Page 19 of Code Name: Tank
Before I could process Flint’s call fully, my phone rang again. This time, the caller ID showed a name that made my shoulders relax—Secretary Hartwell.
“James,” I answered, grateful for a familiar, trustworthy voice.
“Piper, I hope I’m not calling too late. I wanted to check on you after today’s interviews.”
His warm, paternal voice was what I needed after Flint’s gaslighting. “I’m fine. The interviews went well, though Tank and I had some disagreements about the approach.” I regretted the words as soon as I spoke them. James owned this investigation. My comment was unprofessional. “But we’re working through it,” I added.
“Glad to hear it. Get some rest. Tomorrow will bring new developments, and you’ll need to stay sharp.”
After he hung up, I felt steadier. Hartwell’s concern reminded me that I wasn’t navigating this alone—I had allies who’d proven their loyalty when it mattered most.
By zero six hundred hours,I’d made my decision. I was done with men who thought they knew what was best for me. I’d keep my guard up and focus on the work. I couldn’t let my emotions compromise the mission—no matter how much Tank’s actions had stung.
When I arrived at the command center an hour later, Tank was already there, working with Atticus. He looked up when I entered.
“Morning, Dragon. Ready to discuss our next steps?” he asked.
“I need to work with Alice on a new lead. We can brief separately.”
“Wait. What new lead?”
“If it pans out, I’ll let you know.”
Tank’s tone shifted. “Yesterday, you were angry about being excluded. Now, you’re pursuing a direction without consulting me?”
“We’ll work better separately. Play to our strengths.” I turned to Alice, whose brow furrowed as she witnessed our exchange with concern. “It might be best if we worked in your office.”
“Um, of course. We can go up to the main camp.”
“Alice,I need to tell you something,” I said as soon as we were alone. “I received an anonymous tip last night.”
Alice’s eyebrows rose. “Anonymous tip? What did they say?”
“They seem to think we’re being on the wrong path. That foreign hackers isn’t the right direction.”
“How would you feel about discussing this with Tex? His background in financial crime analysis might provide context,” she suggested.
Tex Keegan—Alice’s mentor and one of the most skilled analysts I’d ever encountered.
“Good idea. I’d like his take on this.”
“Interesting. Let’s see what he thinks.”
Alice established an encrypted video link. Within minutes, Tex’s familiar face appeared on the screen.
“Good afternoon, ladies. Dragon, how can I help?”
“We need your take on whether this looks like genuine foreign hacker activity or deliberate misdirection,” I said, pulling up the financial patterns.
“Show me what you’re seeing,” he said.
I shared the key findings—coordinated thefts, systematic patterns, Tank’s discovery of irregularities—so he could see what we were working with.
“Dragon, your tipster might be onto something.” He paused, frowning. “The sophistication suggests foreign capabilities, but the execution doesn’t feel right.”
My stomach dropped. Flint was right.
“It’s almost like someone wants it to look foreign.”
