by Liz Shoaf
Bobby finally lifted his head and Mary Grace detected a touch of fear in his eyes. “I found out who Ned really is. Who you are.”
Mary Grace drew in a sharp breath. Bobby knew everything about Ned!
He went on, “I noticed something else in the file, something odd that caught my eye.”
“Aye? And what was that, Bobby?”
“Your escape exit from the location. There wasn’t one.”
Mary Grace jerked when Ned tore out of his chair and started pacing the floor. “That’s because we were supposed to be dead.”
Mary Grace swallowed hard and waited for Bobby to continue.
“That was my assessment. I didn’t know what to do, or who to trust, so for a long time, I carefully poked around and finally located another file, one that had been approved and showed your escape route. I assume that’s the one they sent you. At that point, I knew I didn’t have much time before I was discovered looking in places I shouldn’t, but I was able to find several emails sent between Hensley and Finn. It was made to appear that the two men were conversing about your current mission, but something didn’t feel right. It’s easy to send an email from someone else’s server if you know what you’re doing. I didn’t have time to read them all. I stayed offline the whole time I was in hiding so no one could track me, so I never had a chance to dig deeper.”
Bobby swallowed hard. “When the mission went down, I disabled all the cameras like I was supposed to, but left one live.” He rubbed his right temple, as if reliving the scene, then looked up. “Not that it proved who was responsible, but I did see what happened. You were set up. I didn’t record the event because I knew if I was right, my superiors would be able to track the recording on my computer. People who work for the CIA have been known to disappear.
“I don’t know if Hensley and your friend, Finn, were set up to take the fall, or if they were actually involved. I got out of there as fast as I could. It was too dangerous to contact Mary Grace directly, so I had a friend of mine slip a note inside her tote bag. Before they were onto me at CIA headquarters, I spent some time tracking your past and came across a corporation named RBTL—the company that owns your mountain.” Bobby grinned. “Sneaky name. Read Between The Lines is a computer acronym.”
He turned serious once again. “At the same time, I got a list of your relatives, and that’s how I knew about Fran. I was afraid they would go after Mary Grace because she’s my sister and a reporter, and after reading your file, I knew Mary Grace would be safe with you. I went to the swamp shack in Georgia to leave two letters. One hidden for Mary Grace, the other in case you were with her. I knew you didn’t trust me and wouldn’t pay attention to the name I left you if you saw Finn on there. You worked together, and I figured you were probably friends, so I left that information for Mary Grace’s eyes only, to do with as she felt best in case something happened to me. I knew if I went missing, she would eventually look there. Then I headed to Jackson Hole hoping to connect with both of you so that the letters at the swamp shack would never be needed.”
A blush stole up his neck when he glanced at Fran. “I was hiking up the mountain, about to turn back around, because after thinking about it, I was afraid you might think I had something to do with the mission gone wrong, and that’s when I heard a snowmobile. It turned out to be Fran.”
“After we talked a little bit, I explained things to her, and at that point I needed some help. I had to trust someone. Fran agreed to hide me in a utility building behind the family home where she and her mother were staying. We both agreed for her to go to your cabin and see if Mary Grace was there, and maybe talk to you, see if she could find out if you blamed me for what happened. But when she came back and told me about the explosion, and that you two were okay, I decided to stay put until I could come up with a plan.”
He gazed at Mary Grace earnestly and her heart tripped with love. “I knew you’d be safe with Ned.” He turned back to Ned. “I didn’t find out anything new and figured you’d head to Washington. That’s when Fran told me you had a town house here. We were hoping you would end up here. Fran had access to the security code and we waited inside, then came out here when we heard the garage door open.”
Bobby shot Ned a nervous look and Mary Grace intervened before Ned had a chance to strangle Bobby for placing his niece in danger.
“Ned and I have a plan.” She explained what they were planning to do, then said, “It’s time for me to set up some interviews and plant some seeds.” Mary Grace prayed Ned would forgive her when her real plan was revealed. One particular interview would be used as a tool to reveal the person she was sure was in this thing up to their neck.
NINETEEN
That evening, after having a pizza delivered, Ned made sure Fran and Mary Grace were ensconced in the two bedrooms. He left Mary Grace working away on a laptop he kept at the town house, and after tossing a few blankets around, he and Bobby shared the living room floor. He took immense satisfaction in the fact that Bobby tossed and turned all night long—hopefully out of fear. Ned made it clear he didn’t trust Bobby, with his life or with his niece. Mary Grace’s brother was going to have to prove himself to Ned.
Early the next morning, Mary Grace had insisted Ned call CIA Director Madeline Cooper because she’d promised her she’d run any kind of future story by the director first, due to possible security issues. She insisted the director would be aware of her movements due to her interest in what was going on.
