She sneered at him. “Very good, Lawrence. I am gratified that you have the recovery aspects of this debacle well in hand.”
Danforth, stung by her condescension, answered, “Despite your lack of appreciation for all I’ve done and continue to do for the cause, I believe you’ve overlooked some vital particulars.”
“Do you? Oh, please—say on, Mr. Danforth.”
“Very well, I will say on: Have you given any thought to how Jayda and Zander Cruz traced Trujillo’s whereabouts to our black site? Trujillo was clean when our operatives took her—no tracking devices—and the route into that site was a maze impossible to navigate without guidance. So how did Jayda and Zander Cruz find their way there within hours of Trujillo’s abduction?”
The woman’s eyes glittered, and her expression hardened. “Very good, Mr. Danforth, very good. You raise a valid point.”
She began to pace, to ponder Danforth’s question.
Danforth let her alone to think. This was where the woman’s brilliance often shone—and she was brilliant, the most strategic deep operative he’d ever worked with, inspiring despite her contempt for incompetence and, in particular, for failure.
Minutes ticked by before she paused. “The nanomites. It had to have been the nanomites.”
“How so?”
“Cushing claimed they had invaded her phones, her computer, even a SCIF. If they are as intelligent and pervasive as she purported them to be . . . perhaps they were able to access our satellite systems.”
“You’re saying they used our own satellites to track the vehicle from Trujillo’s house to our black site? Are you serious?”
One side of the woman’s mouth quirked. “Oh, it sounds so improbable, does it not? And yet from the beginning, General Cushing insisted that the tiny machines would be able to penetrate, to insinuate themselves into any digital system—as long as they had a means to reach it. These possibilities, Lawrence, these fantastic possibilities have fueled our efforts to acquire the nanomites from the beginning.”
She shrugged. “Are they not the technological breakthrough for which we’ve expended so many resources and lives? Imagine the NSA in possession of the nanomites. Imagine—and grasp the staggering implications!”
“If all you assert is true, then I am imagining the implications—the advantages these people possess, and we do not. Until these nanomites are under our control and our direction, we are at a distinct disadvantage and should be concerned for our own operational security. You say they invaded Cushing’s phone?”
“Harmon said Cushing was convinced, yes.”
“Then they could be listening to us at this very moment.”
“Lawrence, we have taken extreme precautions, and I can conceive of no means for them to have discovered who we are. Furthermore, this room is shielded. No signals in or out.” She lifted her chin. “I did think you knew that.”
“Yes, of course. I forgot . . . momentarily.”
“Now that we’ve quelled your concerns—”
“Quelled them? Hardly. What is to keep these . . . nanomites from invading our phones when we leave?”
She turned her head toward him, but her thoughts were elsewhere—a chess master considering not her next move, but the ten beyond that. “What indeed . . .”
“Then you agree that our operational security could be compromised?” Danforth grew more agitated. “Makes me wonder . . . The White House experienced a norovirus outbreak two weeks ago. Four of the six or seven affected employees were our inside agents. An unusual coincidence, don’t you think? Now that we know what these people and their nanomites are capable of, what’s to say the virus wasn’t their work?”
She didn’t answer.
“And if they identified and targeted our agents within the White House, they may have connected them to the Secret Service’s Deputy Assistant Director—and if to Morningside, then to me.”
But not to me, she reminded herself. I have been much too circumspect for that.
“Yes, yes. I can put two and two together, Lawrence. Do let me think.” She put one finger to her lips, silencing him, and resumed her pacing. Back and forth across the carpet she walked, her head bowed in contemplation while Danforth fidgeted.
Thirty minutes elapsed, then an hour. When Danforth could hold back no longer, he blurted, “It is my opinion that we should ditch our phones and institute a communications blackout.”
She stopped her pacing and faced him. “Oh, dear. No. Quite the opposite, Mr. Danforth. This is our opportunity to employ classic countermeasures.”
“What countermeasures?”
