Page 57 of The Ranger
I didn’t want to put all my focus on Chen because he might be just a difficult personality.During the Project Helix meeting yesterday, we put him on the spot in regard to the delivery of the Erbium component.The dark look he sent my way told me he considered me an enemy.
But that didn’t make him a spy.
Or guilty of espionage.
“Need that date, Chen.When is the prototype run happening?”I’d pushed, calling him out in front of the entire team.
He flopped his head side to side, flicking through some papers.“Hard to know, you know.I think next week, maybe the following.”
“Chen, we need a solid date,” Nathan instructed, losing his cool.Afterward, I told him to try to stay calm, seeing the stress get to him, but I could hardly blame the guy.
A few of the team shuffled uncomfortably in their seats and looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.
“I will come back to you tomorrow,” Chen promised.
He hadn’t.
“Send me the supplier details.I’ll call them.”I shook my head as if I were incredibly disappointed in his incompetence.
Chen had given me a deathly stare that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing.
“I just said it was chill, Cole.”
Ignoring him, I addressed the team.“Delivery is set to go to Arlington, Virginia, next month.Let’s make sure packaging is on track, and I will speak to the supplier.”
“Thanks Cole, good to have you on the team.”
Chen’s look darkened.
I’d embarrassed him in front of his boss and peers.Was that upsetting him?Or was the fact that I was in his face messing with his plans to steal the prototype?
Or was he simply an enormous control freak?
“We need more security around the production facilities,” I told Josh while Marshall and Liam had joined us.
“Thing is,” Josh rubbed the back of his neck, “We don’t want to scare the mole too much.We need to give them space to do what they need to do, so we catch them in the act.Unless we find some other proof.”
I rubbed my forehead.“If he takes off during the night, that is bad.”
“Then we don’t fuck up.”Liam said, crossing his arms.“You want me inside with you?”
Four eyes are better than two.I wasn’t opposed to it.
“No.”Josh shook his head.“You’ve shaken up the nest, now let’s see who falls out.Our team in there knows what they’re doing, so you can rely on them.”
He was right.
The stakes were making me unusually nervous, and with our due date hanging over my shoulder, I didn’t want to mess this up because I was the one distracted.
“Update Nathan tomorrow, so he knows our plan,” Josh added.
“Okay, but can I shoot Chen, anyway?”
“Then, problem solved.”Liam laughed.
I grinned.
“Unfortunately, if he’s a North Korean spy, killing him will create an international drama.”Josh nudged his laptop to the side.“And paperwork I could do without right now.No bodies on this one, boys, please.”
