In Plain Sight (Covert Justice Book 3)

by Mary Alford

  He stopped and sighed at the memory. “We were the top of our group. Roc and then me. It was always a competition between us, even though we were—are—still good friends. Unfortunately, it was never much of a competition. Roc was always first. That’s why Ed took him under his wing. He was grooming Roc to take over his position one day.”

  This surprised me. “Tell me where he went, Doren.”

  “I can’t. But I can tell you this. He loved you from the second he met you. He talked about nothing else. I was so sick of hearing about you.”

  That explained how Doren and Roc met, but I needed more. “How did you end up following me in Washington, D.C.?”

  “As much as I’d like to say I’d planned it so that I could meet you, that’s not the case. I was undercover.”

  “Undercover? Where?”

  “Lena…”

  “You were following my brother? How did you get that close to him?” I persisted.

  “Lena, I know you want to believe the man you met in Washington is the same person you knew as a child, but you’re wrong. Justin is a cold-blooded killer now.”

  “Kind of like you and Roc. And me.”

  He shook his head. “No, he’s nothing like us. You’ve seen the reports. Don’t try to deny it. I know you read Roc’s files. Justin is dangerous. He’s not the person you thought he was.”

  “I don’t believe you.” But I did. Even if I couldn’t accept it.

  “It’s true. He’s responsible for all those things and quite possibly many more things we don’t even know about yet. He’s not the person you want him to be.”

  I headed for the door, but Doren came after me, reaching for my arm.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going for a walk. I need to be alone.”

  “Don’t be foolish. Justin is probably having the cabin watched right now. He knows by now that Roc isn’t dead. He’ll come after you to get to Roc.”

  Of course, he was right. After all, Doren was the only one who had been completely honest with me thus far. But for the moment, I needed to forget about Roc, Doren, my brother, and everything connected to The Agency.

  I stepped outside into the crisp morning. Out here, you could hear noises from miles away. I stood silently listening, then walked the perimeter of the house, looking for some visible signs that someone might be watching us, but saw nothing. Not even a footprint or a broken plant. Nothing to indicate anyone had been here.

  As I started farther up the hill close by, something to my right caught my attention.

  A reflection that looked like glass on the far range. Maybe binoculars.

  That prickle at the base of my spine warned me something wasn’t right here.

  I headed toward the glint. If indeed someone was watching me, and they were not frightened by my advancement, what did that mean?

  I took an angled approach to the spot, coming upon it from above instead of from either side.

  When I was a few yards away, I couldn’t see any sign of movement. Whoever had been there was gone now. Had it simply been a hiker off course?

  I crept down to the opening in what appeared to be a small cave, only a few feet in depth and searched around the area. Someone had taken a tree branch and brushed away their footsteps in an attempt to cover up their presence there. My heart beat faster.

  This was no hiker off course. Only someone with the right skills would know how to cover up their tracks in such a way. I shaded my eyes and scanned the horizon. There was no sign of anyone approaching the area so I took a few minutes to take in my surroundings. Whoever had gone to such lengths to disguise their presence wasn’t FLA. They were one of my own.

  When I returned to the cabin, it was growing dark. Doren waited for me on the porch.

  “You should eat something.”

  “I’m not hungry.” When I would have walked past him without another word, he reached for my hand.

  “Lena, don’t do this to yourself. He will return.”

  “You don’t know that without a doubt, do you?” I couldn’t make out his expression in the darkness but his silence was answer enough. I sat down next to him. “I’m pregnant, Doren.”

  “I know,” he said quietly. “He loves you so much.”

  At this I smiled. I didn’t doubt Roc’s love for me. “It’s late and I’m tired. We’ll talk in the morning, okay?”

  I left Doren and went up to the room I’d shared briefly with Roc. It was hard being there and remembering the love we’d expressed here. Sleep would not be possible for me. Sometimes I wondered if the normal life I’d once craved would ever be within my reach.

