Page 28 (1/2)

Juan sat back in his chair, relieved that the friendly fire incident hadn’t turned deadly “Tell Gomez he can land”

“Aye, Chairston Overholt on video”

“Let’s see him,” Juan said

A dignified older gentleman in a three-piece suit appeared on the view screen Overholt, Juan’s former boss at the CIA who had supported the creation of the Corporation, was seated in his stately Langley office

“I’ that it had to be in the wee hours halfway across the world in Washington “I suppose we have you to thank for calling off the Indonesian Air Force?”

Overholt, tri his decades with the agency, he’d seen everything and knew every secret the CIA and its people held Despite being well past retiree, his experience and connections made it impossible to oust him before he was ready, which Juan didn’t think would be anytime soon

“I ence Agency Noe him a favor, and I will expect to collect the same at a later date from Senators Schmidt and Muñoz Are their families safe?”

“Oliver Muñoz is badly injured, but Julia Huxley is tending to him”

“Understood,” Overholt said “Keepthe attack fro ”

He hung up

Juan stood “I’uests Stoney, you have the conn”

“Conn, aye,” Eric replied, taking control of the ship

Juan left the op center to rendezvous with the tiltrotor He just hoped the delay in getting them on board hadn’t cost Oliver Muñoz his life

EIGHTEEN

THE TIMOR SEA