“It is in my book. Get in.”
Nicole ran to the other side and climbed in, slamming the door as he took off. He drove one of these with the precision of a man who’d gotten a lot of experience getting out of impossible situations.
“Where did you get this?” she asked, holding on tightly.
“The ambush team stashed it after their arrival. I literally ran into it.”
He steered through trees working his way back to the road they’d come in on yesterday. She was finally able to lock her seatbelt when he gunned it and high-tailed it out of there, steering south back toward New York City.
“Do you have a new plan?”
“Damn right I do,” he said.
She cocked her head and waited.
He pulled off the road and put the vehicle in park. Stretching his arm out over the seat, he faced her. “We’ve been doing this all wrong.”
“How so?”
“We’ve been on the run, but no more. Now, it’s time to turn the tables on the situation and take control.”
She frowned at him. “I don’t understand. Wouldn’t it be easier to go north to Canada?”
He shook his head and grinned. “Nope. It’s time we go on the offensive. Reacting to what they might throw at us is too much work. We’re going to steer them the way we want. And, I have the perfect leverage.”
Nicole lifted a brow and shrugged at him, wondering what it was.
He reached into the pocket of his jeans and withdrew the small silver device, holding it up to catch the morning sunlight. “This.”
Seeing the data drive she’d escaped the office with, she flattened her mouth. “You son of a bitch. You had it all along.”
“As I said, leverage.”
“But against who, Nick?”
He flipped the USB drive over in his fist and tucked it back into his pocket. He connected his eyes with hers and pressed. “Back there you said something about ‘not again’ regarding your father. What was that all about?”
Nicole’s heart lurched to her stomach and back, but she had to tell Nick.
Leverage…
Not that she needed to have something over him. Though he needed to know the dark secret in her past. Perhaps they could use the information to get themselves out of this mess.
She licked her lips and swallowed hard. “My mother, Anna, was a very beautiful woman. So kind and loving and I really was the world to her.”
“I can understand that,” Nick admitted.
Trying not to let that sink in too much, she continued. “I always thought she was from Boston, a first generation American, but she was actually born in the Ukraine and raised in Russia until she was a teenager when she was sent here to live an American life, but she was really an embedded Russian spy,” Nicole said.
“Shit,” Nick said, breathing out. “I didn’t know that.”
“I know. No one does now. Just Dad and me.”
“What happened?” Nick asked.
“What usually happens? A poor kid from Eastern Europe becomes enamored by the American dream and switched sides, working as a double-agent. All the years she and Dad were together, she was still reporting into the Russians with fake information while still getting their secrets. It was her own arrangement, but her contact was killed in Berlin, and she was left high and dry.” She took a break to recall what her dad told her when she was eighteen. “Dad discovered that she was a Russian spy and did what he thought was best… what was right. He turned her in, and she was to be sent back to Russia. I remember her being so sad and upset. I didn’t know what it was all about at the time. Then, it all came out about her double-crossing, and she was granted asylum in exchange for Russian secrets. A few weeks later, she was dead. Hit and run accident. I don’t think Dad ever forgave himself for it.”
“He did what he thought was right… for his country,” Nick offered.
Nicole wasn’t hearing it, though. “He should have done what was right for his family!”
Nick reached over and placed his hand on her leg for support. “I know. You’re right.”
“He’s being overprotective of me again, wanting to keep the same situation from repeating. I mean, I respect him and love him, but ever since he admitted what happened, things have been tense between us. I’ve kept my distance for a long time.”
“Do you think he knows something we don’t?”
“Something like what?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Nick stated. “But, he knew who to call when he heard from you. They were exactly the wrong people. One of the three groups out to silence you. The Chinese, the black-suited goons, and me.”
She switched her eyes over to him. “Yeah, but you were hired to watch me. So, we’re looking at a fourth entity.”
“Right. So, we need to bring everyone together and get all the players in one room to sort this shit out.”
“Even Dad?”
Nick sighed. “I suppose so. You need to understand once and for all where his loyalties lie.”
“Meaning, will he sell me out like he did my mom, all in the name of the country?”
With a shrug, Nick said, “The lines of patriotism are sometimes blurred.”
She hoped Dad would do the right thing this time.
34
Nicole
The Plaza Hotel, Manhattan
Using Nick’s stash of money, they took the train into Manhattan and booked a room at The Plaza Hotel under the name Marley Daniels. They’d come up with the cover on the train when they watched a fellow passenger take a sip from his paper bag covered Jack Daniels and sing Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” at the top of his lungs.
Upon arrival, they were given a room on the third floor. Nicole waited in the room while Nick went out and returned with two business suits – one for him and one for her.
“Did you make the phone call?” he asked as she checked out the designer threads.
“Yes. We have a meeting with Shanice Terrill, the conference services manager, at 2:00 p.m.”
“Excellent. It’ll give me time to clean up and for you to make that phone call.”
Nicole bit her lip as she’d been doing most of the afternoon when she considered what Nick wanted her to do. She knew it had to happen, though. So, she did as she was told.
