Free Project Sparta (The Xander Whitt Series Book 1) by B.B. Gallagher Page B

AND TH E G R APES
     
    The remaining letters formed two new words: To Xander
    What the hell? Someone has placed this book in this house specifically for me. They obviously went through a great deal of discretion to make sure that only I saw it.
    He opened the front cover and saw the hidden title page. It did not say “The Fox and the Grapes”; rather, the text had an entirely different title. Its cream pages were neatly stitched into the binding of the false cover:
     
    The Republic
    by Plato
     
    Ask yourself the highest questions.
    – J. H.
     
    His eyes narrowed on the cover page, realizing the text was purposefully hidden.
    I guess you really can’t judge a book by its cover…
    Xander reviewed the circumstances that brought the book to his shelf, curious of its purpose.
    J.H… Jackson Hardy. He planted this book for me. He wants me to learn philosophy? But why? I’ve never studied it. I don’t even really know what it is. What does philosophy have to do with spy craft?
    Ask myself the highest questions…
    But what questions?

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 11
 
    Over the Atlantic
    Elevation: 35,000 ft
    June 29 th 2016
     
     
    Xander shifted in the cockpit of the V-22 Osprey that he had taken from Bagram Airfield. He was lost in the steady humming of the engines and the chopping of the propellers. Along with the subtle vibrations through the cockpit, the sounds of flight entranced him into a deep contemplation on his mission to determine the true identity of Agent Zero and to stop the attack. His focus had only intensified at the revelation that Agent Zero was a Spartan. He probed every small detail for any theory as to who the defector could be.
    Who would be capable of turning on us and plotting an attack on America? Seamus? Reckless and aggressive. Jooles? Silent and scheming. Ashton? Tobias? Mac? It could be anybody—even an instructor…
    Just then a familiar voice interrupted his reflection as it bellowed through his headset.
    “Rattlesnake come in. This is AT101 do you copy?” It was Captain Axle.
    “I copy. How are you doing, Captain?”
    “What the fuck are you thinking? Do you have any idea how many phone calls I had to make to keep F15s off your tail? The United States military does not like it when a one-hundred-million-dollar plane disappears!” Axle’s bark rocked Xander’s ear drums.
    “It was an emergency,” Xander explained, adjusting the headset.
    “It’s always an emergency with you. How many times do I have to tell you not to abuse the freedom being a Spartan gives you? We are government contractors that aid the military. We aren’t supposed to steal their aircrafts!”
    “Yes, sir,” he responded, obediently, knowing fully that the response would disarm his Commanding Officer.
    “Good.” After a short moment, Axle moved on to business. “What’s the emergency?”
    “Agent Zero is a Spartan,” Xander said plainly.
    “What?” Axle’s voice became grave.
    “Agent Zero is a Spartan. During the recon, after I intercepted the package being exchanged, I got a call from a distorted voice on my sat phone. It was Agent Zero.”
    “He identified himself as Agent Zero?”
    “Yeah. And the package was a brick-shaped stone with the words ‘Nothing is as it seems’ inscribed on it,” Xander said.
    “Fuck,” Axle exhaled.
    “The stone was intended for me all along. Agent Zero is playing some messed up game with me,” Xander said, still trying to make sense of it all himself.
    “Xander, there is something you should know.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Duke went dark three months ago” A long pause sounded over the headset. Xander’s grip tightened on the throttle, his temples pulsed.
    “Why wasn’t I told?” Xander asked through gritted teeth.
    “Given your history with him, you were on a need-to-know basis,” Axle explained.
    “Find him!” Xander ordered over the headset.
    “You know as well as anyone we trained you to be ghosts. He’s gone,” Axle explained, but