"It can't be... right?"
Ethan found it hard to believe.
He knew what the IRS was. He knew what they were responsible for.
But this mole-hunting operation was a top-secret internal CIA matter.
Even he hadn't known about it.
So how did this IRS agent know?
Then Ethan remembered the tiny bug Morin had casually pulled out from beneath the table. His thoughts immediately started drifting.
If someone could plant a device like that in a classified location without being noticed, then knowing CIA internal intelligence didn't sound so impossible anymore.
Ethan shook his head.
He didn't dwell on it.
There was no time to.
He turned back to the computer and began searching.
He still remembered the contact Eugene had mentioned. If he wanted to find the mole, that was the most logical place to start.
Morin didn't pay attention to what Ethan was doing.
He left quickly and returned to his own location, where he contacted his superior.
Chris.
...
The call connected.
Chris: "..."
After a long silence, Chris finally spoke.
"Alright. What kind of trouble are you in this time?" He sighed. "Who are you planning to arrest?"
"...Why do you always assume I'm arresting someone?" Morin replied lazily. "Can't I just be calling to say hello?"
"Because every time you call, you've caught another big fish," Chris said, rubbing his head. He used to have hair there. Now it was half hair, half forehead.
"I've given up on the idea that you'll ever do anything quietly."
"You can't think like that," Morin said seriously. "I'm not some mission addict. I enjoy life. I appreciate beauty. I like having fun-"
"So who are you arresting?" Chris cut him off.
"Someone from the CIA."
"...What?"
Chris froze.
"You're going after the CIA now?" His voice rose. "The last time you arrested that FBI guy, I had to clean up a massive mess!"
"So?" Morin sounded calm. "It's not like I haven't done it before. Same level, really."
"I only arrest people who deserve it. You know that."
"That's true," Chris admitted. His tone relaxed slightly. "I hear the CIA's been working on some new equipment lately. We could use this opportunity to get a few things back from them..."
Then he paused.
"Who exactly are you arresting?"
"A supervisor," Morin replied. "A mole inside the CIA. He's selling an agent list to a Czech buyer for a large sum."
Morin glanced at the time.
Almost four in the morning.
He walked to the window, pulled the curtain aside slightly, and looked out. Even at that distance, his sharp vision caught a woman slipping into the apartment building where Ethan was staying.
"But I need more evidence," Morin continued. "I'll have to go to CIA headquarters in Langley. We still have dirt on them, right?"
"Of course," Chris replied. "But don't forget-they've got dirt on us too."
He paused.
"Are you sure you can pull this off?"
"Of course," Morin said calmly. "When have I ever done something I wasn't sure about?"
He let the curtain fall back into place.
Claire had entered the building.
That meant everything was still following the original trajectory.
"I'm confident this time," Morin added. "I can make a lot of money."
"Morin," Chris said darkly, even though Morin couldn't see him, "watch how you talk."
"We're a legitimate department. You make it sound like we're a gang of robbers."
Then he hesitated.
"...How much is this 'lot of money'?"
"...There's not much difference," Morin replied. "If I'm not mistaken-ten million dollars."
"...What?"
Chris was stunned.
"How much did you say?"
It was 1996.
Back then, ten million dollars was an astronomical sum.
"No mistake," Morin said slowly. "Ten million."
At this point, Morin's IRS agent experience sat at 200 out of 1000.
That was after taking down multiple major drug lords across the country, including income from confiscated illegal assets, plus bonuses and salary.
And if this operation went as planned, he would gain another ten million in gray income.
More importantly, once the transaction was complete, he could let the other party go without concern.
Because Ethan would simply arrest them afterward.
"Phew..." Chris exhaled deeply.
Then he asked the question.
"Are you planning to take down CIA headquarters?"
"Not that far," Morin said, the corner of his mouth twitching. "I'm just borrowing their agent list."
"...All of it?"
"All of it."
Chris: "..."
How was that any different?
"Are you absolutely sure you can do this?" Chris asked again.
"Of course," Morin replied. "Relax. The list will just take a little trip. No one else will ever see it."
"I must be losing my mind," Chris muttered, rubbing his temples. "When do you need my help?"
"I just need an excuse," Morin said. "A reason to investigate the CIA. A way into their headquarters."
"But not yet. I'll tell you when I'm heading to Langley."
He paused.
"By the way, want to take a vacation there?"
"...You've brought me some truly wonderful news," Chris said flatly.
"Good news always comes with risks," Morin chuckled. "To gain a lot, you have to take some necessary ones."
"I know," Chris said. "But your vacation is over."
Morin: "..."
"Come on, boss, let's negotiate-"
The call cut off.
Chris had already hung up.
Morin didn't mind.
A mission was basically a vacation to him anyway.
And he understood just how much pressure Chris was under by backing him.
After all-
That was CIA headquarters.
And a complete list of all CIA agents.
The value of something like that was self-evident.
And yet, even knowing the risk, Chris was still willing to support him.
That trust mattered.