Power play, p.11
Power Play, page 11
Fortunately, Mark had acted quickly, and they both hit the deck. As thankful as Jacob was for what Mark had done, his priority was Viv.
“I need to get her out of here,” Jacob said.
“What about Mark?” Viv’s voice was unsteady.
“No, Jacob’s right.” Mark placed his hand on her shoulder. “I think, given everything, you were the target here, not me. I’ll be fine.” He turned to Jacob. “You’ll take care of her, right?”
“Absolutely. But we should move. I don’t like being out here in the open like this.” They needed protective covering—and fast. “Are you okay to walk?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she said softly. She moved toward Mark and gave him a hug. “Thanks again for saving me.”
Jacob was annoyed at the affection between them even though he realized he had every reason to be grateful for Mark’s quick action.
The three of them walked briskly back to the condo. When they arrived, Mark gave Viv a quick kiss on the cheek before going to retrieve his car.
Jacob escorted Viv upstairs and, after clearing her condo, was satisfied that she was safe.
She turned to him. “You were a little rude to the man who just saved my life. We didn’t even invite him in.”
“He understood, Viv. The threat is against you. Not him. And my job is to protect you.”
“Mark protected me back there.” Her voice got louder.
That stung. Mainly because she was one hundred percent right. “Yes, I made the mistake of not being close enough. That won’t happen again.” He had been too accommodating, and Viv could have been killed.
She ran her hand through her hair. “I’m sorry. I know none of this is your fault. I’m just not used to dodging bullets.” She flopped down on the couch. “What am I going to do?”
“I’ve got to talk to Director Phillips. I just sent him an urgent text.”
She scrambled up and grabbed his arm. “But I don’t want to get pulled from the task force.”
“Viv, I don’t think you understand. This is a lot bigger than the task force. This is your life we’re talking about. Someone is out to kill you.”
She shuddered. “I get it, but I can’t hide away forever.”
“No one is talking about forever. We’ll figure something out, but the immediate issue is your safety.”
“Why didn’t they just kill me when they attacked me?”
He had no good answer for that. “Unclear. But we have to consider that maybe they got something out of Samir that changed their opinion of you, and the result is tonight’s attack.”
She shook her head. “Samir had nothing to tell them about me.”
“Men will say a lot of things while being tortured—many of them untrue.”
Her eyes widened. “No. I refuse to believe that. There has to be something else.”
“We’ll figure it out, but I’m almost certain the director is going to want to move you. Probably ASAP.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Move me where?”
He would be fighting her each step of the way at this rate. “Somewhere safe. They obviously know where you live.”
Viv lowered her head into her hands. “This is a nightmare. Just when I think things can’t get any worse. I could be dead right now.”
“But you’re not. That’s what you have to focus on. You’re a fighter. We’ll get through this.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“I know I made a mistake by being too far behind you tonight. I give you my word that I won’t let that happen again. No matter what. I’m here.”
And he would give his life to protect hers.
Viv tried to stop shaking as Jacob and two FBI agents led her into a safe house in a suburb of Arlington late Friday night. She sat on the sofa while a flurry of activity buzzed around her. The past couple of hours had been a blur, but at least she was safe. For now.
Agents were going to be combing her place, just in case there was anything to find, and it had been made clear to her that the safe house was currently her only option.
When she heard the FBI director’s deep southern drawl bellowing through the safe house, she groaned. It couldn’t be good that he had shown up.
“Vivian, Jacob, we need to talk.” Director Phillips didn’t bother with any niceties as he walked into the living room. “Everyone else, y’all please give us the room.”
The other FBI agents quickly dispersed. She glanced at Jacob, who had on his signature scowl.
“I’ve been on the phone with the CIA director. Frankly, I was beginning to have some questions about whether I’d been told everything about the op you worked with them, Vivian.”
This didn’t sound good at all. She braced herself for the worst.
“After threatening Director Mince within a half inch of his life, I finally got some answers, and I’m afraid you aren’t going to like what I have to say.”
Jacob cleared his throat. “Director, Viv has had a really rough night. Do you think we could wait until the morning to have this conversation?”
Before the director could answer, Viv jumped in. “No. I want to talk about it now. I’m ready. If there’s more bad news, let’s just put it all on the table.”
Lang looked at her. “Okay. It was my understanding, and I think it was yours, too, that you were on that CIA mission as the State legal representative to make sure we didn’t violate any international laws and played by the book. The story I was initially told was that everything went off smoothly. The detainees were transferred over to the Egyptians, and the op was a success because once the detainees were in Egyptian custody, they were able to use them to ferret out the radical forces that were hidden within the government.”
“Yes, that was my understanding as well,” Viv said.
Lang cleared his throat. “What I didn’t know, and I’m guessing you didn’t either, is that it wasn’t a one-way prisoner swap.”
“What do you mean?”
