“Trust me,” Sean said. “I’m going to turn the tables on him, and he won’t catch on to my methods.”
“I don’t know.” Hall chewed on his thick lower lip. “He’s pretty smart. Cautious. Like paranoid. And he’s vindictive. I’ve seen the way he acts with people who don’t follow his every command. And I’ve heard he killed someone.” The last words came out in a whisper.
“And yet you’re willing to work with him.” Taylor shook her head.
“He’s like this legend,” Hall grumbled. “And I knew I wouldn’t disappoint him, so no worries on my behalf. But this tracker. No. That he’s going to find.”
Sean was so over discussing their plans with the guy. “He won’t find it, but it doesn’t matter if he does, because you’re going to pack a bag and move into our safe house until he’s behind bars.”
“No. No. No. No.” Hall frantically looked around. “That will just prove to him that I helped you find him.”
“Would you rather have that happen or wind up dead?” Sean held out his hand. “I need your phone.”
“But I—”
Sean wiggled his hand. “Don’t waste our time arguing. You’re going to give it to us in the end so just do it now.”
“Please.” Taylor turned one of her irresistible smiles on Hall.
A dopey smile replaced his fear, and without looking away from Taylor, he set the phone in Sean’s hand.
Sean woke it up. “And password?”
“Hotstuff,” Hall said without so much as a blink of his eye.
Sean had to swallow down a sarcastic response and typed in the password. He made sure GPS was turned off, then located the texts and noted that Phantom had consistently used the same phone number when contacting Hall. Exactly what Sean wanted to see. He pointed down the street. “Let’s get your things.”
Hall stomped down the sidewalk, leaving a strong trail of body odor behind him.
Taylor coughed. “And we’re going to get into a car with him?” she asked quietly.
“I’ll open the windows,” Sean said.
She grimaced. “I don’t like the idea of putting him in the same house as Dustee, and not because of his smell. I don’t want to give Phantom another reason to want to look for her location.”
Sean agreed wholeheartedly. “With everything we have to think about, I’d rather pawn off Hall’s protection detail to someone else anyway. Give me another safe house to put him in, and I’ll be glad to send him there.”
“I’ll call Inman while Hall packs his things. With his connection to Phantom, I know we can find a place for Hall.”
Sean ushered Hall and Taylor into the FBI’s small conference room and left the door open in self-defense. He held up Hall’s phone and looked at Taylor. “I’m going to get Mack started on this. I’ll be right back.”
He felt bad about leaving her in the room with Hall, who was staring at her like she was a nice big juicy steak, but prepping the phone was vital to finding Phantom. Acid burned up Sean’s throat, and he stopped outside the other conference room to chew an antacid. At the rate he was going through these, he would have to see a doctor for a prescription to control the problem.
Or maybe start trusting God to eliminate the worry.
All true, but he had no time to ponder that at the moment, so he swallowed the chalky tablet and entered the room where his teammates were seated behind laptops.
Sean headed straight for Mack but remained standing. “I’ve got a phone for you to infect.”
That got Mack’s attention, and he looked up. “I’m listening.”
“Belongs to Chris Hall.” Sean handed it to Mack. “Get a warrant for the telecom to install the FinFisher Trojan via a software update. It has to happen today. Phantom’s calling Hall tomorrow.” Sean explained Phantom’s transport procedure.
Mack shook his head. “He’s one suspicious dude.”
“FinFisher Trojan.” Dustee lowered the screen on her laptop. “That’s spyware, right?”
Sean nodded. “It’s packaged as an operating system update. We hope Phantom won’t think anything of installing it, giving us control of his phone, and then we can track his location.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just follow him?” Kiley asked.
Sean shook his head. “He’s too smart, and as Mack said, seriously too paranoid to tail.”
“What about a drone?” Mack asked.
