A More Perfect Union

by Carsen Taite

  “Great, so now the Russians are trying to pick our nominee for the Joint Chiefs?”

  “I could be wrong about the McNair thing, but I’m certain I’m not wrong about Zoey.”

  Rook caught the slip the moment it fell from her lips, and she could tell by the sly smile on Julia’s face that she did too. “Zoey, huh?”

  “Don’t even.” Rook shook her head. “We’ve become…close. Trust me, Julia, she’s not on the inside of this, and I haven’t even shared my theory with her.”

  “I do trust you, but in a minute we’re headed to the Oval to explain to the president and the head of the NSA what’s going on. They’re the ones who need to trust you because if you’re right, all hell’s about to break loose.”

  “Give me five minutes to check in with my team,” Rook said, “and then I’ll be ready to answer any questions you or anyone else has.”

  “Take the room. I’m going to do my pacing in the hall. The operator will connect you.”

  Rook called her office, and Lacy connected her directly to Eric. “Any luck on the email tracing?”

  “No. It’s going to take someone with a lot more infrastructure to break this chain.”

  “Well, I’m about to meet with the man in charge of the biggest spy network in the country. He should be able to help. Once we get the all clear, I’ll put you in touch with his people and you can put your heads together.” Without waiting for his response, she asked, “Is Blake back at the office?”

  “Just walked in.”

  “Put her on.” Rook did some pacing of her own, as much as the phone cord would allow, while she waited for Blake to come on the line.

  “Hey, Rook”

  “Did you find her?”

  “Oh, I found her all right. Not in a very good mood, that one.”

  Alarm bells sound in Rook’s head. “Care to elaborate?”

  “She was still at your place, but I got the impression she misunderstood me showing up and letting myself in. Of course, she might just have been embarrassed that she was half-dressed when I walked in the door.”

  “Jeez, Blake, did you ever think of knocking?” Rook tried not to imagine what Zoey must have thought when Blake walked in like she owned the place.

  “Sorry. I gave her the note, but she wouldn’t read it while I was there. She refused a ride and she practically shoved me out the door. I hung around outside and picked up her tail.”

  “I asked you to deliver a note and offer her a ride, not spy on her.” She took a breath and hated herself for her next question. “Where did she go?”

  If Blake caught the incongruity of her question, she didn’t let on. “She drove to a house in Vienna and about fifteen minutes later, she was in uniform and drove to the Pentagon. Once I saw her go past the guard gate, I headed back here.”

  More detail than she needed, but Rook was happy for it. Now if she only knew whether Zoey had read her note and would heed her warning about Sharp. When she hung up from Blake she stared at the phone. She could call Zoey and check in, but she didn’t know anything about the phone system at the Pentagon and whether whoever answered the phone could stay on the line and listen in. A vague text would be better than an overheard call. She pulled her cell out of her pocket and cued up her text app to see she had a new text from Zoey. She read WTF and knew she was in for trouble, but by the last few words, she realized things were spinning out of control. She should have expected the fallout. After all, Sharp was Zoey’s mentor. Springing the news the way she had had been thoughtless.

  A text wasn’t going to do. She needed to call Zoey and risk whatever happened. She picked up Julia’s phone and had the operator connect her with the Pentagon. After a few connections, she finally reached a Lieutenant Louden who informed her that Major Granger wasn’t in. She declined his invitation to leave a message as her mind sifted through possibilities for where Zoey could be since Blake had last seen her.

  Before she could give it any further thought, Julia came back in. “Change of plans,” she said.

  “What’s up?” Rook asked.

  “Can’t tell you, but President Garrett and I have to get to the situation room.”

  Rook went on high alert. “Related to this?”

  “Something completely different.” Julia pointed at the door. “One of the deputies from the NSA is coming in and you and your hacker are going to fill him in on everything you told me. He’ll want copies of all the files you have, and when this is over, someone over there is getting fired because they didn’t catch this before your guy did.”

  “Don’t even think about trying to hire Eric.” Rook had an idea. “I know you want me running point on this, but Eric really is better equipped to explain and it would be easier if the tech geeks talked one-on-one.”

  “You have somewhere you need to be?”

  Rook considered a little white lie, but Julia had been her friend way longer than she’d been the White House chief of staff. “I’m a little worried about Major Granger—Zoey. Sharp has been a mentor to her, and I kind of sprung the information about his potential involvement abruptly. I need to go see her. Plus I want to make sure she doesn’t talk to him until we figure out what to do next.”

  Julia cocked her head. “You really like this one, don’t you?”

  “It’s not about that,” Rook lied, hoping the warm blush curling up her neck wasn’t showing.

  “Right.”

  “Don’t you have to be somewhere?”

  Julia started back toward the door, but stopped before she left. “You know, I used to think I couldn’t have it all, but look at me now. I’m in a relationship with the most amazing woman in the world, and I manage to make it work while running the country at the same time.” She grinned. “A slacker like you should have it easy.”