Lang shifted in his chair. “The CIA took in some high-value detainees who were in Egyptian custody. From what I could drag out of Director Mince, these detainees were important members of Al-Nidal fighting against US interests. You might not remember seeing them because they weren’t in prison dress. To keep as much secrecy as possible, they were forced to blend in with the Egyptian staff working the op. The Egyptian intelligence services assigned Samir to be their handler until they were transferred to US custody.”
She racked her memory, but nothing was coming to her. “Samir never told me about that.”
Director Phillips nodded. “Samir was sworn to silence. Everything about this op was shrouded in secrecy. Different moving pieces, and no one really knew all of them except the high-ups at Langley.”
She wondered what Layla knew. Had her best friend been forced to keep information from her?
Jacob started pacing. “What I am missing here? We have these bad guys in custody. How could they be behind all of this? What’s the connection?”
“That’s what the Agency didn’t want to tell us,” the director said. “Two of the men escaped CIA custody about a month ago.”
She sucked in a breath. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Like I said, it took a while to get a straight answer, but they are gone. Which means they’re free and probably not only out for revenge but out for other things as well.”
“Like what?” she asked.
“I’m convinced they think being a State lawyer is just your cover and you’re really Agency, and that you might be able to get them the location of the other detainees who are still being held by the CIA. If I’m right, you have a big target on your back.”
This was insane. “But I’m not. I’m a lawyer. I’m not with the CIA.”
Lang shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what the truth is. It matters what they believe, and you’re not going to convince them of anything else. They saw you with their own eyes. To them you’re the enemy, regardless of what your official position is.”
Jacob stopped pacing. “Langley didn’t think they should’ve alerted those at risk immediately after these guys busted out of custody? And how did that happen in the first place?”
Lang lifted a hand. “I get that you’re upset about this. I am too. Especially when it puts someone in danger who has no business being involved in this type of work, but here we are. The CIA is trying to find answers on how these men were able to break out of custody, but our top priority has to be Vivian’s safety.”
“What about the task force?” she asked.
“We’ll set you up to work here, but I can’t have you out there right now. It’s too dangerous. I spoke to your boss a few minutes ago and gave him the sanitized version, and he got the picture. Delaney and Weston have the Ambassador King angle fully under control. We have to consider whether there’s any chance that these detainees were behind the death of Ambassador Zidan. From what I was told by Director Mince, they are fierce opponents of the Egyptian president and his allies.”
“Can we get their names?” Jacob asked.
The director frowned. “I’m trying to push Langley, but I’m not having any success so far. They claim there are other things in play that they have to protect. But believe me, I’m going to make another run at them.”
“So I’m going to be here for a while?” Viv asked.
“For the time being, yes,” Lang responded. “Jacob is taking the lead on managing your security. I guarantee you will not be left alone, not even for one second.”
Her stomach clenched. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that statement because it meant he believed she was in real danger. “Thank you.”
“Jacob, walk me out,” Lang said.
She knew the director wanted to talk to Jacob without her present. She was so tired of all the secrets.
Closing her eyes, she let the director’s words sink in. She went back to the day of the transfer and tried to remember any of those men. They would have been near Samir. There had been so many unfamiliar faces. And her job was to ensure that the prisoners being transferred from US custody were treated fairly and in accordance with international law. Right under her nose, the CIA had brought in prisoners from Egypt, and she hadn’t even known it. She remembered there had been a couple of separate flights for all the personnel involved. The incoming prisoners must have been on a different flight to the United States.
Jacob walked back into the room and took a seat beside her on the sofa. She expected him to say something right away, but he didn’t. They just sat in silence for a moment before she spoke.
“I’m not sure what to say or do.”
He turned toward her. “I’m so sorry this has happened to you. I’m a SEAL. I’m used to living every moment of my life wondering if it could be the last, but it’s not fair to put that on someone who isn’t prepared. You didn’t ask for this. You were doing your job, and because the CIA kept too many secrets, your life has been put at risk.” He took her hand. “Viv, this is serious. Those men who escaped are powerful. Look what they did to Samir.”
She pulled away. “You don’t have to remind me of that, Jacob. I have nightmares about his throat being slit and my being there, unable to do anything to stop it.” Her voice started to shake.
He put his arm around her. “Hey, I wasn’t trying to upset you. I really don’t want that. You have my word that I will protect you.”
She looked up into his dark eyes. “You don’t even like me. Why are you going through all this?”
He sighed. “I didn’t like you at first, no. But you’ve grown on me.” He squeezed her shoulder, and one corner of his mouth quirked up.
She did feel safe with him, but as she looked into his eyes, she wondered what else she was feeling.
Jacob stared into Viv’s hazel eyes, and his gut clenched. There was so much going on in his head, but the main thing he wanted was to protect Viv.
“You look like you want to say something else,” he said softly.
