Project Aurora (Hope Novak Thrillers)

by Daniel Pelfrey

  Getting Brittany Thompson into the right party had been simple enough. Many of the executives from the various Cabal entities liked to party. They would hire out to escort services, both female and male, to provide company and entertainment.

  Once Thompson left the Ranch, all Charlie Smith had to do was add a profile listing for Brittany Thompson into the agency files via a backdoor hack he had previously installed.

  The purpose of planting operatives into direct contact with people like Fritz was to gather the human intelligence that could not be had by any other means. There were half a dozen former prison inmates, thought dead, performing similar functions. Smith had created legends for them using government databases and records. Using the names of young children who died in childbirth or had slipped through society’s cracks somehow.

  Not limiting their planning to only creating American legends, Smith hacked into government systems around the world. While Valerie Michaels hailed from Boston, Massachusetts, Brittany Thompson had been born in Perth, Australia. When Smith created legends from outside the United States, he tried to ensure one parent had been an American citizen, as was the case for Thompson’s legend.

  With the aid of mental conditioning, even Thompson’s Australian accent was authentic.

  Forging immigration paperwork was possible, but the preference was to avoid the potential red flags. The legends Smith created could withstand all but the most intense forensic audits.

  All were bloggers and active on social media. It didn’t matter if they had large followings. That’s how they communicated the information they gathered. They would encode messages into their blogs and posts to specify which Dropbox account they deposited their encrypted data files. Two of the already liberated Ranch staff, now living as graduate students, had the responsibility to download all the files, ensuring that it would not reside on the cloud for an extended time. None of the data-mined information made its way back to the Ranch under any circumstances. That would be a sure way to be caught by the Cabal.

  Given the Cabal’s inherent technological aspects, this method of information sharing created a high risk of discovery. However, for the amount of data being gathered, it remained the best option.

  For Thompson and other operatives like her, the mission included getting access to account passwords, cloning cell phones, and finding hidden assets like safety deposit boxes that could be exploited later. The cloning of a Cabal member’s cell phone provided access to that person’s life and all its intimate details, typically revealing every bit of information being sought.

  Thompson had been careful. It took her months to get to this point with Fritz as he guarded his phone carefully. Thompson resorted to slipping a mild sedative into the drink she fixed for Fritz. Being a moneyman for the Cabal made getting access to his phone, bank accounts, and other details a priority to the plan to expose the Cabal. With that access, all Thompson had to send in the encrypted message was the access information. Someone else would data-mine Fritz’s accounts at will later.

  As Thompson sent the information, she thought, typical of an American male, just put a pretty face with a non-American accent in front of him. He becomes a drooling idiot every time. She also realized she now thought of herself as Australian and not American. Thompson smiled and was not bothered by this personal development.

  SIXTEEN

  After hunting through her bag, Mills had finally settled on an outfit. She did not know why, but felt it essential to impress JR Lewis. Putting on some light makeup and then packing up her things, Mills headed to her car and hopefully the answers she and her friends needed.

  As Mills swung her purse into the passenger seat, she remembered the Sig Sauer P238 in the purse’s hidden compartment. For now, it would stay. Mills’s understanding of Indiana law was as long as she had a Georgia firearms license. Mills could carry for up to ninety days before getting an Indiana concealed carry permit would become a necessity.

  Since her experience in Amarillo, where she thought they had followed her, Mills had taken to making a circuitous route to verify no one was attempting to trail her. It made little sense why but, Mills felt someone was interested in knowing her whereabouts.

  Driving around the block or doubling back occasionally made Mills feel safer. She also kept the Sig within reach. Just in case.

  Having chosen the motel because of its proximity to her eventual destination, Mills knew it would take her about twenty minutes to get there.

  Looking at the clock on the radio, Mills realized she was overdue. Technically. She and JR had not set a firm time, just a window, but thirty minutes later than an hour was significant.

