by Fiona Quinn
Sophia realized that Lynx was not the only one in the room. The Special Agents were there too. She sat up and Lynx reached over to brush her hair back into place and pull down her blouse. She pulled the throw pillow from the table and tossed it into the corner. “How about a glass of water?” Lynx asked as she moved a cup in front of Sophia. It had a lid and straw that would make drinking easier while handcuffed.
She was cuffed.
Under arrest.
Nadia. Jael. He had missed his plane. Since he had to travel on diplomatic flights, Sophia wondered if he’d be stuck here in the US for a while. Well, they might be accusing him of something to do with terror too. He may not ever get home.
“Stay present time,” Lynx said.
That was a good reminder. Sophia leaned forward and focused on the slick plastic of the straw, the sensation of sucking and the cool water as it filled her mouth. Survival techniques taught to her on the therapist’s couch. She wasn’t sure they were strong enough to combat today’s events though. Sophia found herself wishing for Brian. Where was he?
The door opened again. Sophia saw that more chairs had been added to the table since she’d gone to sleep.
A man stepped forward and shook hands with Andersson and Finley. “Good to see you again,” he said without an ounce of warmth. He had a bald head and his gaze was a sharp as the blade of his nose. Everything about this man seemed distant and cold. “Thank you for waiting, it will be just another moment.” The door opened to the sound of sniffling. “Ah, here we are.”
A man in a dark suit led Lana into the room. Her hands were handcuffed as well.
Sophia felt the blood drain from her face, her neck, her torso. There wasn’t enough blood for her heart to pump, and the room began to spin.
Lynx leaned in. “Stay present. Touch your thumb to your pinky.” She waited for Sophia to comply “Now your index finger. Now your ring finger.”
The simple physical task was a puzzle her brain had to work through. By the time Lynx said to touch her middle finger, Sophia’s blood rushed to her face and made it blaze with heat. Sophia had no idea what was going on, but Lana was her safety net. If Lana was here, who had her boys? Sophia reached out to touch the ring and remind Ashtart of their agreement, but of course, the ring was gone.
Sophia turned when the door opened. Titus was standing just behind her with his shoulder pressed into the wall.
Brian walked in with Thorn. They pulled their chairs around to face her. This only added to her conflicting emotions. She wished he wasn’t here, seeing her like this, and yet she was so glad he was nearby.
The newcomer turned to Sophia. “I’m John Black with the CIA.”
“Oh, thank God,” Sophia said, clasping her hands together.
Black continued as if she had said nothing. “I was sent by CIA Officer Johnna Red to intervene on the part of our asset, Dr. Abadi. It seems the FBI has entangled itself in our intelligence operation.”
“Or the CIA has stuck its foot in an FBI sting,” Finley countered. There was an underlying current brewing between the two that wasn’t hard to miss.
Titus came into her line of sight and leaned his back on the wall. He crossed his arms over his chest, making his arm muscles bulge. He was obviously asserting himself as alpha supreme in this room brimming with alphas. “Iniquus has a long history of working with both the CIA and the FBI. We know, as does everyone in this room, that communication is often a challenge. We are all working to keep America safe. It doesn’t surprise me that both the FBI and the CIA would be highly interested in Dr. Dajani and Dr. Abadi. They have unique skillsets that set them apart from most. From what Mr. Black has explained to me, Dr. Abadi has an ongoing relationship assisting the CIA and has recently come under the scrutiny of the FBI. Can we all agree that it would be the best plan of action to try to lay out a timeline and figure out what’s going on?”
“I’ll begin,” Black said. “We became aware that Dr. Farid Dajani was involved with Hamas several years ago. In the summer of 2011, the Israeli government offered assistance in tracking Farid Dajani through Jael Cohen, an Israeli special operative. Cohen had contact with the Dajani family since his youth, and his presence would raise no one’s suspicions. I believe the FBI is also holding Mr. Cohen?” Black sent a scathing look toward the FBI agents but didn’t wait for a reply. “Sophia and Nadia, at the time both university students, were kidnapped by Hamas and Jael found them and effected their escape. While being held, our operative spoke with Sophia, explaining that Hamas was trying to extort information from the archaeological team, raising money for terrorist activities, and that we at the CIA would like to have an ongoing relationship with her to thwart the pillaging of ancient artifacts.”
