“Wait, what?” I put my hand out to stop Stanley. “You know the chairman?”
“Sure,” he said.
“It’s Anfernee Gates, right?”
“No, it’s not Gates. It’s the woman you’re seeing, Agent Chase: Eva O’Connor.”
I lost all sense of time again, the third time in two days.
CHAPTER 25
Istared straight ahead without blinking. Eva O’Connor was the chairman of the SCS? The thought seemed completely outlandish, so crazy I couldn’t process it.
While Karla shook my shoulder, Stanley rambled on in the background. I didn’t hear a word he said. Thoughts consumed me, spiraling in different directions. Eva O’Connor commissioned my best friend to kill me and to kill the son of the California governor? Why? It made no sense, none at all.
I finally snapped out of my daze and looked at Stanley. “Whoa, kid, stop talking. I haven’t been listening. Back up. And how did you know I was dating Eva O’Connor?”
Stanley paused for a second, then said, “Eva’s my contact; the person I’ve been texting. She told me she was dating you. In fact, she told me they went to great lengths to screen candidates. And that she had no problem pretending to date a candidate because it gave her a true sense of the applicant. She said the best way to really know a candidate is to interview the person when he or she didn’t know they were being interviewed. She also said she never led a candidate on or got physical.”
“You bought that, Stanley?”
“She got physical, really? She said she didn’t.”
I sighed. “No, I mean, you bought that she was dating me to secretly interview me?”
He nodded. “Well, in the context of shooting people, the dating-as-interviewing technique was actually easier to believe. I just want to say to you two, now that I know what I know, I realize how naïve I was. And I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have believed anything. I feel like a complete idiot.”
“It’s okay, Stanley,” Karla said.
I looked at Karla, to see if she was being real.
“Finish your story,” she said. “Go back to the beginning so we can work this out in our minds. You said you’d accessed a secure portal and gotten names of SCS members.”
“Right. So after finding out Eva was the head of the SCS, I made an appointment with her and let her know I knew she was the chairman.”
“How’d she respond?” Karla asked.
“She denied it at first, but then I showed her the document I’d downloaded. I thought she’d be impressed. Instead, it infuriated her and she told me to leave the office. I did, because she was really upset and needed to calm down. I figured after some time she’d come to truly appreciate what I’d done. Sure enough, about a week later, she contacted me and told me she’d changed her mind.”
“Seems odd,” I said. “Why’d she do that?”
Stanley looked away for a moment, then back at me. “She probably realized the skills it took to hack into an ultra-secure database. She didn’t come right out and say that, but that’s my guess. Anyway, she told me that I would have to wait until my eighteenth birthday to join the SCS. Primarily because the SCS requires military action, and I needed to be at least eighteen for that. Eva also said I’d have to leave the NSA first, then be officially hired by the SCS on my birthday. Basically, she didn’t want to have to explain a transfer from the NSA to the SCS. She wanted to keep everything as low-key as possible. So that’s why I left the Agency.”
“When did you turn eighteen?” Karla asked.
“A few months ago. I put in my request on that exact day. But two months went by and I hadn’t heard from Eva, or anyone else in the NSA or CIA or SCS. So I demanded to meet with her. When I finally got an appointment, I asked her what was going on with my request, and she refused my transfer again. This time she said it had to do with budgetary concerns and because the NSA was under a ton of scrutiny for some alleged privacy violations. I won’t lie; I was upset, even more so this time.” He paused.
“What did you do, Stanley?” I said, prodding him again.
“I had put my life on hold for a shot at the SCS, Agent Chase. And just like that I’d been denied again.” Stanley held out his hand, then opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything.
“Speak, Stanley,” I said.
He sighed. “I’m not exactly proud of this, Agent Chase, but I felt it had to be done, to prove once and for all that I was more than capable of being an SCS agent. I broke into Eva’s personal work computer.”
