerned with the protests in Egypt."  
         “How is it illegal when I suspect Max to be a terrorist? I’m gathering intelligence – PATRIOT ACT. And why should I care about Egypt? It’s what people do. They constantly cry about privacy and rights.” Jason shrugged. “People protest. Always have.”
         “Privacy, rights... police brutality, freedom of speech, low wages, corruption, high unemployment...”
         “Well, congrats,” Jason said. “I don’t mean to trivialize what’s happening over there, but it sounds like Egypt has learned how to act like the American constituents.”
         Michael took another bite out of his muffin. “Look, I’ve known you long enough to know you’re not this apathetic. Or stupid. In fact, you’re probably losing sleep. You’re just unwilling, right now, to admit you’ve gotta step away from these messages. I understand – it’s emotional.” Followed by a gap of silence filled with the ambience of office chatter, Michael continued. “Anyway, we’ve got some info coming in from the NSA. It’d probably be wise of you to raise the HSAS to high when you get it.”
         “What is it?”
         “NSA got overloaded with some high priority key word triggers; connected people using words that point to a conspiracy of some sort. Their analysts are looking into it now. You’ll get a continuing briefing on the situation. But, to begin, you’ll get an email from Kim.”
         Michael started to walk away before stepping back towards Jason. He leaned in close to Jason while he still sat behind his desk. “Now, I know this is all new to you, but remember: It’s our job to maintain this luxury vehicle – we’re the