by Mel LeBrun
“What the heck is in this thing?” she asked as she plopped it on the floor.
“That would be ammo.”
“Dear God, do you have enough?”
“You can never have enough,” he grinned. “So how did Kevin make his money?”
“He made some wise investments after hacking into some CEO's email account,” she replied nonchalantly. “He was smart about it and invested in a lot of things that didn't pan out so it wouldn't look terribly suspicious when he made a windfall off one of his investments.”
“How old were you when that happened?”
“Seventeen.”
They made a couple more trips to the truck. On the final trip, Jessica saw some cases she hadn't seen before. One was very long and wide, the other was smaller and square.
“Those look new,” she remarked. “What's in them?”
“I don't know.” He stared down at the containers. “If it's what I think it is, I'm going to be very happy.”
“Where did they come from?”
“They were a gift.”
She gave him a weird look, but decided she wouldn't ask any more questions. Michael pulled the long one closer and unlatched it. He flipped up the cover revealing a very long rifle, two scopes and a silencer held in a foam mold. Michael whistled and looked like he was salivating.
“What is it?” she asked.
“SR-25. A sniper rifle complete with silencer and a night vision scope.” He smiled as he ran his fingers down the gun. He pushed it off to the side and slide the other case closer. He opened it finding a handgun and another silencer as well as plenty of ammo for the sniper rifle and handgun. His gaze fell back to the rifle.
“The way you look at that sniper rifle is disturbingly similar to how you look at me sometimes,” Jessica remarked playfully.
He looked at her amused. Giving her a big smile, he slid his arm around her waist and kissed her neck. “You're very important to me, Jessica Nickoli, Bowen, SummerBreeze, and whatever other name you go by that you haven't told me yet.” He grinned.
She laughed. “I think that's all of them.”
He slid his other arm around her and kissed her lips.
“When do you think you'll make a decision about hacking into the CIA?” she asked.
“I'm leaning towards letting you do it, but I want to talk to someone first.”
“Who?”
“Don't worry about that.”
There he was being mysterious again. She was irritated, but decided she'd better let it go.
“I'll decide in the next few days,” he assured her.
He brought the sniper rifle upstairs and after securing the building, they were on their way back to Josh's.
Chapter 30
Josh could barely keep his eyes open as Michael strode past him into the kitchen to grab a morning cup of coffee. He was so tired he didn't even want to get up to go to bed. Michael sat next to him with his coffee.
“You look like crap,” Michael teased.
“How about I beat the crap out of you so we can match?” Josh retorted.
Michael grinned. “I need to talk to your cousin. I'll meet him wherever he wants as long as it's quiet. It just has to be today or tomorrow.”
“What's going on?”
“Just some more surprises from Jessica.”
Josh wasn't really sure he wanted further explanation on that, but curiosity got the better of him. “What kind of surprises?” He gave Michael an odd look.
“She wants to hack into the CIA and dig out info that might help us.”
“That's crazy!”
“I know.” Michael took a sip of coffee. “I might let her do it.”
“Okay, it's official. That girl has got you seriously messed up in the head.”
Michael smirked. “She's got a plan. It might work. I want to talk to your cousin first before I decide anything though.”
Josh shook his head and looked away. “You're out of your mind. Maybe Martin can talk some sense into you. I'll give him a buzz.”
Josh yawned as he reached for his phone on the coffee table. Martin didn't answer, so he left a message asking him to call back. “I'll leave my phone with you. You can answer when he calls back and talk to him yourself. I'm going to bed before I pass out and fall in your lap.”
“Thanks, bro. See ya later.”
Josh peeled himself off the couch and shuffled off to his room. Michael was left watching the news alone with his coffee. Twenty minutes passed before Josh's phone lit up and the tune “Secret Agent Man” blared from the speaker. Michael rolled his eyes and shook his head as he hit talk.
“Hey it's me, Michael...” A huge grin formed on his face. “Oh, I loved the bonus gifts. You don't know how hard it was for me not to try them out, especially the SR. Haven't seen one of those in a long time.”
He was referring to the sniper rifle Martin left in the back of the truck. “Yeah, there's something I need to talk to you about in person. Can we meet somewhere?” He nodded while Martin gave him directions to a meeting place. “Sounds good. I'll see you then.” He hung up the phone and took another sip of coffee.
A half hour later, Jessica stumbled into the hallway, making her way towards the source of the coffee aroma. She smiled at Michael as she sleepily walked past him into the kitchen. She returned with a mug of warm coffee in her hands and sat next to him.
When the news was over and they had each had a couple cups of coffee, Michael grabbed the laptop and brought it over to the couch. “I want you to show me everything you found on that drive.”
Jessica booted up the computer and inserted the flash drive. “You've already seen the pictures. Aside from that, there are also a few documents and emails.”
She pulled up an email from an Alonso Gomez to an Edward Morgan. He started reading.
