Search and Destroy by JT Sawyer (top non fiction books of all time .TXT) 📗

I’ve ever been around. And Burke is, well, just Burke. Pretty sure he was a distant relative of Einstein’s.

“I remember the days when we performed everything in-house. Now, civilian contracting firms like Burke’s make up more than half of the outsourcing we do for training and resource development. Hell, even our new operators were just run through an evasive driving course with a former NASCAR driver, and I just signed off on a handful of our teams to go through a desert survival course with a former SAS guy who runs his own school in South Africa.”

“Yeah, but it’s also good to get an outsider’s take on things. When all the training is handled internally, it becomes too myopic.”

“There you go, makin’ up words again.”

Shepard laughed. “If only you read something besides intel and budget reports, you’d find there’s a whole other world of the English language to discover.”

Patterson stood, walking to the large window that overlooked the bustling streets below. “Are you pleased with what Burke has done with Perseus? I haven’t had much information from him on his progress during this past month other than your reports here. There’s a lot riding on this.”

“It’s pretty astounding. It’s going to be a shot in the arm for our analysts. The speed that Perseus harvests data will increase our pre-emptive abilities like nothing we’ve ever seen.”

“I’m not sure if Burke mentioned this or not, but he had a hand in the early development of our threat matrix that used facial recognition software to collate and identify connections to terrorists, jihadists, and even cartel-related ties. It’s primitive compared to what Perseus will be capable of, but it helped the agency during the early days, tracking down Al Qaeda so our drones and our ground teams could do their jobs.”

Patterson looked out the window again, his gaze distant. “Think of the operators who might still be here today if we’d had Perseus during all those years of running missions. That was one of the other reasons, a huge one, why I was so eager to sign off on Burke developing the program.”

“Won’t be long before the agency will be training operators just as heavily in cyber-skills as in the hard physical skills of shooting and tradecraft.”

The older man nodded. “That will be for another director to worry about. As you know, the completion of this contract with Burke also marks the end of my days here. I’ll be retiring to Florida…and never having to deal with the cold again.”

“And taking up whittling or chess because you’re so fucking bored.”

“Nah, I’ve played enough chess of sorts in my lifetime, though I do relish a good game of poker.”

“Well, this place won’t be the same without you. Not many guys have sat in this office who came up from field ops. Frankly, I can’t tell you what a relief it was hearing your voice on the other end of the line when I’d call from some shithole four thousand miles from here, needing an evac or resupply, and knowing me and my team were in good hands…and with someone who knew what the hell we were going through.”

Patterson pursed his lips. “Maybe you’ll be in this office some day?”

Shepard smirked. “I’m not the statesman you are, sir, nor do I have any desire to sit across from a panel of cake-eaters at the Capitol on a daily basis.”

“Fair enough.” He glanced over at Shepard then returned to his desk, opening the bottom drawer and removing a bottle of bourbon and two glasses. “Though Perseus may put guys like you out of a job one day.”

“I hope not. I don’t want to turn into one of those closet drunks you hear about, bending at the elbow behind their desk all day long.”

Patterson muffled a laugh. “Piss off, you little shit, or I’ll put this $300 bottle away that I brought just for this occasion.”

Shepard stood, reaching for a glass as Patterson began pouring them drinks. “Then here’s to an early retirement courtesy of Perseus, I guess.”

They clanked glasses then drank the amber elixir. Shepard eagerly swigged it down, slamming the glass on the desk in victory.

“Did you even taste it or were you just driven by your usual competitive impulse to finish first?” said Patterson, still relishing the remnants of the bourbon in his glass.

“Yes to both, but next time, I’ll give you a head start.”

“Shut up and get your ass out of here already. Go irritate Burke for a while.”

Shepard grinned, heading to the door. “Thanks again for having me on this assignment and for the upcoming time off. As always, I owe you one.”

Patterson held up his glass. “I think it’s more than that, but who’s counting.”

Shepard chuckled on his way out. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you win a few hands of poker when I come visit in Florida.”

2

Burke Corporation

An hour later, Cal parked his Jeep at the rear of the eight-story building in Arlington, Virginia then trotted to the double doors that led to the security checkpoint.

He scanned his badge at the entrance, pausing to nod at Reggie Sinclair, the burly head of security, who was seated at a desk just inside the lobby.

“You still getting in all the sleep you can before the big day? Once your little one arrives, it’s all triple espressos,” said Reggie.

“My wife and I still have six months, so I think we’ll be OK. Besides, I don’t plan on having twelve bambinos like you.”

“It’s four, actually, and I made sure of that a few months back,” said Reggie, mimicking a scissors motion with his fingers.

“Oh, sorry, man. Is that why your voice is higher-pitched now?” Shepard chuckled, scooting through the security line as the young woman behind him muffled a giggle.

Shepard enjoyed the banter between him and Reggie, who was the only guy in the building not in a suit and tie. Reggie was a former MP who had spent eight years in the army before transitioning to the world of private security and executive