A knock on the office door.


    ?Come in.“


    ?Agent Ayres“, the security guard said after opening the door, stepping inside and closing the door again behind him, ?We have someone downstairs you should talk to. It may be some kind of swank, but he seems earnest and he brought a list of names that all check out.“


    Edric Ayres looked up from his paperwork and tilted his head. ?What“, he asked, ?are you talking about?“


    The guard took a step forward and stood halfway between the door and the desk. It was a small office, one desk and a few drawers, two tall but slim windows, no decorations. He explained: ?Ten, maybe fifteen minutes ago a man came to the front desk. He claims to be working for an enemy intelligence service that is intercepting and decrypting our communications. He wants to speak to a high-ranking agent who can make a deal with him. He didn’t specify what. He brought a list with ten names of field agents, and they are all correct.“


    Ayres perked up. His eyes twitched. ?That“, he said, ?is classified information. Good call coming to me. Where is he now?“


    ?We put him into one of the interrogation rooms. Room three. One of the cozy ones, for relaxed questionings.“


    Ayres stood up: ?Excellent. Let’s go.“


    One elevator ride and two corridors later, Ayres entered what for all intents and purposes looked like a meeting room. He brought two large cups of Dangorod’s best apple tea. He kept his eyes on the visitor, in order to not betray the hidden microphones and cameras with a sideways glance.


    The visitor didn’t stand up to greet him. Ayres trained eyes spotted the man’s left foot tapping a rhythm on the floor, barely noticeable. ?No need to be nervous.“, he disarmed the stranger with a fake smile. He put both cups on the low table, between the two couches in the room. He made a point of putting both cups in the middle, so that the other man could pick whichever cup he preferred. With a short hesitation, the man did so, picking the cup Ayres had carried in his left hand.


    ?What’s your name?“, he said while sitting down, making a point of picking up his tea and taking a sip.


    ?Jacob Smith“, the man said, a bit too quickly.


    ?No it’s not.“, Agent Ayres said with a fake friendly smile, leaning back on his couch. Out of the corner of his eye he registered that the man’s foot had begun tapping again.


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    ?Well“, not-Smith said, flustered, ?for this conversation it is.“


    ?Jacob“, Ayres countered, keeping to himself that all the information Dangorod had on this individual was already in the display his contact lenses were showing to him, ?What brings you here today?“


    Jacob leaned forward and put one hand on the table, still not touching his tea: ?I want immunity and witness protection.“


    Edric Ayres let the words hang in the air for a full four seconds before he responded: ?That depends on what you have. Is it worth the expenses the government will have to grant those demands?“


    ?Very much it is, yes!“, not-Smith shot back immediately, ?Have you seen the list?“


    Agent Ayres pulled the piece of paper out of his suit pocket: ?This one? Yes, of course. It is enough to get me here and talking to you. But if you want to sell me something, I need to know what I’m buying. Keep the details to yourself until we have agreed, but tell me in broad terms.“


    The other man’s eyes darted around the room while his mind was obviously racing. Then he took the cup of tea and said: ?Alright. In broad terms, we have been listening in on all your secret talks. I can show you where and how.“


    Ayres studied not-Smith for a few seconds. Then he calmly asked: ?And you are doing this why? What is your interest in coming to us?“


    ?As I said: Protection. I’ve realized what we’re doing is wrong. I’d prefer to not go to prison for the rest of my life.“


    ?Hm“, Ayres said, letting the silence wash over them. Seconds passed like viscous honey. Five, ten, fifteen seconds before not-Smith spoke again: ?I can show you today. Right now in fact. Before more of your secrets leak.“


    The faintest hint of a smile came on the face of Agent Ayres. He forced it away.


    ?I need one minute to discuss with my people.“, he said with the same calm he had shown throughout. ?I think we can come to an arrangement.“


    He stood up and left the room. On the corridor outside, as soon as the door closed behind him, he walked briskly to the next door on the same side. Behind it, two interrogation specialists had been monitoring the conversation through the cameras and microphones. They looked up as he entered, having expected him already.


    Ayres came in, closed the door and walked halfway towards them, turning an empty chair around and sitting down.


    ?He is convinced of what he is saying.“, the woman summed up.


    ?He is nervous“, the male officer said, ?as you have probably noticed. Given the circumstances and what he is doing that is normal. It does not flare up when he speaks. His gestures and body language are congruent with his words.“


    Ayres nodded: ?This is dynamite. I’m classifying this as a top-secret operation. Nobody not authorized by me personally can know about it. I don’t see how anyone could do something like that without an insider.“


    He sat there, working everything over in his mind for a moment. Then he stood up: ?Get me Prosser from the witness protection program here. Into this room. And Nood from the response team. Or his second. I’ll keep our man talking. See if you can dig up more on him. Family, job history, anything. Send what you think important to my lenses.“


    Agent Ayres stood up. His promotion was waiting in the next room, if he could make that deal and take down that enemy operation. He would have to do it himself. If he handed this upwards, they would take over and get the glory. ?Not again“, he mumbled to himself while he walked back to talk with not-Smith.