Firewall (21 page)

12:04 P.M. THURSDAY

At Houston’s Hobby Airport, I flag down a taxi to take me to the Galleria area. He’ll stay at the best places, and one of the LNG companies is located in the area. He might pose as a vendor to get inside. His manipulative skills are textbook perfect, and I’m not certain if the man I met will look the same now. My nerves are raw, and I wish I had a drink.

The taxi driver stares at me through his rearview mirror. I know I’m attractive. The blonde wig and dark-brown contacts are only one of my disguises.
Dream on, fella. This lady has standards.

After a few personal affirmations, I’m in control and confident of my plan. While en route, I text him.

N Houston. Where do we meet?

I’m n Athens.

Liar. U R where the action is

B careful. U don’t want 2 cross me

I need 2 C U

No

U got rid of Murford?

U could B next. Get the job done.

I’ll B at Westin Oaks Galleria. C U soon.

If he comes to my room, I’ll kill him and get away with it. He tried to attack me and I shot him. Like me, he uses different
identities, but I’m smart. A new text from him snatches my attention.

Almost finished with U

I shudder, but he thrives on threats. I’ll check into the hotel and meet with Rollins, the one man who’s managed to survive, not getting caught or being on the receiving end of a bullet. Inside my purse, my Smith & Wesson .380 feels cold against my palm, but cold I can deal with.

I smile. My toy has a built-in laser.

1:45 P.M. THURSDAY

Grayson drove north on I-45 toward the retirement center with Joe. Taryn had phoned her mother and honored his request. According to the agents assigned to her, the conversation brought tears. Tough mandates for him to issue, but too much was at stake.

Wasn’t the first time he’d upset a woman because of protocol.

Grayson sensed the pressure of time. He, as well as others working on the complex case, understood something was scheduled to happen on Friday after six in the morning. Chatter indicated an event resembling the airport bombing. Nothing confirmed. Law enforcement officials all over the nation were on alert, especially airport security. The info leaked to media, and travelers canceled flights. Airlines screamed for the situation to end. The FIG reported that both LNG companies planned to go ahead with their pilot export tomorrow. At this point, only a credible threat could put a halt to their plans. They were bent on making history. Grayson understood business and the need to keep commitments. But what would be the price?

Three days since the explosion . . .

Earlier this morning, the FBI held another press conference to calm the public. The director congratulated citizens on responding to the billboards and offering anonymous information. He encouraged them to continue assisting the FBI and other law
enforcement officials to find those responsible for the bombing. At key points during his speech, photos of the victims were shown, along with a photo of Cameron Wallace, the international assassin.

“Another person of interest is Haden Rollins from Gated Labs,” the special agent in charge had said. “We would appreciate any information about this man.”

A reporter asked about Taryn Young.

“She’s in protective custody and cooperating with the FBI.”

“Has she been charged?”

“We’ve found no evidence to believe she was part of the airport bombing.”

“What about the top-secret files stolen from Gated Labs?”

“Again negative.” The SAC ended his speech with a promise to keep the public informed. “We’re talking about two separate incidents.”

Grayson had breathed relief. The responses did not indicate Taryn’s guilt. Neither did they fully exonerate her. Vagueness kept her alive. He’d bank on that.

“Do you feel the tension?” Joe said, breaking into Grayson’s thoughts.

“Oh yeah. The clock’s ticking, but no one can pinpoint what’s going to happen tomorrow. If anything at all.”

“It’s the fear factor. The not knowing while the cowards run free. Me? I think most US citizens are mad and out for justice.”

An update came through on Grayson’s BlackBerry. He tossed his phone across the seat to Joe. “Read me the latest.”

“FBI has surrounded a rental home on the southwest side in which confirmed reports indicate Murford, Breckon, Pedraza, and Dancer had been seen coming and going on several occasions.”

Grayson palmed the steering wheel. “We should hear another update soon. I want to hear about confiscating computers, weapons, and
 
—”

“I need to tell you something important. Your dad called me after lunch.”

Grayson remembered Joe walking into the hallway with his phone. He swung a look toward his uncle and read the seriousness on his face. “What’s up?”