“Misinformation, Lawrence. A short-term distraction.”
“You have something in mind?”
“Hmm? Yes. What of the two covert FBI agents embedded in your organization? You have stymied their efforts to date without their suspecting we are on to them. I suggest that we let slip to Jayda and Zander Cruz a few select breadcrumbs that implicate the FBI agents in Wayne Overman’s disappearance. Within those breadcrumbs, an actionable gambit. If Jayda and Zander Cruz act on our ‘intelligence,’ we will know they have, in fact, penetrated our communications.”
She outlined the scenario she wanted Danforth to devise.
“Why Overman? Do you think Jayda and Zander Cruz are concerned with his disappearance?”
“Immaterial. Our objective is to sidetrack Mr. and Mrs. Cruz with this bit of misinformation. If they ‘bite’ on our lure, it will serve two purposes—to confirm, as I said, that they have penetrated our communications, but it will also keep them busy while we focus on the execution of a more effective and longer-term distraction.”
“Why do we need a longer-term distraction?”
“Today we witnessed a true demonstration of the nanomites’ formidable powers, not merely a small sampling of it. Good! With adequate time to study the helmet cam videos, I will identify the nanomites’ strengths—and more importantly, their weaknesses. And when I have ascertained their vulnerabilities, I will formulate a suitable trap. Hence, a longer-term distraction is needed to buy me the time I require.”
She studied Danforth. “You will create that distraction for me, Lawrence. I wish you to locate Mr. and Mrs. Cruz’s closest family and loved ones. Not too many. Gemma Keyes’ elderly neighbor and his foster child and Zander Cruz’s sister and parents should do. Sweep them up and spirit them away.
“The disappearance of Mr. and Mrs. Cruz’s family—and the implied threat of imminent harm to them—should prove adequate to our needs, don’t you think? Jayda and Zander Cruz will turn their attention and efforts to saving those they love. While they do so, I will be devising a nanomite-proof trap. When our trap is ready, we will bait the snare’s tripwire with their loved ones. Mr. and Mrs. Cruz will come to us. Willingly, I should think.”
As frustrating as she often was, Danforth had to admire her. “An inspired ploy.”
She smiled. “Thank you. With the assets of the National Security Agency at your disposal, it shouldn’t take you long to pinpoint the targets. The old man and the child are in Albuquerque; I believe Cruz’s parents live elsewhere in New Mexico. Locate them and send operatives to apprehend them at once.
“And now, Lawrence, I have somewhere I need to be.”
She strode out the facility’s door toward her car, and Danforth followed her. At her vehicle, she spun on her heel; Danforth nearly ran into her.
Laughing to herself, she added, “Goodness. How forgetful of me, Lawrence. I have a team already on the ground in Albuquerque. They can move on the Albuquerque targets as soon as you locate them and give the word.”
“They will hear from me within the hour.”
“Excellent.” She smiled again. “We are close, Lawrence. On every front, we are so very close to our goals. Jayda and Zander Cruz have the nanomites. When we apply the proper inducements and lure them to us, we will have them and the nanomites. The nanomites are our means to full surveillance and control of our ‘democratic’ processes. And when w
e have that control, nothing can prevent us from taking the remainder of the nation.”
JAYDA CRUZ. ZANDER Cruz. We have received an updated report from Danforth’s nanobug array. He has left the shielded facility and is returning to the NSA.
“I’ll take the report, Nano. Jayda needs to rest.”
“I’m . . . awake.” I’d slept only an hour or so and was so groggy I wasn’t sure if I could function, but the nanomites’ message had roused me.
Zander helped me sit up. “How do you feel?”
“I’ll live.” The pain low in the right quadrant of my belly had eased some. What remained felt warm. Swollen, perhaps? “I want to hear the nanobug’s report.”
Zander nodded. “Go ahead, Nano.”
The nanomites hesitated. It is an odd report.
I let Zander ask the obvious, “Odd? In what way?”
It contradicts the facts as we know them, Zander Cruz.
