“What could you do? I’m responsible for what’s going to happen to Maria. I’m the key to whether she lives or dies. In the end, I’m the one who has to make the decision.” She lifted her cup to her lips. “But I do have a chance. If we can force Nemesis to give us Huber’s current location, we might have a chance of getting Maria out.”
“And you surviving. We both know what your decision is going to be. That son of a bitch. It’s no wonder Brandon is looking as if he’s walking on IEDs.” She reached over and took Rachel’s hand. “Don’t close me out. Do you hear me? Let me help.”
Rachel just looked at her.
“Rachel.”
“Should I pull you into trying to rescue Maria?” Her lips twisted. “Gee, maybe I could lose another person I care about. No, Catherine.”
Catherine gazed at her in frustration, then pushed her chair back and got to her feet. “You can try to keep me out, and maybe you’ll succeed. But I doubt it. I’ll just deal with Brandon. He’s going to be a lot easier to persuade to let everyone and anyone keep you alive.” She headed for the door. “I could see that when he walked in tonight. I just didn’t realize what the hell was wrong with him. Well now I do and it sucks. Good night, Rachel.”
“Good night, my friend,” Rachel said gently.
Catherine looked over her shoulder and Rachel could see the tears glittering in those wonderful dark eyes. “Oh, shit. Change your mind. Call me and tell me you’ve changed your mind.” Then she was gone, and Rachel could feel the tears sting her own eyes.
She got to her feet, took the cups to the sink, and rinsed them. Then she turned off the light and headed for her bedroom.
She had refused Catherine’s help, but she couldn’t refuse Brandon’s unless she wanted to give up all hope for Maria. Did she have the right to let him risk his life because she chose to risk her own? Yes, it had been his battle from the beginning but now everything seemed different. Everything was shifting, changing, glimpses of hope, then deepest despair.
She would go to bed and lie there waiting for Huber’s call to tell her that he had Maria. Maybe some stroke of inspiration would let her know how she could save that little girl and take down Huber without Brandon.
Impossible?
It might be a very long night.
* * *
Cameron was leaning against the bumper of the Mercedes when Catherine came out of the house, slamming the front door behind her. He straightened and opened the passenger door for her. “Give me the keys. I’ll drive.”
“I’m fine.” She gazed at his extended palm and threw the key ring into it. “It doesn’t matter. Have it your way.” She got into the passenger seat. “You usually do anyway.”
“You’re not being fair,” he said quietly as he got into the driver’s seat. “You’re upset and worried and you’re taking it out on me. I’m willing to be your whipping boy, but you’ll just feel guilty later. It’s that’s damn integrity you’re plagued with.”
“I’m fine,” she repeated. But she leaned back and tried to relax the muscles in her neck and shoulders. She said jerkily, “I guess you knew Rachel was in trouble?”
He started the car. “She was broadcasting it loud and clear. I’m surprised you didn’t pick up on it when we walked in the house.” He smiled. “You were too on edge, making sure that I be accepted on your terms by Brandon and your Rachel. I was flattered that you thought it was so important.”
“It wasn’t that important, I just didn’t want any problems.”
“And that was why I thought you should talk to Rachel. It could have escalated.”
“I don’t know how. It was bad enough.” She looked out at the sea. “Huber has a little girl that Rachel treated in Guyana, and you know how he’s going to use her.”
“Hostage.”
“Yes, she’s so afraid for Maria.” Her hands clenched into fists. “And she thinks she’s not going to let me help. It will only make it harder for me, Cameron.”
“But you always overcome. You’ll work it out.” He glanced at her. “The solution appears to be to simply find out where Huber is now and go get Maria. Do you agree?”
“Simply?”
“Maybe not quite simply. But you already have such phenomenal help. I was impressed by Jude Brandon. He’s totally unique as a leader. And I’d be happy to have Monty come to me at some later date.”
“Cameron.”
