Page 153 of Enemy of My Enemy
“Leslie Christina Spiers!”
“—and a failed mission!” Flynn’s shout shook the concrete walls.
“You’re wrong!” Leslie shrieked. “You’re wrong! You’re wrong!”
Flynn flew at her again, grasping the arms of her chair. He hissed, right into her face. “Where and when are you planning to attack?”
She stared into his eyes and didn’t say a word.
A buzz sounded. Flynn pulled back. He turned without a word, shutting the door behind him with a faintsnik.
Leslie collapsed forward, sobs shaking her shoulders and leaking over the audio feed, weak moans as she whimpered and cried out for Jack.
* * *
Flynn wouldn’t lookat Jack when he walked into the observation room, rubbing at his eyes with one hand.
Director Mori, Director Campbell, and Secretary Aviles stood together. Irwin had his arms crossed, his forehead resting in one of his hands.
Jack watched Leslie through the glass.It’s not her. That’s not her.
“Are we fucking sure about this?” Flynn grabbed a paper cup of coffee he’d left behind before the interrogation began, downing the cold brew in two swallows. “She’s not showing any signs of deception and she’s sticking to her story.” He wadded up the paper cup and chucked it in the trash. “I mean, this whole thing is pretty fucking nuts to begin with. Are we sure about this intel?”
All eyes shifted to Jack.
“I trust the source of this intelligence one hundred percent.”
“What’s this amazing source? What’s so certain?”
“Someone I trust with everything.” He held Flynn’s incredulous stare, ignored his arched eyebrows. “Absolutelyeverything.”
“What the…” Leaning close to the two-way mirror, Campbell peered into the interrogation room. “What the hell is she doing?”
They turned together.
Gone was the sobbing, panicked, frightened, stubborn woman. Gone was the slouching, the practiced art form of vulnerability. Gone was the trembling, the show of fear.
Leslie had turned her chair, facing the mirror head on. She stared into the center, as if she was staring straight into Jack’s gaze.
“Fuck me.” Flynn took off, tearing out of the observation room and back to the interrogation.
“I have a message,” she started. “All of this, every single thing we’ve done, was all for Jack,” the not-Leslie clone purred. “You got in our way, Jack. You and Ethan. But you won’t be in our way any longer.” She grinned. “General Madigan sends his regards.”
Flynn burst through the door as Leslie grabbed her mangled, disfigured hand and slammed it down on the metal arm of her chair, just above the wrist. Bones snapped, two audible cracks, and she tipped her head back as she started to laugh.
“Mr. President!” Irwin lunged for Jack, throwing himself on top of Jack and hurling them both to the ground, right before shattered concrete and roaring flame ripped through the lower level of Langley.
Jack’s entire world went white.
* * *
BREAKING NEWS
Massive Blast Tears through Langley CIA Headquarters’ Underground Complex
Terror Attack Suspected
A massive explosion tore through the CIA’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, in the early morning hours. Sources say the blast originated inside one of the underground interrogation centers, and that it may have been a suicide detonation with explosives concealed within the attacker’s body. Part of the complex has collapsed. The estimated death toll is not yet known.