“Well, let’s hear it.”
Danforth texted a message to an unknown confederate in which he tasked the associate to pass on instructions concerning the final disposition of what we inferred is Wayne Overman’s body.
I was, suddenly, a lot more awake than I’d been a few moments ago. “Wayne Overman’s body? Do we know where it is, Nano?”
No, Jayda Cruz. That portion of the text reads, ‘move WO remains tomorrow 2300 hours.’ It does not provide the location of the remains at present.
“Then we’ll follow whomever got the text. Catch them in the act. Not only will we have hard evidence on Danforth, but the President will also be able to give his friend an honorable burial.” I was wide awake and plenty excited now.
Zander put up a cautioning hand. “Wait a sec. Nano? You said the message was odd. Contradictory. What did you mean by that?”
The full text of the message flowed to us.
direct colón tellerman
move WO remains
2300 hours
39.0397° N 76.9341° W
I gaped. “Direct Colón and Tellerman? As in Kiera and Rob? But they’re FBI . . . aren’t they, Nano?”
They are, indeed, Jayda Cruz, which is why the message contradicts what we know to be true. However, we believe the entirety of the array’s report provides context necessary to determine that the text is a ruse, what is called misinformation or a ‘false flag.’
The woman with Danforth devised this ruse to trick you into determining whether or not we are monitoring their communications. The number to which the text was sent belongs to a phone used to call Danforth two months ago, one of the single-use, throwaway phones.
“Huh. What is the location referenced in the text?”
The coordinates pinpoint a spot within a heavily wooded, multi-use municipal park with hiking trails, twelve and a half miles from the NSA compound.
Zander asked, “Why there? Does Danforth plan to capture us in this park?”
“I wouldn’t think so,” I said, holding my aching side. “The open, uncontrolled environment of a wooded area? Danforth and the mystery woman have seen us in action twice. No, I think . . . I think the nanomites are correct. Danforth and the woman have to suspect that we are surveilling them. They can’t be certain, but if we were to show up tonight, it would prove their theory.”
Zander’s chin bobbed. “I get it.”
I added, “It’s a ploy we might have fallen for if we hadn’t already discovered that Rob and Kiera are FBI.”
The ruse has more than one purpose, Zander and Jayda Cruz. While your attention is focused elsewhere, Danforth will be giving instructions to abduct your family members and loved ones.
A chill of dread washed over me. “What?”
Please access the array’s audio, Jayda and Zander Cruz.
Zander and I pulled up the nanobugs’ entire report, including the audio. We listened to Danforth and the woman’s conversation from within the shielded facility—every nuanced word of their wicked schemes.
Then, even though we’d just heard their conversation for ourselves, the nanomites felt it necessary to break it down for us. The abductions will further shift your attention away from Danforth and the mystery woman. You will be preoccupied with locating your family members and unable to adequately interfere with Danforth and the woman.
“Yeah, we’ve figured that out,” I muttered.
The ultimate goal of the abduction is to buy the woman time to devise a trap for us.
Zander ground his teeth. “We get it, Nano.”
The nanomites weren’t finished. The woman has a two-man team in Albuquerque ready to carry out the abductions, Zander Cruz. Immediate action is required.
I was hurting too much to leave the couch, but that didn’t keep me from begging my husband to act. “Zander, call Abe. Izzie, too. Please hurry! Get them into hiding before Danforth’s team reaches them.”
“I’m on it, but where do we send them? Where can they go that the resources of the NSA wouldn’t sniff them out? Where could we safely stash them on such short notice?”
“We know a place in Albuquerque, Zander. Remember?”
My meaning became clear to him. “Right—but what about my parents in Las Cruces?”
“We have a bit more time to consider the best options for them. Our immediate concern is Abe, Emilio, and Izzie—and the team that is already on the ground in Albuquerque. Call Abe now, Zander!”
Zander’s hands shook as he dialed. “Abe?”
“Zander! It’s good to hear your voice, son.”
