by Tanya Stowe
But all Grandad’s words and faith hadn’t saved his daughter.
Jared wished it had happened. Wished his grandfather’s sincere belief could have saved his mother. When he was young, he’d wished and prayed for it with all his heart. At times, he’d felt that someone was out there...listening. But those feelings had faded. His grandfather died, then his mother. His prayers and the hope of someone listening died, too.
He’d lost the farm but finished college with a new goal, a new purpose. A deep, secret hope that the sacred vows he’d made to Jessica would hold their marriage together. But there had been nothing sacred in them and even that last hope had died.
He wished he was wrong. Wished there was a great and powerful God whose strength he could draw on because he needed it. Even with all the precautions Kopack and his men had taken, the Black Knights still found ways to get close to Sassa and Keri. Fear clamped his stomach like a vise, causing him to clutch Keri tighter.
She whimpered and he immediately loosened his hold. “I’m sorry, baby.”
Keri nestled her face into the curve of his neck with a small sound. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Is that tooth hurting you?” The sweet baby smell, one he’d come to love, swept over him. She whimpered again and he pressed his lips into her blond curls, much in the same way he’d kissed her mother.
“See? It’s just a gesture of affection. But how can we convince Mommy?”
Keri looked up at him, her big blue eyes rimmed with tears. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her again. “You really don’t feel well, do you? It’s all right. Mommy will be here in a minute.”
In fact, Sassa had already pulled her hands out of the sealed gloves in the container and was jerking her lab coat off in a frustrated manner. She strode to the office. But instead of taking Keri from his arms, she marched to the full trash can and began digging through the crumpled papers near the top. Sassa’s assistants usually shredded all the papers in the lab, but they hadn’t had time for that task this morning. As soon as they’d arrived, Sassa had started the now “failed” experiment.
Sassa grabbed the top paper, carefully unfolded it, then tossed it to the floor beside the metal can. She grasped the next one.
After a few puzzled moments, Jared said, “I take it the experiment was a failure.”
She pulled out another paper, smoothed it and glanced across it. “Yes. Something’s wrong.”
Another paper joined the ones on the floor. Jared waited for her to finish her explanation but instead, she lifted the paper. “This is the one.”
Jared joined her and scanned the scribbled equations on the page. “What is it?”
“This is the scratch note I made last night before I entered the formula into the computer. I was certain I had found the answer.” She slid into the desk chair and brought up the computer screen. Keri squirmed, reaching for her mother. Jared shifted her to the other arm, hoping the baby wouldn’t distract Sassa from her train of thought.
Formulas appeared on the screen, along with instructions Sassa had typed for the experiment. She held the paper up to the screen and compared the two equations. “There! There’s the discrepancy. The computer formula I used for the experiment is missing a decimal.”
She looked at Jared expectantly.
He frowned. “You worked very late last night, Sassa. You can’t be upset with yourself for dropping a decimal.”
“You don’t understand. I didn’t drop it. I held my notes up to the screen just like this and compared them. Not once, Jared, but three times. I’ve been having trouble with my formulas. I’ve had to check and recheck them due to lots of errors. I’d chalked those mistakes up to stress and exhaustion. But last night I knew I was tired and couldn’t afford to make an error.”
He stared at her. “You’re saying...someone’s been tampering with the formulas on the computer? Why would they do that? Besides, that’s impossible. The IT guys have been monitoring your computer. They’d know if someone had accessed it.”
“It’s easy enough to find out. I’ll check my files to see who logged in last.” She shifted back to the keyboard.
“Wait. Don’t do anything.” His mind was whirling. “If someone has mirrored your screen and you look up that data record, they’ll know we suspect a problem.”
She froze. “What should I do?”
“Don’t do anything.” He handed her Keri, pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed his supervisor in Washington. The phone rang and rang, so he hung up and dialed an emergency number. Someone came on the line immediately and transferred him to the border patrol’s IT department. Much to his relief, the IT man in charge of the combined FBI and border patrol team’s efforts answered the call. Mark was a friend of Jared’s and he quickly explained the situation.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll get back to you.” Mark hung up and Jared lowered his phone.
Sassa stared at him. Her eyes, so much like her daughter’s, looked wide, innocent and frightened. “What did they say?”
Jared shook his head. “We had a piece of good fortune. Mark is the IT specialist on duty. I’ve talked to him quite a bit since this started. He knows Spyder’s techniques and trademarks better than anyone. That’s why they put him in charge of the team. But the Spyder knows Mark, too. They’re like dueling hackers. Mark says that the Spyder is the only one he knows who is capable of creating a program to bypass the security he designed. Mark thought he was on top of everything. He’s pretty upset that the Spyder might have gotten past him.”
She closed her eyes. “If Mark believes the Spyder got through his security, then the hacker has the formula.”
Jared’s blood turned cold. “What makes you so sure?”
“I’m almost positive the formula I worked out last night is the correct one. That’s why I was so frustrated when the experiment failed just now. I knew something was wrong, so I came in here to double-check my work.”
