Setting his paperwork aside, Reese cocked his head at Sam. He appreciated her coming to him – one of his fears had been that the FBI agents would all come here and just start doing things their own way. So the fact that Sam wanted to know his own goals impressed him.
“Well, that’s kind of a hard question to answer, unfortunately. To be honest, it’s been a difficult program to run because every case is so different, and we’ve only had a few people through it so far. You’ve got both ends of the spectrum – guys like Carson and Aaron who are angry and just want to be released so they can hightail it back to the Agency. Then you’ve got guys like Gage, who knew nothing about living a real life and was very quickly convinced that there was something better out there for him. So to have a set program is hard.”
He paused to sigh. “But as far as Aaron goes...bottom line is, I’d like to keep him out of prison. And that means he has to get to a point where he’s willing to live without crime, and without returning to the Agency. Generally, once an operative realizes the Agency isn’t all they think, they tend to get past their anger and are at risk for depression. Then once they pull out of that, they’re open to seeing what life really has to offer. If at that point they decide to run...there’s not much we can do. But so far I’ve found that if you think they’re ready for a new life...they are.”
Reese studied Sam for several seconds. “What I expect out of you is to find out the best route for Aaron. You can ignore him if you want. Drag him around and tell him to shut up. Treat him as if her were in prison. But he needs to be reprogrammed to understand the Agency only offers lies and backstabbing in between hurting the innocent. And that type of reprogramming takes forming a trusting relationship.” He strummed his fingers on his desk. “Keep in mind, I’m open to unconventional methods. If you want to take him off the premises, you may. If you want to lock him up and not let him out, you may. You’re his handler, which means I have to trust you. Its’ up to you to gauge how safe he is, what will convince him he’s been bamboozled by a crime organization, and what will motivate him to want to live a new life.”
“Well, that’s kind of a hard question to answer, unfortunately. To be honest, it’s been a difficult program to run because every case is so different, and we’ve only had a few people through it so far. You’ve got both ends of the spectrum – guys like Carson and Aaron who are angry and just want to be released so they can hightail it back to the Agency. Then you’ve got guys like Gage, who knew nothing about living a real life and was very quickly convinced that there was something better out there for him. So to have a set program is hard.”
He paused to sigh. “But as far as Aaron goes...bottom line is, I’d like to keep him out of prison. And that means he has to get to a point where he’s willing to live without crime, and without returning to the Agency. Generally, once an operative realizes the Agency isn’t all they think, they tend to get past their anger and are at risk for depression. Then once they pull out of that, they’re open to seeing what life really has to offer. If at that point they decide to run...there’s not much we can do. But so far I’ve found that if you think they’re ready for a new life...they are.”
Reese studied Sam for several seconds. “What I expect out of you is to find out the best route for Aaron. You can ignore him if you want. Drag him around and tell him to shut up. Treat him as if her were in prison. But he needs to be reprogrammed to understand the Agency only offers lies and backstabbing in between hurting the innocent. And that type of reprogramming takes forming a trusting relationship.” He strummed his fingers on his desk. “Keep in mind, I’m open to unconventional methods. If you want to take him off the premises, you may. If you want to lock him up and not let him out, you may. You’re his handler, which means I have to trust you. Its’ up to you to gauge how safe he is, what will convince him he’s been bamboozled by a crime organization, and what will motivate him to want to live a new life.”
A little smile creased his lips. “I know it sounds like a tall order but if you take it one chunk at a time, it’s more manageable. Have you talked to Hal at all?”
Travis’ eyes widened a little and he rolled over on his stomach again, propping himself up on his elbows, so close to Ashlee that his arm rested against her leg. “What? Of course I still wanna go with you to town. For two reasons... One, since you’ve never had a boyfriend, that means you have no preconceived ideas, so if I’m a dork, you’ll be less likely to notice.” He regained his silly grin. “And two, technically it won’t be your first date because...that’s what today was.”
His eyes twinkled as he winked at her and nudged her knee. “I’m just glad I found somebody to have fun with, ‘cause... well, it’s always been hard for me to make friends.” He shrugged. “I dunno why, I just...don’t usually fit well, ya know?”
Seeing the look on Ryan’s face, Hunter was glad she decided to take him up on his offer. He didn’t know what was wrong, but she didn’t look very good. He shook his head as he started back down the street. “Not today. It’s just part time at the Karate school anyway, so I usually ned up with too much free time on my hands when there aren’t any races.”
He downshifted as they came to a red light and he gave her a sidelong glance. “I was on my way for a chocolate malt. Wanna join me?”
Travis’ eyes widened a little and he rolled over on his stomach again, propping himself up on his elbows, so close to Ashlee that his arm rested against her leg. “What? Of course I still wanna go with you to town. For two reasons... One, since you’ve never had a boyfriend, that means you have no preconceived ideas, so if I’m a dork, you’ll be less likely to notice.” He regained his silly grin. “And two, technically it won’t be your first date because...that’s what today was.”
His eyes twinkled as he winked at her and nudged her knee. “I’m just glad I found somebody to have fun with, ‘cause... well, it’s always been hard for me to make friends.” He shrugged. “I dunno why, I just...don’t usually fit well, ya know?”
Seeing the look on Ryan’s face, Hunter was glad she decided to take him up on his offer. He didn’t know what was wrong, but she didn’t look very good. He shook his head as he started back down the street. “Not today. It’s just part time at the Karate school anyway, so I usually ned up with too much free time on my hands when there aren’t any races.”
He downshifted as they came to a red light and he gave her a sidelong glance. “I was on my way for a chocolate malt. Wanna join me?”
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