Page 41 of Into the Gray Zone

Bostwick took a breath and said, “The RAW thinks it’s an Islamic terrorist attack, and theyownthis country. The head of the organization told me that to my face. Don’t build this up into some conspiracy. You did your job and they did theirs. The meeting was a success, and our covert action is in motion. It will take much more than a terrorist attack to stop it now.”

“The head of RAW may think that, but the rank and file don’t. I’m telling you there’s something more here. Those guys were on the hunt for a body, and we know it wasn’t you, because nobody knew you were coming. It might be the head of RAW, because my contact thinks they might be compromised from the inside, and that’s something we should look at. They take him out, and it’ll throw this whole covert action into the trash bin, since he’s making it so close hold. He’s a single point of failure.”

My bringing up the long-term success of his plan gave him pause. He said, “So how do we figure out if it’s an insider threat? Do you have anything to prove that?”

“No. Not from what we found, but wedidfind an address for further exploration, and I need your approval to go check it out.”

“Where?”

“It’s an address in Old Delhi. I have no idea what’s there, or why it was in the room, but I want to check it out.”

“What’s your RAW contact think? What’s he saying about a Chinese connection?”

“I have no idea. I’m meeting the contact tonight. They have the information we gave, and I’m waiting on their analysis.”

He nodded, then said, “Okay, see what they say, but they’ll have already slammed that address by the time you talk. They have no love of the Chinese. If the RAW is involved, they’re probably dead by now.”

I said, “I don’t think so. My read is my contact wants this close hold and wants plausible deniability if they’re wrong. The contact has no power in RAW, but really believes in the mission. They’re going to want me to check it out to protect themselves.”

He smiled and said, “That’s what I would expect. They want you to hang it out. If you’re right, then they’ll take credit. If you’re wrong, then we’ll get the blame. But if you’re right, I need to know.”

“So I’m good to check out this address? I get the Rock Star bird for a five-day vacation with my team? Cover development after the meeting? You’ll sell it that way to the Oversight Council?”

He exhaled, knowing he was putting his own ass on the line. He said, “Yeah, go for it. But watch your back. I don’t trust the RAW any more than I trust the KGB. They have their own agenda.”

Chapter24

Kerry paid the bill and I let him exit separately first, just in case anyone was outside watching. After he was clear and on his way back to the resort, my team stood up and left the restaurant. Once outside, I said, “We’ve got the meeting tonight with Nadia. Jennifer, Knuckles, and I will handle that. Brett, you and Veep pack our kit up and get the Rock Star bird ready to travel. Get us a hotel in Delhi.”

Brett said, “Why do we get the scut work? How about Jennifer and Knuckles do the pack-up and we conduct the meeting with you?”

“Nope. Nadia knows Jennifer and Knuckles already. I’m not dragging you two into the circle.”

Veep said, “Come on. You know she’s already done her due diligence. She’s probably got all of our passport photos taped to her wall.”

Which was true, but I wasn’t budging. “Just do the scut work this time. Jennifer’s female and I want her there.”

I turned to go to our SUV and Brett said, “What about Knuckles?”

I said, “He’s banging her. He’s coming to the meeting.”

Jennifer’s mouth dropped open and Knuckles said, “Hey, come on!”

I said, “What? Is that a secret? Quit your bickering, the tasks are the tasks. Let’s get back to the resort.”

I turned without another word, hearing Brett chuckling and Knuckles muttering behind me.

Knuckles, Jennifer, and I split away, the others heading north to their vehicle as we walked to our SUV down the lane. Jennifer took my hand and gave it a ferocious squeeze. I looked at her and saw the death glare.

Gonna be hearing about that comment later...

I leaned into her ear and said, “Give me a break. Remember all the shit Knuckles used to give us when we were sleeping around? Before we were married? Payback is a bitch.”

She said, “Payback doesn’t mean being an asshole. That wasn’t necessary.”

I chuckled and said, “Oh, yeah it was. He deserves it.”

She squeezed my hand again, this time more lightly, and I was focused on her affection. Focused on what was good in my life instead of what could go bad. Because of it, I missed the group of men who coalesced around us. Ordinarily, I’d have seen them a mile away, but I was too fixated on my team’s cohesion and—if I was honest—my wife’s acceptance.

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