  Julia was gone before Rook could shoot off a retort, leaving Rook to reflect before the NSA showed up. She knew Julia was kidding about the slacker part, but she’d been sincere about the rest of it. The short daydream Rook had had earlier about lying on a beach with Zoey came roaring back, but Rook realized for the first time she didn’t want to share only fun and sun. She wanted to wake up in the same bed, discuss the day ahead over coffee at the kitchen table, share a ride to work—the little building blocks relationships were made of, and she wanted to share all of those things and more with Zoey.

  * * *

  Zoey walked into her office and switched on the light. Only yesterday she’d let herself imagine this job was permanent, that she’d finally found a place to settle down—things that weeks ago she didn’t even realize she wanted.

  And then last night with Rook, the possibilities broadened further, opening the door to fantasies about making a home, having someone to share it with, being in love.

  She’d been foolish. Foolish to believe her assignment here would be different from any other. Temporary and transient—those were the hallmarks of her existence, with her career the central core. Now even that was starting to fail her.

  She’d read Rook’s note a dozen times and still it didn’t make sense. When had Rook uncovered this so-called information and why hadn’t she shared it? And was Zoey really supposed to believe General Sharp was involved in a Russian spy ring? That was laughable. Rook was so used to representing reprehensible people, she’d either let her imagination run wild or she’d allowed her loathing for the military to bleed over into her work. Whatever the case, Zoey wasn’t going to sit around and wait for something to happen. The best way to get to the bottom of a problem was to confront it head on. She left her office and headed for Sharp’s.

  The corridors still confused her, but she managed to shave some minutes off her usual time. When she arrived at the office suite, she practically ran into a captain who was rushing out the door. “The staff’s all at Colonel Duncan’s retirement breakfast,” he called over his shoulder as his brisk strides carried him down the hall.

  Zoey stood in the center of the quiet office space and contemplated her next move. Louden was
n’t at his desk and Sharp’s door was closed. For a brief moment, she considered backing away, but she decided to press on and risk interrupting, just in case Sharp was in. She raised her hand to knock on the door but stopped when she heard the raised voices within.

  “She knows. It’s only a matter of time before your cover is blown.”

  “If I go down, you go with me. Besides, you don’t know the full extent of what she knows. It was your name on the recording, not mine.”

  A loud slam. “We can only hear half of what they’re saying thanks to your slipshod listening device.”

  “We were lucky to get any information at all. The driver almost never leaves his car. Our agent only had a moment to place the device, and she had to do it with him watching her.”

  “Whatever. Your carelessness is going to get both of us arrested.”

  The last voice was Sharp’s. Zoey was certain of that, and she was pretty sure the other voice was Louden’s. Zoey leaned closer, careful not to make any noise. The conversation was riveting and strange and private, and she couldn’t walk away without hearing more. She didn’t have to wait long.

  “What are you doing?” Sharp asked.

  “I’m going to call her in, and you’ll talk to her. She might not have talked to Daniels yet, but I want you to find out what she knows, and then we’ll figure out what to do from there. Understood?”

  Zoey played the words over in her mind until they tumbled into place, and she realized Louden was talking about her. She was the one they wanted to talk to and find out what she knew, and he was probably headed to his desk to call her. She stepped to the side just as the door opened and assumed what she hoped was a nonchalant expression, which wasn’t easy considering her insides were frozen with fear. “Lieutenant,” she said with a nod.

  A flicker of surprise crossed his face before it molded into an icy stare. “Major Granger. Have you been waiting long?”

  “Not too long,” she answered. She needed to call someone and let them know what she’d just heard. Not just someone—Rook. She wished she could reach back through the data lines and grab back the text she’d sent this morning and replace it with another. One that said she trusted Rook and her judgment, trusted that the woman who’d spent the night making tender love to her wouldn’t steer her wrong. She’d spent so much of her life relying on a team in her profession, but only on herself when it came to personal matters that she no longer knew when to draw a line and when to cross it. Determined to remedy that right now, she took a step toward the door. “It’s not important. I have a meeting. I’ll come back later.”

  She made it one more step before an iron fist clenched her arm. “You do have a meeting, Major. The general is inside waiting to see you. Please go on in.”

  Zoey contemplated her options, none of which were good. She could run for the door to the suite, but Louden’s grip on her arm told her she wouldn’t get far, or she could walk into the general’s office and confront the man who she’d thought was her mentor. Rook was investigating Sharp. At some point, if Rook had hard evidence, she was going to tell someone else what was going on, and if they believed her, they might send someone to talk to Sharp. A lot of “ifs,” but Zoey decided if she talked to Sharp now, it might buy Rook some time.

  She walked into the office and found Sharp sitting behind his desk, but instead of his usual ruddy complexion and smile, she spotted worry lines crisscrossing his ashen face. “You wanted to see me, General?”

  “Yes, Major. Have a seat.” Zoey caught the two of them exchanging eye signals, which she assumed were meant to warn Sharp that she’d been lurking outside. Louden then abruptly announced he had to make a call and shut the door behind them.

  “Do you have anything new to report?” Sharp asked.

  Zoey stared at him, incredulous. Was he really going to pretend like she didn’t know what was going on? “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Watch your tone, soldier.”

