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“It is,” I agreed, hoping I didn’t look as embarrassed as Dane still did.
“That was one long session of doctor,” Merlin continued, clearly not ready to let me off the hook.
“It was indeed,” I said, nodding. “Very long. Very, very long.”
“Nice.” Merlin grinned at me, and I couldn’t help smiling back. “I’m just walking Dane out, you headed to bed?”
“No,” I admitted. “Can’t sleep. I was going to head down to Command Ops and see how the letter brigade are doing with that footage.”
“I’ll meet you down there.” Merlin looked back at Dane. “You ready?”
“Yup,” Dane answered.
I could tell the man was still uncomfortable, and I had no desire to make that worse for him. Picking on my friends was one thing, but I wasn’t interested in making a civilian embarrassed or upset, so I just nodded to both of them and headed for the stairs alone, wanting to give them any privacy they needed.
It occurred to me as I made my way through the lobby toward the secret entrance to Command Ops, that I wasn’t entirely sure I could get in. I knew the Secret Service had cleared me for West Wing entry, but Command Ops was co-run by every agency in the government. Since many of them still had me on the terror list, it was entirely possible I was going to walk in there and end up getting shot again.
When I reached the entrance, there wasn’t a guard posted out front, so I just placed my hand on the scanner and waited to see if I’d hear the click of the door lock disengaging, or if alarms would go off.
Thankfully, the door opened and when I stepped inside nothing happened at all.
I let out a slow sigh of relief as I walked fully into the room and started looking around at the people inside. There were about a dozen staff, each sitting at terminals, headphones on and the glazed look of a midnight shift crew who had no idea what they were looking for, but hoped they’d know it if they saw it.
I’d spent hundreds of overnights in that same position, I was familiar with the expression.
“I guess we’re just letting anyone in here now.” I felt a hand clap me on the shoulder and turned to see Frank Brier, the director of the CIA smiling at me.
“I guess so,” I agreed, reaching out and gripping his hand in a firm shake. “I’m surprised to see you here at this hour.”
“I haven’t left,” he admitted, motioning for me to follow him toward one of the banks of monitors. “We’re coordinating the Pentagon review and every time I think about leaving, someone needs me for something. I might end up putting a cot in the corner and moving in.”
“So they have found anything?” I asked.
“Fuck no,” Frank said, shaking his head. “Every time they think they do, it turns out to be nothing.” He sighed heavily. “Please tell me you have some theories.”
“I’ve got nothing,” I answered, not even trying to hide the bitterness in my tone. “None of us do.”
“It’s annoying as hell,” Merlin said as he walked up next to us. “And this one can’t even run out for coffee, so he’s especially frustrated.”
“Plus I got shot,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, that, too,” Merlin agreed.
“Well, listen, since I’m stuck here,” Frank said, lowering his voice and turning back to face me fully. “I’ve been going through and clearing your name from the agency lists. It might be a while before you’re publicly cleared by the media and the DC police, but everyone else’s lists have been wiped.”
“Hey man,” I said as I reached out to shake his hand again. “I really appreciate that.”
“Well, you can repay me by not telling anyone that I did it,” he admitted. “We were told to let it go for now.”
“I get that,” I said. “There’s plenty of work to go around and I never expected to be made a priority any time soon.”
“You fucking Phoenix guys.” Frank chuckled. “Such martyrs.”
“It’s not martyrdom,” I insisted.
“Not at all,” Merlin agreed. “It’s the brainwashing.”
“Yeah, I kind of feel like that’s not even a joke.” Frank shook his head. “I’ve gotta get back to work. Let me know if you need anything.”
