While Brown was on the phone with Dahl, saying a lot of useless things, Morin received a message from Ethan.
Ethan Hunt: "I have the item. We've made a clean getaway."
FBI Employee: "Contact me when I leave. Don't forget our partnership."
Ethan Hunt: "I have a good memory."
FBI Employee: "Just in case."
After giving Ethan a veiled warning and getting his assurance, Morin played with his phone, waiting for Dahl to return.
Even if Ethan ran off with the item or stabbed him in the
back, Morin had countermeasures and didn't have to worry about things turning against him.
But that would be a hassle. Morin wasn't afraid of
trouble, but he didn't like it. So, giving a pre-emptive warning to eliminate potential risks was a necessary step.
Since Ethan had the item, it was time for Morin to leave.
Ethan had been so quick that Morin hadn't even gotten to the point of his visit.
If he had already stated his real purpose, he would have to stick with it. A sudden change of topic would certainly raise suspicion.
But Morin had been chatting with Dahl about various
things without ever getting to the point. This meant Morin could say whatever he wanted, as long as it made sense!
So, Morin immediately said his purpose was a "friendly exchange." He no longer needed to stall for time, and this "real purpose" that wouldn't harm either party was a better fit than "I'm here to investigate the CIA's tax problems."
However, this "real purpose" had a huge impact on Dahl.
If this were a cartoon, Dahl would have multiple question marks floating above his head. The question marks wouldn't be for a new quest, but a message that said,
"When I type '?', it's not that I have a question, it's that I think you have a problem." And Dahl now thought Morin had a big problem.
"Mr. Morin... since your purpose is this... friendly
exchange," Dahl stressed the words "friendly" and "exchange," struggling to maintain his professional smile.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I was going to, but you never asked!" Morin said matter-of-factly.
"Besides, I never got a chance to! Mr. Dahl, you were the one who kept talking to me about the CIA's system and building renovations, weren't you?"
"Well... it was a little strange that you kept bringing up funding issues, but I just assumed you were giving me some management tips! Isn't that right?"
Dahl was completely dumbfounded by Morin's words.
"I was talking about system reforms and building renovations to stall for time, to wait for the director to arrive, so I wouldn't have to take the blame! And I was talking about the high costs to preemptively explain some tax-related issues because I also... took a little something for myself! Who's giving you tips? Am I so bored that I, the administrative director, would teach you how to do my job?"
Dahl almost blurted out his thoughts. Luckily, years of experience in "saying one thing, thinking another" helped him keep it together.
"Weren't you here for tax matters?" Dahl's smile became a little strained.
After all that back and forth, they were finally back at the beginning, but their roles were reversed.
Now, Dahl was trying to get Morin to bring up the CIA's
tax issues. He knew he was in deep trouble.
He, the administrative director, had talked to Morin for an hour and still hadn't figured out his true purpose. This was a dereliction of duty.
That would have been fine if Morin's purpose had been what Dahl and Brown thought it was. But now, Morin's purpose wasn't to "collect a debt" but to have a "friendly exchange."
This meant Dahl's stalling tactic had led to a huge misunderstanding, successfully getting Director Brown worked up for nothing.
Thinking about Brown's previous fit of irrational rage, Dahl could pretty much guess how Brown would treat him when he arrived at headquarters and realized it was all a big misunderstanding.
"He'd be furious!"
Whether it was for dereliction of duty, being found out for trying to make Brown take the fall, or simply being the easiest person for Brown to vent his anger on, Dahl figured his fate wouldn't be pretty.
So, at this point, Dahl was actually hoping Morin's purpose was to investigate the CIA's tax issues!
This way, everyone would be at fault, and Brown's anger would be focused on the IRS!
Even though the CIA's losses would be huge, at least his own share of the blame would be a lot smaller than if he had to face Brown's wrath alone!
Morin, of course, understood Dahl's little game. But why
would he let Dahl have his way?
The item was in his hands; Morin had achieved his goal. Why would he say he was there to investigate the CIA's tax problems?
That would be a complete waste of time. As for Dahl's fate, what did that have to do with him?
He brought this upon himself; he should have to deal
with the consequences!
With that thought, Morin frowned in confusion. "What?
The CIA's tax problems?"
"Yes!" Dahl was getting anxious now, because he didn't know how long it would be until Brown arrived.
If he could successfully shift Morin's attention to the
CIA's tax issues before then, he could minimize his own
losses!
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Mr. Dahl," Morin tilted his head. "Does the CIA have tax problems?"
"I... this..." Dahl's eyes widened.
"I've been so obvious, and he still doesn't get it?" Did he
really have to spell it out for him?
There was a huge difference between Morin bringing it up and him bringing it up.
The conference room had a recording device. What he was doing was already risky. If he were to directly say it and others heard the recording, he'd be finished!
Dahl fell into a dilemma.
Just then, Brown arrived at CIA headquarters. Getting
out of his car, Brown glanced at the departing fire trucks and put it out of his mind, striding purposefully toward
the conference room.
He was building up his momentum, planning to make a dramatic entrance and assert his dominance.
However, just as he reached the conference room and pushed open the door, he heard a voice say, "Well, it's been a pleasure working with you~"
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