“Why would Spyder access the file, copy it and then alter it? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Mark told you Spyder likes to play games. Maybe he’s been toying with me.”
“You think he’s been trying to throw you off by tampering with your numbers?” Jared asked.
Sassa nodded, her eyes wide. “Maybe he’s been stalling my efforts, trying to give Chekhov the time he needs to find Sam’s formula. Or, more important, the time he needs to get to me. The last thing the Black Knights want is for me to discover the formula and share it with your scientists at the border patrol. As soon as that happens, they’ll start on a cure. Even if Chekhov finds Sam’s copy of the formula, a cure would destroy his plan.”
“You may be right. Chekhov would work both angles—find Sam’s copy and get to you at the same time.”
Jared’s phone rang. “Tell me you have good news for me.”
“I’m afraid not.” Mark’s tone was intense. “It looks like there might be another open link to her computer, but because it’s inactive I can’t say for sure. Have Ms. Nilsson start typing. I’ll send a ping through to see if it lasts longer or goes farther than usual. I might even be able to follow the ping to its location.”
“Hang on.” He turned to Sassa. “Don’t you usually write a report after an experiment?”
“Yes.”
“Start one now. Don’t say anything about discovering the mistake in the formula. Just say the experiment was a failure.” He reached for Keri and fumbled with his phone, almost dropping it before he switched on the speaker so Sassa could hear. Then he tucked the baby into the crook of his arm.
With her arms free, Sassa paused for a moment then began to type.
Jared spoke into the phone. “She’s typing, Mark.”
“Got it. I’ll send the ping along the line.”
They waited. Keri squirmed in his arms and fussed as Sassa typed furiously. Jared held his breath.
Sassa nodded. “That sounds like downtown Fresno.”
Mark heard her response. “Should I send the address to Kopack and the team?”
“No. If Spyder hacked our computer system, he may also have hacked our communications. I’ll contact Kopack from this end. In the meantime, do your best to make sure the Spyder doesn’t know we’ve found him.”
“Will do.”
Jared hung up then studied Sassa’s scratch paper, trying to memorize the equation. He looked up and met her worried gaze. “Maybe we can move fast enough to get your formula back.”
* * *
Kopack assembled a team with the speed and silence that amazed Jared. Local police units met them halfway, lights flashing but sirens silent. Some of the one-way streets at the center of town were already cordoned off when they arrived. Kopack and Jared climbed out of their vehicle and met near the front of the building.
Kopack studied him. “I don’t need to ask if you can handle this.” His words sent warmth shooting through Jared. He didn’t need Kopack’s approval to do his job. But knowing that he was an equal part of the team filled a hole. That thought eased him in ways he didn’t expect. It felt good to feel worthy and capable. It gave him the shot of adrenaline he needed in this situation.
“We’ve decided to let the local police take the lead on the breach. They know the area better...especially this building. The chief tells me this apartment building is a known haven for criminals. Our team will stand back and cover any escape. I want you far away from any confrontations because as soon as we have our hands on his computer, I want you to check for the formula and if he sent the info to someone else. Am I clear?”
“Loud and clear.”
Kopack strode forward and greeted the chief of police. The man nodded. “Your suspect is in there. My men spoke with the building supervisor. To our surprise, he cooperated. Seems like he’s a little worried about your suspect. Says there’s lots of electronic equipment hooked up in the apartment. It has overloaded the system twice and the manager had some encounters with your character. Sounds like the suspect put the heebie-jeebies in the apartment manager. ‘Freaked him’ in his words. One other thing. Your suspect is a woman.”
Jared and Kopack halted their movements.
The police chief studied them, his gaze moving from Kopack to Jared and back. “So you didn’t know. The manager confirmed it. Says she’s tiny but vicious. Seems she threatened him with multiple ways to hurt him if he interrupted her again.”
Kopack took a deep breath. “He’s right. This woman is dangerous. She will not hesitate to take down your men, so tell them to be extra cautious.” The chief nodded and turned away to speak into the radio attached to his shoulder.
Jared shook his head. Just when he thought they were gaining on the Black Knights, they found some new and shocking way of upsetting them. The Spyder was a woman. Jared pulled out his phone and texted the info to his IT team in Washington. No matter what happened, he wanted Mark to have this additional information. If she escaped...
Jared didn’t have the time to finish his thought. The police chief gave the signal and men in SWAT uniforms entered the building. They operated as a single, efficient unit that impressed Jared. Within minutes they had the lobby cleared and were signaling for Kopack’s team to enter.
The team didn’t use the ramshackle elevator. Jared was glad—it looked as if it hadn’t been serviced in years. The SWAT team signaled again and Jared followed up the stairs. On the third floor of the four-floor apartment building, the SWAT team signaled for Kopack’s men to hold back. They halted in the stairwell as the SWAT team exited and closed the door behind them.
For one long moment—silence. Then a boom echoed through the building as the police breached the door and entered the apartment. Shouts of “This is the police!” echoed through the door, but further words were muffled as they moved deeper into the apartment. Then another loud stretch of silence had Jared holding his breath again.