“Sophia, not Nadia?” Thorn asked.
“Nadia didn’t have the same force of character as Sophia. We had been watching the girls closely. We believed that Nadia would have told her father and thus informed Hamas that we were on their trail. It had to be Sophia. She was younger, but stronger.”
Sophia thought she was being talked about like a horse for sale. Next thing they’d do was check her teeth. And why was Lana here? That question had been looping through her mind. Sophia tried to listen, to puzzle through this situation. She wished her brain was clearer.
“With Sophia Abadi’s assistance, we’ve been following the black market monies for years. We had certain members of the Gilchrest family in Tulsa, Oklahoma in our sights. We wanted to show how they were funding ISIS through their purchase of antiquities for a museum they’re constructing. Sophia found the perfect means to our end. It came to her attention that a fake tablet was ‘found’ in Syria. She could provide the paperwork and it could be brought to America. Once the Gilchrests—thinking it was a true artifact being brought to them disguised as a reproduction—paid the money and it was tracked to an ISIS affiliate, then we could work through our channels to freeze the accounts and starve ISIS of their funding.”
“Sophia, how did you know that piece was a fake?” Brian asked.
“There are only five examples of that kind of tablet known to exist. That particular tablet was worn in the center, as it was used as a threshold. It would be inconceivable that another example would have the same tread marks. Also, it would be odd for another tablet to have changed one of the commandments the way this one had.”
“Where is the original for this piece now?” Finley asked, shooting a look at Andersson.
“The Torah Museum in Brooklyn.”
“Brooklyn?” Finley shook his head. “So you established this was a fake. Then, when you were told the information had been sent to you erroneously, you acted on it.”
“I told my handler, yes.”
“You told no one else?” Andersson pushed.
“The tablet data was on my computer. I researched the piece and took notes. I plotted it on the grid. All of that was information I called in to Red.”
“Lana, would you like to tell us how you found that information on the AACP computer?”
“I didn’t.” Lana’s left shoulder jerked and a nervous tic had started on the left side of her lip.
Brian leaned in. “Of course, you didn’t,” he said softly. “You have no idea what is on that computer. But you gave access information to someone who could look at it. Didn’t you?”
Lana’s head drooped. “I had to.”
“Tell us about why you had to.” Brian’s voice was like a silk ribbon that wanted to wrap around the truth and draw it out. Sophia almost wished she had something to confess to, so she could answer Brian’s request. What a strange thought. Sophia wished, again, that her brain was functioning properly.
“My family in Gaza was being threatened. My grandparents, aunts and uncles, my cousins. Dad had been giving Hamas information to protect our family, but he had a stroke and they needed another way to get information. At first, I took it from Nadia’s computer. But after Sophia began working with AACP, I used her computer instead. Sophia didn’t have famili
al connections to Palestinians and Hamas, so I thought it would be safer for everyone.” She peeked up at Sophia. “I’m so sorry.”
“That confirms what Nadia said in interrogation. Hamas approached her in February of 2012 after her father’s health crisis. She said that she wouldn’t help, thinking it was probably a bluff. When she didn’t hear anything further, she decided that she was right. It seems they just moved on and tapped Lana instead.”
“The tablet is a fake,” Brian said.
“We get that now,” Finley replied.
“It’s not illegal to bring a copy of an artifact into the US.” Brian’s gaze held Finley’s. “Especially when the provenance that travelled with that piece indicated exactly that.”
Finley nodded.
“I think you should uncuff Dr. Abadi and release Nadia and Jael. Unless you have other charges to level?”
