The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 129

"The dark hand?" Agent Rossi interjected. "I thought they were just as bad as the them

"I can assure you, they're very much there," Director Ricci said grimly. "But not as degrees

Agent Conti's brow furrowed. "I don't understand, Director. If this, whatever it is, could bring down the president, why would a criminal organization want it? Haven't they benefited from destabilizing the government? They prefer to destabilize, not remove. Control the government instead of bringing them down. Is it possible they just want to control the president?"

The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch as Director Ricci took a deep breath. "What I about to tell you goes beyond top secret. It's information that could get us all killed if it ever leaves this room." He paused, making eye contact with each agent in turn. "The Dark Hand wants this information because their leader... is the President himself."

The silence that followed was deafening. The agents sat in stunned disbelief, their faces a m of shock, confusion, and dawning horror.

Agent Bianchi was the first to find his voice. "That's... that's impossible. Can you confirm this, director?."

Director Ricci shook his head. "I'm afraid it is confirmed. We know. The President of Italy is the head of one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the country."

The way he said it made them sure that they had always known. This sent chills down their spins.

Agent Moretti leaned back in her chair, her face pale. "Director, I dare to ask, how long have you known?"

this relevant?" Director Ricci admitted.

This made them uncomfortable. The director knew. Not only did he know, he is trying to play both sides. It seems the risk of this being revealed is high. The director is trying to give himself an advantage by having the agency find it first. As long as the agency finds this evidence first, even if it gets revealed, there are many ways to make it seem as though they had been investigating this.

quite a few people now, after an incident involving the President. An incident that the public believes was a simple

the air. Each agent recalled the news reports from a few weeks ago-a fire after a meeting, the President briefly hospitalized. It had

mundane at the time.

is our mission here, Director?

the president were to come out, it would plunge Italy into chaos. The fallout

did their jobs well. And from the look of things, since they had been told, they had been dragged into the same camp as the director. "We're going to contain it," Director Ricci corrected. "And to do that, we need to retrieve whatever

hand."

young blank as he asked. "Director, are you saying we're supposed to aid a criminal organization?

is necessary to prote our country from a crisis; it may not survive. Yes, that means working alongside the Dark Hand. It means operating in a

the agents had already come to

and coverups. It was not as though they were novices that this knowledge

"How do we even begin to approach the Shaw family? They're not exactly known for their cooperation with law enforcement.

working with a team from the Dark Hand," Director Ricci explained. "They have... methods to get into the Shaw

the day when we'd be working with the mob to protect a corrupt president. It's like something out of bad

right now if each of you is prepared to do what needs to be done. If anyone feels they can't handle this assignment, speak now. There will be no

disbelief, anger, and fear, but their faces remained blank. They had all sworn an oath to protect their country, and even if

one, they nodded their

in, Director," Agent Conti said, speaking for the group. "It's like

Ricci nodded, looking across at everyone seated. "You are all professionals. What we do

stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Call your contacts. Daniel Shaw and his wife a in Appletown. We'll reconvene tomorrow morning at 0800. By then, I'll have more details our moves. Until then, speak of this to no one. As far as

in their own thoughts, the