Leaving the dogs with Fran and Bobby, they’d met at an out-of-the-way café and Ned was surprised at Madeline’s response to Mary Grace’s information implicating Chief of Staff Hensley in the involvement of selling state secrets. She’d been pleased. Maybe a little too pleased? Ned felt his soon-to-be ex-boss had jumped the gun when they found out later she’d gone behind Mary Grace’s back and called a press conference for that day, which was where they were now. Leaning against a wall at the back of the room, Ned watched Mary Grace in her element. She was in the front row and the reporters surrounding her began shouting questions when the CIA director took the stage. She majestically held up a hand until the reporters quieted. Uneasiness rippled down his spine when Madeline Cooper looked at the group before she ducked her chin and hid a small self-satisfied smile. He straightened from the wall, his gut screaming and his eyes locked on the woman.
He glanced at Mary Grace and his unease strengthened in force. He recognized the determined jut of her chin. Something big was about to happen. Something he wasn’t going to like and wasn’t privy to.
The small smile was replaced by a forlorn expression as Madeline Cooper lifted her head and started talking. “Some unfortunate information has come to my attention. It will, of course, be investigated thoroughly, but I feel the American people have a right to know what’s going on.” She gripped both sides of the podium and leaned slightly forward. She had the reporters in the palm of her hand, everyone except Mary Grace.
“For some time now, we’ve been aware that state secrets have been making their way into enemy hands. There was one mission in particular that went awry because someone knew we were coming. I won’t get into the details of that mission, but one of our people was severely injured during the process.” She paused, then added dramatically, “They were betrayed and now we have information that sheds light on that unfortunate circumstance.” She took a deep breath, drawing it out, gaining more time in the spotlight.
“We will be opening an investigation into Chief of Staff Hensley.”
The room exploded, but Ned kept his gaze zeroed in on Mary Grace. The truth hit him like a fist in the chest and he knew what was coming. She had set up Madeline Cooper, actually wanting this press conference to happen. Betrayal sliced through him like a serrated knife. He watched and waited for the proverbial ax to fall.
Madeline Cooper held up a hand and the room quieted. Mary Grace shouted out a question before anyone could stop her.
>
“Director Cooper, isn’t it true you were in a position to know the circumstances of the mission you just spoke about? Couldn’t you have been involved in the selling of state secrets and a failed mission that left one of our own disabled for life?”
The director’s head snapped up and her bewildered expression quickly turned to granite. “Just what are you implying, Miss Ramsey?” she asked stiffly.
Pushing aside the pain of yet another betrayal, Ned prepared to swiftly remove Mary Grace from the premises if things went bad.
“I’m implying that I’ve studied this situation from all the angles and I think you should be investigated instead of Chief of Staff Hensley.” Mary Grace took a deep breath and plowed forward, using the CIA director’s own words against her. “It has come to my attention that there’s an offshore account in your name that shows recent activity. Did you, or did you not, transfer half a million dollars to someone right before, and right after, the mission that went wrong?”
Ned wanted to howl. Mary Grace had once again withheld information from him, and at the same time he was stunned that a woman he’d worked with for several years had fooled him.
Shock, and a touch of fear, shone in Madeline Cooper’s eyes, but she closed the press conference with a bright, false smile. “I don’t know where Miss Ramsey acquired her information, but I suggest her employer, Future Broadcasting Company, review her journalistic practices.”
She turned to leave the podium and Ned pushed his way through the maddening throng of shouting journalists. He grabbed Mary Grace by the arm and shielded her as he bulldozed them through the crowd and out of the room.
She twisted around, facing him the moment they were clear, true regret written on her face. “Ned, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Madeline Cooper, but you were so upset over Finn when I told you about him, I was afraid you’d try to stop me. After we met with Hensley, I got suspicious because I felt like he was innocent. Last night, I contacted the PI I hired earlier and had him dig deeper. Madeline Cooper tried to make it appear as if Hensley paid out the money, but my PI finally traced it all the way back to Madeline. She did a good job of covering her tracks, but not good enough.”
Reporters were filing out of the room and several veered toward Mary Grace. He took her by the arm and started moving. “Let’s get out of here. I want to speak to Madeline in private. I know where she lives. I’ve visited her house on two occasions over the past few years. I’d rather go alone, but I know you’ll have none of that and I don’t have time to argue.”
He shoved his emotions into a box, closed the lid and didn’t say another word until they pulled up to a gate protecting the privacy of the owner of a large house sitting at the end of a curved driveway. With gratification, he punched numbers into the box attached to a pole several feet from the gate.
Madeline hadn’t had time to change the code. He stopped at the front entrance of the house and got out of the car. He was so angry that he didn’t even notice Mary Grace had followed him until she laid a hand on his back. He heard a small sniffle and then, “I’m so, so sorry, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to do this.”
He ignored the warmth from her hand and stabbed the doorbell. The door swung wide and there stood the director’s bodyguard.
Ned’s fists clinched and he snarled. “I’m here to see her.”
The bodyguard, Henry, recognized him and slapped out a palm. “You know the drill.”
Ned handed over his cell phone and weapon and motioned for Mary Grace to hand over her own phone. Once they were over the threshold, Henry ran a wand over their bodies and winked.
“Wouldn’t want any recording devices in the house. She’ll see you in the library.”
Ned strode forward and Mary Grace scuttled behind him. The library doors were open and he stepped inside. Madeline sat behind her antique cherry desk and motioned toward the two chairs across from her.
