Perception

Part 72

Nathan POV:

I'm the last to make it into the office after restocking the napkin dispensers on all of the tables and rolling some silverware. Finished with my tasks I follow Kota, Victor, and Sang into the back and close the door behind me.

Kota and Vic look awfully calm for a mandatory full-family meeting having been called at this point of a major assignment. I don't like it. Oddly enough, Sang looks more apprehensive than them, and she doesn't even realize how odd the timing is--there's no way she could know.

Mr. B. gestures to me to lock the door, which I do without showing any sign of what I'm thinking. Kota pulls an electronics scrambler out of his jacket pocket and places it on the table.

After confirming with North and Luke that Uncle's electronics were backed up and completely off and unplugged, he turns on the scrambler.

I'm floored when Mr. B. pulls out a similar device that we've only used once or twice on truly sensitive missions. It sends long distance pulses off to eliminate anyone's ability to listen from a parabolic microphone. Anyone attempting to listen with one would receive only pulses the most irritating buzzing noise imaginable. It literally stops any chance of anyone listening in electronically.

Kota and Vic freeze as Mr. B sets up the device; they finally seem to realize that something serious has happened, or is currently happening. I look around the room and see that everyone is reacting to this new development.

Sang's jaw clenches along with her tiny fists as she watches us all go silent.

Doc is sitting on the corner of Uncle's desk, absently running his fingers worriedly through his hair. He hasn't even smiled or greeted anyone that I've seen. He looks more tired than usual, and with both school and the hospital taking up his time, that's saying a lot.

Mr. B. runs his hand down his tie, then adjusts his glasses before gliding forward a couple of steps to position himself in the most frontal position he could manage in a room that has no space to spare. We all unconsciously try to adjust our bodies to provide a 'floor' for him, but as it was, we're shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip.

"Let us begin, gentlemen and lady. Early this morning I was contacted through the Academy for some potential jobs," Mr. Blackbourne starts drolly, only to be cut off by Kota.

"Mr. Blackbourne! I won't let you bring Sang into this. Assignments are classified!" Kota barks. Mr. B. just glares him into silence, but Kota returns his glare with a glower of his own. His eyes narrow and spit green fire from behind his frames. Straight white teeth are clenched with lips pulled back in an angry scowl.

"If you're done interrupting me, Mr. Lee, I shall continue. As I was saying, these jobs were offered through the normal channels. They were requesting that the Taylor brothers assist on vague missions requiring them to pose as boyfriends," Mr. Blackbourne glances at Sang, causing all eyes to swing to her pale face. "Obviously both brothers turned down the jobs. The nature of the missions being so vague paired with the team requesting the Taylor's assistance set off a red flag for us," Mr. Blackbourne growls.

"Does this have to do with the embezzled accounts you had me check?" Victor asks angrily.

"Yes, Mr. Morgan. There are only a couple of ways that people with a vendetta could come at us at this time. One is to interfere with current jobs--our biggest, highest profile one being Ashley Waters. It seems the safeguards we put in place along with the feds' were necessary for reasons we couldn't have predicted, and shouldn't have had to anticipate."

"Early this morning, after I conveyed the Taylor brothers' responses, I had Mr. Morgan check the accounts for activity flags. There were some present on each account, and the IP addresses were traced. I used a personal favor to request further tracing of the accounts by an outside team to verify and corroborate Mr. Morgan's findings, which lead to them contacting several senior members."