I just received word that my operation in Yunnan, China, has been shut down. I have been working on this operation for six months. Why was I not informed? And what exactly is the reason six months of hard work have gone down the drain?
“Hmm ... Okay, what else?” he asked.
She pulled up another email, this one from Morgan to Gomez.
I apologize for not notifying you personally. Your intel was found to be faulty so I had to pull the operation. These things happen. Brush yourself off and try again. I have intel on a new opium trade in south Colombia. I will send you the file and you can get to work on that right away.
Gomez replied to Morgan.
How was my intel faulty? I know for certain it was not. In fact, I was only days away from solid confirmation. I implore you to reinstate the operation and let me do my job.
Morgan replied to Gomez.
A confidential informant inside the organization notified us that we were deliberately misinformed in order to divert our attention and waste resources. I'm sorry, but we cannot waste any more time or resources chasing ghosts. You have your orders. I sent you the Colombia file. This matter is closed.
Jessica pulled up another email where Gomez was once again replying to Morgan. Gomez wanted to see the report from the confidential informant. Morgan had responded that he would forward the report to Gomez's office.
“Any more emails?” Michael asked.
“Yes, a few more, but they're dated two weeks after the others.”
Michael couldn't help but noticed the dates of all the emails were just weeks before his trip to China. The last email was from Morgan once again to Gomez. It was dated the day before the village massacre in China.
Did you really think I wouldn't notice? The operation in China is closed. I am ordering you to cease and desist. Colombia is where your focus should be. If I find out that you have spent even one more minute on China, I will have no qualms about firing you for insubordination.
The next two emails were between two unknown parties using free email accounts. They were dated the same day as the last message sent from Morgan to Gomez, the day before the village attack. The first email was short
and sweet.
What is the status of our problem? Do you need us to get involved? I thought the informant's report was supposed to take care of this?
The second party replied.
Apparently, he doesn't trust the informant. He has received a firm warning to cease and desist. I have taken steps to sweep our tracks in case he doesn't listen. Either way, we will be covered. Your involvement will not be necessary. Due to his position, it would bring too much heat if anything were to happen to him. That should only be used as an absolute last resort. I have everything under control. There is no need to worry.
The final email was dated the day after the village attack in China. It was sent from the second party to the first.
Things in China did not go as planned. We have a problem. We should meet to discuss it. The usual place today at 6:00 p.m.
Michael was deep in thought. What did this all mean? The dates and the talk about an operation in China couldn't be a coincidence. Something was going on there and he and Shaun had stepped right in the middle of it.
“Okay, what else?” he asked.
“There's this.” She pulled up a picture of a scanned document.
Confidential Informant #1364212
CI had information on an operation currently underway in Yunnan, China. CI claimed we were given a false lead. CI's statement was validated by the fact that he knew exactly what information we had been given.
CI relayed information regarding a new opium trade route and processing plant in southern Colombia.
“Too bad we don't have a name instead of a number,” Michael lamented.
“We could get a name,” she replied, referring of course to hacking into the CIA.
Michael knew what she meant but he just pursed his lips and stared at the informant report. “Is that everything?”
“Just one last document that has what looks to me like coordinates and some words that I thought might be code names.”
She pulled up a document with a bunch of numbers and the words White Knight and Black Pawn.
“Those definitely look like coordinates. I have no idea what those words mean but they could be code names for something.”
Michael retrieved a pad of paper and wrote down the coordinates. There were coordinates to four locations. He could tell by the numbers that they were somewhere in southeast Asia. He looked at his watch. “I have to go out. It should go without saying that you stay here.”
“Where are you going?” She looked concerned.
“I have to meet someone.”
“Who?”
“Don't worry about it.” He walked to the bedroom to get dressed. Jessica followed him. He rifled through a duffel bag of clothes looking for some clean pants, finding a pair of black cargo pants.
“Are you going to see Brook?”
He sighed heavily and put his head back staring up at the ceiling. His body language screamed he wasn't in the mood for this conversation. He put his pants on while seeming to ignore her question. He buttoned and zipped them up, then walked over and stood in front of her.
He looked in her eyes. “I'm not going to see Brook.” A strong hint of irritation could be heard in his voice.
“Would you even tell me if you were?”
“Do you want me to?”
She thought for a moment. Maybe it would be better if she didn't know. But then again, not knowing and always wondering would be torture. “Yeah, I do.”
“I'm not going to see Brook,” he repeated.
“But you won't tell me who.”
“I'm going to see a friend of Josh. He's been helping us.”
“Who is he?”
“A friend.”
She frowned. It wasn't worth fighting over.
Chapter 31
Michael drove to the address Martin had given him. It was a deli. Martin said to park in the back and knock on the door that said “Deliveries.” He did as instructed. He was greeted by a teenage girl who looked like she worked there. She invited him in and led him down a hallway directing him to a door on the right. The girl disappeared as Michael opened the door and stepped in.
