“Can you do that? I mean can you hack into places like that?”
“Theoretically, any computer system can be hacked, given enough computing power. So with my skills, plus the MI5 computers and his army of hackers, he’d have the perfect weapon. Nothing would be off limits.”
“You’re serious?”
Ignoring Leecy’s question to relive a moment from the night spent in Ilion’s arms, she said, “He promised me we’d fill Russia’s coffers with the money drained from the ‘too big to fail’ western companies. That one day he’d rule the new Russian empire, and I’d be by his side when he did.”
“Tia?” Leecy asked, trying to snap her back to reality. “Tia, can you hear me?”
Shaking off the memory, Tia looked at Leecy and said, “What?”
Before Leecy could respond, the door to the small room opened. Agent Robert Leeds entered and said, “We haven’t been properly introduced, mainly because you were unconscious when I arrived earlier.” He removed his credentials and extended them for Tia to read. “My name is Robert Jeffery Leeds. I’m with Interpol. I’ll be taking you into custody, and you’ll be charged with several computer crimes, too many to list at the moment, but we’ll have time for a formal reading of the charges soon enough. As for right now, I need you to come with me, Miss Reins.”
Tia stood without a word, leaving the room escorted by the dapper Interpol agent, who closed the door behind him.
“Can someone get me out of these cuffs?” I asked the mobile phone lying on the desk behind me.
The door opened again and Zach entered, then froze, covering his nose. “Whose bright idea was it to lock you three in an enclosed, unventilated space? My God it stinks in here.”
“Is that really what you want to have said, Zach?” Leecy asked him.
“No, I’m sorry. Come on, let me get you guys out of those cuffs so you can…”
“What? So we can what?” Leecy asked, rubbing her wrist.
“Well, you know,” he said, unlocking Val’s cuffs and shackles, “bathe.”
“That’s it,” Leecy said, walking toward the door, “I’m going to have to hurt you now.”
“What’s going on between you two?” I asked, rubbing my freed wrist. I immediately regretted that thought escaping my head and tried to change the subject. I picked up the card on the desk and said, “Zach, this may prove to be valuable. Best hold on to it.”
“Dad!” Leecy said, turning around to face me from the other side of the doorway. “What do you think’s going on between us?”
Looking at Valerie for help but finding none, I said, “You know what? Forget it. It’s none of my business. Sorry I said anything.”
“That’s right,” Leecy said. “Come on Zach, give me ride to the hotel in that cute little electric car of yours.”
“I can’t,” he said, accepting the card from me. Leecy fixed him with a stare. “But it’s not for the reason you think. It’s got nothing to do with how bad you smell. Wakefield wants me to ride with Hodges. I’m to help with transporting the prisoners to the airport and loading them on the CIA flight back to Langley.”
“All right,” Leecy said, smiling, “give me the keys to the smart car, ‘cause you won’t need it. I’m going straight to the hotel to take a three-hour bath. Where’d you leave the car?”
Handing her the keys to the car as he brushed past to leave the room, he said, “Make a left out the front door then another left at the corner, and you’ll see it. Just drop the keys at the front desk for me. I’ll call you when I return from the airport.”
“Don’t bother calling, I’ll be asleep,” Leecy said, following Zach.
“Hold on a second, kiddo,” Val said. “That little thing is big enough for two. I’m coming with you.”
“What about me?” I asked, watching them walk toward the lobby.
“Looks like you’re walking.”
“But wait,” Zach said. “I almost forgot; there’s more.”
With one hand on the door leading to the lobby, Leecy asked, “Can’t it wait till morning? We’ve done the job. Tia’s admitted to exactly what Ron thought she was involved in. She’s in custody. What else is there?”
“Wakefield wants you three to report to her suite at zero seven hundred to complete your post mission reports. That’s all.”
*
“Hodges,” Agent Leeds asked, closing the van door on a handcuffed Tia Reins, “can you handle three prisoners?”
“Sure, no problem, but I think Wakefield wanted Zach to ride shotgun.”
“Yes, I know, but I’ve spoken with her and asked that he be allowed to assist the Computer Forensic Team with their work. He’s going to be a while yet, and I’d like to have those three airborne as soon as possible.”
Checking the time, Hodges said, “It’s only eleven-thirty, and it’s just a fifteen-minute ride to the airport. I’d like to wait for Zach if that’s all right with you?”
“Sure,” Leeds replied, confirming the time on his Rolex. “I tell you what let’s do, being we’re short on manpower. You know how it is, we can’t have the undercover agents being seen and all.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
“Give me a hand transferring the computer components from the Mercedes to the space behind the rear seat of the van while you wait for Zach.”
“Sure, that should kill some time.”
“I think there’s twenty pieces or so,” Agent Leeds said, walking around the corner toward the Mercedes. “The two of us should be able to handle moving all of them.”
Grabbing one of the stainless steel boxes, Hodges asked, “And if Zach’s not finished by the time we’re done here?”
Returning to the van, Leeds said, “If you’re concerned about safety, I’ll ride along with you.”
