Open Secret

by Fiona Quinn

  She leaned her head back and their gaze met. Held. “In romances, it always ends with a happily ever after.”

  “That works for me.” He bent to kiss her. “We’ll do the happily ever after then.”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Rowan

  Wednesday Afternoon

  Washington D.C.

  The last to slide into a seat at the table at FBI Headquarters, Rowan looked around at the task force members. They all had that sizzle of excitement that happens when they got their teeth into a case.

  Amanda Frost sat at the head of the table. Prescott sat to her right.

  “Good,” Amanda said. “And now we’re all here. Let’s get an update on players and actions. Let me start with Taylor Knapp. Her real name is Tara Michelle Hollinsworth. She remains in our custody. We are charging her with a laundry list of crimes, including conspiracy against the United States and being an agent of a foreign government. We’re hoping to get her flipped and thoroughly debriefed. We’re working on that with her lawyers. So far, this has stayed out of the news cycle and off social media, which is helpful to being able to scoop everyone up.” She turned to the man next to Prescott. “Talbott, what have we got on Katerina Sokolov, Taylor Knapp’s—well, Hollinsworth’s—university roommate?”

  “We’re looking for her.”

  Amanda turned to Carmichael. “And the band members?”

  “We have names and addresses. We’ve filled out search warrants and are waiting for signatures.”

  “Good. I’ll be interested in who actually writes their music, and how they’re connected to Sokolov. Are they all United States citizens? Were they at university with Sokolov and Hollinsworth?”

  “We’re running that down,” Carmichael said. “I’ll submit a report later today or first thing in the morning.”

  “All right,” Amanda continued. “One of the interesting connections that Avery Goodyear was able to make for us was, that while Inge only used her married name for legal documentation, Patrick Windsor’s wife used her own name, Inge Prokhorov, routinely. Finley, where are you going with that?”

  Finley leaned forward. “Inge Prokhorov is in Paris with Sergei Prokhorov’s wife, Irenka Orlov Prokhorov. Irenka and Inge are sisters-in-law. Sergei is planning to join them in a few days. We’ve filed FISA warrants on Inge to see who else she’s in contact with.”

  “And you’re scheduled to fly to Paris, Kennedy?” Amanda’s brow furrowed.

  “Yes, Friday morning. That has to do with another aspect of this case, not connected to this task force,” Rowan replied. “I can try to put eyes on her and make sure she’s there.”

  “As for Patriots Pledge.” Amanda turned a page on her notes. “We have all the members that we’ve connected to this group, except for their charismatic, in jail for attempted murder of a federal agent. It was a small enough group, but they trained with SIC—Sons of the Iron Cross—in West Virginia. I’ve sent that information to our West Virginia office to look into. Griffin, you accessed their electronics. What are you finding?”

  Lisa shifted in her seat. “From Patriots Pledge members’ interactions and their gaming history, I can see that they were funneled into a group that was geographically within a half-hour drive from each other. It looks like they all share a psych profile for individuals who are susceptible to being indoctrinated on the web. The interesting thing I learned was that each was added to a group that consisted of ten players. All of the original group members were out of Bulgaria. As an American player became a ‘true believer’, one of the Bulgarians left the group and another American was added until the group was comprised of the single Bulgarian charismatic leader. I saw a similar system unfold when I looked at the FlashDeath group. Though that group only had five American members when they were encouraged to go do the vandalism. I perceived the FlashDeath members as lower on the IQ range. Their charismatic—and it does look like a single individual was tasked with the whole Taylor Knapp strategy—walked them through the process step by step, while the Patriots Pledge members were given information that they then planned and acted out on their own. Tactics apparently change by group.”

  “They have the Flashdeath members under arrest?” Carmichael asked. “We can talk to them?”

  “Yes,” Amanda said. “None of them has lawyered up. They don’t have the money. They’ll be using public defenders.”

  “Good, we might be able to get something from them,” Carmichael said.

  “Right now,” Lisa explained, “I have a team that’s using all of the suspects’ computers to play as Patriots Pledge and FlashDeath. I’m posting as them on their social media accounts. We’ll see if any more directives come through.”

  Finley swiveled toward Rowan. “How’s Avery doing?”

  “Avery’s got some post traumatic issues, nightmares, and heightened startle reflexes… anyone would after they had a gun to their face and flashbang thrown in the room. Iniquus has their crisis therapist involved.”

  “You two are living together now?” Amanda asked. “I saw that you are both listing the same temporary address.”

  “Both our houses need to be repaired and new furniture needs to go in after the FlashDeath attack. We’re each waiting on insurance checks to get going with that. In the meantime, we have an AirBNB for the month.”

  “So that’s not permanent?” Amanda asked.

  Rowan hoped it was permanent. Waking up with Avery in his arms was such a great feeling. “We haven’t discussed that. I’ll keep my relationship and housing records up to date.”

  Amanda turned to Lisa. “How are you doing? Your house was hit as well. Where are you staying?”

  “I’m staying with family. I’m doing fine. It’s inconvenient, but it’ll be okay.”

