by H. L. Wegley
Why does that even matter?
When the schizophrenic conversation in his mind ended, he answered her question. “I’d say by both the warnings and the shrugs. But I hate to think about the implications for the USA. Mexico is pretty close to home and the border is open to anyone who has a will to cross it.”
“I don’t think Mexico will do much to remedy that problem. Intelligence shows the cartels bought off the police and many government officials. Or assassinated them as examples. The drug cartels are in control across much of Mexico and they’re recruiting gangs on our side of the border. In addition, we’ve observed them trafficking not only drugs, but also people, chemical, and biological warfare materials, and now we’ve even detected the movement of some nuclear materials.”
“Nuclear materials?”
What were her sources of information? It was probably best not to ask. “Wow. Mix that stuff with terrorists and you’ve got—”
“Maybe Uncle Sam’s funeral if we don’t wake up and act now. Lee, we don’t know what part of all that we stumbled onto tonight. This needs a lot more analysis, so we’ve got to report our findings to DHS, the FBI, NSA—”
“And we need to pray somebody listens, connects the dots, and is willing to take action.” He stared at the compromised laptop.
Jennifer shrugged. “You can pray if you want to, but I don’t put much stock in that sort of thing. I’m more into doing it myself.”
A shrug—do it myself—doesn’t pray. Either she’s been burned by some church, or she’s an honest-to-goodness agnostic.
If the opportunity arose he would ask her a few questions about her views. The left side of his brain repeated its previous question.
Why does it matter to you?
The right side threw a right cross to the jaw. It KO’d the left side. The fight was over. There would be ramifications, but he shoved that thought from his mind.
“I think it’s time for me to call Joe Morrison at Computing Security. He’s a good starting point. Joe has contacts within the FBI, DHS, and the police departments. He’s part of the Metropolitan Area JTTF. You know, the Joint Terrorism Task Force.”
“Sounds good.” Jennifer positioned her hands on the laptop keyboard. “And while you’re calling him I’m going to eliminate this little Trojan. Then I think I’ll call my contact at NSA.”
“Yes. Please eliminate it. Now, let’s see…the FBI, DHS, NSA, and Computing Security—that should just about cover the bases.” He dialed Joe Morrison’s Computing Security cell-phone number. Joe would respond to a call on that phone anywhere, anytime.
“Joe Morrison here.”
“Joe, it’s Lee. I’m at work and I’ve got some bad news. I need to tell you this in person.”
“Is it that serious?”
“I’m afraid so. Are you at home?”
“Yes. Why don’t you come over? We can meet in my study.”
“I’m on my way.”
Jennifer continued talking to someone at NSA. A few seconds later, she hung up and sat for a moment, staring across the room.
“I told Joe there was some bad news I needed to tell him in person,” Lee said. “I haven’t told him about your role yet, but I need you to explain what you found. You’ll be a lot more convincing than me.”
She squinted and frowned. “Since Joe doesn’t know about me yet, he could—”
“Completely flip out and have us both locked up.”
Jennifer straightened in her chair. “Wonderful. You will tell him you brought me in on this and that I am cleared for any level of information we might be dealing with?”
Lee noted the change in her posture. Though they hadn’t dealt with any classified data he should have anticipated her response. “Locked up” could end her career.
“Of course I will. And Joe’s a sensible guy. Officially, he’ll chew me out. But unofficially he’ll be tickled pink that I brought you in. If anyone gives us any flak you can count on me to take whatever blame they throw our way.”
“I guess I have to, don’t I?”
“Have to what?”
“Count on you.” Jennifer stared into his eyes.
Her penetrating gaze turned his brain inside out.
He looked away. He was mentally and emotionally exposed to her, including the thoughts coming from the right side of his brain.
Jennifer was far more than a pretty face. She was incredible in every sense of the word and he was drawn to her by a magnetic force so powerful it scared him. He hadn’t a clue where all this would lead—the security breach, the investigation, Jennifer—any of it.
6
Lee escorted Jennifer out of the compound and walked past the gate shack. No Randy. Good. He wouldn’t have to expose Jennifer to more suggestive remarks.
When they entered the north end of the parking area he glanced at her. “You can follow me over to Joe’s place. It’s just about a mile east of here, a block off from North Fourth Avenue.”
“OK. When you tell Joe I’m involved in the investigation…”
“Don’t worry about Joe. I can handle him.” A short way down the lot he stopped, smiled, and gestured to their left. “There’s my car.”
Jennifer pivoted towards his car and stopped. Her eyes lit up and checked out his Mustang like a scanner digitizing an image. She smiled warmly at him. “A classic. Very nice, Lee.”
It was the second genuine smile she’d shown him. What that smile did for an already beautiful face was incredible.
Good taste in cars. I wonder about her taste in men.
No, I don’t wonder anything about her.
Now in control, the right side of his brain turned a deaf ear and continued to savor the smile.
“I’ll swing by your parking spot and lead you to a shortcut through a couple adjacent lots. And about National Aerospace Computing Security…have no fear, Lee is here.”
