Southern Charm (Southern Desires Series Book 5)

by Jeannette Winters

  Pointing to where one of the team members was sitting, Cindy said, “Al is about to go on break. You can use his but only for an email. Make it quick because I can’t pay him to do nothing. I’ll be right back.”

  Randi didn’t remember Cindy being such a hard ass. She seemed angry and bitter. If she was JT’s sister, that would be understandable. More likely you’re worried because the people you were tracking have fallen off the face of the earth. Don’t panic, Cindy. They’re close. Closer than you realize.

  Once Randi was at Al’s computer she noticed he’d logged out of the database she needed. But as long as she could get into email she’d have an open portal to give her remote access to the entire database. A few key strokes later . . . bingo! She was in and could do everything from her phone. Stepping back into a corner, she went to work. Since she’d practically lived on that system when she worked there, she took another route. She’d expected to have to struggle through the system, but what she needed to see hadn’t changed. Randi found a few stumbling blocks but she maneuvered around them without needing access to the primary database. That was how Cindy hid what she was doing as well. Good thing I know where to look.

  Randi keyed in the phone numbers for their four secure lines and saw they’d all been tapped. Each text message was there along with another file with recordings of their audios to each other. Cindy had it all. It was no wonder she seemed one step ahead of them. Except this time. Good thing Mark pulled us off the grid. She has no idea what company she’s keeping. But she will before we leave.

  There was no doubt Cindy was the mole, but Randi needed to get Mark more information to take her, and whoever was working with her, down. Digging further, she opened the back door files, which would show who authorized the tracking’s. Nothing was logged.

  No phone could be tapped without an order number. Each number required a supervisor’s sign-off before the tap launched. It was hard coded and embedded, so no one could hack in and override the system.

  Randi downloaded a copy of all the communications and immediately forwarded it to Mark. These logs proved they were being monitored, but not by whom. She needed more. She was missing something. Who else would she have been stalking?

  It had to be someone she was no longer monitoring yet had not deleted the backup history. Johnson. Randi keyed his number and instantly the files opened. She was right. The authorization appeared. CT and the supervisor who approved it was Cindy Grim. CT? It would be easier if it said JT. Who is CT? The last transmission was from Providence when Johnson instructed the choppers where to pick them up.

  Randi felt sick to her stomach. Being so close to Cindy and not being able to do anything was difficult. Cindy was the mole, feeding information all this time to others. Seeing the proof in front of her was too much. Cindy was the reason they were ambushed in Providence and Johnson was killed. She’s going to pay for her actions. She might think she’s covered her tracks, but the game is over.

  Randi attached all the documents and sent them to Mark. Johnson was not just a member of his SEAL team but a friend as well. She could imagine what his reaction would be when he opened those files. I know what it’s like to lose someone.

  This hunt was about to get more personal. She put in Maggie’s number, but nothing came up. At least she wasn’t spying on my sister. That didn’t mean she wasn’t involved in the attack on the lab in North Carolina. Think Randi. You know she was watching, but who was Cindy watching? She tried the names of the other Marines who were stationed there. All blank. Randi needed to find the connection between Cindy, General Floyd, and JT.

  JT’s number wasn’t listed. That didn’t surprise her. She wouldn’t want to bring attention to her brother. However, Floyd was all over the place. She scanned a few messages and stopped. The man was cruel and hateful. She didn’t want to read more. Randi skipped to the end. One jumped out. It was from Floyd to Mark Collins. It had been an encrypted message saying “Blue Ridge attack imminent.” Randi looked at the date of the message. It was two days prior to Floyd’s murder. Now I know why Floyd was taken out of the picture. Someone was worried he might be changing sides once again. I’m not sure what he would’ve told Mark to make up for all the horrible shit he’d already done, but they believed he had something worth killing him over.

  Randi knew some secrets would never be revealed, but the more pieces they compiled the better chance they had at ending this.