“Ah, not good. Had a sobering doctor’s appointment yesterday.”

“I didn’t know he was sick.”

“Neither did he until he had his yearly physical last week. When he complained of having diarrhea for the past few months, tests were ordered.”

Grayson’s dad never spoke of personal matters, certainly not the way he’d relayed it to Joe. “How bad?”

“Colon cancer. Stage two.”

Grayson stiffened, his ears humming. They got along like two pit bulls, but he didn’t want to see his father suffer or die a premature death. “What’s the prognosis?”

“Totally treatable. Your dad’s a fighter. He’ll beat this,” Joe said.

“I need to see if he wants to patch things up.”

“That would be wonderful. I’d like to think your dad’s ready to reconnect. Go for it. Life’s too short not to reach out to others.”

“I’ll give it my best.”

“Hoped you’d say that. God’s in the business of mending relationships.”

Grayson pulled into the retirement center parking area and dropped his cell phone into his jacket pocket. “You might need to take over inside. We had a few words this morning when I told her about her brother’s arrest for punching a news reporter.”

“As in what she could and couldn’t do until this is settled?”

“Yes.” Grayson parked away from the building housing Taryn. “We’ll talk about Dad later. Come up with a strategy for him.”

Joe clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go see our pretty lady.”

“Whatever she discovered from Ethan Formier’s files has her interest.”

Joe grabbed their Whataburger bags while Grayson scanned the area for potential problems. He loosened the top button on
his shirt in the ninety-degree temps. Sounds from the pool area indicated the residents were enjoying the water.

He ignored the lift in his spirit at the thought of seeing Taryn. He had to regain her trust. When this ended, he’d discuss what he felt whenever he was with her. Why had he told her about his mother? For that matter, why had he initiated the wild kid stories? Initially it was professional, to get inside Taryn Young’s head. His feelings toward her started to change that day in Joe’s house. Maybe he wanted the real Taryn to get to know the real Grayson.

Inside, he found her curled up on the sofa with the laptop, Buddy’s head resting on her knee. Clint and Patti had arrived early and were deep in a discussion with the other two agents. Joe went straight to the coffeepot, and Grayson sat beside Taryn.

“Are you speaking to me?”

She nodded, but her attention stayed glued to the laptop screen. “After I had a good cry, I realized you were right.”

“I’m glad.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m over it. I hurt for my family, and it’s tearing me apart.”

“This could all be settled soon.”

For the first time, she looked at him. Her eyes were red, and she blinked. “The last thing we need is a sniper taking out my family.”

He felt the wall between them. “What have you found?”

She pointed to his to-go bag. “You’re probably starved.”

He reached for his fries.

“When you teach me how to use a gun, I’ll show you the reports on consuming animal products.”

“Yes, ma’am.” When he smiled, she offered one too.

“Remember the e-mails I forwarded you from Ethan?” she said.

“Yes. He warned you about Murford. Said his life was in danger and the problem with Nehemiah was bigger than he’d thought. It also sounded like he knew who was behind the problem at Gated Labs.”

“Right. Once I was able to retrieve his files, it explained so
much more.” She pulled up the document containing the results of Ethan’s research. “Take a look.”

Grayson read the document, absorbing every word. He was amazed at the lengths Ethan had gone to in his personal investigation. His first entries had been made at Nehemiah’s conception when Haden Rollins wanted to know why he’d not been invited to the closed sessions with Congress. Ethan had found Haden in Taryn’s office right after the development team was formed and once six weeks later. He hadn’t told Taryn for reasons unknown. When she found Kinsley in her office, Ethan assumed Kinsley and Haden were working together to oust Taryn from her leadership role. Later he revisited his suspicions about Kinsley and believed she was a pawn. Grayson sensed Taryn observing him.

“What do you think?” she said.

“Digesting it.” He paused, focusing on the document. “Ethan believed Kinsley was simply power hungry, and that’s what Joe and I concluded. On the other hand, Ethan didn’t trust Haden and followed him to the airport on three separate occasions to learn he was on his way to New York City. Upon each return, he presented Ethan with an argument to replace you with Kinsley, which wouldn’t happen because of Congress’s request to have you lead the project development team.”

