by Loye, Trish
“Shit,” Alyssa said. “She’s already cleared it out.”
Zach ran his fingers along the desk and then smelled them. “This is definitely where she made her bombs.”
Alyssa ran her hand over her hair. “But how many did she make? Is she done? What’s next for her?”
“She’s not done,” Zach said quietly. “You know that. Something is coming.”
“I know.” She slammed her hand onto the table. “We’ve been a step behind her for too long.”
Zach came close. “We’ll find her and stop her.”
She gazed up at him, his dark eyes fierce and her heartrate up. She forced her gaze away and back to the empty shelves. “But will it be in time?” she whispered.
To his credit, Zach didn’t make any false promises. He turned away and pulled out his phone. “I’ll get a forensic team to go over it. Maybe they’ll find something.”
Alyssa stared at the shelves, thinking of Craig standing on the subway platform begging for her help.
Zach touched her arm. “Alyssa? You with me?”
How long had she been lost in thought? She lifted her chin. “Of course.”
His dark eyes saw too much, but all he did was nod. “I saw two security cameras. I’m going to go ask Boy Wonder out front for the video.”
He left and she surveyed the room a last time. The empty shelves drew her. They were right behind the chair of the worktable. It didn’t allow a lot of movement. She frowned. Why wouldn’t Beth have put the shelves at the end of the storage room? It would have made it easier to move around in here.
Unless there had been something else in that spot. She moved to the end of the table. There was room enough here for a lot of boxes. Alyssa bit her lip. How much chemical had been stored here? And what did Beth Reynolds plan to do with it?
* * *
Zach strode down the hall toward the front counter and the kid manning it. He must have been scowling, because the kid’s eyes widened and he leaned back. Normally Zach would have smiled to try to put him at ease, but he had no time to be gentle with anyone. The soldier in him had pushed aside emotion and focused on finding the enemy.
“Video for the cameras?” he said.
The kid nodded and pointed to an ancient computer on the desk behind the counter.
“Can you pull up video for the last twenty-four hours?” he asked. “We’re looking for that woman.”
“I… I just saw her this morning.”
“You did? Tell me.”
“She borrowed a dolly and moved a bunch of stuff from her unit.”
“Do you know what she was driving?”
The boy’s face scrunched up as if he had to physically dig through his swamp of a brain to access the memory. “Ummm. A light colored van?”
“Okay, good.” He’d come back to the van. “Do you know what she moved?”
“Boxes mostly.” His hands waved the vague shape of a box as he spoke. “Did she do something?
Zach shouted down the hall. “Alyssa.” Then, he returned his attention to the boy. “Can you bring up the security feed for the time period she was here?”
“Sure.” The kid sat down and began typing. Within moments, a video came up of the back of a woman with blonde hair walking down the hall pushing an empty dolly.
Alyssa jogged up to stand beside Zach and watched the screen without being told. The kid fast forwarded the video twenty minutes and they saw Reynolds pushing the dolly that held multiple boxes.
Alyssa cursed softly.
Zach’s phone rang. He pulled it out. “What’s up, Drew?”
“Riley and I checked out the Language Learning Center where Hajjar and Reynolds work. Boss said he knew Hajjar went by the name Costa at the shelter. Said too many people had preconceived notions about people from the Middle East.” Drew snorted. “No shit.”
“Anything else?”
“Yeah. The boss said both were really nice people, he couldn’t believe they were in trouble, blah blah.
“He did say Reynolds was new and she’d learned her languages over in the Middle East. And she missed work today, but guess what? He said he’d see her tonight.”
Zach’s interest sharpened. “Why?”
“Because she’s one of the volunteers at the Hero’s Gala.”
“Hero’s Gala?” Zach said.
Alyssa gasped beside him. “Of course.” She started cursing.
“Good work, Drew. We’ll meet you back at the CTB.” He hung up and gave the kid instructions to send the video to his email account.
