“You have nothing to fear from me,” Stemp said softly. “I merely wanted to be sure our conversation couldn’t be overheard. However, I understand your vigilance. If you prefer, we can talk right here.”
The bitter wind flung a stinging handful of snow into my face and I shivered. Maybe I should just get in the Hummer…
“You need to disappear for a while,” Stemp said, as if deciding to limit the amount of time he spent freezing his ass off. “I believe that this attack on you was initiated for the sole purpose of removing you to the jurisdiction of the United States, and there’s a very real possibility that they may succeed regardless of your innocence. Our justice system is notorious for rubber-stamping extradition requests even when they are unreasonable.”
“But why would they want me extradited?” I wrapped my arms around myself, fighting a chill that came from both within and without. “What would they stand to gain?”
“My surmise is that they want you to work in their brainwave-driven network.” Stemp’s jaw muscles rippled, and I guessed he was clenching his teeth to keep them from chattering. “After your work in Georgia and your subsequent miraculous cure of their super-user, they would consider you a valuable asset.”
“But they have four super-users already,” I argued. “Betty Hooper, plus the three women you repatriated after the Knights of Sirius were destroyed.” Which was a much nicer way to say ‘after I blew them up’.
“It’s the United States.” Stemp shrugged. “Bigger is always better. Also, the U.S. administrator who took over after you killed Dr. Cartwright has been increasingly reticent about sharing information for our joint research in the brainwave-driven virtual reality. Without the Knights’ influence, Homeland Security’s natural xenophobic tendencies are taking over. Perhaps they wish to secure all the super-users for themselves.”
I blinked. “You didn’t tell them we’ve also got Tammy?”
“No. Nor have I divulged the fact that both you and Ms. Mellor are capable of infiltrating any network and cracking any encryption algorithm in real-time. The only data I have shared is your ability to enhance processing and modelling within the virtual reality network, the same as their current super-users.”
I nodded slowly, comprehension forming a cold hard lump in my stomach. “So they think if they’ve got me, they’ll control the whole program. And even if they can’t force me to work for them, they’ll lock me up forever just to cripple Canada’s research.”
“I believe so. And for that reason I will continue to keep Ms. Mellor’s existence a secret from them,” Stemp agreed. “But it is also imperative to keep you within Canada.”
Something about the way he said the words chilled my blood more than the arctic wind that was whistling up my jacket. Stemp wouldn’t allow the dangerous knowledge in my brain to go beyond our borders. He could justify it to the chain of command as ‘protecting national security’, but his true priority would be concealing the existence of his secret family overseas. He’d likely be sorry to kill me, but I knew he wouldn’t hesitate if he had to choose between my life or his wife’s and daughter’s.
Suddenly, disappearing seemed like a mighty fine idea.
“O-Okay…” A violent shiver shook me. “Sh-shit, I’m freezing! Let’s g-get in the Hummer.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Stemp said dryly, and hurried around to the driver’s side.
As soon as he had closed the door behind him, Stemp turned up the heat to maximum, and we both sat shivering for a few moments.
Then he glanced at his wristwatch and buckled his seat belt. “My apologies, but we will have to continue this conversation while I drive. My parents’ flight arrives in fifteen minutes.”
“Oh!” Happiness warmed me despite my worry, and I buckled up and relaxed into the seat as he pulled out of the parking lot. “That’s great! Will they be staying with you over Christmas?”
“Perhaps. It remains to be seen whether we can tolerate each other for that long.” He allowed himself a small grimace. “My first priority is to prevent them from freezing in those ridiculously impractical garments they affect.”
I bit my tongue. Moonbeam’s caftans and Karma’s sarongs might seem impractical to Stemp, but they were remarkably good for concealing the secret arsenal his parents carried at all times.
Dammit, if only I could tell Stemp and his parents that they were all doing the same work for the same cause. Their friction would melt away; and maybe Stemp would even feel safe enough to let them meet their granddaughter…
I pulled my own bug detector out of my waist pouch and consulted it. Still green.
