The Lethal Agent (The Extraction Files Book 2) by RS McCoy Read Free Book Online

don’t want to hear this, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m on thin ice as it is.”
    Maggie’s mouth set firm. “You’re the director. You can do whatever you want.”
    Silas shook his head. “No, I can’t. I’ve been cleaning up your messes and vouching for you when you break the rules. If I pull any more stunts, Nick’ll blow the whistle on me.” He knew it wasn’t fair to blame her, but it was what it was. She played her part, and now they were both stuck.
    “What are you saying? You’re just going to send her back? If that’s the case, then count me out. I’m going with her.” Maggie darted away from them and returned to Hadley’s bedside. This time, she crawled into the bed and lay beside her.
    Silas wasn’t finished with their discussion, but he could sense that he would get no further with Maggie until she calmed down.
    “Can I say something?” Kaufman whispered.
    “What?” Silas snapped back.
    “Hadley’s smart, she was a Scholar. I think she would have gone Artisan, but that doesn’t mean she’s not capable of contributing. I think if she wasn’t Mable’s friend, you wouldn’t hesitate to recruit her. You already tried,” Kaufman said as he leaned back in his chair.
    Trouble was, Silas couldn’t decide if he was right.

 

MICHAEL
    LRF-AQ
    SEPTEMBER 3, 2232
     
    The galley was busy for the usual morning rush. Some three thousand Scholars all needed to eat a healthy dose of nutritional provisions before the start of their day. Maybe one of them would have a major discovery today.
    “Good morning, Director. What’ll it be today?”
    On the other side of the line, Michael spotted Jeremy Bruce, one of the Craftsman support staff. He didn’t have the genetically engineered features of Scholars, but by other standards, he was a good guy. “Good morning, Jim. I’ll have the peach. How’s the wife?”
    “She’s great, sir. Just started helping out over at LSS. I think she’s interested in a transfer if a position becomes available, if that suits the LRF of course.” Jim handed over the bowl of peach-flavored provisions and smiled.
    “I don’t see why that would be a problem. Have her put in a formal request when she’s ready, and I’ll take care of it.” Michael didn’t bother finding a seat to eat. Instead, he shoved in his provisions in heaping spoonfuls before retreating back to his office. He liked interacting with the support staff, a nice change of pace from the constantly robotic Scholars, but, nonetheless, he had work to do.
    Only he couldn’t focus. Not anymore. Not since he’d learned the truth about the bugs. The more he thought about it, the more it bothered him.
    Tucked behind his desk, Michael let his head fill with questions.
    Parasitic bugs? Brain-eating organisms in his facility? Living amongst them and stealing their best?
    How long had this been going on? Had the previous director known? Had anyone?
    And why hadn’t he? Why was this kept from him?
    He tried to focus on his duties, but the questions continued to pour in—he couldn’t keep them away.
    Then, Abigail flew into his room. Her heels stomped as she raced toward him, hair flowing behind her. “We have an emergency. Ares Colony.” Her tone was all business.
    “What kind of emergency?” All manners of things went wrong with colonies. Colonists frequently died of famine or disease or other pedestrian causes, but that was the whole point. Colonies were designed to succeed or fail based on their predetermined parameters. They were for data-collection and nothing more.
    Ares was the first colony on Mars, but otherwise, it was no different. He couldn’t think of anything that would constitute an emergency.
    Instead of answering, Abigail pushed his tablet to the side and planted her own at the center of the desk. A holographic display filled the air between them. The vid looked to be security footage, a green-clad man walking down the corridor of some sort of facility, one he assumed to be