Page 33 of Warrior's Reign
The tech pulled up a report. Reign studied it. “Someone is doing a sit analysis. You’ll have to sift through the red herrings thrown in there to distract from the data they’re really interested in.”
He nodded. “We’ve had to be careful about what we’re feeding the leaks. We can play with them, but they can play back.”
As she read the data patterns, certainty settled into her gut. “You think the assassination attempts are being coordinated in the palace.”
Evvek nodded, mouth a grim line.
“Minor level staff are being actively recruited to provide this seemingly innocuous data,” Vykhan said, “but we don’t yet know how or who is approaching them.”
Reign pursed her lips. “It’s easier to flip people if they think the data they’re selling isn’t dangerous. Event personnel placements? Itineraries? Looks like gossip vlog stuff if you don’t know any better and could use the extra credits.” She glanced at Vykhan. “You’re going to have to retrain the entire palace wide staff when this is handled. They should know better.”
“There will be training,” was the chilly reply, “as well as consequences.”
She nodded. “You’re hoping someone will contact me, you said. But I’m not low-level staff.”
“Nope,” Evvek said. “But you’re human, and you’ve done some assignments on the side that aren’t quite. . .sanctioned. They haven’t penetrated our upper levels, and you’d be hard to resist if you made yourself approachable.”
Reign narrowed her eyes at the tech. The evasiveness of his tone— “I want to see the file you have on me. The real file.”
Evvek grinned on her. “Maybe I’ll let you buy me a drink and sweet-talk me one night.”
“You will not,” Vykhan said.
Reign glanced at him, a little surprised by the discordant note in his tone. “Relax, cupcake. I’m not going to seduce your tech for classified intel.”
Evvek choked. “And I thought this job had perks.” But his gaze glinted with good-natured glee as he eyed Vykhan sideways.
Vykhan met her glare evenly, but didn’t chastise her.
“We’ve gotten info that helped us narrow down the sources,” Evvek said. “And I’ve traced some false data we spread around to three different departments. We need to flush the recruiter out.”
“You’ll use them to burrow deeper into the conspiracy. So how are we playing this?”
Evvek pulled up a map of the city, then zoomed into one of the handful of locations already highlighted. “I think this is the most likely place to get attention. It’s a popular hangout among several of the junior staff in different departments, but they also cater to a less gainfully employed crowd.”
“That’s an interesting cross section. Is it deliberate?”
“It would have to be, over time,” Vykhan said. “We’re looking into the owners of the establishment to better understand how they have cultivated their unique clientele. For now. . .”
“You go in tonight,” Evvek said. “Look hot and dissatisfied. Whine about xenophobia, shit assignments.”
Reign stared at the screens, a little annoyed that she was getting this assignment because of the stereotypes associated with her humanity, but everyone had to fit in where they fit in. “Send the brief to my unit. I’ll wear something sexy.”
“That is not the nature of the assignment,” Vykhan said sharply.
“It’s a bar, sir,” Evvek said. “She’ll need to blend in. Don’t wear your palace uniform. But, no, we don’t need you to, ah, go deep if you’re approached by a mark.”
“Go deep,” Reign muttered. “That’s a new way of saying it.”
Evvek chortled, and Reign’s glance bounced off the cold stoniness of Vykhan’s expression. The thought of seducing a mark to get information must really rub his so-called Silence the wrong way. “I ran an algorithm, and it predicts that the recruiter will be there tonight. So no time like the present.”
“I’ll go with you,” Vykhan said. “You will need backup.”
Evvek lifted a brow, but stared at his screens, saying nothing. . .loudly.
“Fine,” Reign said. She nodded at Evvek and began to walk towards the doors.
“Obe’shan,” Vykhan said, and she stopped. “The blue skin tint would be. . .counter-productive, if physical allure is your chosen tool.”
