by Ana Stone
"Yeah, I'll bet," Stella laughed and winked at Ken.
Blake gave her a scowl and everyone laughed. "Late night?" Ken quipped and hooted a laugh. "You mean a late night online?"
Blake snorted and looked away. He had no idea how they could know he was online, but he was sure not going to let them know about his social life, or in the case of last night, the lack there of.
"I've got better things to do with my time."
To cover his discomfort he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and took one out. He’d just recently started smoking again and wasn’t exactly pleased with himself for it, but it had fit his last undercover role. Now he needed to put them down again. "I do have a life, you know."
"Blake you know you can't smoke in here!" Stella exclaimed.
Blake ignored her and flicked his lighter several times. Nothing happened. But he didn’t expect it to. He hadn’t deactivated the safety feature.
"Have you lost it man?" Weasel asked and pointed to the sign on the wall. "No smoking!"
Blake did not acknowledge him, but continued flicking the lighter. Now no one was giving a thought to what he was or was not doing last night.
"Blake, what do you think you're doing?" Another man asked as he walked into the room.
"Trying to get this damn lighter to work!" he exclaimed and threw the lighter down on the floor.
Everyone watched as he snorted and stomped out of the room, passing the Assistant Director who was walking in. "Blake."
"Morning," Blake said in passing and continued to his office across the hall.
"What's going on in here?" The Assistant Director asked as he looked around. "What was all that shouting about?"
By the time the words were out of his mouth everyone had already hurriedly returned their attention to their work. Weasel turned around in his chair. "Shouting, sir? Was there shouting? I must have been too involved in what I was doing to notice. Would you like me to ask around and see if I can find out?"
The Assistant Director frowned. "No, thank you. Now, Stella, did you get me a printout of that info from the DOD?"
"We're working on that now, sir," she replied and gave Ken a nudge. "I'll have it in your office in five minutes."
"Very well, " he said then turned and left the room.
"Whew!" Ken blew out his breath. "That was close. Man did you see Blake with that lighter? Flick, flick, flick - didn't anyone ever tell him what child-safe means? If you ask me . . . "
"Weasel!" Blake stuck his head in the door and Ken fell silent. "I want to see you in my office. Now!"
Weasel smiled as Blake stomped off.
"What's that all about?" Stella asked as Weasel stood and started for the door.
"Curiosity, my friend," he replied. "Overwhelming curiosity."
He walked across the hall to Blake's office. As soon as he opened the door Blake looked up from where he sat at his desk. "Weasel! How long did you have that email in there?"
Weasel smiled and took a seat in the chair placed in front of the desk. "God, I don't know. Months - years maybe."
Blake frowned and leaned back in his chair. "Man, I have no idea why you people get so into the whole online thing. I don’t even know where to start. It's like a maze. And those so-called social sites definitely aren't for me. Not to mention some of those private chat things. Have you read some of that garbage? If that’s all there is to it, you guys are definitely wasting your time.”
“Unless…” he pinned Weasel with a hard stare. “There’s something meaty you want to share.”
"What?" Weasel took off his glasses and cleaned them with a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. "Man, where have you been? Ain't nothing like that on the Web."
"Come on," Blake scoffed. "I know you, and you wouldn’t still be ragging me about this if there wasn’t something you wanted me to find."
Weasel put on his glasses and returned the handkerchief to his pocket. For a few seconds he was perfectly still and quiet then he sighed and nodded. "Okay, this is probably a big mistake, but I'll give you an address."
He picked up a pen from Blake's desk and jotted something down on a memo that was lying nearby. "But remember, you didn't get this from me. It's kind of Top Secret, so keep your mouth shut about it."
"Sure." Blake agreed and looked at what was written on top of the interoffice memorandum. "This is it?"
"Indeed," Weasel smiled. "Gotta get back. Catch you later."
"Yeah, later," Blake murmured and looked again at what Weasel had written. It did not make any sense. He tore off the top of the page with the writing on it, stuck the paper in his pocket then put himself to the task at hand. Endless reports and paperwork.
*****
Sydney frowned as she looked at the computer screen. She did not remember ever seeing anything quite like this.
Since she had a little extra time before her first appointment she decided to check on the files she had secreted online. The files were still encrypted and she did not detect any tampering attempts.
She’s set up various locations a couple of years ago for certain files she considered particularly valuable. All entries made were encoded so that anyone stumbling accidentally on them would think they were nothing more than gibberish. There was only one person besides herself that knew the locations and how to decipher the information. And that person was someone she’d trusted for many years.
Most people would have been surprised to discover the person's identity as well as their friendship. Even Sydney would admit that they made an unlikely pair. Their interests aside from hacking were very different. But their love of hacking had brought them together during their freshman year of undergraduate school and that friendship had withstood the years.
She wondered if GW had seen at what she was looking at. During the last couple of weeks there had been some odd chatter online. Several times she had seen cryptic messages, alluding to 'something big' that was going to happen and then there were disquieting messages from several groups; information about terrorism and how to make bombs and the like. She didn’t know what to make of it but kept an eye on it. She figured the chances were good that it was nothing more than malcontent voices using the deep web as a forum for proselytizing.
