Measure of Darkness by Chris Jordan Read Free Book Online

kill him they would have done so, rather than go to the trouble of seizing him from this residence. Dane, you’ll work your sources at the Justice Department, see if there’s any scuttlebutt on Randall Shane, or any known involvement by a covert security agency.”
    â€œWhatever this is, it’s buried deeper than deep,” Dane says. “I think a personal appearance is warranted. Show the flag.”
    â€œAgreed,” Naomi says. “Take the shuttle.”
    Dane pouts. “I was thinking the Gulfstream.”
    Naomi, very firm: “Not warranted.”
    â€œBut the Benefactor is always very generous with his—”
    â€œShuttle. End of discussion.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” says Dane, crossing her arms across her chest. “Ma’am” being what she calls boss lady when she doesn’t get her way.
    Naomi ignores the attorney being spoiled and childish—the Benefactor’s personal Gulfstream is indeed at our disposal, but only for exigent circumstances—and turns to the elder male in our presence, the handsome alpha dog.
    â€œJack, you’ll turn up whatever you can on additional background on the victim and his theoretical son. And see about infiltrating QuantaGate.”
    â€œBudget considerations?” he asks, looking up from his notebook with a furtive glance at the still-pouting Dane.
    â€œWhoever it takes.”
    â€œGreat. I’ll go with the Invisible Man. Assuming he’s available.”
    The Invisible Man is an operative Jack has used in thepast. None of us have ever seen him. I’m assuming he’s not actually invisible.
    â€œUse whatever operatives you see fit,” Naomi says. “And there may be another line of inquiry worth pursuing. As I recall, QuantaGate was financed by local venture capitalist Jonny Bing. Who I believe is an acquaintance of yours, Dane.”
    Dane, startled, bursts out laughing. “You recalled or you Googled?”
    â€œI recall,” Naomi says firmly. “Am I wrong?”
    â€œWe partied once or twice a few years ago,” Dane admits. “You remember Sasha? The party planner? When Sash and I were having our little thing, one of her top clients was Jonny Bing. Sash always called him Jonny Bling, which I thought was pretty cute. Of course at the time I thought everything she did and said was cute. Anyhow, Jonny had these amazing parties on his yacht. Looked more like a cruise ship to me, but you know how that goes. For an egocentric billionaire, he’s really kind of cool. Wild sense of humor, and he likes to see that a good time is had by all. If you want, I can call his people, see if he’ll consent to an interview.”
    â€œAbsolutely. Do it,” Naomi says. “Are the assignments clear? Dane? Jack? Alice? Yes? Teddy, you will continue to mine data but will steer clear of the Department of Defense. I remind you all that certain agencies within the national security community have been known to run covert operations under the Patriot Act, answerable to basically no one. At this time we’ll continue to keep a low profile with local law enforcement, and allow them to proceed on the murder case unhindered. Our primary task is to determine if the victim has a child, as Shane apparently believed, and if that child is in fact missing, and, if so, to recover the boy alive. Anything else is secondary, including, at the moment, the safe return of Randall Shane—and that’s the way he’d want it, I’m sure. Clear? Good. We’ll reconvene at 7:00 a.m. for the morning brief. Jack, given the early kickoff tomorrow morning, you may want to spend the night at the residence.”
    â€œOnly if there’s a chocolate mint under my pillow.”
    â€œAlways. Further thoughts, anyone?”
    Jack impishly raises his hand. “Comment on ‘Ironic,’ the so-called pop song by Alanis What’s-her-face. A traffic jam when you’re already