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17
It took a lot to scare Raul and now he was terrified. What Jacko’s dad was talking about was essentially the end of the United States for a generation, maybe more. Knocking it far back, maybe to depression-era status.
Lives would be lost, lots of them. The mayhem Jimenez described came with riots which would have to be ruthlessly repressed. Hospitals which wouldn’t function for weeks, maybe months. Maybe even years. Kids losing school years, maybe forever. There were four hundred million guns in private hands and they would come out, real fast.
He checked his watch. 8:58.
Anything he and his teammates could do, anything at all, to stop this, they’d do. There was still time.
“Do we know anyone there?” he asked Jimenez.
“Sure.” Dante nodded his head. “I know the representatives of the DEA, the FBI and some Homeland Security people. But overall security is overseen by Jacob Black and his people. We should contact him.”
Raul had Jacob Black on speed dial. Everyone at ASI did. ASI and Black Inc worked together often.
Black answered on the second ring. “Raul. Talk to me.” There was the low buzz of voices in the background, mostly male, some female.
Jacob Black showed up on the huge wall monitor. Black was dressed in a sharply cut suit, which Raul knew Black hated. He was a field guy and usually dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt and combat boots.
“Can you go somewhere private, Jacob? It’s important.”
If what Dante said was true, Jacob was providing security for one of the most important security meetings in a generation, but he didn’t betray any emotion or exasperation. “Can it keep?” he said. “I’m in the middle of something.”
“I know. I have urgent intel about your meeting.”
“Give me a minute.” The video and sound cut off and then a moment later Jacob Black came back online in a darker room and with no background noise. “So, what’s up?”
Raul looked to the side. Maybe Emma was better suited to explain the background. “I’m going to let Emma Holland explain. She was with Felicity, Hope and Riley at NSA. She knows what she’s doing.”
Black’s craggy face lit up. “Are you a friend of those genius women at ASI?”
Emma sketched a faint smile. “Yessir, I am.”
“Well, before you go any further, let me offer you a job. I envy ASI those women and I’d like one of you for Black, Inc. We’d treat you well.”
Emma looked taken aback. She was probably flattered. It was actually extremely flattering that such a powerful man wanted her to join his company, which was one of the premier security firms in the world. He’d offer her a great salary with great benefits.
But … no.
Raul slung an arm around her shoulders. “She’s coming up to Portland. Joining the old gang, at ASI.”
Emma slanted him a glance but said nothing.
Black gave a frosty smile. “Understood.” Raul was sure he understood it all. “So, Ms. Holland, what is this about? I’m sorry to say that my time is limited.”
“Mr. Black, I understand that you are at a secret summit of America’s intelligence and security community.” Black opened his mouth but Emma held up a finger.
And Black’s mouth shut.
Emma had somehow morphed from a very pretty young woman to a figure of authority that could shut even Jacob Black up.
“It doesn’t really matter how we know—”
“I might have an idea how this happened,” a deep voice interrupted.
The screen opened a new field and Dante Jimenez appeared in the top right-hand corner. “Black,” he said, nodding.
“Jimenez,” Black answered, nodding back.
