Read The Lives of Tao for Free Online Page A

are exploring those options. Who better to hunt Prophus than someone who is familiar with their protocols?”
    “Good, good. Keep me informed.”
    Sean kept watching the screen after it turned black. Regardless of what Devin said, Sean knew where Chiyva’s priority lay. His Holy One had made that abundantly clear. Tracking Tao’s new host was not going to be easy. The Prophus were slippery with their new hosts. Chances were he had already gone into hiding.
    The Genjix were having an increasingly difficult time tracking Prophus movements ever since their last major conflict in Brazil when the Prophus-backed ruling party fell. The Prophus had been on the defensive ever since, the noose tightening around them bit by bit as they lost more and more engagements. They were now more covert than ever.
    A renegade Prophus might give the Genjix better prospects, though. It had been over half a century since the last defection, so it was a rare opportunity to utilize someone who had experience with the inner workings of the Prophus.
    “Just waiting for you to stick your head out, little rabbit…” Sean’s voice trailed off as he drummed his fingers along the desk. “We’ll have a net waiting for you.” He pushed the button on his intercom. “Meredith, is my 10 o’clock here yet?”
    “Yes, Sean. He’s been waiting for you.”
    “Send him in.”
    Marc walked into his office and sat down in the chair opposite Sean. Looking like he just got out of bed, Marc wore a brown golf shirt and a pair of worn blue jeans. Sean gave him one cursory glance and began typing on his computer.
    Fifteen minutes passed before Sean said another word. “I trust your new quarters are to your liking?”
    Marc shrugged. “Sure beats the hell out of what I had before.”
    “And your stipend is adequate.”
    Marc nodded.
    Sean gave Marc a hard look. “Good, then you will wear a suit and be dressed appropriately whenever you are in this office. This is still a law firm, and you’re a fool if you think your appearance today didn’t raise eyebrows. Do I make myself clear?”
    Startled, Marc bowed in response.
    Sean went back to his work on the computer. “Now, you have a chance to prove your worth to us. Your standing is low and since you failed to deliver Tao, you’re still on shaky ground. This will be your chance to rectify that. Follow me.” Sean grabbed his jacket and strolled out of his office, tapping Meredith’s desk as he passed by. She followed close behind with pen and paper in hand. Marc, unused to Sean’s methods, had to hurry to catch up.
    “Are my people in place?” Sean asked.
    Meredith nodded. “The personnel you requested were all contacted last night. All flew in this morning, with the exception of two who are still on missions for the Vatican. They will arrive later this week.”
    “Excellent.” Forty steps down this hall, left turn, five steps forward, right turn, nine steps echoed in the back of his mind.
    Meredith struggled to keep up while reading her notes. “They are waiting in your private meeting room.”
    Sean walked down the hallway to an elevator and stopped at the door. He stared at the closed doors. It bothered him that the elevator was not waiting for him. It was a small matter which Meredith would have to address. He turned irritably toward her and shook his head. “Fix this.” She understood exactly what he meant.
    The elevator door opened. Sean and Marc walked in while Meredith stood outside, still scribbling in her notebook. Sean waited for her to catch up before he spoke again. “We need to have our contact in the IRS run those checks on the paper trails. The Prophus are good at hiding their own, and this trail can’t be allowed to get cold. I don’t care if flags are raised. I want validated information on my desk tonight.”
    She nodded. “Anything else?”
    The nephew and the anniversary.  
    “Of course, I was wrong to forget, Chiyva.”
    You must be aware of all things, Sean. Only then