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Carly leaned over Knuckles to get a view outside the jet’s window and said, “What now? I thought we were cleared for Algeciras.”

Knuckles saw Pike talking into a phone on the tarmac and said, “I have no idea. Just relax. You can’t worry about every little thing. When he comes back on, he’ll let us know.”

“Doesn’t that drive you batshit? I mean, with this guy, every day is a new adventure.”

Knuckles said, “It’s not him. It’s the life. The one you signed on for.”

Carly leaned back into her chair and said, “That’s ridiculous. Even in the CIA we have plans. We don’t fly by the seat of our pants every waking moment.”

Knuckles said, “Neither do we. It might look like we do, but it’s really the opposite. We react to changing conditions better than anyone on the planet, and we capitalize on those changes. Most would execute a plan that no longer had any meaning. We do not.” A little miffed at the exchange, he said, “Maybe you should have just stayed in the CIA. It would have been easier.”

Surprised, she said, “Hey, wait, what’s that supposed to mean?”

He glanced to the rear, where Jennifer was sitting next to the man named Johan, and said, “I’ve seen what she’s been through. Pike supported her every step of the way, but even that almost wasn’t enough. She’s succeeded because she has the drive. If you don’t have the commitment, it’s not going to work out here.”

Carly said, “What are you talking about? Is this about us?”

Knuckles’s eyebrows flew up. He hissed, “Don’t say that out loud. We can’t date and be on the same team.”

Carly sagged back into her seat, chuckling.

He said, “What the hell is so funny?”

“Knuckles, everyone on this plane knows we’re dating. Everyone, and it’s not a big deal. I’m a case officer; you’re an Operator. We aren’t in the same chain of command, and I’m not on this team. This isn’t high school.”

Knuckles sat for a little bit, then said, “You don’t want a job like Jennifer’s? Wouldn’t you like to do something more than just a support role?”

Carly considered the words, then said, “Yeah, I guess that would be cool, but I sure as shit wouldn’t want to put up with the crap she did. I mean, my job’s hard, but at least it’s already seeded with females. I don’t have to be the glass-ceiling breaker.”

He turned to her and said, “And that’s all it is? You don’t want to try for something more because it’s safer where you are?”

He saw her eyes squint, and he knew he’d overstepped. She said, “You think it’s easy being a female case officer in the CIA? You think it was easy getting to where I am? Not everybody pines to be on a supersecret team. I work better alone. I like being the master of my own fate and don’t need the dick measuring on a team to define my worth.”

He smiled and held his hands up, saying, “I’m not looking for a fight; it’s just that you won’t get a shot if the command thinks I’m dating you. There can’t be any skeletons in the closet that might interfere with the decision.”

She said, “What do you mean, ‘get a shot’?”

Pike entered the cabin, saying, “It looks like a split mission. Everyone on me.”

Carly glared at Knuckles, but he unbuckled his seat belt, relieved. They gathered around one of the tables in the Rock Star bird, leaving Johan in the back chained to an eyebolt.

Pike said, “The Taskforce is still working through the ramifications of what we’ve sent them, trying to make connections, and we now have a change of mission.”

Knuckles said, “So the Algeciras thing is a no-go?”

“No. It’s still prime, but they continued digging into the bank account information, and one of the offshore accounts is tied to one in New York, and that account was used in Norfolk, Virginia. Right now, they don’t know why. It’s just a couple of lines on a bank transfer, but it’s in Norfolk, and given the map we found, that’s where we’re headed.”

Retro said, “Holy shit. The mother lode.”

Pike grinned and said, “Yeah, I think so. There are still some posse comitatus issues with the Taskforce charter, but me, you, Veep, and Jennifer are headed back to DC now. Hopefully by the time we land they’ll have something to give us for hunting.”

Knuckles realized he was missing out. He said, “Wait, what? What am I doing?”

“You and Carly are headed to Algeciras. Find the guy with the phone and get information out of him. Find out what he knows. We don’t have anything but a city at this point. We need something more.”

He said, “She’s not an Operator. I should be going with you.”

The sentence, of course, made no sense, and Knuckles knew it. So did Carly, the insult sinking home. He saw her expression and said, “That’s not what I meant. This Algeciras mission is a side note. Pike, you’re going to need me on the X in Norfolk.”

Jennifer said, “I’ll go with her, if you want.”

Pike said, “This isn’t a democracy. Knuckles is going to Algeciras. I need experience there and you’re it. We have Omega authority, and that’s no small thing. I’ll need your judgment. We’ll overfly Algeciras and get a pinpoint. I expect a report of success by the time I land.”

Knuckles nodded, not liking the answer. He glanced at Carly and saw nothing but venom. He said, “Maybe me and Jennifer should do it.”

Pike said, “Nope. It’s you and Carly. Let’s see how that works out.”

Knuckles saw exactly what he was doing. He said, “I’m not so sure this is smart.”

Jennifer looked at Carly and said, “Why? I think it’s perfect. It’ll showcase her abilities on a live mission.”

Carly said, “Why am I the only person who doesn’t know what the state of play is? Why am I being tagged for a mission when I’m not even a member of the team?”

Pike said, “I might need everyone else. You want out, say the word, but you’re now a member of the Taskforce. I use you as I see fit, just like I did with Creed in the Bahamas. You don’t think you can handle it, I’ll put Jennifer on it and go into my mission an Operator short. Your call.”

Incensed, she said, “Who said I can’t handle it?”