The Backup Asset

…37

Jeremy Weber knocked three times on the doorframe before stepping in his boss’s office.

“You wanted to see me, sir?” Jeremy asked.

“Yes. Sit down.”

He sat where instructed, and waited for SAC Taylor to speak.

“I’m putting you on the Walcott case,” Taylor said, pushing a file folder across the desk.

“Me, sir?” Weber blurted, then bit his lip. Stupid remarks like that cost people their careers.

“Yes, and I’m doubting my own sanity as we speak,” Taylor replied coldly. “There’s no better choice… believe me, I tried. I had assigned Porter and Sinisky on it yesterday, but their car got rammed by an eighteen-wheeler. They’ll both be out of commission for weeks.” Taylor stopped for a second, drilling Jeremy with his intense gaze. “You’re it. Don’t screw this up. One moment of embarrassment from you while you’re on this case and you’re history.”

Jeremy didn’t reply; diplomatically he diverted Taylor’s attention to the work at hand.

“What’s the scoop?”

“Walcott’s got an info leak, state secrets, major damage,” Taylor replied. “The rest is in the file. Read it. Carefully.”

“Yes, sir. Umm… I don’t have a partner assigned yet,” Jeremy said hesitantly. “I’m perfectly fine without one, sir, but—”

“But I’m not,” Taylor cut him off. “Just get me preliminary findings and come back to report. I’ll assign you a partner.”

Jeremy stood and grabbed the file from Taylor’s desk.

“Understood,” he said, turning to leave.

“Weber?”

“Sir?”

“This could be a major clusterfuck… Huge government contractor, massive political influence, and the leak is scary as hell — their latest weapons technology, no less. Tread lightly, be thorough, but get the facts ASAP. Follow the damn procedure, got it?”

“Yes, sir, got it. You can count on me,” Jeremy added, and immediately regretted it.

“Well, that’s precisely it, Weber, I can’t. Can’t count on you, now can I?”

Jeremy hesitated, inclined to make additional promises to his reluctant boss, but decided to keep quiet instead.

“Sir,” he said in lieu of a farewell, then stepped out of Taylor’s office.

He didn’t even stop by his office; he went straight for the parking garage. He wanted to get as much work done as possible, before getting who-knows-who for a partner to slow him down or drive him crazy.