“He’d pick up on that too, and we’d just end up spooking him. This is our best bet.” Sean pointed at the phone. “Also, Phantom’s likely carrying more than one phone. So I want you to get authorization for Google to serve a reverse search warrant for the last date he transported Hall.”
“Whoa, what’s that?” Dustee asked. “I’ve never heard of it.”
Sean wasn’t surprised. It didn’t often make the news because Google rarely agreed to participate. “Google will cast a geographic net based on the use of Android operating systems on cellphones and other mobile devices in the area and time where Hall is usually picked up.”
“They give you a list of every cellphone in the area?” Dustee asked. “So like if I happened to be there, my number would show up?”
“Yeah, for Android phones,” Cam joined in, his forehead furrowed. “And that’ll be even harder to get than the phone update.”
Mack peered up at Sean. “You think the judge will go for that?”
Sean widened his stance. “You’re going to make sure he does. Involve Eisenhower if you need to. I also want you to recover all of Hall’s texts to and from Phantom.”
“At least that part will be easy,” Mack stated. “I’ll get started right away.”
“Thanks,” Sean said and started for the door.
“By the way,” Mack called after him, “the prints at the Marshals’ office came back and almost every print linked to staff. No match on the others in AFIS.”
“And the server room?” Sean asked, hoping for some good news.
“Only Hershel’s prints.”
Sean expected that but couldn’t say he wasn’t disappointed. “And Enzo’s daughter?”
“She didn’t text him and has no idea why he was there or that he had any contact with Phantom outside of the bus trip.” Mack frowned. “Poor woman was really torn up.”
“A violent death is hard to recover from.” Sean may have stated the facts in a level tone, but he was still struggling over his responsibility in Enzo’s murder. “Let’s get going on the warrants and make Enzo’s killer pay. The rest of you keep working on the code.”
Kiley’s focus locked on him. “I never knew you could be such a taskmaster.”
“I’m not going to let this investigation go cold like . . .” He didn’t add the Montgomery Three. He didn’t have to. Their tight faces said they got it, and Dustee’s questioning arch of her eyebrow told him she planned to ask about it.
“I’ll be in the small conference room with Hall and Taylor or transporting Hall to a safe house,” he said before she did. “Let me know the minute you get the warrants and the texts.”
Sean returned to the conference room, and Taylor let out a long, thankful sigh.
“Sorry,” he whispered as he sat next to her and across from Hall, who was still looking at her like he’d found his long-lost love.
“You better be,” she whispered back.
“What’re you two talking about?” Hall asked.
Sean wasn’t going to explain anything to this man and fully intended to ignore any and all of his questions in favor of asking his own questions. “Tell me how Phantom first contacted you.”
“In a forum.” Hall fidgeted with a button on his shirt. “He posted about needing someone to help with a secret project. I thought I’d be doing some sick programming.” He laughed, his belly rolling with each burst like waves onto a beach. “Boy was I wrong.”
“Did you know who he was?” Sean asked, keeping them on track.
Hall shook his head. “He used a screen name. But I’d seen his other p
osts. Figured from the technical things he posted that he was a hacker. Then when we met, he was too paranoid for someone who was legit. I mean, I’m only digging a tunnel, and he does like this in-depth background check on me.”
Sean wasn’t surprised by the check, but the more he learned about Hall, the more Sean was shocked that Phantom associated with him. “Why did he choose you?”
“He actually liked that I couldn’t keep a job.” Hall grinned. “Said I was disenfranchised and would understand his work. But he never really told me about his work. He never really said much at all.”
“Why was he building the tunnel?” Taylor asked.
“An emergency escape route. I figured as a hacker, he might need to get away from guys like you.” Hall smirked.
Taylor frowned. “Is the tunnel finished?”
“No. But it’s close. Maybe one more dig will do it, two if I stretch it out.” Hall’s snide grin returned.
Sean, feeling sorry for Taylor sitting under this man’s obvious infatuation, had heard enough to make a final plan. He stood. “Hang tight. We’ll get the protection detail set up and transport you to your new home away from home.”
