No one move. No communication. Mack sent the warning, careful to keep his energy low, to keep it from spilling out into the open where the woman might have a chance to feel it. Get her picture and send it to Jaimie for positive ID.
The woman stepped away from the car and looked carefully around, her gaze quartering the area, and then turned her attention to the house. She moved with unhurried, fluid steps up the walkway to the door. Jefferson greeted her before she could ring the doorbell. He waved her inside and only then did Mack let out his breath.
"She looks familiar," Gideon said. "Like I've seen her before, but I've never really met a female GhostWalker other than Jaimie."
"And Rhianna," Javier supplied. He glanced down at his phone. "Jaimie's on it, boss."
"Shit," Mack said. "That's Senator Ed Freeman's wife, Violet. I remember seeing her picture in the news right after her husband was shot. I forget the story. How the hell did a GhostWalker hook up with a senator?"
"And what the hell is she doing here?" Javier asked.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll assassinate him for us," Gideon said.
Mack directed their attention to the couple in the house. Violet leaned in to brush a barely there kiss along Jefferson's cheek. "If Jefferson thought he was going to seduce, he's wrong. She's deliberately tempting him, but that kiss was a definite signal to back off."
"Maybe she's wired too," Javier ventured. "It would be pretty funny if they were bugging each other."
"I don't doubt for a minute she's wired," Mack said. "She's exuding confidence and if Jefferson has a brain in his head, he'll be very, very careful."
"Kind of like entertaining a cobra in your home," Javier said and smirked. He knew he looked like the boy next door. "Glad she's one of us."
"Data coming in," Mack said, frowning down at the small phone in his hand. "Never make the mistake of thinking Violet Smythe-Freeman is one of us. She sold out the women in Whitney's compound. Kane warned Jaimie about her. She was raised with those women, one of the orphans Whitney acquired, and they all believed in her."
"She turned on them?" Gideon asked as if disbelieving. "That would be like one of us turning on the others. We were raised together, a family, like those women. That's just . . ." He cast around searching for the right words to express his disgust.
"The word's gone out to all the GhostWalker teams that she's a traitor," Mack read on. "She was at the compound to make an alliance with Whitney when everything went to hell. She was going to help suppress evidence on the breeding program if he backed her husband's bid for the vice presidency. She and her husband are the ones who sent Team Two to the Congo and tipped off the rebels where they were going to be."
There was a small silence while they absorbed the treachery of the woman's actions. There were very few GhostWalkers and all of them knew just how difficult one another's lives were. Violet had been raised with Whitney's youngest, earliest victims, yet she appeared not to have any loyalty to them at all.
"I could take her out when she comes out, boss," Gideon reminded.
"She's not the objective," Mack said. "We're here to protect Kane and Brian and to get Jefferson off Sergeant Major."
"I could stop the car down the road," Javier offered.
"Too dangerous. Jefferson's death has to look like a legitimate heart attack. If we take out a GhostWalker, they're going to know someone was in the area."
Gideon swore under his breath. "We have to just let her walk?"
Mack shrugged. "There'll be another time and another place. There always is. Right now, we're here for Jefferson. We know he's after Kane and Brian and he's certainly the one who ordered the hit on Sergeant Major when they lost track of him. We've got to look after our own first."
Violet sank into a chair, accepting the crystal glass Jefferson handed her. "How's the senator?" he asked as he gave the drink to her.
The voices sounded tinny through the recorder. Javier adjusted something Mack couldn't see, frowning as he did so.
Violet, her eyes on Jefferson's face, held the glass under her nose and inhaled.
"We're on the same side, Violet," Jefferson reminded.
"Anyone in my position can't be too careful, and Whitney and I didn't part on the best of terms. He had my husband shot."
"He saved his life. No one else could have done that operation," Jefferson pointed out.
"He wouldn't have needed the operation if Whitney hadn't arranged for an assassination." She put her drink down and leaned forward. "Let's quit playing games, Jefferson. I want Whitney off our backs."
"It isn't going to happen, Violet. You can join the other side and try to wipe out all the GhostWalkers or you can come back to the fold where you belong. Without us, your husband has no career and without Whitney, he's a dead man."