Even in the dimly-lit parking lot he could see the rolling eyes. She strode down the lot towards her car.
In her presence he couldn’t turn a decent phrase. But he sure could turn a decent phrase into something stupid. He pulled out his keys, stopped, and snapped his fingers.
Jennifer’s visitor’s badge.
Randy wasn’t in the gate shack and he forgot to return her badge. When he glanced down the lot Jennifer was nearly to her car. He trotted towards her. “Hey, Ms. Akihara…Jennifer. I forgot—”
The area lit up like mid-day. A deafening boom sounded behind him. The shock wave blindsided him with the force of an NFL linebacker, knocking him forward to the concrete. He stuck out his arm to protect his face. His body rode on his right forearm for several feet, while the rough concrete rasped off his coat sleeve and much of the skin underneath it.
He lay sprawled out on the parking lot pavement. His mind struggled to comprehend what had happened. When he picked himself up, he shook his head to remove the cobwebs. There were too many of them. Blood ran down his right forearm. Pain brushed some of the cobwebs away.
Explosion.
Arm burning and ears ringing, he looked for the source of the blast. It came from what had been his car—from what was now only a blackened shell. The sense of loss hit him in his gut. He might never be able to replace that car. He brushed away a few more cobwebs. The clearing of his mind brought a bigger worry. Better a bombed car than a bombed body. But the bombing attempt had failed, so…
The air emptied from his lungs and he drew a deep breath. His pulse quickened. The realization hit him like a stinging slap on the face. They were in big trouble, but the incoming flak wouldn’t be the kind that got one fired. It would be the kind that got fired at one—bullets from people who killed to keep secrets.
Despite their delicate search on the infected computer their foray must’ve triggered attention and it wasn’t all coming from some hacker halfway around the world.
Jennifer stood motionless by her car staring across the parking lot at the blackened remains of Lee’s Mustang.
He sprinted tow
ards her. “Jennifer, start your car, now!”
She jumped towards her car door, eyes wide with fear.
A staccato stream of gunshots sounded from near the gate shack as Lee slid into her sedan.
A large, black SUV turned from the street. It sped past the gate shack and into the parking lot. The headlights swung in an arc, the light beams stopping on Jennifer’s car. The SUV rolled down the lot towards them.
He fought to control his racing thoughts. “Go, go, go! Turn left into the next lot and floor it straight through to the street.”
“Are you sure it’s us they’re after?” Her voice shook.
“Shall we stop and ask them, Jenn?”
Jennifer jerked towards him, mouth open and frowning.
What did I say?
This wasn’t the time to analyze her response. “We’ve got to make it to the police station.”
Her head jerked around again. Why was she looking at him?
“Watch where you’re going. They’re coming, that black SUV.” Lee rolled down his fogged window. “They shot at Randy and they weren’t using a single-shot .22.”
In a road race, her small sedan would be no match for the powerful SUV.
She said nothing, hands gripping the steering wheel as she focused on driving.
“Just do whatever you have to do to keep them from closing on us. I’m calling 911, now.” Lee reached for his cell phone.
“What’s the best way to the police station?” Her voice was stronger, as if she’d come to grips with what was happening,
Gutsy woman. Good. Because their survival depended on her.
“Turn right onto North Park. Keep going south. You’ll come to it.”
He stuck his head out the window and looked at the headlights behind them.
The SUV angled straight across the parking lot. Its driver ignored the rows, sidewalks, everything. The gunmen would overtake them in a few seconds. The bright headlights vibrated as the vehicle bounced over all of the concrete curbs and parking space dividers in its path. Their pursuer’s two-fold intent became clear.
Keep them from heading south towards the police and get within easy firing range.
If they turned south their pursuers might cut behind the building, cut them off on Park, then cut them down with their weapons. “Turn left. Get behind that building. Then left on North Park.”
She flashed him a glance and another frown. “What? Away from the police station?”
“If you wanna stay alive do it.”
Jennifer yanked the wheel to the left.
Lee’s body slammed against the side of the car.
Their pursuers whipped around accelerating to intercept them before Jennifer could put the building between them. Two guns jutted through the windows of the SUV and swung towards them.
“They’re gonna shoot! Get around the building.”
Jennifer responded quickly despite her panic, accelerating across the next parking lot and pressing Lee back in the seat.
But the headlights behind them loomed too close.
Gripping the arm rest he thumbed his cell phone open. “Go Jenn! Get—”
Bullets sprayed from an automatic weapon shattering the top of the sedan’s rear window.
Like buckshot fragments of glass pelted Lee’s head and left hand. His cell phone flew from his fingers. Blood trickled down the back of his neck and his hand, while his cell phone danced on top of the dash.
His hand throbbed. He swept his right hand across the dashboard attempting a backhand catch of the phone before it bounced out of reach.
Jennifer clipped a curb. The sharp bump launched the cell phone up.
Lee tried to catch it in midair. It bounced off the heel of his hand. His hopes of reaching a 911 operator flew out the window with his cell phone.
Jennifer rounded the building acquiring a temporary shield from the gunfire. She flashed him a wide-eyed glance. “Lee, are you OK?”
