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The apartment was small but luxurious. A master bedroom, a study that also had a cot for visitors, combo kitchen-dining area, one big master bath and a half bathroom. Riley went straight into the master bath and he heard the shower start up. It was one of those ‘pretend you’re having a shower that smells of lavender in the rain forest’ deals, with six shower heads. Riley hung up her clothes on hangars, and the steam had straightened them out. She looked crisp and refreshed when she came out. When she opened the bathroom door, she looked around for him and when she saw him, she smiled. A full-on smile that lit her face. Like sunshine breaking through on a cloudy day.
Something knocked in his chest and he put a fist to his heart. It hurt.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“Hey,” she answered.
He started toward her but stopped at the chyron. He’d turned on the TV to a cable news channel, volume muted. Alarmed, he switched the volume on.
The usual big-haired woman with lots of teeth had a worried expression on her face.
Good afternoon, and welcome to the top news of the hour. In a recent development, tensions have escalated between China and the United States following the downing of an American MQ-1 drone, known as a Reaper drone, by a Chinese jet.
According to reports, the incident took place in the South China Sea, where the drone was conducting a routine surveillance mission. The Chinese jet reportedly intercepted the drone and shot it down, claiming that the drone had violated China's airspace and was conducting illegal spying operations.
The United States has strongly condemned the incident and has demanded the immediate return of the drone. In a statement released by the Pentagon, the United States called the act "unlawful" and "dangerous," and warned that it could lead to a further escalation of tensions in the region. Tensions are already rising due to an incident in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army attacked American scientists studying a new variant of Ebola.
The Chinese government, however, has defended its actions and has accused the United States of provocative behavior in the region. In a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the government called on the United States to "stop its illegal and provocative activities in the South China Sea" and to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The incident comes at a time of increasing tension between China and the United States, particularly in the South China Sea, where China has been asserting its territorial claims over several disputed islands and reefs. The United States has been conducting regular surveillance missions in the region, which China has repeatedly denounced as a violation of its sovereignty.
The downing of the American drone is likely to further strain relations between the two countries, which are already at odds over a range of issues beyond the incident in Congo, including trade, human rights, and Taiwan.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
They looked at each other.
“An MQ-1 drone costs thirty million dollars,” Pierce said.
“And from what I understand, it carries Hellfire missiles, which cost upwards of $150,000 each.”
“And next time, maybe the MQ-1 will have time to let off a missile and we’ve got the South China Sea covered in dead Chinese pilots and plane parts.”
They looked at each other. So far, except for the inciting incident, no one had died. As soon as either an American or Chinese national died, things would spiral downwards very fast.
“You’re right. We need to talk to Jacob Black,” she said.
Pierce was torn, an unusual feeling for him. He was very clear on who was friend and who was foe in this world. But now …
“We need to talk to him without him knowing where we are. Not that I don’t trust Black, I trust him with my life, but there’s a leak somewhere and it has to be from Black Inc. We don’t know who it is and I’m not risking your life to find out.”
“Yeah. I know a way to talk safely. Or rather, my buddies do. I’ll route through them. We could be on the moon, for all Jacob Black could find out.”
Pierce smiled. “Using the Queens? That’s what we call them back in the office.”
Riley smiled back. “The Queens? I like it.” Her fingers travelled quickly over the keyboard—so quickly it looked like she wasn’t touching the keys at all, but the air over the keys. Hope’s pretty face showed on the screen, then Emma’s equally pretty face.
“Hey,” Hope said. “What’s up? Are you okay? We’re a little worried.”
Riley looked at Pierce and he motioned for her to continue. She knew best how to explain what’s up.
“We testified in front of some brass this morning, as you know,” Riley said. “I’m not too sure we were getting through to them. I think we got through to the tech savvy aides who could follow, but I think the higher-ups were taking the deepfake at face value and didn’t quite believe it could be fake. That’s going to be a problem. And as if that isn’t enough, our convoy was attacked going back to the safe house.”
“What?” Hope and Emma said together.
“The fuck?” A deep voice intervened. Raul Martinez’s face appeared between the two women. He looked angry. As he should.
Pierce put his hand on Riley’s shoulder and she looked up at him. He waved a finger at the screen and she nodded. He should tell the next bit.
