Page 64 of Code Name: Tank
“The timing. Flint leaves this message about trust and betrayal, then disappears. Almost like he knew something was about to happen.”
“Or like he was trying to warn you before it was too late.”
Dragon leaned against me. “I keep thinking about everyone who has access to authorization codes. It’s not a long list.”
“Treasury officials, senior DOJ personnel, maybe a few others.”
“People we trust,” Dragon said quietly. “People we’d never suspect.”
Wednesday morning broughtnews that our inquiries about Flint had hit dead ends. Local authorities had no new leads, the boat had been abandoned and wiped clean, and the vehicle tracks led to a main road where they disappeared into traffic.
“It’s like he just vanished,” Atticus said, frustrated.
“Or like someone made sure he vanished,” Dragon replied.
That afternoon, Alice looked better than she had over the weekend. The ginger tea and crackers seemed to be helping, and she’d managed to keep down a real breakfast.
“Any new insights on our cryptic photographer?” she asked Dragon.
“No, but, ‘betrayal without choice’ suggests someone being forced into a situation,” she responded.
“What if Flint discovered who was being coerced?” I suggested. “What if that’s why he disappeared?”
“Then, we need to figure out what he’s trying to tell us,” said Dragon, her eyes meeting mine.
“Come on, partner. Let’s get busy.”
Atticus snickered, and I punched him. “You’re ridiculous.”
Six days had passedsince Flint disappeared before Hartwell’s helicopter touched down at Canada Lake again. The sound of rotor blades on Monday afternoon pulled me from scouring the financials with Dragon.
“That’ll be the secretary,” said Admiral, walking into the command center. “The asshole gave me all of ten minutes notice.” He turned to Dragon. “Sorry.”
“For what?” she asked. “Calling him an asshole? Right now, I agree with you.”
Since we last saw the man, we’d exhausted every lead on Flint’s disappearance. Waiting to hear what was found on the electronic devices had been intense. But Dragon and I made the best of it. Trying to leave work at the command center as much as possible when we left for the day. Of course it always crept in, sometimes from her and sometimes from me. Then, one of us would laugh, we’d kiss, and attempt to change the subject.
It would be different if we had any leads at all. It was the coming up short every day that was so frustrating.
With each hour that passed without answers, the weight of not knowing Flint’s fate pressed down on all of us.
“I hope he has information about Flint,” Dragon said, squeezing my hand while we waited for him to come inside.
I leaned forward when I thought no one was looking and kissed her cheek. “I know you do. We all do.”
James Hartwell entered the command center, carrying a briefcase.
“Hello, sir. I hope you’ve come bearing some news.”
“We found him. Pierce is being interrogated as we speak.” Hartwell’s expression showed relief, but something in his manner seemed strained.
Dragon’s mouth gaped. “When, James?”
“Pardon?”
“Whendid you find him?”
“That’s irrelevant. What matters is that we did.” He opened his briefcase and requested Alice connect his laptop to the display.