He held up his hand. “Later. He won’t become disillusioned enough to give up on this madness the world is whirling toward as long as he works for Brandon. I’m just saying that finding that IP address was remarkable. It was buried very deep. Linking it to the location should be easier than it was to find it. But I think I may have been able to help them with it. My hacking team ran into a similar problem two years ago in Rome, but we found the roadblock eventually. I suggested Brandon take the same direction.”
“And you believe he’ll do it?”
“I told you, he has excellent leadership skills. He wouldn’t discount any valid suggestion without testing it.” He smiled. “We came to an understanding. So let Brandon do his job and locate Huber’s compound while we see if we can find out more about Van Deek. I have a contact in Kuwait who might have more info. We’ll check back with Brandon later to see if my suggestion has paid off.”
“Are you manipulating me, Cameron?”
“It would be my pleasure, but I know it’s a hopeless task. But I also realize that you need to distract yourself while that exceptional mind of yours tries to sort out options.” His smile lit his face. “No manipulation. Not even seduction. Though both are on the table. Anything you choose, Catherine.” His smile ebbed, then disappeared. “Except to let me see how unhappy you were when you came out of that house tonight. We have to get rid of that option.”
She couldn’t look away from him. He might be expert at manipulation, but that wasn’t what she was seeing. He had used that masterful ability he possessed to help in so many ways tonight. That tip he had given Brandon might even lead to finding the key to locating Huber. And on an entirely different level he had realized how important it was that she talk to Rachel tonight. She forced herself to tear her gaze away. “You’re right, I wasn’t being fair. You accomplished more than I did tonight. And I obviously can’t do anything about Maria or Huber right now, so I’d better focus on something else.” Lord, how could she focus on anything else when all she could think about was Rachel’s face in the moment before she’d walked out of the house? Just do it. She took her computer out of her bag. “We need more proof to show Van Deek isn’t Mr. Wonderful? I’ll go into CIA records and see if there’s anything that looks wonky about him in the last five years. Five years is a long time to stay pure as the driven snow. Kuwait, did you say? I might be able to dip into his bank records and any investments if I tap the right people. Do you want to give your contact a call and tell them to expect more information?”
BEACH HAVEN
3:47 A.M.
“Rachel!”
Her eyes flew open to see Brandon silhouetted against the light of the doorway across the room. His legs were slightly parted, and she could see the tension in every muscle.
The sight of him jerked her wide-awake.
“What’s wrong?” She sat bolt upright in bed, her heart pounding. “What happened? Catherine?”
“No.” He was across the room and sitting beside her. “Catherine’s fine as far as I know. Everything might be fine. It looks that way, but I can’t be sure.” He pulled her into his arms, and his voice was as low and as tense as the muscles beneath her cheek. “But we might have to work it just right to get what we need from it.”
“You’re not making sense.” She lifted her head to look up at him. “What are you telling me?” Then it hit home to her. “The IP address. You traced it to an actual location?”
“Two hours ago. The rest of the time we were checking and double-checking. We had to be sure.”
“And now you’re certain?”
&n
bsp; “Yes, we went back to the proxies that were used to throw us off base and studied them. Monty and Sam told me that the IP address was so cleverly constructed and convoluted that it could have been created by the Chinese. And after we got the IP address, the trace kept us going in circles. But Cameron said his group had a similar problem with a trace, and they found out how it was being blocked.”
“Great.” Her hands dug into his forearms. “Brandon, dammit, tell me later how you did it,” she said impatiently. “Right now I want to know how we can get our hands on that bastard.” Then she had another alarming thought. “Is there any way that he’d know that we’ve traced him?”
“Monty says it’s doubtful.”
“Doubtful? That’s not good enough. What if he finds out and skips out on us?” She pushed away from him and was off the bed. “We’ve got to go get him now.”
“Easy,” Brandon said. “We’re not taking anything for granted. That’s why I woke you in the middle of the night.” He grimaced. “But I would have done it anyway. I know how sick you were about Maria. It’s about time we had a break.”
