Page 46 of Enemy of My Enemy

“Does it identify assets on the ground? Are our people in danger?”

“Yes, sir.” Irwin’s glower turned dark. “We’ve found fifteen names so far. We’re combing for more.”

“Have we reached out to them? Got them to safety?”

“As many as we can. Some are buried pretty deep. One is inside Iran. Others are just as buried, and pretty scattered. Some are in our diplomatic programs.”

“Work harder. We need to get everyone into our embassies and out of those countries.”

Irwin and Rees nodded, Rees already dialing another number on his cell phone as Jack shared a long look with Ethan.

“Who do I need to start calling?” Pulling out his chair, Jack sat and dragged the secure phone at the conference table close to him. “What leaders do I need to reach out to?”

“It’s a long list, sir. Sixteen countries so far. None of them will be happy about our operations on their soil.”

“Do I need to ask who did this?”

Irwin leveled his gaze at Jack. “You already know. Madigan.”

“How did he get access to this intel? He hasn’t had clearance in months.”

“But the officers at the SOCOM base in Paraguay did.” Ethan slid into the seat beside Jack and pulled a tablet close, reading through the cables. “They could have gotten this for him.”

“Our own military, turning against us? Joining Madigan?” Jack’s chest burned, and his heart squeezed as he breathed the possibility.

“Eleven of them have.” Ethan’s eyes were a mixture of agony and rage, a painful hatred that echoed in Jack’s soul.

“We’ve got to stop this. He’s sending people to their deaths.” Jack grabbed the phone again. “Lawrence, give me someone to call. I’m not going to abandon our people out there.”

* * *

Northern Russia

St. Petersburg

Western Region Military Headquarters

“Do you have the news on?”

General Moroshkin frowned. The call on his cell phone had come through from an unlisted number and he almost hadn’t answered. But he’d opened negotiations with a certain rogue general, and he accepted the call on the last ring.

“Not yet. What is happening?”

“I suggest you get on the Internet. Turn on your news. Your GRU boys will be beating down your door in just a moment, too.” Over the phone line, General Madigan chuckled.

Moroshkin’s eyes narrowed. His fingers pounded on the keyboard as his mustache bunched together above pursed lips.

America’s leaked intelligence cables splashed across the front page of the Internet. A tsunami of outcry lay in the cables’ wake, even after only a short time. He grinned, scrolling through the first published cable.

“So, General.” Madigan kept talking in his ear. “This is the second gift I have graciously offered to you. Top Secret intelligence. Names of undercover operatives. Details of operations. America’s intelligence community will be seriously shattered after this.”

Moroshkin leaned back in his desk chair. “Yes, you have,” he mused. “I have to ask myself, General. Why do you do this? Are you searching for a new home? Do you hope to buy your way into Russia? I am not sure the current Russian president would accept you. He is close to your president.”

“Jack Spiers is no president of mine,” Madigan said smoothly, his voice dropping to a slick growl. “And I don’t want to start singing the Russian hymn. That’s not what I’m after.”

“What is? What is it you want with me?”

Silence, for a moment. “If you could remake the world exactly how you want, General, how would you make it?”