Read Online 4 Rainy Days and Monday by Robert Michael - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robert Michael
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truth in it, though. An idealism that sounds altruistic. It is just arrogance. Selfishness. And in the end, it is an ingredient for terrible dictatorship.”
“I don’t play well with others.”
“Not true. You and Hallie seem to make a good team.”
Jake bowed his head, wanting more than ever to throw the folder away.
“I suppose. I just feel like a failure.”
Swane did not speak for moment.
“Is that why you are holding Gabriel’s ViVeri folder in a death grip?”
He glanced up.
“What do you know about it, Robert?”
Swane looked down the hall.
“Nothing I can repeat here.”
“You can’t even reveal it here at CIA Headquarters.”
Swane made a face.
“Are we actually having this discussion? After the NSA witch-hunt in 2013? They almost dismantled the entire internet, for crying out loud.”
“Do I even want to open it?”
Swane shrugged.
“Depends on your constitution, I suppose. Depends on how clouded your judgment is towards your father.”
Jake swallowed.
“Is it safe with me?”
“Vivian seems to think so,” Swane remarked.
“Isn’t this a matter of national security?”
“Isn’t this a matter of trust?”
Jake wanted to hate him for that.
“Is this the only copy?”
“You should have asked Vivian that.”
“Stop playing with me, Robert. I am not a child.”
Swane nodded.
“You’re right. I’ll tell you what. Come to my house this weekend. We can drink some Tennessee whiskey out on the porch and discuss the contents of the folder. I have one of my own we can go through as well.”
Jake smirked.
“Whiskey, huh?”
“Blanton’s, straight-from-the-barrel bourbon. Costs less than eighty bucks, but it is one of the best bourbons in the world.”
“My dad liked whiskey. He drank a lot of Jim Beam.”
“Jim made a mighty pure whiskey before his kin sold to the Japanese.”
“Has your front porch been cleared by national security?”
“Son, my front porch is about as secure as you can get.”
Jake looked at the folder in his hand. He reached out and handed it to Senator Swane.
“Here, you keep it until we can meet.”
Swane did not take the folder. He met Jake’s eyes. Jake saw there a deep fear.
“Don’t ask me to take this, Jake. It is too volatile.”
Jake felt a chill run up his spine.
“If you already know what is in there, then why do you fear keeping it?”
Swane pushed the folder back at Jake.
“Knowing is not knowing , Jake. Plus, possessing is ownership. I do not wish to own this. These demons are not mine. I do not want to inherit them. Or their master’s wrath.”
Jake felt a hot lump in his throat. Anger and resentment gathered in his chest.
“Should I trust you?”
Swane shook his head.
“You should not trust anyone. I want to be your friend. I want to help you. Everyone has their limits, Jake. Please understand.”
“But we can talk about it?” Jake asked. He could not understand the mixed message.
“Talking about it and having it as a temptation and a reminder are two different things. Just keep it safe. No one knows you have it but the President and me. Keep it that way.”
“Who does this implicate?”
A pall of shame joined the look of fear on Senator Swane’s face.
“Everyone.”
Chapter Nine
As Flies to Wanton Boys
T he room was bright.
The windows across from the room’s secure entrance opened out into a large courtyard. The sun spilled through into the expansive two-story room. Unlike most homes, no dust motes hovered in the light, swirling in the air.
The air in the room was sanitized, filtered, and repackaged as almost pure oxygen. A habitual smoker, Andronicus felt almost high.
Along with the considerable sunlight beaming into the room, the glare of dozens of backlit glass computer terminals suspended around the room made him squint. A group of men and women sat huddled around tables and inspected massive instruments.
Frankenstein, reborn , Andronicus thought, amused.
Modern technology and
“I don’t play well with others.”
“Not true. You and Hallie seem to make a good team.”
Jake bowed his head, wanting more than ever to throw the folder away.
“I suppose. I just feel like a failure.”
Swane did not speak for moment.
“Is that why you are holding Gabriel’s ViVeri folder in a death grip?”
He glanced up.
“What do you know about it, Robert?”
Swane looked down the hall.
“Nothing I can repeat here.”
“You can’t even reveal it here at CIA Headquarters.”
Swane made a face.
“Are we actually having this discussion? After the NSA witch-hunt in 2013? They almost dismantled the entire internet, for crying out loud.”
“Do I even want to open it?”
Swane shrugged.
“Depends on your constitution, I suppose. Depends on how clouded your judgment is towards your father.”
Jake swallowed.
“Is it safe with me?”
“Vivian seems to think so,” Swane remarked.
“Isn’t this a matter of national security?”
“Isn’t this a matter of trust?”
Jake wanted to hate him for that.
“Is this the only copy?”
“You should have asked Vivian that.”
“Stop playing with me, Robert. I am not a child.”
Swane nodded.
“You’re right. I’ll tell you what. Come to my house this weekend. We can drink some Tennessee whiskey out on the porch and discuss the contents of the folder. I have one of my own we can go through as well.”
Jake smirked.
“Whiskey, huh?”
“Blanton’s, straight-from-the-barrel bourbon. Costs less than eighty bucks, but it is one of the best bourbons in the world.”
“My dad liked whiskey. He drank a lot of Jim Beam.”
“Jim made a mighty pure whiskey before his kin sold to the Japanese.”
“Has your front porch been cleared by national security?”
“Son, my front porch is about as secure as you can get.”
Jake looked at the folder in his hand. He reached out and handed it to Senator Swane.
“Here, you keep it until we can meet.”
Swane did not take the folder. He met Jake’s eyes. Jake saw there a deep fear.
“Don’t ask me to take this, Jake. It is too volatile.”
Jake felt a chill run up his spine.
“If you already know what is in there, then why do you fear keeping it?”
Swane pushed the folder back at Jake.
“Knowing is not knowing , Jake. Plus, possessing is ownership. I do not wish to own this. These demons are not mine. I do not want to inherit them. Or their master’s wrath.”
Jake felt a hot lump in his throat. Anger and resentment gathered in his chest.
“Should I trust you?”
Swane shook his head.
“You should not trust anyone. I want to be your friend. I want to help you. Everyone has their limits, Jake. Please understand.”
“But we can talk about it?” Jake asked. He could not understand the mixed message.
“Talking about it and having it as a temptation and a reminder are two different things. Just keep it safe. No one knows you have it but the President and me. Keep it that way.”
“Who does this implicate?”
A pall of shame joined the look of fear on Senator Swane’s face.
“Everyone.”
Chapter Nine
As Flies to Wanton Boys
T he room was bright.
The windows across from the room’s secure entrance opened out into a large courtyard. The sun spilled through into the expansive two-story room. Unlike most homes, no dust motes hovered in the light, swirling in the air.
The air in the room was sanitized, filtered, and repackaged as almost pure oxygen. A habitual smoker, Andronicus felt almost high.
Along with the considerable sunlight beaming into the room, the glare of dozens of backlit glass computer terminals suspended around the room made him squint. A group of men and women sat huddled around tables and inspected massive instruments.
Frankenstein, reborn , Andronicus thought, amused.
Modern technology and
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