by Robin Mahle
For now, Yang’s chief concern was to keep the feds off his scent and the scent of the company that purchased the majority share in Dalian. The US was posturing in its attempt to make an example of the Chinese-run operation in the states. His own country was too, for that matter. Two superpowers playing chicken to the detriment of their own people. “Typical,” Yang said. He turned toward his desk and pressed a button on his landline.
The voice of a young woman sounded through the intercom. “Yes, sir?”
“Arrange for one of my lawyers to be present at the trial next week. I’ll need to be updated.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll...”
He pressed the button again, cutting off the woman’s voice mid-sentence.
Dalian had suffered losses this quarter as a result of the sanctions; more importantly, as a result of American buyers not shopping at the malls owned by Dalian. While the corporation buried itself in layers of companies and investors, some underground reports had surfaced regarding the origins of the money behind Dalian and the information had spread among conspiracy theorists online. When questioned, his media relations team denied the allegations, but if one was savvy enough, one could find the trail. And he believed that savvy person was currently working for the FBI. While she’d become a high-profile figure—a messenger of truth—she and her band of merry men were running a covert operation, but what he didn’t know was who was behind it or what they wanted.
Snow fell lightly on the blades of grass in the front yard, clinging for just a moment before melting. Lacy closed the front room curtains as the wintery days brought early nights.
They’d survived their first Christmas without Jay. It hadn’t been easy. Now that January had arrived, things were returning to normal. Well, their new normal. Therapy sessions were fewer and farther between now. Olivia was adjusting and so was Jackson. Lacy finally felt they were safe. And the nightmare was behind them.
Although what she’d done—exposing a devastating fact to the people—had resulted in devastating consequences. She wondered how long it would be before her fellow Americans tired of the rising unemployment, civil unrest, and the battle for autonomy in the face of global economic challenges the nation had withstood thus far. Would they curse her name in the end?
It had to stop—the bluster of two world leaders proving their strengths. She understood why it had to be this way. China had to pay for what they’d done. Though they had insisted it was an act of a renegade. She knew better, and so did the president.
“Mom, it’s time for you to tuck us in.” Olivia approached her while still standing at the window. “Are you okay? Is someone out there?”
Lacy turned. “Oh, no, honey. I was just watching the snow. And you’re right. It is time for bed.” She peered into the hall. “Where’s your brother?”
“I don’t know.”
Lacy walked toward the staircase. “Jack? It’s time for bed.” She listened, but there was no reply. “Jack? Where are you?” She continued down the hall in search of him and happened upon Celeste. “Have you seen Jack?”
“No, I haven’t. He’s around somewhere. Jack?”
The three split up in search of the young boy who turned six only weeks ago. Jack was prone to pulling these disappearing acts. It was his way of gaining attention. Lacy didn’t fault him for it. Jack was still very young, and to have survived what he had damaged something in him. It damaged something in all of them. But this was his way and he always turned up in the end. She no longer feared he’d left the house or something worse. This was just part of his healing process.
“Jack? Honey, you need to come out now and get ready for bed.” Lacy walked upstairs and checked the bedrooms. “Jack?” She opened the door to her own bedroom and spotted a tiny bare foot with curled toes jutting from beneath the bed.
Lacy knelt down, raising the dust cover. “Jack? It’s time for bed, sweetheart.” She looked into his wide eyes and broad smile.
“How’d you find me?”
“It wasn’t easy. You’re getting pretty good at this.” She reached for his hand. “Come on. I’ll help you out.”
Celeste and Olivia appeared in the doorway.
“I see you found our expert hider,” Celeste said. “Good. Now no more messing around. Mom says it’s time for bed.”
“Fine.” Jackson fully emerged and slunk out of the room and to his own bed.
Lacy followed him out, regarding Celeste with a smile. “I’ll go tuck them in. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” Celeste made her way down the stairs.
“Okay, guys.” She followed their nightly rituals until both were tucked up in bed. Lacy turned off the hall lights and walked back downstairs to the living room. All was quiet and she could try to free her mind of what lay ahead, but it would be, and had always been, a futile effort. She could no more forget what had happened this past year than she could reconcile with what still needed to be done. But there was still a job to do. And Lacy had made a promise to Jay. That promise had yet to be fulfilled.
Chapter 2
Sweat dripped from Will Caison’s brow before rolling into his eyes. He squeezed them shut and hoisted the 200-pound barbell from his chest with a resonant grunt. Returning it to the rack, he sat up and wiped his face with a towel.
“Is that all you got?” Trevor Axell, wrapped in an overcoat, approached from behind.
Will spotted his reflection in the gym mirror and turned. “You think you can do better, old man?”
Axell had a few years on Agent Caison, fifteen to be exact, but he could hold his own. “I wouldn’t want to put you to shame in front of all these ladies. Most of them look like they could take you on anyway.”
“Why are you here, disturbing my work out?”
“We need to talk.” Axell tossed a glance toward the door. “Outside.”
Will followed him out, chugging his water bottle along the way. “What’s going on?”
