Code conspiracy, p.16
Code Conspiracy, page 16
“What do you think Olaf’s next move will be?” Gray wheeled her packed bag next to his by the front door. “I think we should be prepared for the worst, Jerrica.”
“The worst?” She wedged a carry-on bag on top of her suitcase. “He’s not going to kill me, Gray. I think we’ve established that.”
“I’m talking about blackmail.”
Jerrica’s hand jerked and her bag slipped to the floor. “Blackmail? What do you mean?”
“You work for Dreadworm. What you do is illegal. He just might make that deal to save his skin and keep the data hidden—report you to the authorities.”
Her hands shook as she reached for her carry-on. “Let him try. If I’m going to be exposed, anyway, I’ll reveal the whole sorry mess. Let the CIA figure it out, and if they do have a mole that’s their problem.”
“Let’s see what my father has to say first.” Gray clasped the back of his neck. “God, I hope my father’s not involved in this.”
“From what you told me about the senator, I doubt it, Gray. Think about it. He knows this whole plot is centered around Denver. Do you really believe he’d do anything to harm Major Denver? Anything that could have ramifications for you and your Delta Force team?”
“You reassuring me about my family is a switch.” He kissed her hard on the mouth. “Let’s get out of here.”
They took a taxi to a commuter airfield near the airport and, like magic, Senator Grayson Prescott’s private jet awaited them.
They climbed the stairs to the plane and Gray poked his head inside the cockpit. “Keith? I’m Gray Prescott.”
“Mr. Prescott.” The pilot plucked off his headset and turned in the small space to shake Gray’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Call me Gray.” He tipped his head to the side. “This is Jerrica. She’s traveling with us.”
“Your father mentioned two passengers.” Keith took Jerrica’s hand in his. “Welcome aboard, ma’am.”
Jerrica craned her neck over her shoulder to take in the cabin of the plane with its reclining seats, television screens and wet bar. “Wow, this is nice. Not what I expected.”
“You two sit back and relax, and I’ll have you in DC in no time.”
When a woman in slacks and a blouse boarded after them and Gray stood to give her a hug, Jerrica’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding me. We have our own private flight attendant?”
Gray laughed. “My father is accustomed to certain amenities. Jerrica, this is Camille.”
Jerrica shook hands with the other woman. “Is this an easy gig?”
“The best.” Camille put a finger to her lips. “Don’t tell anyone about it. I don’t want Senator Prescott to get any ideas about hiring anyone else. Do you want anything before we take off?”
“I hate to be demanding, but I’d like a coffee.” Jerrica reached for her seatbelt. “I can get it myself.”
“Are you trying to put me out of work?” Camille winked and stashed her bag in one of the cabinets. “Cream, sugar? What about you, Gray?”
“Jerrica will have hers with lots of cream. I’ll take mine black and if you have any of those breakfast sandwiches on board, we’ll take a couple of those.”
“I’ll get the coffees, but you’ll have to wait until we’re in the air for the food. Those are Captain Keith’s rules. Captain Keith, you want some coffee?”
Keith gave her a thumbs-up. “Yes, please.”
Once they had their coffee, the plane took off. When it steadied and reached its cruising altitude, Camille brought them warm breakfast sandwiches, which Gray had ordered for her without meat.
As she bit into the English muffin, it crunched right before the melted cheese hit her tongue. She closed her eyes. “Mmm, remind me why I don’t have a private plane.”
“Because you’re too stubborn to spend the money sitting in the bank.” Gray raised an eyebrow in her direction. “Do you have enough in there to buy and maintain your own jet?”
She licked some cheese off her fingers. “I have no idea how much this all costs, but probably not.”
When she finished her sandwich, Jerrica rested her head against the window and stared at the endless blue. Everything in her life felt far removed up here—all her worries, all her problems.
And she had plenty of them.
They touched down in DC after the hour-long flight, and Gray’s father’s car and driver met them at the airport.
In the backseat of the car, Jerrica smoothed her hand across the leather cushion and whispered, “Is this all courtesy of the American taxpayer?”
“No.” Gray took her hand and drew it into his lap. “My father doesn’t mix his private business with his government service, does he, Lawrence?”
The driver tapped the rearview mirror. “No, sir. I believe your father is the last honest man in Washington.”
Almost a half hour later, Jerrica ducked her head to get a better view of the palatial house as the car rolled through the front security gates. “I guess honesty does pay.”
Gray shrugged, as uncomfortable with his family’s wealth as she was with her multi-million-dollar settlement from the government.
When the car came to a stop, Jerrica combed her fingers through her hair and tugged her long sleeve over the tattoo that trailed onto the back of her hand, ending with a blue bird.
Gray squeezed her knee. “You don’t have to do anything different, Jerrica. They’ll like you just the way you are...or not. Doesn’t matter to me.”
“I know.” She turned her head and kissed the side of his neck. “Big house.”
“Yeah.” He pushed open the back door before Lawrence could get out and open it for them. He did let Lawrence get their bags out of the trunk, as Gray waved at the man and woman standing on the porch.
