Page 95 of Jonesing for a Spy

Convince me—convince us—that you mean it.

How?

Hello15.72.9

We’ll leave that up to you. But it should be newsworthy. And in the next couple of days. We want to be on the ground by the weekend.

They want some kind of proof I’m willing to go all in. Without agency resources, it’s going to be hard to manufacture and publicize an attack. The nice part of being on the books is the documentation at my fingertips, fake or otherwise.

Straight up, these people are stupid. They want to be on the ground in Texas when they crush power to ninety percent of the state. Do they think their flights will run on time? What about gas pumps? They can’t possibly think they’ll have enough fuel to get out. And I know they won’t possibly have the wherewithal to stay in.

That said, there won’t be a strike or a breach—not on my watch—but I need to get a lock on faces and get this case closed. Tanzi’s glasses should be all I need to prove to the higher-ups I have what it takes.

And to clear Strider’s name.

I’m going to need human backup too. But that’s a problem for future Mirren.

Today Mirren needs to find a way, under the radar, to assure some antisocial psychopaths Janis is as delusional as they are. All the while shielding the people I’m sworn to protect from the crazies I’m baiting.

What would it take to convince them? An explosion? Murder? It has to be big enough to garner at least regional attention. National would be better. Within the energy sector preferably and by a lone actor.

Results need to be substantial for one person but not so over the top that it forces a nationwide manhunt. It must look credible, and it can’t be too far away from me… the me they think lives in New Mexico.

My fake target is easily acquired… Now how the hell do I create a false narrative?

Brody’s out. But Nathan might be a resource. Nate Smith and I met on day one of training. He’s great at his job but pushes the envelope more than the agency would like. I’ve seen it, and he’s told me the same. We’ve kept in touch though none of our assignments have ever overlapped. He’s typically out of the country, which isn’t a bad thing for my current needs. It does mean I have no clue to his location, what time it is where he is or if he’s even reachable.

Have a minute to talk strategy?

I flip contacts and text my mom.

Progress. Got invited to Texas. I can close this thing in the next couple of weeks.

Mom

We. You meant *we.*

More in a bit, but this is good news.

That woman and her we are going to get me unemployed. Not that unpaid administrative leave and unemployment are much different. Except for semantics.

My phone rings as bubbles dance in the text app from Mom, and I answer to avoid whatever crazy she has planned next.

“Hello?”

“Jones? It’s Nate. Do you mean strategy or strategy?” His voice thickens with innuendo.

“I never mean the second, Nate.” Ew. “Always the first.”

“Fine. But you’re missing out.”

I’m not, but arguing that point won’t help me at this juncture. “You keep telling me that.”

“One day…”

The idea that I have to deal with sexual harassment for the help I need annoys the hell out of me. But I need him and his skills enough to deal with the insinuations.

“So, full disclosure, this is off the books.”