“He’s finished most of his agency training and is now completing college make-up papers, so technically he’s still under me until he graduates.”
“That’s a good way to keep track of your man. I’ll have to remember that.”
“Who do you think is asking for his information?”
“That’s the problem — I can’t tell from this request. I’ll tell you what, since you’re still listed as his contact officer, why don’t I just send the request over to you? I’ll do it by secure messenger this afternoon.”
“That would be fine.”
“I’ll reply to the mail center that all future requests for information on Wade get directed to you. You can take it from there.”
“Thank you, Beverly. I owe you lunch.”
“Thanks, but who’s got time for lunch?”
Frustration had already reached a boiling point for Megan by the time the secure messenger arrived from the Pentagon. From Beverly’s description, the request breached all agency protocol requirements. Her hands trembled as she opened the envelope.
Reading the document only caused Megan to stew further. It represented more than someone who refused to follow protocol; this document was an affront to standard procedures, not to mention a personal attack on Agency professionalism.
Megan’s mind raced as she read the document, trying to be objective while controlling her feelings for Wade. Under “Purpose” the request stated, “For Covert Assignment.” So … a mysterious unknown source wants Wade’s personnel file for an undisclosed covert assignment. That’s not going to happen. She made notes in preparation for her rejection memorandum. Undisclosed Assignment — Inadequate Purpose. Lacks documentation of originating source for request, Lacks signature of supervising agent and departmental approval, No training agency pre-approval or signoff, Agent is a trainee and not subject to assignment requests. Her list went on.
She swallowed hard as she studied the poorly-prepared request, trying to read between interagency political lines. It met very few protocol standards, and had been typed on an older form no long being used.
The document requested Wade’s entire personnel file as a start. Megan read between the lines. If acted upon, the request would pluck Wade right out of her agency’s control and put him under some undisclosed agent or agency. That was not acceptable, and Megan was determined to stop the request in its tracks.
If Megan had learned anything at the Agency, it was the rules of agency protocol. Wade was not officially eligible for assignment until he graduated in October. Aside from protocol issues, Megan had plans for them as a couple, even though she hadn’t shared those feelings with anyone but her closest friends.
She and Wade had hinted about getting assigned posts at the same office so they could be near each other to further their relationship. At that moment, both were still reluctant to discuss their relationship because of their positions. She was technically still his handler and under her charge, even though their feelings went much deeper.
Her evening call with Wade was going to start in a few minutes. Megan struggled to decide whether to say anything about the request. Why should this intrusion ruin our evening visit? After all, he just got back a few days ago from that exhausting trip to Belize.
She also sensed that his trip had been dangerous. Before the call, Megan had determined that she wasn’t going to mention “the request.” The call started out upbeat enough, with each telling the other about the day’s activities. In the middle of the conversation, Megan felt guilty about keeping him in the dark.
“You seem to have a secret admirer.”
“You’re kidding! Who is it?”
“I have no idea, and that’s part of the problem. Don’t worry, your file isn’t going anywhere if I have anything to say about it. I’ll research this further tomorrow. There’s no way they’re getting your file.”
“Do I have any say in the matter?”
“No. At least not until I get this cleared up. For all I know, this could be an attempted swipe from one of the other agencies. Remember we’re under the new ‘sharing agents’ policy. Worst case, it could be from someone trying to get confidential information about who’s going through our training programs. You just cool your jets until I get to the bottom of it.”
“All my parts are cool on this end.”
Wade’s thoughts immediately went to the Lockhart investigation and Belize. Am I getting too close to the source of agency involvement? He answered his own question. The Agency couldn’t have reacted this quickly. His stomach churned with tension at the thought. Trying to maintain a calm personal demeanor, Wade said nothing to Megan about his concerns.
He was still shaky about Megan’s involvement in the cover up, but he kept it to himself. Those feelings had nothing to do with his personal feelings for her. Those were real, and he believed she felt the same way about him. He believed the Agency was lurking in the background, however, using their personal relationship to get more information about him — but he couldn’t prove it. It was his sixth sense operating again. That sense had kept him alive since childhood, and he couldn’t ignore it.
He wanted to take the next step with Megan in their personal relationship but wasn’t sure how to do that. Like many other long distance relationships, Megan and Wade sent kisses to end their evening call. For some reason, the kisses that came across in this conversation had a subtle edge he didn’t understand. Wade had to find out why if it was the last thing he ever did.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joseph D’Antoni is a true forensic and economics expert with years of experience testifying in court cases throughout the world. His clients have included the FBI, Department of Justice, intelligence agencies and some of the largest law firms in this country. He holds advanced academic degrees and taught at three major universities. His fictional characters are often inspired from actual cases he has worked on and events he has investigated.
The author grew up in New Orleans and spent much of his youth fishing and hunting in the surrounding swamps which became his childhood playground and where much of his stories take place.
D’Antoni’s next book, Rogue Asset is almost ready to go to press and he is well along with another suspense novel to follow. In addition to suspense novels the author has published a fine art photography book, Louisiana Reflections, which has received wide acclaim as an introspective photographic study of New Orleans and Cajun Country before Hurricane Rita and Katrina devastated the area. The author is also working on a yet untitled book of poems which he expects to publish by early next year.
He currently resides in Southern California where he writes and works on art when he is not investigating or consulting on forensic assignments.
www.dantonibooks.com