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His mentor's full-on belly laugh echoed through the earpiece. “I really want to meet this woman.”
“And when's that supposed to happen?” Ethan asked as he expanded the digital web of known associates linked to the two suspects they'd identified.
“Always inquisitive.Youhave a new relationship starting. I’ll give you time to get settled.”
Ethan huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, if she doesn’t kill me in the process.”
The voice chuckled knowingly. “I’ve got the systems here. You focus on tracking this down. If those guys really are planning a hit, and they think Star knows something, she could be in danger.”
“Yeah, I know.” Ethan’s jaw tightened as the weight of that truth settled in his chest. “I’m going to use some of the equipment I have here to reinforce her house and set up security measures that will give us an early warning if anyone comes sniffing around.”
“Sounds like a plan. If you need me, I’m here. Don’t hesitate to reach out.” The man’s voice took on a more serious tone. “And keep your earpiece in.”
“I will. But I’ll keep it on mute unless something comes up.”
“Just like mine,” his mentor said with a low laugh. “Speaking of, someone new—recently transferred in from a position within the CIA—is interested in working on the nanotech of our communication systems.”
Ethan made a noncommittal noise of acknowledgment as he keyed in another search. “Echo, Deacon’s wife.”
His companion chuckled. “You're doing better than anticipated. Has anyone ever told you you're one of the smartest men in the world?”
Ethan barked a laugh. “I'm definitely not.”
“Since I happen to be one of the three smartest men in the world,” he said lightly, “I believe you can trust me when I tell you that you're one of the other two.”
Ethan's fingers paused on the keyboard. “And the third?”
“The third,” he said, voice turning contemplative, “is someone you'll hopefully find when you start to think about retirement. You'll need to choose someone who thinks outside the box. Someone whose intelligence doesn’t overshadow their common sense. Someone who can tackle a problem, find a solution, and live with the consequences of that solution.”
Ethan sat back in his chair and rubbed his face. “Yeah … the consequences. That's what keeps me awake some nights. Securing Guardian’s systems, protecting our people, and trying to safeguard a constantly evolving country … It's a lot. Sometimes it feels like we’re playing God.”
“Itisa lot,” his mentor said softly. “And humanity forces our hand more often than we'd like. But as long as we act for the good of all—and not for evil—we can sleep at night.”
Ethan nodded, though his mentor couldn't see it. “I've talked to a few people who used to work in the shadows. That's how they justified their actions. Said it was in the defense of others. But that responsibility … it’s heavy. Heavier than most people realize.”
There was a long silence. He often went quiet when he was thinking, and Ethan had learned to wait it out.
Finally, the man broke the silence. “I've never told you my name, have I?”
Ethan's breath caught, his eyes snapping to the screen. “No. You haven’t.”
“Would you like to know?” he asked, almost teasingly.
Ethan let out a shaky laugh. “Well, hell yeah. For the last ten years, you've just been ‘my mentor.’”
“You never gave me a nickname?”
“Oh, I did. Several.” Ethan smirked. “There was Asshole Voice from the Abyss and, of course, Mysterious Pain-in-My-Ass. I know you use a voice filter, but damned if I can get around it to know what you really sound like.”
His mentor’s laugh rolled through the earpiece. “Well, I came up with a few nicknames for you, too. There were days when you were a dick. And that one time you were an asshole. Then there was the period where I called you that fucking kid. But we worked through it.”
Ethan laughed so hard he had to sit back from the console. “Fair. That's fair.”
“My name is Max.”
Ethan’s laughter faded into a surprised smile. “Max.” He let the name settle on his tongue. “Hi, Max. My name's Ethan.”
“Dude, I already know that.”