Page 29 of Code Name: Reaper
Wren leaned forward to study the imagery. “Expansion or desperation?”
“Unknown, but the timing coincides with increased border security at their established crossing points.” Delfino switched to another screen showing communication intercepts. “They’re adapting their methods faster than we anticipated, which suggests they’re under significant pressure.”
“This means something has them spooked. Blackjack, what progress have you made with Romanov’s financial picture?” Nemesis asked.
“Three shell companies dissolved in the last couple of days,” he reported. “Combined assets of approximately twelve million US dollars, all transferred to entities we haven’t identified yet.”
“They’re liquidating,” Reaper commented.
“Agreed,” said Nemesis. “We’ll adjust today’s assignments—Delfino and Hornet, I want a comprehensive analysis of those new crossing routes. Blackjack and Reaper, focus on tracking the asset movement and get a clear read on the new entities. I want to know who’s helping them move money and what they’re using it for. Wren and Amaryllis, pursue the historical gaps. I’m convinced there’s something in Mercury’s work history that explains her current situation and potential location, and we need to find it.”
Murmurs of agreement came from around the room.
Nemesis closed her laptop. “Anything else before we get to work?”
I thought about the text I’d received from Beacon that I still hadn’t answered. “I need a minute before we get started,” I said, looking between her and Wren.
“Copy that. Shall we meet in the library?”
“Please. Oh, and Delfino should join us.”
Once inside, I powered up the cell I was no longer using, then read her message out loud. “Received fresh intel on Mercury. Need to meet. Come alone.”
“Interesting,” Wren murmured. “When did you receive this?”
Time was a blur. “Um, sometime yesterday morning.”
“And you haven’t replied?”
“I have not.”
“I think Delfino should engage her,” Wren suggested. “She took Jekyll’s place on the council of twelve. She could ask Beacon what she knows.”
“While that makes sense,” Nemesis began. “I’d like to suggest instead that Amaryllis make contact directly. We need her intel,so the risk is worth the reward. Leave the ball in her court in terms of a meeting. How she responds will tell us a great deal.”
“Roger that.” I drafted a response that said I’d gone dark but was anxious for an update.
The response from Beacon was immediate.Tango SK.
I held out my phone so they could both see it.
“Troubled situation. End of transmission,” Wren said under her breath, interpreting the coded terminology.
Nemesis turned to Delfino. “Plan B, then. Work this from the Minerva angle.”
“Copy.”
Both women stood and left the room.
Once alone,Wren and I worked in focused silence for nearly an hour, cross-referencing known activities with intel that revealed little new information. It felt good to get lost in a deep dive into Mercury’s disappearance, especially with the coalition’s astounding resources. They had access to satellite imagery, financial tracking systems, and monitoring capabilities that rivaled what I’d worked with at the NSA. But more than that, they had a sense of shared purpose I hadn’t realized I missed.
I briefed her on my discovery of Prism’s collaboration with Vasiliev, walking her through my surveillance of the London meeting and the evidence I’d gathered. I kept it factual, but I could see the impact it had. While finding Mercury was the impetus for my investigation, the ramifications of Romanov working with Minerva were far-reaching, affecting the safety of everyone in intelligence.
“Tell me about the last few months, since you started the search,” she prompted.
I outlined the intel that led me to chase “Dr. Henning” sightings across multiple countries and how, instead of finding her, I realized there were other missing operatives as well as diplomats.
“Which is how you discovered Romanov’s existence?” she asked.