Walking toward the rear door and opening it, Hodges said, “No. No need for you to do that. There’s really nothing to this. It’s just prisoner transport. All I have to do is get them locked and loaded on the plane, and then sit back and enjoy the ride back to the States. I think I can handle it.”
“Very well, then,” Leeds said, stacking the components in the rear of the van before returning to the sedan for another load. “The pilots of the plane I arrived in this evening have been notified, and they’re expecting you and three prisoners. They’re armed CIA agents. They’ll assist you securing the prisoners, which the plane is equipped to handle, so it’s not like you’re all alone on this.”
“And my team? What about them?”
“They’ll remain here with me in Cologne, I’m afraid. We’ll be posting mission reports. We’ve got to debrief the Grangers, as you know, and they have to account for their actions. It’s a lengthy process, but one that must be done while the events are fresh in their minds. After that, I imagine they’ll either return to the States or you’ll join them for your next assignment.” Pausing at the trunk of the sedan, he asked. “Is everything all right, Agent Hodges? You seem to be a bit out of sorts.”
Hodges shook his head, removing more components from the trunk of the sedan and stacking them in his arms like firewood. “I’m fine. It’s just been… well, you know, we lost a man. It’s been tough. I just wanted to know what was happening, that’s all.”
As they rounded the corner, they spotted a man lingering near the rear of the van they were loading, Hodges, arms laden with the MI5 devices, starting running and shouting, “Get away from that vehicle!”
The unidentified man ran away, disappearing in the darkness between the gaps of the adjoining buildings before Hodges could catch up to him.
“Who was that?” Leeds asked. “I thought we’d accounted for everyone.”
“No, sir,” Hodges said. “We never found the man Ryan said he followed into the building. We looked. We even checked the secret doorway, but we didn’t find him.”
“Well, there’s nothing that can be done about him now. We’ve a schedule to keep.” He deposited the components he was carrying into the van. “And that’s the l
ast of it,” he said. “Now be on your way, Hodges. We wasted all the time we’re allowed.”
“Let my boss know I’ve gone, will you?” he said. He climbed inside the van, closed the door, turned the engine over and rolled the window down.
“Will do,” Leeds said, looking toward the other van parked a few meters from his position. “If I’m not mistaken, she’s on the line with the boys in Langley. I’ll let her know you’ve gone as soon as she’s free. Oh, I almost forgot. I’ve sent you a text with the contact numbers for the agents on the plane. Let them know when you arrive and they’ll give you hand.”
“Thanks,” Hodges said, pulling away from the curb.
*
Exiting the elevator and walking toward the room I was sharing with my wife, I thought about checking on Leecy, but only paused momentarily outside her door before continuing to the end of the hall.
Reaching up behind the wall-mounted air conditioning unit, I retrieved my room key. I heard the blow dryer running as I entered the room and began stripping off my filthy clothes, piling them on the floor in the hall outside our door.
“I’m back,” I announced.
Turning off the hair dryer, Val asked, “What took you so long?”
“Tired, I guess,” I answered, stepping in the shower and turning on the water. “What’re we going to do for clothes? I left my dirty ones outside in the hall.”
“No need to worry about that.”
Washing my hair, I asked, “Why?”
“Benefits of traveling with an American Express Black Card holder, I suppose. Wakefield called the valet number on the card and the shopping is being taken care of for us. Tammy said by the time we wake up in the morning, we’d have new clothes.”
“Great,” I said, smelling my skin. “How many washings did it take you to get rid of the smell?”
“Hold on.”
I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair for a second time. Feeling something nudging me on the arm, I opened my eyes to see a bottle of V8 juice and asked, “What’s that for?”
“We don’t have any straight tomato juice in the mini bar, and room service is closed for the night. Use these. It helps cut the odor.”
After the shower, I was drying off when the door opened. Val was wearing one of the hotel robes and extending the other to me. “I’ve thrown our clothes away in the bins located in the stairwell. You’ll have to make do with this.”
Running the towel over my heavily bruised left side, I said, “No thanks. Those things never fit me right. The arms are always too short and it’s always too tight in the shoulders.”
“So what, then? You’re just going to walk around naked?”
Draping the towel over the shower rod, I answered, “I’m walking from here to the bed naked, then I’m going to sleep. Tammy will have us filling out reports and being debriefed all day tomorrow.” Squeezing past, I added, “I’m exhausted.”
I pulled back the covers and eased my bruised body down on the mattress. “Please turn off the lights,” I said.
Dropping her robe on the floor next to my side of the bed, she responded, “Well, if you’re not wearing a robe then I’m not wearing one, either.”
“The lights?”
“Not yet,” she said, sliding between the sheets and kissing me softly, “I want to check your ribs first.”
“That isn’t my ribs.”
She kissed me again. “I know.”
*
“Zach?” Wakefield called from the entrance to the third floor server room. “Where are you?”
He popped out from behind a row of servers, startling her. “Almost done downloading all the data,” he said. I just need another couple of minutes.”
“Great. Get that info uploaded to Langley; they’re expecting it.”
“Already begun transmission. It’s a huge file. They’ll be combing through it for months.”
