Page 80 of Code Name: Tank
“The way it came about is complicated, but I managed to secure Hartwell’s device at what turned out to be close to the last minute. I sent our location before the guards found and destroyed it.”
“What happens now?” I asked.
“The Zaristani cell is neutralized,” Emma said. “We’re implementing new authorization protocols, and Treasury is conducting a full review of the security procedures.”
Admiral looked around the room.
“Any other questions about the case resolution?”
Tex’s voice came through the speakers.
“What about the defense contractors?”
“Fully secure,” Emma confirmed. “The stolen funds are being traced and recovered.”
As the federal representatives began gathering their materials, Admiral called for a final recognition.
“Exceptional work by everyone,” he said. “You ended a major threat to national security that might have gone on for years.”
Emma approached our group as the meeting concluded.
“Tank, Piper, your work was exemplary. Treasury hopes to maintain coordination with K19 for future matters.”
“We’d welcome that,” Admiral replied.
As people began filing out, Kodiak positioned himself near Emma, who was reviewing something on her tablet.
“Ma’am,” he said, “if you have questions about compound security protocols, I’d be happy to provide additional briefing.”
She looked up with interest.
“That’s very considerate, Agent Emeric. I may take you up on that.”
I nudged Piper gently. “Looks like someone made an impression.”
Her smile was small but genuine—the first I’d seen since the meeting began. “Good for him.”
As the command center emptied, Flint approached us one final time.
“Piper,” he said, “I’m sorry about Hartwell. I know what he meant to you, and I know how difficult this must be.”
“He chose me over his own survival in the end. But he also chose his family over his country for years before that.” Her voice was controlled, but I could see the pain in her eyes. “I don’t know how to reconcile those two things.”
“Maybe you don’t have to,” Flint said. “People make terrible choices when they’re desperate.”
“And terrible choices have consequences,” she replied. “Even when we understand why they were made.”
I studied Flint, remembering something that had bothered me.
“When you first arrived, you talked about how these groups break people down, find their pressure points. You sounded like you knew their methods intimately. You were talking about Hartwell, weren’t you?”
His expression grew somber. “I wasn’t certain that it was him yet, but my gut told me he was involved. I spent three years studying the Zaristani, Tank. Learning how they operate, how they identify targets, and how they apply leverage. Exactly as they did with James.” He took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders as if, by doing so, he could release his lingering tension. “I had to understand their psychology to build a case against them. Sometimes, that meant getting inside their heads in ways that… I’ll just say I wish I could wipe it from my brain.”
“The Zaristani are evil,” said Piper. “They hate America and everything we stand for.”
“I’m sorry for everything, Dragon.”
“Thank you,” Piper said to him. “I appreciate what you tried to do, even if, at the time, I didn’t understand it.”