  Mark sent her more numbers to check. Each one was listed, all ordered by CT and approved by Cindy. She sent the information and asked who they were. Mark didn’t answer. She could tell one was Hannah, his wife, by the messages between her and Mark. The others she could only guess. Whoever they were, they weren’t sharing sensitive information. They were being monitored for another purpose.

  A chill ran down her spine. Randi could only imagine what they’d use that information for. Kidnap and force someone’s hand. Like Mark or Kevin. Hell, even Don would be unable to refuse if they’d snatched Bailey.

  Time had flown by, and Al returned. Randi didn’t care. She wasn’t closing the remote access. As long as he didn’t notice her fake email open, she could work. Although all the files were sent to Mark, she wanted more. There had to be a link between Cindy and JT somewhere.

  She was deep in thought when she heard a beep and saw the blinking icon indicating her email had been shut down by another user. Shit! Randi didn’t need to look around the corner to know who that person was. Within seconds all the computers in the room went black. Too late, Cindy. The files are gone. It’s over.

  Cindy came storming out of her office and toward Randi shouting, “Who the hell are you?”

  Randi blinked innocently and said, “I offered you my orders. Do you want to see them now?”

  She saw Wyatt at the door, making sure no one else entered. Randi knew by the slight tilt of his head there was commotion going on outside of the room. It was protocol to lock the building down if there was a suspected attack. The Marines at the gate and other places within the building would probably be storming the place soon. What Cindy didn’t realize was if they were coming in, it wasn’t for Randi and Wyatt. It would be for her. We’re not the enemy here. Cindy is.

  Cindy grabbed the papers from Randi’s hand and flung them across the room. “I don’t care what the hell your paperwork says. I want to know who you really are.”

  The team members, seeming shocked by the exchange, got out of their seats and headed for the door. Once they saw it blocked by Wyatt, they scattered to different sides of the room, as though leaning against a wall would make them invisible. While Wyatt handled them, Randi confronted Cindy. Probably better that way. We want her alive, and Wyatt looks like he’s ready to blow.

  “I am the one who is going to enjoy seeing you go to prison for the rest of your life.”

  Cindy snorted. “You have nothing on me.”

  “Oh, you think not?”

  “This system has a fail-safe encryption. You can’t hack into it. So whatever you think you know, you don’t,” Cindy said smugly.

  “Unless someone who had worked for DHS and was extremely familiar with the fail-safe system knew how to retrieve deleted files. Because we both know you can hit delete but nothing ever really goes away. You just need to know where to find it,” Randi taunted.

  “You bitch,” Cindy said, raising her fisted right hand and making contact with Randi’s left cheek.

  Randi had tried avoiding it, but Cindy’s reach was longer. She heard Wyatt cock his gun and say, “Stand down, or I’ll shoot.”

  Cindy turned to face Wyatt. “I’m unarmed.” She raised her hands slightly, but not all the way.

  Randi reached out and started to pat Cindy down. When her hands moved over Cindy’s thigh, she felt it. Unarmed my ass. Lifting her skirt to reveal the weapon, Randi said, “Just like your brother. Can’t stop with the lies.” She pulled the gun out of the holster and tucked it away.

  “Brother?” Cindy asked. The tone of her voice puzzle
d Randi. It wasn’t like she was trying to hide the fact she had one. It was almost as if she was shocked to learn she had one.

  “Are you saying you don’t know who we’re talking about?” Randi asked.

  Cindy shook her head. “I don’t have a brother.”

  “That’s not what we hear,” Wyatt barked.

  “I’m telling you, I don’t have a brother,” Cindy stated adamantly.

  Randi could tell she wasn’t lying. They were using the wrong approach. Since she was okay with lying, Randi thought it might be time to do some of her own. “Funny, Jeremy Talroy said you were his sister. When I see him again, I’ll have to correct that.”

  It definitely hit the mark. “When you see him? Nice try, bitch. I was told he was dead.”

  She knew she had to take it to the next level. “Are you sure about that? Did you see a body?” Randi had been there when JT had been killed. Since Cindy had been part of so many cover-ups and lies, Randi was hoping she could create enough doubt about JT’s actual status. “I know, it’s shocking to think you were lied to about something so horrible,” Randi said sarcastically.

