Sympathy For the Devil by Terrence McCauley Read Free Book Online

for the record, I’m not.”
    Jason was silent for a beat. “Sarcasm is not appreciated, James.”
    “Neither are stupid fucking questions. You know goddamned well I just called in a Varsity team for a pick up. I wouldn’t have done that if I’d left them making snowmen in the park.”
    He heard Jason’s keyboard clicking. “I see you’ve uploaded the faces and prints of the dead men to OMNI. I take it you didn’t recognize them?”
    “No, just Colin. They turned him, Jason. I don’t know how the hell they did it, but they did it.”
    “We’ll find out how and why eventually,” Jason said. “You know we will. We always do.” He managed to sound concerned. “Are you hurt?”
    “No.” Hicks had more important things to do than worry about himself. “I shot both of the backup team. The gunman fired as he went down and hit Colin in the throat. I think I found their transport vehicle waiting for them at Seventy-second Street…”
    “I know. We’re tracking it, and it’s heading uptown now. I’ve got someone en route to track him further uptown in case he gets out of the car. Don’t worry about him.” He heard Jason clicking on his keyboard. “Varsity Team verifies that it’s five minutes out. I want you to double back and ride in with them. We can have a secure debrief from our facility. I know how difficult this must be for you. Colin and you were… close.”
    Hicks kept walking south. “You’re wrong. You have no idea how difficult this is. I’m better off on my own.”
    He knew Jason didn’t like to be rebuked. He wasn’t in the mood to care. He’d just killed two people and lost an operative he’d known for a decade. If Jason wanted an argument, Hicks would be happy to give him one.
    “Have it your way, but I’ll expect a full debriefing in person tomorrow.”
    Hicks stopped trudging through the snow. A sharp wind slammed into him only to be offset by a cross current that kept him on his feet. “You’re coming to New York?”
    “That’s what in person means, doesn’t it?” Jason said. “Same time and location as before. Don’t be late.” The connection went dead.
    Once again, Hicks put the handheld back in his pocket and closed his eyes. The sleet had let up, giving way once again to heavy snow. He could feel his temper beginning to build, so he concentrated on being calm and tried to control his breathing.
    He’d just lost a good operative. He’d just shot two strangers dead. He’d retrieved good intel and was tracking a suspected transport vehicle. He had material and evidence to examine. The entire idea of the University was built on mobility and digital connectivity. Instant dissemination of information from a variety of positions throughout the globe was what had set it apart from any other intelligence agency. Briefing Jason in person was a waste of valuable time that could be spent tracking Colin’s movements and running checks on the backgrounds of the dead men.
    But the Dean had told him to work with Jason. To help him become a better Department Chair. So that’s what he’d do. Because as much as Hicks hated following orders, he ultimately followed them. Because he had no reason not to.
    He pulled his hood a little tighter around his head and leaned into the wind as he headed back to the office he called home.
     
     
     

W HEN H ICKS made it back to the Office over an hour later, he shut the vault door behind him and fell back against it. The lock mechanism was programmed to engage automatically and the door vibrated as the bolts slid home.
    He hadn’t felt this exhausted in a long time.
    Every day, Hicks undertook a vigorous workout routine. He did extensive cardio work and could lift weights far heavier than someone his size should. Yoga and stretching exercises followed. He didn’t look like a strong man and that was the general idea. But after an hour pushing through driving sleet and heavy snow, he barely had the strength to take off his parka. He knew it