“I don’t even know where to start.” She paused. “Who all is going to be staying here?”
“You, of course. I’ll also be here, leading the security team. There will be two agents in addition to me here at all times. The director meant it when he said you wouldn’t be alone. The two agents on first shift are outside. I’ll be in constant contact with them.”
“We rushed out of my place so quickly. What about clothes and my personal items and things like that?”
“A female agent is at your place now, packing up things for you. She’ll be here soon. I figured you’d be more comfortable with another woman rummaging through your stuff, but they had to do the evidence collection first. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not expecting them to find prints or anything like that. We didn’t find anything indicating that someone had actually been inside your condo. But these guys are good, and I believe they’ve connected with a network of professionals to get things done.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean like assassins?”
“Hit men, mercenaries, private contractors, and yes, assassins. All of the above. They have a funding source and are using it. I don’t think the escaped terrorists are the ones who killed Samir. I think they hired someone. The terrorists are probably lying low until they’re ready to strike.”
“Do you think they hired someone to attack me on my way to see Samir?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And do you think it was the same story tonight? The person shooting was a murderer-for-hire type?”
He grimaced. “Yeah. At first I thought they wanted you alive to figure out what you know, but given what happened tonight, it seems revenge might be trumping knowledge at this point.” He felt her shiver. “I’ve got you, Viv. Nothing is going to happen to you tonight.”
“I pray that you’re right.”
He paused. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you mention prayer.”
“I’m not that vocal about my beliefs, but I do have them.”
“Me too. Although I’ll tell you, this is one of the times when I’m asking God why He’s letting something like this happen.”
She gave him a weak smile. “We don’t know all the answers, but I do know that He is faithful, and that’s what I have to hold on to. After my parents died, I was so confused about why God had taken them from me. Finally, I realized that I’d never fully understand why they died, but that I had to be thankful for the time I had with them. And if God thinks this is my time, I will have to be at peace with that.”
“No. We’re not going to be defeatist in our thinking. It’s fine to believe that God has a plan and when it’s your time to leave this earth, you’re okay with that. But it’s another thing just to accept defeat. We will fight. I will fight for you. There is no doubt in my mind. The God I worship is bigger than any of this, Viv.”
Her eyes misted up. “I know that, but I also can’t hide my fear.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that either. Lean on me, okay? I’m built for things like this.”
She hesitated, looking at him thoughtfully. “You never told me why you left the SEALs.”
He hated talking about this.
“If you don’t want to tell me, I understand.” She looked down.
“I didn’t leave by choice.”
“What happened?”
“We were on an op. Everything was going right until it wasn’t. I got shot in the shoulder. I did full rehab and everything, but they still thought I wasn’t up for going back in the field. My CO and I had a huge blowup over it. I said some things. He said some things. I’d been in the military my entire adult life, and suddenly I couldn’t do what I was meant to do.”
“You believe you’re still strong enough to be out there, don’t you?”
“I do. But they have all these rules and regs and this test and that test, and I got poked and prodded by all the doctors. At the end of the day, it was out of my hands.”
“That explains a lot.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why you always seem so sad. You left what you truly loved doing. You said yourself you were in the military your whole adult life. It shaped your entire sense of identity. And then they stripped that away from you—you believe unfairly. That would take a toll on anyone.”
He nodded. “Yeah. It was one of the worst times of my life.” He thought about how much more he wanted to say.
“You’re still hurting. Have you talked to someone about it?”
“The Navy made me talk to someone right after I got shot, but that was it. If you haven’t figured it out yet, talking about my feelings isn’t my strong suit.”
She looked up at him. “Jacob, I can feel your pain. It’s apparent in everything you do.”
“You make me sound so transparent.”
Viv shook her head. “No. I just meant as we spend time together, I can sense it. I know you’re hurting. You hide it, of course, but it impacts your life.”
No one had ever called him out so completely and honestly—yet with no judgment whatsoever.
She took his hand. “You’re helping me. I’d like to help you. Whatever I can do, just say it.”
“You’re already helping just by listening.” How had his feelings changed so dramatically for her? He’d had so many preconceived notions about what she would be like, but she had busted all of them. She was kind, caring, and smart. And he was incredibly attracted to her, but he wasn’t sure that making a move would be what she wanted. And it probably wasn’t the best idea, given the circumstances.
Viv squeezed his hand. “It’s a deal, then. We’ll get through this together.”
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Jacob had spent most of the night talking to all the agents assigned to Viv’s security detail. He’d pulled in two people from DSS to supplement the FBI team. Given the circumstances, he hadn’t had any trouble getting his boss to approve the additional resources.
Thankfully, his military training allowed him to operate on power naps and little sleep. He didn’t feel that tired in the morning. He felt energized. On edge. What the director had told them had shaken him hard, but he had to put on a strong face for Viv. The fact that she was the target of a terrorist group instilled fear into even his heart.
