Just as Dominic and his crew retrieved their cars from the NYPD impound lot and were planning to head back to their West Coast base, the anonymous agent from the CIA, who had vanished during their arrest, had the audacity to show up again.
Dominic, who had initially been pleased to at least walk away with six high-end cars from the CIA's secret garage, could barely contain his frustration. This agent's persistence was getting on his last nerve. When he and his friends had been swarmed by NYPD officers yesterday, the guy had simply disappeared, leaving them to fend for themselves. It was only thanks to Hobbs, who vouched for them from his hospital bed in L.A., that they'd been able to clear their names with the NYPD. And now, just after their release, here was this shameless agent, asking them for another favor.
"What did you just say?" Dominic's voice dripped with irritation as he glared at the agent's phony smile. "You want us to use our friendship with Harry to get into that writer's estate and figure out what he's hiding?"
"Yes," replied the agent without a hint of shame. "We sent our people this morning, but they came up empty. The guy refused to give us access to his supercomputer's database and found a reason to kick our people out. So, I need you to use your connection with the techie, Harry, to infiltrate his estate and find out if he's really developed an AI or something similar to the software Heidrich created."
Dominic could hardly believe the nerve of this guy. He wanted to punch him square in the face. Did the CIA think they could just use him and his crew? He was furious. Just yesterday, he'd been arrested by the NYPD, only to be saved thanks to Beckett, the precinct captain and—ironically—the writer's girlfriend. With Beckett's help, Hobbs' testimony, and a stroke of luck, they'd escaped prosecution. And now, this cunning agent had the audacity to ask Tej to go snoop around that same writer's estate? It was madness. Why would the CIA, with all its resources, need him to get involved? Or maybe that was the plan all along—if things went south, they'd leave him and his friends out to dry, like they had yesterday, and let them take the fall.
The realization dawned on Dominic, and he was beyond angry. Sure, he and his crew weren't saints, but compared to the agent standing before him, they looked innocent. These supposed defenders of the country would throw anyone under the bus for their own gain, and all in the name of national security. But the truth was, it was all just a ploy for their own benefit.
After taking a moment to think, Dominic remembered he was no longer a wanted man. They'd gotten through their latest scrape with the law because, after helping Hobbs capture Owen Shaw, their federal warrants had been lifted. Technically, they were law-abiding citizens now. So why should he get involved with someone as morally bankrupt as this agent?
What's more, with his record cleared, Dominic had nothing to fear from the CIA. They didn't have the authority to act on U.S. soil, and if they pushed him too far, he could always expose them to the media, and they'd be the ones in trouble—not him.
With this newfound confidence, Dominic's resolve grew stronger. For once, he had the upper hand, and there was no way he was going to let the CIA use him again.
The agent, clearly blindsided, hadn't expected Dominic—who he thought of as a brawny simpleton—to realize his clean slate meant he was no longer the fugitive he once was. Dominic's experience with the NYPD had been eye-opening. He was no longer the easy target the CIA could manipulate.
When Dominic and his crew got into their cars and drove off without a backward glance, the agent, left standing on the roadside, couldn't help but lament how his work had grown increasingly difficult. There were too many conmen out there, and not enough gullible people anymore.
Meanwhile, Castle was unaware of these events, as he was busy enjoying a beach barbecue with Esposito and Ryan, who he'd convinced to join him during their shift. Though Jarvis knew the agent had approached Dominic again, he hadn't immediately informed Castle, as Dominic had refused the agent's request. But after the barbecue wrapped up and Castle sent a sober Russian bodyguard to drive Esposito and Ryan back to Manhattan with the drone console, Jarvis decided to fill him in.
"What did you say? That old CIA spook is still at it?" Castle, still a bit tipsy, could barely believe it. "He actually went to Dominic and tried to send Tej into my estate to check if I've developed AI or something like Heidrich's software? And Dominic turned him down?" Castle shook his head, half-amused, half-exasperated. "If only they showed the same tenacity in gathering intelligence abroad. Why are they so bent on hassling me? Do they seriously think I can't do anything about them? I swear, if they keep this up, I'll expose 'PRISM' and let the whole world know!"
This wasn't an idle threat. When Homeland Security had shown up under the guise of the Patriot Act that morning, Castle had considered releasing the information Jarvis had uncovered about the CIA's global surveillance program. The only reason he hadn't was because he hoped they'd back off. But now, with this latest stunt, Castle was beginning to seriously consider taking action.
Back in his previous life, PRISM had been exposed by Snowden in 2013, though the program itself had been around since the Cold War. Originally, it had focused on monitoring phone calls and telegraphs, but as mobile devices and personal computers became more widespread and social media grew in popularity, the program's data-gathering capabilities had expanded dramatically. The CIA's insane ambition for monitoring everything went beyond just keeping tabs on Russia or the rising power across the Pacific; they were even spying on their allies, from Britain and France to Germany.
Castle had initially wanted to avoid a direct confrontation with the CIA. After all, once his investment, Benjamin, made it to the presidency, shaking off the CIA's interference would be child's play. But now he saw the agency wouldn't stop unless they were forced to. Did they think his restraint was weakness? Were they under the impression that he could be easily bullied? If he kept turning the other cheek, he'd practically be a Ninja Turtle.
It was time to teach these relentless meddlers a lesson they wouldn't forget.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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