Born To Protect

by Christina Tetreault

  “Please have a seat.” Ax moved to the chair at the head of the long table.

  Even though his words were polite, it still sounded as if he was giving her a command. She’d bet her newest pair of Prada heels the man had spent a good portion of his adult life in the military, barking out orders.

  I’m sitting because it’s the practical thing to do, not because he told me to, she thought as she complied.

  “In case Connor didn’t tell you, Lafayette Laboratory contacted us this morning,” he said while they waited for Connor to return with his coworker.

  Becca cleared her throat and shot a quick glance toward the doorway. Whatever part of the floor Connor had wandered off to, she couldn’t see him. “Yes, he told me earlier tonight.” Had it really only been hours ago they’d been sitting in her living room having that discussion? It felt more like weeks ago.

  “Since then the FBI, the DOD, and OSI have also become involved.”

  Well, the Alexandria police and a special division of Elite Force Security was already involved, so why not pull in another group or two? The more the merrier, right?

  She massaged her temples and hoped it would keep the headache brewing at bay until she at least got home. If not, she hoped Connor kept a large bottle of ibuprofen in his desk, assuming he even had a desk. If not, maybe there was a first aid kit somewhere on the floor that contained some.

  Connor took the seat next to her before she could ask why the DOD and OSI had become involved. She could understand the FBI’s involvement. They often worked on missing person cases. The Department of Defense and the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations were another matter.

  Even with two other people in the room, Connor laid his hand over hers on the table. When he did, there was no missing the look the man who’d walked in with him shot Connor’s way.

  “Becca, meet Keith.” He tilted his chin toward the fourth member of the little group. “Keith, this is Becca.”

  Keith was about their age, and she imagined he regularly caught the attention of the opposite sex. He was built much like Connor; she didn’t need to see Keith’s résumé to know that anyone who went up against him would be sorry. And, like Connor, he carried himself in such a way that suggested he could take care of himself and anyone else around him.

  “Earlier cyber discovered that for the past five months Kassidy has been making frequent withdrawals from her bank account.” Ax didn’t waste any time getting down to business.

  Bank account withdrawals didn’t seem like a big deal to her. On occasion, she stopped at an ATM more than once in a week to withdraw a hundred dollars or so.

  “They range in amounts. Some have been as low as three hundred dollars, but others have been for over a thousand,” Ax continued.

  Okay, she’d admit that was a little odd. If you were purchasing items for such amounts, it’d be much easier to use your debit or credit card rather than carry around the cash. She actually preferred not to carry too much. In fact, usually her wallet had less than two hundred dollars in it.

  “They’ve been made at various ATMs as well as from inside multiple First U.S. National Bank branches around this area and in a couple other states.” Ax went on before anyone could ask questions. “All the locations correspond to places she has recently traveled to, so we have no reason to believe she didn’t make those withdrawals herself.”

  Becca searched for a plausible explanation. She got zilch.

  “People usually only do that for a few reasons,” Keith added. She hoped he planned to share those reasons, because she couldn’t come up with even some far-fetched ones.

  Evidently, Ax either knew what reasons Keith was referring to or had a few ideas of his own, because he said, “Does your stepsister have a drug problem?”

  The guy could’ve asked if Kassidy had a third eye in the back of her head, and she would’ve been just as surprised by the question. “Drugs?”

  “People using need cash. Considering how often she makes withdrawals, it fits the pattern,” Keith answered.

  True drug dealers didn’t accept credit cards or personal checks, but she still couldn’t believe the man had immediately gone to Kassidy being an addict to explain the money. But maybe she was being biased. She’d known Kassidy a long time, while Connor’s coworkers had never met her.

  “Since you know what type of work she does, you probably think she’s a nerd who reads technical journals for entertainment. She’s actually just the opposite. Kassidy likes to have fun,” she said, wondering how best to explain without making it sound like her stepsister was a slut. “She tends to date a lot and loves visiting nightclubs on the weekend, but she’d never do drugs. She doesn’t even drink alcohol unless it’s a special occasion, like a wedding or maybe a New Year’s Eve party.”

  “We didn’t think drugs were the reason for her withdrawals but had to ask,” Ax admitted.

  Then what did they think was the reason? And why weren’t they getting to the point?

  “When people intend to go off the grid, they often make withdrawals like Kassidy did,” Connor explained, entering into the discussion. Evidently, he knew what reasons Keith had been thinking of too. “Most ATM cards have a maximum amount you’re able to withdraw at one time. And going into a bank and making an unusually large withdrawal might catch someone’s attention.”

  Go off the grid? Had she stepped into a spy film or novel? The people she came in contact with on a daily basis didn’t say things like that. “Exactly what do you mean ‘off the grid’?” Maybe what she thought it meant and what Connor really intended were two different things.

  Connor squeezed her hand. The gesture told her she wasn’t going to like his answer. “Just what you think. Purchases made using a credit card leave a trail. If Kassidy wanted to lie low, the two first steps would be ditching her cell phone because it can be tracked and using cash for everything—from buying a coffee to paying for a cheap motel room. Getting a fake ID would also go a long way to staying undetected.”

