The New Year of 2002 starts off with a literal bang, when Mark Vincent is called to WBIS headquarters and learns the Washington Bureau of Intelligence and Security has been disbanded. He's not happy with the situation, but he's ready to make his own way in the intelligence waters of DC. However, when Trevor Wallace, known as The Boss, requests he accept the CIA's offer of a job, Mark reluctantly agrees. He isn't surprised to find working for the CIA is exactly what he expected, with the Company not allowing him to do his job. Mark lets his resentment be known as he's partnered with one officer after another, with no success. As a result, he's determined to leave the CIA, in spite of his promise to the man whose opinion he valued so highly.<br><br>Quinton Mann is viewed as royalty in the intelligence community. He had a run-in with Mark Vincent a few years before, while Vincent was still senior special agent for the WBIS, and Quinn had developed a healthy respect for him. Now, however, it's his turn to partner with the man considered by the alphabet agencies to be a sociopath.<br><br>Quinn can see what the problem is, and he's aware Vincent might not remain CIA for long. Now, the year is drawing to a close. Will a drink on Christmas Eve change things for both men?

No One Should Be Alone

I couldn’t remember the last time there’d been a white Christmas in the DC area. Well, not while I was around. The support staff at the WBIS—I missed them more than I’d expected I would—had been more than happy to fill me in if I’d missed anything of importance, including a Christmas with snow.


Back when I was a kid, before my father left and my old lady took to hitting the bottle, I used to believe all the stuff they told little kids about—Santa Claus, the North Pole, Baby Jesus in a manger.


I didn’t hate the holidays, even after the debacle of this past January. Hating something took up a lot of energy. I just didn’t care.


Usually I made it a point to be out of the country around the holidays. Last year had been one of the rare exceptions; this year I hadn’t been given that option.


Chapter 13