Stemp gave me keen glance. “What is it?”
“Um… how are Katya and Anna?”
He stared out the windshield, betraying no emotion.
“I mean, I know those aren’t their names anymore,” I added. “But, you know. I hope they’re doing okay.”
“They are well,” he said flatly.
“Anna must be growing fast.”
“Yes.”
The silence that followed was unremarkable. Of course he wouldn’t volunteer any information.
To my surprise he spoke again, his voice softer. “She had her seventh birthday last month. I missed it, of course.” My heart twisted at the regret in his tone. “But Katya recorded a short video for me. I had intended to be there for Christmas, but when my parents chose to come…” He trailed off with a resigned lift of his shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my chest aching with sympathy. “Why…”
I hesitated, wondering if I was about to overstep our boundaries.
Screw it. He had more than enough reasons to kill me. Asking an impertinent question wasn’t likely to put me in any more danger.
I forged ahead. “Your parents already know Anna exists. Why didn’t you just tell them that it wasn’t a good time to visit because you were going to be with Katya and Anna for Christmas? I know your mom and dad would have understood.”
Stemp’s mouth flattened into a grim line, and I suspected he was remembering that it was my fault his biggest secret had been leaked to his parents. Or maybe he was still uncomfortable about referring to Moonbeam and Karma as ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’. Especially since Karma probably wasn’t his biological father.
“I would not risk the lives of my wife and daughter by revealing my intentions to civilians,” Stemp said stiffly. “And in any case, this situation with the United States would have forced me to cancel my trip; so perhaps it’s better that I didn’t raise Anna’s hopes unnecessarily.” A small breath escaped him. “And mine.”
“I’m so sorry,” I repeated, wishing I could do something to ease his pain and knowing that even reaching over to squeeze his hand would be violation of his reserve.
He nodded silent acknowledgement, and I changed the subject. “So… that exchange with Ian Rand when we left…”
“Ah, yes. The amorous Agent Rand.” The corner of Stemp’s mouth quirked up. “I make it a policy to interfere as little as possible with my agents’ personal lives, so I will only say that since you spent four months sequestered in the Pacific rainforest with him, you are undoubtedly aware of his… generosity with affection.”
I laughed. “You’re much more tactful than Reggie. He called Ian a horndog who’d screw anything that moved. Or bleated.”
A rare smile warmed Stemp’s face. “Dr. Chow is refreshingly forthright.” He sobered. “But I presume you are not seeking my blessing for your personal interactions with Agent Rand.”
“No. I think something’s going on with him and Nora Taylor.”
Stemp’s eyebrow lifted. “In what way?”
“You said Nora asked for me to be at this c-” I stifled the word ‘clusterfuck’ and substituted, “…conference, but even though she introduced herself right away, she didn’t try to talk to me again. And she lied when Brad Wilson asked her how she knew me. I think Ian was trying to tell me something at the meet-and-greet last night, but we were interrupted. H
e didn’t give me his phone number today because he was interested in me. He’s trying to get a message to me.”
“Or lure you into an ambush,” Stemp countered. “How much do you trust him?”
“I… don’t know.” I gnawed my lower lip. “I think he’s a good agent.”
“He has an outstanding record,” Stemp agreed. “That in itself is reassuring; however, an exemplary agent would carry out the orders of his or her command without regard to personal loyalty or preference. Do you trust him?”
“I don’t trust anybody.” The words came instantly and involuntarily from my lips, and I sagged back in my seat with a sigh. “I hate this fucking job.”
“Understood.” Stemp’s word came out on a small sigh of his own. He truly did understand.
Somehow that helped a bit.
I sat up straighter. “But if I’m going to analyze this thing with Ian a little more…”
I pondered. If Ian wasn’t lying when he said he’d concealed Moonbeam and Karma and Skidmark’s clandestine anti-terrorism operation from his superiors, he was likely trying to help me now.
