Christmas Witness Conspiracy

by Maggie K. Black

  “That she’s the hacker and there was no decipher key?” Liam asked. “Yeah, Renner told me, eventually.”

  “Well, Hannah told the Imposters,” she said.

  Renner took in a sharp breath. Kelly spun her head toward him.

  “If I was the kind of person who hit people I’d have a hard time not smacking you right now!” she said. “You violated security clearance and broke the law by letting Hannah even see high-security codes, let alone crack one for you. You put Hannah and Pip in danger. You kept the truth from me!”

  Her words tapered off as Renner’s face went pale.

  “I love your daughter,” he said. “I did what I thought I needed to do to protect her.”

  She let out a long breath.

  “I know,” she said. “And I forgive you. Now, we’ve got to focus on saving her.”

  She brushed her lips across Liam’s cheek in a fleeting kiss and then she climbed in the back seat.

  “We’ve got to get in there,” she said. “They told Hannah and Seth if they don’t break into the Bank of Canada and rob it in fifteen minutes they’re going to start shooting people, and we’re down to like six minutes now. What’s the old-school way of stopping killer hackers in a barn?”

  Liam and Renner exchanged a glance. Then Liam nodded and Renner revved his engine.

  “Buckle your seat belt,” Liam said.

  * * *

  Kelly did so. Then she felt Liam reach back and squeeze her hand.

  “How far away are Hannah and Seth from the barn door?” Renner asked.

  “Maybe thirty feet?” she said. “They’re seated at a table.”

  “Anyone want to get out before we do this?” Liam asked. “Not going to pretend crashing a truck through a barn door isn’t dangerous.”

  “I definitely won’t be any safer running down the hill without cover than staying in here,” Kelly said, “especially if they open fire on us. Hannah’s in there, and I’m the only one who knows what the layout is. I’m not staying behind.”

  “Neither am I,” Renner said. “Hannah’s your daughter, but she’s also my wife.”

  “Stay low,” Liam said, “and brace for impact.”

  Renner hit the gas. Liam’s hand tightened on hers for a fleeting moment, then let go, and she braced herself against the back of his seat. The truck flew down the hill, plowing through the snow and picking up speed as it went. Her prayers mingled with Liam’s as the barn grew closer.

  Forty feet. Thirty feet. Twenty feet. Ten.

  Then Renner hit the brakes and the truck spun sideways in a controlled skid as it crashed through the barn doors. Instinctively, she unbuckled her seat belt and ducked low beneath the seat as the sounds of shouting, crashing, banging and gunfire surrounded her.

  “Try to rescue Hannah and Seth if you can,” Liam shouted. “Renner and I will take out the Imposters.”

  Doors slammed, she looked up and found herself alone in the truck. She scrambled into the driver’s seat and watched the scene unfolding around her in the stables, like something out of a dance choreography, as both Liam and Renner moved in tandem to take cover, surge forward, fire and then fall back, taking out one Imposter after another with a skill and precision that took her breath away. Liam was clearly leading, with Renner following close behind, as if the men had known each other for years instead of hours.

  Thank You, God, that Liam didn’t give up law enforcement for me. This is who he is. This is where he belongs.

  Kelly scanned the room and spotted Hannah and Seth, crouched side by side, underneath the table. They were both still typing madly. The truck’s keys hung from the ignition. Kelly started the engine and inched through the chaos toward them, placing the truck between the hackers and the battle, even as she heard the sound of bullets pinging off the other side of the truck. She shoved open the back door.

  “Get in!” she shouted.

  They crawled toward her, staying low and dragging their laptops with them.

  “Everybody good?” Kelly called.

  “Yeah,” Hannah said.

  The clacking of keys grew louder. She glanced back. Seth and Hannah were both still typing, sitting on the floor behind the seats.

  “What are you doing?” Kelly called.

  “We’ve hacked inside the Imposters’s online system,” Hannah said, without looking up.