  Cindy’s eyes darkened, but she didn’t reply. Good. Think about what I’m saying. Hope not knowing is tormenting you.

  Randi walked up to Cindy and looked her in the eye. “What’s so troubling? I thought you didn’t have a brother,” she said, her tone flat.

  Cindy peered down at Randi. “I don’t. Where is he?”

  “Who?”

  “JT. He’s my husband,” Cindy said, her eyes narrow and piercing.

  Husband? Didn’t see that coming.

  Wyatt said coldly, “Was.”

  Cindy snapped her head toward Wyatt, her eyes filled with hate. “Was?”

  Wyatt glared back at her, gritting his teeth. “Bastard is burning in hell. Give me a reason, and I’ll be happy to send you to see him,” Wyatt said, his gun trained on Cindy.

  Randi could see Cindy was thinking about it, then backed down. She was willing to kill but obviously not ready to die.

  While those two stared at each other, Randi was putting all the pieces together. Cindy’s hands were dirtier than any of them had guessed. She wasn’t just helping JT. If anything he was the one helping her. That’s why she needed him out of prison. There was work she needed done. Like, find Marina Brimlow. Cindy gave JT too much credit and underestimated us.

  Randi knew they had enough information to take Cindy in for questioning. Mark had made it clear she and Wyatt didn’t have the authority to arrest her. He never said we couldn’t scare the shit out of her and hand her off to the real Marines.

  Randi reached behind her back and pulled out handcuffs. She roughly grabbed Cindy’s arm, twisted it behind her, and slammed the cuff on her.

  “You’re hurting me,” Cindy said.

  Randi thought back to Derrick’s wife and daughter then slammed on the second cuff and tightened it tighter than the first one. “You’re lucky you’re dealing with me. Others might not be so nice to you.” There was a list of people who would love to be face to face with Cindy. They’d lost loved ones because of her.

  Cindy snorted, “You don’t scare me.”

  “I’m not out to.” Randi’s job was over. Cindy was being taken in for questioning. The proof was now in Mark’s hands. Cindy was the mole, but they all knew she wasn’t alone in all of this. Hits on Maggie had been ordered in Hawaii and Texas after JT’s death, so Cindy had to be working with someone else. We still don’t know why she was after Maggie in the first place. She wasn’t tracking Maggie’s phone conversations before she died. Why track them once I started working with Mark?

  “What were you looking for in Hawaii?” Randi asked.

  Cindy looked her up and down and with a cocky tone said, “Don’t you need to read me my rights? Or do you believe you two are above the law?” She turned to Wyatt, challenging him to say otherwise.

  “You have the right to shut the fuck up. Anything you say or do might encourage me to put a bullet in you,” Wyatt replied as stating a fact.

  Randi knew he wasn’t joking and shot him a look to watch what he said. Not only were they not alone in the room, but the entire event was being recorded by Mark’s team. The last thing she wanted was either of them going to prison with Cindy.

  “You can shoot me, but without me, you’ll never find what you’re looking for.”

  Wyatt and Randi exchanged looks. She wasn’t bluffing. Cindy was the key, and they were going to turn her over to Mark. Let him be the locksmith. I’m sure he can find a way to convince her to talk.

  “Don’t worry, Cindy. You’re going to live out the rest of your life in prison,” Wyatt said. With his gun still trained on Cindy, the door burst open. Two Marines entered with their weapons drawn.

  Mark had it all timed perfectly. They could hand over Cindy to the Marines, and it’d appear as though everything going on was legit. Everyone knew Mark wasn’t the only one listening in. DHS was a government building with every room wired for both visual and audio.

  “Just in time. This woman is under arrest for conspiracy and being a traitor to our country.” Randi nudged Cindy to walk toward the military police at the door. “Someone should read her the Miranda rights.” Though I’ll never forget Wyatt’s. Very effective.

