The Milestone Protocol by Ernest Dempsey (reading in the dark txt) 📗

A female news anchor with shoulder-length brunette hair and a gray suit with a silver necklace detailed the alarming story and the conclusion that scientists from around the world had reached regarding the bizarre occurrence.

Sean snorted in derision, sitting across from the television. He’d requested a table for ten, so the hostess had arranged two smaller tables to accommodate the large group.

Dak sipped a beer as he watched the anchor continue to talk about the incident before the subject switched to the case of the missing billionaire. The headline also changed, featuring the line: “Billionaire Philanthropist Magnus Sorenson Still Missing.”

It had been over a week since the group arrived in Oslo. Tommy had arranged a meeting with a nuclear physicist at the university to get checked for radiation poisoning, but all tests had come back negative.

Adriana reappeared from the rear of the building and ambled back to the table. She took a seat next to Sean, who looked at her with desperate hope in his eyes.

“They okay?” he asked.

She nodded, relief washing over her skin. “Yes. Papa and Master Miyamoto are fine, though it sounds like they did quite a bit of damage to the property, but they are okay.”

“That’s a relief,” Sean said. He put an arm around her and hugged her close for a minute.

“So,” Tabitha said, after taking a sip from a golden, sudsy beer, “where are you all off to next?”

No one spoke for a second, then Tommy answered first. “Back to Atlanta for us,” he said, squeezing his wife’s leg. “It’s been too long since I had some time alone with this lady. And I am getting real tired of looking at your ugly mug.” He raised a mug toward Sean, who snickered in return.

“Likewise, buddy.” Sean raised his glass, too. “Same here, I think.” He glanced at Adriana, who nodded, though her mischievous smile betrayed another truth.

“I might be able to take some time off for you,” she teased.

“What about you, Dak?” Tabitha asked. “Anything special? Anyone special?”

He shook his head and wiped beer foam from the mustache portion of his beard. “I can’t see my someone special,” he said, his voice trickling with regret. “Not yet. But I have something lined up back home. Getting into your line of work,” he nodded at Tommy and Sean. “Sort of.”

“Anything we might know about?” Tommy asked.

Dak snorted quietly, letting his gaze fall to the table. “I doubt it,” he said cryptically.

Tabitha raised both eyebrows but let it go. “Well, I’m heading back to London. Pretty sure I’ve used up all my personal vacation time. Back to the grind for me.”

Emily looked at her with an appraising gaze. “Well, if you ever decide you want to do something a little more dangerous, and we have an opening, I may give you a call.”

“You know, I think MI6 is just about dangerous enough for me, Director Starks, but I appreciate the offer. Speaking of, you heading back to Atlanta soon?”

“Yes,” Emily said, straightening her pant leg. “Lots to do. I have cleared it with the president to pursue members of the Cult of Thoth, but that will take time and resources. I fear it will be like herding cats. Still, we can’t let those lunatics run wild. I figure if we can take out the regional leadership, the rest will vanish.”

Tabitha nodded. “Yeah, I’m definitely good staying with MI6.”

Everyone at the table laughed.

Tommy stared at Niki for a long time before speaking up again. “I'm curious. What do you have planned now, Niki? Travel? Finding employment somewhere?”

“I could put in a word for you with my division,” Tabitha offered. “You clearly have the skill set they look for.”

“No plans,” the young man said humbly. “Still trying to figure out who I really am, honestly. This has all been really confusing. And painful.”

A somber pall fell over the table, but Tommy didn’t let go of his gaze on the young man. “I was wondering if you would be interested in heading up IAA affairs in Europe. You could set up shop wherever you like.”

Niki looked up from the table, confused and surprised at the same time. “What?”

“Well, we are the International Archaeological Agency, after all. It only makes sense we have an international presence. I need someone who is from Europe, has connections, knows places. Have you ever thought about a career in artifact recovery and security?”

“When you say it like that, it doesn’t sound so exciting.”

Sean and Tommy shared a laugh.

“Usually, it’s not,” Tommy agreed. “Just something to think about. If you’re interested, we can go over the details.”

“Thank you,” Niki said. He grabbed a glass of beer and took a long sip. “I think I’m going to do a bit of traveling, see the world through fresh eyes. You know? But I will keep it in mind.”

Tommy acknowledged with a nod. “It’s there if and when you want it.”

“Are you old enough to drink that?” Sean asked, cutting in.

Niki nearly spat out the lager with laughter. He nodded. “I am on this continent.”

The news anchor switched subjects again, and the table’s patrons heard the woman talking about world leaders disappearing for several days and then gradually reemerging to the spotlight after their cryptic, weeklong silence. CEOs, foreign ministers, billionaires, and thousands of others had, apparently, gone off the grid for several days.

“Looks like you’re going to have your hands full, Em,” Sean said, raising a glass to her. “Best of luck with that.”

“We’ll never get them all. Some, sure, but the world will continue to spin as it always has. The corrupt will keep on being corrupt, and the rest of us will have to be happy living our lives, doing the best we can.”

Tommy turned to Alex and Tara. “I guess it’s back to the lab with you two, huh?”

“Oh, crap,” Tara said, having been silent for several minutes.

“What?” Alex asked, concern stretching across his forehead.

“The FBI agents.”

“What?” Tommy echoed Alex’s question.

“Oh, yeah,” Alex realized. “The agents that raided HQ. What are