Code conspiracy, p.15
Code Conspiracy, page 15
“I don’t know anything but what I already told you.” Cedar put his finger to his lips. “Find out who brought Olaf in from the cold and you’ll have your culprit. I do better on my own.”
Cedar plucked the baseball cap from his head, shook out his long hair and flipped up the hood of his sweatshirt, melting into the crowd.
The driver barked, “Are you done, man?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Gray slammed the door. “Get going.”
He kept his eye on the back window, but for all he knew Jerrica might have another GPS planted on her person and whoever Olaf was working with could be tracking them right to his hotel.
He’d have to figure that out later. He needed to get some water into Jerrica, keep her awake. But if she’d been poisoned with the same substance that had been running through Russell’s veins, she’d need more than water to come around.
The driver pulled up in front of the hotel and met Gray’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “She okay? This ain’t one of those roofie things, is it?”
“My girlfriend can’t hold her booze. She’ll be okay.” Gray almost tipped the guy extra, but figured that might look too much like hush money. He added twenty percent to the fare and left it at that.
As he stood Jerrica up on the sidewalk, he whispered in her ear. “C’mon, love. You can do this. Let’s get to my room. It’s not far.”
Her chin dropped to her chest and his heart sank, but then she lifted her head and he could’ve sworn her spine straightened.
As they walked into the hotel, her head lolled against his shoulder but she kept her body erect and stumbled only once or twice. When they got into the elevator, she slumped against him as her knees buckled.
“You’re doing fine. We’re almost there.”
The door opened on his floor, and he poked his head into the hallway, looking both ways. The empty hallway beckoned.
When they stepped out of the elevator, Gray swept Jerrica up in his arms and cradled her against his chest as he strode toward his room.
Once inside, he sat her on the edge of the bed. “Don’t lie down, Jerrica. Not yet. Don’t go to sleep.”
She blinked her red eyes at him, and he dove for the credenza where two five-dollar bottles of water waited. He cracked open one bottle and sat beside her on the bed.
“Drink this, all of it, even if you don’t want to, even if it makes you feel sick. It won’t help if you throw up because I doubt she gave you something to eat or drink, so the poison’s not in your stomach. I’m thinking maybe the water can dilute its effectiveness in your blood stream, though.”
Whether she understood anything he’d just said, she parted her lips, anyway, and he tipped the bottle into her mouth. Some of the liquid ran out the side of her mouth and down the slender column of her throat, but her Adam’s apple bobbed as she gulped down what she could.
When she finished the first bottle, he put her to work on the second. She gulped even more of this one down, gagging a few times.
He smoothed her hair back from her damp brow. “How are you? Can you talk?”
She nodded. “Hard to move.”
“Maybe she gave you a super-accelerated muscle relaxer, something to make you compliant and keep you quiet, but not to knock you out.” He squeezed her knee. “I knew she wasn’t going to shoot you. We surprised her. You weren’t in there that long, and she probably figured she had time to drag you out the back door to the car waiting in the alley.”
“How?” She dug her fist into one eye where the gas had irritated her.
He jogged into the bathroom and soaked a washcloth with cool water. He squeezed it out, folded it into a square and returned to Jerrica.
“I’m going to hold this against your eye. Is it stinging?”
“Uh-huh. How?”
“It was the pen, Jerrica.”
She tilted her head to the side, and he pulled the pieces of the pen, minus the GPS, from his shirt pocket and bobbled them in his palm. “The pen you pulled out first, the one that didn’t work, had a GPS device in it. You know who put it there, right? They’ve never been able to track our whereabouts before—not until we ran into Olaf at Dreadworm. He slipped it into your purse when he gave you that hug. I should’ve never let him near you.”
A tear rolled down her cheek from her other eye, but he couldn’t tell if it was from the news of Olaf’s betrayal or the tear gas he’d sprayed at her abductor.
She dashed away the tear with the back of her hand. “Must’ve been. Cedar?”
“He’s okay. Took off after we got you into the taxi.”
She smoothed her hand across the bedspread. “Your hotel?”
“Yeah. Ironic, isn’t it? Just when I moved my clothes to your place, I’m back here.” He made a half-turn to the credenza. “Coffee? Do you think coffee would help?”
“I do.” She switched the washcloth to the other eye.
He measured out the coffee for a single cup and sat beside Jerrica on the bed while it brewed. “Can you tell me what happened in there? Did she say anything to you?”
“Nothing. Said more in the hallway.” She cleared her throat. “Came in after me. Washed her hands. Passed behind me. Jabbed me with a needle.”
“Unbelievable. Then she planned to walk you out of there and into the waiting car.”
“It’s Olaf.”
The words from Cedar’s chalk message took on a whole new meaning now.
“She told us as much in the hallway. Said he didn’t want to hurt you, just wants you to stop doing what you’re doing.” He toyed with the edge of the bedspread. “You could.”
She dropped the washcloth from her eye. “No. Major Denver. The terrorist attack. It’s real.”
“I could take it from here. I have the decoded transmissions. Maybe I could get my father to turn it over to the CIA for further analysis.”
