Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Now I owe her,” Amon says. “This is a huge ask.”
I blow out a breath, but just continue to look out the window. “Why didn’t you just ask Penny if I was cool?”
“We did,” Amon says.
“She says you are,” Collin adds.
“So what’s the problem?”
“She only knows what she knows, Shep,” Collin says.
“I’m not a fuckin’ operative sent here by Charlie Beaufort to spy on you or fuck up your shit. I’m just…” I exhale loudly. “I’m a fuck-up, just like the rest of them, Collin.” I turn in my seat to look at him. “I washed out, OK? Do you wanna hear all the details of how that happened? Do you wanna hear about the missions? Because I’ll tell you. But you know what that means. I don’t care if they find out I told you. I don’t even understand why I’m still alive, to be honest. But obviously, they’re not worried about me. It won’t be me they’re concerned about if I spill my whole history right here in this truck. It’ll be you.”
Then I turn around and neither Collin or Amon say anything back. They both know I’m right. You come in to this black ops stuff all curious. You think you wanna know all the secrets. You think it’s all cool spy shit. Gadgets and 007 Hollywood special effects.
But that’s not what it is. That’s not at all what it is, and both Collin and Amon have seen enough to know this. They don’t keep it all dark because they’re protecting their operatives. No. That’s not why. They keep it all dark because if the general population of America knew what their tax dollars were really being used for, there’d be a revolution. Tables would be flipped and shit would go down. People do things in the dark for a reason and it’s not just so others can’t see.
It’s so we can’t see either.
It’s so we have an excuse not to think about it.
Not to question it.
Not to regret it.
We end up at Carnegie Mellon University, some futuristic science building with lots of windows that looks like it came straight out of an old sci-fi movie. Penny meets us in the lobby and while Collin and Amon catch up, I stare at the weird-looking spiral ramp in the middle of the massive space.
“Shep?”
I turn and look at Penny, who is in her mid-sixties, at least, but looks healthy and fit for her age. “Yep. I’m ready.”
“We’re this way.” She turns and the three of us follow her to the bank of elevators. Once inside, Penny presses a green button on the bottom of the panel, then inserts a key.
I look over at Collin and Amon and find them both watching with raised eyebrows.
Interesting. Obviously, the green button indicates a highly secure area that is not generally accessible to the students or faculty here on campus. And the fact that it’s at the bottom of the panel means it’s in the basement.
My guess is right, because once the doors close, we descend and this descent is not quick. I count eight seconds, which probably correlates to seven to ten floors. Despite the raised eyebrows from Collin and Amon, it’s not that surprising that the machine would be below ground. This is where all the secrets live.
When the doors open, we exit and find ourselves in what appears to be a busy hospital. Penny leads the way, turning left, and we follow. Me first, then Collin, and Amon brings up the rear.
Penny stops in front of a double door and smiles at me. “You’re in here, Shep. Go on in and they’ll get you set up.”
I look at Collin. “Where are you guys gonna be?”
Penny is the one who answers. “They’ll be in the control room with me and the techs.” And then she dismisses me. “See you on the other side.” The three of them walk off and I let out a sigh, resigning myself to whatever comes next.
I’ve had MRIs before. Lots of them, actually. So most of it is really familiar. I change into a pair of generic sweats and a t-shirt. Obviously, I’m told to remain still during the entire test—which could take up to ninety minutes—but this isn’t just a scan, it’s a test. So I’m given a remote to hold with a single button. All the questions are yes or no. Press once for yes, two for no. If I make a mistake, I’m to repeatedly press the button until the question is repeated.
Of course they tell me to remain calm, but it’s not that easy when you’re stuffed inside a claustrophobic can and your immediate future depends on your answers.
The questions are familiar in that they are worded and ordered to try and catch inconsistencies. All of them are about Charlie, but some are more direct, while others are not. They are looking for brain activity. Specifically, deviations from the norm, whatever that is. So they are questions like—Have you ever lied about your interactions with Charlie? Do you trust Charlie Beaufort more than your current team? Have you communicated with Charlie Beaufort in the last year? Do you believe Charlie Beaufort has good intentions?