Free Blackout by Jason Elam, Steve Yohn Page A

the deodorant stick back to Scott and continued to stare.
    â€œOkay, man, it’s like this. I need you in there because I need to establish you as an expert on EMP weapons. So while you’re in with the president, if you don’t know something, fake it.”
    Riley was about to protest, but Scott pushed on. “The reason I need to establish you as an expert is because I need you . You’re the only one I trust to lead the operations side of the team. I can’t put some dude with a pocket protector in with the guys. If the terrorists didn’t rip him to shreds, the ops team would. You, however, have proven your leadership, and the guys on the team already practically worship you. So you’ve got the ops cred. However, I also need someone leading my team who understands EMP weapons inside and out and can recognize one when he sees one. I know enough about EMPs to be dangerous to our team; you know enough to be dangerous to the terrorists.”
    â€œScott, you forget one thing,” Riley said. “I’m a football player with the Colorado Mustangs. You’ve been to the games. You’ve seen me out on the field, remember? I was the guy with the number 50 on his back and a big Covington written across his shoulders. I am not, nor do I have any current desire to be, a member of the counterterrorism division. I play football, Scott. That’s what I do!” But even as Riley was saying the words, he knew they were going nowhere.
    â€œYeah, right . . . well, you see . . . ,” Scott hemmed and hawed.
    Exasperated, Riley ordered, “Just say it!”
    â€œOkay, Pach, don’t hate me for this. I kind of asked Stanley Porter to pull a few strings. And he kind of got Homeland Security involved. And they kind of got the FBI involved.”
    â€œScott! Just tell me what you’ve done to screw up my life!”
    â€œOkay, so it’s like this. You know you don’t still play for the Colorado Mustangs—and I’ll be more than happy to forgive you that little lie. And in return, I hope you’ll be willing to extend me some forgiveness when I tell you that  . . . well  . . . you know the little football trade that you haven’t mentioned to me because I’m not supposed to know about it?”
    Riley didn’t answer.
    â€œWell, believe it or not, that was sort of my idea.”
    â€œWhat?” Riley was in shock. Scott had done things in the past to mess with Riley’s life, but this far surpassed them all—this was beyond the pale. This was just plain wrong!
    â€œI’m sorry, Pach, but I had to do it!”
    Riley leaned way over the back of his seat, and Scott sank back into his. “You had to do it? Okay, you tell me why you had to do it! You tell me why you had to uproot my life and pull me away from the team I love and the teammates I love! Go ahead, friend , tell me!”
    Scott was angry now too. He sat up right in Riley’s face. “Because your country needs you! Because I need you! And even if you aren’t feeling it right now, I know you well enough to believe that you would much rather be here saving lives than in Denver playing games!”
    Riley leaned back into his own space. “Well, I sure appreciate having someone in my life who can force the big decisions on me, because heaven knows I couldn’t handle them myself! I mean, don’t you think you could have at least asked me? Couldn’t you have given me at least that much respect?”
    Scott’s anger deflated. “You’re right, Riley; you’re right. I’m sorry about that. Things just got going so quickly that I’ve just been in action mode. I should have asked.”
    Riley looked into Scott’s eyes and could see the sincerity of his apology. But he also got the sense that there was more that Scott was hiding from him.
    But before he had a chance to pry deeper, Scott said,