But that was a damn big ‘if’.
I thought back to his flashing eyes and the ring of sincerity in his voice and spoke slowly. “I think… Ian’s on my side. For now, anyway…” I trailed off, recalling Nora’s incriminating comments at the meet-and-greet. “…although…” I added, “…Nora said Ian had told her about me. But he swore he hadn’t; and he was trying to explain when we were interrupted. He told Nora and Brad Wilson that he knew my name from the briefing you had issued about the ultrasound weapon, when we were under the terrorist threat last month.”
Stemp’s face hardened. “He was lying. I never identify agents by name. Particularly not in a general briefing.”
I eyed at his stony profile, my heart sinking. “I figured. I’m not really surprised that Ian lied. It seemed as though he’d been blindsided and he had to come up with something on the spur of the moment. But that means Brad Wilson was lying, too; because he said he got my name from the same report.”
Chapter 22
Stemp nodded grimly, staring out the windshield. “When the request for your presence arrived from the United States I suspected something like this might happen; so before I left Sirius this morning I informed the chain of command that if I could ascertain your innocence I would assign you to drop off-grid and investigate.”
He gave me a wintry sidelong smile and continued, “Since they were suitably chastened by their misjudgement in overriding my initial recommendations, I was also able to secure their approval to provide you with your network access key and the portable network generator.”
He reached into his pocket and withdrew the tiny cube containing the chip that turned me into a decryption machine, along with the USB drive to generate the brainwave-driven network that carried me invisibly into any computer connected to the internet. Sam Kraus’s life’s work; and his shitty legacy to me. Damn him.
But it was a mind-boggling expression of trust from Stemp. Warmth bloomed in my chest as I accepted the two precious items.
The demons of my past trickled doubts into my mind as I pocketed the technology.
I wasn’t good enough.
I would botch the investigation and lose our critical classified items in the process…
“Thank you,” I said firmly. “Your confidence in me means…” My throat tightened. I swallowed the emotion as best I could, but my voice shook a bit as I finished, “…more to me than you can know. I won’t let you down.”
Stemp’s face softened. “I know. But…” He shot me a warning glance. “…I must emphasize that you should stay completely dark. If the United States escalates its demands, the chain of command might rescind their decision. As long as you can’t be contacted, you can’t be considered in violation of orders.”
A chill settled around my heart. I’d be completely on my own. Nobody to rescue me.
Stemp continued, “I will assign Holt to the investigation as well, and I will aid you as much as I can within the constraints of the command structure; but if the situation changes, that same command structure may force me to issue a warrant for your capture.”
My blood went cold. The whole Department could be turned against me. And I knew damn well who would be first in line to carry out the order: Holt the Magnificent.
And he didn’t fail.
Stemp’s voice penetrated my fear. “I can drop you anywhere you want to go before I reactivate this vehicle’s locator device.”
“Thank you,” I said slowly, forcing back my dread and booting my trembling brain into planning mode. “I think… I don’t want you to take me anywhere. If you don’t know where I went off-grid, you can’t be tripped up in a lie-detector test.”
He nodded approval, and I continued, “Let’s go and pick up your parents and have a nice dinner. They’ll be able to swear that we arrived at the airport together and left separately, so you won’t get into trouble for helping me if things go sideways later.” I hesitated, then added, “I think… I’d better go and see Ian tonight. After that little show we put on in the bullpen, anybody who’s looking for me will be watching him. Better to talk to him before I disappear.”
And I could disappear completely. Despite my anxiety, a small self-satisfied voice muttered deep in my psyche: Thank you, Holt the Magnificent. As a result of our humiliating former partnership, I had created secret caches of weapons and equipment, and multiple identities issued by the Department. And more importantly, I had a couple of identities that the Department didn’t know about. I might not be Jane Bond, Superspy just yet; but Aydan Kelly was doing okay.
