by Lynn Ames
“This is Jay’s baby, sweetheart.”
“Exactly my point. Wouldn’t it be prudent to feel George out and see what he has in mind? Jay isn’t used to the bluntness of Hollywood directors. George is nice, but he can be brusque.”
“Well, if his reaction over the phone was any indication, I don’t think Jay has much to worry about there,” Dara said. “He was practically gushing. And you know George doesn’t gush.”
“Okay, then. Do you want to go tell her, or should I?”
Dara opened the sliding glass door. “Why don’t we go together?”
When they got close enough to see Jay’s face, Rebecca pulled Dara to a stop.
“What is it?”
Rebecca gestured in Jay’s direction. When Dara looked closer, she could see dampness glistening on Jay’s cheek. Part of her didn’t want to disturb Jay’s privacy. But… She hesitated only for a moment and closed the distance between them.
“Jay? Are you okay?” Dara enveloped her in a hug. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh.” Jay used her sleeve to blot at her tears. “I didn’t hear you coming.”
Dara pulled back just enough to see Jay’s eyes. “What is it?” She nodded in approval as Rebecca came up alongside Jay and wrapped an arm around her.
“Group hug.”
Jay smiled wanly. “I feel like an idiot.”
“Why?”
Jay lifted a hand halfheartedly to indicate Dara and Rebecca flanking her.
“Personally, we love a good cry,” Rebecca said.
“We do,” Dara agreed.
“I-I’m fine. Truly. I was just having a moment.”
As if on cue, both Dara and Rebecca broke the hug and each took one of Jay’s hands.
“Want to talk about it?” Dara asked.
Jay shrugged. “I don’t know what to say. I was going over in my mind everything that’s happened. It’s all so crazy. All I ever wanted to do was write the great American novel. This whole thing…”
“If you don’t want to pursue the film, we can drop it right now,” Rebecca said. She glanced over Jay’s head at Dara and Dara nodded.
“What? No! It isn’t that.” Jay sniffled. “It’s just…” She gazed out at the water. “All my life I’ve had to fight for everything I had or wanted. As a child, I fought to survive. Twenty-some-odd years ago, in the midst of the Hyland incident, I fought to survive again and find my way home. And here I am, all these years later, still fighting for my life, fighting to survive. I’m tired.”
“Jay,” Dara said. “I’ve read all of your books. I’ve heard you talk about your abusive childhood on national talk shows—always with dignity, always with the aim to lift others up. Through your books and your words, you’ve given voice to those who have none. You’ve empowered them.” She let go of Jay’s hand and gently rubbed her back. “What I see in this situation is you once again stepping into the breach to right a wrong, to tell the truth.”
“You are an extraordinary woman, a shining example to others,” Rebecca added. She let go of the hand she was holding. “You are strong and resilient. You’re strong enough for this fight. The great champions are the ones who keep getting up off the mat for the next round.”
“We understand that you’re tired. But we promise, you are never alone. Not now, not ever. Rebecca and I will fight with you. Kate will fight with you. Lean on all of us. Together, we’ve got this.”
Rebecca got Dara’s attention and pointed to her watch.
“In fact, I think in just a few minutes, you’re going to see your support team grow in important ways.” Dara wiped a tear from Jay’s face. “George is on his way over here. He loved the screenplay. He wants to talk to you one more time before you leave.”
“He’s on his way here now?” Jay asked. “Oh my God! I’m a mess. I’ve got to change.”
Dara smiled indulgently at her. “You look fine. Let’s go inside so you can freshen up, if it’ll make you feel better.” Dara turned them toward the house. After a few steps she said, “Are you better now?”
Jay nodded. “I’m sorry. I got overwhelmed.”
“It’s perfectly understandable,” Rebecca said. “You’ve been carrying a lot on those small shoulders.”
“For the record,” Dara said, “you’ve written not one great American novel, but several.”
Jay blushed. “I’m no Constance Darrow.”
Dara laughed. “No. You’re Jamison freaking Parker and you rock.”
Kate was in the backyard pulling weeds from in between the landscaping stones when her phone beeped. She yanked off her gardening gloves and opened the messages app. It was from Peter.
Pay dirt. How fast can you get here?
Kate typed a message back. On my way in ten. She pocketed the phone, ran into the house, stripped, showered, changed, and made the familiar drive in record time.
Lorraine answered the back door.
“What do you have?”
“Good to see you too.”
Kate gave her friend a quick hug. “Now, what do you have?”
“Come on in and we’ll show you.” As they walked into the office, Lorraine said, “We heard from Sabastien.”
“That’s great.”
“It is, and it isn’t,” Peter said. He swiveled around and nodded to Kate in greeting.
“What do you mean?”
“The file he sent was corrupted. So I called to ask him to re-send.”
“And?”
“And it seems that someone has once again hacked into Sabastien’s formerly tamper-proof servers and interrupted the data flow. From what Sabastien could tell, the hacker couldn’t access the data, itself. He just prevented it from being successfully transmitted.”
“Are Sabastien and Vaughn still safe where they are? Is their location compromised?”