  “If she got one while in a state like California, it wouldn’t be difficult—especially if she managed to steal someone’s identity,” Keith said.

  First, they were talking about going off the grid, now they were discussing fake IDs and stealing another person’s identity. She really had left her normal world behind. Biting down on the inside of her cheek, she focused on the half-dozen questions floating around in her head. After a moment, she settled on the most pressing one. “And you think she’s hiding or trying to stay off the grid because she’s in danger?” She looked at each man seated at the table and waited for an answer.

  “It’s still a possibility,” Ax answered.

  The unspoken but echoed around the room.

  “Becca, how much do you know about what your stepsister does at Lafayette Laboratory?” Ax asked.

  “I know she works with artificial intelligence, but she never shared specific project details. And I never asked.”

  Connor’s boss folded his hands on the table. “She’s actually the project leader developing technology intended for the military, specifically the Air Force.”

  Well, he knew more than she did, and that explained why the DOD and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations had also become involved.

  “Tonight, security at Lafayette discovered that before Kassidy left for her most recent tech conference, the computers in her department were powered off at a time when no one should’ve been in the lab,” Keith said. “It went unnoticed because no one there was looking for any unusual activity until now. They were able to check the logs. The only employee access card used during that time was Kassidy’s. She might be the project leader, but she shouldn’t have been in there either.”

  It was odd how she could hear and understand the words coming from Keith’s mouth, yet at the same time struggled to wrap her brain around them. “Maybe I missed something; are you saying Kassidy is responsible for the shutdown?”

  “Details about the project are restri
cted,” Keith answered. “The files would be too big to email out, and accessing them remotely would be impossible even for the best hackers in the world. It would be easy for a person with access to the lab to power off their computer where it’s stored, remove the hard drive, and make a forensic copy of it. The lab contains the equipment necessary to do that. Once he or she was done, they could return the original hard drive, turn the system back on, then leave with the duplicate drive. No one would ever detect a copy had been made, and since nothing would be missing, no red flags would go up.”

  “Did Kassidy access any other parts of the facility?” Connor asked, voicing the question she had too.

  Keith nodded. “She has access too much of the building. Records show that the same night the computers in her department were powered off, she entered one of the labs that contains the tech needed to copy a hard drive.”

  “Could she have been forced?” Kassidy loved her position with the world-renowned laboratory. She wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it. “Or maybe someone stole her access card and used it.”

  Kassidy couldn’t be the only one working on the military project. Maybe a coworker got their hands on her card and used it rather than their own to cover their tracks. It would be the most logical thing to do if someone wanted to steal critical information and not get caught.

  “When this intel came to light, security checked their surveillance videos. Kassidy entered and left her lab alone. Security also verified that no other access cards were used anywhere else in the building at that time.”

  Keith’s answer wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but Becca wasn’t ready to accept her stepsister was some kind of criminal who stole secret military research. “That still doesn’t mean she wasn’t forced to steal whatever project information you think she took.”

  In movies, the bad guys often forced others to steal information or lie for them. She saw no reason it couldn’t be what had happened here. But if it had, a whole new group of questions needed to be answered, including who knew Kassidy well enough to know what she did and then be able to force her to do something illegal.

  Before anyone responded, the three men exchanged another look she couldn’t decipher. She wished they’d stop doing that, because she hated being out of the loop, especially since it concerned a member of her family.

  “You’re right, Becca. And we haven’t dismissed it as a possibility,” Ax said, stepping back into the conversation. “But I’ve got to be honest with you. The evidence so far doesn’t point toward her being forced.”

  She’d known Ax was going to say something along those lines, but she still had a hard time accepting it.

  “Any luck getting a possible location using the text messages Kassidy sent or her phone call to Becca this morning?” Connor asked.

  “Not yet. She used apps anyone can purchase and download to a tablet or cell phone. Both make tracing any outgoing info much more difficult. The FBI is working to get access to the data from the companies. Unfortunately, it takes time. Our cyber division is working on the problem as well.”

  He hadn’t said it, but she could read between the lines. While the FBI tried to get access through the legal channels, the cyber division was working to hack its way into the company data. Under different circumstances, she’d have a problem with what the firm was attempting to do, but all things considered, she didn’t care who uncovered Kassidy’s location. She just wanted her stepsister found and brought back home safely.

  She might not want to come home. Criminals went out of their way to avoid capture, and if Ax was right, Kassidy had decided she no longer wanted to play by the rules.

  “You’ve been living with your stepsister for several months.” She hoped Ax knew about her living arrangements because Connor had told him, and not because he’d been picking through her personal information too. “Can you think of anyone who might be helping her? Staying off the grid is almost impossible, even with large amounts of cash on hand. If you have help, it’s slightly more doable.”

