Read The Code Within: A Thriller (Trent Turner Series) for Free Online

quickly.
    The operative pulled up his brother’s room number from his smartphone to avoid contact with the information desk. At first glance the device looked like a top-of-the-line model purchased from a high-end mobile store, but in reality it was an XHD3, which stood for Xtreme Handheld Device 3. This was the third generation of the top-secret piece of hardware, and it was capable of delivering a stream of intelligence to an operative’s fingertips.
    Trent used an application called Cannibal to pull up the room number. He and his handler had developed the program together. Both were talented software developers, which was half the battle when it came to their encounters with the dark art of hacking. They initially created Cannibal for doing the legwork needed in the field quickly and accurately, but it had since evolved. With the advances in its hardware platform, the device was now capable of accomplishing much more.
    The application connected to several top-secret systems inside the CIA, FBI, NSA, and NRO over secure connections in data centers managed by The Shop. Turner knew better than to pry for details, but The Shop seemed to have legitimate contracts with the intelligence community to replicate, mine, and secure its most sensitive data. The agencies were aware of most of the connections they had made, but when pockets of guarded information were discovered, they would tap into those systems with ingenuity rather than approval.
    Cannibal’s job was simple. It would take a question and spit out the answer. It was simple enough in theory, but the logic involved was based on a series of complex algorithms developed by Tak and Turner. It was the Google Search of black ops, and an invaluable tool in the field.
    As he counted down the numbers to his brother’s room, he became increasingly nervous. Each step down the bland hospital hallway seemed less sure. After years of being solid as a rock, the unwelcome sensations were a dangerous distraction.
    “Excuse me, sir,” the nurse said as she wheeled a covered gurney out of the room.
    When her eyes connected with Trent’s, she looked shocked. Seeing a dead man’s twin must be like seeing a ghost , Trent thought.
    “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said.
    “Is this Ryan?” Trent asked. There was a hint of fear in his voice.
    “Yes. I’m afraid it is.”
    Trent said nothing, but the expression on his face screamed agony. He channeled the grief into anger and carefully pulled back the sheet that was covering his brother. A tear streaked from the corner of his eye as he kissed his brother on the forehead.
    “I’m sorry, Ryan,” he said softly. His eyes hardened as he searched for words. “It’s my fault…I can’t make this right, but I’ll try to make you proud.” He gently pulled the cover back over his head. “I love you,” he said, his voice trailing off.
    The sound of sobbing brought Trent’s attention to his mother’s inconsolable form. She had been watching from inside the hospital room in tears. She’d just lost the son she had, and now she was faced with the one she’d lost. Trent knew his mother was strong, but this was too much even for a woman as strong as Cathy Turner. He shut his eyes to fight back tears and thought about what he had done to her.
    “Hi, Mom,” were the only words he could say.
    He gave her a loving hug as they watched the nurse push Ryan’s gurney down the hallway. Trent was stunned, but he slowly began to snap out of it. This would be difficult. He knew he needed to craft his next words carefully.
    “I’ve missed you so much,” his mother said as she clung to him tightly. “I know he wanted to hang on until you got here. He loved you so much,” she said, her voice shaky. She hugged Trent tighter. “He almost made it…so you could say good-bye. He fought so hard.”
    The pain in her voice ripped through his soul.
    “I was sure he’d hang on,” she said. “I told him you’d come.”
    The sadness and anger