“About that. I’ve been on the SAT phone giving my unofficial report, and I need to inform you that you’ve been promoted and reassigned. As of this moment, you’re Special Agent In Charge of the Computer Forensics Division. You’ll remain here in Cologne with the other two agents for as long as needed to pack up and ship all this stuff to a storage facility in the US.”
“I’m off the squad?” he asked, pausing his typing long enough to turn and look at her.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, she said, “There is no more squad. The A.D.D.T. operation has run its course, I’m afraid. We’ve all been offered reassignment. Or in some cases, termination.”
He was typing again, then stopped. “The Grangers?” he asked, without looking away from his computer screen.
“Yes, and Ryan.”
“But why?”
“Ryan,” Tammy began, dropping her hand from his shoulder. “Jesus, what a mess. His firing should come as no surprise. It’s obvious, really, and the only way for him to avoid jail time. As far as Valerie and Ron are concerned, they were freelance operators. They were only hired to be part of the A.D.D.T. unit.”
“And Leecy?”
“She’s being handled a little differently. She’ll be given the option to accept a new posting with sanctions in her permanent record, of course, or she can choose to leave.”
“So, you haven’t told her yet?”
“No, I just learned about all this myself, and I imagine they’ve all gone to sleep, don’t you?”
Zach typed briefly before powering down his laptop and disconnecting it from the server.
“Job’s done here. Langley will be receiving data for a few days.” He looked at Wakefield. “Do I have the option of refusing my new assignment?”
“You’d want to do that?”
“Possibly. I don’t know. But I don’t like being shipped around like a parcel from one department to another without so much as a ‘hey what do you think about doing this for us’ coming my way.”
“Zach, don’t be ridiculous. That’s not how the CIA operates. You’re given assignments. That’s it.”
“And what’s your new post?”
“Zach, what’s wrong with you? You’ve never acted like this before. You know I can’t tell you my posting. That’s classified.”
He shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Nothing’s wrong with me,” he said. “Sorry, I’m just tired and need some sleep. Walk me out?”
“Yeah, sure. Come on. I’ll give you a ride back to the hotel.”
Walking out of the building, they were greeted by Agent Leeds. “I hear we’re all wrapped—for tonight, anyway—and that my stay here has been extended. At least until the team arrives to haul away all the servers on the third floor.”
“So, you drew the short straw?” Wakefield asked.
“Something like that, I suppose.” He looked at Zach. “I understand congratulations are in order, young man.”
“What for?”
“You’ve been promoted and reassigned. Isn’t that right?” Leeds asked, looking at Tammy. Then, realizing he’d overstepped, offered, “My apologies for speaking out of turn, Tammy.” Climbing the stairs to the CCP offices, he changed the subject. “Now, I’ve been charged with the unenviable task of informing the father.”
“That’s right,” Wakefield said. “I forgot all about him. What’s going to happen to him?”
“Nothing. There’s no evidence of his involvement in any of his daughter’s dealings. I imagine, once we’re gone, he’ll live out his days here.”
“Good luck with that,” she said. “See you later?”
“Can’t think of a reason why not,” he said before entering the building.
“Why does he know about my promotion?” Zach asked after the door closed completely.
“Forgive me,” Wakefield said. “He was on the most recent call with our superiors, and it came up. That’s all.”
“Whatever,” he said, opening the door to the van. “It’s a small twenty-person division working out of a warehouse in Alexandria. It’s not a big deal. Can we just go t
o the hotel? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, climbing behind the wheel. “Let’s go. We could both use some rest.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
RUDE AWAKENING
“HURRY UP, RON,” VAL called, exiting the elevator ahead of me. “We’re late. They started ten minutes ago.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that,” I said, following Valerie out of the elevator, pulling at the neck of my new wool sweater. I felt like a kid at Christmas having received a gift I should be thankful for but secretly despised. The new clothes had been delivered promptly at 0600 this morning. I was grateful, but the sweater was too small for me. I felt like I was choking.
Zach opened the door after a few gentle knocks at Wakefield’s suite.
“Good morning. Coffee is on the table, and all your personal effects are there, as well. I charged all your phones last night. Tammy’s talking to Leecy in the other room.”
“Thanks,” I said, while pocketing my passport, wallet, and mobile phone. I noticed the dark circles under Zach’s eyes and the absence of Ryan. “What time did you finally get to bed? And where’s very Special Agent Ryan?”
Zack closed the door and sat down on the couch, facing his open laptop.
“I guess it was after two, and I don’t know where Ryan is.”
“Well,” Val said, “this is the homestretch, right? Almost at the finish line.”
“I suppose it is,” he said, without looking up from feverishly typing on his keyboard.
I was about to ask him a question when the double doors opened behind us, and I turned to see Tammy and Leecy.
“Sorry for being late this morning.”
“Don’t be,” Tammy responded, pouring a cup of coffee. “I needed to spend some time with Leecy, so it’s fine.” Looking Val and me over as she sipped black coffee, she added, “I see your clothes fit.”
“Just,” I said, pulling at the neck of the sweater again.
“Where’s Hodges?” Val asked, sitting down at the circular table.
Tammy looked at her watch. “He’s landing in the States right about now, or should be soon enough.”