Chapters (72)
- TITLE PAGE
- COPYRIGHT PAGE
- DEDICATION
- CONTENTS
- PROLOGUE
- PART I
- CHAPTER 1
- CHAPTER 2
- CHAPTER 3
- CHAPTER 4
- CHAPTER 5
- CHAPTER 6
- CHAPTER 7
- PART II
- CHAPTER 8
- CHAPTER 9
- CHAPTER 10
- CHAPTER 11
- CHAPTER 12
- CHAPTER 13
- CHAPTER 14
- CHAPTER 15
- CHAPTER 16
- CHAPTER 17
- CHAPTER 18
- PART III
- CHAPTER 19
- CHAPTER 20
- CHAPTER 21
- CHAPTER 22
- CHAPTER 23
- CHAPTER 24
- CHAPTER 25
- CHAPTER 26
- CHAPTER 27
- CHAPTER 28
- CHAPTER 29
- CHAPTER 30
- CHAPTER 31
- PART IV
- CHAPTER 32
- CHAPTER 33
- CHAPTER 34
- CHAPTER 35
- CHAPTER 36
- CHAPTER 37
- CHAPTER 38
- CHAPTER 39
- CHAPTER 40
- CHAPTER 41
- PART V
- CHAPTER 42
- CHAPTER 43
- CHAPTER 44
- CHAPTER 45
- CHAPTER 46
- CHAPTER 47
- CHAPTER 48
- CHAPTER 49
- CHAPTER 50
- CHAPTER 51
- CHAPTER 52
- CHAPTER 53
- CHAPTER 54
- CHAPTER 55
- CHAPTER 56
- PART VI
- CHAPTER 57
- CHAPTER 58
- CHAPTER 59
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“Can you bring up an image of their neighborhood?” asked Rich.
Gupta brought up a Google Earth satellite image of a wooded lot on a golf course. An expansive patio featuring a pool and hot tub. The level of detail they could glean about the property from this publicly available tool was disturbing.
“Nice and private. Easy access to the backyard from the golf course. We won’t even have to drive up to the house, until we’re ready to leave. And it doesn’t look like a gated community,” said Rich. “Can you confirm that?”
The image shifted a few times, zooming in to street level on a few of the roads leading into the neighborhoods surrounding the golf course. No gates.
“I say we start with William Barber,” said Rich.
“Looks about as good as it gets,” said Berg. “Not too far of a drive from the Ozarks, if we manage to strike gold.”
“Seven hours and thirty-seven minutes,” said Gupta.
“Harrison Jeffries will be our backup plan,” said Rich.
“Rich?” said Marnie. “Or Karl?”
Rich took a sip of his coffee before answering. “Yeah?”
“Why don’t we just digitally package this entire room and send it to every media outlet in the country? Put it in their hands and let the chips fall where they may. Post it online if they won’t take it seriously,” said Marnie. “I’m not doubting this team’s abilities, but we are talking about a long shot strategy here. Exposing the entire network, or at least what Helen uncovered, would effectively shut it down, right?”
Rich glanced at Berg, who addressed what Devin considered to be an excellent suggestion.
“It’s tempting, but here’s why I fear it won’t work,” said Berg. “One: The Russians will deny everything and feign outrage. Two: We have things like due process, courts, evidentiary standards, and a whole list of other safeguards designed to protect our own citizens, and everyone on Helen’s list is entitled to them, particularly the second-generation sleepers who were born in the US. The names would be public, so the government couldn’t pull any of their secret shenanigans. And all of the first generation is deceased, so they can’t confess. Wilson was the last alleged sleeper, and Helen shot him to death after stuffing him in the back of her trunk. This is sounding crazier by the minute to the public and the ACLU—and the Department of Justice task force assembled to investigate this bombshell conspiracy theory.”
“But it would draw an unhealthy amount of attention to the conspiracy—and the network,” said Devin. “Stopping it.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. The alleged sleepers would leave their jobs, because that’s what a normal person assumed by colleagues to be a spy would do, so we would have accomplished that much. But then what? The most dangerous sleepers may be the ones your mother didn’t find.”