The Singularity Race Read Online Free PDF

in a louder voice. Then to Mullins, he added, “Stop making this a habit, old man. I know the pension’s crap but live to spend some of it.”
    A second taller man crossed in front of him, his silver hair backlit by the glow from the hall. “Thank you, Dawkins. You can leave us and please close the door.”
    Mullins’ heart rate jumped at the sound of the familiar voice. “Mr. President?”
    â€œYes.” President Edward Miles Brighton stepped to the foot of the bed and leaned forward. “How are you doing, Rusty?”
    â€œI’ve been better.”
    â€œHaven’t we all. This is some age we live in.”
    Mullins said nothing. He suspected why Brighton would come alone at a deserted hour, but the President would have to bring it up first.
    â€œI feel like we’re in a deadly game of Whack-A-Mole,” Brighton continued. “Smash one extremist group and another pops up where we’re not looking.”
    â€œWho’s claiming responsibility?”
    â€œA group calling itself Double H. Humanity’s Hope. Sounds like they’re a bunch of Luddites convinced computers are taking over the world.”
    â€œReligious ties?”
    â€œNot that we know of. They’re completely out of left field. No one—FBI, Homeland Security, or military intelligence heard shit about them before last night. I’m throwing every resource at them. Interpol identified two of the five from prints. Both are suspected of political assassinations.”
    Mullins propped himself higher in the bed. His mind raced through the implications. “Professionals. Guns for hire. That’s a twist.”
    â€œRudy Hauser at the FBI says the same thing. These weren’t suicide attacks. Witnesses saw a van near the hotel’s Fourteenth Street loading dock speed away shortly after everything went down. They had an escape plan.”
    â€œThey underestimated the quickness and strength of our response. Lewison didn’t hesitate to intervene.”
    President Brighton sighed. “I’m sorry about that. I really am. Ted Lewison was a good man.”
    â€œYes. A very good man. Thanks for your concern, Mr. President, but why are you really here in the middle of the night?”
    The President rounded the bed and came closer. “We didn’t do this, Rusty. I swear you weren’t a target.”
    â€œThen someone should have told Double H.” Mullins knew Brighton wasn’t here to check on his health or debrief him. The President was afraid Mullins thought he’d tried to murder him.
    â€œThat’s the goddamn point. You could get killed on your job and then all hell breaks loose if your threat’s carried out.”
    â€œBe glad my attacker wasn’t a good shot. You made the situation what it is. What’s the old phrase for detente? Mutually assured destruction?” Mullins’ mind jumped back to that night in the Oval Office when he’d played Brighton the audio file implicating the President in the Federal Reserve plot. Public revelation would have driven him from office and thrown the country into a financial and political crisis. Mullins had opted to protect the office of the Presidency, even though he had no respect for the man standing over him.
    â€œSo things have to stay the same, sir. If something suspicious happens to me or my family, the axe will fall. I’ve made sure of it.”
    The President’s jaw clinched. “Then keep yourself out of harm’s way. Don’t be such a selfish, self-indulgent prick.”
    First his daughter, now the President of the United States. One arguing out of love, the other arguing out of fear.
    â€œThen you keep me in the loop,” Mullins demanded.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI want to know what’s going on. They killed my friend. I want them brought to justice. If you wind up as collateral damage, then so be it.”
    â€œAnd you’ll stay on