  That night I searched Roc’s e-mails once more, looking for some hint as to where he might be headed. I prayed that Ed hadn’t sent him into one of the tourist locations designated for attack. Surely, Ed of all people had to realize Roc was unfit for such a grueling assignment. But then, the expression on Ed’s face had told me the gravity of the situation. In all the years I’d known Ed Peyton, I’d never seen him show any emotion until then.

  Amongst the files Roc obviously thought he’d deleted were more details concerning the mole, and several notes that seem to indicate Roc might be close to figuring out the person’s identity. Roc’s notes clearly indicated a link to my brother. He believed Justin had deliberately chosen a person within The Agency’s ranks to monitor our activity. It wasn’t clear if the person cooperated willingly or through blackmail. Not that it mattered. Someone in our small task force had become a traitor.

  Several of the correspondences between Roc and Ed took on a heated tone. It was clear that Ed believed my connection was obvious. The only question was whether I’d unknowingly given away classified information to my brother or deliberately. Roc, of course, disagreed. The last correspondence on the subject had been a few days before Roc showed up on my doorstep.

  I wished more than ever that Roc would come back and reassure me everything was going to be okay.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The atmosphere that settled over the cabin during those days became one of waiting. Doren and I were both waiting for something to happen.

  Doren spent most of his time locked away in his room. I could hear him talking on the phone from time to time. From his tone, I could tell the situation had turned grim. We would need to leave the cabin soon.

  “Who’s sitting on the place?” I asked late one evening, on one of the rare occasions Doren emerged long enough to eat.

  “So, you figured that out.” He sat across from me staring at his plate for so long that I didn’t believe he would answer.

  “Who’s watching us, Doren?”

  “Stevie’s team,” he said at last.

  “Why?” None of this made any sense. Why was my own team watching me?

  “Lena…”

  “Tell me!” When he didn’t answer, I took a wild guess. “Justin.” Doren’s silence was the only answer I needed. “Why is my brother coming here? For me or for you?”

  “Neither,” he admitted. “But there’s a very real chance we’re both in danger the longer we stay here, which is why I’ll need your cooperation. We’ll need to get out of here soon. I’m just waiting for the word.”

  “If he’s watching the place, won’t he know Roc’s gone?”

  Doren took a moment before answering. “The thing is, Lena, we’ve lost Justin.”

  “What do you mean, you’ve lost him?” I remembered the call I’d placed to Justin and Roc’s warning about my brother’s ability to find me.

  “We were tracking his movements until a few days ago when several FLA members ambushed the team and killed them. Someone tipped Justin off to their exact location. Since then, well, he’s simply vanished into thin air.”

  “Then you do think he’s coming here?” I could see the truth in his eyes even before Doren answered.

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t believe I’m hearing this. Is that why Roc left?” I got to my feet but Doren reached for my hand, holding m
e there.

  “No, that’s not it at all. The reason Roc left is Becca’s gone missing.”

  “Becca’s missing? When?” I sank back down into my chair, searching Doren’s expression.

  “A few days ago, around the same time as the attack, we believe. Her father went to her apartment after trying to reach her for hours. There were definite signs of a struggle. Things turned over. Broken.”

  “Oh, no. You think Justin is the one who took her?”

  “Possibly. Maybe to get to Ed, or even Roc. Maybe he thinks having one of Roc’s team go missing will help flush him out. Who knows? Roc’s the only one Ed trusts to lead the search for her and needless to say we can’t let this get out.”

  “Why is Justin so determined to get to Roc?”

  “Roc has been tracking Justin’s activity for years. He’s been responsible for diverting many of Justin’s planned attacks before they could ever get off the ground. It’s become a personal vendetta for Justin.”

  “There’s more to it than that. There has to be. What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Lena…”

  “When I met you in Washington, you knew about my brother—who he really was, don’t deny it.”