Hall’s cocky attitude vanished. “You’re sure Phantom can’t find me there?”
“Sure?” Sean eyed the guy. “When it comes to Phantom, I can’t be sure of anything except he’s a master of evasion.”
Taylor let the water sluice over her body. Just being with Hall for the few hours it took to get him settled and agents to arrive for his detail left her feeling in need of this shower. She wished she could clear the smell from her nose as easily. And maybe her brain from the way the guy kept coming on to her. Thankfully, Sean eventually shot him down by putting his arm around her and saying they were a couple. She liked the way she felt snuggled close to his side, his arm tightly holding her. Liked it way too much. His touch. The warmth.
Grrr. Stop thinking about him.
She scrubbed hard to distract herself and finished up quickly instead of lingering and letting her mind wander. She dried and applied her own bandage on the wound that was healing well. After dressing in yoga pants and a soft sweatshirt for comfort, she dried her hair and put on a bit of makeup. Not for Sean. For herself.
Sure, that’s why.
In the family room, she spotted Sean sitting alone on a love seat, a laptop on his knees. He’d changed into athletic pants and a dark gray T-shirt. He seemed more relaxed, or maybe it was his casual clothing. Either way, she liked the look, and that he didn’t appear as stressed out as before.
Should she just walk on by or join him? She didn’t want to be near Hall, but his computer was a different story. She was curious about what the forum conversations contained.
Sean looked up and ran his gaze over her slowly. “Wow. You look fresh and comfortable all at the same time.”
Her skin tingled with his compliment, though she wouldn’t let it get to her. “I had to wash Hall’s scent down the drain.”
“Yeah, I showered too.” He chuckled. “No wonder the guy can’t hold a job.”
She sat on the sofa.
“Need help bandaging your arm?” he asked.
She shook her head. “If I get it at the right angle, I can do it myself now without pain.”
“So no more playing doctor?” He grinned.
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped.
“I got a call a few minutes ago,” he said, sobering. “They found the bullet casing.”
“The shooter didn’t police his brass.” She was glad he didn’t pick up his casing to keep law enforcement from processing it. “Odd, right?”
“It ejected into the hollow of a tree. Shooter probably couldn’t find it and didn’t want to risk hanging out there.”
“Fingerprints?”
He shook his head. “And the slug was too mangled once it lodged in the SUV’s door to analyze it, other than determine it was a .30-06. Likely chambered in a bolt-action hunting rifle.”
“Wow . . . oh . . . wow.” Her heart sank. “He meant business then.”
Sean nodded. “Unfortunately, trying to narrow down a list of shooters with such a popular round is next to impossible. They did find a boot print at the shooter’s stand and cast it. They’ll get back to us if it leads anywhere.”
No one should be able to shoot her and get away with it. No one. But it was looking like this guy might escape again. She looked down to gain her composure, and her focus landed on the computer on Sean’s lap. “Is that Hall’s computer?”
He nodded. “I’ve been looking at the phrasing of Phantom’s posts to see if they match the tone of his emails from the old investigation.”
“Can I see it?” She scooted next to him to get a better view of the screen. Or maybe in her mood, she wanted to be nearer to him. She couldn’t be sure.
Sean swiveled the computer and raised his arm along the back of the sofa, allowing her to move even closer. Sliding nearer to him was surely a mistake. So what? She just needed to put her attention on the screen. “He used Ghost as his screen name. Maybe a play on Phantom.”
“Yeah.” Sean’s breath was warm on her skin.
Ignore it. Ignore him. She started reading the posts. “The phrasing seems the same to me.”
“Are you certain?”
She looked up at him and nodded, but gone was the bit of a hold she had on her emotions. Longing filled his expression, and she got lost in his eyes. She was vaguely aware of him setting the computer aside but intimately aware of his arm coming down on her shoulders, and his hand gripping her good arm to draw her closer. He shifted a bit. Lowered his head.
