“He’s smart,” Haley said.
“That why you ride him so hard?”
“He’s smart, but he’s still a kid,” she said. “This isn’t like when we were growing up.”
“No, but we also didn’t have us when we were growing up.”
Haley looked back at the message.
“I’m not taking a chance with Jacob’s life,” she said. “Which is why I’ve still got my backdoors into the laptop I gave him.”
“And if he realizes you’re using him?”
“He’s not that smart.”
“You’ve been wrong before,” Dana said. “Like when you said you thought he could do what you told him.”
“This is different,” Haley said. “Those programs are hidden so deep, I could barely find them.”
“And what if he ditches the laptop altogether? Or uses his phone?”
“Why would he?” she said. “It’s got all the tools he’d need to pull this off. Besides, he’s realized he was wrong. Now he’ll be trying to prove himself.”
“I hope you’re right,” Dana said. “What’s the play?”
“He’s fairly cryptic about what he found,” Haley said reading through the email again. “He wants to meet again.”
“In person?”
Haley nodded. “At Miguel’s house.”
Dana frowned.
“What?” Haley asked.
“Nothing,” she said.
“Don’t try to pull that,” Haley said. “I know you way too well. Spit it out.”
“Something’s off,” Dana said. “I mean, isn’t it weird that he’s been so . . . I don’t know. So headstrong the whole time you’ve been working together, and now suddenly he wants your help?”
“He finally realized he was out of his depth.”
“Maybe,” Dana said. “I’d feel better if you kept your distance for now. Just humor me here. Besides, if he’s worried about someone overhearing, you can set up an encrypted chat way more securely than you could sweep a room for bugs.”
Haley looked back at her laptop, then nodded.
“Alright,” she said. “I’ll see what he says. Probably not a bad idea to be cautious anyway.”
“I said I wanted to meet in person,” Stryker snapped.
“Why? We’re safer here,” Bonnie said.
“I don’t want someone seeing the chat logs,” he said.
“Then delete them,” she said. “Just like I showed you. Now are you going to be a big boy and tell me what you found, or are you going to sulk?”
He glared across the table and took a swig from the tankard in his right hand.
The same music drifted through the club as the first time she’d brought Miguel and Josef here, and the lights still danced in their seizure-inducing, pulsating rhythm. Even the old man, jabbering on about how to hack a telephone line was the same. In fact, the only difference was the champagne bucket in the middle of the table.
“You don’t have to be so hard on him,” Rogue whispered.
Haley rolled her eyes but then turned back to Stryker.
“I’m sorry, that was a bit harsh,” she said. “I know we’re all stressed, and I let it get to me. All I meant is that this is about as safe as we can be.”
Stryker’s face went from flushed and angry to a stony poker face.
“I get it; been hard for all of us,” he said.
Bonnie wasn’t sure if she was relieved or more concerned at the abrupt change.
“What did you find?” she said instead.
“The Volkags are planning something big,” Stryker said. “And I think they’re targeting us.”
“DS?” Rogue frowned. “They’re going to start a gang war.”
“And a lot of people are going to get caught in the crossfire,” Stryker replied. “But if we can cut them off at the knees, there’s a good chance they back down.”
“What are you proposing?” Bonnie asked.
“They’ve got a big shipment of guns coming in tomorrow night,” Stryker said. “I’m supposed to forge the customs approvals so they can bypass the normal inspections.”
“Just don’t do it,” Bonnie said. “Guns get stopped, and the Volkags don’t have what they need.”
“Or just let the cops know where the shipment will be delivered,” Rogue said. “We can let the boys in blue take care of the Russians just like last time.”
Stryker shook his head.
“I’m within shooting distance of the Volkags,” he said. “And we know that there is someone else in the police network, so if we try to tip them off, it’ll get back to Vlad.”
“Unless you have an army you’re not telling us about, sounds like we’re out of luck,” Bonnie said.
“Maybe not an army, but I know the guys have been chomping at the bit to get some revenge,” Josef said. “Both for Miguel and my dad.” He gave Bonnie a long look that sent a chill down her spine.
Bonnie exchanged a skeptical look with Rogue.
“Won’t that just start the gang war we’re trying to avoid?” Bonnie said.
“Not if they don’t know it was us,” Stryker said. “We’ll use masks and stay hidden until the Russians are out in the open. We’ll even pick up some fatigues from the surplus store to make it look like we’re military or cops.”
“Sounds like you have this figured out already,” Rogue said. “Why do you need us?”
Stryker looked at his feet and mumbled something.
“What?” Bonnie asked.
“I said I can’t get through the Customs office firewall,” Stryker snapped. “I need help figuring out how to make it all work.” He looked up at Bonnie. “I need your help.”
Bonnie chewed on her lip as she looked him up and down.
“Please,” Stryker said, his voice cracking. “They’ll kill me.”
“Of course we’ll help,” she said. “But we have to do it the right way.”
Stryker’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Absolutely,” he said. “Just tell me what you need from me.”
“Did they tell you exactly what they need you to do?” Bonnie asked.