Martin was sitting at a desk punching numbers on a large calculator. The line of paper coming out of the machine must have been a mile long. A large ledger was opened in front of him. He stopped and looked up at Michael. “You made it,” he smiled.
“You working?” Michael asked remembering Martin's cover had been as an accountant.
“Yeah, unfortunately. A friend of mine owns this deli, but is terrible at keeping his books in order. He asked me to help him out.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I wish I'd never agreed to it.” He stood up to shake Michael's hand. He was dressed in a light blue button-up shirt and khakis. The last few buttons were left undone and the sleeves were rolled partway up. “Nice seeing you again.”
“Likewise.”
Martin closed the door and gestured to one of the chairs in front of the desk. “Have a seat.”
Michael sat in the chair facing the door. Martin took the other one.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Martin asked.
Michael glanced around the room. He felt funny talking in this office. He worried it could be bugged or maybe had cameras. He didn't know if he was just being careful or if perhaps he was becoming somewhat paranoid.
Martin picked up on his uneasiness. “Don't worry. I check for bugs and cams regularly. It's completely unnecessary, but old habits die hard don't they?”
Michael smiled. “I have some leads that could break this whole thing wide open, but there's a catch. To get the information, I need I'll have to get into the CIA's records.”
“I can't help you with that. I don't work there any more, and at this point, I wouldn't know who to trust.”
“No, I know. I wouldn't even ask you to if you could. That's not why I came.”
“You wanted to kill me with curiosity then?” Martin joked.
Michael laughed. He stared down at the floor and pursed his lips. “What do you think about hacking into the CIA?” He looked up to catch Martin's reaction. There was none. He was good.
“I'm going to venture a guess that hacking isn't really in your skill set,” Martin said. “You would need help and since you're asking me about it I'm going to also venture a guess that you have someone who thinks they can do it?”
“Can it be done?” He tried to avoid answering the question.
“To be honest, I don't know. About six years ago I heard rumors that someone had hacked into the mainframe but I have no idea if it really happened or not. It was just rumors and whispers.”
“Was there anything more to those rumors?”
Martin looked at him curious. “Supposedly the perp was in for twelve seconds and they couldn't trace it. No one knew who did it.”
That seemed to validate Jessica's story even though Michael had believed her anyway.
“It was just a rumor, Michael,” Martin reiterated.
Michael nodded. Both men were struggling to read the other but because of their past lives as covert operatives it was proving challenging. Martin had been watching Michael closely trying to read his reactions but Michael was just as stoic as Martin.
“Do the names Alonso Gomez and Edward Morgan mean anything to you?” Michael asked.
“No. Why?”
“Just names I came across.”
“How did you come across them?”
Michael got the feeling Martin knew much more than he was telling. With his background in the CIA he wouldn't be quick to tip his hand. He would first try to draw information out of Michael before divulging what he knew. Michael knew this because it's what he himself would do. He decided he didn't want to wait to see who would break first.
“I have some emails sent between the two men. They reference an operation in Yunnan, China, and the dates of the emails correspond to my trip there. It's a little too coincidental.”
“What did the emails say?”
Martin was q
uiet while Michael gave him a rundown of all the email correspondence including the anonymous ones as well as the confidential informant's report. Micheal hoped his divulging of intel would pay off. It did.
“Alonso Gomez and Edward Morgan both work for the CIA,” Martin informed him. “Edward Morgan heads up the division that handles illegal drug trafficking and production. Alonso Gomez covers opium specifically. Gomez works directly under Morgan.”
“What do you think of the informant?”
“It sounds like he's got someone inside the CIA feeding him information and telling him what to say. He sounds like a pawn.”
“A pawn?” Michael perked up. “Do the words White Knight or Black Pawn mean anything to you?”
“No. Where they on the drive too?”
“Yeah, along with these coordinates.” Michael handed him the paper with the coordinates on it. “Do you think you could find out what's in those locations?”
Martin looked at the numbers. “Piece of cake.” He stuffed the paper in his shirt pocket. “So back to this hacking. You didn't answer my question.”
“I know.”
“Hacking into the CIA is no joke. It's more than likely this person is going to get caught trying if he is even able to hack in. Perhaps you should look for another way to get the information you need.”
“I don't see any other way. Last time, I asked someone on the inside to help, he ended up dead. I won't do that again.”
“So who is this guy who thinks he can hack into the CIA?”
A grin crept across Michael's face. “It's not a guy.”
“A woman?” His eyebrows raised. “She wouldn't happen to be your current traveling companion would she?”
“Could be.”
“What makes her think she can do it?”
Michael tilted his head from side to side. “She's done it before.”
“So it wasn't a rumor.”
Michael shook his head no.
“Wow. Now I want to meet her. You know if the CIA finds out she hacked into their system they might just offer her a job ... In exchange for not having her put to death as a terrorist.”