  She plugged the Lewis residence into her GPS, departed the motel, drove two blocks south, and then made a right turn followed by a second right after another block. Seeing she had not been followed, Mills relaxed.

  Her destination was just outside of Bloomington proper, north of the city, just off Indiana state highway 45. Liking the location for the amount of tree cover, Mills found the Lewis place easily enough. Thinking to herself, the area appeared peaceful.

  Mills noticed the driveway into the residence was narrowed nearer the road, only wide enough for a single car to pass. It widened closer to the house and the three-bay garage. One stall was open, and a Toyota Corolla was parked outside the bay. A man about her age was watching a young woman load boxes into the trunk of the Corolla.

  Must be JR, thought Mills. But who is the woman? From what she could tell by the body language, this was an awkward exchange. Mills thought of backing down the drive and returning in a few minutes.

  Until the man waved. The woman appeared to huff in indignation at seeing who was being waved at. Mills rolled down the window as the man walked over.

  “You must be Zoe. I’m JR. Sorry about earlier.”

  “It’s alright. I should be the one apologizing. I’m later than I expected,” replied Zoe. She felt a slight tingle, but nothing like other times. This one made her feel happy and safe.

  “As soon as Katie is done and out of the way, it will be easier to get your things in. This bay goes with the apartment. There’s a set of interior stairs to the side of the garage. Why don’t we go up and take a look in the meantime?”

  “That would be nice.”

  A nasal voice that sounded highly annoyed from the garage called out, “aren’t you going to help me load these boxes?”

  “No. I was nice enough to box it all for you and not throw it out.”

  Mills understood what was happening now. Katie had to be an ex-girlfriend, and it did not end well. She threw on some charm towards JR as she climbed out of her Subaru.

  Smiling, she said, “it’s really great of you to rent this place to me. Miss Beverly says you’re a nice young man.”

  ◆◆◆

  JR felt slightly red in the face. She did this to get a rise out of Katie.

  Mills took a step away from the car, then turned back around, making a small show of bending back in to get her purse. When she faced JR again, his face felt redder than before.

  She’s incredibly attractive, thought Lewis.

  Seeing Mills in a pair of black skinny jeans that accented her curves, pairing them with a cream v-neck sweater that did likewise while also baring an inch of her midriff had gotten JR Lewis’s attention. She had also pulled her long auburn hair back in a loose ponytail this morning. Mills certainly made an impression, thought Lewis.

  Katie also appeared to be red-faced, but for a different reason. She looked livid. Lewis saw Mills smile sweetly at Katie and followed JR up the stairs. Mills heard another grunt of indignation as they ascended the staircase. Mills’s smile widened at that. As they entered the apartment, Zoe heard a car door slam and then a car peeling out of the drive.

  “Sorry about my little show downstairs. If I caused any trouble,” Zoe started but was cut off by JR.

  “Actually, I enjoyed it.”

  “Which part? Where, what was her name, Katie, got upset. Or my be
nding over?” Mills asked coyly.

  “Honestly, both.” Lewis was smiling. “You’re quite the looker, and Katie is jealous. Even though it’s over.”

  Zoe blushed now but replied with, “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  JR stood about six-feet tall, had broad shoulders, dark blond hair, and an amiable smile.

  “What do you do for a living, JR?” she asked.

  “I work in IT security.”

  ◆◆◆

  Mills thought of Charlie Smith in IT back at the Ranch. Smith looked nothing like Lewis, who did not look like an IT person’s stereotype at all. Lewis looked more like someone who played sports in school and still stayed in shape.

  Lewis continued, “I played football at Purdue, backup defensive back. Didn’t see much playing time, though.”

  Mills thought that explains a lot. She answered with, “went to Purdue and live in Bloomington?”

  “I know. Purdue had a better program for computer science, and they offered a scholarship.”

  Noticing JR looked more relaxed now that Katie was gone, she asked, “you don’t have to answer, but bad break-up?”