Her breath caught. He was going to kiss her, and she would let him. Not only let him, but encourage him. She raised up and lifted her hand to clasp the back of his neck, his skin warm against her palm. His soft intake of breath, his anticipation, thrilled her. His breathing became ragged.
He lowered his head, and his eyes closed. He gently touched his lips to hers, and an explosion rang through her brain. His kiss was slow and thorough, and she returned it measure for measure. Lost herself in it. Lost sight of everything around them. She’d never felt anything like this. Nothing at all came close.
His powerful arms slipped around her waist and pulled her tighter. She slid her arms around his neck, her injury aching, but she didn’t care. She clung to him. Deepened the kiss. Wanted it to go on forever.
A door slammed in the hallway. Cutting through her fog.
Sean pulled back, his expression contrite and sad at the same time. “That was wrong. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. We’re colleagues. Friends. I don’t want to ruin that, and there can be nothing more.”
“Don’t worry.” She let out a shaky breath. “I wanted you to kiss me.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I think I wanted it since I first saw you in the lobby. My ‘friends only’ feeling evaporated then, but I’ve been fighting it because, as you said, it can go nowhere.”
“What if we ignored everything but this? You and me?” He stroked the side of her face. “How could we even have a relationship? We live on opposite coasts, and we both like our jobs too much to move.”
“Which makes this even more impossible, and we need to be careful not to let it go any further or we’ll both get hurt. And like you said, then our friendship will be strained.”
He took an unsteady breath. “I’m beginning to see why Addison couldn’t work with Mack, and it may not be his fault after all.”
She nodded. “He’s a good guy, Sean. You should cut him some slack all around.”
“You and him. You go way back, right? So was there ever anything between you two?”
“Never. He was already dating Addison by the time we met. And I honestly believe he thinks of me like a kid sister. At least that’s the vibe I always got.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” Sean sighed. “Now anyway.”
“What?” She stared at him. “Wait, you thought that Mack and I, th
at we had a thing together?”
He leaned back. “He keeps touching you, and he calls you Slim in an endearing way.”
She’d also noticed Mack had been a little more affectionate than usual. “I wonder if he’s lonely without Addison, so he’s extra happy to see an old friend. But it’s nothing more. I wish they’d get back together. You know neither one of them has filed for divorce.”
Sean’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t know that.”
“So maybe they’re holding out hope for a reconciliation.” She gazed at Sean. “And you now know I don’t have any feelings for Mack. I’ve reserved all those feelings for you . . . for all the good it does either of us.”
CHAPTER 24
SEAN LOOKED OUT the FBI conference room window where the team and Dustee had gathered to start the day. Rain pelted the glass, and the forecast predicted a solid week of rain. Sean didn’t know how anyone lived with constant precipitation for months on end. He needed more sunshine. Much more.
Mack ended his call and set his phone on the table. “Got the list of phones from the reverse warrant. Ten devices in the area. I’ll get started tracking them down.”
“Great.” Sean took a quick sip of his fresh coffee. “And the software update?”
“Good news there.” Mack smiled. “It was served to Phantom, and he’s deployed it. Once he texts or makes a call, we’ll have his location.”
Sean nodded his thanks. He really did appreciate Mack’s skills and work ethic and his dedication to the team. Maybe Taylor was right, and Sean had been focusing only on Mack’s negative points.
“Good work,” Sean said with enthusiasm, as it wasn’t easy to accomplish these items much less do so under such a tight deadline.
The tough guy’s face colored. A real shocker and proof that Sean could do a better job as a leader. He had to change. Be more positive with Mack in the future and a better leader overall if he wanted to keep running investigations.
Still, Sean ignored Mack’s response to keep from embarrassing him and glanced at his watch. “Two hours until Phantom’s routine text to Hall.”
Taylor rubbed her eyes. “What if he doesn’t text?”
Seconds to Live Page 22