“I’m glad the timing worked out.”
“How did you get into financial planning, Grace?” Susan asked.
“I started with a brokerage firm in New York after I got my MBA, but I decided I preferred to work more closely with my clients.”
Dick turned to Clayton. “You’ll have to let us know how things work out with Grace. My portfolio didn’t do nearly as well as I’d expected last year.”
“Looks like you may have a bigger client list than you planned,” Sean’s dad said.
Despite the excitement rippling through her at the prospect, she managed to keep her voice professional. “I promise to do my best for all of my clients.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
Sean escorted her into the kitchen. “Looks like dinner is ready.”
They joined the others in the buffet line, some guests finding seats at the table in the open kitchen and others moving onto the wide deck. Grace and Sean were nearly to the front of the line when she saw a familiar face.
“Miss Grace.” Jun stood behind the counter that separated the kitchen from the living area, a serving spoon in her hand. She bowed her head slightly. “It is good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.” Grace smiled warmly, a feeling of hope fluttering inside her. Devin’s parents might not want her in his life, but Jun had always put Devin’s happiness above everything else. “I hope we can talk later.”
“Yes.” She bowed her head again. “I will find you before I leave.”
“Please do.” Grace picked up her plate and accepted the offerings of salad, lasagna, and bread.
“How do you know her?” Sean asked as they moved toward the deck.
“Believe it or not, she’s Devin’s old nanny. She lived with his family until a few years ago.”
“Small world.”
“I’m starting to realize just how true those words are.”
Chapter 29
Devin had hardly slept. The thought that a man had tried to kill him overshadowed his own actions in his nightmares, but he couldn’t quite shake the guilt he felt for drugging his father. Thankfully, when they had ridden to the airport that morning, his father had actually thanked him for his help the night before and apologized for not being able to spend more time with him.
Devin wasn’t sure what to think of his father’s lack of concern over losing consciousness in the elevator. Had it not been for Ghost’s message that his father’s room was clear, Devin would have thought his dad knew what had really happened. That message had arrived around three in the morning. It had also contained the instruction for him to make the hand-off to Fai when the time came.
That was another thing Devin wasn’t looking forward to. Now that he’d let Fai think he’d manipulated him, what would he be asked to do next? Though it was a struggle, Devin tried to put that thought out of his mind on the flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. He knew Ghost was somewhere on the plane with him, but he hadn’t caught sight of him despite watching the various people who had boarded. Still, knowing someone was there to watch out for him helped him relax enough to sleep for most of the five-hour trip.
By the time he got off the plane, all he wanted was to get back to his apartment and pretend he lived a normal life. Unfortunately, reality wasn’t following his plans. Fai stood waiting for him a few yards past the security checkpoint.
Devin assumed he would know what was on his father’s laptop before he was faced with handing over the copy to Fai. He hated the idea of passing it off without knowing the damage the information might cause for him, his father, and his country.
“How was your trip?” Fai asked the moment Devin cleared the guard stand.
“Fine.” Devin fell into step beside him. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I knew you needed a ride from the airport.”
Devin didn’t respond. The last thing he wanted was to get in a car with Fai, but he couldn’t see a way around it.
“Did you check any luggage?” Fai asked.
“No.” Devin followed him to his car and loaded his suitcase in the back seat, keeping his computer bag in hand.
As soon as they were in the car, Fai put the key in the ignition and said, “I believe you brought something back for me.”
“Yes, but before I give it to you, I want proof that Grace is okay.”
He put the car in gear and didn’t look at Devin as he backed out of his parking space. “Exactly what kind of proof do you want?”
“I don’t know.” Devin hadn’t planned to make demands, but the idea that he could be handing over valuable information terrified him. It didn’t matter that he had been told to do it by his superiors. “Let me see her or at least talk to her.”
“The best thing you can do for her is to leave her alone. She doesn’t know we have people nearby, and I’m sure you prefer she go about her life without knowing what is at stake.”
“A photo, then,” Devin improvised. He hoped more than anything that what he asked would be beyond Fai’s capability to provide, but he had to be sure. “Surely you can at least give me that much.”
“Yes. I can get you that much, but first I need the information.”
Devin reminded himself once more that giving the drive to Fai was part of Chee and Ghost’s plan to trace the leak they had been working so hard to uncover. Reluctantly he unzipped a small pocket of his backpack and pulled out the flash drive.
Fai kept one hand on the wheel and stretched out the other one. Devin dropped the drive into it, and the corner of Fai’s lips curved up. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Devin didn’t respond. Instead, he watched the road as they made their way from the airport to his apartment. When they reached the front of his building, Devin climbed out and retrieved his suitcase. Before he could close the back door, Fai said, “I’ll make sure I have that other information you wanted by next week.”
