At that moment in Langley, Virginia, Michaels was in the office of Deputy Director of the CIA Lane Kildeer at the agency’s headquarters compound, having arrived for what was anything but a routine visit.

Kildeer looked at him across his desk. “I’m surprised to see you here, Alex,” he said. “Sorry I kept you waiting outside—I wish you’d called ahead of time.”

“We spoke yesterday,” Michaels said. “I told you I planned to come by.”

Kildeer was tall and slim with thick, silver hair that was swept back over his forehead and carefully sprayed into place. His suit was blue and tailored. His shirt was white, starched and crisp, and his red necktie was perfectly knotted. Everything about him gave of an air of tight, deliberate control.

“I must have misunderstood,” he said. “I thought it possible but no sure thing. Or I would have checked my calendar.”

“I don’t buy that, Lane. I think you intentionally kept me cooling my heels.”

The DD briefly studied his face. “Forgive me if I wasn’t able to drop everything. But it’s been one call after the next, followed by a meeting. For almost two weeks now. I’ve been answering questions about the Stalwart to everyone here and on the Hill. Up to and including the president.”

Michaels gave himself five seconds. He wasn’t looking to butt heads.

“Fair enough,” he said. “Believe me, Lane, I would rather not be here right now. I’m trying to get an organization off the ground. Neither of us has time to waste. But I want to ask you something point-blank. And it had to be done in person.”

Kildeer didn’t answer at first. Then he nodded faintly.

“Please,” he said. “Ask.”

Michaels looked at him across the desk. “Was the Stalwart installing Sentient spy technology as part of its activities?”

“Not that you want to put me on the spot.”

“It’s a straightforward question,” Michaels said.

“That wasn’t my point.”

“Does something about it bother you?”

“No, not at all.”

“Then why think I’m putting you on the spot?”

Kildeer gave a vacuous smile.

“With all due respect... I don’t owe you an answer.”

“Do I take that as an affirmative?”

“I’m sure you’ll take it however you choose, regardless of what I say. You’ve been openly critical of the CloudCable effort all along.”

“For domestic security reasons,” Michaels said. “I don’t like the idea of our intelligence agencies sharing their vital data flow with a privately owned online marketer. If I’ve wondered whether there might be more going on, it’s never slipped into my public comments.”

“And privately? You haven’t speculated?”

“That isn’t relevant. Though, frankly, it’s reasonable to wonder.”

Kildeer nodded his head.