Calculated Risk

by Janie Crouch

  “Are you kidding? Taking down asshole bad guys is what we live for. No thanks needed. Just bring some that are a little tougher next time.”

  Tanner grinned and jogged toward his SUV. He wanted to check on Bree. They may have bought some time, but that didn’t mean she was out of danger. And while he trusted Ronnie, he wanted her back in his sights.

  Permanently.

  And wasn’t that scary as hell, considering he’d only kissed the woman a handful of times and she had more locks on her emotions than Fort Knox.

  He planned to unlock every single one, picking a few if he needed to.

  He made it back into Risk Peak in record time, parking his car at the station, intending to go straight to the Sunrise. But Gayle caught him in the parking lot. She was still mad at him for chasing Bree out of town. Before he could say anything, she held up a hand.

  “I’m not going to ask you exactly what is going on. God knows I worked long enough for your father without always having the details. I trusted him, and I trust you.”

  Tanner let out a breath. “I promise I’ll explain when I can.”

  “This has something to do with that girl, doesn’t it?”

  He nodded, glad she hadn’t said Bree’s name out loud.

  “Fine,” Gayle continued. “I’m glad to hear you’re doing the right thing by her.”

  “That’s my plan.” He gave her a nod and turned toward the diner.

  “Oh, and I gave Scott the location of the last laptop like you wanted.”

  Tanner stopped in his tracks. “What?”

  She looked confused. “He said you said it was critical that he finish this last laptop before he left. So I looked it up on that system we installed a couple of years ago when we were doing the county-wide inventory.”

  Tanner blew out a harsh breath. “Scott? I told him I would do it.”

  “Well, that’s not how he understood it. He was adamant that he get a hold of it immediately. It was over at the Sunrise for some reason, so—”

  “When?” His heart began to slam against his chest.

  “Maybe an hour ago? I’m not sure—”

  Tanner didn’t listen to the rest. He ran as fast as he could toward the diner.

  The enemy had been hiding in plain sight all along.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Bree grinned at the screen in front of her.

  She’d done it. She’d outmaneuvered the Organization.

  Take that, you rat bastards.

  They thought like criminals, and ultimately that had been their downfall, providing her the way into their system. Everything the Organization did was in shadows and back channels.

  They weren’t expecting someone to come straight up and knock on their figurative front door. There had just been the smallest crack of an opening, the tiniest of weaknesses, ones they wouldn’t even have seen because they weren’t her.

  But that was all that Bree needed.

  Her data was saved from the computer onto a SIM card. Now all she had to do was upload it to any member of the Organization’s phone in the vicinity of the Denver symposium, and when the Organization tried to pull their little stunt where they took over all the cell phones in the world, they’d be in for quite a surprise.

  Instead of being the ones controlling the information about everyone else, the entire world would have all the dirty laundry about them.

  Every compromised member of Communication for All would be exposed. But hopefully the charity itself could live on.

  Ronnie had been here with her in the office for a while, but his presence had been throwing her off, so he’d gone out into the main section of the diner. Whatever Tanner had done to gain her these last couple of hours, it had been worth it.

  She sat back in her chair and grinned. They were going to take the Organization down. She never would’ve thought it was possible.

  And couldn’t even begin to think what her life might possibly be like after today. But making sure Melissa and the twins were safe was all that mattered.

  “You know, when I met you, I knew you were more than a waitress, but I had no idea who you really were.”

  Bree turned with a gasp and found Scott standing in the door of the office.

  Blood was dripping from a knife in his hand.

  He held it up and inspected it. “I’m afraid Ronnie had an accident.”

  Bree spun around in the office that had provided her with a sense of security because it had no windows. But that also meant there were no other exits—something she hadn’t even thought about until now. Her mother would’ve been so disappointed.

  All it takes is one slipup and you’re dead.

  Looked like this was Bree’s.

  Scott took a step farther inside the room. “You know the great thing about looking like a pudgy middle schooler? Nobody tends to think of you as a threat.”

  Bree took a step back as he took one forward. “You work for the Organization?”

  He gave her a slimy smile, and she wondered how she’d ever thought of him as charming. Then winked at her. “I was handpicked for this mission by Mr. Jeter himself when we first realized someone on the inside was keeping tabs on someone in this town.”

  He shook his head in wonder. “Who would’ve thought that the greatest hacker who ever lived was not only alive, but had started the cutest little family of her own? Where are the screaming brats? I’m sure Mr. Jeter would like to meet them.”

  Just the sound of Jeter’s name had nausea curdling her stomach. “They’re not here. They’re far away from here.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll find them.” Scott wiped off the handle of the knife with a napkin and grabbed her hand before she realized what he was going to do. He forced her fingers around the handle.

  She let go as soon as he released her fingers, but it was too late. Her fingerprints were already on the weapon.

  “You can consider that your going-away present to Tanner. A murder weapon with your prints on it seems like a pretty good reason for you to leave town without saying goodbye, don’t you think?”

  “R-Ronnie is dead?”

