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“Subtle but clear,” Kodiak agreed. “He was definitely recruiting.”

“The question is, for what exactly?” I said. “They never mentioned specific technologies or systems.”

“They don’t have to,” Brenna said. “They’re building a profile. Seeing if we’re corruptible.”

Kodiak took his pocket square out and unfolded it. “I recorded the whole thing. I’ll get it processed and sent out to the team.”

“Morrison mentioned a special gathering next weekend. He didn’t elaborate on what it was, but the four of us are invited.”

“That’s where he’ll make his pitch,” Emma predicted.

“Remember, we need enough evidence to build this case,” Brenna added. “Tonight was just foreplay.”

“Charming metaphor,” Kodiak muttered.

“Accurate, though,” Emma said. “They’re seducing us. Building trust, trying to make us feelspecial.”

I agreed. “Make the mark feel like they’re joining an exclusive club.”

“The question is,” said Kodiak, “how far do we let this go before we pull the trigger?”

“I’ll know when we’ve got enough that a conviction will be a no-brainer,” Brenna responded. “We need names. My gut is telling me that Morrison and his crew are middlemen. We need to know who’s really selling and who’s buying.”

“Next weekend, then,” said Emma. “That’s when we’ll find out.”

“We should brief Admiral in the morning,” I suggested. “This is moving quickly.”

“Like we said, Morrison’s under pressure. You could see it in how he was pushing,” Brenna added.

We spent another hour dissecting every word, every glance, every pause in the conversation after Kodiak loaded the video onto his laptop.

By the time Emma and Kodiak left for their hotel, we agreed we had a clear picture of Morrison’s approach and a strategy. Whatever happened next weekend, we’d be prepared.

“You okay?” I asked Brenna after they’d gone. She was staring out at the bay, wineglass in hand.

“Just thinking about how easy it would be.”

“What?”

“For someone to say yes. To take the money. To rationalize it the way Morrison does.” She turned to face me. “There are toomany people willing to bend the rules as long as they make the almighty buck.”

“Bend? I think smashing them to bits is more accurate.”

“You’re right.” She smiled. “The bastards.”

I took her in my arms. “Ready for bed?”

“Yes, but first, promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“When this is over, we disappear for a while. Somewhere without Morrison, without clearances, without any of this.”

“You got it. Anywhere in particular?”

“Surprise me.”

I kissed her forehead. “Deal. But first, we nail these bastards.”