He nodded and pulled a microchip from a slot on his armored forearm. He placed it on the table, and a holographic map of the dockyard appeared. There was blinking red dot over a ship a bit offshore, another right at the dock, and above a building several blocks from the waterfront.
“We have to make sure that the Customs documents that the inspectors have match what the ship provides,” Stryker said. He pointed to the dot above the office building. “We may be able to update the records in the system here, but according to Vlad they print off the records for the inspectors at least a day ahead of time.” He moved his finger to point at the dot next to the dock. “Which means they’ve probably already sent a paper copy at the inspector’s office.”
“I can get that one at least,” Rogue said. “Shouldn’t be too hard to sneak in there while they’re out inspecting something.”
“I can go ahead and update the record in the system,” Bonnie said. “You can just swap out the updated copy.”
Stryker shook his head. “This is why I need your help,” he said. “Looks like there are no external systems for the Customs office. I can’t even scan their systems, and we don’t have time to try to find another way in.”
“I’m sure I’ll be able to figure something out,” Bonnie said.
Stryker shook his head. “There’s not time,” he said. “The shipment comes in tomorrow night. If it gets held up, I’m dead.”
“Then we better work fast,” Bonnie said.
“It’ll be faster if we’re in the building,” Stryker said. “They won’t have any defenses if we can just jack in directly.”
“Too dangerous,” Bonnie said. “Anything goes wrong, and we’re dead.”
“Anything goes wrong and I’m dead,” Stryker said. “You don’t think I want to play this as safe as possible?”
“We’re not going to let you down,” Bonnie said. “We’l
l get it figured out.”
“And if we can’t?” Rogue asked quietly.
“We’ll get it figured out,” Bonnie repeated. “This isn’t our first rodeo.”
“But it is one of the fastest,” Rogue said. “And the kid is right, there isn’t much room for error.”
“I can’t just waltz in and ask to plug into a jack,” Bonnie said.
“Why not?” Stryker said. “Just do what you did with AKC and charm your way in.”
“I’m not the social butterfly Rogue is,” Bonnie said.
“You can be,” Rogue said.
Stryker nodded encouragingly.
“Why do I feel like I’m going to get outvoted here?”
“Because you are,” Rogue said with a smile. “At least the place you’ll be going won’t have guys with guns.”
“Did they take the bait?” Vlad asked.
Josef nodded. “It’s amazing what playing to their pride will let you get away with.”
Vlad chuckled. “Hacking emotions now?”
“Just the ones that suit me,” Josef replied. He took another sip of tequila. The honey smoothness still surprised him each time.
“And you’re sure that they’ll believe you?” Vlad asked before taking a sip of his own drink.
“They already do,” Josef said. “The harder part is going to be to have your men play their part, so we don’t spook them.”
Vlad waved his hand dismissively. “My men are professionals,” he said. “If I tell them not to say anything, they’ll barely breathe.”
Josef frowned. “They can’t get away,” he said. “And I want Bonnie alive.”
“You’ll get your revenge,” Vlad said as he grinned over the rim of his glass. “Trust me; what I’m planning to do to her will be worth the wait.”
Chapter Forty
The Customs office was the three-story, gray building in a forest of equally dull industrial-looking buildings. The only decoration on the exterior was “US Customs Office” in black block letters over the front door.
Haley glanced over the building from the café where she and Josef sat.
“You tried a full scan of the environment?” she said.
Josef nodded. “I tried everything you gave me,” he said. “About the only thing I didn’t do what was take a look at the actual configs.”
Haley sighed. “For once, I just wish that things would go easily.”
Josef nodded “Well, hopefully this won’t be too bad,” he said. “From what I can tell, there’s only one security guard, and his job is primarily to direct visitors, not keep people out.”
“Did you find someone on vacation?” Haley asked.
“Alexis Von Grant. She’s a hard-nosed bureaucrat that won’t bend the rules for anyone. According to her social media profile, she’s in Mexico this week.”
“Good to hear,” Haley said. She tapped the Bluetooth inner ear call—Dana.
The phone rang several times before Dan picked up.
“Yeah?”
“You almost to the inspector’s office?” Haley said.
“Fifteen minutes out.”
“I’ll get started then.”
“Good luck, and may the force be with you,” Dana said, clicking offline.
Haley finished her chai tea and set the empty cup back on the saucer. She stood and lifted her toolbox, the cable company logo emblazoned on the side, and slowly started walking across the street.
The Bluetooth beeped in her ear.
“Comms check?” Josef asked.
“You couldn’t have done this while I was still sitting at the table?”
“Didn’t want the interference,” he said. “This is a better test.”
“Easy to say when you’re not the one having to keep it together.”
“This is nothing,” Josef said. “Dana said you two did this once with the pregnancy suit.”
Haley laughed. “That thing was so uncomfortable. Especially because I was wearing two other layers of clothes beneath it.” She glanced over her shoulder and cocked one eyebrow. “You should try it sometime,” she said. “Just to see how much of a pain it is to bring a smart-ass kid into the world.”
