Neither Robie nor Reel spoke.
She continued. “Those forces collided and the result was this compromise. Rehab. Do or die. Up to you. Pretty generous, actually, in my humble opinion.”
“I didn’t think anyone trumped the president,” said Robie.
“Politics is a dirty, ruthless business, Agent Robie. It makes the intelligence sector look relatively honorable by comparison. While it’s true that the president is the thousand-pound gorilla, there are lots of big beasts in this playground. And the president has an agenda he wants to push through, and that means he has to make concessions. In the grand scheme of things you and Agent Reel are not so important that you are above being traded as chits to further the man’s agenda. Whether you got a medal or not. Do you follow?”
“What precisely does rehab mean in this context?” asked Robie.
“We start from square one. You both have to be evaluated in every possible way. Physically, psychologically, and intellectually. We’re going to look pretty deep into your heads. We’re going to see whether you have what it takes to cut it in the field.”
“I thought we had proved that in Syria,” interjected Reel.
“Not part of the compromise. That was a one-off and even then you didn’t follow orders.”
“Well, if we had followed orders we’d both be dead,” Robie pointed out.
“Again, not something I care about. It was the not-following-orders part that helped trigger what will happen now.”
She turned on her electronic tablet and tapped the screen. Robie noted that her fingernails were cut below the tips of her fingers and had not a speck of color on them. The image of her as a sniper entered his mind once more.
She looked up at him. “You sustained serious burns to your leg and arm.” She glanced at Reel. “Her doing, not that anyone is keeping count. How are these injuries?”
“Coming along.”
“Not good enough,” said Marks. “Now, you both jumped off a moving train. I’m sure that was fun.”
“More fun than the alternative,” replied Reel.
Marks said, “You lost friends during this past, uh, adventure. I understand that you blame the agency for that.”
“Well, their personnel were partially responsible. I’m not sure how else you can cut that.”
“To have an effective rehab you will have to get over that,” replied Marks sharply.
She looked once more at Robie. “You were sent out to find Reel. You did find her but did not bring her in. You ended up joining forces with her against the agency’s orders.”
“I went with my gut and it turned out to be right.”
“Again, during rehab you will have to decide where your ultimate loyalties lie, Robie. The next time your gut may be wrong. And where does that leave you and the agency?”
She did not wait for an answer but continued. “The rehab will be very hard on all of us. I will be with you both every step of the way. You may quit the process at any time.”
“And if we do?” asked Reel quickly.
“Then all appropriate action will be taken against you.”
“So I get habeas corpus and a fair trial?” Reel said.
Marks looked up. “I didn’t say legal action, did I?”
“So it’s do or die, then?” said Robie.
“You can label it however you wish. But ultimately the choice is completely up to you. So what will it be?”
Robie and Reel exchanged another glance. Then Reel nodded. Robie did the same.
“Excellent choice,” said Marks.
“Where is this rehab going to take place?” asked Reel.
“Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t I mention that?”
“No, you didn’t,” said Reel tersely.
“It will take place at a location I think you both know well.”
She paused and took a moment to look at one and then the other.
“The Burner Box,” she said with a slight smile. “We leave in twenty-four hours.”
Chapter
6
HOW LONG WILL YOU BE gone?” Julie Getty asked.
Robie looked down at his plate and didn’t answer right away. They were at a hole-in-the-wall diner in D.C., not far from where fifteen-year-old Julie attended school. Robie had about eight hours to go before he and Reel would be headed to the Burner Box. Julie had been excited to hear from him; her excitement had diminished when she learned it was to say goodbye, at least for a while.
“I’m not sure,” said Robie as he pushed his food around on his plate. “It wasn’t specified,” he clarified.
“And you can’t tell me where you’re going, of course,” she said resignedly.
“It’s…it’s a training site.”