With a nod, Devin turned and retreated inside. He prayed the information he had just handed over was nothing more than boring memos and contracts, but deep down, he knew there was more to it than that. Making his way upstairs, he prayed this would be over soon.
* * *
The guests had started to depart, and Grace searched for Jun among the kitchen staff. She caught a glimpse of the woman’s black and gray hair as she disappeared out a side door, a bag of trash in her hand.
Grace followed her, catching up to Jun near the front of the house where the older woman was returning from the outside trash can.
“Jun,” she called out. “I was looking for you.”
“I was hoping to find time to speak with you. How is Devin?” Jun asked. “I haven’t heard from him in months.”
Grace hesitated. She hadn’t trusted anyone except her grandfather with her suspicions, and she wasn’t sure she was willing to do so now.
“You do know where he is, don’t you?” Jun asked. “Devin is like my own child. I will do anything I can for him. I’m worried he has been silent for so long.”
“I’m worried about him too,” Grace admitted. She offered what little truth she could. “His work is very complicated right now. It’s hard for him to communicate with me.”
Jun looked down at Grace’s stomach. “But you are about to have his child. He must be calling you to see how you both are.”
“I haven’t talked to him since I told him.” Grace saw Jun’s surprise. “We were supposed to meet in London a few weeks ago, but he had to cancel. Then things happened, and we lost touch.”
“That doesn’t sound like my Devin.”
“I know, but I told him I was having morning sickness, and he acted like I had a cold.”
Jun shook her head and muttered something to herself in Mandarin. “That boy doesn’t have a clue, does he?”
“What do you mean?”
“Devin is an only child, and he’s never been around anyone having babies. I’m not sure he knows what morning sickness is.”
Grace stared
at her, stunned. How many times had she replayed her conversation with Devin, furious one moment that he had been so callous and then wondering in the next if he’d truly heard what she had said.
“What can I do to help?” Jun asked.
“If Devin comes looking for me, will you give him my number so he can call me? My old phone was stolen.”
“Of course.” She grew quiet. “I can’t be sure I’ll be here though. I haven’t been able to find much work lately, and my rent went up this month. I may have to move to a bigger city if things don’t change soon.”
“What kind of work are you hoping to do?”
“Something that will allow me to keep a roof over my head. Nanny, housekeeper, kitchen help.”
“I may have another option. You would have to move though.”
“I can move.”
“I need to make a phone call. Can you give me a minute?”
Jun nodded. “I will go help clean up.”
“I’ll find you before you leave,” Grace promised.
They both walked back inside, Jun heading for the kitchen and Grace retreating to her temporary bedroom. She dialed her grandfather’s number.
“Hi, Grace. Is everything okay?”
“It is. In fact, it may be better than okay.”
“What’s going on?”
“How would you feel about having a live-in housekeeper, one who would also be able to help with the bungalows?”
“If it’s the right person, I’d consider the idea. You have someone in mind?”
“I think so. Devin’s childhood nanny is looking for work. I ran into her at a dinner party. She’s been working odd jobs, serving at parties and doing housework.”
“Have you already talked to her about this?”
“I mentioned the possibility of a job but didn’t give her specifics. I thought if you were okay with it, she could stay in the room by the nursery, at least until we can afford to pay her enough for her to get her own place.”
“You’re the one who would have to supervise her.”
“I know.”
“That also means that if it doesn’t work out, you’ll be responsible for letting her go.”
Grace considered that possibility. “How about if I offer her a temporary position? We can make it for six months and renegotiate from there.”
“Not a bad idea. That would help you get through your pregnancy and Devin getting home.”
“Exactly.”
“Go ahead and make an offer.”
They discussed the terms Grace could present to Jun.
As soon as Grace hung up, she went in search of Devin’s former nanny once more. This time she found her drying stemware in the kitchen.
“Jun, can I talk to you for a minute?”
Jun looked over at the woman who stood beside her as though silently asking permission.
“Go ahead. You can take a five-minute break.”
Not sure where else she would be able to find somewhere private, Grace led the way into her room. “That job I was telling you about is available if you’re interested.”
“Yes, I’m interested. What kind of work is it? And where?”
“It would be at a resort in Colorado.” Grace explained the job offer, including the living situation. “I’m sorry it’s not that much money, but at least you wouldn’t have to worry about rent.”
“The money is fine,” Jun said. “But if I come with you to Colorado, who will give Devin your number? You seemed concerned that you haven’t heard from him either.”
“Actually, I have an idea. Would you be willing to e-mail him before you move to Colorado? You can make sure he has your phone number so he can contact you. Once he does, you can give him my number.”
“I’m happy to do that. We have to make sure he is there when the baby is born.”
Grace didn’t dispute her assumption that she was carrying only one baby. She simply nodded. “I agree.”
