by Mary Alford
“That’s a good idea. I’ll call you right back on it.” Jase hung up the phone and brought up the video chat feature. While he waited for Aaron to pick up, something on the side of the laptop caught his attention. The wireless modem was disabled. There was no way to access the internet. Eddie was making sure no one could track the laptop.
When Aaron appeared on the phone’s screen, Jase showed him what’d he’d discovered.
“You’re right about the importance of those files,” Aaron told them gravely. “Something’s on there worth killing for. We have to figure out what.”
Jase noticed something else. “It looks like at one time the laptop had a tracking device installed on it. Eddie must have removed it, as well.”
Once the laptop was running, he saw what Reyna had told him about. There were two sets of files. “What’s wrong?” she asked, noticing the taut expression on his face.
He pointed to the screen. “You were right about part of the files being encrypted. My guess is Eddie wasn’t able to decode it before his death.” Jase turned the phone so that Aaron could see what he was looking at. “Any ideas?” he asked.
Aaron studied the laptop for a second, then said, “I’ve never seen anything like it before. Without knowing what software the owner used, I wouldn’t even know how to begin to crack that code. We’re going to need some help.”
Jase had an idea, but it meant reaching out to an old contact.
“Let’s hope the second file is less complicated,” he said as he clicked on it. It contained a group of photos. There were half a dozen similar pictures showing a caravan of Humvees moving through a mountainous region.
“Why encrypt one set of files and not the other?” Aaron asked the obvious question.
Jase sat back in his chair and thought about the photos for a moment. “Because they really are two separate files. I think Eddie took the photos. He was doing surveillance on someone...or something.”
The pictures were time stamped, the date more than six months earlier. Jase enlarged one of the photos. He could see inside one of the Humvees. It was loaded with weapons.
“The military wasn’t performing operations in the mountains of Afghanistan at that time, were they?” he asked Aaron.
“Not to my knowledge.”
Jase blew up the photo as much as he could. The driver certainly wasn’t military.
“These aren’t our men.” He pointed to the driver, who was obviously an Arab. “I’m guessing the weapons are stolen.”
He turned to Reyna. “You said Eddie was the only one from his unit who died. If the entire unit was involved in the mission, then why let them live and kill Eddie?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense,” she said in frustration.
Jase leaned closer to get a better look at the weapons. “Aaron, that’s some serious artillery they’re moving.”
He showed it to his pal, who studied the photo for a moment. Aaron then hissed out a breath. “It could do a lot of damage. Where do you think they’re transporting them?”
Jase had spent enough time in Afghanistan to recognize the rugged mountain region. “That’s near the border of Pakistan.”
Aaron’s mouth tightened. “Once they get the weapons over the border, there’ll be no getting them back. The tribal areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan are terrorist controlled for the most part.”
“Exactly.” Jase brought up the next photo. It was a surveillance photo of massive amounts of weapons being stored. Jase could make out at least a dozen men moving the weapons into the building.
Reyna glanced over his shoulder. “I can’t even imagine how much they’ve managed to store up by now. What are they planning...?” The two of them stared at each other in alarm.
“That’s a good question,” Jase said. “Who knows how long they’ve been doing this. These pictures are over six months old. In the terrorist business, a lot of things can happen in that amount of time.”
“We have to find out who’s behind this before it’s too late,” Reyna whispered. “I want to know who was responsible for taking Eddie’s life.” She leaned closer and studied the photo and he was aware of her in a dozen different ways. The smell of her perfume tantalizing his senses. Her warm breath against his cheek. The feel of her knee gently nudging his. He forced himself to concentrate of what he was doing.
Jase enlarged the next photo. It showed what appeared to be some type of camp in the desert. There were more than a dozen tents set up. Men dressed in desert clothing carrying various types of weapons, their faces hidden from view. He honed in on a table set up outside one of the tents. It held a dozen or more surface-to-air launchers.
“I can’t believe it...” He showed it to Aaron.
“Some type of training camp, maybe?” Aaron suggested.
“That’d be my guess.” Jase flipped through the pictures once more. “The question is how do all the photos fit together? And who’s behind this? Without the information in the encrypted file, we’re playing a guessing game.” He ran a weary hand over his eyes.
Reyna touched his arm. “You’re tired. You just need food and rest. You’re working off sheer adrenaline alone. Maybe we should take a break. Things always look much clearer once you’re rested.”
He hoped she was right, but he had a bad feeling. A whole lot of people had died because of the secrets contained in those files.
He tried not to show Reyna his uncertainties. “You’re right, and I will soon. In the meantime, why don’t you try and get some sleep? Aaron and I will keep working the photos.”
She hesitated, then said, “I could use a shower. Is it all right, Aaron?”
For someone not accustomed to being on the run, she had held up amazingly well.
“Make yourself at home. The guest rooms are upstairs. Take your pick.”
“Thank you.” She smiled wearily and left them alone.
Once she was upstairs, Aaron said, “You know, I was serving in Afghanistan around the time of your attack. The CIA kept a tight lid on it, but I remember hearing whispers about it from one of the men I worked with who was CIA. It wasn’t right, what happened to your people.”
