BooksBarbecue
Back The Asset
Chapters (86)
  1. Foreword
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. Afterword

“That’s right. Walk away. Like you always do,” Roth said.

“What did you say?”

Laurel stepped between them. It looked like it was taking all the willpower Lance had not to knock Roth’s lights out.

“Fuck you, Levi.”

Roth stood up and stared back at him defiantly.

“Fuck me? Look at you. Standing there like this has nothing to do with you. But this thing arrived with your name on it, Lance.”

“I don’t have to listen to this.”

“The most virulent thing we’ve ever seen, and your name’s right on it.”

Laurel put her hand on Lance’s chest to hold him back.

“Sit down,” she said. “Hear us out.”

He looked at her, then back at Roth.

“Just sit down,” she said again.

He didn’t sit, but he took a breath. “You really have no idea who sent this?” he said.

“That’s why we need you,” Roth said. “To find whoever sent it. And talk to them.”

Lance shook his head. “This thing could be from anyone. I already told you it’s Russian. For all we know, it could be a trap. Did you think of that?”

“Of course I thought of that.”

Lance started putting on his coat. That was it. Roth was going to let him walk out.

“No,” Laurel said.

“Laurel,” Roth said.

“I’m not going to let him just leave.”

She wanted him. She wanted to be his handler. She wanted to get him back in play. She hadn’t joined the CIA to sit on her hands.

“This vial is a warning,” she said.

“I don’t care,” Lance said.

“It’s going to lead to deaths.”

“Then find out who made it and stop them,” Lance said.

“You know what’s going to happen,” she said.

“It’s the same thing that always happens,” Lance said. “It’s the way of the world. War, war, war. Death, death, death. It never changes. And I’m done fighting it.”

Laurel shook her head. “Are you really going to pretend you don’t give a shit?”

“Come on, Laurel,” Roth said. “Let him go.”

“No,” Laurel said. “Whoever sent that vial wants to talk to him. They’re offering to talk to him. And only him.”

“I don’t know who they are,” Lance said.

“You don’t know who they are? So what? They’re offering, and people are going to die. This thing ever gets out, it will be game over.”

“I’m sorry,” Lance said, making for the door.

Laurel raised her voice. “No,” she cried.

He turned and looked back at her.

“Don’t go,” she said. “Please.”

He was still holding the papers she’d given him. She knew what she was doing. He was looking at her and seeing Clarice.

“Don’t leave,” she said.

18