“Easy there, tiger,” he said. “I wasn’t questioning your mad parenting skills.”
Her lips twitched, but she let it drop.
She hung up before she pushed through the revolving doors on the front of the building. The reception was as grand as Haley had expected, which meant it was functional and ugly.
The most boring, bland, bureaucratically-suited white wall with an American flag in a brass floor plate sitting next to it was to her right. Along the left side was a reception desk with the one security guard that Josef had mentioned. The man looked up from his breakfast, a bit of powdered sugar clinging to his chin. He looked surprised that anyone had come through the doors this early.
“Can I help you?” he said.
Haley held up the fake cable company badge. “Elizabeth Gardner. We got a call that a Ms. Von Grant was having issues with the cable in her office.”
“Ms. Von Grant is on vacation,” the security guard said. “I don’t know if I can let you in without her authorization.”
Haley grabbed a clipboard from her tool bag and flipped a couple pages.
“Says she wanted us to fix it while she’s on vacation,” Haley said. Then she made her eyes go wide. “There are, um . . . some very strong comments in the call log.”
“That sounds like Ms. Von Grant,” the guard said with a chuckle.
“She’s called in at least three times,” Haley continued. “And I really don’t want to have to come back here, especially if she’s going to be here. It should only take a second. Probably just need to restart her cable box.”
The man looked up and nodded slowly.
“She can definitely be a bit of a challenge to work with. But I can’t let you in without an escort.”
“This will just take a minute,” Haley said. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
The man shook his head. “Sorry, can’t let you up alone.
“Well, could you come with me?” Haley asked. “Like I said, probably just need a minute. It’s probably something stupid, so if we can get her back up and running, I’m sure that’ll help her mood when she gets back.”
“There’s nothing I’d want more,” the guard said. “But I can’t leave my desk.”
Haley put the clipboard on the desk and leaned over, scanning for some kind of leverage. The only things on the desk were a green stress ball, a framed picture of the guard and two preteen boys, and a bucket of pins.
“Is there anybody else?” Haley said. “I really don’t want to come back here again. Traffic was horrendous this morning.”
“You’re telling me. There’s no getting around the freeway these days, unfortunately.”
“Took me almost an hour and a half,” she said. “Getting my son up early enough to leave in time was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life . . .”
“Oh, lord,” the guard said. “I can barely get my boys out the door on time on a normal day. How’d you get them out of bed an hour early?”
“Hour and a half,” Haley corrected. “And fortunately, he’s deathly allergic to the lights being thrown on and his covers being ripped off. I practically had to run down the street with that stupid comforter to get him out of bed this morning.”
The man laughed.
“Sounds like he’d get along good with my boys,” he said. “Tell you what, let me just see if Ron can get here a few minutes early.”
Haley had no idea who Ron was, but she thanked him profusely as he picked up the phone and dialed. He waited for several seconds before his face lit up.
“Hey, Ron,” he said. “George. I’ve got a cable tech here to fix Von Grant’s TV. I know, right? Anyways, any chance you could come down a few minutes early and escort her upstairs?”
It was silent for a moment, but then the guard nodded and gave a thumbs up.
/> “Great, thanks. We’ll see you in a second.”
He hung up the phone, and Haley smile again as he told her to wait in the small reception area. The couch was likely older than her, if the paisley embroidery was any indication, but it was surprisingly comfortable.
Several minutes later another security guard, who likely had as many or more doughnuts as George, waddled to the reception.
The guard at the desk looked up and pointed at Haley. The newcomer nodded and made his way over. Haley stood and walked to meet him halfway in the middle of the lobby. She held a hand out and smiled at him.
“Good morning,” she said. “I’ll be out your hair in just a second. I really appreciate you helping me out.”
The man smiled. His left front tooth looked like it was gray and dead.
He took her hand and wrapped it in a meaty grip, shaking it hard enough that he nearly dislocated her shoulder, but Haley hid the pain from her face and kept smiling.
“My pleasure,” he said. “I’m Ronald, but all my friends call me Ron. Right this way.”
He swept his arm out grandly. Haley took his lead and walked through the turnstiles as he badged her through. She had to lift her tool bag to pass over the metal turnstile.
Ron squeezed through the gate and then looked at her apologetically.
“Elevators are out,” he said and nodded to the stairway at the far end of the hall.
“Not a problem,” Haley said. “These things happen.” Especially when someone messed with the junction box like Josef had the night before.
They took the stairs, and by the time they got to the third floor, Ron was panting so heavily that Haley was worried he would have a heart attack.
“Are you alright?” she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder protectively.
He smiled between gasping breaths and glanced at her hand on his shoulder. He tried to speak, but it came out as a rattling cough, and so he simply gave her a thumbs up.
“Why don’t you wait over here,” Haley said motioning to the waiting area outside the office where several padded chairs sat. “Let me get you some water.”
He started to protest but only ended up in a coughing fit again. Haley gently pushed his shoulder towards the chairs, and this time he didn’t resist. Gasping in wheezing, he plopped down in one of the chairs and Haley got him a paper cup from the water cooler across the room.
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