Page 99 of False Flag

That was her second least favorite phrase—right after I’m just asking questions. In this instance, it was the disingenuous cop-out of someone who had no opposing argument, nothing he could say to prove her wrong.

“Sorry, that’s an actual scientific fact. Your disagreement means nothing. It has no basis in science or reality.”

She turned and faced him. She wasn’t here to argue about orphan artifacts and human remains that were in the possession of a colonizer who had no respect for the culture or people they represented.

“I’ve been looking forward to discussing the project with you both, but I’m afraid this comes at a difficult time, so we should get to it.” She crossed to the table and sat in one of the chairs with a plate in front of it. “Gerard, we can’t move forward without a research design. For that, we need legitimate research questions. What I’ve been given so far is not workable.”

“Lloyd was supposed to give the team areas to work with.” Gerard took a seat on the other side of the table. “His passing has left us all in a lurch.”

“I’m sorry my brother inconvenienced you by dying.” Jake’s tone was so sharp it could pierce armor.

Gerard grabbed a decanter of red wine from the center of the table and poured into Jake’s glass. “Apology accepted.” He poured wine for everyone, then set the decanter down. “I am deeply sorry for your loss. For our loss. Your brother was a good man.” He raised his glass. “To Lloyd Burns.”

They all held up their glasses and drank. For that moment, Staci thought of Lloyd, feeling his loss. Jake’s loss. She set her glass down, noting that the exchange had defused the tension in the room. Gerard was good. She’d give him that.

Now her boss fixed his gaze on Jake. “I understand you wish to fill in for Lloyd.”

“As much as I’m able. I could be called back by the Navy at any time. Use me while you can.”

Gerard turned to Casper. “Any objections?”

Casper had taken the seat at the head of the table, with Gerard at his left and Jake at his right. He cocked his head and studied his wineglass. “I thought you were on leave?”

“I am, but it can be revoked at a moment’s notice. Comes with the job.”

“That’s right. You’re a SEAL, aren’t you?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“I would have been a SEAL. Was ready to enlist. I’d have been a perfect fit.”

Staci was taking a sip and inhaled sharply at the ridiculous statement, which triggered a cough.

Surely he was joking?

But no. He was dead serious. For the first time, she wondered if the man was high. There were rumors of drug use.

“Yeah. I’d signed up. I was ready to give all to my country—US, not Canada—because special forces needed me. But then I took the aptitude test and was told I was too smart. Military intelligence. That’s where I was headed.” He picked up his glass and drained it.

Staci didn’t dare meet Jake’s gaze. If she did, she’d end up laughing in the ridiculous man’s face.

“I didn’t want to be in intelligence. If I was going to unleash my brain on the world, it would be for technology, not war.” He poured another glass.

Gerard stood and rang a bell on the sideboard. “I think we’re ready to eat, Casper. As Staci said, it’s a difficult time, and we should get to it.”

A moment later, the door opened, and a servant entered with a tray of soup bowls. Staci was thankful for the efficiency because she couldn’t handle a long night with a drugged-out host.

The soup seemed to help, at least. Casper regained his grip on the conversation, and she might not have guessed he was on something if not for the delusions of grandeur.

Of course, he might well suffer those even when sober.

Salad and bread had been cleared, and the main course—leg of lamb—was being set when Gerard brought the conversation back around to Jake’s role on the project. “What do you think, Casper? Can I give Jake the computer with the map database?”

Casper finished chewing and then took a long drink before responding. “I trusted Lloyd. He believed in what we were doing. This doesn’t feel right. Lloyd had access to mapping data that belongs to me. My satellites, my software, my land.”

Staci interrupted. “Surely the province has the right…?”

It was Gerard who answered. “The mineral data, sure, but not everything. And Casper is referring to land in Canada and the US. Two countries, a state and a province, multiple municipalities. Throw in tribal land and treaty rights, and you have Nation to Nation bullshit thrown in.”