Jase swallowed back the lump in his throat. “No, it wasn’t. We lost a lot of good people that day.” As always, his thoughts drifted to Abby. She was so beautiful and so intelligent. He still missed her terribly.
“I’m going to text my friend Tim. Maybe there’s something new coming over the ham radio. Hang on a second.” Aaron’s image disappeared and Jase fought back the bitter memories once again.
It took only a matter of minutes before Aaron returned. “I don’t get it. Tim said the thing was exploding with noise earlier. Now it’s as if they’ve gone radio silent. I don’t like it.”
Jase agreed. “I’m going to reach out to one of my old contacts. See if we can set up a meet. He’s an expert in encryption. I’m hoping he can crack the code to unlock the second file.”
Aaron nodded. “Good idea. Use the Jeep in the garage. Get your vehicle out of sight as soon as you can. They’ll be looking for it.”
“Thanks, Aaron, I will.”
“I’ll have Tim monitor the situation. See if he can find out anything more about what happened there today. I’ll check back with you in a couple of hours. But Reyna’s right. You need some rest. You look dead on your feet.”
“I will,” Jase assured him before he ended the call. As much as his body craved rest, the encrypted file was taunting him with its hidden answers.
It had been years since he’d last spoken to his former linguistics professor so it took him a few minutes to remember the phone number. He typed it in but couldn’t hit the call button. He hesitated to bring the danger following them to his friend’s door. Unfortunately, he needed answers and they were running out of time.
In addition to being a language specialist, Bryan Northcutt was one of the best decoders Jase had ever worked with. He’d used him numerous times during his days at the CIA and Jase trusted hi
m completely. Along with Jase, other members of the CIA routinely used Bryan’s services. There was no way his old friend wouldn’t know about his assumed death. He couldn’t imagine what Bryan would think about hearing from a dead man.
Lord, please help us. We need Your insight and Your protection.
* * *
When Reyna came back downstairs thirty minutes later, Jase was standing by the kitchen window. His hair was damp from the shower, his shirt buttoned loosely.
He seemed lost in thought. He turned when he heard her walk in.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, because she didn’t like the serious expression on his face.
He managed to smile for her sake. “Yes. You couldn’t sleep?”
“No, I’m too keyed up,” she told him.
“I spoke to my old college professor earlier. He’s an expert at encryption. He’s agreed to meet with us tomorrow morning in Aspen Grove. I hate leaving the protection of this place, but we need the rest of the information to figure out what we’re up against.”
Reyna wasn’t sure how she felt about the news. As much as she trusted Jase to make the right decisions, the risk they’d be taking by going back out in public without knowing the full extent of the danger they faced was staggering.
Jase watched her and seemed to read all her worries. “It’ll be okay. We’ll take Aaron’s vehicle. They won’t be looking for it.”
She slowly nodded. “You trust him?”
He was quick to reassure her. “I do. You can, too.”
Reyna wished that she could be as trusting, but the only person she had any confidence in now was Jase.
She noticed him favoring his left shoulder. She could tell it was still bothering him.
“Let me take a look. Make sure your shoulder’s healing properly.”
“I’m okay,” he muttered, trying to act strong, but she could tell that stress and the lack of sleep hadn’t helped much with the pain.
Reyna shook her head. “You’re not. I saw a medicine cabinet upstairs. I’ll see if there’s something we can use. Why don’t you have a seat at the kitchen table, and I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t give him the chance to protest. Running upstairs, she retrieved some gauze, tape and something to clean the wound.
Jase struggled to unbutton his shirt, but even the slight movement was painful.
“Let me help you.” She stepped close, inches from him, and he tensed. Reyna didn’t look at him as she finished with the buttons, then gently slipped the shirt off.
The wound looked the worse for wear. Their time on the run hadn’t done it any favors. As she worked, she was aware of him watching her closely.
“How does that feel?” she asked once she’d finished.
He reached for his shirt, winced as he put it on, and slowly redid the buttons. “Better, thanks.”
She looked into his midnight-blue eyes and her chest grew tight. Their gazes tangled together. He swallowed visibly and she followed the movement.
He was so close. She could feel the warmth of his body near her. If she leaned in just a little bit she could be in his arms. Feeling the comfort of another human being assuring her she wasn’t alone. She couldn’t think of anything she wanted more.
Jase was still seated as his hands encircled her waist, drawing her closer. Barely five-two, Reyna was now face-to-face with him.
He tipped her chin back so that he could look into her eyes. Her breath hung in her throat. They were inches apart, close enough to kiss. Jase stared into her eyes for a second more and then he gently pressed his forehead against hers. Reyna swallowed back her regret. After a long moment he pulled away and slowly got to his feet. She turned aside to hide her disappointment.
She heard him dragging in a sharp breath. “I should go move the truck. It wouldn’t do for the men following us to spot it from the air.”
SEVEN
“I’ll be right back...” He didn’t wait for her to answer. He needed space between them to clear his thoughts.