  Scott shrugged. “Will be soon, if he’s not dead yet. Too bad, really, I kind of liked him. But Mr. Jeter told me to bring you straight to him. It’s a big day for Communication for All, you know. Mr. Jeter is going to be a hero.”

  She reached over and slid the SIM card into her hand before stuffing it into her pocket. Scott was about to hand deliver her where she needed to go anyway. Maybe she could upload the data before they killed her.

  Although no one was likely to just lend her their phone.

  Scott grabbed her hands and slid a zip tie around her wrists, pulling it tight, and began yanking her toward the back door.

  “If you yell once we’re outside, I’ll kill whoever comes.”

  Bree believed him and kept her mouth shut.

  She kept it shut on the ride to Denver, trying to come up with a plan. If she couldn’t upload the data on the SIM card, no one would ever be able to gain proof about the Organization’s illegal activities. They’d be untouchable.

  And what about Tanner? Would he think she’d lied? Killed Ronnie?

  The closer they got to Denver, the more fear seemed to swallow her whole. Panic crawled all over her body by the time Scott dragged her from an underground parking lot into a private suite that was part of the convention center.

  He pushed her through the door and closed it behind him.

  All she could see was Michael Jeter.

  Terror slammed into her. She tried to remind herself that he was just a man, not a very big one at that. But all she could remember was the pain, the fear, the sound of her own bones breaking and her mother sobbing in pain as Jeter told her to focus. Concentrate. Do the work on the computer in front of her.

  “Bethany!” Finge
rs snapped in front of her face, and she blinked back into the present. It was Jeter, of course. He’d never had any tolerance for people not doing exactly what he wanted at the moment he demanded it.

  Who cared if they were terrified or traumatized or tortured?

  Bree sucked in a deep breath, forcing oxygen into lungs that burned. She had to keep it together.

  A sound caught her attention from the corner. Melissa sat on a couch crying softly. She’d obviously been beaten.

  Bree’s eyes flew back to Jeter as he spoke. “I’m so glad you’re here, Bethany. I’m sure your cousin is, as well. We weren’t sure if she knew where to find you or not.”

  “You bastard.”

  “I’m sure it must look that way to you. But you’re not a child any longer. You can’t use that as an excuse not to see the big picture.”

  She wanted to curse at him. To rage, strike him, hurt him the way he’d hurt her and the people she loved.

  But there was only one way to take down the Organization today. And that was by being smart.

  She held up her wrists in front of her face. “Your lackey bound my hands too tightly. Have someone cut me loose before I have permanent nerve damage. I won’t be much good to you then.”

  Jeter’s eyes narrowed. Obviously, he liked it better when she’d been cowering in fear a few moments ago. Swallowing the terror that wasn’t far from the surface, she raised an eyebrow.

  Your move.

  Jeter gestured with his head, and the guard came over and cut her hands loose. She rubbed at her aching wrists.

  “I knew it was you, Bethany. Over the last couple of days when we first spotted someone trying to piggyback on our servers, I knew it was you. I’ve always known you would come back to me.”

  She glanced over at the clock. There were less than ten minutes before the cell phone update went live. She had to get the data on the SIM card uploaded to a phone by then.

  She turned to Jeter. “You tortured me and my mother. Why would you think I would ever come back to you?”

  Jeter continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “And the fact that it’s today, the day that history will revere me as a hero, makes it even more fitting. You were always supposed to be here when this happened. Be by my side. That would’ve happened years ago if you hadn’t run.”

  He put his hands on his hips, moving his suit jacket to the side, and she saw what she needed. On one hip sat a smartphone clipped into his belt.

  On the other was a holstered gun.

  Either could work.

  “I’m not excited that you went and had children, Bethany. That you let some other man touch you. But don’t worry, we’ll use them to keep you in line this time.”

  Melissa began crying harder.

  Praying he wouldn’t stop her, Bree walked toward Melissa, sticking a hand in her pocket as she went, fishing out the tiny SIM card. She sat down by her cousin. “You’re upsetting Melissa by talking about hurting innocent children, Michael.”

  His nostrils flared and his lips turned up a little. He liked her calling him Michael—the sense of intimacy it implied. Her stomach churned, but it was something she could use.

  She covered Melissa’s hands with hers. “It’s okay,” Bree crooned. “I’m not going to let anything happen. Crisscross, applesauce.”

  She pressed the SIM card into Melissa’s palm as she said the words.

  Melissa sniffled again, brows pulling together in confusion, but she didn’t draw any attention to the SIM card.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Mellie. I don’t think I could do this on my own. But don’t cry anymore, okay?”

  Melissa nodded. Bree stood and walked back toward Jeter, even though every instinct and memory told her to stay as far from him as possible.

  “We could’ve done a lot together,” she said.

  He tilted his head to the side. “Oh, we still will. You’re the only person who’s ever come close to being my equal.”

  Scott snorted from the opposite side of the room, but they both ignored him. “You taught me a lot,” she whispered.

