the attention of the defense department. They hired him immediately to further their work in artificial intelligence. After developing software which would revolutionize the computer industry, Vernon’s work mysteriously disappeared at the Pentagon. Vernon quit his job and became an underground conspiracy theorist. Some of the power moguls were so angry at his leaving the Pentagon that a picture of Vernon in the crosshairs of one of their AK47s materialized on one of the conspiracy networks that Vernon liked to frequent.
Just after President Buck Austin took office he instructed Benjamin Clark to recruit Vernon Kemp for his new secret agency, Enigma. A man like that needed to channel his talent toward helping the good guys especially if he had the Pentagon big shots in a stew. Vernon only came on board after meeting Chase Hunter and being told he could do whatever he wanted as long as it didn’t interfere with national security.
“What’s the problem?” Vernon glanced down at the grim faced Serbian. The man in black, as usual, made him a little uneasy.
When a rare smile broke across his thin, narrow face, Vernon’s eyebrows arched. “Chase got bested by a girl!” Nicholas Zoric chuckled.
Vernon’s eyes widened. “By who?” The Serbian nodded toward the pitiful, ragged woman handcuffed to the chair across the room. Vernon saw the puny figure slouched in the chair with ripped clothing and dirty hair. Her face smudged with blood and sweat, she looked more like a discarded kitten than a saber toothed tiger that could best the great Captain Hunter. He looked around but saw no one else. “Her?”
Nicholas Zoric nodded as he stood and continued to smile. “She’s my hero.”
Vernon snickered his usual weasel laugh drawing Tessa’s angry glare. “Introduce me!” Usually Vernon became tongue tied around women. His shyness was legendary. His smooth operator persona evaporated into an awkward stutter when females tried to approach.
Nicholas pushed Vernon toward the subdued prisoner. “Watch yourself. Her bark is definitely not as bad as her bite.”
Benjamin Clark paced before Chase Hunter, livid at the day’s events. Two men down at the scene, a house shot up by unknown terrorists, a nuclear device at large, a cleanup near the Yuba River, and now a seemingly innocent woman involved.
Chase started to stand. His back ached from the earlier attack by Tessa Scott.
“Sit down!” Benjamin demanded with the tone of a base drum. Benjamin rarely raised his voice. His hawk-like eyes, narrow nose and stern expression commanded attention whenever he spoke. His soft, firm voice drew more respect than shouting. Chase eased himself back down into his wooded armchair, surprised at the anger his boss displayed. It wasn’t often that Benjamin could be read so easily.
“Can you explain to me how a soccer mom came into possession of a nuclear device created by some obscure terrorist outfit, then managed to knock one unconscious so the two of you could escape?” Chase started to open his mouth when Benjamin held up a large leathery hand for silence. “Then there’s the little, tiny fact,” he held up his index finger and thumb measuring about an inch, “that she managed to trick, and overcome you so she could escape our holding cell!” Chase flinched at the pain he’d felt when Tessa had rammed her knee into his groin. “And dare I forget” he growled, “that she nearly killed one of your men with no more than a broomstick!”
“How is he?” Chase interrupted with genuine concern.
Benjamin stopped his pacing and leaned against his desk as he loosened his paisley tie. “Has a concussion. If he hadn’t been wearing his helmet the doctor said he’d be dead!” Benjamin crossed his arms and glared up at the ceiling as if searching for words. “Secretary Stewart wants some answers and fast!”
Chase let the steam escape from Benjamin’s anger. He knew a cool head would prevail after the shock of the day’s
Just after President Buck Austin took office he instructed Benjamin Clark to recruit Vernon Kemp for his new secret agency, Enigma. A man like that needed to channel his talent toward helping the good guys especially if he had the Pentagon big shots in a stew. Vernon only came on board after meeting Chase Hunter and being told he could do whatever he wanted as long as it didn’t interfere with national security.
“What’s the problem?” Vernon glanced down at the grim faced Serbian. The man in black, as usual, made him a little uneasy.
When a rare smile broke across his thin, narrow face, Vernon’s eyebrows arched. “Chase got bested by a girl!” Nicholas Zoric chuckled.
Vernon’s eyes widened. “By who?” The Serbian nodded toward the pitiful, ragged woman handcuffed to the chair across the room. Vernon saw the puny figure slouched in the chair with ripped clothing and dirty hair. Her face smudged with blood and sweat, she looked more like a discarded kitten than a saber toothed tiger that could best the great Captain Hunter. He looked around but saw no one else. “Her?”
Nicholas Zoric nodded as he stood and continued to smile. “She’s my hero.”
Vernon snickered his usual weasel laugh drawing Tessa’s angry glare. “Introduce me!” Usually Vernon became tongue tied around women. His shyness was legendary. His smooth operator persona evaporated into an awkward stutter when females tried to approach.
Nicholas pushed Vernon toward the subdued prisoner. “Watch yourself. Her bark is definitely not as bad as her bite.”
Benjamin Clark paced before Chase Hunter, livid at the day’s events. Two men down at the scene, a house shot up by unknown terrorists, a nuclear device at large, a cleanup near the Yuba River, and now a seemingly innocent woman involved.
Chase started to stand. His back ached from the earlier attack by Tessa Scott.
“Sit down!” Benjamin demanded with the tone of a base drum. Benjamin rarely raised his voice. His hawk-like eyes, narrow nose and stern expression commanded attention whenever he spoke. His soft, firm voice drew more respect than shouting. Chase eased himself back down into his wooded armchair, surprised at the anger his boss displayed. It wasn’t often that Benjamin could be read so easily.
“Can you explain to me how a soccer mom came into possession of a nuclear device created by some obscure terrorist outfit, then managed to knock one unconscious so the two of you could escape?” Chase started to open his mouth when Benjamin held up a large leathery hand for silence. “Then there’s the little, tiny fact,” he held up his index finger and thumb measuring about an inch, “that she managed to trick, and overcome you so she could escape our holding cell!” Chase flinched at the pain he’d felt when Tessa had rammed her knee into his groin. “And dare I forget” he growled, “that she nearly killed one of your men with no more than a broomstick!”
“How is he?” Chase interrupted with genuine concern.
Benjamin stopped his pacing and leaned against his desk as he loosened his paisley tie. “Has a concussion. If he hadn’t been wearing his helmet the doctor said he’d be dead!” Benjamin crossed his arms and glared up at the ceiling as if searching for words. “Secretary Stewart wants some answers and fast!”
Chase let the steam escape from Benjamin’s anger. He knew a cool head would prevail after the shock of the day’s
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