Page 65 of The Lazarus Protocol

“Things have become complicated.”

“Way I figure, it’s the job of Division Zero to uncomplicate things.”

“We must’ve missed that in the orientation briefing. You know, where you bring us to Langley and explain the ins and outs of the job.” Noah folded his arms. “Like how we’ll occasionally—or frequently—be asked to execute CIA operatives who have stepped out of line.”

Thomas knocked the drink back. He wore khaki shorts, and at some point had dripped BBQ sauce on the pocket of his Hawaiian shirt. “Sometimes it’s part of the job.”

“You may want to look into this one and the reason she was burned.” Jay had given Noah and Marina the state of play on Stephanie-Jo as they drove here. “Seems like it’s not that cut-and-dried.”

“Never is.”

“Who gave the order for her to steal private tech from Division Zero?”

Thomas frowned, midpouring himself another drink. “What tech?”

“A drone we were tasked with retrieving on behalf of Earthnet.”

He knocked back another. “Right. I’d heard you were doing that job. I’ll find out who gave the order.”

“Is there a kill order on her? I need to know if the CIA is targeting my team just to get to her.”

Thomas swirled what was left in his glass. “What’s going on?”

“Someone is shooting at them right now. It’s connected to the Earthnet job and a foreign asset, Vesper.”

Thomas coughed. “Stephanie-Jo is caught up in that?”

“And Division Zero.”

“Set up a meeting. We can discuss what is known and how to proceed.”

“I’ll have my assistant send you an invite.”

“I meant in person.”

Noah shook his head. “There’s no way they’ll go for that.”

Thomas studied him. “You think we’d let you walk into a trap?”

Noah had held the attention of scarier people than this guy who had socks and brown sandals on. “I think a video call has less logistics.”

“I have something for you.” Thomas pulled out a drawer in the tool box and lifted a file folder from inside. “This is a dossier. Guy used to work for us, long time ago. He was a psychologist who treated a lot of agents, counseled assets and staff at Langley.”

Noah took the file but didn’t flip it open. “Who is he really?”

“A psychologist,” Thomas said. “He knew your parents. Counseled them together and separately, which of course is privileged information. Most of it was destroyed years ago, or drives were corrupted. If you want information about them, talk to Doctor Haserford.”

Noah nodded. “One more question.”

“Shoot.”

“What is there to know about Stephanie-Jo’s father?”

Thomas set the glass down. “That’s above both of our paygrades.”

The door behind Noah opened, and Bouncer Guy said, “Time’s up. Now you leave.”

TWENTY-THREE