Back Deep Sleep Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. PART I
  7. CHAPTER 1
  8. CHAPTER 2
  9. CHAPTER 3
  10. CHAPTER 4
  11. CHAPTER 5
  12. CHAPTER 6
  13. CHAPTER 7
  14. PART II
  15. CHAPTER 8
  16. CHAPTER 9
  17. CHAPTER 10
  18. CHAPTER 11
  19. CHAPTER 12
  20. CHAPTER 13
  21. CHAPTER 14
  22. CHAPTER 15
  23. CHAPTER 16
  24. CHAPTER 17
  25. CHAPTER 18
  26. PART III
  27. CHAPTER 19
  28. CHAPTER 20
  29. CHAPTER 21
  30. CHAPTER 22
  31. CHAPTER 23
  32. CHAPTER 24
  33. CHAPTER 25
  34. CHAPTER 26
  35. CHAPTER 27
  36. CHAPTER 28
  37. CHAPTER 29
  38. CHAPTER 30
  39. CHAPTER 31
  40. PART IV
  41. CHAPTER 32
  42. CHAPTER 33
  43. CHAPTER 34
  44. CHAPTER 35
  45. CHAPTER 36
  46. CHAPTER 37
  47. CHAPTER 38
  48. CHAPTER 39
  49. CHAPTER 40
  50. CHAPTER 41
  51. PART V
  52. CHAPTER 42
  53. CHAPTER 43
  54. CHAPTER 44
  55. CHAPTER 45
  56. CHAPTER 46
  57. CHAPTER 47
  58. CHAPTER 48
  59. CHAPTER 49
  60. CHAPTER 50
  61. CHAPTER 51
  62. CHAPTER 52
  63. CHAPTER 53
  64. CHAPTER 54
  65. CHAPTER 55
  66. CHAPTER 56
  67. PART VI
  68. CHAPTER 57
  69. CHAPTER 58
  70. CHAPTER 59
  71. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  72. 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.”