Page 71 of Baby Play the Game

But she was already across the gym and standing in the doorway of the lounge, briefing everyone on the situation. Bringing in a civilian under the best of circumstances was a whole fucking ordeal. And this, a secret government agency bringing in a member of the fourth estate, was the worst of all possible circumstances.

I gathered multiple devices into a backpack and slung it over my shoulder. Alder joined me in the room, already talking through the set-up of intercepting the reporter’s communications, which we would begin doing the minute Armand signed the papers giving us permission to do so. Tam appeared in the doorway as Bond emerged from the stairwell across the gym, looking furious.

“Ready?” Tam asked.

I nodded. “Should be a fun ride.” I inclined my head toward Bond as she approached us.

“Ready for this shitshow?” our team doc asked.

“You think it’s that bad?” I asked. I’d hoped she’d have a positive spin to put on the situation.

“Let’s see. We have to bring in a reporter who’s been cozying up to the Carbonados and hope they don’t notice she’s missing, keep her faked death under wraps until we finish our current mission, and convince the Senate subcommittee, who is only just tolerating us because Sparks saved downtown Chicago, that we have some idea of what the hell we’re doing.” Bond ticked off points on her fingers. She turned and stomped away, still talking. “Probably not bad at all.”

Tam and I followed several feet behind Bond, walking side by side. “So translation,” Tam said, “we have to save our boss from himself, cross the line between the government and the press without getting caught, and hold the agency together by the skin of our teeth yet again.”

“Yep.” We exchanged a smile, both knowing there was no one else we’d rather be beside while doing this work. “Also known as just another Tuesday afternoon at HEAT.”

* * *

* * *