  Smiling, Lewis replied, “you could say that. We’d been dating a while, but my dad passed away. I inherited the house, and Katie decided I needed to propose. Started talking about having a family together, all that. I wasn’t interested. At least with Katie.”

  Seeing his smile didn’t reach his eyes, Mills changed the subject.

  “Tell me about the apartment.”

  “I mentioned, you get the third bay of the garage. My dad used this mainly as his office. The second bedroom has been set up for that, there’s a master suite, and a great room, which we’re in now. The kitchen is a dinette and off to the side. There’s a deck on the back, a storage room out there too. Sorry, it’s only an efficiency kitchen. Also, no laundry, but I’ll give you a key to the main house. Feel free to use the kitchen and laundry room.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “For anyone else, I don’t think I would. But, I have a good feeling about you, Zoe Mills. Would you like some help moving in your things?”

  “You wouldn’t help Katie, but you’ll help me?” Zoe asked.

  “Part of the reason I brought you up was to avoid Katie. If we’d parted on better terms, I would have helped her too.”

  SEVENTEEN

  Katie Sikora arrived for her shift at Mother Bear’s Pizzeria almost thirty minutes late. She thought if JR Lewis had not been so thick-headed, Katie would be planning her wedding right now. Instead, she was still taking orders and waiting tables. A position as Assistant Manager had opened up over at Squire’s Coffee. Katie asked about it, but that had been filled already.

  JR called Katie several times to get her things. Each time she hoped he would change his mind. That he would ask her to come back. Katie knew now. It would not happen. She saw how he looked at the woman that rented the apartment over his garage. JR never looked at Katie like that.

  Katie was a jealous person by nature. She could not help it. While she was almost twenty-three, being just five-two and having practically no figure, Katie frequently looked more like a young teenager. Seeing Zoe Miller, or whatever her name was, reinforced Katie’s inadequacies.

  Katie thought it is no wonder JR looked at her like that. If I had a figure like her, JR would still want to be with me.

  Katie remained utterly oblivious to her own personality flaws that JR had found off-putting.

  Working at a landmark restaurant on East Third Avenue, just across from Indiana University, meant lunch shifts were always brisk. Katie did not mind it either. Sometimes, the individual tips may not have been great, dealing with college students, but having more tables turnover helped. That four residence halls were within walking distance did not hurt either.

  Game days were always the best for tipping. Unfortunately, it was late in the academic year. That meant spring sports. While the baseball team usually did well, it was the football and basketball games that brought in the alumni.

  Katie could clear enough in tips on those days to make up for the slower times. And while it was a decent day, being late in the semester meant more students finishing up term papers and studying for finals than having a sit-down meal for lunch.

  Having bussed several tables in her section, Katie saw the cart needed to be emptied. Katie rolled the bus cart into the dish area. The dishwashers would unload it. Taking the freshly emptied cart back to the wait station, Katie heard a voice she recognized before she saw the person it belonged to.

  JR was in the pizzeria. He was not alone, though. Katie heard a second voice she found familiar. The Southern drawl was unmistakable. He had brought his tenant with him. And they were seated in her section.

  Katie wondered what she did to deserve the day she was having. First, JR called her about her things. Again. He needed them out today because his new tenant was moving in. Katie went, but only for not wanting to replace items.

  Then she meets the tenant, this Zoe. Katie saw how JR had looked at her when Zoe bent over to reach back into her car. JR had never looked at me like that, Katie thought. That is who he will end up with.

  And now. Now, they are sitting at one of her booths, having a good time. Probably to get a rise out of me, Katie realized. Not wanting her jealousy to get the better of her, Katie knew to put a smile on her face and be nice. She could not switch tables to avoid them.

  “Welcome to Mother Bear’s. Can I get your drinks while you look at the menu?” asked Katie, in the sweetest voice she could muster.

  Zoe had been looking down at the menu, while JR had seen Katie approach the table. Katie was sure JR had cringed.