  “Good then.” Amanda looked back at her notes. “Iniquus is working this case from their end and with their contacts. The liaisons between the Panther Force and our team is Rowan Kennedy, and Steve Finley will take over when Kennedy goes out of the country.” She gave him a nod. “All communications flow through them, so we aren’t repetitive or missing something. And the last thing I want to bring up, Kennedy, is that you and Griffin had planned to use the idea of the CIA Red Cell as a means to entice Tara Hollinsworth as Taylor Knapp to come and talk with us. Since then, you have both shared with me your conversation with Avery Goodyear on the subject, and you both voiced that you think the CIA Red Cell might be something that the FBI should replicate. To that end, I have set up a meeting with the CIA officer who heads that program. I think that Avery might be helpful in giving insight as we feel our way forward. Rowan, can you ask her if she’d be willing to help us with this project?”

  “I’ll check with her tonight.”

  “Very well.” Amanda’s voice changed timbre, letting the task force know she was wrapping up. “Things are getting clearer. We have names. We have arrests. We have the chance of turning Hollinsworth and getting even more information as we let her out to operate as Taylor Knapp again. We’re making progress. One step and then another. This is an important means for us to understand how deeply Russia and Russian proponents have wormed into our society, and how they are influencing and changing Americans as a people. Figuring out at least this game plan and learning how to counter their manipulation is no small undertaking. And it is of vital importance. As Madeline Albright said, ‘It is easier to remove tyrants and destroy concentration camps than to kill the ideas that gave them birth.’ We still have hope of stopping them, but it’s going to be the fight of our lifetimes.”

  Chapter Fifty

  Rowan

  Wednesday Evening

  Washington D.C.

  “And two glasses of champagne please.” Avery added to her dinner order.

  “We’re celebrating?” Rowan asked.

  She smiled. “I’ll tell you when the champagne flutes arrive.”

  They were sitting across from each other at a small corner table in a dimly lit restaurant that catered to the romantic crowd.
Their fingers were laced as they held hands across the crisply starched white linen tablecloth.

  “This is our first traditional date,” she said. “I don’t usually move in with men who haven’t taken me out for dinner.”

  “How many men have you lived with?”

  “Just you,” she said.

  Rowan leaned across the table to kiss her. Her soft smile was just too enticing to resist. Rowan was doing a lot of resisting right now. He much preferred their first date where they’d gone right to his hotel room and satisfied their appetites before they ate dinner.

  “Were you able to make it over and see your mom? How is she doing?” Rowan asked, just to get the images of Avery in her purple lace panties out of his head.

  “She looks so much better. She seems so much better. I think this is the best possible move for her. I childishly trusted my dad when he said she would wilt on the vine in an institution.” She shook her head, and Rowan could see self-recrimination in her eyes.

  “Stop. You did the best you could every day. I saw you trying. Please don’t beat yourself up.”

  She pulled her lips into a fake smile and looked at her lap.

  Rowan wiggled her fingers. “What about Curtis and Fanny? Are they comfortable with the move?”

  “Are you kidding?” She looked up and gave him a real smile this time. “Ecstatic! They are just so thrilled that they didn’t end up stuck with her, and they don’t have to worry about me going out of town anymore.” Avery turned her head as the waiter approached with their champagne. “You know, as much as I am uncomfortable with Curtis and his ethics, he did say something that actually helped me during my decision making.”

  “How’s that?” Rowan leaned back as the champagne was placed on the table with a bowl of strawberries.

  Once the waiter left, Avery continued, “Curtis said, ‘Inaction is the same as action. If you are not dynamically opposed, then you are propagating Taylor Knapp’s sins.’ And as I weighed my situation, I found that he was right. Silence and inaction allows the bad guys to get away with bad things. Fear is a tool that bad people wield like a spear.” She took in a deep breath and looked over to the empty wall, then released that breath slowly. When she turned to focus on Rowan again, she blinked and frowned.

  He took her hand between both of his. “You were and are incredibly brave. And incredibly smart. And here you told me that you would be a terrible spy. And yet, look what you were able to accomplish.”

  Avery’s cheeks flushed pink, and Rowan loved that about her.

  He let go of her hand and lifted his flute. “Champagne. What are we celebrating?”

  “You helped me fill out the paperwork for human resources on threats against my job, threats of violence and sexual harassment by my boss, George Pratt. I handed those in, and before the day was done, George was walking out of the building with his belongings in a cardboard box, a security guard at his heels.”

  Rowan felt relief wash through him. He had been afraid that if this didn’t work, that he might find himself banging on George’s door one night. And that wouldn’t be good for anyone involved.

  “Then I was called into Mr. Shreveport’s office. Mr. Windsor, by the way, is apparently out of the country with his wife. I’m assuming the FBI has a plan concerning them?”

  “You assume correctly.”

  “Good. Well, as to the champagne, you, Dr. Kennedy, are about to drink champagne with the new head of the EverMore label. That’s the Windsor Shreveport’s label for romance, women’s fiction, and chick-lit. George’s old job.”

