Roger entered the elevator and pressed the button for the second floor. As he exited, he glanced around the busy office. He found an empty cubicle in the corner and slipped in behind the potted plant. He quickly booted the computer and pulled up the secured data line. Being one of the few hard line connections between agencies, one would have to physically cut and tap into the fiber optic connection, and it was alarmed. Any attempt to tap into Homeland’s secure fiber systems would be met with deadly force.
Roger reached to his breast pocket and pulled the key card out. His fingers trembled slightly as he inserted it into the computer and watched as the key card signed him in and verified his security clearance. He glanced to the side to ensure that nobody happened to be watching as he performed a search on Bridger.
Documents and data collected and he skimmed through the detritus to get to the pertinent information. He found his original flag on Bridger and copied the individual’s ID who’d deleted it. “NSA?” Roger didn’t mean to speak his thoughts and quickly did a double take to see if anybody’d overheard him.
Outside the high security computer terminal office, people went about their business as usual. From what little Roger could tell, nobody was the wiser for his activities. He turned back to the screen and collated the data that he felt was notable. He reached into his pocket and pulled his keys out. A small, rubber Superman figure dangled from the main ring and Roger tugged at the short, stubby, cartoon-like legs of the superhero. The USB drive gleamed under the florescent lighting and he quickly inserted it into the computer. He copied the data and saved it to the drive before quickly pulling it and slipping the legs back on.
He shut down the computer and slid the keys back into his pocket as he stood. Roger turned to leave then suddenly froze. He quickly turned back into the cubicle and retrieved the security card. He slipped it back into his breast pocket and walked silently out of the secure room and back into the office where the other agents went about their business.
He did his best to act nonchalant as he approached the security kiosk at the entrance of the building. He pushed past the spinning metal bar that directed traffic out of the building.
“Agent Wallace?”
Roger froze when he heard his name called and spun around expectantly. Agent Weston trotted to catch up with him. “I was called and told that you were here looking for me.” She gave him a confused look as she approached.
Roger swallowed hard and nodded bashfully. “Yes, I did, Brenda. I apologize. I shouldn’t have stopped by unannounced.”
She took him by the arm and slowly turned him back around. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Roger felt his cheeks flush and he avoided her gaze. “I, uh…” He cleared his throat uncomfortably and felt his tongue stammer as he tried to speak.
She shifted her stance so that he had to actually look at her face and he sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, Brenda. I somehow stepped in it and they’re transferring me. I was coming up I-35 and when I saw the sign for Oklahoma City, I thought of you.” He shook his head and lowered his voice. “I guess the idea of a friendly face sounded better in my head.”
She pulled him aside and away from the flow of those exiting the building. “What happened?”
“I honestly have no idea. One minute I was working a domestic terrorism sting and the next, I’m told that I screwed up a joint CIA-NSA operation.” He shrugged and gave her an innocent look. “I have no idea how, and my supervisor refused to give me any details before they booted me to no man’s land.”
She nodded slightly. “Probably because he doesn’t know either.” She tugged him toward the exits and gave him a soft smile. “Come on. I know a good place for coffee.”
Roger balked slightly and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I…I was headed up to the third floor to look for you and realized that crying on somebody’s shoulder isn’t going to help.”
“So don’t cry. Just drink coffee and let’s catch up.” The twinkle in her eye told him that maybe there was more behind her intentions than he would have originally guessed. He found himself falling into step behind her and walking back out into the warm, humid Oklahoma air.
BYI, Dallas, TX
BOBBY PACED SLOWLY, his mind spinning as he tried to consider all of the possibilities. He turned slowly to Jay and raised a brow. “What could they do to him if he’s caught?”
Jay shrugged. “Throw him under the jail? Hell if I know. Send him to Des Moines, I guess. Technically, he’s committing espionage.”
“I should have gone instead.” Bobby pushed past Jay and reached for a phone.
“Who do you think you’re calling?” Jay placed his hand on the receiver and held it in its cradle.
“I’m calling Roger and telling him to cancel the op. We can find the information another way.”
“Negative, compadre. He pulled you into this mess, he can help pull you out.”
Bobby pushed Jay’s hand away from the phone and lifted the receiver. “It’s my problem, Jay. I’ll call the shots on this—”
Jay reached for the cord and ripped it from the wall. “You called us for backup. Let us do what we do best.” He wrapped the cord into a
