Read Online Outsourced by R. J. Hillhouse - Free Book Online Page B

the bases in Iraq and the private military companies were guests on their turf. Camille’s troops at Tornado Point did covert work for the CIA and some secret military units—almost all of it outside the purview of the base commander. It was no secret that Colonel Lukson and other field officers did not like their new roles as landlords for higher paid civilian mercenaries and would relish the eviction of one of them.
    After a long minute, Lukson spoke. “Anything you want to tell me, Black?”
    â€œSir, I was fired on tonight by Rubicon troops.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you decided to play cowboys and indians on my ranch? You might not take orders from me, but I sure as hell can kick your sweet ass off my base.”
    â€œSir, I had to defend myself, sir,” Camille said like an enlisted Marine. She flashed back to her childhood when she had to stand before her father and answer for her mistakes in the same way. At the time it had felt severe, but now, it seemed more like good training. She had a lucrative contract to protect and couldn’t risk any missteps with her Marine host. It was time to use the word “sir” more than she had in the past year.
    â€œAnd you had to defend yourself from Mr. Kyle as well?”
    â€œWho’s Mr. Kyle, sir?”
    The CIA case officer Chronister interrupted. “I believe you encountered the gentleman tonight in the Rubicon offices.”
    Camille continued to stand erect in front of the colonel and ignored Chronister. “Sir, Mr. Kyle threatened me at gunpoint. I had to disarm him, sir.”
    â€œBy tying him up and breaking his fucking neck?” Chronister said with a laugh. “Camille, I always loved that matter-of-factness about you. You really should’ve been a Marine.”
    Fuck you, Joe. She continued to stare straight ahead at the colonel. She wasn’t going to fall for his bait—not this time. She wondered why Hunter had done it. He was one of the most deadly men she knew, but also one of the most moral. He wouldn’t kill without reason.
    â€œBlack, answer the question. Did you tie Kyle up and break his neck?” Lukson said.
    â€œNo, sir. He was alive, sir, when I left, sir.”
    â€œDid you threaten Mr. Kyle?” Lukson leaned back in his chair causing a caster to fall out. He grabbed the desk to catch his balance.
    Chronister laughed. Camille remained stoic, silently thanking her father, who would’ve beaten her senseless if that had happened to him when dressing her down and she had so much as cracked a smile. She was exhausted and trying hard not to tremble before the Marine. “May I help you, sir?”
    â€œGoddamn piece of Iraqi shit.” Lukson got down on the floor and shoved the caster back into the base of the wooden chair. “I’m still waiting on your answer, Black. Did you threaten Kyle?”
    â€œSir, no, sir.”
    â€œCome on, Camille. Did you not tell him…” Chronister pulled a pair of reading glasses from his pocket and put them on. He unfolded a piece of paper and read from it. “‘All I care about is eliminating the enemy…and as I see it right now, Rubicon is the enemy?’”
    Camille stared straight ahead.
    â€œAnswer him, Black.”
    â€œSir, those are my words, sir. Sir, the only way he could know that is if the Agency is bugging Rubicon offices.”
    â€œWhat’s it to ya if we listen in on your competitors? What were you doing there?” Chronister gnawed on the end of his reading glasses.
    â€œBlack!”
    â€œSir, Rubicon has been muscling in on Black Management assignments. I suspect, sir, that they’re trying to beat us to big arms caches. I also suspect, sir, that’s why the Agency is keeping an eye on them,” she said stiffly, as if she were at a legal deposition.
    â€œCut the cloak-and-dagger bull-crap. I don’t have much use for spies and I don’t like mercenaries, but