  “Yes, please,” said Zoe looking up, “oh, hello, again. We weren’t properly introduced. I’m Zoe Mills. Had JR always been this good on introductions?”

  Seeing a gleam in Zoe’s eye, Katie was not sure if her statement had been to tease JR or flirt with him. Either way, it annoyed Katie.

  Answering, she said, “only when he’s distracted. I’m Katie Sikora, by the way.”

  Katie wagered on teasing and played along. She and Zoe both looked at JR.

  Katie could see his ears turning red, pressing on with, “I think someone is embarrassed.”

  “I was unaware today was ‘mess with JR day,’” he said in a low voice.

  “And, I was unaware that was a thing, but we’ve just met,” said Zoe, looking unapologetic in her teasing.

  “JR, if there were such a day, it would be every day,” countered Katie. “While I’d love to regale Zoe in tales of your clod-headedness, I do need to take your order,” she continued, getting back to the task at hand. Serving the two people she least wanted to help, let alone see.

  “I’ll have a Dr. Pepper,” said Zoe.

  “And will you have a Pepsi, like usual, JR?”

  “Please, and how about a large deluxe,” said JR asking Zoe.

  “Sure.”

  As annoyed as Katie was waiting on JR and Zoe, she remained in the service she provided. At the end of the meal, she placed the bill in front of JR, only for Zoe to take it away from him. “He was nice enough to help me move in,” said Zoe, “besides isn’t there some unwritten rule about providing pizza to your helper on moving day.”

  Katie could not believe what she just heard. She looked at JR stone-faced and replied, “yes, I’ve heard that too.”

  Walking away from the table, Katie could feel Katarzyna pushing to the surface. She caused Katie’s emotional problems.

  Katie suffered from dissociative identity disorder, and Katarzyna was her other personality. She was also Katie’s biggest bully. When Katarzyna was in control, she could keep Katie just below the surface if she chose to. This was to torment Katie and show her who was really in control.

  Katarzyna was the one desperate to marry JR, not Katie. Yes, Katie wanted to marry JR, but Katarzyna was looking at it as a payday.

  She went hurriedly to the ladies’ room to avoid
an outburst in the restaurant’s customer area.

  ◆◆◆

  Zoe made to follow. JR initially tried to stop her.

  “No, I made this mess. I should try to fix it,” Zoe said.

  Following Katie, Zoe intended to apologize. She had thought and hoped she and Katie might become friends, seeing as Zoe had none in Bloomington.

  Noticing the anger flash in Katie’s eyes through the mirror’s reflection on entering the restroom, Zoe tried to be tactful in what she felt needed to be said.

  “JR’s a nice guy. He wanted to be helpful. Buying him lunch was me saying thank you to him,” Zoe said.

  She could see Katie relax a little, but then the door opened. The woman that had been at the next table over went into one of the stalls. Katie appeared to become more guarded again.

  “So you’re not interested in JR?”

  “I’ve just met him. Look, Katie, I just spent the better part of a year in a rehabilitation facility. I had an accident. I remember little from before it. I’m still trying to figure out who I am.”

  “You weren’t trying to wind me up?”

  “Not really. I was trying to with JR, though. And for the record, he only helped with one case I couldn’t get up the stairs myself.”

  Zoe lied but figured it would not hurt. She would tell JR so he would know how to answer if Katie asked. It looked like she was getting through to Katie. Smoothing things over as she intended.

  “I had to come down to see Miss Beverly to fill out some paperwork before I start working at Squire’s.”

  Anger flashed in Katie’s eyes again. Zoe was sure of it. Suddenly, she saw Katie’s right hand flash up and smack her across the left cheek.

  Hard.

  Zoe felt her head move to the side. Her eyes started to water, and heat rose where Katie’s hand struck Zoe’s face.

  “You bitch. You’re the new assistant manager at Squire’s. My day just keeps getting better. I wanted that job.”