“Unless I was discredited. I worked overtime to ensure Nehemiah could not be compromised easily. Something else I need to tell you: Save thinks he’s nearly there in accessing the software. Like I said before, we’re okay unless he figures out what I’ve done.”

“That’s a point for our side.” Grayson hated battling time. “Why would Ethan not have documented his latest findings?”

She shook her head. “Whatever he learned caused him to book an earlier flight home.”

“Any chance he could have placed the information in another file?”

“This one was obviously meant for me to find, but I’ll keep
looking. What are you thinking?” she said. “Or should I ask, what have you learned?”

“We have photos and a witness that put Haden with Murford, Breckon, and Dancer on more than one occasion.”

“What about the Hispanic man in custody?”

Grayson captured her attention. “He claims to have been a hired gun for Murford.”

Taryn’s eyes widened. “Is Kinsley in danger?”

“We’ve warned her.”

“Good. What about Haden?”

“Unable to locate him. According to Gated Labs’s security information, he entered his office after midnight and left twenty minutes later. Hasn’t phoned in. We have a nationwide BOLO.”

Taryn studied him. “Are you thinking Kinsley might have warned him?”

“Strong possibility.”

“Poor Kinsley. She really cared for him, and I understand doing whatever we can for those we love. She and I finally have something in common
 
—choosing men who use us.” She tossed her sea-green gaze his way. “Can I call her?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. She could still be involved. Harboring him.”

“All right. I’ve pushed my limit on calls today.” She leaned back against the sofa. “What a mess. Now I understand Haden’s role at the party where I met Murford. But I don’t think Murford was the mastermind, especially since he’s dead. So who’s behind this?”

“The billion-dollar question. Did you make any headway on the hacking job?”

She frowned. “Save is being pressured. I worked another angle while trying to shut him down, but he has his own firewall.”

“How close is he?”

“I have a false entrance that appears to be the real thing. It looks good until several steps into the program. Then a virus hoses
his computer. But what if I’m wrong? What if he discovers what I’ve done before the FBI can make arrests?”

“I’ve been praying for those very arrests.” Grayson texted a message. “I want to let the SSA know there’s a false front on the software that buys us time if the bad guys get confident.”

“What are the agents doing about the link to New York?” She sighed. “Of course you can’t tell me. I just want to know it all.”

He could identify with her anxiety. “Do you recall anyone from New York visiting Gated Labs?”

“People were in and out of the office all the time, and many I never saw. What did Brad Patterson say?”

“The same. Nothing he could flag.”

“I’m beginning to feel sorry for Patterson. His empire is going to crumble if the situation is not rectified soon.”

“A team of agents met with them this morning. He was a little more cooperative. Planned to have a talk with his niece.”

“And?”

He chuckled. “You should have been a lawyer. She identified those in the photographs but claims to know little else. When the question of working with Haden to secure your position was raised, she said it was all his idea.”

“So will she go into protective custody?”

“She hasn’t been threatened. At this point, she’s a possible witness.”

“I hope she’s careful.”

One more reason why he admired Taryn. She still cared about Kinsley even though the woman wanted her job.

She reached for a flash drive on the end table beside her. “I copied Ethan’s files.”

“Thanks.” He planned to show them to the SSA before Patterson learned about it.

“Grayson, I know thousands of people are working the case, but it seems like the web is growing instead of getting smaller.”

“That’s not unusual. In an investigation, every angle has to be
explored. Sometimes clues and indications of guilt or involvement bring us to a wall, and we have to backtrack. The FBI must honor each person’s civil rights, and search warrants or arrests can’t be issued unless we have evidence supporting probable cause.”

“I guess I thought you were above the law with national security at risk.”

“We’re simply government employees who
 
—” His BlackBerry got his attention. “The house on the southwest side that presumably our bad guys were using? It’s been stripped. All we can hope for are fingerprints or DNA.”

“Murford’s team is accounted for.” Her eyes darkened. “Who’s left but the unidentified person in New York?”