“I’m so stupid,” Alyssa said as they walked to the car.
“You’re one of the smartest women I know.” Zach settled into the driver’s seat and then pulled out into traffic. “Tell me what this gala is.”
She ran a hand through her hair. It was coming out of its long braid, with little wisps framing her face. He wanted to tuck one long curl behind her ear but restrained himself, knowing she wouldn’t appreciate it. He hated the distance she forced between them, but he’d respect it, especially when they had a job to do. He drove while she spoke.
“The Hero’s Gala is a fundraising event that’s been held for the last ten years, and each year it gets bigger and more high profile. It’s to honor our soldiers, and the money raised goes to the VA hospital. Vets are welcome as long as they wear their ribbons. The military higher-ups usually make sure some uniforms are there, looking all spiffy and hero-ish. In fact, it was the Bureau’s turn to make a showing this year.”
He glanced at her. Her nose had wrinkled as if she smelled something bad as she typed something into her phone.
“But they don’t want to see any vets with real problems,” he guessed.
She sighed. “They actually do want the guys who are missing limbs. They’re good for the people donating money to see. But… the soldiers with scars on the inside?” She shook her head. “We can’t let anyone see those soldiers.”
“Soldiers like Rob,” he said, now understanding her. Soldiers like her. Though he wondered if she knew she was one of those soldiers she spoke about.
She nodded and touched her screen a couple of times. “I shouldn’t complain. At least they’re raising money and doing something. It just never seems like enough.” She gave a small laugh. “I went the second year it was held. I was serving then, but I hadn’t done my tour yet. It all seemed so glamorous.”
He didn’t let her dwell on that younger, innocent Alyssa, the one who’d been so drastically changed by Iraq. “Do you know anything about it this year? Where’s it held? Is there a special guest?”
“I’ve got the website here,” she said. “It’s being held tonight at the Paladin Hotel on the Upper East Side. Oh shit,” she breathed.
“Tell me.”
“The Secretary of Defense will be there as the guest of honor.”
21
They met Riley and Drew at the CTB. Alyssa asked one of the FBI peons where Masters was.
“He’s interviewing Hajjar, trying to get details before we ship him out,” the guy said.
She strode back to the set of three detention and interrogation rooms in the back of the building. They weren’t used very often. The viewing room was still packed with Masters’ FBI crew and CTB cops. She and Zach muscled their way to the front, where they could see through the one-way mirror to watch the interrogation.
And interrogation it was.
Hajjar sagged in the chair he’d been handcuffed to. He shivered, though sweat rolled down the side of his face. Masters was alternating cool air and heat. She wondered if he’d resorted to drugs yet. From the swelling on Hajjar’s cheek, they hadn’t gone easy on him.
Masters slammed his fist down on the table. Hajjar jumped. “Tell me the names of the others in your cell.”
He shook his head, looking down at the floor. “There’s no cell.”
“So I’m supposed to believe you’re working alone?” Masters snarled.
Hajjar looked up. “No.”
“
So tell me the names.”
“There are no names!”
Masters leaned close and whispered something that the microphones didn’t catch. Everyone in the room speculated what he was saying, from threats of life in prison to a slow, painful death. Personally, she thought Masters would go for death.
“Please. Not again,” Hajjar said brokenly. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Bullshit!”
Alyssa couldn’t take any more. She rapped sharply on the glass, causing Masters’ head to whip around as he glared at the mirror. The other spectators sucked in their breaths. “Come on,” she said to Zach. “We can’t let this go on any longer.”
Her statement earned a bunch of mutters from the onlookers, but no one challenged her. She guessed they left that for Masters to do.
She and Zach waited in the hall for the FBI agent. He came out and shut the door behind him, his face twisted in a ferocious scowl. “There had better be another fucking attack happening. I’m too close to breaking him to stop.”
“We believe you have the wrong man,” Alyssa said.
“Are you fucking kidding me? This is the guy.”
