Search (SEEK Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

can’t let them kick me out of SEEK. One step at a time, I stomp to the top, catching sight of the sign on the steel door and just like that, my resolve melts away.

SEEK Code
    Qualified to Search
    Qualified to Evade
    Qualified to Extract
    Qualified to Kill
    Fight to Right
    Never Quit
    Serving with Loyalty, Honor, Integrity, and Discipline
    I press the white button on a stainless steel box labeled SCAN IN. The door slides open, revealing a numerical key pad. I type #39 and watch as a retinal scanner emerges from somewhere deep in the wall. We don’t use anything as sophisticated as this on the hunter side of the compound. My stomach ties in knots as the laser shines into my eyes. An angry buzz blares at me and the scan begins again. Sweat itches under my collar as the third and forth scans yield the same results.
    I jump as a deadbolt unlocks and the heavy, vault-type door opens.
    “Donavan?” a voice barks.
    I peek around the corner. “Sir?”
    A typical looking Ops Agent—one inch of hair in a neat flattop, more muscles than personality, and a general “bite me” expression—emerges from the doorway. His name tag says Harnel and he smells of polish sausage. “This way.” He leads me into a stuffy little conference room on the left and sits at the table near a remote and a yellow envelope stamped TOP SECRET in dark red letters. He motions me to a chair with a nod.
    “We have a special target we need you to handle.” His beady hazel eyes size me up like I’m an unwanted fly.
    “A special Khayal, Sir?” Immediately sensing that was stupid, I drop my gaze to the shiny black table.
    “No. This is an Ops mission.” Harnel points the remote at the TV on the wall. “Watch the screen.”
    On the plasma screen the green SEEK logo floats across a black binary-code background before the image cuts away to surveillance footage. I study it intently as a man in a fisherman’s hat withdraws money from an ATM. He keeps his head down, like he knows he’s being watched.
    “Mr. Jonathan Steed is a Handler who’s defected from the Episteme Brotherhood. He’s a fully trained spy gone rouge, and we need him. Without an allegiance, he’s anybody’s pawn and he could inflict serious harm against us. There’s good news though. Word is—he’s out for revenge against the Brotherhood. Do you understand?”
    I nod. Though I have no idea what this rogue Handler has to do with me.
    “Here’s where you come in. It’s your mission to sway him. This footage was taken yesterday, about three hours from here.” Harnel slides me a manila envelope. “Your new identity and directions to find Mr. Steed. All you have to do is gather the requested information and persuade him to join SEEK.”
    “What if I can’t sway him?” I gulp, staring at the video footage as it loops over and over.
    “Let me put that another way. If you fail to convince him to join us,” —he pauses, leaning back in the army-green office chair— “Destroy him or don’t come back. I’m sure your sister can adjust to her wheelchair.”
    I’m frozen to my seat as understanding sinks in. He knows about Lindy. He knows who I really am and he’s using it against me. The word “destroy” sounds like cannon fire in my head. Does Kistall know about this? Do they really expect me to kill someone?
    “But I’m not Ops, I’m just a huntress. I don’t murder people. I couldn’t if…”  I swallow the bitter taste of certain failure.
    “You’re Ops now, and we need this guy!” Harnel snarls, as if that settles the matter.
    “All respect sir, but how am I going to do that?” I stuff my trembling fingers inside the pocket of my sweatshirt.
    But I’m too slow, he sees.
    “You could be pretty if you tried,” Harnel says through pasty lips. “Plus you’re athletic, young with nice hair and green eyes… don’t underestimate what you bring to the table.” He leans over, resting on his beefy arms.
    “They’re blue,” I mutter, shying away from his