Chapter 51

Another Cartwright needing another set of documents. Brie had gotten used to this. There was no getting around it. Even her parents had been discovered and had to be taken care of by the agency with new identities and a new place to live.

When the Currier arrived with the new document for Matthew, David looked them over first. "I want to be sure that there's nothing in here that's going to compromise either myself or you sister." Matthew had been fine with that.

As David looked over the documents, his face turned red. "What the fuck are they thinking?" were his only thoughts as he studied the documents. Instead of Matthew being a Gunny like he had been, he was now a former United States Marine Corps. Major. That was fine with David. It was the orders that can with the paperwork that pissed him off. They were from a falsified government agency that The Agency was calling TACT, a division of the Department of Defense. There was no acronym for that. It was plain as day what they meant. He was to be a tactical adviser for the Establishment. They were making Maj. Francis K. Leavenstein a FUCKING DOUBLE AGENT!!!!

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Brie and Matthew were sitting in the kitchen with her and David's kids as they ate lunch when Brie heard something shatter in another room. "Mattie, will you watch the kids for a moment? I need to go check on your brother- in- law."

"Sure. No problem sis."

Brie scooted out from the table and went to find David. When she walked in to the conference room, she saw water dripping down the wall and a glass shattered on the floor. This was before she even looked at David. When she did, he had his arm cranked back the throw another glass. "David, what's wrong?" she asked before he threw the glass.

"He's gonna be a spy, Brie. That's what the Agency wants. Your brother to be a spy as one of the top tactical advisers in the Establishment." He set the glass down instead of throwing it.

Brie's knees buckled and she had to brace herself against the table while David moved a chair behind her so that she could sit down. "Your employers want my brother as a spy?" she said in a voice heavy with unshed tears.

"Yes, love, they want him to be a spy and report as often as possible on ways to counter the attacks that the Establishment plans to mount. I just recently received Intel that they've brought back hanging. If he's discovered, your brother could be hung for treason." David was trying to remain calm as he spoke. It didn't pay for BOTH of them to be upset.

Brie took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Ok", she said shakily. "Apparently this war that was started because of me is worse than we thought."

"It did not start because of you, Brie. It was started because the Establishment wants to turn this country into a communist country. what they are calling a Utopian Society. Don't take the blame for this."

She nodded again, slowly. "You're right. I shouldn't blame myself, but that's my brother they're wanting to send into enemy territory and risk his life. That's just really upsetting."

"I'd be pissed too if it were Ben. Everything will be ok. I promise. This will end at some point."

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Brie and David came out of the conference room hand in hand. It was obvious to Matthew that his sister had been crying. "Irian, what's wrong?"

"Mattie, you can't call me that anymore. That woman died two years ago in a house explosion. My name is Hanna Brielle Draiman. I go by Brie. You've got to get that through your head or you're going to get me killed for real and my husband and children with me."

"I’m sorry sis. I just can't get used to this new name. Do the other guys and their wives know that your name isn't really Brie?"

"That's none of your concern", Brie snapped.

David put a hand on her arm. "Calm down." he turned to Matthew. "Yes, Matt, the other guys and their wives know. The other guys were assigned to watching your sister with me before I first met her. If she had survived as Irian, then you would have been pulled out of the Marines and taken into protective custody as well. Unfortunately, when the house blew up, she had been reported as being spotted inside, so Irian was reported as dead. You're sister's name is now Brie. You have to keep that in mind when I hand you this file. You're not going to like it. Hell, I don't even like it, but if this is what it takes to win this war, then so be it." David dropped the file in front of Matthew. "Malachai, Jacob, Jordan, you three need to go play with the other kids."

"But, Daddy", Jacob said.

"Do not make me repeat myself, Jacob Micah."

Jacob got up and followed his siblings to the big play room that had been set up for all of the kids. David turned his attention back to Matthew. "How do you like your new identity there, Major?" His voice was thick with sarcasm.

"I'm an officer?"

"Yes. One of the top tactical advisers to the Utopianists leaders. You're to report back to the Agency either through us or through this special phone, "David reached into this pocket and pulled out a small box, "once a week or more often if possible. If you fail to report back within two weeks time, it will be assumed that you have been discovered and the Agency and the band will have to deny any knowledge of your existence. Understood?"

Matthew nodded. "I'm a Marine, David. I know how to follow orders, whether I like them or not."

"Atta boy, Matt."

"My name isn't Matt. It's Frank. I'm Major Francis Kevin Leavenstein, United States Marine Corps; retired."

"My apologies then Major." David said with a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm going to need a Uniform if I'm to report to the Establishment Headquarters in the morning."

"Mike told me when he handed me the file that we've got our gophers on that. No worries. You'll have some dress blues and BDU's by nightfall."