Dicing With Death A Lex Jackson novel 2.3

Chapter 8: We need spies that look like are targets

Central Intelligence Agency

Nandika pov

Nandika got up from where she sat walking, back and forth trying to figure out how she was going to recruit Ruyan. But what was interesting, was that since  both Ruyan and Azalea were orphans maybe there  was a connection. She didn't know?  But What she did know was that if was  a mole it would explain how certain operations had blown.

She was mid in-forties with dirty blonde hair, wearing a black brose in a greenish jacket that was half-open. On her pants was the Kydex hip holster that held her Sig SauerP320- X CARRY. After 9/11 she had been recruited to the Red cell program at the CIA.

She wasn't surprised to see that they recruited a lot of famous authors to help them come up with ways to test the vulnerabilities of the United States to prevent it. Not many people knew about it. Which was good.

"Maybe, we can recruit Ruyan as an asset and use her  to get close Azalea and Triple-A7," Nadika said thinking about their options that they had.

"You want to recruit one of the most ruthless and brutal foreign agent, and assassin to work for us, that could backfire on us you know. Have you ever heard of Operation Rasputin or Dagger slip?" Director Hamilton remarked as she rose  from the desk where she was sitting

"Yes, I heard about Operation Rasputin it was a GRU rogue sleeper cell created and trained by one Roald Popov, an ex KGB and  a GRU agent ," Nadika replied and continued" I believe his daughter is an agent for the CIA,"Nidika remarked.

Director Hamilton was impressed that Nandika had heard about that operation, but it showed that this agent had instincts and guts which was always  good in their line of work. When she had been trained as CIA agent at Camp Perry, there was saying that the instructor had told them.

"Look for things that aren't there. If we make up our minds too early, we shut ourselves off to possible answers".

Even if they could recruit Ruyan, there was no chance that it might not work. All the intel they had suggested that her safe house in Rome was guarded by heavily armed Russian security agents, probably former KGB and GRU agents or even mercernaries.

One thing that she had learned in the intel community  was that nothing was certain. It was just smoke, mirrors, and if you survived long enough; you were a legend. There were agents, like that she knew one was the team leader of, the Alpha team Lex Jackson, who had put together a team of talented agents who could do anything.

"Look,I know it's risky ,but that's why I'm part of the Red team cause we think out of the box, maybe I can convince her to betray her country or bribe with some money," Nandika replied. 

"I would check out the Orphan home in St Petersburg to see what else you can find out Azaela Elizabeth Grey first, if this a connection to Ruyan but be careful there," Director Hamilton told her.

"What do we know about the orphan home so far is it been by the FSB or by Triple-A7 agents," Nandika asked

"Not a lot, but if Ruyan recruited Azalea out of the orphan there has to be the reason for it,just thread carefully, there may be forces at play that don't want us to find out anything," Director Hamilton told her walking back to her massive wooden desk.

"What about Azalea handler from where is or he still alive," Nandika asked

"He's in Allenwood Federal Correctional Complex I'll arrange for you to see him." Director Hamilton told her.

Nandika knew about Allenwood Federal Correction Complex, which was where Robert Hansen and Aldrich Ames two of the worst traitors in the intel community were. Whatever this handler had did or  done had gotten him there. Which made her more curious to find out why and what?

From what she knew and heard about, the Shadows was that they were lethal military black ops unit that had pocketed some kickbacks from Iranian President when they killed a CIA agent who was stationed there. 

And the fiasco in Iraq when they stole Saddam Hussein's gold from his palace. So the question was, how dangerous was this handler from the shadows?

Nandika walked out of Director Hamilton's office on the eleventh floor, as she made way her over to the elevator. She wondered what happened to the gold?  She pushed the button and waited. A few seconds later the doors opened, she stepped in. 

Maybe this handler would shed light on certain things that she needed answers for. Like, whatever happened to the gold and how was he connected to Ruyan? Most importantly Why they did recruit Azalea from the orphan home?

Director Hamilton picked up the phone on her massive desk and dialed the number for Allenwood Correction Complex. She hoped that agent Nandika knew she was doing and getting into with this handler. She knew how dangerous, he was and that he had people killed.

The phone rang on the warden desk, in the Allenwood Correction Complex Warden Daniel grabbed the phone before he spoke on it. He saw that number was from the CIA.

"Director Hamilton, what I can do for you today," Warden Daniel asked her.

"Agent Nandika Charles is on her way to see Martin Ray at your Corrections Complex we need some intel from him you Warden Daniel," Director Hamilton asked.

"Madame Director, you and I know how dangerous he is and what he did surely you  don't  thinks he's  going to cooperating with agent Charles," he stated.

"Listen Martin Ray, may intel on Azalea Elizabeth Grey, and Ally Ruyan we need to know what that is?" Director demanded.

"Okay, I let  agent Charles in to see Martin hope you get the intel that you need," he said.

Director Hamilton hung the receiver of her phone on her desk, wondering if this was the right move. There were certain people in Russia that didn't  want him to talk or tell what he knew  she knew who they. He was considered  a massive national security threat.

She punched the sped dial on her phone dialing, agent Nandika Charles  number on her   iPhone 8. Nandika reached into a pocket, and pulled it out, clicking the accept button before she spoke.

"Agent Charles, you are cleared to see Martin Ray, at the Allenwood Correction Complex see you what you find out?" Director told her.

"Okay, I'm on my way out  soon," Nandika stated, as the doors opened on the underground parking garage.

She walked out heading toward her Ford Edge, she thought heard some footsteps approaching turning around to see if there was anyone there?. But there was no one there. She unlocked her door as she climbed in and drove out, heading to the Ronald Reagan International Airport to board a flight to Allenwood, Pennsylvania.

She drove down some streets and a couple of blocks until she came to the Ronald Reagan International Airport. She pulled up into the parking lot outside. She stepped out, closing the door and walked across the street to the gate. She walked through the gate and strolled over to the CIA Gulfstream where was waiting. She climbed up the staircase and board it.

She ventured over to her seat and sat down thinking this handler could know more than he would tell her once she got there. She clicked on the Ipad she had as Martin Ray's file came on the screen.

Classified for your eyes only

Name: Martin Ray

Age: Forty

Operational Status: He was the handler of the U.S. Special Operations Military unit code name The Shadows. He and Ally Ruyan recruited Azalea Elizabeth Grey out of the orphan home and trained her.

After that he had  blackmailed President Roberts for information on Saddam Hussein's gold where he ended up killing two secret service agents.

Background. He had joined the CIA after he had graduated from university later he had created the black ops unit the Shadow. He is a national security threat and was sentenced to federal prison for treason.

She closed out of the file on theiIpad and looking out the window. In a little while, she would be landing at Williamsport Regional Airport. If everything went, as plan   she would know why  Grey was recruited out of the orphan home by Ruyan and if there was a connection.