Page 32 of Code Name: Reaper
She scrolled through the documents, reading as she went. “According to these files, thirteen years ago, a mission began, involving suspected systematic defense contract fraud. Military leadership, Pentagon officials, and defense contractors were implicated.”
She continued to highlight entries. “The suspected scheme involved government officials taking bribes to award defense contracts to specific companies at inflated prices, with the companies providing kickbacks to the corrupt officials.”
Wren leaned forward. “Who was the lead on the investigation?”
Nemesis’ gaze darted between Wren’s and mine. “Eleanor Aldrich.”
I rubbed my temples. Every new thing I learned revealed additional layers of deception and complexity, rather than clues to Mercury’s whereabouts. I wasn’t sure I was emotionally prepared for another fundamental shift in my understanding of the woman who had shaped my entire adult life.
Wren studied me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry. A bit tired, but please, go on.”
Nemesis scrolled further. “According to these reports, Aldrich was Deputy Director of Operations at the CIA when she discovered evidence of the suspected fraud. She tried to pursue it through her chain of command, but when the then-director shut her down, she went higher up.”
“Who was the director at the time?” I asked.
“Jesus,” Wren muttered, pulling something up on her tablet. “It was Ed Fisk, who was later arrested as one of the main conspirators in Operation Argead. We need to talk to Irish.”
“Let’s get through the rest of this brief first.” Nemesis motioned to the screen.
I read what was on the next page. “Aldrich was undercover at USAFA?”
“Deep cover, in fact, which meant even Fisk didn’t know where she was. At least, not in the beginning.” Nemesis continued reading. “Less than a year later, she was reported missing and presumed dead.”
“This was only a few months before Mercury went undercover as Suzanne Henning,” I added. I thought about Reaper’s source saying her assignment also required long-term deep cover placement. Since he hadn’t wanted to say anything in front of Nemesis then, I didn’t feel comfortable doing it now.
“While this doesn’t say why or how the NSA got involved, I suspect Vera knows,” Wren said. “Maybe now that we’ve been read in, she’ll be willing to tell us the rest of the story.”
“There’s more detail here.” Nemesis scrolled through additional sections. “Prism’s CIA investigation and Mercury’s NSA assignment were overseen by former Deputy Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Hal Edmonds.”
“His position would have been one of a handful with clearance high enough to facilitate that kind of inter-agency handoff,” Wren added. “He’d be crucial for understanding how Mercury got the assignment and what the investigation parameters were. Is he still around?”
Nemesis scrolled to the final page. “There’s nothing more about him, but I agree you should check. The only other thing in the report is that, concurrent with when Mercury left the academy, the investigation was suspended without resolution.”
“That’s when she returned to the NSA. She arranged a summer internship for me there between my junior and senior years.”
Nemesis turned toward me. “How are you handling all of this? With Mercury, I mean.”
I thought about how to respond. “No differently than I have each time a new revelation about her comes to light.” I wanted to say another lie, but refrained.
Wren reached over and squeezed my hand. “You need to get some rest before we try to work through much more.”
“I’m okay.”
“You’re not,” said Nemesis. “And while you don’t report to me, I’m still ordering you to call it a day.” She winked and stood. “Wren, you too. We’ve accomplished more than I thought we would in a short amount of time.”
Her dismissal meant I’d have to find Reaper and find out where we—or where I—were staying tonight. As tired as I was, curling up on the sofa I’d seen earlier in the solarium would suffice. Maybe I’d do that instead. The other thing I didn’t have the energy for was another argument that he and I couldn’t seem to avoid.
8
REAPER
Istood when I saw Amaryllis, Wren, and Nemesis emerge from the library. Charity’s complexion had gone ashen, and her shoulders were rigid with tension. Dark circles ringed her eyes like bruises, and she gripped the doorframe to keep from swaying.
Nemesis scanned the command center. “Has Irish left already?”
“About an hour ago,” Hornet confirmed. “Apparently, he had a flight to catch to the States.”