Axell assessed the parking lot and surrounding buildings in the strip mall where the gym was anchored. The bitter night air was noticeable on his breath as he shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “Money’s been deposited into an account owned by Mrs. Turner. A large sum of money.”
“When? Do we know who sent it?” Will’s overheated body began to cool as the sweat turned to steam, rising from his neck and chest.
“Not yet. I’ll need Hunter to look into it. My guess is it’s a payoff.”
“For the upcoming trial? Making sure Turner keeps his mouth shut?”
“Most likely. I can’t see any benefit to Turner if he does spill the beans on Yang. Wouldn’t do him any good. No way he’ll get a plea deal on this. All it’ll do is jeopardize his family’s safety and welfare. He needs the money.”
“Okay. We find out for sure it was Yang, then what?”
“Ammunition. A nail in Yang’s coffin. It’ll confirm to the president what we already know. That Yang was behind the conspiracy with Turner. We need that proof to bolster our case.”
“Our goal is to bring down the Dalian Company, but we still don’t know who the new majority shareholder is. We can get this ammo on Yang, but what will it do for us in the end?”
“It’s all we’ve got right now. But I have an idea to get us closer to the goalpost. Which is why I’m here, freezing my nuts off.” He peered over his shoulder before resuming. “I want you to do something for me.”
“What’s that?”
“I need a woman.”
“Excuse me?” Will raised a brow.
“Someone who will get her hands dirty and is used to doing just that. I don’t have anyone here that I can call on. I’ve known a few in my time overseas, but I just don’t get involved in that arena anymore.”
“And I do?”
“You work in counterterrorism. I’m sure you have resources—assets who owe you.”
“Maybe. What will she need to do?”
A woman with blonde flowing locks and wearing a fitted black dress stood at the bar’s
entrance. It was an exclusive wine bar that required membership, which of course was reserved for the wealthiest of D.C., and Caison had guaranteed her access. The rest was now up to her.
“Good evening, ma’am. May I show you to a table?” The concierge approached her with hands clasped at his front. “You are a member?”
“Yes.” She handed him the card.
After a momentary check of her name, he continued. “How may I assist?”
“I’m meeting someone and I think I see him over there.”
“You’re welcome to go over. Have a good evening.”
Her stilettos clicked on the marble floor as she made her way toward the bar, putting on the necessary airs that could attract any living, breathing man on the planet. On a typical day, Madison Goodman found herself on the arm of a foreign diplomat of a Watch List country, keeping tabs and taking notes. Only tonight she was doing Agent Caison a favor. A big one. And she intended to collect when the job was done.
“Anyone sitting here?” Madison placed her evening bag on the bar top and regarded the man next to her.
“Looks like you are,” he replied with a broad smile oozing with charm. It appeared he wasn’t new to this game either. “What are you drinking?”
“Gin and tonic.”
The man nodded to the bartender on approach. “Gin and tonic for the lady and I’ll have another whiskey neat.” He eyed her again, devouring every inch of her. “I’m Gary.” He offered his hand.
“Madison. Pleasure to meet you. What brings you out on a cold D.C. night?”
“Just arrived in town, actually. Here on business.”
“Oh yeah?”
The bartender returned with their drinks.
“Thanks. Put it on my tab, would you?” he said. “I’m a financial consultant preparing a study for a lobbying firm.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“Not really.” He sipped on his whiskey. “And what about you?”
“I was actually supposed to meet a friend, but just as I stepped out of the cab, he texted me to say he wasn’t going to make it. I decided to come in anyway since I was already here.”
“His loss.”
She smiled and turned away, demure, and with a youthful appearance that made it possible. On anyone else, it would have seemed insincere.
“I’m glad you decided to come in.”
“Me too.”
As the conversation flowed, along with the drinks, she waited for the call. At last, it came through, just when she thought she might have to take this party someplace more private.
Gary reached for his phone on the bar top and glanced at the screen. “I’m sorry, I need to take this. Would you excuse me for just a moment?”
“Of course.” She watched him walk toward the exit and turned her attention to the bartender as he moved closer. “You get a copy for me?”
“Sure did. Just sent you the photo.”
“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Anytime.”
Within a few minutes, Gary returned. “I’m so sorry. Work. What can you do?”
“I understand completely.”
“Where were we?” He pulled his stool closer.
In that moment, Madison’s cell phone vibrated in her bag. “Oh no. That one’s mine.” She retrieved it from the small handbag. “Are you kidding me?”
“Everything all right?”
“Sorry. No, it’s not. I have to go. My sitter says my kid just threw up.” She stood up to leave. “Pleasure meeting you, Gary. Maybe we’ll cross paths again.”
“I certainly hope so.” He raised his glass to her, but his expression couldn’t hide his disappointment. “I hope everything turns out okay. Good night, Madison.”
The bartender approached as she walked away. “That’s too bad, man. She was smokin’ hot.”
“No shit.”
