“Cutting to the chase? He’s a puppet. Doug Stark has been a quisling searching for a boot to lick for a very long time. With him in control of the Bureau, I fear for America’s safety. Luckily for us, the men that I’ve trained are intelligent and loyal to the MCB’s primary mission. Despite your organization’s feelings about mine, we are first and foremost professionals, and will do what we must to keep this nation safe. Once I found out what was going on, I sent Franks to procure some items that I feel will be necessary to defeat this being. There’s an MCB storage facility here in Nevada—”

“Area 51?” Holly asked excitedly.

“Don’t be absurd.”

“Seriously. It’s Area 51, isn’t it?” But Myers’ deadpan expression didn’t change. “Okay, okay, never mind. Franks’s picking up a secret weapon; go on.”

“I’ve gleaned a small amount of information, but some of what I’ve learned has been conflicting. I want this situation resolved just as quickly as you do. If, in the process, embarrassing facts surface that are damaging to my replacement and his pink-eyed handler, I would be a very happy man.”

“And in the process maybe get your old job back…Yeah, I know, you don’t care about that, but we both know the MCB needs strong leadership in these troubling times.” Holly grinned. “You’ve been remarkably forthcoming, Agent Myers. I’m impressed. Now, as for our deal—”

“You prick!” Mosh exclaimed. “I should—”

“Chill out, Mosh,” Holly ordered.

“Yes, chill out, Mosh,” Myers said. “Really, I never thought I would say this, but you’re making your brother seem rational and level-headed in comparison.”

Holly seemed completely unperturbed at losing her ace in the hole. “If Myers was just going to screw us over, he wouldn’t bother to brief us with a bunch of sensitive intel first. He’s a busy guy. Am I right, director?”

“Correct, Ms. Newcastle. There are a few policy disagreements. I am one side of the battle and Stricken is on the other. In this battle, information is power. Stricken has one of the original scientists, and thus, he is keeping that information from me. What I do need is more information, and to achieve that now I need resources with plausible deniability. My loyal men are known. If we are caught attempting to speak to the scientist, then there will be repercussions. Stricken can’t know that we are aware of his plans. However, nobody would be surprised if a member of MHI was caught trying to speak to the good doctor. You have a reputation for being meddlesome.”

“We do work at it.”

“Go with Agent Jefferson. He’ll provide a way in, you get what you need, and in return you report back to my men.”

“You’re on,” Holly answered without hesitation.