“We weren’t given those details,” said Devin.

“DEVTEK is primarily an information security company,” said Graves. “Deep ties to the Department of Defense and pretty much every government agency that requires secure mobile communications. Rumor has it that the CIA accepted their recent bid on a classified CIA request for proposal—which my research suggests is a groundbreaking, modular communications encryption system. A one-size-fits-all, easy-to-implement encryption solution for computers, office phones, mobile phones, radios. It would basically create an interoperable, secure communications platform usable across agencies and across the spectrum of assets within an agency or group. A CIA officer on the India-Pakistani border could contact an available air-support asset with their satellite phone and direct an airstrike on a high-value target of opportunity. Normally that would require a UHF radio with encryption compatible with the aircraft’s system. A logistical nightmare. This would streamline everything. It’s a game changer.”

“That sounds like the kind of system the Russians would love to corrupt or steal,” said Devin.

“Or both,” added Marnie.

“If they were running a honey trap, sounds like they needed a way into the company,” said Rich.

Berg shook his head. “I don’t know. Why use a team on the verge of retirement for that? I know that springing a honey trap isn’t complicated, but following through with the blackmail side of an operation is tricky. Especially if you’re asking someone to commit a crime. Not something you’d put in Harvey and Jolene Rudd’s hands. I think this was more of a one-and-done situation. My guess is they were trying to get him to quit the company, so someone could take his place. Whoever filled his shoes is most likely another one of these second-generation sleepers.”

“So there’s more of these things out there,” said Emily Miralles.

Devin liked her use of the word things to describe the sleepers. Like manufactured goods.

“We have to assume there are more,” said Berg. “In total, possibly twice the number Helen discovered. The rest of them hidden in tech companies like DEVTEK, where they can remain mostly anonymous—and do untold damage. That’s why it’s so important to get a look at this camp. If it exists. There’s always the possibility that it doesn’t. She spent a significant amount of time looking for it and came up empty handed.”

“Locating the camp appears to be the tricky part,” said Rich. “But Gray has been right about everything else up to now, so this is where we start. Graves?”