“But criminals got wind of it and corrupted it.”
Bad people using good things for evil gain, Jody thought. Timeless. “I guess you’re creating an undercover sting with false usernames to take down these particular gun dealers on the Arsenal?”
Evan smiled, and something like admiration in his eyes unnerved her. “Yes. We’re trying to get them and take down the Arsenal website along with its creator. He goes by @Lawman1. Ironic, isn’t it? He’s a pompous jerk. Taunts law enforcement openly on his online forum. But he’s not invincible. He’ll make a mistake. And I’ll find him.”
Of course he would. It would help him climb the career ladder in the Secret Service.
“I did a little background on you, Agent Novak.” Wheezer had that look. He was man-crushing. “They call you the Wasp underground.”
“Why?” Jody asked.
“Wasps eat spiders. Fly right into their web and snatch them,” Wheezer said. He was like a puppy over Evan.
Evan shifted, as if uncomfortable with the praise. That was new. “I may have had a hand in taking down some nasties.”
“Enough that there’s buzz on dark web online forums discussing you and fearing you,” Wheezer added. “Cool.”
Okay, all this going gaga over Evan needed to be stopped. “So back to this site and task force,” Jody redirected.
“Right.” Evan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “You can buy anything on the dark web from guns to fake identities. Drugs. Even people. It’s a sick place to be. The Arsenal has an array of gun dealers. One particular gun dealer has caught the eye of the ATF because their biggest line of guns are ghost guns.”
Wilder groaned. “Those jokers can’t be traced. No serial number.”
“Cop killer guns,” Beckett said. “A favorite among gangbangers.”
Evan licked his lips and nodded. “These particular gun dealers that supply the ghost guns use fake identities purchased from other dark websites to help them traffic the weapons across borders and throughout the US. I’d like to get them, too. If we can bust these gun sellers, we might be able to get the criminals making fake identities and the site creator. Which means we could take down the whole Arsenal website and a lot of other really bad guys.”
“Can’t you track the payments?” Jody asked.
“No.” Evan balled his fist. “They’re almost all using digital currency. Bitcoin. It doesn’t show names of account holders, only a long list of letters and numbers in a public forum called a blockchain.”
Jody was going cross-eyed. Evan must have noticed. “Every time a transaction is made using digital currency it shows up but not with a name of an account holder. The list grows and grows with every transaction and that long list is called a blockchain. It’s made up of letters and numbers unique to the account. But never any names, and the accounts can’t be linked to a physical address.”
“Basically what you’re saying is that these dark websites, the users and the money they’re exchanging are untraceable.” Jody pinched the bridge of her nose.
“In a nutshell. But someone is bound to make a mistake somewhere and we’ll be waiting. In the meantime, we’re working undercover to buy a major shipment of ghost guns. These guys are some of the few who do physical trades with actual cash.”
“And it’ll get guns off the street and out of criminals’ hands.” Jody tried to make sense of all this darkness. It was overwhelming. “How many are on the task force?” Time to narrow down who might have betrayed Evan.
“Eight. We’re all based out of Georgia.” Evan poured another cup of coffee and added a splash of cream.
Would any of them know about her past with Evan? Jody couldn’t stand not knowing who had hacked her phone. She had a personal stake in this now. “I think since whoever did it wanted everyone to believe it was directed at Senator Townes, we should pretend it was. Not let anyone know that we figured out it was aimed at Evan. That way we have the upper hand while investigating.”
“She’s right,” Wilder agreed. “The senator isn’t in danger, though he doesn’t know it, and while I’m not a fan of concealing that, to find whoever this wolf in sheep’s clothing is, and to protect you while doing it, it’s necessary.”
“I don’t agree,” Cosette interjected. “That’s a lot of fear and anxiety for a man whose son was injured in a car accident three days ago.”
“And yet he’s on the campaign trail,” Wilder fired back.
“It may be his way of coping with tragedy, Wilder. We all deal differently.” Her tone implied she was coming at him personally.
Wilder shot her a daggered look.
Evan rubbed the back of his neck. “Should we go ahead and hit the next city? He has two more rallies in the next two days, if he’s willing to go. After today, he may cancel everything.”
“He won’t,” Cosette added. “Not if he’s dealing with his son’s tragedy by escaping. And there’s also a matter of pride. He’s a Vietnam vet and a huge Second Amendment supporter. Guns won’t keep him away. I strongly suggest you disclose the truth to him, though. I understand not wanting your colleagues aware at this point since you aren’t sure who may be involved. But the senator and his staff should be in the loop.”
“If we tell the senator and he leaks it, even by accident, then we lose our advantage,” Wilder said. “For the sake of everyone’s safety, this is the best plan. We have to think like soldiers here, not with feelings.” He held Cosette’s fiery gaze. “Someone who took an oath to protect people is harming them. I think the senator, being a vet, will understand one hundred percent when all is said and done. Our mission is to protect...and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” Wilder’s words, tone and body language left zero room for arguing.