“CIA?” She sniffed. “Could be them. Could be someone there.”
“I know.” He gathered the bedspread in his fist. “This whole thing would’ve been unimaginable to me six months ago, until I saw how Denver was being railroaded. Even with proof that the initial emails implicating him were false, the narrative about him working with terrorists continued.”
“To you.” She closed one eye in what could’ve been a wink.
“What does that mean?”
“Unimaginable to you—not me.”
“I know.” He jumped up when the buzzer went off on the coffee pot. He slid the glass cup from the coffee maker and wiped the rim with a napkin. He dumped a few of the little creamers into the dark liquid and stirred it with a stick. It would probably be more effective black, but Jerrica wouldn’t touch a cup of coffee without a bunch of cream in it.
He brought it to her and slid to the floor next to the bed. “We’re going to have to return to your place and get your laptop. Then I think we’d better leave for my folks’ place. Do you think Olaf will try to break in? Does he know where you hide your computer?”
She slurped the coffee. “He’ll know that I have a backup. Won’t do any good to take what I have in my apartment.”
“I’m sorry it’s Olaf.” He circled her ankle lightly with his fingers. “I know he means...something to you.”
“He fed my paranoia for sure.” She dropped her lashes. “And...”
He waited. When she didn’t continue, he glanced up at her. “How are you doing?”
“I’m feeling more in control of my faculties.”
“You’re talking better. She gave you just enough to incapacitate you to get you out of that restaurant.” He unzipped her boot and pulled it from her foot. “I should’ve never let you out of my sight.”
“We were both making fun of Cedar for being so careful.” She swirled her coffee. “I think I let my guard down because I was with you. You make me feel safe.”
“Yeah, and I failed.” He stripped off her sock, and she wiggled her toes at him.
“We had no idea I had a GPS in my purse.”
“We should’ve guessed something like that might happen. We were already suspicious of Olaf. Cedar left that message, and there he was in the Dreadworm office. I should’ve never let him near you.” He removed her second boot and sock. “Do you think he was in there trying to disrupt your and Amit’s programs?”
“Probably, but even he can’t do that. Even if he takes a hammer to the computer, that program is still running somewhere. He can destroy the hardware, but not the process.”
“I’ll bet he’s cursing all the precautions he put in place when first establishing Dreadworm.” Gray rubbed his chin. “What’s his endgame? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind bringing down the government.”
“Maybe. I couldn’t tell you.” Jerrica swung her feet up onto the bed and crossed her legs. “I knew he was no fan, but to be a party to killing innocent people? I didn’t see that one coming. Still can’t get my mind around it.”
“He had Kiera killed, or at least allowed it to happen.”
“Had Amit tortured, poisoned Russell.”
“And encouraged and abetted your kidnapping—three times.”
“Should I meet with him and find out what he’s doing?”
He sprang up from the floor and took her empty coffee cup from her. “Absolutely not. We know what he’s doing—working with government insiders and terrorists to plot an attack to undermine this country.”
She fell back on the bed, her legs hanging off the edge. “I’m so tired. Do you think it’s safe for me to sleep now?”
“Sleep?” He stretched out next to her and slipped his hand beneath her shirt, flattening it against her belly. “I don’t recommend it.”
She released a sigh and yanked her shirt over her head. “I suddenly have all my senses back, but I want to make sure touch is still working.”
She unbuttoned his jeans, and tucked her hand inside his briefs.
He sucked in a breath. “Can we try taste now?”
He rolled on top of her and kissed her sweet, coffee-flavored mouth. “I don’t know about you, but my taste is just fine. Only problem is, it makes me want more and more.”
His phone, stashed in his shirt pocket, buzzed, tickling his chest. He plucked it out, intending to toss it on the bedside table...until he saw his father’s number.
He held the display in front of Jerrica’s face. “I’d better take this. It might be about the plane.”
“Go for it. I’m going rinse out my mouth since neither one of us has a toothbrush here.” She shimmied out from under him.
Gray answered the phone. “Hey, Dad. I booked the plane for tomorrow. Is there a problem?”
“No problem. I just wanted to let you know that Keith will be piloting tomorrow. Randy got called away unexpectedly. You know Keith?”
“I don’t think so. Always flew with Randy.”
“Keith’s reliable. Good pilot. Navy man.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Gray grabbed a few pillows and shoved them up against the headboard, and then sank against them. “I have a question for you.”
“Fire away.” The clinking of ice carried over the phone, and Gray hoped his old man hadn’t had enough drinks to fog his mind.
“What do you know about Olaf from Dreadworm?”
Silence answered him on the other end of the phone. Had he caught his father at the tail end of one too many Scotches?
“Dad?”
“Why are you asking about him now? Did you see something on the news?”
“The news?” Gray sat upright. “Olaf’s in the news?”
“Not yet. That was the agreement, anyway. He shouldn’t be in the news, but that’s just it. You can’t trust a guy like that.”
“Agreement? What are you talking about, Dad?” Gray raised his eyebrows at Jerrica, who sashayed back into the room wearing a black bra and panties.
