Regional Director Doyle are enjoying an unusually close working relationship.” He shook his head disapprovingly. “First the Mareva woman, now another p-positive freak?”
Along with several other NTAC staffers, Meghan had been involuntarily infected with promicin during fifty/fifty. And like the other survivors, she had developed a 4400 ability. This had posed a dilemma for NTAC, which was still tasked with carrying out the war on promicin. As a result, the agency had adopteda “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding all the NTAC employees who had gained abilities against their will. Everyone knew what had happened to them, but they were expected to be discreet about it … or face immediate termination.
“Watch it,” Tom warned him. He was tempted to pop Ryland in the nose, but chose not to take the bait. After all, he still didn’t know why the other man had requested this meeting. “What do you want, Dennis?”
“The same thing as always,” Ryland declared, getting down to business. “To stop the 4400 and the other positives from wrecking our way of life and endangering our national security. Today, that means bringing down Collier and his Movement.”
He extracted a plastic vial and shook a couple of circular brown tablets into his palm before popping the pills into his mouth. Tom recognized the tablets as ubiquinone, a common nutritional supplement that, in sufficient doses, could provide temporary immunity to promicin. The Feds had been madly stockpiling “U-Pills” for months now, despite Collier’s frequent efforts to sabotage the initiative via suspiciously surgical earthquakes and tornadoes. All p-negative NTAC agents now routinely carried emergency doses when in the field. Tom’s own supply was tucked in his back pocket.
“Unfortunately,” Ryland continued, “as I mentioned before, my people are persona non grata in Seattle, which means it’s up to you and your colleagues to dethrone Collier, even if it means taking advantage of your son’s connection to Collier.”
“Kyle?” Tom bristled at the suggestion. “You want me to exploit my own son?”
Ryland didn’t deny it. “As Collier’s confidant and righthand man, he’s a unique asset which we’d be fools not to utilize. I realize this puts you in an awkward position, but your duty to this country trumps your familial obligations.” His stern tone reminded Tom of how Ryland had once run NTAC’s northwest office. “You’re still a federal agent, Tom. Don’t tell me you approve of Collier turning Seattle into his own private fiefdom?”
“Of course not.” Tom didn’t trust Collier one bit, even though they had been forced to work together on occasion. In fact, NTAC was already doing its best to keep a close eye on Collier and his organization, given the constraints of the current situation. But he didn’t like getting bossed around by the likes of Ryland. “Leave Kyle out of this.”
“I wish I could,” Ryland said. “I used to attend his birthday parties, remember? As I recall, he really liked that chemistry set I got him when he was eleven.” His voice took on a rueful tone. “But Kyle made himself fair game when he hitched his star to Jordan Collier’s wagon.” He couldn’t resist twisting the knife a bit. “You ever think you set a bad example by literally sleeping with the enemy?”
Tom’s fists clenched at his sides. “You’re not exactly winning me over here, Dennis. Why should I help you?”
“The names Curtis Peck and Warren Trask ring a bell?” Ryland’s lean face hardened. Tom flinched at themention of the men he had murdered while Marked. “I’d hate to see you charged with crimes you committed while not in your right mind, but I can’t help thinking that your recent extracurricular activities give me a degree of leverage.”
Simone Tanaka cracked a bitter smile. “Gee, this sounds familiar.”
“Don’t try playing hardball with me.” Tom wasn’t sure if the
Along with several other NTAC staffers, Meghan had been involuntarily infected with promicin during fifty/fifty. And like the other survivors, she had developed a 4400 ability. This had posed a dilemma for NTAC, which was still tasked with carrying out the war on promicin. As a result, the agency had adopteda “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding all the NTAC employees who had gained abilities against their will. Everyone knew what had happened to them, but they were expected to be discreet about it … or face immediate termination.
“Watch it,” Tom warned him. He was tempted to pop Ryland in the nose, but chose not to take the bait. After all, he still didn’t know why the other man had requested this meeting. “What do you want, Dennis?”
“The same thing as always,” Ryland declared, getting down to business. “To stop the 4400 and the other positives from wrecking our way of life and endangering our national security. Today, that means bringing down Collier and his Movement.”
He extracted a plastic vial and shook a couple of circular brown tablets into his palm before popping the pills into his mouth. Tom recognized the tablets as ubiquinone, a common nutritional supplement that, in sufficient doses, could provide temporary immunity to promicin. The Feds had been madly stockpiling “U-Pills” for months now, despite Collier’s frequent efforts to sabotage the initiative via suspiciously surgical earthquakes and tornadoes. All p-negative NTAC agents now routinely carried emergency doses when in the field. Tom’s own supply was tucked in his back pocket.
“Unfortunately,” Ryland continued, “as I mentioned before, my people are persona non grata in Seattle, which means it’s up to you and your colleagues to dethrone Collier, even if it means taking advantage of your son’s connection to Collier.”
“Kyle?” Tom bristled at the suggestion. “You want me to exploit my own son?”
Ryland didn’t deny it. “As Collier’s confidant and righthand man, he’s a unique asset which we’d be fools not to utilize. I realize this puts you in an awkward position, but your duty to this country trumps your familial obligations.” His stern tone reminded Tom of how Ryland had once run NTAC’s northwest office. “You’re still a federal agent, Tom. Don’t tell me you approve of Collier turning Seattle into his own private fiefdom?”
“Of course not.” Tom didn’t trust Collier one bit, even though they had been forced to work together on occasion. In fact, NTAC was already doing its best to keep a close eye on Collier and his organization, given the constraints of the current situation. But he didn’t like getting bossed around by the likes of Ryland. “Leave Kyle out of this.”
“I wish I could,” Ryland said. “I used to attend his birthday parties, remember? As I recall, he really liked that chemistry set I got him when he was eleven.” His voice took on a rueful tone. “But Kyle made himself fair game when he hitched his star to Jordan Collier’s wagon.” He couldn’t resist twisting the knife a bit. “You ever think you set a bad example by literally sleeping with the enemy?”
Tom’s fists clenched at his sides. “You’re not exactly winning me over here, Dennis. Why should I help you?”
“The names Curtis Peck and Warren Trask ring a bell?” Ryland’s lean face hardened. Tom flinched at themention of the men he had murdered while Marked. “I’d hate to see you charged with crimes you committed while not in your right mind, but I can’t help thinking that your recent extracurricular activities give me a degree of leverage.”
Simone Tanaka cracked a bitter smile. “Gee, this sounds familiar.”
“Don’t try playing hardball with me.” Tom wasn’t sure if the
Similar Books
Envious Moon
Thomas Christopher Greene
Edge of Darkness ~ A Darkness & Light Novel Book Three
K. L. Schwengel
The Pirate Fairy
A.J. Llewellyn
Golf Flow
Gio Valiante
Classic Love: 7 Vintage Romances
Dorothy Fletcher
Wolf Stalker
Gloria Skurzynski
Wake Up, Mummy
Anna Lowe
Carpe Diem - Jesse 3
Eve Carter
The McClane Apocalypse Book 4
Kate Morris
In Your Dreams (Falling #4)
Ginger Scott