His heart slammed against his chest at an alarming rate, his breathing shallow. What was he thinking? Almost giving in to temptation and kissing her again would have been a foolish mistake.
On both their parts. Because the truth was, the memory of the woman he’d once loved was always close. Abby was a tough-as-nails seasoned operative by the time they’d met. They’d worked side by side through some of the worst conditions on the battlefield. Falling for each other came naturally, and it was hard to keep their romance secret from the rest of the team. When he’d learned of her death, it had crushed him. He’d thought his chance at love had died with Abby, but as he’d watched Reyna work on his shoulder, something unfamiliar had stirred inside of him.
Reyna was beautiful and smart and so different from Abby and yet there was no denying the spark of attraction between them. The soul-deep yearning. It was as if his heart had suddenly been awakened by the warmth of her gentle touch against his skin.
Get a grip, Bradford. She’s your best friend’s widow. Her life is in jeopardy. All the more reason to keep a level head.
Reyna was depending on him to keep her safe. To help her unravel the contents of the files and find out what happened to Eddie. He couldn’t let himself get caught up in messy emotions.
Jase dragged a hand over the back of his neck and took a second to examine his surroundings. After talking to Aaron one thing became crystal clear. The men chasing them were coming after them full force.
He’d need to change out Aaron’s license plates with his. That way if those men did find them, they couldn’t trace the plates back to his buddy’s home. He’d use some back roads that wouldn’t be on most GPS systems to meet Bryan. They’d be safe enough.
Jase walked a quarter of a mile into the woods behind the house and the layout did little to ease his mind. Ice covered most of the ground beneath his feet, the path overgrown with trees. It was an eye-opening experience.
If they were forced to go this way, it would be a dangerous ride. Not to mention the mountain behind the place would limit their escape routes.
Jase pulled the Land Cruiser into the garage next to Aaron’s Jeep and exchanged the plates. With nothing left to do, he headed back inside.
Guilt weighed heavy on his heart. They’d both just let their feelings get the better of them.
He found Reyna in the kitchen staring at the pantry.
She turned as he entered and held up a jar of spaghetti sauce. “I figured we could use a meal.” She avoided making eye contact with him. The awkwardness between them still fresh.
“That’s a great idea,” he said, and suddenly she smiled at him. He loved the way it lit up her face and how her eyes sparkled with newfound hope. She was infectious.
He went over to the fridge, took out vegetables for a salad and began chopping. While they worked, he snuck little glances her way. She wore her shoulder-length brown hair loose. When she moved, the light caught golden streaks. Her skin was tan. She was dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans that hugged her body in all the right places. He found himself wondering what she did in her spare time. Did she spend a lot of time outdoors?
“Jase?” He realized she’d asked him something and he had no idea what.
“I beg your pardon?”
She gave him a quizzical look. “I asked if you like garlic. I found some seasoning that should bring out the flavor of the sauce.”
“Oh...yeah, I love garlic.” Seriously, Bradford. Feeling the color creeping up his neck, Jase turned back to his chopping. He tried not to react when she stepped close and added the seasoning to the sauce, but he was acutely aware of every little thing she did.
Reyna worked with a skill that spoke of someone who loved to cook, and within no time, the kitchen filled with the aroma of spaghetti sauce. Once the food was ready, he carried the bowls heaping with spaghetti along with the salad over to the table and they sat down.
She bowed her head and closed her eyes, praying quietly. He rea
ched for her hand and bowed his head, as well. Startled, she hesitated only a second, then said the blessing aloud.
“Lord, thank You for providing us with this wonderful food. For giving us shelter when we needed it most. For watching over us throughout this nightmare. Please help us find the answers we need to understand what we’re facing, but most of all, protect us as only You can. Amen.”
Jase cleared his throat and dug into the spaghetti. It was nice, sharing a prayer over a meal. It reminded him of simpler times when he was a kid. His parents said blessings over their meals. It stuck with him throughout his life. Now, for just a little while, life seemed normal again. He could almost imagine them being any couple enjoying a meal together. But they weren’t, and every minute they were standing still, the chances of the danger closing in on them was enormous.
“This is delicious,” Jase told her.
She smiled. “Thank you. It is good and I don’t think it has anything to do with my cooking. It’s just that it’s been a while since we’ve had anything substantial.”
“Whatever the reason, I’m one happy camper.” Jase dug into the meal with gusto. He tried to remember the last time he’d enjoyed a sit-down meal with someone. Sadly, longer than he could remember, and that disturbed him. Because he could get used to this, and that was dangerous on many levels, not the least being that one or both of them might not make it out of this thing alive.
* * *
“Did you always want to be a doctor?” he asked curiously.
“I beg your pardon?” She put her fork down, mostly because she hadn’t been expecting the question.
“Sorry, it’s just that it occurred to me I don’t know anything about you beyond the fact that you were married to Eddie and you’re a physician.” He flashed a smile and her heart did a little chaotic beat. Why did he have to be so handsome?
“Yes,” she finally said.
“Yes?” Again, that dangerously disarming smile had her thinking of things like a future.