  “I knew if they made us hack they’d accidentally let us in,” Seth said. His eyes were equally locked on the screen. “This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.”

  “You’re able to stop their threat to take down power grids on New Year’s Eve?” Kelly asked.

  A smile curved on Hannah’s lips.

  “We’re able to take down everything,” Hannah said. “Every single thing is going down and for good.”

  “Everything?” Kelly asked.

  “We’re in their membership database right now,” Seth said. “Back-channeling Imposters from their online signatures to find their real names, locations and addresses. Basically, everything the police will need to find each and every one of them, and take down their organization.”

  Hannah laughed under her breath. Despite the chaos around them, the light in Hannah’s eyes was pure determination and joy. After all their months apart, had Hannah and Renner even seen each other in the chaos, let alone managed to say anything? She didn’t know. But here her daughter was, taking out criminals online while her husband was outside doing the same in his own way. This was who her daughter was. This was the woman she and Liam had made, and who’d been raised by the incredible and loving couple who’d adopted her. This was who she was meant to be.

  “When we get out of here, I want you and Renner to come forward,” Kelly said. Hannah looked up and met her eyes. “I know it’ll be hard and scary, there might be ramifications and it’ll change your lives. But look at you. You’re amazing. You’re happy. You’re incredible. You love this, don’t you? I don’t want you to hide from who you are.”

  Hannah nodded slightly, then she looked back to the screen.

  Too late, Kelly heard the truck door wrenched open to her left. She looked up to see one of the Imposters, hulking, huge and masked, looming over her. She screamed, yelling to Hannah and Seth to stay down and safe, as she felt the masked Imposter cuffing her hard against her temple and yanking her from the truck. She fell and her body smacked hard against the cold stable floor, knocking the breath from her lungs. Then she felt the Imposter dragging her across the floor, toward the stable’s stalls. Kelly kicked and screamed, thrashing and fighting against her attacker with every ounce of strength in her body. Her eyes searched in vain for Liam in the chaos. She couldn’t see him anywhere. Desperate tears filled her eyes.

  Then she heard Liam’s voice, like a deep and guttural roar. “Get your hands off her!”

  And it was like her attacker was literally lifted off the ground, as Liam yanked the man off her and tossed him to the side. The Imposter scrambled away and disappeared back into the chaos.

  She looked up and there Liam stood, protecting her and shielding her, placing himself between her and those who wanted to hurt her.

  “Are you okay?” Liam asked. She nodded, as he pulled her up into his chest, placing one strong hand at the small of her back and keeping his weapon at the ready with the other. He led her backward into one of the stalls.

  “How did you find me?” she asked. “How did you even know I was in danger?”

  He looked down at her and something deepened in his gaze.

  “Sweetheart, I’m always going to be looking out for you.”

  A shiver ran through her body that seemed to seep deep into her core.

  She glanced past him. Renner was pinned down in a corner fighting off several Imposters at once. Others were now advancing on the truck, where Seth and Hannah were still hunkered down in the back.
/>   “We have to help them!” she said. “They’re sitting ducks!”

  But even as she spoke, she heard a chorus of shouts and watched as Liam’s team members Jess and Noah, along with almost a dozen other men and women, stormed through the entrances like a precision team and quickly moved to secure the scene. For a moment they just watched as the team moved in, covering Renner’s back, protecting the truck and arresting Imposters. Then she felt a long sigh move through Liam. He holstered his weapon.

  “I texted a few friends last night,” Liam said. He wrapped both arms around her, and nestled her into his chest. “They’ve got this.”

  “Who are they?” Wonder filled her voice. “What is this?”

  “The three other detectives helping Jess and Noah round up and cuff suspects are Chloe and Trent Henry and Trent’s brother, Jacob,” he said “Chloe’s provincial and the other two are federal.”

  “I thought Jess left for her honeymoon,” she said.

  “So did I,” Liam said. “And Noah’s getting married this morning. Then again, that’s his bride, Holly, helping Seth and Hannah.”

