Noble Intentions: Season Four by L.T. Ryan Page B

penned up for too long. Right now we are
    working on the two guys the police picked up. Hopefully we can convert one or both to work for us. Each believes the other has already flipped, and if he
    doesn't join up, he'll be hanged."
    "And if you can't?"
    "Convert them?"
    "No hang them." She paused, smiled. "Of course convert them."
    Mason had no reaction. "Just have to hope no one finds the police report and comes nosing around looking for them. If that happens, they'll be shipped off
    to Iraq or Jordan or Syria or whatever God-forsaken place they come from."
    Sasha glanced toward her desk and frowned. She often found herself uncomfortable in such discussions. While most in her line of work associated countries
    with the terrorists they fought, she realized that not all inhabitants and citizens shared the views of the extremists. Hell, the UK and USA had homegrown
    extremists who would love nothing more than to overthrow their respective governments. Should all citizens of those nations be treated as suspects in turn?
    The question made her feel nauseous every single time it crossed her mind. The sad truth of it was that they had to act first in this new world. If they
    were reacting, that meant people had died. Mason and the rest of MI5 had it worse, since national security was their primary effort. Sasha bent the rules
    to keep tabs on the rest of the world. Mason did it to his countrymen for their own protection.
    "So, what do you have to share Sasha?" Mason asked.
    She stared for a moment, then smiled. "Nothing."
    "Nothing?"
    "Odd, isn't it?"
    His face darkened. "There's no point in these meetings if you aren't going to share information with me. Yes, I know as a whole our departments do. But
    this is for us, two people in very similar positions across the river from one another. And… Dammit, do you want another bombing on our soil? Huh?
    I'm talking a mile, maybe two, away from where we are seated? Might be able to watch it from this view you've got here. Don't you get it that the things
    you are withholding from me could turn the noise I'm hearing into the plans of those meaning us harm?"
    Sasha leaned back in her high-back leather chair and folded her hands in her lap while she studied the man across from her. It wasn't an act, his rant. He
    appeared to truly be pissed off at her. She wondered how long it would take for his boss to call her boss and in turn for him to call her to ream her out
    for being obstinate despite his orders for her to cooperate.
    "Mason, I can assure you, I am being open and honest with you. My group has flagged nothing this week which would bear any impact on the whole of England.
    Outside of that information, I am not required to share what we gather regarding other nations. Nor should I, as I don't see quite how you would use the
    information."
    He remained motionless for several moments. The red faded from his cheeks and ears. Finally, Mason rose and exited the office. At the door, he looked back,
    said, "I expect you'll call the moment you do turn something up, eh?"
    "Sure."
    She remained seated until after the door slammed shut, then spun her chair around and stood. The rain fell heavier now. White-capped waves, driven by the
    fierce wind, skated across the river and crashed into the banks. Hopefully, the weather would let up by the time five o'clock arrived. A good portion of
    her commute was on foot, and there was no one who lived close to her that she wanted to share a cab or catch a ride with.
    As she scanned the blurred horizon, her computer emanated a soft beep so quiet that it almost went unheard. A second beep caught her attention. Sasha
    turned, nudged her chair out of the way and leaned over her keyboard. A few strokes later, her monitor's screensaver dissolved into tiny fading squares.
    She clicked on the mail icon on her desktop. Nothing in the inbox was flagged important. She checked all her main folders, the ones where mail diverted
    based on a set of rules, yet still found