At last, a SWAT officer opened the door. “The apartment is empty. Looks like your suspect got away.”
Kopack made a harsh sound then looked at Jared. “Wait here.”
He signaled his men forward and left Jared. Frustration made his blood pound. His senses tingled. Sound seemed amplified in the empty stairwell. He heard a small click and then a soft swish from above. Looking up, he saw a slender figure lean over the stairwell then jerk back. Running footsteps echoed away from him.
He pulled the door open and shouted, “She’s here!” then spun and lunged up the steps to the roof.
One flight up, he paused at the door, heart pounding even louder. He inched the door open, expecting a bullet to come whizzing toward him. When nothing happened, he opened it farther and peeked around both corners. Directly in front of him was the large metal box of the air-conditioning unit. He couldn’t see around it, but a scan of the immediate area assured him the Spyder was not on this side of the roof.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out and hurried to the other side of the box. Easing out, he scanned the roof. A slender woman in the typical black pants and T-shirt of the Black Knights ran from one end of the roof to the other. Her long black hair flew in the wind as she searched for a way down.
Jared eased away from the unit. She was standing at the edge of the roof, looking down. As he watched, she stepped up onto the edge.
Immediately, Heiser’s gloating grin as he stepped in front of the bus popped into Jared’s mind. The Spyder was going to jump.
No! Not this time!
Jared lunged for her. The wind whistled around him...around them both. Between the wind swirling around the roof and Spyder’s intense focus, she didn’t hear him until he was only a foot or two away. Startled, she took a step forward. Jared dove for her, wrapped his arm around her waist and caught her midair. He outweighed her by a hundred pounds and his heavier momentum carried them both sideways onto the safety of the roof. They rolled over and over. Even before they stopped, Spyder kicked and punched at him. She aimed the flat of her hand at his nose. She meant to break it, but Jared turned his head and her palm smashed against his cheek. It hurt, but not as much as a blow to the nose would have.
He grunted but held tight. Suddenly she shifted. Her hands were no longer punching at his face, searching to do damage. They lay on their sides, facing each other. He started to tighten his hold. Almost too late, he realized she was reaching for the gun on the ground beside them. He grasped her wrist but she wriggled the other hand free. Jared pushed with his legs and rolled on top of her, pinning her arm beneath both their bodies. With his greater weight, he was able to hold her down as Kopack and his team burst out of the door and onto the roof. Even then, the Spyder didn’t give up.
Her head lunged forward and, like a vicious animal, she tried to bite Jared’s face. Two men grasped her arms. Jared rolled free as they dragged her back, still spitting and struggling to reach the edge of the roof.
Kopack helped Jared to his feet but he never took his gaze off her face. Her features were twisted into a mask of boiling rage.
Heiser’s mocking smile of defiance. The Spyder’s rage. How many others in the Black Knights were poised on the brink of uncontrollable emotions? How could they possibly defeat such violent hatred?
Lord, help us.
* * *
Sassa finished her fake report but was afraid to close her computer until she heard from Jared. She rose and began to pace, wondering what was going on.
Did they catch the hacker? Did he have the file with the formula? Had she finally discovered the right one, the formula Sam had stumbled upon months ago?
She couldn’t sit still or stop her mind from churning with questions. Sassa had to do something. Hitching her daughter onto her hip, she headed out of the small office and straight for the do
or. She cracked it open and met Agent Paulsen’s puzzled gaze.
“Any word yet?”
“No, ma’am. I’ll let you know if I hear something.”
She nodded and shut the door. Matt and the other lab assistants, Libby and Jacki, had just finished cleaning up the last experiment.
Matt paused. “All done. Do you want me to close up?”
Sassa shook her head. “Set it up for one more test. Libby, will you take Keri for me?”
The assistants exchanged looks.
Sassa read the frustration in their features. “I know it’s late, but we have to try one more time. I think this is the one.”
Matt hesitated, but only for a moment. “All right. One more time...for Sam.”
Sassa smiled. “For Sam.”
Libby reached for the glass slides. “Let me get these set up and I’ll take little Miss Keri.”
Matt went to the cabinet where they kept the specimens and Jacki, the youngest of the lab assistants, shrugged. “Who needs dates when you’re saving the world?”
“I’m sorry, Jacki.”
The young woman pushed her thick black glasses up on the bridge of her nose. “Don’t be. I think he only asked me out because he wants me to help him pass his chemistry class.”
“Loser!” Libby called out from the other side of the room.
“I agree. Drop him before it’s too late.” Matt peeked out from the open doors of the specimen storage cabinet.
Sassa wanted to smile but she looked for Jacki’s reaction before commenting.
The young woman shrugged. “I hate it when they’re right.”
Sassa nodded. “Yes, but you love it that they care so much.”
“Yeah. It’s nice.”
Yes, it is. How fortunate she was—they were—to have this team, each other’s support.
Sassa took a deep breath. “Hey, I just... I... Thank you.”
Across the way, Matt smiled. “For Sam...and you.”