“More than that,” Rachel’s voice was shaking with excitement. “Huber. Nemesis might lead us to Huber and Kraus.” She whirled away. “We have to leave now. I’ll get dressed.”
“Wait.”
“Wait?” She gazed at him impatiently over her shoulder. “You said doubtful and I won’t—” She stopped as she saw his expression. “Why should we wait?”
“Because it’s not going to be that easy, Rachel.” He got to his feet and came toward her. “The situation could become complicated. You have to be prepared for it.”
“Complicated?” She was gazing up at him in bewilderment. That first tense excitement was gone from his expression, replaced by wariness. “Of course I’m prepared for complications. All hell could break loose when we corner him.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then tell me what you mean.” She was suddenly frightened. “Brandon?”
HYATT HOTEL
4:25 A.M.
“This better be worth you getting me up in the middle of the night, Rachel,” Claire said as she threw open the door of her suite. “You said you had news that might lead to catching that son of a bitch, Huber. That’s the only reason I let you come. I need a confirmation that the threat is over. Catherine must have told you that Fasrain was found dead last night.”
“She told me.” Rachel pushed her aside and slammed the door behind her. “Though she’s not sure that’s going to be the end of it. What do you think?”
“I believe we’ll have to be extremely careful, but it could be that Huber’s failed at last. I’ve yielded total control of the operation to Homeland Security to check it out.” She tilted her head. “I’m surprised that Catherine or Brandon didn’t come with you. They’re both so protective. They appear to think that I’m a ruthless bitch out to use you when my only aim is to convince you to do your duty to your father and your country.”
“I’m trying to do my duty to my father.” She looked her in the eye. “But I didn’t bring Catherine because she works under you and can get … combative.”
Claire’s lips twisted. “Tell me about it.”
“And Brandon thought that we couldn’t trust you with what he’d learned tonight. We had differing opinions, so I told him I needed to come alone.” She shook her head. “He wasn’t pleased.”
“Brandon and I have never been totally in sync.” She was studying Rachel’s expression. The she smiled, and added, “I’m glad you realize that you have to make up your own mind. I know how persuasive he can be.” She crossed to the bar across the room. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“No thank you.”
“I didn’t think so.” She poured herself a glass. “I imagine it’s probably something like not dining in the house of the enemy.” She took a sip of wine. “Because you do regard me as the enemy, don’t you?” She turned to face her. “Out with it, Rachel. You’d never make an operative, you’re far too transparent.”
“I didn’t think I’d be able to fool you. All I wanted to do was get inside the room.” She took a step closer. “Because I needed to know what was true or false.” She said coldly, “Yes, I know you’re Nemesis. So don’t think you can lie about it.”
“I wasn’t about to try,” Claire said. “It was always a risk I ran in this world of high tech. Though I did believe I had a chance of getting away with it. I had a few wild cards buried in those programs. I always have wild cards, Rachel.” She took another sip of wine. “It’s something Venable never learned in his entire career. I always had to lead him down the right path.”
“Until you killed him?”
“I didn’t kill him. Look, he knew I was Nemesis and working undercover to tap Huber’s man, Kraus, for information. But he was the only one at Langley who knew. Huber has bribes out everywhere. If there was a leak, I could have ended up dead.”
“Was there a leak? Did you have to save yourself by staking him out for Huber?”
“Not that either.”
“He was supposed to be meeting with Nemesis when he was shot,” she said skeptically.
“I thought I’d found Huber’s compound in Canada. It turned out to be a trap … for me. I had to get out fast, so my cover wouldn’t be blown. It was too late to warn Venable.”
“So he died.”
“Yes, he died,” she said steadily. “People die. He was willing to take the chance. All he cared about was taking down Huber. And he didn’t try very hard to persuade me not to try that Nemesis gambit. He’d lost his wife and son. He’d lost you. Since he knew I was running the risk purely for monetary and political advantage, he thought that it was only fair that I put my neck on the line.” She put her wineglass down on the bar. “Now I suggest you take out the gun that you’re clutching in your right-hand pocket. I imagine that was Brandon’s idea?”