Mack was watching the woman's face closely. Jefferson was a man in extreme danger. He thought he was holding all the cards, but she was weighing whether or not to kill him. She looked cool and composed, but Mack knew exactly what was going on in her mind.
Jefferson appeared confident, but he must have felt death in her silence. He set his drink aside and shook his head. "What good would it do you to kill me, Violet? Whitney would retaliate against you by letting Ed die. This is about him, isn't it? Your husband? You want him alive. Only Whitney can keep him alive."
"As a puppet," she snapped. "We both will have to do his bidding."
"Without Whitney, neither of you would have a decent life. It's time to pay the piper, Violet," Jefferson said. "It isn't like Ed is a viable candidate for the vice presidency. Whitney had to practically replace his brain."
"My husband can still have a political career."
Jefferson sat back in his chair and once again picked up his glass, regarding her over the top of it. "Now we come to the real reason you're here. What exactly do you want and what are you offering?"
"I can find the missing women for Whitney. They escaped. Whitney wants them back. I can get them for him. I have the resources. And I can tap into the women's networks better than anyone else. In return, I want Ed completely well."
"He was brain-dead, Violet."
"Not anymore. Not with this new technology. Get him up and running and put him back in the political arena. I can handle everything else. No one will ever get close enough to know he's not all human."
"You're asking a lot," Jefferson said, and took a sip of his brandy.
"One of the women is pregnant. The father is a GhostWalker. She has extraordinary talents, as does he. Their child alone will be worth what I'm asking. You and your friends back Ed's career and we're back on track. Whitney will have a friend in the White House for life."
Gideon gasped. "That bitch. She'd sell out her own mother."
"Just make certain you've got this all recorded," Mack said.
Jefferson's smile turned malicious. "He's already got friends in the White House."
"He has enemies too. I can find them for you. You know I'll do it too. I keep my promises."
"Do you?" Jefferson asked. "You turned on Whitney before and you have no problems turning on the women who regard you as their sister."
Violet tapped her perfectly manicured nails on the arm of her chair. "Don't judge a woman in love, James. I would do anything for my husband."
"Or for the power. We both know who's behind the proverbial throne, Violet, so don't play the loving wife to me. You were prepared to sleep with me if that's what it took, but you knew the moment you looked into my mind that wouldn't serve your purpose," Jefferson said shrewdly.
Javier growled deep in his throat. "She really is a cobra."
Violet shrugged her shoulders. "Why should I deny it? I am prepared to pay whatever price Whitney wants from me."
"And if he demands a fail-safe?"
She sucked in her breath, for the first time her composure shaken. She recovered very quickly. "He's put a fail-safe program in Ed?"
"Of course he did, my dear, and he's prepared to use it. You no
t only will deliver the women to us, but you'll find whoever in the White House is going against the GhostWalker program and you'll deliver them as well. If we decide to put Ed back into position to use him, believe me, Violet, it will be our decision without coercion."
Even from his position a distance away, Mack could see the woman's eyes glittering with malicious intent as she rose. "I would be very careful of threatening me, Jefferson. You may hold all the cards, but if you push too far, you'll find out just what a woman will really do when you've put a bullet in her husband's head."
Her voice was utterly cold. Deliberately spiteful. Mack swore under his breath. Jefferson would know exactly what she meant and he would take her threat seriously. That would make it doubly difficult to kill him.
"You're getting him back," Jefferson reminded. "A new, improved model, wholly devoted to you. There won't be any chasing skirts, or aides under his desk; he'll live for you."
Mack inhaled sharply. "Whitney paired her with him, but didn't bother pairing Freeman with her. Whitney sold her into service with Freeman to aid his political career."
"He couldn't know the monster he was creating," Gideon said.
"I can't even feel sorry for her," Javier said. "She's willing to give up the other women to a breeding program, knowing what happened to them in that compound."
"She'd kill all of us if it got her husband one step closer to the presidency," Mack said, watching with a small frown. "He's glanced at his watch again. You think he's got more than one visitor coming tonight?"