Chapter 30
Devin felt like he was dying a slow death in the days between returning from Tokyo and meeting with Ghost. Six long days passed before Chee left him a coded message telling him to meet at the safe house the following day. It took every ounce of patience in him to follow the correct protocols to make sure he wasn’t being followed on his way to the meeting.
Work at the firm had ceased to hold any appeal for him, although Fai had made it easy to pretend everything was normal. Devin had hardly seen him since being dropped off at his apartment. He hoped that meant Fai really didn’t have any access to Grace and he was looking for a way to fabricate proof.
“What was on my dad’s computer?” Devin asked the moment he closed the door to the safe house behind him.
“More than we ever thought possible.” Ghost motioned him to the table where a laptop lay open, a cord running from it to a desktop computer. “Take a look.”
Devin sat down, and his heart sank. Two documents were displayed side by side, both contracts for sensitive government projects, both containing names of the various contractors who would work in the specific capacities the hosting agencies needed.
“Is this what I think it is?” Devin asked.
“If you think it’s the base security plans for six army installations and the helicopter specs for the Marine Corps’ next order, then yes, it’s what you think it is.”
“How would my father have these? He lives in Sedona, Arizona. We don’t have military bases around there, much less government contractors.”
“There are dozens of contracts on here, the majority of which contain classified information.”
“Again, how would he gain access to it? Does he work in intelligence?”
“No. The CIA would have uncovered that when they did your background check.”
“If he doesn’t work for our side, does that mean . . . ?” Devin didn’t want to voice the possibility that his father could be a traitor to his country, but it didn’t keep the thought from forming.
“I don’t think he’s a spy if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“It’s very much what I’m worried about.” Devin scrolled down the first document, searching for any clues. “I thought all my father did was consulting work.”
“I think that’s exactly what he does. What none of us realized is that he’s consulting for firms in the business of working for the government on top-secret projects.”
“My father is helping companies get these contracts?”
“Yep.” Ghost fell silent, then finally asked, “Who else would have had access to your dad’s computer?”
“After seeing how closely he guarded it this weekend, I’m not sure. At home his office is always locked. Even his secretary doesn’t have access to the office unless he’s there.”
“Who is his secretary?”
“Maureen Adams.”
“How long has she worked for him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe twenty years.”
“And she still works for him?”
“Yes. He mentioned her this weekend.”
“Then it’s not likely she’s the source for the Chinese. From what we’ve ascertained, whoever was passing along the information lost access about three years ago. That means we can rule out your mother as well.”
“And Liwei,” Devin said. “You’re sure it was three years ago when the flow of information stopped?”
“Yes. We had a couple of leaks, but nothing like we had before then.” Ghost studied Devin, apparently sensing a new awareness in him.
“Who is it, Devin?” Ghost asked. When Devin didn’t answer, he asked again. “Someone stopped working for your dad three years ago. Who was it?”
His chest tightened, a sickening sensation rising up in his throat as he forced himself to say, “Jun. It must be Jun.”
“Jun Chang? Your old nanny?”
“She lived at the house until three years ago. I never understood why my father let her go after she had spent so many years with the family.”
“Maybe he caught her stealing information and fired her rather than turning her in.”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t have thought he would have let her anywhere near the house if that was the case, but she was helping out with dinner when I went home last December.”
“How much does your mother know about your father’s work?”
“Probably about as much as I did.”
“Typically it’s the woman who does that kind of hiring.”
“True. My dad may have convinced my mom they didn’t need Jun full-time, but if he didn’t give her another reason for letting her go, my mom wouldn’t have thought twice about bringing her in for day jobs.”
“It would also explain why your father was so protective of his laptop, even around you.”
“I’m still having a hard time wrapping my mind around all this. My dad being involved in intelligence contracts is enough of a stretch, but Jun? I love her like a mother.”
“The best spies are the ones you would never suspect. It sounds like she was exceptional to go undetected for so many years,” Ghost said. “What are the chances that Jun knows you work for the CIA?”
“I don’t know how she would. My job offers and travel information all came to me when I was in school, and she never visited me there.” His eyebrows drew together. “Why do you ask?”
“Damage control. We still don’t know how Fai found out you’re with the agency.”
“So if it wasn’t Jun who told him . . .”
“Then we have another leak to plug.”
“What happens now?”
“The CIA is already working to make changes to the personnel and specifications in the compromised contracts,” Ghost said. “I suspect the FBI will arrive in Sedona sometime tomorrow to bring Jun in.”
“Please let me know what they find out.”
“I will.”
* * *
Grace zipped her suitcase and tipped it upright. For such an impromptu trip, it had been more successful than she could have dared imagine. Sean’s father seemed pleased with the new stock portfolio she had proposed, and several of the investments were already in place. His expanding business ventures would take more time, but after meeting with him each day, she had a clear understanding of what he wanted and the path they would take to get there.
Kept Secrets Page 18