Brad Thor - Path Of The Assassin

The plane touched down and taxied over to an aircraft parking revetment. When the copilot opened the Falcon’s door, the cabin immediately filled with the muggy, swampy air that Harvey Point was famous for. Harvath and Meg descended the metal stairway and found Rick Morrell on the tarmac waiting for them in front of a blacked-out Suburban.

“Thank you for coming, Ms. Cassidy,” he said. “I know you’ve been through a lot, and we want you to know that your country appreciates your cooperation. I hope your flight was comfortable.”

“Yes, thank you,” replied Meg.

“Well, if you’ll follow me. We’ll get you settled in.” Morrell took Meg’s bags and loaded them into the back of the Suburban. He didn’t offer to help Harvath, nor did he even acknowledge his presence.

“What? No kiss? Not even a, honey, I missed you? I’m going to start thinking you don’t care,” said Harvath.

“I don’t,” responded Morrell as he helped Meg into the Suburban and closed the door behind her. “You’ve stepped on a lot of toes wiseguy. There are more than a few people at the Point who don’t like you, so as long as you’re on my playing field, you’ll keep your mouth shut and watch your act.”

“If that’s your idea of a warm welcome, it’s no wonder this resort has yet to rate five stars.”

Morrell climbed into the driver’s seat and expected Harvath to hop into the passenger seat next to him. Instead, Scot got in back and sat next to Meg, effectively reducing Morrell to chauffeur status. Morrell wanted to tell Harvath off right then and there, but he had been warned to be on his best behavior around Meg Cassidy.

For a while, it had looked as if they were not going to be able to bring her in, but somehow, Harvath had managed to swing it. That made Morrell dislike the Secret Service agent even more. Meg Cassidy was integral to the operation, that much was true, but Harvath was barely palatable baggage and would be treated as such.

They drove past a lodge, a gym, and a conference center before pulling up in front of a low-rise barracks-style building.

“Not exactly the most glamorous accommodations in the world, but I’m sure you’ll find it very comfortable,” said Morrell as he hopped out of the SUV and went around to open the door for Meg. After retrieving her bag, he led them up a short flight of stairs and into the main door of the building. “Meals are served at the lodge, but there’s also a fully stocked kitchen at the end of the hall here. There’s a lounge with a big-screen TV, but you also have a television in your room.

“Okay, here we are. Ms. Cassidy, this is your room, number eleven, and you’re over there,” he said to Harvath as he jerked his head at the door across the hall.

“Would you be so kind as to hold my calls? It’s been a long day.”

Morrell ignored Harvath and said, “You’ll find your training schedules on your desks, as well a listing of when meals are served at the lodge. The conference center runs movies every night as long as there are no classes using the building. On Friday afternoons we normally do a barbecue, weather permitting, and then there are pickup softball games on Sunday-”

“When do we get to roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories?” interrupted Harvath.

Meg was trying her hardest to be polite, but started to laugh. She didn’t feel like laughing, not after everything that had happened to her, but she couldn’t help it. It was cathartic and she let it come.

Morrell had a short fuse and was trying to keep his temper in check. “We host a lot of international guests here, and it is the Agency’s wish that we convey a healthy and appealing American image. They like to call it hearts and minds; I call it bullshit. We’re not here to play games, and you’d do well to remember that.”

“Duly noted. Anything else?” asked Harvath, glad that Meg was still smiling.

“Yes,” said Morrell as he fished two ID badges from his pocket. “These are to be worn at all times. If you’re caught without one, you’ll be detained, and it’ll be my responsibility to come and get you. I don’t want to have to come get you-either of you,” he stressed, staring at Harvath. “You are not to speak with anyone other than me and the rest of my team. We all have rooms in this building-”

“Which one’s yours?” asked Harvath.

“Not a chance,” said Morrell. “Ms. Cassidy, if you should need anything from me, there’s a phone in your room or you can use any of the facility phones and dial the operator. Wherever I am, I’ll be found and will return your call as soon as possible.”

“Got it. Thank you,” said Meg politely.

“I want to remind you both that this is a highly classified operation,” continued Morrell. “We’ve done our best to isolate you, but should you choose to do something like use the gym or see one of the films, you will most likely come across other trainees. If you do, you are not to provide your names, personal history, or any information about the operation you’re involved with. Is that clear?”

Harvath and Meg both nodded their heads.

“Good. Now, you were both relieved of your cell phones and the in-room phones do not dial off the facility. If you feel you need to make a call, you are to contact me. If I feel the call is warranted, I will make arrangements for you to place said call. Is that understood?”

Once again Scot and Meg both nodded their heads.

“It may seem like I’m being a bit excessive-”

“You? Excessive? Never,” said Harvath.

“-but this is for your safety, Ms. Cassidy, and the security of this installation.”

“I understand,” said Meg, trying to make up for the ground she saw Harvath losing with Morrell every time he opened his mouth.

“That seems to be it, then. Tomorrow’s going to be a very busy day, so I suggest you get something to eat and get a good night’s sleep. If there’s anything you want that we don’t already have in our kitchen here, just let me know and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Do you have any beer in there?” asked Harvath.

“We don’t allow alcohol on the Point,” replied Morrell as he opened Meg Cassidy’s door and placed her bag inside.

Bullshit, was what Harvath wanted to say, but he kept his mouth shut and slung his bag into his room and closed the door behind him.

Ten minutes later, Meg knocked.

“What’s up? You’re not homesick already, are you? It’s only the first night of camp,” said Harvath.

Meg tried to force a smile.

“Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and the CIA has you right where they want you,” said Scot.

“Doesn’t it bother you that they don’t seem to like you very much?”

“Who? Morrell and company? Are you kidding? They love me.”

“They sure seem to have a hard time showing it.”

“That’s okay. As long as you and I get along, that’s all I care about.”

“So far so good, I guess.”

Harvath could tell by the tone of her voice that she was still upset and was reaching out to him. While he couldn’t go back in time and change what happened, he could at least try to take her mind off of things. “You ‘guess’? I’ll have you know there are many out there that consider me excellent company.”

“Out where? At Harvey Point?”

“You might have to go a bit further afield than that, but my legions of fans do exist.”

Meg was quiet.

“What about dinner? Are you hungry?” asked Harvath.

“Not really.”

“Sure you are. We’ll eat in. The kitchen’s stocked, and I’ll even cook.”

“I think I’ll just turn in early.”

“Meg,” said Harvath as he took her hand in his, “it’s been an overwhelming past couple of days for you, I know, but we’re going to come through this with flying colors, I promise you.”