Jody agreed. She’d been thrown away as a bad egg when she’d been innocent, and someone on the inside now was getting away with corruption and attempted murder.
Evan stroked his chin. “Then we’ll forge ahead as planned. I’ll hit the trail and watch my back. It’s mine they want anyway.” Evan eyed each person in the room, including Jody. “Thank you all for today.”
That was it? Evan was going to go rogue. Hadn’t he listened to Wilder’s “we”? Someone on the inside was after him and he was going to move on like nothing had happened?
“You’re not going alone.” The words were out before she thought them through, and they kept on spilling. “Wilder is right. You need a second set of eyes on your back, and I’m going with you.” The room grew silent. Tension mounted and she stood, swallowing the lump in her throat, barely casting a glance at Evan.
“Oh, are ya now?” Wilder asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Look, Senator Townes isn’t traveling alone. You put me on protection detail for Bill Wiseman. If he plans to continue the rally tour with the senator, then there’s no reason for me not to go.” And to save face, he would. If not, she’d figure out something else.
“And you want to be his security detail while really being mine?” Evan asked.
“You don’t have confidence in me?” Jody held his gaze, not quite able to read the emotions swirling in his eyes.
“I trust you more than anyone in this room,” he murmured.
Wilder looked at Shepherd, who stood next to him. “Are you insulted? I feel a little insulted.”
Shepherd smirked.
Jody wasn’t sure how to respond. A tidal wave of feelings rushed over her.
“But the answer is no,” Evan added.
No? If either of them had a reason to push the other away it was Jody. But she was offering herself up. Yeah, partly because she’d been thrown into this with the text message, but deep within, she couldn’t let Evan be out there alone. No one would be looking out for him because no one knew he was in danger. Or from whom! It reminded her too much of Christine. If only she’d have known she’d been in trouble, had been approached
in an untoward way by her commanding officer before, Jody could have protected her.
She blew through the parlor and straight out the back door toward the stable that didn’t hold a single horse. Hay, earth, decomp and animal droppings flooded her senses. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled the small jar of vapor rub and smeared some under her nose.
She kicked a stall door and held in tears.
She was over shedding tears because of Evan Novak.
She was over him.
“Jody?” Evan’s voice floated like a gentle breeze.
“What?” She spun around.
He opened his mouth to speak, but it seemed words failed him and he raked his hands through his hair and sighed. “I said no because I don’t want to put you in danger.”
Seriously? “You do know that this is my job. It’s in my DNA, all I’ve ever wanted to do. Navy, police force... Secret Service.” She gritted her teeth. “CCM. I’ve been putting my life on the line since I was eighteen. I chose it.” More like it had chosen her. She may be a Gallagher, but she was also a Flynn on her mama’s side. “So don’t use this as some excuse to escape me. I would never let what happened between us personally or professionally interfere with the task at hand.” That had to be it. Or he simply didn’t want to be around her. Well, she wasn’t the one who’d betrayed him.
Evan closed the distance between them, and even through the vapor rub, his scent whirled her into the past. Into fond memories. And painful.
“I don’t think that. I don’t want to put you in danger because I’ve hurt you enough, and to know that I might cause it again... I can’t do that. I won’t. I’m not saying someone can’t watch my back.” His soft tone was like lulling a baby, and it held regret. His eyes mirrored it. “Just can’t be you.”
Now he was concerned about her welfare? If she hurt or not?
“I received that text. No one else. Someone wanted to make me look like I wasn’t doing my job. I can’t help but think whoever it is knows a little—or a lot—about what happened in our past.” She paused to hold in the quiver. “This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about me. It makes sense for it to be me.” Besides, she always finished what she started even if it got her in trouble. That might be as much of a weakness as a strength. “So here we are.”
“Here we are,” he whispered, and held her gaze. Intense. “About our past. I need to—”
“I need to not. Let’s leave it where it belongs. Dead and buried. I’m going with you on this tour if Wiseman agrees to go. If not, we figure something else out. But under no circumstances will this get personal. Civil. Not even friendly. Do I make myself clear?” Her heart couldn’t handle another battering. Talking about it would open up wounds that had scabbed over long ago.
A deep pain flickered across his face, and she almost apologized but held firm. “Okay, Jody. Whatever you want. I’ll do whatever you want.”
Why hadn’t he done whatever she wanted three years ago? Tears nearly erupted and she wasn’t going to allow him the show. “I—I want you to leave now.”
He nodded and left her alone.
No fight.
Like he always did.
* * *
Like the CCM resident psychologist said, the senator wouldn’t back down and neither did Mr. Wiseman. They’d spent the night at CCM and on Sunday, Evan had accompanied some of the team—which didn’t include Jody—to church. That didn’t surprise him, though. In the four years he’d dated Jody, she’d never once gone to church except on Easter and at Christmas, but that was because she said her mama guilted her into it. But she did keep a Bible in her nightstand drawer. So at some point she’d had faith.
What was surprising was Jody’s reaction to seeing Evan go to church. But she didn’t want to talk about their past and she wouldn’t discuss what had happened in between their past and present.