Ned strode up to the desk, leaned over and gripped the edge of the wood. “Tell me Mary Grace is wrong. Tell me you’re not responsible for Finn ending up in a wheelchair. Tell me you haven’t betrayed your country.”
She tsked. “Now, Ned, I’m not happy that you and your little friend here have upset my plans for Hensley, but you know I won’t go down for this. I have too much power.”
Ned would make sure she was convicted for what she’d done, but he reined in his temper because, more than anything, he wanted answers.
“At least tell me this. I was working for you. Why were you trying to kill me and Mary Grace, and why did you transfer money into an offshore account in Finn’s name? Was he a backup fall guy in case Hensley didn’t work out?”
A sly grin filled with hidden secrets tilted her lips. She leaned forward and whispered, “I highly suggest you talk to your friend before you start accusing anyone of attempted murder.”
Ned reared back as if she’d punched him. What was she implying? That she’d harm Finn if Ned came after her?
He had to ask. “What do you mean?” His words came out sounding hoarse.
She waved a hand at Henry, whom Ned had known all along was standing just inside the doorway.
“Henry, please show our guests out.”
Ned shoved away from the desk and grabbed his weapon along with his and Mary Grace’s phones from Henry’s hand before he strode down the hall and out of the house. He wanted to hit something because he was afraid Madeline Cooper was going to hold Finn’s innocence as collateral for her career. There was a trail of money movement, but that could disappear. She had the connections to make it happen.
He and Mary Grace got in the car at the same time and he tore out of there, slowing to a normal speed when they hit the street. He started to head back to the town house, but had himself together enough to spot the dark sedan coming up fast behind them. “Hold tight,” he warned, just before he jerked the car down a residential side street, trying to rid them of their tail.
* * *
Mary Grace braced herself as the car took a sharp right. “Ned, what is it?” she asked tightly while trying to hang on. He took another hard left and her body swung in that direction.
“Looks like Madeline was one step ahead of us and had someone waiting until we left to tie up a loose end. The loose end being us. I should have paid better attention and we never should have gone there. It was a decision based solely on emotion and I know better.” His voice sounded so cynical that Mary Grace didn’t think anyone would ever be able to penetrate the wall of distrust that now surrounded him.
A bullet pinged the lower back of the car and Ned yelled, “Get down!”
Her heart hammering in her chest, she ducked and the car made several more sharp turns. She was about to sit up straight when the back of their car was rammed by the one chasing them. Her head hit the dash and stunned her for a second, but she rallied and looked sideways at Ned from her bent over position.
“Give me your gun,” she said through gritted teeth. She’d had about enough of this whole mess and she was sick of getting shot at.
The look of surprise on his face was only momentary before he handed her his pistol. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”
She glared at him before sitting up, opening her window and shooting at the car behind them. The first two bullets missed, but the third was a bull’s-eye. She hit the right front tire and the vehicle swerved in the road until it finally hit a telephone pole.
She calmly handed the gun back to Ned and sat straight, staring out the window. She was tired of people trying to kill them, and if Ned wanted to crawl back to his mountain and hide, well, she’d deal with those emotions later. All she wanted right now was to hug Tinker Bell and have a few calm minutes to herself, but she did realize she needed to apologize, even if to deaf ears.
“Listen, I’m sorry about what happened. I know you trusted Madeline Cooper, but even if you never speak to me again, I ha
d to handle things the way I did. If you had confronted her directly, which you would have, the truth would never have come out.”
Having said that, Mary Grace also knew she wouldn’t have changed the way she handled the situation. She was a seeker of truth, from a personal and professional standpoint. She prayed that Ned would understand, but his tight grip on the steering wheel indicated otherwise.
She was surprised when he finally spoke. “I’m fine with the way you handled the director, but I have one question.”
“Yes?”
“Do you still think Finn betrayed me? That he was in league with Madeline Cooper?” He glanced at her bleakly. “Because if he is, that would mean my best friend has been trying to kill both of us.” He gritted his teeth and his jaw worked itself back and forth. “For money.”
Mary Grace wanted to tell him everything would be okay, but that wouldn’t be the truth. As a child, she’d learned to face truth head-on, even if it hurt. Her mother and stepfather had forced her to learn that friends and family didn’t always have your best interest at heart. She could literally feel his pain coming in waves, filling the car, and had no words to comfort him because deep inside she knew Finn had indeed betrayed his best friend, so she didn’t say anything.
The car was quiet and they were soon back at the town house. Bobby and Fran were full of questions after seeing the press conference on television, but Mary Grace steered them away from Ned and into the kitchen. Ned disappeared into one of the bedrooms and closed the door.
She took a deep breath, pasted on a bright smile and faced her brother and Fran. “I think Ned needs some time alone. Why don’t I make us some coffee?”
She scooped Tinker Bell into her arms when her precious baby came running into the kitchen full tilt, Krieger close on her heels. Burying her face in her dog’s soft fur, Mary Grace felt the first tear fall for everything that could never be.