  “So they’re skipping the tradition of not seeing each other the day of the wedding?” she asked.

  His laugh was husky with emotion. “Looks like it.”

  It looked like the threat was over as one by one, Imposters were disarmed, unmasked and handcuffed.

  “Hannah and Seth are taking down the Imposter network online,” Kelly said. “They’re gathering data of who each Imposter is in real life, so local law enforcement can round them up.”

  Liam breathed a prayer of thanks. “Well, we’ve got some of the best law-enforcement people I know in the room to help with that. Wouldn’t be surprised if warrants are issued before they even leave the barn.”

  “I encouraged Hannah that she and Renner should come forward, face the consequences and admit she’s the one who hacked the code,” Kelly said.

  “Considering Holly’s history with the military, as a former whistleblower, she’s the right person to help them with that.” Liam watched the scene unfolding for a few more moments. Then he gestured to a young man kneeling over some of the wounded Imposters, joined by a second who was helping carry the Imposter that Liam had shot outside in the snow.

  “That’s Trent’s brother Nick, who’s also a corporal, and his other brother, Max. He’s a paramedic,” Liam said. “I’m glad they’re here. I always try very hard at making sure nobody dies on my watch.”

  Liam continued pointing out people in the small and efficient tactical team, as they moved through the room, booking criminals, securing weapons and even tending to the Imposters’s wounds. Then Kelly’s heart caught in her throat as Renner broke through the crowd and ran for Hannah, and she remembered that despite all that had just happened, they probably still hadn’t greeted each other. Renner swept his wife up into his arms and kissed her deeply. Hannah clutched her husband, his arms enveloped her and they held each other as Liam’s friends in law enforcement moved around them, swiftly locking down the scene.

  Then the small but mighty cry of a little voice seemed to pierce through the din, and Kelly watched as Hannah and Renner turned together in unison and ran toward Mack as he carried baby Pip through the doorway.

  Liam’s arm tightened around Kelly and they watched as the small family cried and hugged each other in the middle of the stable.

  Thank You, God. For bringing mother, father and child back together. She leaned against Liam’s chest, feeling his heart beat against her cheek. And thank You for bringing Liam back to me.

  “Come with me,” Liam said. He stepped back and grabbed her hand. “Just for a moment, please. Unless you want to stay with Renner and Hannah?”

  She looked over at the small and elated family.

  “Nah, I think they’re good without me, right now,” she said. “I’ll talk to them later.”

  Hannah and Renner were going to have to make some difficult decisions about their future. While Kelly would love and support them whatever they decided, right now, the young couple needed to rely on each other and make their own path. Liam tugged lightly on her hand. She hesitated.

  “But don’t they need you to coordinate this?” she asked.

  “Coordinate what?” He chuckled. “Sweetheart, I’m dead and I was never here. Clearly a bunch of random somebodies got an anonymous tip. Probably from an untraceable cell phone, I’m guessing.” He looked around the room again and his head shook in amazement, as if finally taking in the scope of all that had happened. “I don’t even know how to begin to explain a random group of federal, provincial and local cops, plus some military, a paramedic and even a handful of civilians all showing up for a joint operation.”

  She did, and looking at the unshed tears that glinted in the corners of his eyes, she knew he did, too.

  For a man with no family, he certainly had a big one.

  She followed him out of the stables, watching as he greeted person after person on the way out, with subtle nods and gestures that spoke volumes. They stepped outside and bright sunshine streamed down the snow toward them.

  “One of them will eventually step up, take charge of how the cover story gets told, follow up on all the arrests and sort this whole thing out,” Liam said. “Probably Chloe. Normally it would be someone on my team, but Jess still has her honeymoon and both Noah and Mack have weddings to worry about. I’m not actually sure how long Noah and Holly have until they’re supposed to get hitched. Hopefully, we’ll make sure they make it to the church on time.” His voice trailed off and he looked down at her hand holding his.

