Executive Orders

CH 72 | Episode 19 : Needful, Necessary Things...

"There's one more issue I wanted to catch you both up on." Olivia said. She reached for her bag and drew out a set of folders, handing one each to Fitz and Cyrus. "It's nothing more than clouds on the horizon at this point, but it's something I have my people keeping an eye on."

She went on to explain; there's been some deep cover chatter about certain members of the Party were quietly floating the idea of using Fitz's interest in San Collondias to pressure General Ramos into concessions in exchange for our aid.

"How deep?" Cyrus asked, remembering his earlier remark about the current undercurrent of chaos.

"What kind of concessions?" Fitz said, his senses sharpening, a thrill of warning running up his spine.

"It's not clear yet in either case." Olivia said. "But an educated guess says they want exclusive access to certain resources that might benefit the general in the short term, especially on a personal level but play a very detrimental role in the long term on the national."

"Whose educated guess are we talking about?" Cyrus asked. "I hadn't heard any of this yet."

"I expect you will very soon." Olivia told him. "I got the heads-up from Peter Caldwell, actually." Olivia gave Fitz a careful look. "He says he was approached by a low-level aide of the general party apparatus - so he doesn't know precisely who was behind him - at least not yet."

"He said that to your face?" Fitz asked. He'd caught Olivia's look, but didn't react, not knowing how he felt about any information coming from Peter just yet.

"He made a phone call from his private line." Olivia said. "But not before he allowed my team to clean and isolate it - just to be on the safe side."

"Peter trusts you that much?" Fitz asked.

His voice was very careful in its neutrality, Olivia noted. "He should by now - he has - the family has - had us working for them more than once. Our services have always achieved their objectives."

"The Caldwells do have quite the checkered past." Cyrus pointed out. "I don't supposed you're inclined to share any of that, are you?"

Olivia gave him a look; Cyrus was not helping - and he knew it. "My clients know that they have complete discretion from OPA."

Cyrus shrugged. "You can't blame me for asking. I'm sure their cases would make for some very interesting reading."

"Who amongst us doesn't have the same? We all have kill files, Cyrus." She pointed out. "After all, he who is without sin, etc - etc."

"Point taken, Liv." Fitz said. She was right, but so was Cyrus. Fitz still didn't know if he trusted any of the Caldwells, Peter in particular and Cyrus was right to want to want any leverage over them that they could get.

Olivia turned back to him. "Fitz, Peter knows the rules and what to expect - and what I will expect from him going forward. We've talked."

"So now he's our man on the inside?" Fitz asked, not hiding the skepticism in his voice.

"Yes. And no, I haven't forgotten that Caldwells' first loyalties are to the Caldwells, no more than either of you to have. They will act on their own interests and luckily for us, theirs and ours are coinciding quite nicely for the time being."

"Which means..." Cyrus asked.

"Which means that Peter is being as properly uncommitted in his response to these inquiries as he can be - and that's a good thing." Olivia said. "As soon as he knows who's directly behind any firm offer of alliance, we'll know. In the meanwhile, my team will keep his lines and office swept clean on a regular basis. This protects all of us in the long run, gentlemen - try and remember that."