Page 33 of Filthy Lies

Star:She works with the CIA.

Conor:Okaaay. Is this about the pokers again?

Star:Maybe. She’s more like a satellite of theirs now.

Conor:You want her back in the field?

Star:That’s not doable with her schedule.

Conor:Yes, I’m sure her kill-for-hire business is booming.

Star:Oh, it is. She was complaining about a gift bag shortage or something yesterday.

Conor:That’s such a weird thing to do.

Star:Everyone has their MO. It’s called an MO for a reason.

Conor:I picked up on that.

Star:Cin has family in the field. Family that’s friendly with me.

Conor:Friendly enough to spy for you?

Star:Uh-huh. We served in Afghanistan together.

Conor:Why have you never called on her before?

Star:Because Cin hadn’t told me what went down with her cousin in Baghdad.

Conor:She was in Iraq?

Star:Yup.

Conor:What happened? Was she a sex slave too? (You know, it’s only since you came into my world that these questions have become commonplace.)

Star:(My bad.) And no. She was demoted.

Conor:Why?

Star:She came forward with some information about the mistreatment of prisoners of war under her CO’s custody.

Conor:And they demoted her?

Star:Not technically.

Conor:Meaning?

Star:Meaning ‘demotion’ can come in many ways.

Conor:So… she was given desk duty instead of active jobs?

Star:Yeah.

Conor:And she’s bitter?

Star:Oh, yeah. The Blacks are a family of hardcore soldiers. They’ve served the country for five generations. Don’t even ask them about the Civil War. I swear to fuck they know which of their relatives served where.

Conor:Jesus.

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