"Maybe it will be Whitney and we can blow them both to kingdom come." Javier sounded hopeful, eager even.
"You're so bloodthirsty tonight," Mack reprimanded.
Javier shot him a grin. "Must be the company. Bad influence and all."
Violet put down her drink and stood up, drawing their attention back to the scene in the house. "I have to go, Jefferson. You've given me quite a bit to think about."
Jefferson rose with her. "I hope you'll give me your answer soon, Violet. I don't think Ed has long, hanging in limbo. You want him up and running around, you commit to Whitney's program and work for us, not yourself."
She said nothing at all, but walked, head up, out to her waiting car. Jefferson watched the vehicle pull down the long drive before he snapped open his cell phone. "She was here. She's going to come on board, but she'll turn on us the moment she thinks she has an out. She's ambitious. You might think about getting rid of her before she causes any more trouble."
"You getting this, Jaimie?" Mack asked.
"I'm running a trace," she answered. "I think he's talking to Whitney. I've got a voice analysis program and it should give me a match any second. Yep. Whitney."
Jefferson snapped his phone off and went back into the house after one more long look after his parting guest. He shook his head, disgusted, and slammed his door.
"I'm sorry, Mack, he didn't stay on long enough," Jaimie said.
Mack didn't take his eyes from Jefferson. The man took meticulous care to clean up after his guest. Several times he looked at the clock. They weren't at all surprised when a second car came up the drive.
"He's busy tonight," Mack said, watching the dark car pull up to the house. "What's behind door number two?"
The driver jumped out and opened the door behind his seat. An older man emerged. Mack concentrated on getting as good a picture as possible. There was only a profile available; the man kept his hat low and his head turned away from them. He looked older, and walked with a cane and a bit of a limp. He was a big man. A trench coat covered his very expensive business suit. He went straight up to the house. Jefferson met him at the door and clapped him on the shoulder, his manner familiar.
"We've got company, boss," Gideon hissed. "I think Violet's come back."
Javier touched the knife in his scabbard. "I need to be on the ground to protect the operation, Mack," he said. "If she spots us, we're finished."
"She can't spot you, Javier. I'm giving you a direct order. Do not engage unless she finds us."
Javier sent a cocky grin over his shoulder at Mack. "I'm hearing every word, Top."
"Before you go, tell Jaimie I need everything she's got on that man now. Right now. Tell her to move it."
"It's not like we gave her much to go on," Javier pointed out, but dutifully sent the text. "Oh, yeah, she's not happy with you and said to remind you that she's not a miracle worker."
Mack glared at him. "Tell her I expect results, not a lot of excuses."
"Oh, sure, boss, I'll just send that to Jaimie. We'll feel the volcano blast all the way from San Francisco."
"I gotta agree with Javier on this one, boss. Give her a few minutes."
Mack scowled at them and turned his attention back to the house.
"Going silent, Mack," Javier said. He sent Gideon a quick, sympathetic grin and hastily made his way to the ground.
"Keep an eye on them, Gideon," Mack ordered.
"You got it, boss."
Mack knew Gideon didn't have to use night goggles or any equipment that might tip off a GhostWalker to their presence. He was the most difficult of all of them to spot. Javier was a ghost, a phantom, stalking the night. Violet could walk right up to him and not know he was there. She'd be uneasy, but she wouldn't find him. Even so, Gideon would ensure that Javier was safe at all times if there was any slipup.
He put the headphones on to listen to the conversation taking place in Jefferson's home.
"What'd she want?" the newcomer demanded.
"The same thing her father-in-law wanted. Of course Andrew thinks his son is intact. Whitney says we're nearly ready for the trial run. If we can fool Andrew, we can fool everyone," Jefferson said.
"I'm not entirely easy about this. Andrew's been a good friend for years."
Mack knew Andrew Freeman was Senator Freeman's father. He had gone to school with Whitney and Jefferson when Jefferson was Phillip Thornton.