  Despite the months they’d shared a house, she’d never met any of Kassidy’s friends, never mind any of the men she dated. “Sorry, no. When we lived in Connecticut, we had some of the same acquaintances, but as far as I know, she hasn’t stayed in contact with any of them. I can give you a list of them if you think it might help.” She wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t already have at least a partial list of people from Kassidy’s past. “And since she’s lived with me, she hasn’t brought any friends over, and I never went out with her.”

  “What about the men she dated? Any names you can remember?” Ax asked.

  “During our conversation today, she mentioned a Jameson. She said she was calling from his phone. Before she left for the last conference, she was spending time with Bryan, but she didn’t give me a last name.” Assuming there really was a Bryan. Considering all the other lies she caught Kassidy in, it was very possible Bryan didn’t exist.

  Becca searched her brain for more usual information. Elite Force might be the best, but assuming Bryan and Jameson were real, even they needed more than first names to go on. “About a year ago, she was involved with Congressman Dale Fuller. They were only together a few months, I think. Although with Kassidy it’s hard to tell sometimes. It’s not uncommon for her to have on again/off again relationships. And she was involved with Steven Levine last fall. But she hasn’t mentioned either in a long time.”

  “Should be easy to verify when she was last in contact with both of them,” Keith said.

  “I can’t force you, but considering what happened tonight, I suggest you hire personal protection until this situation is resolved,” Ax said, more or less answering a question she’d wanted to pose but had been reluctant to do.

  Becca swallowed and wished she had some water. “Then you believe what happened in the parking garage tonight is related to Kassidy’s disappearance?”

  “As well as the break-in at your house.” Ax leaned forward and met her gaze. Despite his take-charge macho persona, she saw genuine concern in his eyes. “My theory is that someone wants to either use you to get to Kassidy and the data, or they think you have access to the research she took. Either way, I don’t think you’re safe alone. But you’re free to do what you want.”

  When it came to most things, she’d agree. Not on this one. Whether she liked it or not, after what happened at the hospital, she had no choice but to hire some personal protection. Thankfully she sat inside one of the best security firms in the world. “It’s not what I want, but I agree. Until Kassidy is found, I don’t want to be alone.”

  Ax shifted his gaze. “Connor?”

  “Already planned on it,” Connor replied, clearly understanding Ax’s unspoken question.

  Ax stood, signaling to everyone the little meeting was over. “Report back if necessary. Otherwise, stick with her until you hear otherwise. I will have Neil, Matt, and Ryan, keep eyes on the house tonight.” After giving his orders, he looked back at her. “When we have information we can share regarding your stepsister, I’ll pass it along.”

  She tried to force a smile but couldn’t do it. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” She watched Ax leave the room and looked over at Connor. For the foreseeable future, he was her bodyguard. Becca almost shook her head. When he’d first told her what he did at the café, her first thought had been I wouldn’t complain about having you as a bodyguard. And now he was exactly that. While she couldn’t complain about the extra time they’d spend together, she sincerely wished it was for a very different reason.

  Next to her, Connor stood and moved to speak with Keith. Both kept their voices low, making it impossible to catch anything they said. She heard the door behind her click and then Connor’s hand came down on her shoulder.

  “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to you—I won’t let it.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Zane yanked the last shard of glass from his hand and wrapped a T-shirt around it. It had taken him years, but he’d learned to cont
rol his temper. At least most of the time. Tonight it had been either put a bullet through Espanto’s skull or his fist through the glass cabinet door. Considering the blood soaking the T-shirt already, Zane wished he’d gone with the bullet to the asshole’s head.

  When it comes to tracking people, he’s one of your best, he reminded himself again. It was the only reason the screwup was still breathing and not being weighted down and dumped in the Potomac River.

  Grabbing the vodka, he twisted off the cap and took a long swig straight from the bottle. He’d given the guy specific, easy-to-follow instructions. Exactly what guys like Espanto needed. Not once since he’d come to work for him had Espanto ever not done exactly what he’d been ordered.

  Until tonight.

  Rather than follow orders, he’d tried using his brain and gone after Becca André. If he’d gotten her, Zane still would’ve ripped the asshole a new one for not following orders, but at least they’d finally have the bitch. He hadn’t given Espanto a chance to explain how she got away before knocking him unconscious and having his sorry ass dragged from the room. One of his best or not, there were consequences when you screwed up. Espanto and everyone else in the organization knew it.

  And it didn’t matter to him how she managed it. What he cared about was she’d slipped through Espanto’s fingers, and no doubt contacted the fucking cops.

  Damn it. Zane slammed the bottle down. Everyone in his organization played a specific role, and there was a reason he used guys like Hammer and not Espanto for grabs. No matter how many self-defense or karate classes a person had taken, they weren’t getting away from Hammer unless they shot him dead. Espanto didn’t have the same skill set. He was good at sticking to the shadows and being unseen, so he could report back.

  Before tonight, his prey might have been nervous, but now, because of his boy’s screwup, she knew someone was after her. If she were smart, she’d never go anywhere alone again. She might even look into hiring round-the-clock personal protection. If he was Becca, he would, and she certainly had the resources to do it. Either action would make getting his hands on her so he could turn her over to Dale much more difficult.