Rogue Asset (Book 3 of the Wade Hanna Series) by Joseph D'Antoni

question. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.”
    “You can’t ask me a question no matter how much you may be confused by my questions. If you do, you may invalidate the test, and we have to start over. Do you understand that?”
    “Yes.”
    “Now, let’s get you set up here. Some of this equipment is new state-of-the-art electronics that’s a little tricky. After I get you hooked up, we will do some testing to see that our readings are calibrated.”
    Wade sat erect in the hard chair as Kolb starting attaching probes to his fingers, chest, ankles, feet, and legs. He also placed an EEG cap on his head with attached probes. He wondered how the few skimpy portable test probes could have told them anything. By the time Kolb finished Wade felt like an electronic man with wires and probes coming out from all over his body. His hands were sweaty and he wondered what reading that might project. He went back to humming before Kolb spoke again.
    “This will all be a little uncomfortable for you for a while. You’ll soon forget you’re all wired up.”
    Not on your life will I forget these probes are attached to me, Wade thought.
    “Just so you know we are picking up on a whole series of physical responses that you give and then I compare those response patterns to known patterns of response we have at the Agency.”
    Kolb’s explanation made Wade even more nervous. He wished he would just do the work in silence. Kolb continued his explanation as he hooked up the last couple of terminals.
    “We pick up brain activity, galvanic skin response, blood pressure changes, eye movement and even skin temperature changes.”
    Wade wasn’t amused. Kolb ignored Wade’s obvious increased tension from his non-stop equipment lecture.
    “Some of these probes are new areas we are tracking while others have been used for many years. The electronics have gotten so much better. They are much more sensitive today.”
    Wade just wanted Kolb to shut the hell up. He was getting more apprehensive by the minute. He wanted to get on with the questions. Kolb finally took the seat to Wade’s left outside of his peripheral vision.
    Wade was unable to see Kolb’s face or any changes in his expression that might show Kolb’s reaction to his answers. At this point, Wade felt like some cyborg robot and just wanted to get on with the questions. He was already tired of seeing and hearing Mr. Kolb. He told himself just to relax and hum.
    “Okay, I think we are ready. Let’s make sure we are calibrated and getting responses from all the probes. I’m going to ask you some simple basic questions that we all know the answers to for testing whether all the equipment is working correctly.
    “Do you go by the name of Wade Hanna?”
    “Yes.”
    “Were you born in Louisiana?”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you currently in Washington D.C.?”
    “Yes.”
    “Everything seems to be working well. Now, I’m going to ask you some questions. I want you to intentionally give me a false answer for test purposes. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you currently single?”
    “No.”
    “Are you currently attending college?”
    “No.”
    “Okay, I think we’ve done enough calibration testing. All of the equipment readings look good. Are you ready?”
    “Yes.”
    “Answer all of the questions I am about to give you truthfully. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.”
    The test started with simple basic questions like Wade’s name, parents’ names, age, high school, and recreational activities. Wade started feeling confident about the questions and his humming. He felt he was in a relaxed state and groove he could maintain. He visualized the hum chant emerging from his sore stomach until some questions jarred his frame of reference.
    “Have you ever provided services to a foreign country?”
    “No.”
    “Have you ever accepted money from a foreign country for providing services of any kind?”
    “No.”
    “Have you ever been asked by anyone to work against the