Dragonflies: Shadow of Drones Read Online Free PDF Page A

dynamite.”
    “So we’re just throwing civil rights out the window now, Major?” Tye looked across at Raina. Drones like the Predator may have more than earned their place on the battlefield, but he still mistrusted the capabilities of the MAVs; the challenges Raina had faced in Kurn’s office earlier in the day only reinforced his doubts. Plus, he was no longer in the Army and he felt like pushing Williamson a bit. The major had let slip in one of their earlier conversations that Tye hadn’t been his first choice for this op. He wished he could have known who’d been the top pick. No one liked to be relegated to second team.
    “You know better than that, Palmer. You know what we’re dealing with in Nathan Kurn.”
    “But what are we doing here? Are we working for law enforcement, is that it?”
    There was a pause. “I can’t answer that. Officially, you’re private investigators.”
    Great.
    “Look,” Tye said. “If you really want to nail Kurn, why not just use the FBI or something? Why even bring us into it?”
    “This is a fluid situation,” Williamson said. His voice turned bureaucratic. “As I told you, we chose you people because of who you are. For your own protection that’s all I can say for the moment.”
    “You picked us because you knew we’d be on board with this mission. Isn’t that about all there is to it?”
    “That was a factor in our decision-making, yes.”
    He looked across at Raina. Her face was a blank.
    “This is a distraction, Mr. Palmer. You need to stay focused on the mission at hand.”
    “Okay,” he said finally. “I guess we stay on a need-to-know...for now.”
    “All right…As far as Kurn and his son, I trust you two already have a further game plan in mind?”
    “We do.”
    “Good. I don’t want to know any of the details. You both know how to contact me should you need any more technical resources or support.”
    Raina shifted a little in her seat. “What about funding?”
    “Our arrangement still stands. All expenses paid as they occur. Payment in full on completion of the mission.”
    “What about the money Kurn paid us?” Tye asked.
    “If you succeed, I doubt he’ll be coming after you for it.”
    “Yeah,” Raina said. “Especially since we’re the ones who could end up in jail.”
    There was a long pause. “…Let me know when you’ve completed your objective,” Williamson said.
    “If things work out the way we’ve drawn them up…” Tye said, “that’s one thing you won’t have to worry about finding out.”
    The screen went dark. They were left staring into the laptop together.
    “Not exactly the warm-and-fuzzy type, is he?”
    “Hardly.” Raina grunted in agreement. “But I probably wouldn’t listen to him if he was.”
    “The day after tomorrow is Halloween. They’ll be having a big party at the frat. We can make our move then.”
    Raina pressed her lips together. “All right.”
    She’d placed a little plastic jack-o-lantern on one of her computer monitors, but that was it as far as the decorations. Neither of them would be doing any partying.
    “You don’t need more time to practice with your little drones, do you?”
    “No. No, I’m good to go.”
    “What’s wrong then?”
    “I’m putting an awful lot on the line with Williamson,” she said. “And so are you.”
    “Yup. So?”
    “You say it so cavalierly. Like you’re willing to just throw your whole career, all your past away.”
    He shrugged. “I guess I left all that kind of stuff back in Jalalabad.”
    “What kind of stuff?”
    “Concern for career.”
    “But you’re back in school.”
    He shrugged some more. There was no sense in arguing about it. Nothing could be like the ragged edge of bravery and terror that came with being downrange. The dust and sun and cold. The hot smoke. The smell of goats, the sights of brightly mosaic prayer mats, and the fear in people’s expressions.
    “What about you?” he asked.
    “I’m here, aren’t I? Instead of