“Abe.”
“What is it, Zander?”
“Has Emilio left for school yet?”
“You almost missed him. We just finished breakfast and—”
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Abe, but the situation is urgent. You and Emilio are in danger—as are my sister and my parents. I need you to gather a few things and get out of your house. Now.”
Abe didn’t waste time by asking for the particulars. “How much time do we have, and where do we go?”
“Not much time at all; our enemies already have a team in Albuquerque, and they are on their way.”
Abe put his hand over the phone and bellowed, “Emilio!”
Emilio, eyes wide, ran to Abe. “Yes, sir?”
“Grab your duffle bag. Pack a few changes of clothes and your toothbrush. Hurry.”
Abe turned back to the phone. “Where do we go?”
“Uh, get to DCC. I will coordinate the rest of the arrangements. Park behind the fellowship hall and stay out of sight.”
“Okay. We’ll leave in a few minutes.”
“Abe?”
“Yes?”
“Take whatever staples will sustain you for a few days and wear sturdy shoes—hiking shoes.”
Abe blinked, but he didn’t argue. “I will.”
Zander hung up. The next call would be more difficult. His sister Izzie was not as compliant as Abe.
“Iz?”
“Zander! You caught me on the way out the door to work. I’m so green with envy! I would have come with Abe and Emilio to D.C. if I’d known they were going to spend the Fourth with you guys.”
“Iz—”
“They told me all about it. They had such a good t—”
“Izzie, stop talking and listen to me. You need to do exactly what I tell you.”
“Zander? What do you mean?”
“Shut up and listen, sis. I need you to pack some clothes, put on some sturdy shoes, and meet Abe and Emilio behind DCC. Most important? I need you to leave your apartment in the next five minutes. Do you understand?”
“Zander, you’re scaring me.”
“Good. I need you to be scared enough to do exactly as I’ve told you. Five minutes, Izzie. Get out of your apartment inside of five minutes.”
“What about my job? Should I call in sick?”
“No. Don’t call anyone. No one, hear me? Just go. Meet Abe like I said.”
“O-okay, I will.”
“Promise me? Don’t dawdle. Grab a bag, put
on some hiking shoes, and go.”
Izzie must have been sufficiently rattled, because she whispered, “Yes, Zander.”
He hung up and made his third call. “Dr. Bickel? Zander Cruz. We need your help.”
While Zander and Dr. Bickel finished their hurried arrangements, I blew out a breath. I’d just come up with a crazy, outrageous idea for protecting Zander’s parents.
I grabbed my phone and dialed another number. “Gamble?”
“Yeah?”
“You already know that our covers are blown; we’ve just discovered that Danforth is dispatching operatives to Las Cruces to take Zander’s parents into custody.”
“What about Abe and Emilio?”
“We’re handling their situation, but we need an escape plan for Zander’s mom and dad.”
“What can I do, Jayda?”
I took another deep breath. “Do you remember the commandant at White Sands?”
“I talked to him once. My team interfaced with him when they were investigating the house where Dr. Bickel was held.”
“The missile range is close to Cruces. I thought if the ‘right’ person were to speak to the commandant, then he would take Zander’s parents into his protection.”
Gamble made a grunt of agreement. “I had intended to call and update Kennedy anyway. I’ll . . . I’ll request that the President arrange for the commandant to send an armed guard to fetch Zander’s folks, escort them to White Sands, and keep their location on the range on the q.t. Zander’s mom and dad may be scared half silly when soldiers show up to their door, but it’s the fastest, most effective means of getting them under wraps.”
I exhaled in relief. “Thank you. I’ll text you their address, Gamble.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
I dropped my phone and put my hand to my side. The ache inside hadn’t fared well under the last stressful minutes. I still felt that unnatural warmth deep within.
“Nano? What’s going on in my body where I took that bullet? Infection?”
No infection, Jayda Cruz. Omega Tribe has surrounded the injury and will facilitate its healing.
Deep State Stealth Page 32