  She took a breath. She didn’t care about obeying his orders, but she’d be more likely to get information out of him if she wasn’t an ass about it. “Sorry, General. I do have a few questions.” She had more than a few, starting with why a general was kowtowing to a lieutenant, but she started with something more subtle. “What do you know about Colonel Mitchell’s background?”

  Before he could answer, Louden burst back into the room and strode over to Sharp’s desk where they engaged in a whispered conversation. Zoey eyed the door, but decided to stick with her original plan to stay and gather as much information as she could. She felt in her pocket for her cell phone and pulled it out far enough to see the screen. She set it to record and started to slide it back into her pocket, but stopped and opened the text app instead. She typed the words with one thumb, while stealing glances at Sharp and Louden. In Sharps off. U were rt. After she hit send, her thumb hovered above the keyboard. Having no idea where things would lead from here, she took a giant leap and she typed a new text—luv u—and hit send.

  * * *

  Rook shouldered her way to the security window in the Pentagon lobby, ignoring the annoyed looks of people she’d pushed past. Eric had called while she was on the way here to tell her that the NSA had found additional information to implicate Sharp and they were in the process of “exploring their options,” which probably meant getting a FISA warrant to pick him up and interrogate him on possible charges of espionage. Certain that if he was tipped off, he might do something desperate, she’d tried to call Zoey several times from outside the building, but she kept getting put through to voice mail.

  “Major Granger isn’t answering,” the officer at the window announced. “Are you sure your appointment was for today, ma’am?”

  Rather than explain she didn’t actually have an appointment, Rook took a different tack. “Try Major Dixon.” She fumbled through her wallet for his card and handed it to him. She tapped her foot while the officer dialed the line, and sighed with relief when she heard him talking to someone on the other end.

  “She says she’s supposed to meet Major Granger, but we can’t reach her…Okay, I’ll tell her. Hang on.” The officer tapped on the window. “Major Dixon says he doesn’t have an appointment with you either.”

  Rook stifled a nasty retort and reached through the opening. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Let me talk to him.”

  “Can’t do it, but I’ll be happy to pass along a message.”

  “Tell him there’s been a significant development in the case and I need to brief him. Tell him I just came from the White House.” She listened to the officer convey her message, certain the message about the White House would pique Dixon’s interest.

  “Strike two. He said he’s been reassigned, and you should get in touch with Major Granger.”

  Rook shook her head and started to walk away, but the officer’s choice of words gave her an idea. “I get one more strike, right?” She grinned to try and win him over. “Try Major Jack Riley, Intelligence.”

  Her third swing was a hit and the officer handed her a badge and told her Major Riley would be down to get her shortly. Now that he was on his way, Rook had to think fast about how she was going to explain to Jack that his godfather might be committing treason.

  He showed up quickly—not enough time for her to come up with a plausible cover. “Rook Daniels,” he called out with a smile. “Last time I saw you, you were sipping ancient Scotch with my sister.”

  She managed to return his smile. “Pretty sure you were right there with us.”

  “What can I do for you?”

  “I need to find Major Zoey Granger and she’s not answering her phone.”

  “Maybe she’s not here?”

  “She is.” Rook felt a growing sense of urgency and she knew her explanation—I know she’s here because my ex-CIA operative employee followed her here—wasn’t likely to garner his assistance. “It’s imperative that I see her. It’s a matter of national security,” she said, knowing that last statement was ju
st slightly less crazy than the other explanation.

  He stared at her, puzzled, and then shook his head. “All right then, let’s go find her.”

  Ten minutes later, they were standing in the doorway of Zoey’s empty office. Jack walked in and looked around, picking up a cup of coffee on her desk, and placing his hands around it. “It’s still warm, so she probably hasn’t gone far.”

  “I think I know where she is, but before we go looking, I need to tell you something.”

  “Sounds ominous.”

  “It is.” Rook motioned for him to take a seat, dreading what she was about to say, but focused on getting it out as quickly as possible. She started with the review of Mitchell’s coded emails and ended with the news she’d just received about the NSA investigation, taking the time to answer his careful, pointed questions. When she told him everything she knew, she finished with, “I know he’s your godfather and maybe this is all a big mistake, but if it is, then the faster we can clear it up the better, right?”

  “Julia knows all about this?”

  “Yes. She’s briefed the president and the director of the NSA. To tell you the truth, this is probably all code-word clearance now and neither one of us should know about it, but I need your help to find Zoey.” She started to correct that to Major Granger, but decided she no longer cared about pretending her relationship with Zoey wasn’t personal. “Will you help me?”

  She watched a parade of emotions cross his face, but ultimately it was stoic expression of the dedicated soldier that won out. “Yes.”

  Sharp’s office suite was a brisk five-minute walk away, and when they entered, a sense of dread settled over Rook. No one was seated at the desk outside the door to Sharp’s office, but they could hear raised voices from within. She and Jack lined up on either side of the door and she heard a male voice she didn’t recognize saying, “She’s trying to send a text. Why didn’t you take her phone?” followed by Zoey’s voice shouting, “Give that back to me, right now!”