“No, sir,” she said. “We believe the true terrorist is his girlfriend. She—”
“You believe this as well, Grayson?”
Zach nodded. “We have evidence.”
Masters shook his head. “You’re telling me that mouse of a woman…wait. Let me rephrase that. You’re telling me that white American mouse of a woman is our bomber?”
“We are,” Alyssa said. “She—”
“This is unbelievable.”
“Stop interrupting me,” Alyssa said, stepping toward Masters. “Listen to what I have to say.”
His eyes narrowed, and he finally looked at her. “Give me your evidence.”
She took a deep breath and tried to expel her anger. The job at hand was more important than getting irritated with this dickhead. She outlined the evidence, from the woman’s dead son and her close ties to the Middle East to the most recent find of suspected chemicals in the storage locker, and everything in between.
“Your evidence is that the woman speaks Arabic and has a storage locker?”
“Agent Masters,” Zach said in a deep voice that was almost a growl. “Listen to what she has to say.”
His scowl deepened. “I’m not releasing Hajjar. He is our main suspect, and a potential threat to the public.”
“I’m not asking you to release him,” Alyssa said. “But we think Reynolds is Al Shabah and Hajjar has little to no part.”
“You’re free to pursue any line of reasoning you choose,” Masters said. “Just don’t interfere with my case.”
“We think she’s going to target the Hero’s Gala at the Paladin Hotel tonight. We could use the help of your men,” Alyssa said.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Fine. I’ll get my men to sweep the hotel and I’ll personally oversee security. I won’t be accused of negligence. But I don’t want either of you inciting anyone to hysterics.” He stomped off.
Alyssa pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s competent, but will he do everything that needs to be done?”
Zach pulled out his phone and tapped out a number before lifting it to his ear. “It’s Grayson. ETA? Good.” He slid it back into his pocket before looking at her. “Masters isn’t completely on board, and frankly we don’t have time to convince him.”
“But…” Her thoughts raced. How could they stop this? Should they put out a warning to the public? Would anyone even listen to them?
“I’m not sure I’ve seen you speechless before.” He laughed. “Don’t worry. Backup is here. Now we have to plan.”
“The gala is tonight. First off, we need to sweep the place.”
“That’s already being done by the secret service and their K9 unit,” Zach said. “The bomb won’t be something we’ll find easily. We need to focus on finding Reynolds. She’ll be there.”
“How are we going to do that? Pose as security?”
Zach laughed again. “Not quite. We’re going as guests.”
Was he insane? Why was he smiling? “Are you enjoying this?” she asked suspiciously. “Wait… Guests?”
* * *
Zach’s friends or co-workers or whatever they were had arrived, and met them at Zach’s hotel. They had an adjoining suite next to Zach and Marc’s rooms. The dining table in the suite held blueprints of the hotel hosting the gala while the coffee table held computer equipment, including two large screens. A dark-haired woman who’d been introduced as Dani—the woman Alyssa’s brother was living with—sat on the floor in front of the setup, typing away.
A tall woman with wheat-blonde hair and an even taller, wickedly handsome man sorted out a wide array of weapons, including a sniper rifle. Zach had introduced them as Cat and Rhys. The last man on the team was another tall man with the same coloring as Cat. Dylan was his name.
Alyssa waved a hand at the team. “Did you all come from the land of giants?”
“Just Canada, sweetheart,” Dylan said, overhearing her. “We breed ‘em big up there. You know, to counter the cold.”
Alyssa snorted. “Right. And you all live in igloos.”
Jake came out of the bedroom, dressed in a tux. The woman sitting on the floor looked up and caught his gaze. Something passed between them—something that made Alyssa want to turn away and give them privacy.
She was about to do just that when Jake looked at her, his brows drawn together. “We need to talk, Lyssa.”
She squared her shoulders. “No, we don’t.”
A muscle in his jaw flexed. “Fine. I’m going to talk and you’re going to listen. Do you want to do it in front of everyone?”
