Page 42 of France Face-Off
“We do,” Lucie said.
Anger and frustration surged inside Striker. “Look. I agreed to this assignment because I needed the money, and you sent me in to keep an assassination from happening. I’ve been patient and possibly an idiot not to insist on knowing more about your organization. I don’t even know if you’re one of the good guys or the bad guys. Tell me why I should trust that you have connections with the CIA? Hell, tell me why I should trust you for anything when you haven’t let me in on your secrets? So what’s your story? Who are you besides Lucie? I assume you’re the boss.”
A soft chuckle sounded in his ear. “I’m just Lucie. I’m not the boss.”
“Then who the hell is?” Striker demanded.
“A good man,” Lucie said. “Someone who cares what happens to innocent people.”
“You still haven’t told me who he is.” Striker scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m already regretting that I’ve told you anything about Alex and her flash drive when I don’t know who the hell I’m working for.”
“Relax,” Lucie said. “We’re the good guys. Unless you’re Russian. Then we might be considered bad guys. Because of the sensitive nature of your assignment, we agreed to keep your knowledge of our organization to a minimum in case you were captured. You could honestly say that you didn’t know who hired you.”
“So your organization and boss wouldn’t be implicated in a coup or assassination?” Striker snorted. “Great. Send the ignorant guy in to take the fall. I’m done with you.” He started to end the call.
“Striker,” Lucie said. “As a Navy SEAL, you worked a mission in Syria with another Navy SEAL by the name of Ace Hammerson.”
It wasn’t a question. She knew some of his history.
Striker remembered that mission. How could he forget? Hammer had saved his life. She had his attention. “Yeah. So?”
“He’s my boss,” Lucie said.
Some of the anger and frustration eased, though he clung to it a little longer. “Why didn’t he contact me instead of you?”
“I’m sorry for keeping information from you. Ace has been on a mission of his own. Thankfully, that mission concluded successfully, and he’s on his way back. He had his headquarters team engage your services in his absence. He’ll be in touch with you soon. We thought this mission would be fairly simple.”
Striker snorted. “Did you know Anya Federov would be here?”
“No,” Lucie said. “We were going on inside information that someone might target the Russians to end the pipeline negotiations. We didn’t have much more than that.”
“If you’re not the boss, who are you and what organization is Ace Hammerson in charge of?”
“I’m a member of the technical support team. Ace is in charge of the International branch of the Brotherhood Protectors.”
“Hank Patterson’s agency?” Striker sat back in his chair. “You all work for Navy SEAL Hank Patterson?”
“Yes, sir,” Lucie said. “You’ve heard of him?”
“What Navy SEAL hasn’t?” Striker shook his head. “Why the hell didn’t you start with that when you hired me in California?” He held up a hand even though she couldn’t see him. “I know, you said it was to keep their involvement in this summit secret.” He huffed out a breath. “Ace Hammerson and Hank Patterson are legends.”
“Then you know we’re the good guys.”
“I thought he only hired men and women trained in military special operations.”
“Normally, he does. I’m one of his exceptions. Dmytro is another.”
“Dmytro?”
“He’s also one of the support staff. We don’t go out on missions, but we support those who do in any way we can. Whether it’s arranging transportation, acquiring intel or data mining.”
“Lucie’s version of data mining is hacking into databases not normally accessible to most,” a heavily accented voice filled Striker’s ear. “I’m Dmytro, the other half of the support staff.”
“He’s from the Ukraine, thus the accent,” Lucie chimed in.
“And Lucie is from Brussels,” Dmytro said.
“I studied my computer skills in New York City and mastered the American accent by watching American movies and television,” Lucy said.