Monday morning, Beckett Marsh’s wife had fixed a big breakfast and then he and his team, along with Jody and Mr. Wiseman, set out for the hour-and-a-half drive to the Columbus Civic Center. Local law enforcement had been in contact with his team to coordinate safety precautions. SWAT had been called in, as well, due to the assassination attempt in Atlanta.
Evan had checked in with his Special Agent in Charge, Clive Bevin, but he kept the truth about the real target to himself. They’d been friends for over eight years, and Evan hated not divulging to him. But for now, until he knew who was trying to take him out and why, he had to rely on Jody and the team at CCM.
A notification popped up on his phone.
Morning Scripture. He’d set his phone to deliver one in the morning and afternoon to help him stay fixated on good things. Like that verse in Philippians. Think on things above. Plus, he didn’t know a lot of verses but he wanted to. Glancing down he read the morning verse.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
How true that was. God, help me know the right words at the right time to talk to Jody.
Another notification came to his attention. His investigative support assistant, Layla Scrivener. She was a whiz in the office and took a major load off him. She’d emailed to let him know he and his team had already been checked into the hotel so they could bypass that part and get the senator straight into his room.
Perfect.
The senator looked pasty. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay. One attempt doesn’t mean it will translate into another one.” He was talking to himself of course. Maybe the head doctor had been right. This guy wasn’t in danger, but he was carrying the stress of someone who was. Evan didn’t feel good about the deception.
He sent a text to Jody.
I’m having second thoughts about withholding info from the senator.
Jody sat behind him so he couldn’t see her, but his phone buzzed.
I don’t like it either but when he knows it’s u, he won’t want u up there w/him. Can u blame him?
Evan hadn’t thought about that. Senator Townes needed Evan up there. He was in charge, and while he trusted his colleagues, he trusted himself most. Probably came from years of relying on no one but himself. When Dad had finally walked out, Evan had gotten a job to help his mother pay bills. He’d had to be the man, the leader. She was fragile. Always had been. He’d cooked, worked, cleaned, made sure the crummy car had gas and oil changes.
And then he’d gone and become his dad with the drinking and failing the woman he’d claimed to love. How had that happened?
What was the best course of action? Let the guy freak out for a couple of days but know he was safe, or tell him and risk something happening and Evan not being close enough to protect him? Or...
“Senator, are you sure you want to go through with this rally?” Evan asked. If he could get him to back down, Evan wouldn’t have to lie and feel bad about it, and he could still hide the fact that someone had targeted him and not the senator. “I strongly feel that canceling isn’t a sign of weakness but precaution.”
He glanced back at Jody.
“Your wife is probably sitting by your son’s side worrying about you both, Senator. Maybe you need to withdraw because she needs you,” Jody said. Nice touch giving the senator a way out that wasn’t cowardly but family oriented. And she was right.
“We’re coming up on our hotel, Agent Novak,” the agent driving said.
“Circle the lot twice. Keep your eyes peeled, boys.” Evan turned and Jody raised an eyebrow. She never minded being called a guy or a dude...or a boy in this case. But she was far from male. Tall, nearly 5ꞌ10". Muscular but in a sleek way. Her new haircut showcased her long, slender neck. His mouth went dry and he trained his eyes on the parking lot. Nothing seemed suspicious, but he had a bad feeling.
“Davis, Martin,” he said to his colleagues, “I’m gonna do a preliminary sweep on foot with Miss Gallagher before we escort the men through the ki
tchen entrance.” No way she would let him go without her. “Cover Senator Townes and Mr. Wiseman.” Jody and Evan exited the vehicle. This morning was slightly warmer than yesterday. The air was calm. The lot silent.
Jody walked a few feet from the SUV and scanned the parking lot, her eyes resting on the Dumpster with a wooden fence built around it. She moved toward it, slipping her sidearm out and sliding off the safety. The woman had a sniffer like a dog. It was kind of freaky and at the same time cool like a superpower, but he’d also placed many a cold rag on her brow when a migraine from overload hit or she’d thrown up from a sensitive gag reflex to the scents.
“What is it?” he whispered, and moved closer.
“I don’t know. Trash, grease...and musk from deodorant but not from someone who lingered in the parking lot. It’s too fresh. It’s not you, not anyone with us...” She cocked her head. Her eyes widened and she hollered as the wooden gate door burst open. “Get down!”
Evan lunged and tackled Jody, toppling them behind a blue Ford Focus as a man in dark camo opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle.
Shielding Jody, they hunkered down behind the car, then she scurried out from his shelter and fired back.
The man dodged behind the wooden door that had swung open.
A dark van screeched into the lot as more gunfire cracked their direction.
“Stay down,” Evan yelled to Townes and Wiseman in the SUV. The van gave the masked man time to dart from the Dumpster area and across the fast-food parking lot next to the hotel.
One of the agents pursued on foot, weaving through the cars.
The passenger popped off a few more rounds before the van squealed away.
Secret Service Setup Page 3