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Chapters (88)
  1. Titles by Mark Greaney
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  6. CONTENTS
  7. Epigraph
  8. CHARACTERS
  9. PROLOGUE
  10. 1
  11. 2
  12. 3
  13. 4
  14. 5
  15. 6
  16. 7
  17. 8
  18. 9
  19. 10
  20. 11
  21. 12
  22. 13
  23. 14
  24. 15
  25. 16
  26. 17
  27. 18
  28. 19
  29. 20
  30. 21
  31. 22
  32. 23
  33. 24
  34. 25
  35. 26
  36. 27
  37. 28
  38. 29
  39. 30
  40. 31
  41. 32
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. 45
  55. 46
  56. 47
  57. 48
  58. 49
  59. 50
  60. 51
  61. 52
  62. 53
  63. 54
  64. 55
  65. 56
  66. 57
  67. 58
  68. 59
  69. 60
  70. 61
  71. 62
  72. 63
  73. 64
  74. 65
  75. 66
  76. 67
  77. 68
  78. 69
  79. 70
  80. 71
  81. 72
  82. 73
  83. 74
  84. 75
  85. 76
  86. 77
  87. 78
  88. EPILOGUE

Hanley patted him on the shoulder. “You have a home. You just can’t stay here. It wouldn’t be safe. You have to keep moving, to remain in the shadows. We were never the only people out there looking for you.”

Court said, “If I stayed in the States, the government could protect me.”

Hanley did not disagree. Instead he just said, “You are an operator. You will always be an operator. Work for me. I’ll help you do what needs doing.”

Court thought a moment. “Two years.”

“What about two years?”

“Two years and I’m out. Done. Back home and under your protection.”

Hanley rocked his head from side to side while he mulled this over. Soon he said, “Done.”

Court said, “I approve all contracts. I get to take jobs from others if I want.”

Hanley nodded. “Of course. You are a subcontractor. Self-employed.” Hanley smiled. “I just aim to be your biggest and best client.” He stuck a hand out, and Court shook it.

Hanley said, “Glad that’s settled. Court, I want you to know that you always have a direct line to me. Always.”

Court understood what was coming next. “But since you’re D/NCS now, running all Agency ops, you will bring in a handler to deal with me directly.”

“That’s right. But don’t worry, I’m giving you one of the best officers in the Agency. Trust me on this, you’re in excellent hands.”

“Sure,” Court said, not convinced.

Hanley pulled out his iPad, touched a few keys on the screen, and then handed the device over to Court. He took it, somewhat confused, then suddenly he realized he was on a video chat. He saw an empty chair.

He looked up to Hanley. “Really, Matt?”

“A shitty way for a meet and greet with your new handler, I’ll admit. But she had to man the fort while I snuck around out here in the boonies.”

“She?” Court asked.

As he said this, a woman appeared on screen and sat in the chair. She looked to be in her late thirties, not unattractive, with brown hair pulled back, fashionable frames, and perfect makeup. She beamed into the camera with a wide smile. “Good evening, Mr. Gentry. My name is Suzanne Brewer. I am so looking forward to working with you.”

Court looked up to Hanley for guidance, then, when none came, back down at the screen. “Uh . . . yeah. Me, too.”

“Matt let me know just a little about your career here, and I will get up to speed quickly. I just want you to know all the unpleasantness of the past is behind us. I am going to treat you with the respect and deference you deserve.”

Court nodded, feeling awkward about the exchange, but satisfied Hanley hadn’t pawned him off to some young case officer just out of the Farm.