As she looked at the screen she wondered if she should flag GW to take a look at the message that talked about harboring fugitives from the law if the need arose.
Sydney looked up as her secretary entered the room. "There's a man here to see you, Doctor. He says he's from the FBI and that it's important."
Sydney quickly logged off her computer. "The FBI?" It must be Blake. "Very well, show him in."
The moment the dark-haired man in the navy suit appeared, she reached for the button to do a hard shut-down of her computer and then pressed a button under the lip of her desk to activate the room recorder.
"Dr. Forrest? I'm Special Agent Robert Wells, FBI." He pulled his identification from his inner coat pocket as he spoke and handed it to her. "I'd like to speak with you about one of your patients."
“Oh?”
"Senator Ned Tyler."
"What makes you think I’m treating Senator Tyler?"
Wells frowned then gestured toward the two chairs set on the other side of the room. "May I sit?"
"Of course." She rose and crossed the room to take a seat facing him.
"Senator Tyler has been observed coming to your office on five separate occasions, Wednesday afternoons at two o'clock on March fifteenth, twenty-second, twenty-ninth, April fifth and yesterday, the twelfth."
"Is the FBI in the habit of following all of the senators around, Mr. Wells?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss such things with you doctor."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wells, but I'm afraid you're wasting your time. I don’t discuss my patients - with anyone."
"Dr. Forrest, I am afraid you misunderstand. You are not being given a choice in this. You will turn over all transcripts, tapes and other records to me now concerning your sessions with Senator Tyler."
"I most certainly will not." She stood. "Please excuse me, Mr. Wells, but I have patients to see. I'm sure you can find your way out."
"Dr. Forrest, you’re making this more difficult than it has to be. I can have federal agents come into this office and confiscate all your files, but I don’t want to have to resort to that. If you cooperate we can avoid such unpleasantness."
"What is said in this office is a matter of the strictest confidentiality. Perhaps you've heard of it, Mr. Wells. If not, I suggest you do a little research. You can’t order me to turn over anything to you or divulge any information about my patients any more than you can order a priest to testify to something said in a confessional. So, in that light, I’ll have to ask you to leave."
"Dr. Forrest, are you concerned with the welfare of this nation?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"A very simple one. Are you concerned with the safety and welfare of this nation?"
"Of course."
"Then I ask you again, turn over all relevant information on Senator Ned Tyler to me."
Sydney sat down and stared at him. "Just what do you hope to find, Mr. Wells? What do you suspect the Senator of?"
"Like many members of the Senate, Senator Wells is privy to highly classified information," he answered. "Consider for a moment, Dr. Forrest. Hypothetically, what could happen if a person in such a position were to become mentally unbalanced. Wouldn't you think that would be cause for alarm? What if this mental aberration or condition led him to do something with certain information that threatened the security of this country?"
"I can assure you that nothing of that nature has ever been discussed here," she replied. "Senator Tyler is suffering from - personal problems. Nothing more."
"I’d like to take your word on that, Doctor. Unfortunately, I do have my orders."
"Then I'm afraid you're not going to be able to carry those orders out, Mr. Wells. Tell your superiors that I will not now, or ever, turn over any privileged information to anyone - not you, the Secret Service, the NSA, DIA, CIA or even the President himself. Now, I must ask you to leave. I have a patient to see."
Agent Wells opened his mouth then closed it. He walked to the door, stopped and turned back to her. "You leave me no choice, Doctor. I’ll see you tomorrow morning with a court order. Have a nice day."
Sydney watched him leave then waited a few moments and buzzed her secretary. "Julie, call the rest of my appointments for today and say something has come up. Apologize for me and reschedule then you can take the rest of the day off. Please lock the reception area when you leave."
She ended the conversation before Julie had a chance to question her on what was going on. Sydney then stopped the recording, turned on the computer to download the audio and copied it to a flash-drive. She added all of her notes on the Senator to the drive and deleted them from her computer. After that she keyed in a security program to protect the files on the hard drive, preventing them from being accessed.
She had no idea what was going on, but it obviously involved more than just some payoffs from unethical businessmen to the Senator. She removed his printed patient file from the file cabinet and put it in her briefcase.
The last task was to alter her appointment schedule, change the Senator’s name on all of his appointments as well as his name on the billing information. Should anyone search for his name they could come up empty-handed.
Satisfied she’d done enough to throw agent off if he did, in fact, return, she grabbed her purse, let herself out through the private entrance in her office and went down to the parking deck. She got in the car and drove straight home. Once there she went directly to the computer in her study. She had to hide the information in a place no one would think to look and the best way she knew to do that was in the last place someone would think to look; right in plain sight – on the Internet
*****
By the time Blake finished his reports it was almost noon. Since he had nothing else pressing, he decided to take the afternoon off. By the time he got home he had forgotten all about the slip of paper in his pocket with the Internet address Weasel had given him.