Jerrica recognized Senator Prescott from the news—a handsome man going silver at the temples, the erect bearing of a soldier. Gray would look just like him someday.
The trim, stylish woman by Senator Prescott’s side couldn’t wait. She hustled off the porch and threw her arms around Gray. “It’s so good to have you home. Just wish you had come straight here instead of taking a detour to New York.”
“I had a good reason for that detour, Mom.” He disentangled himself from her arms. “This is Jerrica West. Jerrica, this is my mother, Connie Prescott.”
Gray’s mom gave her a surprisingly firm handshake for such a delicate-looking woman. “Nice to meet you, Jerrica. Of course, Gray told us about you...before, so it’s wonderful that you two reconnected.”
As Jerrica returned the older woman’s grip, she searched her face for signs of artifice, but the smile on Connie’s lightly colored lips reached her sparkling blue eyes. Gray resembled his father without a doubt, but he had his mother’s eyes.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you. I hope we’re not inconveniencing you by dropping by like this.”
Connie waved a hand behind her. “Look at this place. Does it look like it would be an inconvenience to house two more people?”
“Well, no.”
“C’mon.” Connie linked one arm with Gray’s and the other with Jerrica’s. “Time to meet the old man and don’t worry, his bark’s a lot worse than his bite.”
As the three of them approached the man on the porch, Jerrica took a breath and dropped her shoulders. How bad could it be?
“Dad.” Gray shook his father’s hand, gripping him by the shoulder at the same time in a modified version of a hug. “This is Jerrica West.”
The senator’s eyes had lit up as they rested on his son’s face, but the lines at the corners of those eyes deepened as he shifted his gaze to Jerrica.
She swallowed and stiffened her spine. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Senator Prescott.”
“You can call me Scotty. Everyone does.”
His handshake nearly brought her to her knees, but she gritted her teeth and gave as good as she got.
The corner of Gray’s mouth lifted as his gaze darted between her and his father. “What is this, a stare-down? You can let go of Jerrica’s hand, Dad.”
He did, but he didn’t release her from his laser-like focus.
“You know, if my son marries you he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do on the campaign trail about your background and your connection to that business in New Mexico.”
Connie smacked her husband’s arm. “Scotty.”
“That business in New Mexico? That was my family.”
“Of course it was.” Connie put her arm around Jerrica’s waist. “Let’s go inside and have some lunch, unless you want to go to your room and change.”
Connie glanced at the hole in the knee of Jerrica’s jeans and the different colored laces of her square-toed black boots. “N-not that you need to.”
Jerrica climbed two steps and then turned to Scotty, her nose almost touching his. “And Gray has no intention of going into politics, so there’s no need to worry about something that ain’t gonna happen.”
Scotty inclined his head as a muscle ticked at the corner of his mouth.
Gray threw back his head and laughed. “This is going to be a fun weekend.”
Connie leaned her head against Gray’s shoulder briefly and in a low voice said, “You have no idea.”
Jerrica exchanged a look with Gray over his mother’s head, but he just puckered his lips and aimed a kiss in her direction.
At least Gray had her back in this lion’s den, but it could only get better after that rocky start...couldn’t it?
Lunch turned out to be more informal than she’d expected in this house where she’d already caught sight of a cook, housekeeper and gardener.
Connie bustled around the kitchen pulling dishes out of the fridge and setting out cutting boards heavy with meats and cheeses. She stood back from the table, hands on her hips, surveying the feast. “Don’t worry, Jerrica. Gray told us you’re a vegetarian, and we have plenty of choices for you. I’m heading that way myself.”
No drama marred their lunch, as Scotty peppered Gray with questions about his previous mission and Connie kept Jerrica entertained with a steady stream of anecdotes from her stint living in Manhattan and working in the fashion industry.
At the end of lunch, Scotty leaned over to Gray and whispered something in his ear.
Gray drew back. “You don’t have to whisper, Dad. Anything you have to show me, you can show Jerrica—unless you’re trying to hide something from Mom.”
Connie raised her hands. “Nope. I know everything there is to know and couples shouldn’t have secrets from each other, so you’d better bring Jerrica along with you.”
Gray’s eyebrows slammed over his nose. “Now you really have me going. What the hell are you two talking about?”
Bracing his hands on his knees, Scotty said, “This is more than just a secret, Connie.”
“In thirty-three years of marriage, you never kept anything from me, Scotty. If you don’t take Jerrica with you, I’ll tell her anyway.”
“When it comes to stubbornness, you took after your mother.” Scotty jabbed a finger toward Connie.
Connie gave a genteel snort that flared the nostrils of her nose. “And when it comes to impatience, he takes after you. He’s practically jumping out of his skin now, so you’d better show him...and Jerrica.”
All this talk of revealing secrets had Jerrica wiping her damp palms on her jeans, and she followed Gray and his father out of the kitchen with a dry mouth.
Connie stayed behind, and Scotty kept his lips sealed as he led them through the massive great room to a set of French doors leading out to a patio area in full spring bloom.
The heady scent of the flowers almost made her dizzy, and Jerrica grabbed onto Gray’s hand for support.
