7th Sigma by Steven Gould

Author:Steven Gould
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

13

Kimble and Mrs. Perdicaris

Captain Bentham showed up a week after Kimble’s return. He sat on a log while Kimble turned the compost bins.

“As Lieutenant Durant would say, the best agents should ser invisible como fantasma,” Bentham said. “Like a ghost. The people they’re reporting on never even notice them. You’ve really got to work on that.”

“Well,” commented Kimble, “I wasn’t the one that sent the RRF after some random kid. Those boys were asking all sorts of questions.”

Bentham dismissed that with a wave of his hand. “I’m not worried about those guys. The last thing I want is for Ortiz to start talking about this kid who works for the Rangers. I mean, yes, he’s in the pen, but word gets around. Prisoners talk to family members.”

“He saw me to shoot me in the back … pack, but then Sergeant Brown shot him. Doubt he was even conscious until after I left the RRF team. He never heard a name. Never even got a clear look at my face.”

Bentham growled. “But that wasn’t your doing!”

“What did you want? For me to let the team float into an ambush?” He saw Bentham grimace. “This isn’t about what I did, is it? It’s about what Sensei said.”

“I told her what my orders were!”

“Right. And what was that about? How dare you put the capture of Pritts second to my ‘rescue’? What the hell were you thinking? You know what the bastard did! Besides, how can I be invisible with you pulling that crap? Pritts was on the most-wanted list and you put rescuing me before that?”

Bentham looked away. “Well, yeah. In hindsight, not one of my best decisions.”

Kimble blinked, surprised. He liked the man for admitting that.

“It’s just she was furious with me after the mission in Parsons. I told her I’d do my best to keep you out of danger.” Bentham shrugged. “She scares me a little.”

Kimble laughed. “Well, she scares me a lot.”

Bentham muttered. “If only anything else scared you.”

Kimble sobered. “Oh, I’m getting there. I didn’t tell Sensei I was wearing that backpack when Ortiz shot it.”

“Well … she scares you, after all.”

“After Ortiz, bullets scare me, too.” Kimble raised his sleeve to reveal the bug scar on his deltoid. “Bugs scare me.” He spread his arms. “But after seeing what people like Pritts do, the thing that scares me the most is failure. You know what I mean?”

The corners of Bentham’s mouth pulled down. “I’m afraid I do. But that road is full of heartbreak. ’Cause you will fail. You can’t stop all evil and sick acts. Most of the time we won’t know about the bad guys until after the damage has been done. It’s what they do that defines them. It’s the screams of their victims that alert us.”

“But we can keep them from doing it again. Pritts won’t, that’s for sure.”

Bentham nodded. “Is it enough? ’Cause I guarantee for every one you help catch, others will get away. And too many of the ones you do catch will walk away scot-free.

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