  “I still need a date for two weddings,” he added. “With Noah and Holly’s later this morning, it’ll probably be a matter of sneaking in to watch from the shadows again. But Mack and Iris are getting married on New Year’s Eve...”

  His voice trailed off. It was a silence that seemed to spread, thick and deep like a wave of warmth through the cold, empty morning air. Somehow she knew it wasn’t a silence he wanted her to speak into, so she waited.

  “I don’t want you to go,” Liam said eventually. “I want you to stay here, by my side, with me, as I fight my way out of whatever burlap sack has descended around me and figure out how to prove to the world I’m alive. But, if you want to go, with Hannah and Renner, I will go with you and stay by your side however long it takes to figure this out. Don’t get me wrong, if it was up to me I’d stay here while the Imposter network is taken down, trust Seth to untangle what they did to my online profile and work with my friends in law enforcement to figure out how best to prove the video is fake and confirm the fact I’m actually alive. That would be my first choice of what to do.” He took a deep breath, took her other hand in his and raised both up to his lips. He looked at her over their knuckles. “But I don’t ever want to lose you again, Kelly. No matter what happens next, that’s nonnegotiable.”

  “You won’t lose me,” she said.

  A grin brushed his lips. “Promise?”

  “Promise, promise.”

  His smile spread to his eyes until it seemed to illuminate his entire face.

  “You have no idea how much I love you,” he said.

  “I love you, too,” she said. She pulled her hands from his, reached up and wrapped them around his neck. “And I’m not going anywhere. As much as I love Hannah and Renner, this is their fight to figure out together. But for me, I belong with you. It’s as simple as that.”

  She kissed his smiling mouth, for a long moment reveling in the warmth, the strength of his arms and the security of having him there. Then suddenly, he stepped back and a look crossed his face that she’d come to think of as his detective brain activating.

  “Some things are actually simple, aren’t they?” he said. He closed his eyes and whispered a prayer for wisdom and courage. Then he took her hand in his. “Come on, it’s time I did this the easy way.”r />
  Baffled but trusting him, too, she followed him back into the stables. All the Imposters had been carted away and the crowd had reduced to just a small handful of people standing around talking, including Hannah and Renner and the members of Liam’s team.

  “Hey, Seth!” Liam pointed his finger at the hacker. “How long will it take to do your thing online to prove that I’m really me, I’m not dead and the video was a deep fake?”

  “Anywhere between twenty-four hours to a few days,” Seth said. “The fact Hannah and I hacked the Imposter network will certainly make it easier. She unraveled the whole system and tracked every single Imposter’s real identity and location.” He cast their daughter an admiring glance filled with respect. “Honestly, she did like seventy percent of the work. I know I told you it would take at least three of me to take their network down, but your daughter seriously hacked circles around me. Maybe I’m getting old, too.”

  Hannah pressed her lips together to hide a smile that perfectly mirrored the one on Liam’s face. Kelly suspected Liam had never heard Seth give anyone such high praise before.

  “Now, I wasn’t planning on working through Christmas,” Seth went on. “But if it’ll help you get your life back on track faster, I’ll be on it around the clock.”

  Liam’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I trust you to do your thing,” he said finally. “In the meantime, can I assume there’s something in this place that will record a video?”

  “Many somethings,” Seth said and yanked a cell phone from his pocket. “Will this do?”

  “You’re the tech guy,” Liam said. “Again, I trust you to make it work. Just point at where you want me to stand. All I care is that there’s nobody else in the frame and the light’s good enough to see me clearly.”

  Seth nodded and then pointed to a patch of wall. Liam brushed a kiss over Kelly’s cheek, then he let go of her hand and stepped to where Seth had pointed. Seth waved at him like a man directing traffic and Liam took a few steps in one direction and then another, until Seth held up his hand to show him he’d reached whatever specific square inch of floor the hacker apparently thought had the best light.