Page 72 of Undercover Infidel
“Yes,” I said, studying him. “After disregarding a direct order.”
He raised a brow. “I did no such thing.”
“You and Renegade were to report to the testing field. According to him, you ordered him to proceed west with Archon instead.”
“The teams made no sense. Neither of those two have the experience to evaluate the testing site while Dr. McLaren and I do.”
I shook my head. “The time to address the change was prior to the start of the op. You were out of line, doing so once we were in position. Not only that, but you were not authorized to use nonstandard ammunition rounds for a standard infiltration.”
Something dangerous flickered in Bennett’s eyes. “There are aspects of this operation you’re not privy to.”
“What did you say?”I tried to keep my tone even, but the rage I felt was still apparent.
The tension in the room thickened, the air between us charged with unspoken accusations. I shifted slightly, positioning myself where I could react if the situation deteriorated. “This isn’t your fucking mission, Malcolm, and I resent?—”
McLaren rested her hand on my arm and cleared her throat. “This hostility isn’t productive. We need to focus on what matters—the data you recovered.”
“Agreed,” said Con as our gazes met.
“I’llhandle the technical analysis,” I said, looking between McLaren and Bennett.
“Of course,” she replied. “But if you need assistance…”
“I’ll let you know,” I finished.
As the night progressed, Con and I studied what we’d recovered.
“These targeting capabilities,” I murmured to Con when we were alone in the bedroom. “They could disable critical infrastructure while leaving their own systems intact.”
Con’s expression remained stoic, but I could read the concern in his eyes. “We need to formulate a response based on this intelligence,” he replied, steeling his expression. “Tomorrow will be crucial.”
When we returned to the main room, Bennett was watching us intently. “Well?”
“It’s as we feared,” Con replied. “But the intel gives us what we need to mount a decisive operation. Therefore, I agree we should move against Orlov tomorrow.”
Bennett nodded, satisfied. “Good. I’ll be ready.”
“Your wound—” McLaren began.
“Won’t slow me down,” Bennett cut her off.
As the safe house settled,Con assigned watch rotations. Tag and I took the first shift, positioned by the window where we could monitor both the street outside and the room behind me.
The quiet hours of my watch stretched endlessly, filled with unanswered questions that multiplied with each passing minute. Why had the alarm triggered at Bennett and McLaren’s position? How had McLaren known details about systems she shouldn’t have? And why did Bennett seem so insistent on moving forward despite his injury?
When Archon relieved me, I returned to the bedroom and found Con still awake.
“I’m worried.”
He looked up at me. “I’d ask what about, but the end of the world seems cause enough.”
I half smiled. “Were McLaren’s and Bennett’s actions today based on the misinformation you put in their briefs?”
“I’ve been thinking about that too. Not precisely enough to say with certainty. However, that they’re sharing information with each other is evident. Then again, we’re all working the same mission, so that they are, isn’t damning in itself.”
“Any leaks otherwise?” I asked.
Con shook his head and motioned for me to join him. Our eyes met before I rested my head on his chest. In his, I saw the same terror I felt over what we were up against.
