Page 57 of Filthy Liar

“Fuck.”

“It doesn’t sound right because it’s not right. It’s spin, designed to cover up his real power move. Another four years, and he’s going to be running for President. And you don’t know that because he keeps you in the dark.”

“And you, a journalist who has hid on the west coast for five years, knows this…how, exactly?”

I swallow hard. “I have a source. One very close to international intelligence agencies. Canada is going to call for the United Nations to form a criminal tribunal to investigate PRISM. Mack is one of the targets of that investigation.”

Jason doesn’t move. His hands ball up into fists at his side, his knuckles turning white. “How do you know?”

“Because I know.”

“Canada is an active participant in PRISM’s leadership summit. Every year, consistently. This year the Prime Minister’s principal secretary will attend—”

“No.” I shake my head. “He’ll go to New York at the last minute. The resolution will pass while those who would object are distracted.”

“Jesus.”

“I’m not lying to you.”

“I want to believe you.” But he doesn’t yet. Fair is fair. It’s going to take some time to sink in. He stands there for a long time, the silence pulsing between us. Finally, his shoulders sag. “How long have you known?”

“Since before I met you.”

“He was always the target.” Jason’s jaw flexes hard, his lips white with tension. “And I was a means to the end.”

“Yes.” I owe him the truth, however brutal it may be.

“So what happened? Why no great takedown?”

“It’s easier said than done.” I pause. “And you were trying. I thought you all might actually get somewhere. But they’re more powerful than we ever will be.”

“And I was just a pawn in their game.”

“We’re all pawns,” I say as gently as possible. “There is no such thing as a good billionaire, Jason. Not even when they’re related to you by blood.”

“Blood means nothing,” he growls, a rough, angry burst of three words that feel like an entire saga sharpened to a point.

“You have something more important than blood bonds. You have real brothers here.” I gesture to the empty hallway behind us. The men who left us alone without question. “They trust you. They will help you here.”

“I don’t know what to do with this.” His voice has lost its rough edge now. He sounds hollow. Rung out.

“I’m sorry.”

“You should have told me sooner.”

“Would you have believed me? I don’t think anyone in the USINT community believes this yet. There’s a real rift in the Five Eyes Alliance, Jason. And it’s not like I’ve known all of this for very long myself.”

“Your source—is it the Canadian guy?”

“I can’t reveal my sources. Not even to you.”

“He didn’t like me. Mack set up my sit down with him.” Jason laughs, and it’s so hard and brittle it hurts my ears. “Fucking douchebag. Fucking asshole motherfucker. Fuck—” He stops and looks at me. “You don’t think US intelligence is taking this seriously?”

“Not enough to publish it as a story, but…that’s what the rumors are, yeah.”

He grabs me by the shoulders. “This conversation isn’t over.”

“I—”

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