“Asshole,” she muttered, stalking into the bedroom.
Jake followed her and shut the door. “You have PTSD.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Yes. What’s your point?”
“Should you be on this mission? Can you function?”
She clenched her teeth as her anger spiked. “You’re not Mom.”
“No,” he said. “I’m the brother she complains to when you never call or come home. You’re in trouble, Lyssa. Let me help.”
“I’m dealing with it, Jake. Besides, there’s nothing you can do to help me.”
He took a step toward her. “You honestly don’t think I have nightmares about the shit I’ve seen? That I haven’t dealt with people with these same issues? Jesus, Lyssa. I’m special ops. I know all about PTSD.”
Her anger drained from her body, leaving her a hollow shell. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I am seeking help. Talking is just…hard.”
“I know,” he said. “But make sure you do it anyway. It doesn’t have to be me you talk to. Just someone.” He pulled her close into a hard hug. “Love you, sis.”
“You too,” she said.
He released her and then frowned. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
“Damn straight,” she said. When she saw Jake waver, she shook her head at him. “This is not your decision. I am on this team. We will get Al Shabah. I have to do this for the friends she killed.” He opened his mouth and she held up her hand. “But I need to do this for myself.” She softened her voice. “Don’t try to stop me, Jake.”
Someone knocked hard on the door before opening it. Zach stood there. “You okay, Alyssa?”
She nodded. Jake eyed Zach as he stepped to her side. “She’s solid, Jake. And she’s one of our best chances of stopping this tango.”
Alyssa warmed under his praise. She knew it was true, but it was nice to hear Zach say it. Jake frowned as he looked at Zach.
“I think we need to have a conversation, Doc.”
Zach bristled, and Alyssa stepped between them. “No, you don’t. Besides, now is not the time. We have a terrorist to catch.”
Jake nodded, but she caught him scowling at Zach at different moments throughout their planning. Zach scowled right back. Jake obviously suspected something. She shrug
ged it off. There was really nothing to suspect anymore.
Before they’d gone to the hotel, Alyssa had made a quick stop at her place to grab her outfit for the gala. It had been what she’d been planning to wear anyway.
Now, Zach went to his room to change. He came out wearing a black suit tailored to his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He looked strikingly handsome and still had an aura of danger about him, making for an intoxicating combination.
She changed next, and emerged to see them surrounding a map of the hotel. No one had noticed her yet.
Alyssa rolled her shoulders. The halter-style black pant suit made her feel too exposed, with her bare back and the deep V in the front. At least she wore boots rather than spiky heels. No way in hell was she going to a potential terrorist bombing and wobbling around in heels. She’d wear her boots and damn anyone who said anything.
Zach leaned over the table, pointing to something on the map. The suit strained against his broad shoulders.
“Why aren’t the rest of you getting ready?” she asked the room, trying to pull her gaze from Zach.
“I’m on tech,” Dani said. “I’ll be in your ear.”
“And I’m overwatch,” Cat said. “I’m setting up near the third-floor overlook with my rifle and scope. I’ll let you know what I see.”
Zach turned to her, and his eyes widened before traveling over her. His gaze lingered briefly on the deep V of the halter before capturing hers, making her pulse leap with the heat in his eyes. She couldn’t help but remember the night at her apartment.
The rest of the men also had on suits, but none of them made her stomach flutter like Zach. Maybe when this was over, she should have Zach over for a last night together.
Then she put those thoughts away. Time to work.
She entered the ballroom of the Paladin Hotel later that evening with five handsome men. Too bad she couldn’t enjoy the reason why.
She surveyed the ballroom. Zach stood near her, but the others had split off to their assigned zones: kitchen, lobby, stage, as well as the other sides of the room. Drew and Riley were also here. They stood at opposite corners of the room. Alyssa waited near one of the many bars holding a glass of champagne, but not drinking it.