Concealment, p.24
Concealment, page 24
“For Carecom?”
“I don’t know if he was pursuing it for Carecom or Technology Applique. I haven’t found anything to suggest Krause planned any new acquisitions.”
“Maybe Pytor is testing you again.”
“I don’t think so. He wants me to meet with Andrei Orlov again.”
“Why wouldn’t Pip tell me about this?” Alex asked.
Claire’s lips tightened in a thin line.
“No,” Alex said.
“Alex, as much as I don’t want to believe this—and believe me, I don’t—we need to consider that Jonathan was compromised.”
“You mean that he betrayed us.”
Claire sighed. “No. I mean that he was compromised.”
“Claire, this all fits with what Webb told Candace, and Philip told me.”
“Philip? The Prince of Wales? That Philip?”
“Yes.”
“Oh—you’ll be on all the social pages.”
“I doubt it,” Alex said. “Unless running in the grass behind Kensington Palace counts.”
“Do not tell me the Prince of Wales works for Sir Richard.”
Alex laughed. “Not quite. I did see Sir Richard.”
“And?”
“We have a problem in France.”
“Tell me,” Claire said. “My problem is being in France.”
“I’m serious, Claire.”
“I know.”
“These mergers—it’s all to consolidate power,” Alex said.
“Isn’t it always?”
“Yes, but what are they looking to consolidate? It’s not just money.”
“Tech,” Claire said. “The kind of tech we don’t want to know exists.”
Alex groaned.
“We need to talk to my father,” Claire said.
Alex smiled.
“What?” Claire asked.
“You called Jim your father.”
“I’m in a technical mood.”
“I think we need to visit Edmond’s estate,” Alex said.
“Alex, you realize we’re not apt to find another award that opens with someone’s toy plane.”
“You’ve said it yourself.”
“What did I say?”
“They love the game—our fathers. It’s like they lifted a scene out of National Treasure or something.”
Claire laughed. “I don’t think either of us is related to archeologists.”
“No. But in a way, they were treasure hunters. I’ll bet Edmond left something hidden there.”
“I’m sure he did.”
“So? Let’s go.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Claire asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“You. Coming here unannounced, wanting to rummage through Edmond’s closets. You’re usually the hall monitor telling me to slow down. What gives?”
“I think we’re running out of time,” Alex said.
“And?”
“That’s not enough?”
Claire waited.
“Dylan is close to this now,” Alex said.
Claire nodded. “Alex, I agree. Things are heating up quickly. It’s a rush to consolidate interests. I don’t think we’ll find anything at Edmonds—not without El.”
“It can’t hurt to look. What are you afraid we might find?”
“I’m not afraid of finding something. I’m afraid of the booby traps along the way.”
“Claire, arrows aren’t going to shoot out at you.”
“Okay. This is role reversal.” Claire sighed. “Alex, I’m willing to bet that if anything is hidden on that estate, the key will be DNA.”
Alex’s jaw dropped.
“That’s what is happening here. We both know it. Edmond and Krause were in a race to acquire cutting-edge biotech companies.”
“Energia is—”
“Diversified,” Claire said. “This?” Claire said, pointing to the computer. “If I had to guess, it’s Popov’s blueprint. Or his wish list.”
“You do think Pip was working the other side.”
“No. Maybe Edmond had a change of heart, Alex. Maybe he planned to give control over to Krause so Krause could unravel things.”
“Or?”
“Or maybe he deliberately compromised Krause, so there was no other way out,” Claire offered.
“Are you saying you think Jonathan got on that plane knowing what was coming?”
“I think it’s a possibility. Krause didn’t walk on the surface, Alex. If he discovered anything he thought might endanger the kids—endanger you—he’d do everything he could to bury it.”
“He left you clues.”
“Yes. He left me clues,” Claire said. She took a breath. “I think Edmond rolled the dice, Alex.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning their deaths rolled the dice. Which one of us would assume the reins to the companies? Edmond never trusted me. If you took over, the advantage would go to Candace. If I—”
“Claire, that’s a stretch.”
“I don’t think so. The samples Krause left in the vault were from Illumina, Alex. Energia owns Illumina. Do you think it’s a coincidence Callier wanted to place Energia under Technologie Applique’s umbrella? He was trying to conceal something.”
“From Krause.”
“From all of us,” Claire said. “I don’t know how Britmedica factors, but I’ll wager Krause was trying to pull a thread—unravel Edmond’s plan. Listen, Edmond never expected me to learn the truth. He never thought I’d find out Jim and Rose are my parents. And I guarantee he didn’t envision Jim coming back. We need to go home, Alex. The answers we need are there.”
“With Jim?”
“He might be able to help. I’m more curious about Dylan’s discovery.”
“Claire, even if my father and John were working on something, that’s more than a decade ago.”
Claire nodded. “I feel it, Alex. We need to go home.”
Alex sighed.