Sensing his mood, she yanked a white robe from a hanger in the closet and stuffed her arms into the sleeves as she sat on the edge of the bed.
His father’s voice came through the line, roughened by the whiskey. “Why are you asking about Olaf?”
“I heard something about him. I’d rather not say how. You first.”
“Dammit. If he went to the press and defaulted on the arrangement, I’ll have his ass in federal prison so fast his teeth will rattle in that big head of his.”
“Agreements. Arrangements. What the hell is going on?”
“As you already seem to know something and you have top-secret clearance, I suppose I can tell you.”
“And I’m your son.” Gray rolled his eyes at Jerrica.
“The government made a deal with Olaf to allow him to come out of hiding and back to the US.”
Gray’s mouth got dry and he ran his tongue over his teeth before answering. “What kind of deal?”
Jerrica bumped his shoulder and he put a finger to his lips. The booze had loosened his father’s lips, making him uncharacteristically chatty but if he knew he had an audience besides Gray, he’d clam up.
His father coughed. “He’s going to stop hacking government databases and turn over everything he has right now.”
“You’re kidding.” Gray’s pulse thumped erratically in his temple, giving him a headache.
“I am not.”
With Cedar’s words ringing in his ears, Gray jabbed two fingers against the side of his head. “Who approved that, Dad?”
“I did.”
Chapter Fourteen
Gray’s face drained of color, and he white-knuckled his phone. His blue eyes blazed for a second, kindling in his pale face.
Jerrica grabbed his thigh, digging her nails into the denim of his jeans. She mouthed the word what.
He choked out one word. “You?”
His lips tightened as he listened to whatever his father had to say on the other end of the line. “Okay, okay. We’ll talk then.”
Gray ended the call and sat motionless, cupping the phone between his two hands.
“What is it? What did he say?”
Gray swallowed as if he had a lump lodged in his throat. “Olaf is back in the US courtesy of the US government.”
“What?” Jerrica crossed her hands over her heart. “How? Why?”
“He made some deal with the government that he would halt all hacking activities and turn over any active projects. In exchange, I guess, he avoids federal prison.”
“Wait.” Jerrica pinched the bridge of her nose. “Do you think that’s why Olaf is trying to stop me?”
“If that were the case, why wouldn’t he just tell you? Ask you all to stop your activities so he could return and avoid prosecution.”
“Because he knows we wouldn’t do it—even to save him.” She rubbed his leg. “But it’s more than that, isn’t it? You looked kinda sick there for a minute.”
He stopped fiddling with his phone and put it down on the nightstand. “It’s my father, Jerrica.”
“What’s your father?”
“He’s the one who approved the agreement with Olaf.” Gray punched the pillow beside him, leaving a fist-sized indentation. “Cedar and I both agreed that the person responsible for Olaf’s return was probably the one behind the scramble to shut down your investigation.”
Jerrica’s jaw dropped. “Your father? You think Senator Grayson Elliot Prescott the Third is actively working against the US government, setting up Major Rex Denver and plotting a terrorist attack? No way.”
A little color washed back into Gray’s face. “Why else would he authorize this...clemency for Olaf? He hates the guy.”
“Did he give you an explanation?” She reclined against the pillows next to Gray and hooked one leg over his thigh.
“He said we’d discuss it when I got home, which is tomorrow, by the way.”
“It could be anything, any reason, Gray. You’re jumping to conclusions—to the worst conclusion.” She reached over and pinched his chin. “Give your father a chance to explain what happened.”
He caught her hand and kissed her fingertips. “If the queen of conspiracy theories is willing to give him a chance, I guess I can, too. What is going on? Do you think Olaf is so desperate to deliver on his promise to the government, he’d go to any measures to stop his own employees from getting to the bottom of these secret communications?”
“Doesn’t make sense. Olaf made a deal with the government. You’d think he’d be eager to unearth this plot and hand it to the FBI on a silver platter. What better way to get into their good graces? Instead, he wants to make sure it stays secret...and on track. But—” she held up one finger “—if someone in government, someone responsible for this database wants Olaf to put an end to our nosing around, maybe this person offered him a deal. Come in from the cold with no repercussions but make sure your people back off.”
“Then he should’ve just asked.” Gray rolled out of the bed. “He had Kiera killed, Jerrica. There’s something very wrong with Olaf, but by tomorrow he’s not going to be able to get to you.”
Jerrica shrugged out of the hotel robe and crawled into bed to wait for Gray while he rinsed out his mouth.
When he slid into bed next to her, his naked body cool to her touch, she wrapped herself around him and got lost in his kisses.
Little did Gray know, Olaf would always be able to get to her.
* * *
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, they couldn’t wait to get out of the hotel to make sure nobody had broken into her place. She’d been preparing for her security to be breached for as long as she’d worked for Dreadworm, but she’d never dealt with an enemy that actually had the founder of Dreadworm on its side.
She finally let out a breath after quickly checking her apartment and retrieving her laptop from its hiding place. “Nothing’s been disturbed.”