"Okay," Jaimie's voice whispered in his ear. "You've got Jacob Abrams there. He's been best friends with Senator Freeman's father for forty years or more. Billionaire. A genius. Banker. He and Whitney and Freeman were all part of a club at their university for very smart students. The club is still shrouded in secrecy. I'm working on more data for you. Abrams controls a great deal in the market and some say he's part of the real power in the world, not necessarily the leaders of the countries. He's a very big fish, Mack."
"Thanks, Jaimie." Mack switched back to the conversation in the house.
Jefferson poured a drink for Abrams and handed it to him. "At least he has his son, Jacob. Ed was brain-dead. Anyone else would have pulled the plug on him. Violet and Andrew had given up and were going to tell the world he'd been killed when Whitney made his proposal to try to save him. He didn't do it for Andrew."
"Enhancing psychic ability is one thing, but stimulating a dead brain with whatever the hell he does makes Ed part machine, doesn't it?" Jefferson sighed and sat back in his chair. "Whitney has no fear of trying anything."
"Ed was dead already," Abrams pointed out. "It wasn't as if Peter did anything wrong. I just don't think fooling Andrew into believing Ed's still Ed is ethical."
Jefferson snorted. Coughed. "That's rich coming from you, Jacob."
Mack leaned into his mouthpiece. "You getting this, Jaimie? Is it making any sense to you? How the hell could he stimulate a brain that's dead?"
"I'm getting it. Paul might be able to help."
Mack glanced out over the thick stand of trees. Violet was making her way toward the window, moving from shadow to shadow. Gideon.
I see her, boss. Javier's keeping pace with her.
It was impossible for Mack to spot Javier, although he didn't doubt that Gideon knew exactly where the man was. He sent up a silent prayer that Javier understood he was playing ghost with another GhostWalker. They knew little about Violet's abilities.
Jacob Abrams sighed heavily and walked to the window to stare out, swirling the brandy in his gla
ss. "Is she going to give us trouble?"
"She offered to bring in our missing women, including the pregnant one."
Abrams whirled around. "Do you think she can do it?"
"Violet pointed out she can do a lot from her position as a senator's wife for the women's underground. She'll be a saint to them while she's searching. I'd put my money on her. She wants the presidency, Jacob. And she'll do anything to keep Ed alive, even if it's just his body."
"It's a big undertaking," Abrams said, his voice thoughtful. "I'd like to see one baby before we're dead and gone, Phillip, just to see if we accomplished what we set out to do."
"James. Never forget I'm James," Jefferson responded. "In any case, a couple of the GhostWalker couples have babies."
"Yeah, they do, but we don't have them." Abrams turned back to face his old friend. "Is Theodore Griffen giving you trouble?"
There was an inflection. A casual note that was anything but casual. Jefferson visibly stiffened. "Why do you ask?"
"Rumors, Jefferson. I heard you sent a team to San Francisco and one of them didn't come back. Whitney doesn't want the girl killed. He said to tell you to leave her alone."
"Did he even pay any attention to the evidence that's been collected against him? If I hadn't persuaded Chilton to let me handle it, the committee might have shut him down. We got lucky."
"You're afraid the trail leads back to you."
"And you, Jacob. Your reputation is on the line as well. A breeding program and experimenting on children, even orphans, will cause a worldwide uproar, and you know it," Jefferson said. "If we have to sacrifice a couple of his precious soldiers to keep the programs intact, then it's a small price to pay."
"Whitney makes a bitter enemy, James," Jacob said. "Find some other way of dealing with this woman. Bring her in. Get her back under control. Hell, put her in Whitney's breeding program. I don't care, but don't kill her. Get your men to pick her up."
Mack waited, but Jefferson didn't confirm to Abrams that he'd sent the two men to kill Jaimie, but they'd failed and hadn't returned. He didn't answer one way or the other. Apparently there were things Jefferson didn't want to share with his old friend. Or maybe he was afraid. Could the tight-knit friends be splintering?
Violet crept toward the house, coming in from the south side. She took out an aerosol can and sprayed into the slight breeze moving out over the sweeping lawn. Bright beams leapt into the air. Mack could see them without the spray and he was fairly certain Javier could as well. The enhancements Whitney had given them evidently weren't part of Violet's arsenal.