Countermeasure (Countermeasure Series)

by Cecilia Aubrey

  Back at her desk, she checked for a delivery status notification from the email sent to Bauer. Disappointed at not finding one, she realized she was being silly. He was three hours ahead of her and probably fast asleep—or out on a date; not glued to his computer, like she had been, waiting for her reply.

  Cassandra frowned at the little pinch at picturing him on a date. Why that image bothered her was a conundrum. She was obsessing about the personal life of that man when she herself wasn’t even interested in a relationship. He incited feelings in her that she had never had with anyone before. They bordered on feelings she had when thinking of her mother and happier times. Confused, she wondered if she should call Jessica. Oh man, no way! She’d hound me to the ground.

  Returning her attention to the screen, Cassandra read Trevor’s email again. She realized he had not included what his chosen compensation would be, which made her more apprehensive about his motives. Her heart was a fist in her chest when she considered he’d agreed to help her for illicit reasons. Focus. He said yes. I only need him for information. Once I have it, I’ll be on my own again and won’t have to deal with him. Somehow, that last thought didn’t make her feel any better.

  ****

  George had been waiting for Trevor outside when he arrived home that evening ready to go to the Ram’s for dinner. The live music, good food, and outdoor patio made it the perfect place for two single men to hang out after work on a warm summer evening. Although Trevor hadn’t quite been in the mood for a pub night, eventually the need to keep his mind on something other than Cassandra James had won the internal argument in his head.

  He had to admit they’d had fun at the Ram’s. Immersed in conversation with George and the friends they had made at the pub over the years, Trevor hadn’t realized it was past ten when they left. He had been fidgety to get home to check his email for a reply from Cassandra. The woman was like a drug, for sure. They arrived home later than he had expected.

  “What the…!” George exclaimed as Trevor jumped out of the car before it came to a stop, took the front stairs two at a time, and ran straight to the office. He sat at his computer and quickly checked for a reply from Cassandra. Elation filled him when he spotted it and unlocked the encrypted email. It was concise and short. It contained everything he needed to begin his part: placing a tap on Allison’s family’s phones. There was no underlying comment or tone. It was sterile, businesslike, and straight to the point.

  He stared at it onscreen, part of him disappointed while the other screamed, You’re crazy, dude! He had expected more. He should have known better. It was still too early in the game. He was still trying to figure out what was going on in his own head; how could he even expect to know what was going on in hers? He saved everything she had sent him to his portable hard drive and made a mental note to work on it the next morning. The race was on.

  ****

  A long and restful night had done wonders for Cassandra’s frame of mind. Confident that with Bauer’s help it was just a matter of time before she would have an idea of Allison’s whereabouts, she wanted to be ready. Following her personal protocol, she efficiently packed a duffel bag with practical clothes and personal items.

  Back in her office, she organized a small travel pouch with the thumb drive containing a soft copy of the case files and her passport. Satisfied everything was ready to go at a moment’s notice, Cassandra sat back and collected her thoughts. There was nothing more she could do at this point. It now came down to a waiting game.

  ****

  It had been a couple of days since Trevor’s last contact with Cassandra via email. He had settled into his regular routine, not missing a beat after the taps had been placed. As a precaution, he had also entered some queries on the historical archived data. He had narrowed the search to the last two weeks since Allison’s copy of the files, expecting to find phone calls or emails sent to her family. Once he analyzed the incoming and outgoing traffic from the numbers tapped, he would be able to see if any strange activity had taken place.

  The initial results showed calls made between her parents and sister about the same time Allison made the copy. After a quick review of the content of those calls, it was clear that they didn’t know where she was. Their concern for her was evident and they were clueless as to why she had taken off without telling them.

  Throughout the day, his query rendered other calls. Some totally unrelated to Allison, but one single call to her parent’s house, made four days after Allison skipped town, caught his eye. The call was from Italy.

  “Bingo!” A flash of adrenaline shot through him. He loved finding the right trail; it was a rush like no other. Trevor often wondered if field operatives felt the same rush during stakeouts and pursuits.

  Listening in on the replay of the short audio file, Trevor confirmed the call was indeed from Allison.

  “Mom?” Allison’s voice was quiet. It fit the woman’s picture to a tee.

  “Allison, where are you? We’ve been worried sick!” Her mother’s voice showed deep concern.

  “I’m okay. Don’t worry.”

  “I know how you get around this time of the year….” Her mother hesitated.

  “No, this time is different.” Allison’s voice took a sudden uplifted tone, almost as if to deflect her mother’s train of thought. “I had to attend a job interview. It was short notice. I didn’t have time to let you know.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes, Mom. I need to go, now. I’ll call again as soon as I can. Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.”

  Trevor considered emailing Cassandra his latest findings, but decided against it. Unless he could confirm Allison’s current location, he didn’t want to give her false hope. The call was ten days old and couldn’t be taken into account. By now, Allison could be anywhere on the planet.

  Trevor saved the files he had flagged as relevant to her case in a separate folder and allowed the query to continue running in the background. He finished his task list and headed home for a Call of Duty gaming fix with George.

