"It's very simple. They are on a
very specific timetable,” Jared answered, “laid out in great detail
by its
architect."
I cocked an eyebrow. It was the question I was waiting to ask: “Who?" Jared lifted his mug to his lips and took a long, deep drink of the blood. Pulling it away from his mouth, his gaze settled uneasily on me. “Chithula." I felt my heart sink.
The Master Vampire studied my reaction, and seemed somehow satisfied. “Chithula gave you a name, did he not?"
"Overseer Matthew Sumner,” I answered.
Jared nodded. “Has your investigation uncovered any evidence that Overseer Sumner is involved?" I thought for a moment. “Not directly. But there is the question of where Maynard's orders to eliminate the nests were coming from. That would seem to implicate Overseer Sumner as he is the only soul who gives marching instructions to North American offices." "So it would seem,” Jared agreed. “Or is that what Chithula wanted you to believe?" I wasn't sure how to respond.
"The Ifrit has been manipulating you,” Jared accused, “pointing you toward clues that supported his agenda."
A horrible ball of worry began churning in my belly. “And what is his agenda?" "Ask yourself this,” Jared started calmly. “Why would one of the most powerful beings known to the Syndicate live in the desert outside of Las Vegas?" "He said he was fulfilling his destiny,” I replied. "His agenda,” Jared corrected me. “He made a deal with the devil, as it were. He's working with the government, and once you eliminated Sumner, he would be installed as the new North American Overseer. Merely a figurehead position as the government would run the Syndicate through him, but it would give him unlimited scope to basically do whatever he wanted. He could seek all the power and glory he wanted right under the government's nose." I ran the information in my head. That's why Chithula was testing me when we spoke. He wasn't trying to find out if I fit in some sort of prophecy; he was looking for a patriot to do his bidding. I was loyal to the Syndicate and didn't want to see it falter. I took the bait hook, line, and sinker. I was his patsy, his Lee Harvey Oswald. Carefully controlling every step of my investigation, even showing me pieces of the larger government conspiracy, he wanted me to come to the inevitable conclusion that Overseer Sumner was the villain of the piece and take him down. That way he could ascend to the position of Overseer and have me safely at his side.
"And the copying operation?” I asked.
architect."
I cocked an eyebrow. It was the question I was waiting to ask: “Who?" Jared lifted his mug to his lips and took a long, deep drink of the blood. Pulling it away from his mouth, his gaze settled uneasily on me. “Chithula." I felt my heart sink.
The Master Vampire studied my reaction, and seemed somehow satisfied. “Chithula gave you a name, did he not?"
"Overseer Matthew Sumner,” I answered.
Jared nodded. “Has your investigation uncovered any evidence that Overseer Sumner is involved?" I thought for a moment. “Not directly. But there is the question of where Maynard's orders to eliminate the nests were coming from. That would seem to implicate Overseer Sumner as he is the only soul who gives marching instructions to North American offices." "So it would seem,” Jared agreed. “Or is that what Chithula wanted you to believe?" I wasn't sure how to respond.
"The Ifrit has been manipulating you,” Jared accused, “pointing you toward clues that supported his agenda."
A horrible ball of worry began churning in my belly. “And what is his agenda?" "Ask yourself this,” Jared started calmly. “Why would one of the most powerful beings known to the Syndicate live in the desert outside of Las Vegas?" "He said he was fulfilling his destiny,” I replied. "His agenda,” Jared corrected me. “He made a deal with the devil, as it were. He's working with the government, and once you eliminated Sumner, he would be installed as the new North American Overseer. Merely a figurehead position as the government would run the Syndicate through him, but it would give him unlimited scope to basically do whatever he wanted. He could seek all the power and glory he wanted right under the government's nose." I ran the information in my head. That's why Chithula was testing me when we spoke. He wasn't trying to find out if I fit in some sort of prophecy; he was looking for a patriot to do his bidding. I was loyal to the Syndicate and didn't want to see it falter. I took the bait hook, line, and sinker. I was his patsy, his Lee Harvey Oswald. Carefully controlling every step of my investigation, even showing me pieces of the larger government conspiracy, he wanted me to come to the inevitable conclusion that Overseer Sumner was the villain of the piece and take him down. That way he could ascend to the position of Overseer and have me safely at his side.
"And the copying operation?” I asked.