“They don’t think so. At least not yet,” Lorraine said.
“But we can’t take a chance on transmitting electronically anymore. Not now, anyway,” Peter said.
“You said in your message that we hit pay dirt. But you never got the data.”
“I was able to retrieve part of the message before the malfunction.”
Peter handed a legal pad to Kate. “I wrote down from memory as many of the subcontractors as I could from what I saw on the screen before we lost it.”
“Then I was able to cross-reference those names with my files of known Commission-related companies,” Lorraine said. She pointed to several asterisked entries on the pad. “All of these corporations were on my radar years ago.”
Kate ran a finger down the list. “Okay. But according to your notations here, these are all manufacturing companies. They do grunt work, assemble weapons, manufacture protective gear. I would think we’re looking for something more high-end and white collar, like a technology company.”
“Like the technology and innovation companies we saw in the list of major contractors. True. We expect that the rest of the list Sabastien sent us contains more Commission entities.”
“But we can’t access the rest of the list, and Sabastien doesn’t have a secure way to re-send it.”
“Which is why Lorraine and I are about to take a long-overdue vacation. We hear Casablanca is beautiful this time of year.”
“What? You’re crazy,” Kate said. “You’re going to go retrieve the file in person?”
“Do you have a better plan?” Peter asked.
Kate shook her head.
“Right. We’re booked on a flight to Tangiers. From there we’ll hop on a train to Casablanca.”
“We leave in the morning.”
Kate sat down. “You’re serious.”
“Completely. We lucked out with the flight, and anyone who might be watching for Sabastien would most likely be staked out in Gibraltar, not on the Morocco side of the strait.”
Kate clasped her hands between her knees and leaned forward. “You’re serious?”
“Didn’t we already answer that?” Peter asked Lorraine.
“I thought we did.”
“There must be another way that doesn’t put either of you at risk.”
“At risk? All those years in the field, and now you’re worried about us being in jeopardy?”
“I know I don’t have to pull the age card here,” Kate said.
“No, you don’t. Because it’s not a factor,” Peter answered.
“And this is not up for discussion. We’ve already made the arrangements, and we have a rendezvous point with Vaughn.”
“I can’t talk you out of this?”
Both Peter and Lorraine shook their heads.
“We’re the obvious choice. You can’t go, Kate—with the manuscript on their radar, the Feds would no doubt be curious if you and Jay suddenly left the country.”
Kate sat up straight. “Do you think they’re watching Jay?”
Lorraine said, “It’s entirely possible.”
“So they know she’s in California? And potentially that she’s meeting with Dara and Rebecca?”
Peter nodded, and Kate dropped her head into her hands. “Here we go all over again.”
Lorraine put a hand on her shoulder. “This is the Feds, not the Commission. We don’t think either one of you is in physical danger at this point.”
“Gee, that’s comforting,” Kate said.
“You know we’ve got your backs, right?” Peter asked. “What happened then will never happen again. Never. Do you hear me?”
His voice shook with emotion, catching Kate off guard and hitting her hard in the heart. She cleared her throat. “I know.”
“Okay, then. Let’s not worry about that right now, since there doesn’t seem to be a reason to do so,” Lorraine said.
“Get out of here so we can get packed,” Peter added.
Kate couldn’t see any point in arguing further. “Right. When will you be back?”
“As soon as we can.”
“Will we be able to communicate while you’re gone?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On what we find when we get there. If we can find a way to reach out to you safely without compromising any of us, we will.”
“Be safe, please.”
“Always.”
Kate hugged them both, as a feeling of foreboding about her friends’ security washed over her. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like it at all. But she didn’t really have any say in the matter, so she would hope for the best. The good news was that Jay would be home tomorrow. That, at least, was reason to smile.
Jay finished packing her suitcase as the doorbell rang. She checked herself in the mirror and settled her hair. Despite Dara’s reassuring words about how much George liked the screenplay, she was nervous.
“Jay?” Rebecca knocked on the doorframe. “George is here.”
“Do I look okay?”
Rebecca smiled kindly. “You look fabulous. C’mon.”
“I feel like I’m walking the plank.”
“You’ll be fine. George isn’t an effusive kind of guy, but he’s gushing about this script.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
They arrived in the living room, where Dara and George were chatting. George stood when he saw Jay.
“Good to see you again, Jay.” He held out his hand and Jay stepped forward to shake it.
“Thank you for taking the time to read the screenplay.”
“Thank you for trusting me with the material.” George sat down again, and Jay and Rebecca took seats on the sofa opposite him.
“Let me start by saying that the material is compelling. There’s a natural tension to the story, it’s visually rich, and the characters are well-drawn.”
“But?” Jay asked.
George looked surprised. “There is no ‘but.’ This is great stuff and I can easily see it on the big screen.”
“Oh.” The tightness in Jay’s neck and back eased. “I didn’t see that coming.”
George, Dara, and Rebecca all laughed.
“Your honesty is refreshing,” George said.
“It would certainly make you unique in this town,” Dara added.
“So, what now?” Jay asked.
“Now,” Dara answered, “we put together a pitch and work on getting funding for production.” She turned to George. “Now that you’ve read it, do you think 722 will have any interest?”
