stay in the units we’re in, but I can do more good out there mixin’ it up the way I used to.”
“And, with the possibility of an internal security breach, you think you could do that better if I carry on as if you’re still officially assigned to Unit Seven.”
“That’s a great idea!”
“Don’t try to yank my chain, Specialist,” Sayers said. “If you’d just wanted to leave, you would have left. With all the butter you’re applying to my ass cheeks on this little walk, it’s obvious you need something from me.”
“I never was much for sneaky,” Rico admitted.
“But you do a hell of a job when you’re in your element.” Glancing over to the Skinner as he stopped and faced him, Sayers added, “Even out of your element. You’ve been one hell of an asset, Rico. If it had been anyone else asking for this kind of a concession, I’d turn them down flat.”
“Hopefully it ain’t too big of a deal. Just fake a few reports and tick my name off on the attendance records or whatever.”
Sayers genuinely laughed and started walking again. “You obviously don’t know how closely IRD Specialists are monitored. I can cover for you, but there’ll be hell to pay once the wrong people find out you’re gone. Trust me, that’s not a matter of if . It’s when .”
“When that happens, just say I went AWOL after spouting off about somethin’ or other.”
“Believe me, that’s what I had in mind. I’ll want something in exchange, though.”
“Course you do. Even when there ain’t much of an economy left, nuthin’s ever free.”
“I’ll need some intel on these Vigilant,” Sayers said. “It’ll have to be the juicy stuff.”
“I been shacked up with the IRD for a while now,” Rico told him. “Lots of what I know from before won’t mean much.”
“You’ve still got to know some names, the locations of permanent bases, operating procedures, anything to help us gain some ground on that front.”
Slowly, Rico nodded. “I suppose there’s a few things I could tell you that may be a help. Just know that if anyone I talk about is still a Vigilant, they’ll be prepared for someone to come after them. And any locations I give you could be nothin’ but empty buildings that’re wired to go up in a ball of flame if anyone comes poking around.”
“Reminds me of the good ol’ days in Afghanistan,” Sayers replied.
“In that case, there was this place in Louisville I can tell you about.”
“What about you?” Sayers asked. “Where are you headed?”
“To call in some favors with a few old friends.”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen any other Skinners. Would any of these friends want a job? I’ll be needing a new Specialist soon.”
Rico’s expression darkened, and his eyes focused on a point a long ways beyond West Virginia. “Sorry, but no. The guy I have in mind ain’t exactly as sociable as he used to be.”
“If you need access to a communications rig to contact this man, that would be well within your duties as a Specialist.”
“It’s not the sort of thing I’d want monitored.”
Sayers grinned. “I guess you do have an idea of how closely you’re being watched. I could tag the calls as Classified. They’d have to be short, but it could be done.”
“Seems awfully generous, Lieutenant.”
“The way I see it, as long as you’re not howling at the moon or running around on four legs, we’re on the same side of this conflict.”
“Then you’d best not catch me anywhere near a bottle of Jim Beam.”
Both men laughed as their steps took an easier cadence. “Let me know where you need to call, and I’ll see what I can do to put you in touch with this friend of yours.”
“This guy won’t be anywhere he can be easily reached. Come to think of it, I don’t know off hand where he is. I got a few ideas, but he’s been out of touch lately. I just hope he ain’t too far gone by the time I catch up to him.”
“Sounds like a dangerous man
“And, with the possibility of an internal security breach, you think you could do that better if I carry on as if you’re still officially assigned to Unit Seven.”
“That’s a great idea!”
“Don’t try to yank my chain, Specialist,” Sayers said. “If you’d just wanted to leave, you would have left. With all the butter you’re applying to my ass cheeks on this little walk, it’s obvious you need something from me.”
“I never was much for sneaky,” Rico admitted.
“But you do a hell of a job when you’re in your element.” Glancing over to the Skinner as he stopped and faced him, Sayers added, “Even out of your element. You’ve been one hell of an asset, Rico. If it had been anyone else asking for this kind of a concession, I’d turn them down flat.”
“Hopefully it ain’t too big of a deal. Just fake a few reports and tick my name off on the attendance records or whatever.”
Sayers genuinely laughed and started walking again. “You obviously don’t know how closely IRD Specialists are monitored. I can cover for you, but there’ll be hell to pay once the wrong people find out you’re gone. Trust me, that’s not a matter of if . It’s when .”
“When that happens, just say I went AWOL after spouting off about somethin’ or other.”
“Believe me, that’s what I had in mind. I’ll want something in exchange, though.”
“Course you do. Even when there ain’t much of an economy left, nuthin’s ever free.”
“I’ll need some intel on these Vigilant,” Sayers said. “It’ll have to be the juicy stuff.”
“I been shacked up with the IRD for a while now,” Rico told him. “Lots of what I know from before won’t mean much.”
“You’ve still got to know some names, the locations of permanent bases, operating procedures, anything to help us gain some ground on that front.”
Slowly, Rico nodded. “I suppose there’s a few things I could tell you that may be a help. Just know that if anyone I talk about is still a Vigilant, they’ll be prepared for someone to come after them. And any locations I give you could be nothin’ but empty buildings that’re wired to go up in a ball of flame if anyone comes poking around.”
“Reminds me of the good ol’ days in Afghanistan,” Sayers replied.
“In that case, there was this place in Louisville I can tell you about.”
“What about you?” Sayers asked. “Where are you headed?”
“To call in some favors with a few old friends.”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen any other Skinners. Would any of these friends want a job? I’ll be needing a new Specialist soon.”
Rico’s expression darkened, and his eyes focused on a point a long ways beyond West Virginia. “Sorry, but no. The guy I have in mind ain’t exactly as sociable as he used to be.”
“If you need access to a communications rig to contact this man, that would be well within your duties as a Specialist.”
“It’s not the sort of thing I’d want monitored.”
Sayers grinned. “I guess you do have an idea of how closely you’re being watched. I could tag the calls as Classified. They’d have to be short, but it could be done.”
“Seems awfully generous, Lieutenant.”
“The way I see it, as long as you’re not howling at the moon or running around on four legs, we’re on the same side of this conflict.”
“Then you’d best not catch me anywhere near a bottle of Jim Beam.”
Both men laughed as their steps took an easier cadence. “Let me know where you need to call, and I’ll see what I can do to put you in touch with this friend of yours.”
“This guy won’t be anywhere he can be easily reached. Come to think of it, I don’t know off hand where he is. I got a few ideas, but he’s been out of touch lately. I just hope he ain’t too far gone by the time I catch up to him.”
“Sounds like a dangerous man
Similar Books