“You know I’m right. I don’t like the way things are shaking out,” Claire said. “Pytor giving me this—”
“We’re talking about Gregorovich. He could be leading you down a rabbit hole purposely.”
“He could be,” Claire conceded. She hated withholding anything from Alex. Strange as it was to her, Claire trusted Jim. She looked had looked into Pytor’s eyes. They were clear—direct and penetrating as if he wanted to tell her to trust him. Claire suspected Popov knew nothing about the information Pytor had passed to her. He was giving Claire a head start.
“Don’t tell me you trust Gregorovich?”
“I trust you,” Claire said. “There’s nothing here, Alex. Whatever secrets Edmond hid died with him on that plane. This?” Claire gestured to the office. “Is the shell. The business façade he left behind. Like it or not, your father’s drive and my father’s experience are our best resources. At least the ones we can act on. Maybe Daniels will come to me and offer more. Maybe Orlov will unlock something for us. And maybe Hawk or Marcus will discover something more concrete. That’s a waiting game. And there’s no point to waiting here.”
Alex nodded.
“You got a taste of the field,” Claire said. “I get it. I miss it, too.”
“Claire, if Popov sees you as a threat—”
“I can handle things, Alex. The bigger issue is he sees the president as a threat. That’s obvious, given Blaire’s bullet dodging.” Claire closed the laptop and stowed it in her bag. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to a cafe for cheese and bread before we fly home.”
“I haven’t booked a flight.”
“No worries. You forget—I do have access to the company jet.”
“Don’t you need to arrange a pilot?”
Claire grinned.
Alex groaned.
“Scared?” Claire asked.
“To let you fly me home? Yes.”
“Don’t worry, Toles. The plane has parachutes.”
Alex grumbled. “I think I’d prefer booby traps.”
“You can deal with those at home.”
Alex finally laughed. “You really are an ass.”
Claire winked. “And you’re a pain in mine.
New York City
JFK Airport
It surprised Jane to see Dylan calling. “Dylan?”
“Hi.”
“I talked to your mom this morning. I thought you were headed to DC?”
“I’m at the airport,” he said.
“Is this about what you found?”
“Mom told you.”
“She did,” Jane said.
“Jane, what were they doing—my father and Alex’s dad?”
“I don’t know, Dylan. I promise you that’s true. Nicolaus and John were close. That much I do know.”
“I need to know how it might unlock—the files on the drive,” Dylan said. “He wanted Alex to find it. They both did. I’m sure of it.”
Jane took a deep breath. She was impressed by Dylan’s assessment. “I’m sure that’s true.”
“It has to be something Alex would know,” Dylan said.
“There are two things your father shared with Alex that both hold deeply. The first is the attack they survived in Baghdad, and the other is you.”
Dylan swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. “Alex doesn’t talk about that day.”
“No. I’ll tell you what I know,” Jane said. “Alex spent hours teaching English to the children and many of their parents. It wasn’t part of her assignment. Your father told me it made inroads with the locals. She developed a close relationship with one family. The Awad family owned a small bookstore on Mutanabbi Street. Alex spent a lot of time with Awad’s daughter Sabeen. She considered the Awad family friends. One night, Aban Awad invited Alex and some of her fellow officers to dinner to thank them for their support of the community. Alex brought your father and several of her closest friends. When they turned the corner to walk to the bookstore, Awad pushed Sabeen into the street and detonated the suicide vest he’d placed on her.”
“Jesus.”
“Alex has always blamed herself, Dylan. No matter what your father said—what anyone tells her—she blames herself. It changed them all,” Jane offered. “If you believe John encoded something for Alex, it will relate to one of those things: that evening on Mutanabbi Street or you.”
“Thanks.”
“Be careful, Dylan.”
“I’m not running into danger. I promise.”
“There are things that can hurt you with facing violence,” Jane advised.
“You sound like Claire.”
“Well, Claire has learned that lesson more times than anyone should have to. Call me if I can help.”
“Jane?”
“Yes?”
“Alex’s father—why does she think he hated her?”
“Oh, Dylan. Living a life that demands deception makes truth difficult to accept. The only thing I can tell you is that Nicolaus loved Alex. He cared about all of you.”
“Thanks.”
“He’d be very proud of you,” Jane said. “They both would be.”
Dylan cleared his throat. “I should go. My plane boards in a few minutes.”
“I’ll see you soon,” Jane said.
“Okay. Thanks, Jane.”
“You’re welcome.”
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Tuesday
Washington, DC.
The White House
Why did anyone bother to raise their hands? The screaming in the press room reminded Cassidy of a classroom full of sugar-hyped third graders. She pointed to a hand in the back of the room. “Lucas,” she said.
“Is the president concerned about her safety after this latest attack?”
Cassidy smiled. “President Reid has full confidence in the Secret Service to protect the First Family.”
“But what about abroad?” Lucas pressed.
