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She laughs. “Nice change of pace.”
Liam says, “But I need to set the ground rules. Whatever is said here, stays here. On deep background. Not even mentioning anyone connected with the CIA. Only a government official. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Kay says.
“Last time we chatted at Bullfeathers, you said you were working on a story about the president. How he’s using his connections in Langley and the Pentagon to set up a back-channel network to go after whoever’s on his enemies list. True?”
“Quite true.”
“How’s the story going?”
“Slow,” she says. “Practically nonexistent.”
“How did the story start? A source at the Agency?”
Kay says, “Sorry, we’re going to need a bit of quid pro quo here, Liam. You don’t get to haul me out here and grill me. I’m going to need some information in exchange.”
Liam remembers back to his Army training when he stepped outof a perfectly good aircraft, in his first parachute jump. That initial step out into air and nothingness, hoping you knew what you were doing and that your equipment was going to work.
He says, “Your story is correct. One hundred percent. President Barrett has set up a back-channel and probably illegal network to attack terrorists abroad and in-country, without Congressional oversight or knowledge. It’s been going on for just over two months.”
“How do you know this, Liam?”
The words seem to come out weighted with lead. “Because I’m leading one of the teams. How’s that for a quid pro quo?”
“Pretty damn good,” she says. “You’re right, I’ve got a source in the Agency.”
“Who is he? Or she?”
“Sorry, Liam, I’m not burning my source. But … you’re confirming my story. What now? Can you tell me more?”
“Not at the moment,” he says. “But you’ve got the story. Work it, work it hard, and tell your editors that it’s the real deal. Where and when I can, I’ll pass on information to help you. But only on my schedule and terms, Kay.”
“Agreed,” she says. “But why are you telling me this? What’s going on?”
“Bad things are going on,” Liam says. “That’s what’s going on … and I can’t stand it anymore.”
“Good for you,” she says.
Liam says, “There’s something else developing.”
“Like what?”
“Like something so out there I can’t even wrap my mind around it,” he says. “Sorry. But if I can convince this guy to talk to you … it’ll be a game changer.”
She sighs. “Sounds like our marriage, Liam. Over-promising and under-delivering.”
“Keep on thinking that, Kay,” Liam says, irritation growing, “but when it hits, it’s going to be like nothing you’ve ever reported on.”
They sit in quiet for a few long seconds, and Kay says, “What now?”
“You keep on pushing, you go back to your source, and work hard. I’ll help when I can, but we have to do it the right way. Which means no phone calls, no email messages, no texts. Same kind of tradecraft as before. All right?”
Kay says, “That sounds a bit much, Liam.”
He says, “You know yourPosthistory?”
“As good as anyone who works there,” she says.