  The MPs grabbed her by the arm and escorted her out of the room. Only then did Randi relax. Wyatt lowered his gun and walked over to her. He reached out and touched her left cheek. She’d forgotten all about taking a punch.

  “Are you okay?” Wyatt asked.

  She nodded. “I wish we could have gotten more.”

  “You did an amazing job. Cindy’s going to prison and will never see the light of day again.”

  His words were appreciated, but she had so much she still needed to know. For now, she’d need to let Mark do his part. That didn’t mean she was giving up. Just letting go for the moment.

  “Let’s get out of here.”

  Wyatt nodded. “I know just where we should go.”

  He put his weapon back in the holster and took her hand in his.

  “We can’t be seen like this. We’re in uniform.”

  Wyatt laughed. “Then I guess I shouldn’t do this either.” Bending over, he kissed her lightly. Then he said softly, “I’m done following rules that aren’t ours.”

  She smiled up at him. So am I.

  With an entirely different attitude than what they came with, Wyatt and Randi exited the DHS building.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Traveling via Ryan Watson sure beat the transportation Mark provided. After all they’d been through lately, spending time in the lap of luxury felt nice. It was a treat Randi wouldn’t allow herself to get used to. Because it will all be over before I know it. Then back to . . .

  Randi had no idea what came next. All she had was the here and now. Although that was wonderful, the thought of it ending scared her more than anything she’d already faced.

  A few weeks earlier, Randi hadn’t cared who she was as long as this all came to an end. That changed. She’d been pretending to be someone she wasn’t for years, but donning a brown wig and altering her appearance shook her. When she’d looked in the mirror, she hadn’t seen Randi at all. She should’ve been pleased with Sissie’s makeover. But this wasn’t about makeup. The person she was before Maggie died wasn’t even reflected in her eyes.

  Randi had come to terms with needing to say goodbye to Maggie. It was long overdue. This mission was the last time she’d wear Maggie’s Marine uniform and be addressed as Master Sargent Graham. That was not a difficult decision to make; it was something she was looking forward to. How she was going to pull that off was still unclear, but she’d find a way. There had to be a way.

  What she hadn’t anticipated was having to say goodbye to Randi. The person she used to be . . . Mirranda the DHS agent by day and quiet, shy little homebody by night. . . no longer existed. She felt like a hybrid. Thinking about working, sitting on the porch rocking, and listening
to birds, sounded so boring to her now. Not that she didn’t want downtime, but not as much as she used to have. Of course, I don’t want my life to be filled with espionage and death either. There has to be a happy medium. I just have to find it.

  She had a clean slate and could be anyone she wanted to be. Mark had told her his connections would help create a new identity. That sounded easy until this flight back from Washington, D.C. Knowing she could go anywhere and be anyone, opened up too many possibilities. She almost wished he would’ve shown up with a driver’s license and birth certificate, telling her this was who she was from now on. I’d rather be told the lie; I don’t want to have to write it.

  She was supposed to give Mark the information within the next forty-eight hours. Two whole days seemed like a lot. But it wasn’t just a name. There needed to be a history to go along with it. And a future mapped out as well. Randi thought back to a few romance novels she’d read and had dreamed about trading places with them. But that was fiction. Real life didn’t end like that. Happily ever after might be for some but not for her. The last few months I haven’t been sure there’d be a tomorrow, never mind a happy one.

  Wyatt must have sensed the internal battle raging in her. He reached out and covered her hand with his. His touch had a way of comforting and calming her like nothing else had. She looked up and met his eyes. They were softer than she’d seen before. Was he also thinking of the future? It wasn’t just her life that had changed. Or maybe it was.

  “What’s troubling you, Randi? I thought bringing you back here was a good idea. I’m not sure now.”

  Randi looked out the chopper window and could see Honeywell in the distance. “It was. I’m just . . .” She didn’t know where to start. Her feelings were jumbled. For years, she’d kept them in a box. It was safe there. Wyatt had loosened the latch, and emotions were threatening to overflow. This wasn’t the place for that to happen. They weren’t alone. What she had to say was private. Granted there was only the pilot, but that was one person too many.