While he was out, she called her father’s coded line and told him in clear terms that she’d be at the Plaza Hotel in New York City tomorrow and needed to see him. If her father had anything to do with this, she’d know once and for all.
It was now a waiting game.
At exactly two p.m., Nicole waltzed into the lobby of The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. She wore a sharp, crisp Donna Karan suit in black and gold with a satin scarf in cherry, teal, and black looped at the neck. Her hair was twisted into a smart knot and held firmly with a pearl and crystal hair ornament. She removed her sunglasses as she approached the front desk.
She saw her reflection and had to give Nick a nod for his fashion choice for her. She never would have been bold enough to buy something so glamorous yet professional on her own.
I can so get used to this.
“Welcome to The Plaza. How may I help you?” the front desk assistant asked.
“Marley Daniels for Shanice Terrill. I have an appointment.”
“Let me ring her for you. One moment.”
Nicole tried not to pace as she waited. She wasn’t left too long before an African-American woman in her mid-thirties stepped out and welcomed her. She carried a cell phone and a master key card with her, as well as a thick packet of information regarding events at The Plaza. Nicole tried not to be bored with the facts and figures about the facilities—how many people it would hold theater style as opposed to cocktail rounds—but she nodded along, all the same.
“Tell me more about your event,” Ms. Terrill asked.
“Oh, it’s a very posh wedding,” Nicole went on. “Five hundred guests, a plated dinner, open bar, and dancing.”
The conference se
rvices manager nodded. “Very nice. But, please know our dates here are booked up solid for the next three years.”
Did Nicole hear that correctly? What the shit! Who planned a wedding for three-plus years? Well, the type of people who could afford The Plaza, that was who. Still, she played along. “Yes, they’re planning a long engagement while she finishes law school and he returns from his Doctors Without Borders work.” What a pair she’d created.
“Let me show you around, then. We have some in-house events today and tonight, but we can peek at the schedule so we’ll know which rooms we can venture into.”
Bingo. That was exactly why Nicole was doing this charade. She wanted to know what room she could scam availability for to gather all the players tonight. Nick could then make arrangements. They would wait it out until everyone showed.
An hour later Ms. Terrill turned and handed Nicole all of the marketing materials and her business card. “Please speak with your clients and let me know if any of the dates we discussed will work for their nuptials.” She stretched out her hand and added, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Daniels. I hope to work with you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Terrill. I’ll be in touch.”
When the woman turned to walk off, Nicole saw the master key card in her back pocket and quickly moved to swipe it. She’d never picked a pocket in her life.
No time like the present.
She held her breath and reached in. Success!
She waited for the woman to turn and call her out, but she rushed away, taking a cell phone call.
Perfect.
Game on. She was back in play.
35
Nick
Manhattan
Nick stood across the street from The Plaza Hotel and reached into the pocket of his suit for one of the fresh burner phones.
He placed a call, making it short and sweet. He placed another one with the same message. And, a third.
Each was instructed to arrive at The Plaza Hotel at 7:30 p.m. sharp to meet with Marley Daniels.
Nick then made a final call.
“This is Taylor,” he said.
“You’re a hard man to track down,” the man said.
“I’ve been busy. Things haven’t gone according to plan.”
“What’s your next move?”
“I’m finishing up. With everything,” Nick said. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m done after this.”
X29 snickered into the phone. “You never leave The Company, Nick.”
“Watch me.”
“You need to come in.”
He shook his head even though no one could see him. “I figured you’d say that. Come to The Plaza Hotel, Gatsby Suite, at 7:30 p.m.”
He clicked off the call and tossed the phone into a nearby garbage bin.
36
Nicole
The Plaza Hotel, Gatsby Suite, Manhattan
“Do you think everyone will show?” she asked Nick.
“We can only hope. Do you have it?”
Nicole withdrew a USB drive from between her breasts and held it up for him to see.
“Nice touch,” he noted. “Is that the real one? Or…” She watched him remove one from his pants pocket. “Is this it?”
Feeling smug, she whispered in his ear, “Neither one. The real drive is in the hotel’s safe.”
Nick placed a gentle kiss on her neck. “Beautiful and smart.”
“Yeah, well…”
They laughed together, but only for a moment. The show was about to begin.
Nicole swiped Ms. Terrill’s all-access card that let them into the Gatsby Suite. It was set up board room style with a long table in the middle of the room covered in chocolate brown and surrounded by executive chairs. She slipped in and took a seat at one end of the room with Nick sitting at her right. Fourteen or so chairs sat about with at least twenty lined up in the back for the other people they were expecting.
He reached over and reassured her with a pat on her hand.
And then, they waited.
At exactly 7:30 p.m. the door to the meeting suite opened with the two Terratech security guys, aka the goons, bursting in like they owned the place. Then she remembered the Samoan-looking man.
“Ms. Hunt, you’ve caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people,” he said to her. “You need to come with us.”