“The president made it home to the White House without any fanfare of incident,” Cassidy said. “That’s thanks to the close coordination between the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police in London.” Cassidy pointed to a familiar face. “Preston,” she said.
“Cassidy,” he began. “The first reports about the investigation in London seem to indicate the attack on Michael Blaire was executed by a Nigerian terrorist cell with ties to gangs in the western part of that country. President Reid has said she supports similar initiatives—the kind that Prime Minister Webb has granted to Nigerian students and their families. There’s a concern about riots in London. Is the president rethinking that policy now?”
Cassidy gritted her teeth. She’d spoken with Alex and Candace at length about the assassination attempt. Neither believed the official narrative. Even if it was true, Cassidy was confident it wouldn’t alter Candace’s position. “The president has been clear about her positions on immigration, Preston. I have no reason to believe the events in London have changed her thinking.”
“It’s changed a lot of leader’s thinking already,” a voice called out.
“Has it?” Candace asked as she stepped into the room.
Cassidy bit back a grin. Candace didn’t plan to make her way to the podium. Evidently, the president had been listening and decided it was time the press heard from her directly. She stepped aside for Candace.
“Are we here to talk about other leaders?” Candace asked.
“President Reid,” Preston continued. “Your administration is already facing criticism about the border. Doesn’t the attack in London demand that you think about public safety?”
Candace nodded. “Public safety, Preston, is always the primary concern of this administration.” Candace held up a hand. “I spoke with Prime Minister Webb not long ago. The investigation is ongoing, and just as he has cautioned everyone in the United Kingdom to wait until all the facts are in, I would caution everyone not to jump to conclusions. I would also remind everyone that immigrants are our neighbors, coworkers, and friends. They are not people to be feared,” Candace said.
“What about the implications for the election?”
“Everything that happens has implications,” Candace replied. “Not everything warrants a policy change.”
The White House
East Wing
“Man, they are grilling the press secretary today.”
“She can handle it,” Jameson said.
“Yes. She can,” Alex said as she entered the office.
“I heard you were back,” Jameson said.
“So it would appear.”
“How was the rest of your time in London?”
“Eventful,” Alex said, “Or maybe I should say instructive. JD, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you feel secure with your security detail?”
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I? Did something happen?” Jameson asked.
“No. Nothing specific. Just thinking about Blaire.”
“Mm.”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about,” Alex said.
“I hear Dylan’s home.”
“Yeah, for a week or two.”
“Coop will be thrilled.”
Alex nodded. “I should catch up with Joshua.”
“Hey, Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“When did Dylan start crushing on girls?”
Alex laughed. “Don’t worry, JD. I won’t let lead him off to the altar before the tenth grade.”
Jameson’s eyes popped open.
“Kidding, JD,” Alex said. “I’ll see you later.”
Alex stepped out of Jameson’s office and ran straight into Joshua Tate.
“Geez, Toles. Are you tired or starting to need glasses?” he teased.
“Funny. I was about to come find you.”
“Here I am.”
“Tate? You worked for FINCEN.”
“Years ago.”
“Can you take a look at something Gregorovich gave Claire?”
“Sure. What is it?”
Alex passed Tate the drive. “I don’t know. It’s a list by corporation of their subsidiaries and proposed subsidiaries.”
“Not unusual, Alex.”
“No. But the source is.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Tate asked.
Alex pulled Tate into a small conference room. “I met with Sir Richard while I was in London.”
“What? How?”
“It’s not important. What is important is what he told me about SPHINX.”
“Alex, that’s ancient history.”
“I don’t think so. There’s a reason the Nigerian community is taking the fall for this attack on Blaire, Tate. It worries me.”
“What does this have to do with the list?”
“Everything. Money laundering. Consolidation requires money laundering. You know I’m right. These acquisitions aren’t all transparent,” Alex said.
“Continue.”
“What if the real controlling interest in Technology Applique has always been ASA?”
“That’s a stretch, Alex.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. It would explain the plane crash. I don’t think we’ve been looking at this the right way. It worries me.”
Tate’s gaze narrowed. “Candace is a threat—we’re a threat.”
“Do you expect another attack?”
“I do. But I’m not sure it will be on Candace.”
“Infrastructure?”
“Possibly. I don’t know. Claire’s uneasy about the biotech connections.”
“It’s Claire, Alex.”
“Yeah. Well, her instincts are usually right.”
“There’s money flowing into FVI and Lawson Klein’s campaign with French origins.”
“Are you sure?”
Alex nodded.
“Candace suspects Durand is aligned with Popov,” Tate said.
“I think Blaire reports to Durand.”
“You’re not joking.”
“No. Just look at those files. See if anything jumps out.”
“Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“If this is the right track, we might be more vulnerable than we thought.”
Alex nodded. “That’s what worries me.”
Langley, Virginia
Marcus delicately removed the Microdrive from the computer.