The moment he entered his apartment he tossed his jacket on the couch, pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Sydney’s cell phone. When he got no answer he called her private line at her office. After a dozen or more rings he hung up and called the main office number. The answering service picked up. He told the operator he had no message to leave, hung up and dialed her home phone.
It was odd for Sydney to be away from her office. Unless she's sick or something. Maybe that's why she hasn't returned my call.
The phone rang four times before she answered. "Yes?"
"Syd? You okay?"
"Blake, hi." Her voice sounded like she was either distracted or upset. "Yes, I'm fine. I just−I just decided to take a few hours off and catch up on some work at home. How are you?"
"Okay. Did you get my message?"
"Oh! Yes, I did but it was late when I got in and I didn't want to wake you and then things were crazy at the office this morning so−"
"It's okay," he interrupted. "You don't have to explain. So, where were you last night?"
"Having dinner."
"With who?"
"A friend."
"Anyone I know?"
"No, I don't think so."
"New friend or old?"
"Yes."
Blake frowned. It was unlike Sydney to be so evasive. In all the time he had known her she had been very up-front and straightforward. He got the feeling that she was trying to keep something from him.
"Is everything okay, Syd?"
"Just fine, why?"
"I don't know, you just sound a little funny."
"It's nothing. Just work."
"So, why don't you forget about work for a while and let's go do something?"
"Umm, well - I don't know. I have something I have to do this evening and it's almost one now."
"So, we'll have lunch and maybe take in a matinee or go to the park," he suggested.
"Okay," she said after a moment’s hesitation. "Give me twenty minutes to change and I'll meet you at that deli near the mall - you know the one I mean."
"Sure, see you in a little while."
Blake hung up the phone with a smile. He was really looking forward to seeing Sydney. Last night he had made up his mind about asking her to move in with him. With the decision made, he was eager to get her answer.
*****
Adrian's butler opened the door to admit two men. He showed them to the library where Adrian stood as the men entered, and gestured toward the couch. "Gentlemen, good afternoon. Can I have Alran prepare you a drink?"
"No, thank you," Congressman Blackman declined. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Mr. Zayne."
"You indicated it was a matter of some importance," Adrian said as he took a seat.
"Yes," Greenland, spoke up. "It came to my attention that the FBI is having Senator Tyler followed. Not only that, an agent was sent to see Doctor Forrest today, demanding that she turn over all tapes and transcripts of her sessions with Tyler."
"Really?" Adrian commented with raised eyebrows. "And what was the good doctor's response?"
"She refused," Blackman answered. "But you can bet they'll be back - with a court order."
"And what is it that you want from me?" Adrian asked.
Greenland and Blackman looked at one another then back at Adrian. "We can't afford anything falling into the wrong hands, Mr. Zayne. And we can't be sure that Tyler hasn't told the doctor what he knows."
"Yes, that is true."
"So," Greenland said then hesitated. "We obviously have to take action to keep things from getting out of hand. The Oval has specifically instructed that we get this matter buttoned up."
Adrian smiled in apparent unconcern. "No cause for alarm, gentlemen. As I have previously stated, I will handle Senator Tyler and the doctor. All you have to worry about is f
ulfilling your parts of the arrangement. I’ll deal with the Oval. Now, is there anything else?"
"But how can you insure that he or his doctor won't talk?" Greenland blurted.
"I have my ways," Adrian said in a voice as soft as the whisper of a viper. "Do you question that, sir?"
"No, not at all. But - well, you can understand how this development would cause a certain amount of consternation," Blackman replied hastily.
Adrian's smile returned. "Yes, of course. But there is no need for concern. Now, if you will excuse me, there are matters that require my attention. Alran will show you out. Have a pleasant day."
The men stood at the dismissal and left the room. As soon as they were outside they looked at one another. "So, you think we should do like he says and forget about it?" Greenland asked.
Blackman shook his head as they walked to his car. "I think it'd be wise to have someone put on Tyler. Let's keep him under close eye. If it looks like he's going to be a problem we'll take care of it ourselves."
Greenland nodded. "Good idea. And I have just the man for the job." He started to turn away but Blackman stopped him.
"You have to be careful about how you work this. We can't let anyone know."
"I know," Greenland replied. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it. I'll talk to you later."
The two men got into their cars and pulled away from the house. Inside Adrian stood at an upstairs window, watching them. He turned away from the window with a smile. Keeping Tyler under control was no problem. He was so scared that he would not dare divulge anything to the authorities.
As far as Sydney Forrest was concerned, he had every intention of making sure that she had no desire whatsoever to divulge anything the Senator might tell her. Before long she’d be of the opinion that anything that spilled from Tyler’s lips fell squarely into the territory of lies
He smiled as he contemplated the task before him. He had never had any trouble at all controlling women and getting them to do exactly what he wanted them to. But he had to admit that Sydney was different from most women. Putting aside her compelling beauty, her mind was sharp and quick and she was very firm in her convictions. It would be a challenge to conquer and control her.