  “Wow!” Rowan grinned. “Well done. Well deserved.”

  They clinked and sipped.

  They sat in silence, looking at each other and feeling contented.

  Rowan had never been this satisfied in his life. Like this was right and didn’t need fixing. A complete revelation. He’d never felt like this in a relationship before. Like a key that slid into the right lock.

  She waggled their hands. “Now you know about the highlights of my day. How about you?”

  “Apparently the idea of a Bureau version of the CIA Red Cell is getting attention. I was asked to reach out to you and see if you might like to work with them as they set things up.” He tipped his head and paid close attention to her body language as her muscles contracted.

  “Does that include getting wires and video glasses again?”

  “No. No. This would just be chatting with folks at the office.”

  “Okay. Yes, I think that’s okay.” She nodded, but there was still some stress there. And there probably would be for a long time to come.

  “I talked to my team about my having to go out of town on Friday.”

  “So soon,” she whispered.

  “And I was asked about our living arrangements.”

  Avery tipped her head.

  “For security’s sake, they keep track of our home lives. They want to know if our living together is permanent. I didn’t have an answer for them yet. I wanted to tell them yes. But, we’ve not had that discussion.”

  The stress that Avery had held a moment ago, sifted away. Her face was soft, her eyes warm, he read love in their depths and found himself grinning like an idiot at her.

  “Yes,” she said. “We should turn the page from this Taylor Knapp mess. I think moving in together should be permanent. I’m ready for a new chapter to begin.”

  This is not the end

  Follow along as the men and women in the World of Iniquus

  fight for the greater good.

  The next book in the FBI Joint Task Force Series is

  COLD RED

  Undercover. Under fire. Under arrest.

  It’s hard to save a special agent’s life with your hands cuffed behind your back.

  A USA TODAY BESTSELLING novel.

  Anna walks into the house and is met with flashbang.

  The FBI have her cuffed and belted into the back of their car. Two FBI agents are escorting her and Johnathan over the mountains of West Virginia to Washington DC for interrogation.

  They were never meant to get there alive.

  Before the ambush, comes the fall.

  Flying off the side of the road, this is Anna’s chance to escape and survive. It would be so much easier without her special forces code—no man left behind. And in this case, it means saving the other lone survivor of the crash, FBI Special Agent Steve Finley.

  It’s a cross-country cat and mouse game while maintaining her undercover status.

  It’s hard to explain why a criminal would go to such lengths for the guy who is determined to throw her behind bars. Anna might even welcome some food and rest in a federal jail cell if she can get out of the wilds alive.

  ***

  If you would like to know what happened in Brussels Belgium to Honey and Thorn that led Rowan to check in on them read:

  THORN (Uncommon Enemies Series).

  Thorn has met his match

  Retired Navy Seal turned Iniquus special operative, Thorn Iverson, is heading home from Brussels when the call comes in. A military scientist, David DuBois, needs protection.

  Thorn’s mission? Get him safely home.

  DuBois’s daughter has just been kidnapped, and DuBois himself is in immediate danger.

  In an international game of cat and mouse, Thorn and his teammates are put to the test, both mentally and physically, as they unravel the mystery of why Juliette DuBois was snatched from the streets of France.

  But Thorn isn’t the only one searching for answers.

  Three terrorist organizations are out to find her at all cost. If they succeed, Juliette faces imminent harm, torture, or even death. Only Thorn and his team can keep Juliette safe.

  Juliette is fighting for her life.

  She’s trying to unravel the mystery of her past, seeming only to exist in a photographic display. After her disabling accident, how could she be a threat to her captors?

  While she may not have Thorn’s physical strength, her scientifi
c brain, sparking back to life as each hour passes, is a powerful tool. And the reason she got into this mess in the first place.

  And now for the cake!

  Sin on a Plate

  Lola’s To-die-for Cake Recipe

  Lola Zelkova can do little to make her friend Avery's life any easier. Lola's solution? A sinfully rich chocolate cake. It can cure almost anything that ails you. Here is her recipe:

  I will warn you at the outset:

  This cake takes forever to make (but I'll give you options along the way)

  This cake is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE

  Once you make this cake, no other cake will ever be good enough. Yup, this cake will ruin you for all cakes from here on in.

  If you share this cake with others, they will insist on this cake to feel loved.

  So hand out the slices with caution.

  Start with the chocolate mousse because this is a lovely dessert in and of itself. If you only get this far, it's all good - just pipe this into a martini glass, add a garnish, and call it a day.

  RUM CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

  Ingredients

  1 3/4 cups heavy cream

  12 ounces quality semi-sweet chocolate chips

  1/2 c dark rum

  4 tablespoons butter

  1 teaspoon flavorless, granulated gelatin

  Directions

  1. The colder the better:

  Chill 1 1/2 cups heavy cream in refrigerator.

  Chill metal mixing bowl and mixer beaters in freezer.

  2. In top of a bain marie, combine chocolate chips, rum, and butter. A bain marie is when you put water into a large pot and simmer it and place a smaller pot inside with your ingredients. This lets your ingredients warm gently and evenly.