Madison’s cab rolled to a stop at the front of Will’s apartment building. He stood up from the front steps and walked toward it, blowing on his hands for warmth. She rolled down the rear passenger window and he leaned in. “You get it?”
She raised a brow at his remark.
“Right. And everything went okay? He didn’t suspect anything?”
“This isn’t my first rodeo, Agent Caison.”
“Sorry. I did it again, didn’t I?”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ll come to understand my ways, should we need to work together again. In the meantime, give me your phone.”
He handed her his iPhone.
“I just airdropped it to you. Is that all you needed?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“You just remember this when SSA Kelly gets my bill.”
Will smiled, knowing she wasn’t talking about money, but favors. “Will do. Thanks again for this.”
“Of course.” She turned to the cab driver. “Fairfax station, please.” As she rolled up her window, the cab pulled away.
Will glanced at his phone and the pictures she’d just sent. One was the credit card of the man she’d met with. The other was a picture of him on the phone as he stood outside. “She’s good.”
“It’s cold out here tonight, Mr. Caison,” the doorman said as Will approached.
“That it is.” He continued through the entrance and toward the elevators.
The doors parted and he was on his way up to the sixth floor. He continued to peer at the image, as though he knew the man. But he didn’t, of course. Maybe Axell did. However, he would wait until he reached his apartment and refrain from sending the pictures over the cell phone network. He’d learned enough from Hunter to know that the safest bet was to send it over a secured connection, which he’d whipped up for him within days of the establishment of their team.
Once inside, he plugged his cell phone into the USB on his computer and sent the images to a secure server at their new home base. From there, Axell could access them and take a look for himself.
With the phone to his ear, he called Axell. “It’s on the server.”
“No problems?”
“Not that I’m aware. She seems to be a woman of few words, though.”
“That bodes well for us. Good night, Caison. And good work.”
Inside their new cutting-edge bullpen, Lacy stared at the image on her laptop. “I know this man.” She turned to Axell. “I don’t know him personally, but I’ve seen him before. I’ve talked to him before.”
“Where?” Axell replied.
“At Argus Solutions.”
“Are you sure about that?” Will asked.
“Of course I’m sure. It’s been a long time—years—but I remember him from a company party or some social event. I remember him because he hit on me.” She smirked at her recollection. “Just as Jay left to get us a drink, he came up to me. He was creepy then and I’m sure he hasn’t changed.”
“Was his name Gary Reese?” Axell continued. “That’s what shows up on this credit card, but I doubt it is his real name. That would be too easy.”
Lacy turned her sights upward. “I can’t remember his name. He had the same white hair though, even then. I could go back to Argus and talk to Scott Voss. He’ll know him. I’m sure of it.”
“I’ll go with you.” Aaron and Will looked at each other as they replied in unison.
Axell pursed his lips and eyed both of them. “Hunter, I need you here with me. We need to find this guy’s real identity. Merrick and Caison can go to Argus and work that angle.”
“Sure. Yeah. Sounds good.” Hunter’s disappointment was palpable.
“Good.” Axell began to rise. “Then we all know what we’re supposed to do. Let’s meet back here this afternoon and see what we’ve got. Anyone have any questions?”
“Nope.” Lacy stood. “You ready to go?”
“Sure am.” Will pulled his coat off the back of the chair. “We’ll need to check in at Headquarters afterward, before coming back here. I’ve got a few things on my plate.”
“Same here.”
She turned to Axell. “That okay with you, boss?”
“Yes, and don’t call me boss. You know I hate that.”
Lacy smiled. “Okay, boss. See you later.” She walked into the corridor.
“You’re in a good mood today,” Will said.
“Feeling better than I have in a while, I guess. Starting to feel, dare I say, almost normal. Not quite, but we’re getting there.”
“That’s great to hear, Lacy. Time heals.”
“That’s what they say.” She pushed through the exit and into the parking garage. “You want to drive, or should I?”
“Be my guest. You know where you’re going.” Will waited for her to unlock the door of her Lexus and slid onto the passenger seat.
“I sure do.” She stepped in and pressed the ignition.
“When was the last time you were at Argus?” he asked.
“Not since I cleaned out Jay’s desk. And we all know what happened after that. It’ll be strange to see Scott, but I don’t hold him responsible for any of this. How could I? He didn’t know what Owen Ballard was doing.”
“No. Of course not.”
“It’ll just be hard seeing everyone again, you know? I worked there too. A long time ago, but still. It’s like that was a whole different life. So many things have happened since then.” She gathered her thoughts and continued. “But Scott will be able to find out who he is. I’m sure of it. He was a big player a while back. Maybe still is. Who knows?”
“Why do you suppose this man has ties to Argus?”
She turned to him. “That, my friend, is a very good question.”
The next several minutes passed in silence before Will began again. “How’s Hunter doing with all of this? He’s settled into his new place, right?”
“Yeah. I helped him unpack and did a bit of decorating for him. Tried to make it look like a full-grown man lived there and not some college kid. I mean, not that that’s how he behaves; he doesn’t.”
“I knew what you meant.”