Nick raised a hand to him, daring him with his eyes to take a step closer. “Hold it right there, douche canoe. Get in line and wait for the meeting to start.
Nicole hid a smile not only at Nick’s tone, his choice of words, but the sheer disgust and confusion on the men’s faces.
“You heard him,” she added sarcastically.
He didn’t appreciate the nickname at all, but stood back.
Immediately following the security men were the three Chinese suited men from the board room that Saturday morning. They were Mr. Wu, a second man, and the third, she now knew him to be Mei-Ling’s father, Mr. Zhang.
In perfect Mandarin, Nicole asked him, “How is your daughter, Mei-Ling?”
He raised an overly thick and graying eyebrow at her. “She’s fine,” he replied in English. “Though I can’t say the same for you.”
Nicole treated him to a half grin. “I’d say I’m just fine, thank you. I hold all the cards here.”
“Or, so you think, young lady,” Mr. Wu stated.
Nick perked up. “No… she’s got you by the short and curlies.”
She tried to kick him under the table, but missed and hit the chair leg.
Next, Doyle McDonough, Bob Worthington, both execs at Terratech came in, obviously confused by the entire set up.
“Only a few more players,” Nick announced.
Two senior officials from the Secretary of Defense’s Office—a couple Navy men in full uniform—arrived with her father, Brig. Gen. Hunt with them.
“Nicole?” her father stated. “What’s the meaning of this? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Dad. You’ll understand soon enough.”
He eyeballed her, and she nodded reassurance. Taking her signal, he walked over to sit with the two men from DOD.
“What game are you playing, Nicole?” Bob Worthington blurted out. “You’ve caused quite a problem back at the office with your disappearing act. The resource files for TDE-5X are gone and Ryan’s shitting himself trying to find backups that match the recent uploads. You’ve cost us hundreds of lost man hours.”
Shaking her head, Nicole said, “I don’t give a rat’s ass about Ryan. Ask him who really did all the work and who was out getting drunk and getting laid. Why do you think I was at the office so late the Friday night/Saturday morning? It was so Ryan could go have a threesome and get his rocks off with some booze and blow. He’s got quite the nasty habit for all three,” she said, much to Bob and Doyle’s chagrin.
Bob’s face grew beet red. “Why you—”
Nick stood to block the path between Nicole and Bob, clearly showing him what measures he’d go to to protect her. Her heart stretched in her chest at his sheltering nature.
“Shut the fuck up, Bob. Seriously.”
Doyle McDonough frowned at her choice of language and said, “You’ve brought us on a wild goose chase, Ms. Hunt. All because you stole something that wasn’t yours in the first place. Now, if you’ll just give us what we’ve been wanting, we’ll part ways quietly and won’t blacklist you from any further programming jobs with high-security clearance.”
A feeling of power surged through her, and she pointed at the thin man. “You can shut the hell up, too, Doyle. We’ll get back to you.”
Finally, Nick motioned with his head when X29 and two other men from The Company entered, followed by about three dozen men in suits, standing erect and serious.
“Is this where the press conference is?” a young woman asked.
“What press conference?” Wú snapped. “What is the meaning of this?”
“In here,” the woman called out and next thing Nicole knew, she recogn
ized the credentials for reporters from CNN, FOX, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the New York Post. The cameramen pushed in and quickly set up in the back and side of the room, panning the cameras around.
Wú and Zhang, disgusted by this, attempted to get up and leave, but Nick’s human barricade of suited men blocked the way.
“Let us pass. Who do you think you are?” Zhang asked tersely.
Nicole switched on the microphone and said, “They think they’re from the CIA, Homeland Security, and the Federal Trade Commission, right Nick?”
He smiled and nodded, obviously letting her take the lead here.
She shot a weak grin at her father. Dad gave her a thumb’s up, even though he had no idea what was going on.
The buzz and hum of people arguing, fussing, and daring to walk out were drowned out when Nicole cued up the overhead LCD projector with a remote control streaming from the laptop near the front of the room.
Specs of the TDE-5X device flashed on the screen. The reporters turned their cameras to the information and listened as Nicole narrated.
“My name is Nicole Hunt. I’m a programming engineer for Terratech in Silicon Valley. Those gentlemen—” she pointed toward Bob and Doyle “—are with Terratech and can address any concerns once we’re finished.”
Bob glared at her, and she smiled.
“Now, Terratech was given millions of dollars in US government contracts to develop a decryption and encryption device for the military, named TDE-5X as it is known in development. For long, long months, I’ve worked on the team, believing we were building this piece of technology to protect our country. Then I learned that Terratech was selling this technology to the highest bidder on the black market—namely Mr. Wu, Mr. Zhang, and Mr., I don’t know your name yet, sir,” she said to the third Chinese gentleman.
He narrowed his eyes and called out to her, “Tā mā de.”
Nicole let out a chuckle. “For those of you in the room who don’t speak traditional Chinese—particularly the press—this lovely gentleman just told me to go fuck myself.”
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