“Very well. I will reactivate the beacon.” Stemp pulled into an office parking lot and stopped. When he returned to the driver’s seat, he pulled out a secured phone and hit the speed dial. “H367B should now be back online.” He paused, listening, then replied, “Good.” He punched the disconnect button, then dialled another number.
There was a lengthy pause before he spoke, his tone formal but softened from his usual crispness. “Good day, Mother. Since my call has gone to your voicemail I deduce that your flight has not yet landed; however, I wish to inform you that I will be approximately ten minutes late arriving at the airport. I will meet you at the baggage carousel.” He hesitated as though he wanted to add some warmth or endearment to the message, but instead he finished stiffly, “I will see you soon”, and disconnected.
My heart ached for him. From my glimpses of his private exchanges with Katya I knew that a warm-hearted passionate man lived behind Stemp’s shield of icy control; and buried even more deeply was the desolate teenager who had felt so betrayed by his parents’ adherence to a cover story he couldn’t understand or accept. That hidden boy yearned for his parents as much as they yearned for him, but their respective cover stories still wedged them inexorably apart.
If only I could tell them about each other, it could fix everything.
Or it could destroy innocent lives that were depending on absolute confidentiality. And I didn’t know which it would be.
I sighed and settled unhappily into my seat for the silent drive to the airport.
Only a few minutes later the vibration of my cell phone jerked me out of my uneasy reverie. The call display showed Nichele’s number, along with six voicemails since this morning.
Shit.
I clenched my teeth and accepted the call.
“Aydan! Finally! Where have you been, girl?” Nichele’s teasing held an edge of relief. “I was afraid you’d been in a car accident or something!”
“I’m so sorry!” I shot a sidelong glance at Stemp’s impassive profile. Awkward. Well, fuck it. “You wouldn’t believe how awful this stupid work thing was today,” I continued. “It just went on and on and I didn’t even get time for lunch. I’m starving and grouchy, and just this minute I finally got a chance to check my phone. Are all six of those voicemails from you?”
“Yes.” I could hear the smile in
her voice. “I’m in total Bridezilla mode, I admit it! I’m sorry you had such a crappy day, but come on over to our place and we’ll go out and grab a scrumptious dinner and then go shopping. You’ll be all better in no time!”
My heart squeezed at her innocent optimism. Aydan The Grinch was about to spoil everything. Why was she even friends with me? And after I dropped off the face of the earth right in the middle of the most important event in her life, she might dump me forever. I couldn’t blame her if she did.
“I’d love to, Nichele, but…” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m so sorry, but I’m on my way to the airport right now. I’m getting shipped down to the States…”
My blood chilled at the convenience of that lie. Please don’t let it come true…
“…for a big international audit,” I went on, hoping my voice wouldn’t crack. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, and it’s going to be the same shitty all-day-all-night stuff as today, so I likely won’t even be able to take your calls.”
The forlorn silence at the other end of the line stabbed me in the heart.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeated. “I wish I had a choice, but I’ll get fired if I don’t go.”
“Will…” Her voice wavered. “Will you be back by… Saturday?”
I blinked hard against the burning behind my eyes. “I don’t know. I hope so. I’ll do everything I can to get back in time for your wedding. Oh, Nichele, I’m so, so sorry! I feel awful about this!”
“Well…” Her voice wobbled again but she pulled it back under control, and when she spoke again her artificially bright tone made me feel even worse. “Don’t worry about it, girl. I know you’ll be here if you can; and if you can’t, I know you’ll be here in spirit. I’ll go out and buy your dress for you; I know your size and…” She managed a little laugh. “God knows I’ll pick out something nicer than what you’d buy for yourself.”
I forced a laugh to cover the sound of my heart breaking. “You know it! You’ve been dressing me up since we were five, and I still don’t know how to do it for myself. You’re the best friend I could ever ask for, Nichele…” I choked up.
Once Burned, Twice Spy Page 17