  ****

  A day later, Trevor struck gold. Right below a few other calls exchanged between family members the night before was a call from abroad. He pulled up the call and listened in. He recognized Allison’s trembling voice talking to her mother.

  “Hi, Honey! How did it go? Did you get the job you wanted?” Her mother sounded excited for her.

  “Everything went wrong, mom.” Allison’s tone was dark, and her mother noticed right away something was awry.

  “Alli, what’s wrong? Are you all right?”

  “I’m going to be okay, mom. Don’t worry too much. Just called to say hi and to tell you I love you.” Allison avoided the discussion with her mother and quickly dismissed her concern by adding, “I can’t stay on the phone for long. People are waiting for it. Tell dad and Kara I love them. I miss you all.” She then hurriedly hung up.

  There were other calls made immediately after by her mother to Allison’s sister to let her know she had called. Her mother had expressed concern about Allison’s tone—a mother’s intuition about a daughter she knew to be holding something back.

  Trevor traced the new call to Paris, France. It appeared she was moving around Europe, a sign that she was possibly on the run. But why, and from whom? Armed with Allison’s current location, Trevor could finally contact Cassandra. The prospect made him heat up inside. He could barely wait to give her the news. She would be happy to know she could move forward with her search.

  But a new thought pierced his brain. If he gave Cassandra this new bit of information, she would dump him faster than a used newspaper. She would bid him goodbye and take off for Paris on the first available redeye she could worm her way onto, and only contact him again if she needed additional help on the case. He was sure of it.

  That also meant she would be farther from him than she already was. He didn’t quite like that. Trevor wished to be close to her on a regular basis, to see her smile, to smel
l her fresh scent in the morning. He almost banged his head on his desk as those wishes invaded his mind.

  Suddenly, a plan began to develop. A crazy, stupid one, but it would give him control of the convoluted situation between them. He wouldn’t be playing desk jockey this time around. He knew exactly what he was going to request in return for his services. She wasn’t going to like it one single bit. Trevor considered the fight he had ahead of him, but it would be totally worth it. His smile widened as he pictured her flustered expression when he told her his “price.” He would love to be a fly on her wall during the phone call he planned to place later that night.

  Trevor watched George approach and sit on the corner of his desk facing him with narrowed eyes and a pensive look on his face. “When are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?”

  “What do you mean?” Trevor feigned ignorance.

  “I’ve shared a house with you for a long time, Trev. Although you usually hold things close to your chest, I can see that something has been bugging you since that woman showed up at your desk a few days ago. You’ve not been yourself.”

  Trevor pondered on his plans regarding Cassandra and realized that, if he followed through with what he had in mind, he would need George’s support. Not for himself, but so he could help Cassandra as he agreed to, be the asset he had promised he would be.

  He took a deep breath and, breaking his own rule about opening up to others, trusted the story to George, keeping his own interest in the formula and how Cassandra had gotten to him, as well as his deeper feelings for her, to himself.

  “Are you fucking nuts?” George exploded.

  “No. She needs my help.”

  “Man…you’ve totally lost it, my friend. Either that or…” George cocked his head to the side and stared hard at Trevor for a while, then his eyes grew wide and a smile spread along his lips. “Holy shit! You like her. Like really, really like her,” and burst out laughing.

  “Fuck you, asshole,” Trevor retorted, giving him the eye and shoving him off the desk when George couldn’t stop laughing.

  “Why didn’t you tell me right away? I could have helped you from the get-go,” he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Damn…it’s like being in a spy movie.”

  George’s unconditional acceptance of his explanation had Trevor questioning whether he should have also disclosed his parents’ story to him; the past four years had weighed heavy on his shoulders and he seriously considered if this was finally the right time to discuss it with George. Breaking the silence would definitely be a balm to his soul. But as fast as the thought crossed his mind, he buried it deep down again. For now, he would keep those pieces for himself. He steeled his thoughts and set his course with fate. He had an important call to make.

  ****

  The phone was ringing when Cassie walked in the door after hitting the grocery store. Her refrigerator had been pitiful, even the crumbs had screamed “feed me” and her stomach had joined in the clamor. She dumped the bags on the counter, grabbing the phone with one hand while scrambling to keep the eggs from falling over with the other.

  “Hello?” she answered breathlessly, just as the machine kicked in.

  “Ms. James?” She recognized the voice right away and her stomach dropped. A million thoughts raced through her head. He’s calling. That can’t be good. He changed his mind. He found something.

  “Hello? Are you there?”

  “Yes. Yes, I am here Bauer. I just walked in.”

  “Ah…nice to know you remember my voice,” he said smugly.

  “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t know too many people with a brogue like yours. What’s up? Why are you calling me?”

  Cassandra could sense a smile in his voice when he responded without ceremony, “I have information on Allison.”

  On hearing his news, Cassandra could only stare at the counter in disbelief. Finally, a lead. Barely restraining her excitement, she asked, “You’re serious, right? Of course you are, or you wouldn’t be calling. I knew it! She called her family, didn’t she?”

  “Yes, she did; your hunch was right. Congratulations, by the way.”

