Agent Hill: Reboot Read Online Free Page B

exchange, so he’d better get his rest now.”
    “Yes, Chancellor.”
    Andrea entered, and three gentlemen, all American, all dressed in well-tailored suits, rose, bowing respectfully and extending their hands in greeting. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting,” Andrea said. “I’m afraid the Russians are tougher in the conference room than they are on the battlefield.”
    “I highly doubt that, Chancellor.” The man who seemed to be in charge sat in the middle. He was average height and size. His clean-cut hair and freshly shaved faced indicated a man who was disciplined. “My name is Special Agent Taylor Grimes. These are my colleagues, Agent Mallory and Agent Thompson. We’ll be partnering with your staff to aid in the president’s inquiry about this woman you’re seeking.”
    “Well, it’s good to have you gentlemen on board,” Andrea said. “I’ve briefed my team on your arrival, but I know you said you wanted to meet with me personally, so I hope you have something more than just pleasantries.” The two agents flanking Grimes flushed red, but Grimes kept his composure.
    Grimes reached for a briefcase at the side of his chair and rested it on the table between them. He popped both locks, grabbed a manila folder from inside, and set it flat against the tabletop. “The president wants us to be clear that everything done moving forward is collaborative. In the current global climate, it’s important for the good guys to stick together, and while I understand that my organization doesn’t have the best reputation for collaboration, I was hoping this would be a gesture of good faith on our behalf.”
    Grimes slid the folder within Andrea’s reach, and she took it from him. “Am I to believe the CIA has adopted a new mission statement?”
    “No, ma’am, we’re just trying to let our friends know we’re on their side.”
    The right corner of Andrea’s mouth curled upward. The farm boys from America always called her “ma’am.” It was a term she’d learned to accept over the years, although that didn’t mean she liked it. She pulled out the document and scanned its contents.
    “Feel free to share that with who you think appropriate on your staff,” Grimes said. “I’ll swing by first thing tomorrow.” Grimes extended his hand, which Andrea took absentmindedly.
    Once they had left the room, Andrea picked up the paper, along with the folder and its contents, and found Alexander waiting for her in the hallway. “The Americans think the organization’s Chinese,” she said, handing the folder over to him.
    “That’s quite the accusation,” Alexander said, flipping through the document. “Most of this looks like conjecture.”
    “Conjecture that could hurt the treaty negotiations between us and China,” Andrea said. “The agents will be coming by in the morning. I want a meeting with Finn and you the moment we get back to the capitol building. Despite the CIA’s peace offering, I want to be careful what we share with them. I don’t buy the Boy Scout act.”

 
    ***
    The bustling downtown streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, made Mack nervous. He kept his head forward, but his peripherals were fully alert for anyone following or watching him closely. The HQ back in Chicago was nestled in the factory district, away from the millions of prying eyes that wandered downtown. Here he felt like everyone was watching him. He didn’t like it. There were too many people.
    Mack pushed through the lobby doors of one of the many cloned skyscraper office buildings with a box tucked under his arm and didn’t return the smile of the receptionist as he made his way past her. He walked past the elevators, the first-floor offices, and the maintenance room until he was out the back door and entered a courtyard with a small shed in the left corner.
    The courtyard was fenced in and had a few tables and benches for those on their smoke break, but for the most part went unused. Mack opened the door then locked it