“No, it was mine.” Rachel pulled the .38 out of her pocket and aimed it at Claire. “Because I knew the only way Brandon was going to let me come in here alone was if I had a weapon. He fought me tooth and nail. But I had to see you so that I could know for myself who and what you are. We might need you.” She gestured with the .38. “You’re probably as good as Catherine at hand-to-hand, but anyone can point a gun.”
“But not everyone can pull the trigger. You don’t impress me as being very intimidating. Whipping up a little poison cocktail is different than blowing a hole in someone.” She smiled. “You’re soft, Rachel.”
“Yes, unless it comes down to getting rid of garbage. I’ll have no problem with that. Look at me.” Her hand tightened on the gun. “The only reason I’m here is that I believe we can make use of you to save Maria Perez. You remember Maria. You’re the one who sent me the photo of her.”
“Yes, I did,” she said coolly. “Pretty child. I was a little upset to be caught in the middle of that squeeze game. I was hoping you might manage to find a way to wriggle out of it.”
“But not if it meant your stepping in and helping?”
“No, I’ve been hunting Red Star for too long to give them up when I’m this close. As I said, people die.” She added, “A child’s death is sad, but if it saves hundreds, maybe thousands of lives that Huber might take in the future, one gets a different perspective.”
“Only someone like you. You admitted that your hunt for Red Star was motivated purely by ambition. Don’t tell me that you believe sacrificing Maria is only for the greater good.”
She shrugged. “Then think what you will. You’d be amazed to know how many of my superiors at Langley would agree with me. It’s all about numbers and percentages.”
“My father wouldn’t agree.”
“Maybe not. Venable was always soft when it came to children. But don’t be too sure. We’ve spent months and months trying to find Huber’s compound with no luck. If he knew this Maria was the key to zeroing in on Huber, then he might have been tempted. Just as I was.” She shrugged. “Bu
t it was all for nothing, dammit.”
Rachel felt a jolt of shock. “What are you talking about? You have to know where that compound is located. Maybe not before, but you’re working directly with Red Star now.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” She stared her directly in the eye. “Kraus has to be one of the most secretive bastards on the planet. Hell, he plays his own game even with Huber. He doesn’t want me near him. And he only told me what he had to tell me. I don’t know, Rachel.”
She was telling the truth. Rachel’s heart plunged as she realized that all her hopes had been for nothing. No location. No way to find Maria. Rachel wished desperately she could believe Claire was lying. Maria …
Claire could see it and she lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “I thought by doing a switch that I’d finally gain Kraus’s trust and be able to find out more. But he isn’t about to give up any info he doesn’t have to. He wants to maintain total control. I’ve been wondering lately if he’s getting ready to launch a takeover of Red Star.” She frowned. “Because it’s not as if I haven’t shown him how valuable I could be. He was grateful enough that he could impress Huber with how clever he was by telling him that little snippet I gave him.”
Telling him that little snippet I gave him …
Another shock as Rachel realized what that “snippet” must have been. “You told him that it was my father and I who were responsible for killing Conrad Huber,” she said slowly.
She nodded. “Kraus knew I worked for the CIA. I had to give him something substantial to make him believe I was on the take. It was essential.”
“Essential,” Rachel repeated. “Yes, I could see how that would make him believe that you’d turned your back on my father and Langley. It was a total betrayal.” She moistened her lips. “But my father told me he didn’t tell anyone about it. How did you know?”
“He had tests run at the lab at Langley to check the efficacy of the poison. I was curious, and I did a little snooping. There might have been something that would have been useful to me.”
“But Conrad’s death didn’t prove to be the windfall Langley hoped it would,” Rachel said. “So you didn’t claim any connection with it. Though it did prove useful when you needed to prove your worth to Kraus years later.”
Vendetta Page 34
