Part 17 (1/2)

”Secretary Howe has made only two official visits to Boston in the last six years. As you no doubt know, he's been the secretary of defense only for the past three years. What you may not know is before that, he was CEO of National Defense.”

I do know that. We found it out last night with a simple Internet search. National Defense manufactures war goods. Exactly the kind of thing Eagle does. National Defense also has a mercenary soldier wing. Private soldiers the US can rent when it needs military help.

”In addition, Senator Wharton made a highly unusual trip to Boston six years ago, around the time the blackout memo was auth.o.r.ed. The senator was not here on official government business, and his travel log seems to be deliberately vague. He came in on a morning flight, had a lunch meeting, and flew out again the same day. I know we should be focusing on Howe, but there's something about the visit that seems off. I think we should investigate.”

Yellow and I nod in agreement.

Red crosses his arms over his chest. ”That's one mission. The other two involve Secretary Howe. His first visit was just recently. An anniversary celebration for the USS Const.i.tution. The secretary was in town for that and, it appears, happened to take a detour to meet with a few of his old friends from National Defense. Definitely worth following up on.

”And the second is the jackpot. Six years ago, there was a fundraiser at the Back Bay brownstone of John Leighton.”

He pauses like we should know who that is.

”Of Leighton Capital.”

Another pause.

None of this is ringing a bell. I look over at Yellow, and even though she's nodding along, she's doing that wrinkled nose thing she does when she's confused.

”It's one of the largest real-estate investment firms in the country,” Red says in his mildly annoyed tone. ”Leighton made headlines last year when he tried-and failed-to buy the Red Sox.”

”Oh, okay.” I remember reading about that.

”Anyway, Leighton held a private party at his home to benefit the reelection campaign of Congresswoman Barbara Trabandt.” He shakes his head. ”That's unimportant. What's key is that Howe, Wharton, and Caroline Caldwell were all in attendance.”

”Wow,” Yellow says.

”She wasn't the vice president yet,” Red points out. ”She was a senator who was probably already looking ahead to the next presidential election, although nothing official had been announced. But yes, all three of our prime suspects were under one roof for one evening.”

”Wow,” I echo.

”That's clearly our most important mission, so I really want to focus on that one. I want three people covering it. Iris, I need you on this. I'm going to send Blue and Green with you, but you're most familiar with the situation, so you're leading it.”

I nod, but Abe and Green? Really? One person who's barely speaking to me and another who isn't going to like me leading.

”And I'm going to put two people on Howe's National Defense meeting. I'm thinking Indigo and Violet. Yellow”-Red turns to look at her-”that means you'd have to fly solo on the Wharton mission. I'm really hesitant to send anyone alone because of the blackout team-whatever it is-floating out there somewhere.”

”I can handle it,” Yellow says.

”I know you can,” Red says. ”You're the most senior Guardian now. That's why I'm choosing you. But be careful.” And then he reaches over and gives her hand this little squeeze that's really toeing the line between personal and professional, but Yellow doesn't flinch. In fact, she kind of relaxes into his touch. I pretend not to notice, but Yellow and I are going to have a serious conversation later.

”When are we doing this?” I ask.

Red pulls his hand away and clears his throat. ”Tonight. Indigo's due back from the Treaty of Portsmouth mission around four this afternoon, so we'll just have to throw him back in.”

Yellow's eyes get big. ”Whoa. Tonight? Seriously?”

”How is that going to work with Bonner?” I ask.

”You guys aren't going back very far. Just six years. There won't be a lot of catch-up time. You'll lose maybe twenty minutes. If I send you all back at one a.m., even if it takes you hours, you'll return by five. Bonner will be asleep the whole time. I have the codes to wipe your trackers from the log. We should be fine.”

I raise an eyebrow. ”And if we're not?”

Red sighs. But it's not a sigh of frustration. It's more like resignation. ”Then I take the fall. I orchestrated this.”

”But you didn't,” I protest. ”If anyone should get the blame, it should be me.”

”Let's not worry about that now. For now, let's focus only on success.” Red slides a piece of paper and a lighter toward me. ”The address of the catering company that John Leighton hired for the fundraiser. This is your ticket in. Memorize it and burn it. Yellow, your meeting takes place at L'Espalier. I a.s.sume you know it?”

”Of course,” Yellow says, and I'm not surprised that she's familiar with one of the most expensive restaurants in Boston.

”Good,” Red says. ”And good luck.”

It's hard to concentrate on the boxes upon boxes of doc.u.ments after that. I spend most of the afternoon mindlessly glancing over them. For every twenty pages I flip through, I maybe read one. I scribble down a few notes that are probably completely irrelevant. Because all I'm thinking about is tonight.

After dinner, I lie on top of my bed and stare at the clock. 11:00. 11:30. 12:00. 12:30. 12:45. 12:50.

Close enough.

I slip on jeans and a light jacket and head downstairs to find that I'm not the only one who's antsy to get started. I'm the last one to arrive besides Red. Everyone has the same look of nervous energy, except Indigo, who has bags under his eyes and his chin tucked into his chest.

I pause at his seat. ”How are you doing?”

His head jerks up. ”I have never wanted to take a nap so badly in my life. Bonner made me start on my mission report right after I got back, and it took flipping forever.”

I've never seen Indigo look worse. His eyes are bright red and watery, and his pupils are dilated. He's looking in my direction but through me, and he's swaying in his seat.

I touch his arm. ”Indigo, are you okay to do this? Violet could probably handle the Howe mission alone, or I could lose Green on mine if-”

”I'm fine,” he interrupts.

”You don't look fine. I don't want you to put yourself in any extra danger.”

”Iris. I'm fine.”

The door opens behind us, and Red walks into the Sit Room. He scowls. ”I said one o'clock, people.” Then he sighs. ”Whatever. Let's do this.”

One by one, we follow Red to the gravity chamber.

”Be careful,” he says. ”We don't know who or what is waiting for us out there, but it would be naive to think we're not being monitored on some level.”

”Someone wants to black us out,” I say. We're all thinking it.

”Maybe,” Red says. ”Yellow, you first.” He hands her a necklace, and in a flash, Yellow is gone. ”Indigo and Violet.” I hold my breath as Indigo projects-and then only Abe, Green, and I are left. Red doesn't say a word as we slip our necklaces over our heads and step into the chamber. He doesn't have to. We already know this mission is do or die.

Green lingers behind, and I turn to Abe. ”Hey. We need to be a team today. Deal?”