Page 87 of Whistleblower

“What do you want me to say, Vesper?” My tone is hushed, not wanting to accidentally pique Cricket’s curiosity. Like Vesper, she has ears like a bat. “I have coordinates that lead to a little village in the Sahel. The only thing left for you to decide is what you want to do about it.”

She matches my steady gaze. “What do you want to do about it?”

Picturing the tormented women in chains, my answer is easy. “I want the head of the snake.”

“It’s the Sahel. The threat out there is like a Hydra. Cut off one head, there’s a million more, Linc. Anyway, Africa is outside the FBI’s jurisdiction. Callen won’t agree to that.”

“Fuck Callen. Fuck the FBI.” I feel my adrenaline rise. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, Linc. “You’ve lost your way. PALADIN’s jurisdiction is wherever there’s bad people doing evil things. Or have you forgotten that, buried behind all your paperwork?”

Vesper’s pointer finger lands an inch from my face. Her eyes grow cold and menacing. “Don’t question me. You don’t understand the burden I bear because I intend it that way. You aren’t responsible for any of the bodies you’ve put in the ground, I am. I sic the dogs, not you. Until you’re willing to wear the crown and accept that you’re the cause of thousands of sons and daughters rotting six feet under, don’t you dare fucking question my choices. The FBI and I—”

“You left the FBI, Vesper. Isn’t that how PALADIN was established? Then, for what?” I growl, matching her combativeness.

“Not because they were bad, because they were ineffective!” She buries her head in her hands as soon as the words leave her lips and she hears the irony clear as day.

Pulling her hands from her face, I stare into her dark eyes. “If you were struggling, you should’ve come to me. You didn’t have to run back to the badge.”

She lets out a low hum and I can almost hear the guilt in her response. “You were only sixteen, Linc. Maybe if I’d left you alone, you would’ve ended up with a normal life. That’s what I want for you—to find something that grounds you, so you don’t end up floating away, like me. It’s very lonely. There’s nothing up here except—”

“Monsters and ghosts,” I finish for her. The first time I heard Vesper’s metaphor about how she chased monsters and ghosts, it sounded so badass to a sixteen-year-old kid. Now, it just sounds tragic.

We stand in the hallway for a while, hearing nothing but Cricket’s occasional protests through the door as the doctor argues back in a low murmur.

Vesper’s the one to break the silence. “I’ll give Callen my strong recommendation for a visit to the Sahel. But we need more intel.”

“Well then, check container 41B-2A. There’s a canary in there that’ll sing for you.”

Vesper exhales in exasperation. “I have enough to deal with between Cricket and Lance’s theatrics. Please don’t become a problem child for me. Keep your jobs clean from now on.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I salute her mockingly before turning down the hallway, already salivating over the idea of a hot shower and a decent meal.

“Oh, and Linc,” Vesper calls after me.

I throw my head back and grumble before turning around. “What?”

“Cricket’s right.”

“About?”

“Eden’s birthday. No woman wants to spend it alone.”

“But she told me—”

“I know what she told you,” Vesper says, her tone condescending like she’s talking to a toddler. “But I’m telling you to at least pick up a card, some flowers, and go wish her a happy birthday in person. Believe me, I’m a woman… You’ll have hell to pay if you don’t.”

I rub the back of my neck trying to soothe the ache. “Aren’t I supposed to respect her privacy? Why would she say she wants to be alone if she didn’t mean it?”

“Hm… Why would a woman say what she doesn’t mean? That’s a question for whatever god you pray to, right after ‘Why did the dinosaurs die?’ and ‘Do you actually exist?’”

I snort at her sarcasm, then ask in all seriousness, “Is that your way of giving me your blessing?”

Vesper purses her lips and slowly bobs her head. “I can’t say I want you grounded and then rip you away from the only person that’s ever made you smile like that. Just remember, if she’s next to you, the target on her back will always be bigger than the one on yours.”

I nod in understanding. “Bye, Vesper,” I say before I turn back around and head down the hall, mentally debating where the hell I’m supposed to buy birthday cards and flowers.

THIRTY-TWO

EDEN

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