“I imagine Randolph would want in. My question is whether or not he has the stomach to take on whoever doesn’t want Jay to get this story made.”
“Is it worth pitching it to him?”
“Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves?” Jay interrupted. “I mean, I still have two questions that I imagine need answering before we go there.”
“Okay, shoot,” George said.
“It seems to me I would want to know if you would agree to direct the film?”
“That’s the idea.”
“And, Dara, I want to know if you’d play the part of Bryce Maddox?”
“That would be up to George and a casting director, but I’d certainly audition for the role.”
George shook his head and muttered, “As if that part was up for debate.”
“There’s a bigger question we’re missing,” Rebecca chimed in. “Jay has to agree to option the screenplay.”
“Do you have representation, Jay?” Dara asked.
Jay thought about the way Sydney sloughed her off on a junior agent when Black Quill cut her loose. “Not anymore I don’t.”
“Carolyn would, I’m sure, be happy to represent you. Or, if that makes you uncomfortable because she reps me and Rebecca, I’m sure she could recommend someone else to you.”
Although Jay’s interactions with Carolyn had been limited, she liked what she’d seen. When she reached out to Carolyn in order to talk to Dara about the premiere in March, Carolyn had been efficient and helpful. And she’d secured the space for Jay’s press conference and handled the set up with calm ease. Still, Jay would need to sit down with her first. “I’d love to talk to her about it.”
“She’s back in New York at the moment,” Dara supplied.
“I’ll give her a call when I get home.”
“Okay. How about if we spend what little time we have left with Jay putting together the investor pitch? We can do the rest long distance via conference calls and Skype.” Dara picked up her laptop from the end table beside her chair and booted it up.
“I’ll get the snacks,” Rebecca said, and headed off toward the kitchen.
“Could you please not do that?” Vaughn asked. She sat at a table on the opposite side of Sabastien’s work space. One of her guns was disassembled on the table in front of her.
“Do what?” Sabastien crunched down on his third cracker and cheese.
“Chew like a cow.”
“I am confused. What do cows have to do with securing our communications?”
“Nothing. Could you eat more quietly, please?”
Sabastien swallowed. “Oh. I did not realize you were so sensitive, Vaughn Elliott. I will add the way I eat to my list of things about me that annoy you.”
“It’s a long list.”
“I am aware.”
“Are you getting anywhere yet?” Vaughn continued to clean her weapon.
“I believe I have discovered the Black Knight’s point of entry. He is very, very good. Almost as skilled as I am.”
“If it was only ‘almost,’ he wouldn’t have gotten past you.”
Sabastien narrowed his eyes. “If you are going to continue to insult me—”
“Relax.”
“I should be saying the same to you.” They had been cooped up together inside this space for too long. That was the problem, Sabastien told himself. He and Vaughn had worked together many, many times. Vaughn always got this way whenever she was cornered in one location for any length of time. She was not one to sit still. “Perhaps you should check the perimeter again?”
“Perhaps you should solve the
leak.” Vaughn rose and left the room.
“If only it were that simple,” Sabastien muttered to himself. “You are a tricky bastard, John Robie. But I am smarter.”
Sabastien cut and pasted another string of code and sat back. This time, he had baited a trap to lure the Black Knight in. Once the hacker took the bait, he would suffer a systemic crash. “That should slow you down.”
Vaughn stepped back into the room. “It’s time for me to go. I have just enough time to get to the rendezvous point and pick up Peter and Lorraine.” Vaughn holstered her weapon and shrugged into a blazer that would conceal the weapon from sight. “Remember what I told you. Stay away from the doors and windows. No communications unless it’s an absolute emergency.”
“I know. I know, already.” Sabastien made a shooing motion. “Go. Get our friends. Perhaps they will put you in a better mood.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Jay reached over and interlaced her fingers with Kate’s. They were on the train, on the way to New York City for a meeting with Carolyn, and just pulling into Penn Station. “I love you and I’m glad you’re coming with me.”
Kate’s smile crinkled the corners of her eyes. “I love you too, and I’m glad you asked. The idea of turning a business meeting into an excursion is genius.”
“Well, I missed you. That’s the longest we’ve been apart in twenty-seven years, and I have to say, I really didn’t like it.”
“Me neither.”
“The idea of getting home yesterday and leaving again today for this meeting was completely bumming me out. Now I’m looking forward to a candlelight dinner and a Broadway show with my wife.”
The train came to a stop and Jay grabbed her briefcase off the overhead rack.
“Subway or cab?” Kate asked, as they exited the train with the flow of commuters.
It was past rush hour, but the platform still was thick with bodies. “Do you mind if we take a cab? I really don’t feel like wrestling with this much humanity today.”
“Cab it is,” Kate said. She led the way up to the main level and out to the taxi stand, where they queued up for a taxi to take them uptown to Carolyn’s office.
Once they were settled in the backseat, Kate said, “Carolyn’s office is an easy walk to the theater district. I’ll drop you off and go pick up the show tickets. Call me when you’re done and I’ll meet you downstairs.”