Breach (An Analog Novel Book 3) by Eliot Peper

Author:Eliot Peper [Peper, Eliot]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542044592
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2019-05-13T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Diana touched Emily’s elbow.

“Sure.”

As the others collected their things and broke off into side conversations, Diana led Emily to the roaring hearth at the far end of the hall. Three vizslas were curled up in front of the fire, two lean young pups and one graying old dog with cataracts. Diana knelt to greet them, and Emily followed her lead. The short amber fur was soft, and the dogs reveled in the attention, lapping at the petting hands.

Instead of taking the chairs, Emily and Diana rocked back onto the thick carpet, letting the dogs rest their heads on their laps. Diana gave Emily an appraising look that Emily returned. This was the woman who had helped Dag track down Emily and discover Javier’s exploit. She had succeeded not only in winning Dag’s heart but in becoming Commonwealth’s spymaster.

“So whaddaya think?” Diana raised her eyebrows. “Did the super-secret council impress you with its supreme wisdom and peerless decisiveness? Were you awestruck into eternal devotion?”

Emily guffawed before she could help herself.

“Right?” said Diana. “I mean the egos on these people. Sometimes I think a generously rolled joint and a good fuck should replace the aperitifs and small talk. It could really grease the wheels. I mean, I’m as guilty as the next gal of thinking I’m the shit, mostly because I am the shit, but it doesn’t mean I need to wax lyrical every chance I get.”

“I guess it takes a certain kind of person to actually win a spot on Commonwealth’s board,” said Emily.

“Sure, selection bias and all that jazz,” said Diana. “Dag told me that in ancient Athens, government officials were chosen by lot and not election. Apparently Athenians threw serious shade on elections because only candidates who want to win end up winning and, having won, go full Machiavelli. We fine folks”—she tossed her head to indicate the group behind them—“aren’t even elected, so I tell Dag he should cut us some slack.” She winked. “But then again, you don’t really need a lesson in power corrupting, or in Dag’s personal interests, do you? I mean, you’re the expert.”

“Do you prefer the view from Langley or San Francisco?” asked Emily. “Or maybe it was more fun to run black ops for the highest bidder? Surely a woman with as many secrets as you can share at least a few.”

Diana’s laugh was a bright tinkle against the crackling thunder of the fire. “See, Phil?” She rubbed the dog’s belly and he kicked his leg in hedonic pleasure. “I knew I would like her.” She looked back at Emily, brown eyes sparkling. “I hated you at first, you know. Dag was obsessed, obsessed. You had cracked his feed, spent years tweaking his standard of beauty to match your own damn face just to create an edge. I mean, that’s seriously fucked up, dude. But I gotta say that it was refreshing once I actually found out what you were using that prime-time exploit for.

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