  Then it clicked. What I should have seen all along. “You were working undercover in the FLA.”

  He confirmed the truth with a simple nod. “I’ve been undercover for years.”

  I stared at him in disbelief. The FLA was virtually impenetrable.

  “I’ve been watching Justin’s comings and goings for years—in and out of that training camp in North Carolina near where your parents died. For a long time, we believed Justin was just a small fish. It was some time later that we learned the man we believed was the real person in charge was little more than a decoy. One of Justin’s cronies set up to deceive any intelligence that might be looking in.”

  He stopped for a breath. “I managed to work my way up the ranks, getting close to Justin after a while. He trusted me. I was his second-in-command. We had no idea until then how far-reaching the FLA’s power really was.”

  The grave expression in Doren’s eyes frightened me. “What do you mean?” I asked and dreaded his answer.

  “They have people working for them you can’t imagine. High-up people in critical government roles. The mole in The Agency ranks is only one small part of it. This is a serious threat. You remember the document that you decoded?”

  “You mean the one you sent Mark?”

  Doren met my challenging gaze with a grin. “Yes. I should have guessed you’d figure it out. In the beginning, I believed it might simply be a fake planted by Justin. I thought he was trying to flush out the person responsible for feeding Roc confidential information, which allowed him to know Justin’s every move. I guess in a way it worked, because after you told Justin about the document being in Agency possession, he became suspicious of everyone, including me.”

  “Oh, Doren, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

  “I know. At that point, we knew it was only a matter of time before he figured it out. After you had the run-in with some of his team at the abandoned apartment building, I knew I was on shaky ground.”

  “So you followed me there that night to protect me from Justin?”

  “Yes. By that time, we’d orchestrated Roc’s death, but there was still a chance Justin might believe it was all a trick and come after you to try to learn the truth. Lena, it was Justin who called you pretending to be Roc. I believe the original plan was to kidnap you but obviously, that didn’t work out so well. I couldn’t let anything happen to you.”

  A smile touched his lips as he spoke. “After that, well, my cover was blown and I was brought in. Lena, the stuff written in that second document is true. The part about the major terrorist cells uniting. It’s happening right now under Justin’s leadership.”

  I remembered the more recent document written in the same obscure language. Something about the whole thing didn’t add up.

  “What is it?” Doren asked when he spotted my expression.

  “If the information in those documents is so critical that Justin would use an obscure language to communicate, then why use Aramaic? He had to know I would understand the language.”

  “Maybe, he just didn’t think you’d remember, or he simply slipped up. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility. After all, he knew we were getting close. I think he simply panicked. It’s hard to consider every little detail when you’re looking over your shoulder.”

  “Maybe, but you don’t really believe that.”

  “No, you’re right. I know the guy. He’s meticulous and thorough. He wouldn’t make that type of mistake.”

  “Which means, it has to be a setup. Doren, we have to get word to Roc. He’s being set up.”

  Doren picked up the phone and punched in a number. After a moment of waiting, he looked at me. “He’s not answering. I’ll try reaching Mark and Ed. They’re with him.”

  When the calls went unanswered, Doren was ready to try Roc’s number again when another call came in.

  “What is it, Stevie?” Doren said as I got to my feet and stood close to him.

  “There’s activity heading your way.” I heard Stevie say. “And it’s not ours.”

  “How far away?” Doren asked.

  “Maybe fifteen minutes tops. Get out of there now. We’re on our way.”

  Doren disconnected without answering. “We’ll have to go out on foot. Do you feel up to it?”

  I nodded. “I’ll be fine. What do you need me to do?”

  “Go out through the basement. Get as far away from the cabin as possible. Take your cell phone but only use it as an emergency. You have your weapon?” I nodded and started for the door, but Doren didn’t follow.

  “What is it? Doren, there isn’t any time.”

  “I’m not going with you. I’ll stay here and try to divert their attention. Stevie’s on the way. He’ll be here soon. Go.”

