The Chaos Kind (John Rain, #11, Livia Lone, #5)

by Barry Eisler

But if there was one thing she had learned in this man’s world, it was the danger of doing anything that could be disparaged as “emotional.” Men could shout, they could rant, they could even cry, and they were just being assertive, or passionate, or caring. But for women, the same behaviors were bitchy. Or unhinged. Or worst of all, weak.

He was known, after all, for kissing up and kicking down.

“Tell me where the phone is and you stay put. Just in case there are any unfriendlies in the area.” “Behind a book called Recursion, by Blake Crouch. Level three. Fiction.”

“Couldn’t we just talk through our differences? Why does there have to be so much hostility?”

“Sharon Hamilton?” he said, extending his hand. “Come with me if you want to live. Hah, I always wanted to say that. I loved it in those Terminator movies.”

Everyone knew the best disinformation campaigns in the world were American ones masquerading as Russian, and the con would never get old. But still.

it was upsetting to see it abruptly recrudesce.

“‘Don’t bring a lawbook to a gunfight.’”

“Lie down on the bed with me. And touch my face the way you do.” “Yeah, we both know where that leads.” “Past performance is no guarantee of future results.” “But also hope springs eternal.”

The government always starts off with bad names, I don’t know why. Carnivore, Total Information Awareness . . . I mean, the Defense Department was originally called the War Department, which seemed to be giving people the idea it was responsible for fighting wars or something.

Diaz shook her head. “I can’t believe this shit goes on.” “I know, it’s a lot to get your head around. But like Blade said, ‘The world you live in is just a sugar-coated topping.’” Diaz looked at him, obviously not getting the reference. “A movie,” Larison said. “Wesley Snipes. Telling a human about vampires.” Dox smiled. “This is one of the reasons I like partnering with you, amigo. John never gets my cinematic references. I mean, you were the only one in the room who was with me that time when I did Cleavon Little. If you hadn’t laughed, we’d probably all be dead right now.”