Finley pulled a key from his pocket. “My apologies, Dr. Abadi.”
“The goal was to catch the Gilchrests.” Sophia rubbed her wrists where they were red and raw. She cast a frightened gaze toward Black. “The FBI can’t arrest them for having a fake tablet, but I was promised that America would get them. That they would pay.” The fear that they had failed in their mission slipped away as anger took its place. “The Gilchrests are the reason that Nadia and I were kidnapped. They’re the reason why we went through that hell. They’re why I’ve been tormented with seizures and PTSD. I want them to pay for what they did to us. To me.” Sophia was shaking with fury. She had been the good soldier all these years for the best interests of America, of Syria, and the whole damned world. But she’d also done it to make the Gilchrests pay.
“The Gilchrests believed the tablet was an artifact. Our operatives discussed the transaction—how we’d move a relic from Syria to America through customs without it being confiscated at the border. They believed it was the real deal. They conspired to bring in a conflict relic. They paid nearly a million dollars—which would be an absurd amount if they truly believed this was a fake. All of that is on video. We have their banking information, and we’re set to act on it. As we speak, the American government has frozen just shy of a billion dollars of the Gilchrest family assets contained in off-shore accounts.
“Finley, Andersson, and I have worked together before. I assure you that all our information will be shared. While the CIA does not enforce laws, or act on American soil, the FBI can certainly make the case that the Gilchrests knowingly funded ISIS.” He sent a look to the Special Agents before turning his attention back to Sophia. “Your services, Dr. Abadi, have been invaluable. We certainly want to continue our relationship. Though I know you had a very specific goal over the last few years, the artifacts, the people in harm’s way, terror—they are bigger than the Gilchrest family.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Brian
Monday p.m.
Sophia had rolled her shoulders forward like an armadillo in its protective posture. Lana was taken to another room. After that, everyone but Brian left. Only Lynx said goodbye to Sophia as they exited. She was that unapproachable.
“Lana isn’t a threat to America,” Brian said. “She was frightened for her family. She isn’t in this for ideological reasons. They’re going to use her as an asset. She won’t be held prisoner. They’ll dangle that threat over her head to make her comply with what they want. But she’s going to go home to her family. I feel almost a hundred percent sure. She’s too valuable to them.”
Sophia turned turbulent eyes his way. “Who has my boys?”
“Margot—she’s our Panther Force auxiliary. She steps in to make things run smoothly in our operations. She took your boys to her house. I suggest you let them stay with her tonight while you get your feet under you. You’ve had one hell of a week.”
Sophia squinted her eyes.
“We’ve arranged for a suite at the hotel up the street. We’d like you to stay there until new housing can be arranged for you. Your environment is concerning.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. She was as shut off as she could physically make herself.
“AACP gave us permission to bring their computers here to Iniquus. Black and Finley will make a plan for how to address the malware on your computer.”
“You know how Lana accessed the information?”
“We have a good guess. We know some of the steps.”
“You knew Lana was involved but didn’t warn me?”
“We just got that information during your arrest.”
“Abduction.”
Brian thought that one through. Yeah, it must have felt that way to her.
“I’m not legally obligated to do what you say. I don’t have to go where you tell me to.”
Brian hadn’t seen this one coming. He thought for sure Sophia wouldn’t want to go home. He pictured the mound of dirt in her front yard. The unplanted flowers wilting on her driveway.
“I want to sleep in my own bed tonight. I’ll make other decisions tomorrow. Marla’s in custody. It should be safe for me to go home.”
“We don’t think that Marla had anything to do with the flowers and Mr. Rochester.”
“She was a crazy person. Titus Kane said that she was really Betty Campbell, and she was remanded to a mental hospital. She kidnapped her children. She hissed at me! Of course she’s responsible. If she’s not responsible how do you explain everything?”
“The fingerprints—” Brian started but Sophia threw her hand up to stop him.
“I need a ride. Take me home or call me a Lyft.”