Karla and I didn’t react, so he continued. “All I wanted to do was grab a document off there and show her how good I was. While I was rooting around, though, I came across some alarming evidence.” He stopped and looked around.
“We’re fine, Stanley,” I said. “No one is around. What kind of evidence are we talking about?”
“Evidence of foreign arms dealing,” he whispered. “To three anti-American groups: ISIS, Hamas, and the Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine. There was a detailed email chain between three people. The emails provided these anti-American groups with intel about arms exchanges, about where and when our government was providing weapons to our allies. Of course, the email addresses were untraceable and used nobody’s real name. But the evidence suggested Eva was behind it all. I didn’t know what to do at that point, Agent Chase, so I sat on the information for a while. Then I started receiving death threats on my Facebook site.”
“So that’s what the death threats were about,” Karla said.
“Yes,” Stanley said, “and this is where things get even more interesting.”
I ran my hands over my head. “How so?”
His eyes went big. “I was able to trace those threats back to the NSA. Not back to Eva’s computer itself, but I figured she knew I’d hacked into her computer. And she knew that I knew she was responsible for sending me the death threats.”
“So what did you do?”
“I met with her again. Told her I knew she’d sent me the death threats and that I had evidence of her providing intel to anti-American groups.”
“Oh, kid,” I said. “You blackmailed her?”
Stanley got out of his car and scurried over to my passenger side window. “Absolutely not, Agent Chase, no way. I just sort of presented the arms evidence to her.”
“What does that mean?” Karla asked.
“It’s okay, guys,” Stanley said. “It turns out it wasn’t that big of a deal. At least that was what I thought at the time. Eva laughed when I showed her the evidence. She explained that it was actually forged evidence, totally fabricated, a recent project she was working on.”
Stanley leaned closer toward me. “Apparently the SCS has fake evidence they can plant to incriminate certain individuals, or blackmail them, but only if they absolutely have to. And the government rarely uses it. She said the primary use of the evidence is for training situations. She told me the head of the SCS is responsible for developing the fake evidence and for its safety and whereabouts. She told me all spy organizations need evidence like this as leverage.”
I glanced at Karla, to see what she thought. She looked skeptical.
“Guys,” Stanley pleaded. “This is what I was told. I’ve watched enough movies to know that this kind of stuff probably happens. That’s why I believed it at the time. Anyway, Eva finally admitted that she was impressed by my skills. She said the death threats were completely harmless and were actually a test for me.”
“A test?” I said.
“Yeah, Eva wanted to see if I could trace the threats back to the NSA, which I did, of course. She also said she was impressed that I’d confronted her with the knowledge. Then she said she had a plan to test me further, just to ensure that I was capable of being a real agent. She told me that you, Agent Chase, had applied for one of their top, covert operative positions. She wanted to use me in your vetting. That’s what she called it.”
“She wanted to use you in my vetting?”
“I promise you, Agent C
hase, this is true, at least what I believed to be true at the time. Eva was planning on putting you through what she called Operation Crucible.”
“Crucible?” Karla said. “Come on, Stanley. Really?”
“Yes, that’s what she called it. It was intended to test Agent Chase’s strength, determination, and resolve. That’s exactly what Eva said.”
“I understand the pretext, Stanley. What was your exact role in all this?”
“Please don’t be mad, Agent Chase. I really believed at the time that this was all a field test and not real.”
I motioned for him to go on.
“She wanted me to plant the arms evidence I’d found on her computer onto your computer, Agent Chase, to see if I could incriminate you, to see if I could pull off that kind of computer manipulation. That was my test. Since the Facebook threats got the attention of my father and he requested protection, Eva instructed me to request you as my protector. Then she told me that you’d be late for the first day of protection. I was to head to your agency, wait in your office, and plant the evidence.”
I put my hands behind my head and leaned back. “Unbelievable, Stanley.”
He continued. “Once my part in planting the evidence was over, I was supposed to watch and learn from you.”
