Rogue Threat Read Online Free PDF Page A

Everyone knows you. Anyway, you’ll be representing the president. The Department of Homeland Security is barely even an agency; it’s just some people looking for office space. You know how to wade into the middle of chaos and sort it out.”
    “That I do,” Matt said. “What do you want me to talk to them about?”
    Matt had never turned down an interesting assignment in his life, and now was not the time to start. If terrorists were coming after the country again, he wanted in on the hunt. He had made his case, so now he would just see where the situation led him.
    Hellerman smiled. “Look at their plan. It’s called Maple Thunder. Then see what they’ve got on the missing Predators while you’re at it.”
    Matt stared at Hellerman, wondering why there was so much interest in the Predators all of a sudden.
    Ignoring his thought, Matt said, “Right. So my mission is to get down to Bragg and be a spy for you. Is that it?”
    “Exactly. Here’s a satellite phone. Keep in touch. I’ll be at Middleburg, which, of course, is top secret. And tell Peyton everything you know about those Predators, too. That’s at least as important as Ballantine.” Hellerman handed Matt a small, black object, and Matt promptly put in his shirt pocket.
    “One thing,” Matt said, returning to his personal albatross.
    “What’s that?”
    “No Rolling Stones. No Fox and Diamond-type antics. No bullshit, right?”
    “We’ve cleaned that mess up, Matt,” Hellerman said. “President Davis understands your sacrifice and appreciates your service.”
    “Then why does Stone still have a job as secretary of defense?” Matt’s voice was like granite. “And where the hell is Lantini? You telling me you guys can’t find a former CIA director?”
    “I’ve got nothing to do with Lantini, Matt. Get over yourself. We’ve got a war going on in Iraq. We need as little turbulence as possible after last year’s nightmare in the Philippines, so the president decided to keep Stone in place, keep the momentum going.”
    Matt looked at Hellerman and then Meredith.
    “I made a promise to Stone,” Matt said, “that if he ever came after me because of what I know, I would know about it. And then I would execute what I believe you people term ‘preemptive actions.’ I know you and Stone are close, but I need you to look me in the eye, with Meredith as our witness, and swear to me that this is a legitimate mission, directed by the president of the United States.”
    Matt kept his cold gaze locked onto Hellerman’s gray eyes, which never fluttered.
    “I know you’re not making a threat against the secretary of defense, which would be illegal, so I’ll ignore that last comment about ‘preemptive actions.’”
    Matt shrugged and ran his hand along his blazer, beneath which his Glock was holstered.
    “This is legit, Matt. We’re trying to get you back in the game. This is the first step,” Hellerman said. “Trust me.”
    “You had me until you said, ‘Trust me.’ I don’t trust many these days,” Matt said, his eyes shifting to Meredith, who looked away. “Produce Lantini, Ronnie Wood, for me, and then maybe we can build some trust.”
    Hellerman stared at Matt a moment and said, “I don’t think we’ll be seeing anymore of Ronnie Wood or the Rolling Stones. Only a select few know about that, so let’s just leave it be.”
    Matt shook his head, then looked at Meredith. There was something about her countenance that rang hollow, sort of a vacuous gaze.
    “Then don’t trust me. Trust your instincts. I’m giving you a jet to fly to Fort Bragg. You can’t be in Iraq right now, where all of the action is, and I know it’s killing you.”
    That much was true, Matt thought, returning to Hellerman.
    “Okay. If you’re getting me back into the game, then I’m game.” Matt said.
    “Good,” Hellerman said, leaning back, shaking his head, as if to move on to other pressing issues. “Maybe one day this country will wake up,”