“I think so.”
Lee checked his wounds. No pain from his head. He ran his fingers through his hair. They came away bloody. Only a scalp wound. A lot of blood, but no serious damage. Blood trickled from several cuts on his hand, but he could move his fingers.
They passed beyond the building and approached North Park Street.
“Now which way?”
“Go left. Then just do whatever you have to do to lose them.”
“Away from the police station? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Just don’t give them any clear shots.”
She repositioned her hands on the wheel. “OK, but hang on. No telling what I’ll need to do.”
She floored it and the car’s wheels squealed as they turned left onto North Park. Two wheels caught air when Jennifer took the next left. She yanked the wheel right and they roared through a narrow alleyway.
Smart woman. That big SUV may not fit.
When they turned left to exit the alley the car slid sideways the full width of the street and bumped the curb.
He expected a flat tire, but they rolled along smoothly as they headed west on North Eighth towards the freeway.
Lee stuck his head out and looked behind. He blew the air from his lungs, and then tried to take a calming breath. “I don’t see any headlights.”
Jennifer replicated his breathing exercise. “Maybe we lost them.” She glanced his way. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing. Just cuts from the glass.”
“There’s a pack of tissues in the glove box.”
“Thanks, but I’d rather have a cell phone. Do you have one with you?”
“No. I left my phone and…well, some other things at the computer lab before I drove over to National Aerospace. Didn’t know what I could take through your security. And Lee…I’ll bet you don’t play shortstop, do you?”
Lee studied her face. Sarcastic or…he couldn’t tell. “No, I pitch.”
“Sorry about the bad hop I gave you—you know, just before it went out the window. Do you think we lost them?”
“Maybe, but I’d recommend you just keep it floored as much as possible. We’ve got to make sure they can’t find us.”
“We’re on city streets. I’ll do my best. But what about the police station?”
He looked down the street. “Let’s get further west before we turn south and work our way back. Make sure you avoid the freeway. They could run us down easily there. No place to hide.”
Jennifer turned left onto a small street. They headed south on the frontage road towards the police station. She glanced at him again. “I’m going to slow down so we blend in more with the other traffic.”
A couple of blocks ahead, a large vehicle closed quickly on them.
Unfortunately, their proximity to the freeway left only one southbound street available to Jennifer. He wasn’t the only one who had realized that.
He squeezed hard on the armrest. “It’s them.”
Jennifer jerked the wheel right and veered onto a small street terminating in a T at its west end.
He could see the freeway’s supporting structures straight ahead.
At the T she turned left and mashed the accelerator.
Their pursuers again appeared one block ahead of them. Now they had only one option.
Lee gasped as Jennifer took it. She ran a stop sign and steered to the right onto a ramp that placed them southbound on the interstate.
“They will—” When he glanced at her face he closed the spigot of words he intended to spew.
The wet tracks on her cheek glistened under a freeway light.
This woman was doing her best—far better than he could have done. A strong urge to hold and comfort her replaced his unspoken, harsh words.
She accelerated to well above the speed limit, but the SUV’s now familiar headlights shot down the ramp and closed on them. The gunmen had them where they wanted them—a place with no shelter from bullets.
Her intense stare down the road indicated a desperate search to keep them out of gunsho
t range until they could exit if they ever got the chance.
He tried to think of some way to escape. His mind only drew blanks. Lee looked ahead at three semis rolling along as a convoy in the second lane from the right on this four-lane section of southbound I-5.
When they approached the trucks Jennifer slowed.
“What are you doing?”
“Heading for cover. You’d better pray this works, Lee, or else I—” She didn’t finish.
Lee, lowered his head and fired a silent prayer to the only One he believed could protect them in a situation so out of control and desperate.
When Jennifer pulled even with the left side of the rearmost semi’s cab, the big SUV closed to within shooting range. Jennifer looked towards the cab of the semi, and then at Lee. “I hope you pray better than you handle a cell phone, because here we go.”
“Jennifer, I don’t think—” The staccato popping of automatic weapons fire truncated Lee’s words.
Jennifer jerked the wheel to the right as bullets ripped through the rear of her car. Amid horns blaring and air brakes hissing they shot the gap and emerged in the far right lane.
Lee scanned a full circle around them.
She was incredible. Her move had saved their lives.
He appended admiration to the growing list of qualities that attracted him.
“You OK, Jenn?”
“I think so. That truck driver seemed to get the picture. He slowed, and then closed the gap behind us. My compliments on your prayer, Lee.”
“Don’t thank me. I should be thanking you. But I hope those goons don’t get mad and fire at the trucker. On the other hand, that might get them squashed by a semi.”
“Are there any exits near here?”
“Not sure—don’t think so—not for a couple of miles, anyway.” He turned to survey the car for critical damage. He saw none, but a vehicle slowed, trying to swing in behind the trucks.
Two cars impeded the gunmen’s vehicle, but they would soon be on the sedan’s tail.
If Jennifer couldn’t concoct some evasive maneuver they would be trapped in the right lane by the semis on their left and the slow driver ahead of them.
“They’re right behind us.”