  Jeter’s lips narrowed. “I taught you everything you know. I thought for a while that you were smarter than me, but the last few days have showed me otherwise. I was disappointed with how you came at our system, Bethany. Surely you must have realized that you couldn’t shut us down remotely. What sort of genius would I be if I couldn’t stop that sort of attack?”

  The kind that was so conceited that a straightforward approach would slide right under his radar.

  She took a step closer, and the guard cleared his throat. “Mr. Jeter...”

  “She’s fine,” Jeter snapped, holding out a hand when the guard started to move toward them. Jeter himself closed the distance between them, reaching out to cup her cheek.

  It was only by sheer strength of will that she kept herself from shuddering at his touch. She hoped Melissa was ready. They would only get one chance at this.

  “You need guidance, Bethany. Discipline. You always have. I can be your greatest teacher. Together we can literally rule the world.”

  Even if she had had more time, she couldn’t have stood one more second of hearing his voice, of feeling his hands on her.

  She lunged for Jeter’s waist. She knocked the cell phone off his belt and kicked it toward Melissa, praying she would understand what needed to be done.

  Then Bree dived for the gun.

  But Jeter had already recovered. His gun was out of his holster, in his hand and pointed at her face.

  She took a step back.

  “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that you did that, Bethany. And that you weren’t smart enough to figure out what side of my waist the gun was on before making your move.”

  Melissa sobbed louder from behind her. Bree prayed it was to cover putting the SIM card into Jeter’s phone.

  Because they were out of time in more ways than one.

  The gun remained pointed in her face. “Maybe you’re not as smart as I think you are. Maybe like everyone else you’re just a disappointment. Maybe I’d be better off getting rid of you right now.”

  “Maybe I never planned to remote hack you.”

  His eyes narrowed to slits. “What?”

  “Mellie?”

  “Done,” her cousin responded.

  “I’m still smarter than you, Jeter. I was when I was a kid and I am now.”

  For the first time, he looked worried. “Whatever you think you’re going to do, you’re too late. The update just went live.”

  Scott cursed from over in the corner. “Um, boss? We’ve got a problem.”

  Bree smiled as Scott continued to curse.

  Jeter turned from her to glare at Scott. “What exactly is the problem?”

  When Scott finally looked up from his phone, all color was gone from his normally ruddy cheeks. “Did you do this?”

  Bree just continued to smile.

  “We need to get out of here right now,” Scott said. “She fooled us all. Instead of sending out our code, the update just sent out all the details about the Organization’s illegal activities.”

  “To who?” Jeter sputtered.

  “Everyone.”

  Bree glanced to the side as Melissa stood and held Jeter’s phone out in front of her. “Looks like she’s always going to be smarter than you, Jeter.”

  He pressed the gun against Bree’s forehead. “Not if she’s dead.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Scott had played them all from the beginning.

  As soon as Ronnie had been taken by the ambulance, Tanner was in his vehicle, headed toward Denver. Every minute that passed seemed like an eternity.

  No one from law enforcement—even the prestigious Omega Sector—could move in on Michael Jeter without a warrant. And no judge was willing to grant one on the day w
here Jeter was about to change the course of history by providing a huge technology breakthrough free to everyone.

  And trying to explain that the huge technology breakthrough was actually part of a terrorist plot didn’t go over well.

  He’d called in a favor and had the lab immediately run the prints on the knife that had been used to stab Ronnie, hoping there might be a link to Jeter. But the prints had been Bree’s. Or, more specifically, Bethany Malone’s.

  Tanner damned well knew Bree had not stabbed Ronnie. He didn’t care what it looked like.

  But he was on his own trying to find her. And his chances of being able to get to Jeter on this day—when he’d been the keynote speaker of a huge event a few hours ago—were slim to none.

  He pulled up to the convention center downtown, parking illegally, flashing his badge at everyone until it got him to someone high enough to tell him where Michel Jeter was located.

  “It’s an emergency,” he told a Mr. Kenyon, the manager of the building. “I need to see Jeter immediately.”

  Kenyon was maddeningly calm. “I have placed a call to Mr. Jeter’s assistant with your request. I told him it was an emergency, but since you can’t give me any other details about said emergency, I’m afraid no one seems to be taking your request seriously.”

  Kenyon gave Tanner a big, toothy smile. Tanner had to force himself not to punch him in it, or follow him when Kenyon turned and walked back into his office.

  Tanner’s fingers itched as they fell on the holster at his waist. If he pulled his weapon right now, he could get to Jeter. Get to Bree. Force Kenyon and his big smile to show him where they were.

  It would be the end of his law enforcement career. But if it got Bree out of this alive, it would be worth it.

  Saying a prayer, he flipped the snap off his holster.

  “Save your theatrics, Dempsey,” a voice said from behind him. “I can take you to Jeter without you doing time for terrorizing a building manager when this is said and done.”

  Tanner recognized that voice, and he had his weapon coming out of the holster anyway, spinning to face the man behind him.

  Creepy, thin man. “Steele.”