  “No. I’m not leaving without you.” I didn’t move.

  “I’ll be fine, but I need you to do as I say this time. Please.”

  “All right,” I said at last. Doren was trying to protect my baby and me.

  “Good. Listen to me, Lena. If I don’t come after you within half an hour, don’t wait. There’ll be a car waiting for you over the North Range. It’s important that you do as I say. If you don’t hear from me by then, you go ahead. I’ll catch up when I can.”

  I knew what he meant. If Doren didn’t follow, then I could only assume he was dead.

  “You’re going to have to use the window in the basement. It’s as far away from the front of the house as possible and I don’t think anyone will be expecting us to leave. Hurry, Lena. There’s little time.”

  I tucked my weapon into my jeans under my shirt before slipping downstairs to the basement. There wasn’t any hint of movement around the back of the house. The window was siliconed shut. I pried it open with difficulty and climbed out into the coolness of the night.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Outside, I stood for a few seconds, listening for any unusual noises but there was only silence. An oppressive sound that made me aware of every breath I took.

  Even though I knew the property like the back of my hand by now, it was still difficult to maneuver in the dark.

  I started toward the North Range. There was no moon tonight, only a sky full of stars to give any light. The scrub brush tore at my jeans. I found myself continuously looking back over my shoulder at the dark silhouette of the house. There was no sound coming from inside. My mind worked overtime with the possibilities. Was Doren okay? Was he coming after me? Or was he locked in the struggle that we’d both been expecting for days?

  I stopped for a moment to get my bearings. The gazebo where Roc and I talked was just ahead to my right. I glanced around the area but didn’t see any signs someone might be following me.

  I made my way through the thick underbrush to the gazebo. From here, I could see anyone approac
hing from all directions. I checked my watch and saw that I’d been waiting for almost fifteen minutes already.

  Then suddenly, the phone I’d clipped to my jacket pocket came alive with sound. At first, I thought Doren was trying to reach me through the push-to-talk function on the phone. I reached for it and was about to ask him where he was when I heard the voice of my brother.

  Doren was still at the house and trying to warn me.

  “So, you came after all, Jeremiah? That was foolish on your part. Do you really think we wouldn’t be expecting you?”

  “Shut up, Doren!” I listened in horror to the rage in my brother’s voice. The man speaking to Doren was a far cry from the gentle person I remembered. “Of course I came. It’s going to be my pleasure to be the one to end your miserable existence. You betrayed me. I considered you my friend but all along, you were working for the CIA. I’m going to enjoy every single second of your pain.”

  Justin was somewhere inside the cabin. Instinctively, I realized I had to help Doren. I couldn’t do as he asked and walk away. Doren needed me.

  There were no voices other than Doren’s and Justin’s. Doren had deliberately left the push-to-talk function on his phone active so I would hear the danger and not come back after him, but I couldn’t leave a fellow agent behind.

  I started back down the path. I’d only taken a few steps when I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. I turned in time to see a figure walking quickly towards me. I drew my weapon.

  “That’s far enough,” I said with more authority than I felt at that moment. “Identify yourself.” The figure moved closer still. It was then that I heard distinct female laughter.

  “Becca?” I said in astonishment.

  Warning bells rang at the sound of her laughter.

  “Are you surprised to see me, Lena?”

  “We thought you were dead.” I stopped when the truth finally hit me. Becca wasn’t here to help. She was here for my brother—as part of his team. Becca was the mole.

  She stopped close to me. “So, you finally figured it out, Lena. Don’t look so surprised. No one ever suspected a thing, did they? Certainly not my father until it was too late. Unfortunately, he found out about our little secret. That I’ve been giving away information about his precious Agency for years now. But he won’t be warning anyone. I had the pleasure of ending his miserable existence. Can you believe it—he actually wanted to take me in? His own daughter?” There was no amusement in her tone. She sounded deranged.