I didn’t look at him. “I was supposed to be dead at that point, kid. And Mick was supposed to kill you at the coffee shop, right after you framed me. She just made up Operation Crucible, Stanley. I hope you see that. She totally used you.”
“I’m an idiot. I’m so sorry, please believe me. At the time I had no idea I was being lied to. And, of course, you won’t be incriminated for anything because I’ll vouch for you, Agent Chase. I promise.”
“Thanks, Stanley, that’s kind of you.”
Karla grabbed my shoulder. “This sounds so crazy, so preposterous, it may be true.”
I took a moment to digest all the information. I could feel Stanley’s bug eyes digging into the side of my head. While awaiting my response, the kid didn’t fidget or look away. It was the stillest I’d seen him.
I looked at Karla because I wanted to see if she agreed with my theory. “If what Stanley’s saying is true—”
“It is, Agent Chase,” Stanley blurted.
“That means I’m in big trouble, and so is Stanley. Because we know the field test theory is complete garbage. Obviously I didn’t apply for some covert operative position. And clearly the American government doesn’t ‘field test’ potential agents by sending someone to date them, then try to kill them. So what’s truly going on is that Eva O’Connor or the SCS or NSA or whoever is framing me as a traitor.” I looked at Stanley. “And they want you dead, kid. That was Mick’s directive, which he deliberately disobeyed.” I looked back at Karla. “Am I missing something?”
“Sounds about right,” she said. “The question is: why? What have you guys done? Or what has one of you done?”
I nodded. “Why is Eva going to these incredible lengths? I can’t fathom a response right now.”
“I’m sorry, guys,” Stanley said. “It must be me. Hacking into a highly-secure NSA mainframe database wasn’t the smartest idea. That’s probably the cause, and now I’m on some hit list, a liability that Agent Cranston was supposed to deal with. I’m sorry I’ve endangered you two. You have a husband, Agent Dickerson.” Stanley pointed at me. “And you’re a father. I never meant for any of this to happen. You have to believe me, please.”
I looked at Karla. For some reason her face was all red.
“We believe you,” she said. “And I’m not married, Stanley. Let’s just get that into the open so you can stop worrying about it.” She took off her ring. “It’s cubic zirconia. I wear it in the office so guys won’t hit on me.” She looked at me, shrugged, and mouthed the word sorry.
That made sense. It explained why she kept getting embarrassed when Stanley or I mentioned her husband.
“Stanley,” Karla said. “What you just said explains why you were targeted, but not why Chase is mixed up in this. It doesn’t explain at all why Chase is being framed.”
I had a sudden thought. “The arms evidence is real,” I said. “That’s the explanation. It’s not faked at all. Eva’s probably a traitor and arms dealer, and she used Stanley to pin the evidence on me, obviously making up the whole story about the field test as cover. She wanted Stanley and me dead so we couldn’t refute any of this.”
Karla nodded. “She’s been using you all along, rather than actually dating you.”
“Why would she use Mick, though? I asked. “She must’ve known we were former partners and good friends.”
“This is crazy,” Stanley said. He scurried back to his Tahoe and fired up the vehicle.
“Turn it off,” I said. “Stay put.”
“I have to confront Eva,” he said. “Find out what’s going on.”
I held out my finger. “I’ll do that, Stanley, not you.”
“No,” he snapped. “I need to make this right, Agent Chase. I feel so stupid, unintentionally framing you as a traitor like that. No, I have to make it right. That’s what I have to do. I can’t endanger you guys anymore.” He stuck the gear shift into drive. “You still have my laptop, Agent Chase?”
I’d totally forgotten about it. “It’s in the trunk.”
“Don’t leave it there, please. Keep it somewhere safe. The original arms evidence is on there.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Karla said. “Chase and I will handle this. Shut off the car.”
Stanley didn’t comply, so Karla fired up the stolen car.
“Turn it off,” I shouted to Stanley.