  “Thank you for doing this. Send me the details in an email so I can…”

  “Wait a minute!” he interrupted; “I haven’t told you want I want in return.”

  Cassandra grew silent. In her excitement she had completely forgotten about the payment. The moment she had been dreading was finally here. Thoughts raced again in her head. He’s going to tell me something I’m not going to like—or will I like it? Maybe it won’t be so bad. Then she remembered his wicked grin in the rearview mirror. This is going to be bad.

  Cassandra exhaled deeply. “Okay, hit me. What is it?”

  “I’m coming with you. That’s my price.” He wasn’t joking.

  “Are you crazy!? High on energy drinks!?” Cassandra’s voice pitched higher and higher with each exclamation. “This is my case! You are not going! You’ll only get in the way. Me tracker. You geeky desk jockey. You gather information. I use the information.”

  “Wow. Since you feel so strongly about it, I guess this is good night. Nice talking with you again.”

  “Wait! Wait! Don’t hang up!” Cassandra rushed in as his voice faded. Afraid her last chance was slipping through her fingers, she slid to the kitchen floor in defeat. She rested her forehead on her knees and calmed herself down before offering a compromise. “Please give me the information. I’ll check it out and keep you updated.”

  “What do you take me for? I’m no fool. I’m not giving it to you unless you agree to take me with you.”

  “Damn it, Bauer! You have no field experience!”

  “If I don’t go, you have nothing,” he stressed.

  Cassandra realized she was in a no-win situation. She desperately wanted—more like needed—that information. Hell! “O-kay…I…guess…you can come.”

  Relief and excitement colored Trevor’s voice. “Great. Glad you agree! It’ll be good—you’ll see. I won’t let you down, Cassandra.”

  The way her name flowed from his lips with an Irish lilt gave her a little thrill. “Yeah, well, that’s yet to be seen, Bauer. Now that you have what you wanted, give me what I want.”

  “Nope. No can do. I’m not giving you anything yet. I know you. I give it to you and you are on the next flight out, leaving me eating your dust.”

  “Why would I do that? You’re such a nice guy.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice. She could hear his chuckle over the line.

  “All you need to know is that we’ll be going to Paris. We’ll track her from there.”

  Cassandra’s heart raced and a rush of adrenaline flowed through her veins. She perked up. “Paris? She’s in Paris? What’s she doing there?”

  “No fishing. I’ll give you the details when we’re there. I’ll book our flights tonight. Are you okay with business class?”

  “Stop. Hold it right there. I said you can come. I didn’t say anything about you paying for my flight. Give me the details. I’ll make my own arrangements.”

  After a pause, Trevor’s voice came over the line. “Okay, Cassandra. I’ll send you what you need via email.”

  “I’ll send you my itinerary when I have it. Just make sure you get there around the same freaking time. There’s no way in hell I’m sitting around waiting on your ass to show up. I’ll let you know when my reservation is made. I’ll book the earliest flight possible; the faster we get there, the better.”

  “Aye-aye, Captain. Be there same time. Noted. Oh, and Cassandra, don’t worry, this should be a hell of a ride.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Just be there,” she muttered before disconnecting the call.

  Finally, she had the lead she needed—Paris—but never imagined she would be saddled with a green partner for the duration of that job.

  Partner! “Oh, shit! Nathan!” She had never returned his call. “Well, better late than never,” she murmured as she dialed his number, already reciting in her head how
she planned to lay the cards on the table. Either he accepts that we are only friends or we’ll have to part ways for good. She braced herself for what was to come.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Purgatory

  The flight from San Francisco to Washington, DC was uneventful. Cassandra had shut her mind to thoughts of Bauer and used the time on board to go through the files one more time. As she waited to take the next leg of the flight to Paris, she stretched in the boarding area to loosen up a bit—the cramped seating on the flight over had left her feeling like a human pretzel. Checking her watch, she calculated that she had another two hours to kill—plenty of time to grab a bite before her evening flight—and headed in the direction of the food court.

  ****

  Trevor arrived at the airport a few hours in advance, hoping to spend some time with Cassandra prior to departure. She had sent him her itinerary and, being the good boy he was, he had followed her directions to a tee. What she didn’t know was he had taken it one step further. He had booked a seat on the same flight out of Dulles, the second leg of her trip.

  He had searched for Cassandra but hadn’t found her. Dread had filled him, thinking she had possibly changed to an earlier flight. But his logical side had grounded him, reminding him of her insistence that they arrive around the same time. With time to kill, he was hanging out in the Business Class lounge.

  He grinned at the memory of her reaction to his demand. He could almost see her sputtering in rage. As that image filled his mind, he heard the announcement advising boarding was about to begin. He grabbed his laptop bag and proceeded to the gate.

  ****

  Cassandra arrived back in the boarding area and was surprised at how full it had become. Searching, she found an empty chair facing the boarding gate and quickly claimed it.

  As she waited, her mind wandered and a vision of Bauer’s wicked grin—the one he had worn as she had driven away from his house—teased her again. She had wondered at that grin countless times over the last few days. What was he thinking? Did it involve her? What the heck am I thinking?