functionaries could go to escape the stresses and pressures of government work.
In the center of the park was a shimmering lake. Twenty years ago he had met Kahlee there on the shore only minutes after learning his application to become the first human Spectre had been rejected because of a report filed by Saren Arterius.
Anderson didn’t consider himself a vindictive man, but he couldn’t help but feel a smug satisfaction knowing the turian who had derailed his candidacy had eventually been revealed as a traitor.
He made his way across the grass to the edge of the lake. He didn’t see Kahlee. Knowing she was probably lurking nearby in an inconspicuous hiding place, he sat down, removed his shoes and socks, then dangled his feet off the bank. The temperature-controlled water was just cool enough to be refreshing.
A few minutes later Kahlee sat down beside him.
“Had to make sure you were alone,” she explained.
“You told me not to tell anybody.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m getting a little paranoid.”
“It’s not paranoia if someone’s really out to get you.”
In person she looked even more nervous than shehad over the vid screen. She sat with her knees pulled close up against her chest, her head low as she cast furtive glances from side to side.
“You’re going to draw attention,” he warned her. “Relax. Try to act casual.”
She nodded and methodically removed her footwear, moving in tight beside him as she dipped her feet in the water. Anderson knew she was just getting close so they could speak in confidential whispers, but it still stirred up all his old feelings for her.
The one that got away. Only now she’s come back
.
He waited for her to speak, but after several minutes of silence he realized he would have to be the one to break the ice.
“Kahlee? Tell me why you’re here.”
He listened carefully as she told him about Gillian, Grayson, and Cerberus. He tried not to show any reaction, keeping his face and manner calm both for her sake and to avoid drawing the notice of the other park patrons. When she was finished, he took a deep breath and let it out in a long, easy sigh as he thought about everything she’d said.
“You said Grayson was part of Cerberus. Are you sure he’s not still working for them?”
“He’s not,” she replied with absolute confidence. “He’s been on the run for two years.”
“And you’re sure they’re the ones who found him?”
“I’m sure.”
“And now you’re afraid they’re coming after you?”
“Maybe. But that’s not why I came to you. Grayson’s a friend. He needs my help.”
Anderson didn’t say anything at first. He had moreexperience dealing with Cerberus than Kahlee realized. For example, he knew that Cerberus had recently joined forces with Commander Shepard to stop the Collector abductions in the human colonies of the Terminus Systems. But he also knew that had been a temporary alliance of convenience; the Illusive Man was just using Shepard like he used everyone else. And when Cerberus had no further use for someone, they tended to show up dead.
“You realize it might be too late for your friend,” he said carefully.
“I know,” she conceded, her voice a barely audible whisper.
“But even if he’s dead, I still want to take those bastards down,” she added more loudly. “I owe him that much.”
“The Alliance has been trying to bring down Cerberus for thirty years,” he reminded her. “So far we haven’t had much success.”
“He sent me a file,” she said, casting a quick glance over her shoulder as if she expected to see the Illusive Man standing right behind her. “Names of agents. Secret bases and meeting locations. Bank accounts and corporate financial records. Everything you need.”
“I want to help you, Kahlee. I really do. But it’s not that simple. Even if the information is good, we can’t act on it without tipping Cerberus off.
“They’ve got people in our government. Our
In the center of the park was a shimmering lake. Twenty years ago he had met Kahlee there on the shore only minutes after learning his application to become the first human Spectre had been rejected because of a report filed by Saren Arterius.
Anderson didn’t consider himself a vindictive man, but he couldn’t help but feel a smug satisfaction knowing the turian who had derailed his candidacy had eventually been revealed as a traitor.
He made his way across the grass to the edge of the lake. He didn’t see Kahlee. Knowing she was probably lurking nearby in an inconspicuous hiding place, he sat down, removed his shoes and socks, then dangled his feet off the bank. The temperature-controlled water was just cool enough to be refreshing.
A few minutes later Kahlee sat down beside him.
“Had to make sure you were alone,” she explained.
“You told me not to tell anybody.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m getting a little paranoid.”
“It’s not paranoia if someone’s really out to get you.”
In person she looked even more nervous than shehad over the vid screen. She sat with her knees pulled close up against her chest, her head low as she cast furtive glances from side to side.
“You’re going to draw attention,” he warned her. “Relax. Try to act casual.”
She nodded and methodically removed her footwear, moving in tight beside him as she dipped her feet in the water. Anderson knew she was just getting close so they could speak in confidential whispers, but it still stirred up all his old feelings for her.
The one that got away. Only now she’s come back
.
He waited for her to speak, but after several minutes of silence he realized he would have to be the one to break the ice.
“Kahlee? Tell me why you’re here.”
He listened carefully as she told him about Gillian, Grayson, and Cerberus. He tried not to show any reaction, keeping his face and manner calm both for her sake and to avoid drawing the notice of the other park patrons. When she was finished, he took a deep breath and let it out in a long, easy sigh as he thought about everything she’d said.
“You said Grayson was part of Cerberus. Are you sure he’s not still working for them?”
“He’s not,” she replied with absolute confidence. “He’s been on the run for two years.”
“And you’re sure they’re the ones who found him?”
“I’m sure.”
“And now you’re afraid they’re coming after you?”
“Maybe. But that’s not why I came to you. Grayson’s a friend. He needs my help.”
Anderson didn’t say anything at first. He had moreexperience dealing with Cerberus than Kahlee realized. For example, he knew that Cerberus had recently joined forces with Commander Shepard to stop the Collector abductions in the human colonies of the Terminus Systems. But he also knew that had been a temporary alliance of convenience; the Illusive Man was just using Shepard like he used everyone else. And when Cerberus had no further use for someone, they tended to show up dead.
“You realize it might be too late for your friend,” he said carefully.
“I know,” she conceded, her voice a barely audible whisper.
“But even if he’s dead, I still want to take those bastards down,” she added more loudly. “I owe him that much.”
“The Alliance has been trying to bring down Cerberus for thirty years,” he reminded her. “So far we haven’t had much success.”
“He sent me a file,” she said, casting a quick glance over her shoulder as if she expected to see the Illusive Man standing right behind her. “Names of agents. Secret bases and meeting locations. Bank accounts and corporate financial records. Everything you need.”
“I want to help you, Kahlee. I really do. But it’s not that simple. Even if the information is good, we can’t act on it without tipping Cerberus off.
“They’ve got people in our government. Our
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