He squeezed her hand and nuzzled her ear. “I have no idea what this is all about, but I think my dad actually likes you despite your parentage. I think he was expecting you to be different.”
Jerrica jerked back. “You’re kidding.”
“Not at all.” Gray glanced up as they walked across the pool deck toward a grassy expanse. “Are you taking us to the back house?”
His father grunted in reply but never broke his stride.
“You have another house back here?”
“It’s like a little two-bedroom cottage. My sister lived there for a while when she moved back here after college, and various employees have camped out there. Maybe they’re giving it to us as a wedding gift and to keep you under their eye.”
She jabbed him in the ribs even while her heart raced at his mention of a wedding. She hadn’t even said yes yet. He hadn’t even asked. She’d have to stay out of prison first.
As the little house emerged from a copse of trees, Scotty halted on the stone path that led to it. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He dangled them at Gray. “You can go on alone from here. I’ll be at the house if anyone needs anything.”
Gray cocked his head and snatched the keys from his father. “This had better be good after this cloak-and-dagger business.”
His father pivoted away as only a military man could and marched back across the lawn.
Gray tossed the keys in the air and caught them. “Should we start guessing what’s in there?”
“No. The cloak-and-dagger stuff, as you put it, has made me even more anxious.”
When they reached the door of the house, Gray tried the handle first and then shoved the key home in the lock. He thrust open the door and took one step over the threshold, shouting, “Come out with your hands up.”
The click of a gun safety from behind the door prompted Gray to grab Jerrica and shove her behind him.
A bearded man, long hair brushing his shoulders, leveled a weapon at them as he stepped from behind the door. His dark eyes widened for a second, and the hand with the gun fell to his side.
“Is that an order, soldier?”
Chapter Fifteen
With the adrenaline still pumping through his body, Gray launched himself at his commander and threw his arms around the shoulders that weren’t as broad as they had been.
“Rex! Major! I mean, sir.”
Denver smacked him on the back a few times. “In the flesh.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Probably the same thing you are.” Denver shoved him aside. “Are you going to introduce me to the lady? I already know she’s the infamous Jerrica West, and she’s probably gonna save my life.”
“Jerrica—” Gray circled his fingers around Jerrica’s wrist and pulled her forward “—this is Major Rex Denver. Major, this is Jerrica West, Dreadworm hacker extraordinaire.”
Denver took Jerrica’s hand in both of his. “You can call me Rex—you both can, for now. I’m sorry this whole mess has put your life in danger, Jerrica.”
“It’s not your fault, Rex. Amit, my coworker, and I had already stumbled onto this before Gray showed up and we even had a clue what it all meant. If Gray hadn’t come to New York, explained everything and protected us, I’m not sure where we’d all be right now.”
“How close are you to figuring out the code?”
“We figured out the first level of the code, thanks to the wheel you sent Gray.” Jerrica tapped her index finger against her temple. “But without understanding the secondary code—names, places, and so on—I’m not sure we can get much more out of it. We need to turn it over to someone who can decipher it, but I’m afraid to step forward, afraid to explain how I got the communications in the first place.”
“Which is why you’re here, right?” Denver raised his brows at Gray. “I’m assuming that’s why you came to visit your parents. Having this code is not going to do you much good in Manhattan.”
“That explains what we’re doing here, but what the hell are you doing here? How’d you get into the country?”
“It’s a long story and telling it would put too many people at risk, but I had to come in. I had to trust someone—other than you guys. Senator Prescott’s on the Armed Services Committee, and, well, he’s your dad.” Denver studied the gun in his hand before shoving it in the back of his waistband. “I’m surprised nobody went to him before this.”
“We didn’t know who we could trust, if we could trust the people around him. You know my father—” Gray saluted. “By the book. I didn’t even know if he would believe our story about an insider, a mole in our own government.”
“I understand, but I think we have enough proof now. Cam was able to expose as fakes the initial emails that pointed to me. Asher figured out he was brainwashed at a government-run medical facility and used to implicate me. Joe put a stop to the lie that I had anything to do with that bombing in Syria. Logan and that young marine’s sister were able to verify that something was amiss at the embassy outpost in Nigeria and Hunter was able to ID the terrorist group behind it all.” Denver swiped the back of his hand across his nose. “You guys did good. You did more than I expected.”
“We weren’t going to let it stand, sir... Rex. We weren’t going to sit by and allow others to smear your name.”
“But it’s beyond me, isn’t it?” He leveled a finger at Jerrica. “This young lady right here can verify that fact—a terrorist attack on US soil, one that I got word about, one that I had started investigating with my sources in the field. I only had bits and pieces, but you tapped into the whole plan.”
“Tapped into it but can’t figure it out.” Jerrica waved a hand behind her. “Do you think Scotty can help us with the rest?”
“Scotty?” Denver quirked an eyebrow.
“Oh, yeah.” Jerrica crossed her fingers. “Me and him are like this.”
Denver’s laugh rumbled in his chest. “He’s a tough nut, but he’ll do what’s right. He’ll always do what’s right, like you, Jerrica. Isn’t that what Dreadworm’s all about? Doing the right thing? Transparency?”