It was a quiet ride. Sophia kept her gaze out the window the whole way. She held her body tightly together. Unyielding.
They pulled up to her house, and Brian unsnapped his seatbelt.
Sophia’s head swung around. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’ve been hired by AACP to keep you safe. You signed contracts allowing me to do just that. It includes access to your house. I’m going to go in to make sure that it’s clear.” Brian made sure his tone was calm and professional, his face neutral. He was just doing his job.
Sophia let him in, but left the front door open—the message clear. Get in, get it done, get out.
He searched the house, and it came up clean. The whole time he’d been in soldier-mode. But when he saw Sophia sitting on her couch, staring at the picture of the boys, it was a gut punch. Brian didn’t want to go. He’d learned on the battlefield to trust his gut. His survival instincts were engaged. He needed to convince Sophia to leave.
When Sophia turned toward him, he saw the eyes of mothers who faced daily bombings. Grief, hopelessness, pain.
The pain was directed at him. He’d hurt her. She knew he’d had a hand in today’s takedown. The trust was gone. “It’s killing me the way you’re looking at me. It’s tearing me to shreds that you’re hurt.” He took two steps forward, then took a knee so they were eye to eye. “I was doing my job, Sophia. I had to be neutral. I couldn’t go in thinking you were innocent when I didn’t know if you were or not. My job was to save the antiquities and help stop ISIS.”
She said nothing. Her attention was back on the picture. She reached for the ring on the bracelet that was now somewhere over the ocean, heading to its resting place.
“I’m only in your life because of my job.” He moved to sit in front of her, his knees, wrapping his arms, and holding his wrist. He realized this was the way he sat in tribal tents when he was talking to the chieftains, trying to get intel and make agreements. He was negotiating. But for what? Brian pulled the phone from his pocket, with a swipe of his finger and a quick code, he turned off the surveillance equipment. He looked up. Sophia hadn’t budged. He doubted she’d even noticed.
“You can’t imagine how surprised I was when you came into the Panther Force war room.”
She glanced his way.
There was a mild spark of curiosity that Brian decided to pounce on. “I want to tell you what happened last fall. When we met on your birthday, I thou
ght we connected. I thought I’d met ‘the one.’ I felt absolute comfort. Absolute trust. Like I had known you always. It was shocking to me that I didn’t know your name. That I didn’t know a single thing about you. Nonetheless, I felt as though you were a haven, and I could lay everything in front of you—the good, the bad, the hideously ugly—and you would look at all of it and accept that that’s me.”
He tried to push down the chuckle that bubbled up. This was far from amusing, it was nerves. Brian swallowed down some of his anxiety and pushed forward. “For me, that night was the beginning of the rest of our lives together.” Brian’s lips twitched as he tried to regain an impassive expression. He didn’t want to frighten her with the intensity of what he was feeling. “Then I woke up and you were gone. I realized I didn’t have your last name. Your address. Your phone number. No way to contact you. No way to know who you were. You paid in cash. You were so familiar—it never occurred to me that I didn’t know anything about you.”
Sophia’s brows drew together. “You tried to track me?”
“Of course, I did! I went back to that damned bar every night for two months.”
“And then you gave up.”
“My assignment was over, and I headed back to Washington.” He fixed his gaze on her. “I was raised on the power of prayer. And believe me, I prayed. Usually, I asked that you be held in grace and kept well. You were always on my mind. I felt like I was failing you. That there was something that needed doing. One night my prayer changed. I said if I was supposed to be with you, I needed to be put back on your path. Three days later, there you were, standing in the Panther Force war room. Hell of a thing. The woman I fell in love with was finally in front of me, and everyone thought you were a criminal.”
“And you thought so too.”
“I kept myself neutral about the case. That didn’t mean that I didn’t feel the connection from our night together. Since the moment I met you, loving you has been a hard fist around my heart. It hurts like hell. You hurt like hell, Sophia.”