He fidgeted around on the front seat, looking for something. His vehicle was higher than ours, so I couldn’t see his hands or what he was trying to reach for.
“I’m sorry, guys, really sorry,” he said.
“You’ve apologized enough,” Karla replied. “Stop it, just shut off the car.”
“No, I mean sorry about this.” He whipped out the Colt Delta Elite pistol, aimed it out the passenger window, and fired a shot into our front passenger tire. The tire exploded and the car listed to the right.
Then Stanley Tuchek jammed on the gas and squealed out of the parking lot.
CHAPTER 26
Ismashed the dashboard with both hands. “I can’t believe this kid.”
Karla shut off the car. “Neither can I. We need to bail right now. That gunshot and tire pop were pretty loud. Somebody will come to investigate.”
I cranked open the car door, then got out and back kicked the door shut.
Karla pointed across the street. “There’s a small city park just over there. A couple of the park benches are in the dark. We should take a seat and lay low for a bit.”
I led the way. “I doubt he’ll pick up, but I’m going to call anyway.”
I tried Stanley on his cell as I walked toward the park. It rang all the way to the park bench that we eventually sat on. His voicemail never picked up.
Snapping the phone shut, I turned to Karla. “I’m having a little trouble with Stanley’s story.”
“You think he made it up?”
“You think he’s telling the truth?”
She paused. “Actually, I think he is. He seemed genuine in his apologies, and he is a kid after all. I know he’s a mathematical genius, but that doesn’t mean he has street smarts. You can be academically smart but lack common sense. Eva probably knew that about Stanley, that he’d be gullible enough to buy her field test story.”
I nodded. “I agree, but Eva setting me up like this is hard to swallow.” I held out my hand. “Before you say anything, I know she wasn’t affectionate with me, but I can’t believe she was trying to kill me, and also Stanley. That’s a whole other thing that requires incredible acting and an evil motive. Plus, why would she use Mick for the deed? I know he’s an SCS agent, and as the chairman she could deliver that kind of order. But she knew we were best friends and that it would be hard, if not impossibl
e, for him to harm me in any way. She had to have known that.”
“And what about Gates?” Karla said. “How is he involved in all this? Now that we know he isn’t the chairman.” She suddenly put her hand on my knee and shifted closer. She motioned with her eyes to my right. I slowly moved my eyes that way. A man was walking his dog on the sidewalk encircling the park, about fifty feet away. She put her arm around my shoulder, snuggled even closer, and whispered, “So we look like a couple and don’t draw attention to ourselves.”
I gave a quick smile. It was the closest, both in a physical and an emotional sense, that I’d been with a woman since my divorce. It felt good. Her touch momentarily took my mind off things. I whispered back: “And here I thought you were doing it because you’re suddenly not married.”
Karla blushed. “Listen, about that. I’m—”
I held up my hand. “I’m teasing. No need to explain, not at all. I know how the guys are in the office. If I was a woman, I would’ve done the same thing.”
The dog walker passed by. Karla pulled her arm back. “Thanks for understanding.”
My heart beat fast, which was an odd feeling for me, so I changed the subject. “Any thoughts on Gates?”
Karla looked away and thought for a moment. “He probably does work for the CIA or SCS. Maybe he caught wind of something and was investigating. Whether it was Eva or you, who knows? But if it was an internal thing, the CIA would look into it. They don’t generally operate on American soil, but I’m sure they launch internal investigations on domestic soil.”
“Right. Gates was probably investigating me. Maybe Eva tipped him off about me, told him I was a traitor, and they were gathering evidence against me, something like that. That’s why he had such a bone to pick with me.”
Karla looked back. “Maybe.”
“I’m going to call Eva. Why not? It’s midnight, but she’s a night owl. I’ll confront her with the allegations and see what her response is. Maybe I’ll get to her before Stanley does. If so, she’ll be caught totally off guard. She won’t have any time to make up a cover story or lie.”
The Greatest Good Page 21