Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

T he safe house in Washington was a two-story townhouse with secure parking beneath. After practicing on the stairs at the EIS headquarters in Columbus, Zoe managed to climb up from the garage into the house with no assistance and very little wobble to her gait.

"How's the leg doing, Zoe?" Jake asked as they settled in at the table. A tray of various sub sandwiches and bags of chips in the center.

"It's tolerable. Getting used to this walking boot is taking a little time," she said, reaching for one of the sandwiches.

"Glad you're back in mostly one piece," he said, shaking hands with Connor. "Welcome to the team."

Castello extended his hand. "Thanks for finding Zoe."

Connor shook his hand too, then pulled out a chair and lifted Zoe's leg up on it. "Duke found her. I just brought her down the mountain."

"Can't wait to hear that story," Ben said, also shaking hands.

"It's going to have to wait," Luke said handing out bottles of water from the fridge. "Abby's going to be on line in two minutes with information from Zoe's phone for all of us."

Zoe swallowed the bite of sandwich in her mouth. "She's figured out who all the players at the lodge were?"

Luke paused his fingers over the laptop he'd opened on the table to stare straight at her. "It's Abby. If she ever saw those people before, she'll have a name for each of them."

"I'm not doubting that. It's why I brought the camera to her. It just always amazes me how she can do that."

"How does she do it?" Connor asked, sitting on a barstool behind Zoe.

She threw a pointed look at her cousin. "You know her best, you explain it."

He leaned back slinging an arm over the back of his chair. "Abby has this fantastic brain. Everything she sees is like a snapshot. She says she stores them away in her "filing cabinet" and when she needs to reference them, she can just pull them out and see them all over again."

"Everything she sees?" Connor asked, his brow drawn down worriedly. "She doesn't forget anything?"

Luke grew very serious. "Everything."

"Since we've known about it, everyone in the family works hard to keep her from seeing truly horrific images," Katie said.

Connor nodded. "I bet."

"Time and distance dull those images and memories for most of us," Luke said. "But not my wife."

Suddenly, the large screen TV in the kitchen flickered on and there was Abby.

"Were your ears burning?" Dave asked.

"No. Why?" she asked, her brows raised in curiosity. "Were you talking about me?"

"Just explaining to Connor how your brain works, baby," Luke said.

"Oh, that. Yeah. I'm weird."

"No," Zoe said, taking up her defense. "You have a unique ability that helps us all save people."

Abby gave her a small smile. "Thanks. I did manage to get all those images identified, once they were cleaned up and zoomed in. I thought we'd start with those and go picture by picture, so everyone will know who all the players are. I'll send the list to your phones, but putting names to pictures will help you when you're in the field."

A picture filled the screen.

"First up, thanks to Zoe, we know this is Markus Loudon now known as Quintus Zacharius."

"This is what he looks like now," Zoe said. "He's had plastic surgery since I knew him. I'm assuming to avoid facial recognition software."

"How did he change?" Abby asked.

"His nose was wider with a bit of a hook in it near the bone. He broke it in a mission before I met him. His jaw line was wider, as well as his eyes. He was going bald then."

"Wonder if he had hair plugs or some sort of toupee, since it looks like he has a full head of hair now?"

"I'd say hair plugs," Matt said. "Dude looks like his ego is bigger than Gibraltar and would want real hair."

"I'm for toupee," Luke said. "He thinks he's a chameleon and would want to change color and style at a moment's notice."

And at the word chameleon, Zoe and her cousins all broke out in the nineties Boy George song and ended it with laughter. None of them had ever been able to sing on key, but what they lacked in talent, they made up with enthusiasm.

"If you four are finished," Jake said with a shake of his head. "Let's let Abby get on with the ID's on this bunch."

"Right," Luke said. "Who's up next, Abby?"

The image changed to an older man.

"General Marsten," Jake, Castello and Connor all said at once.

"Was he part of the drug ring?" Zoe asked Connor.

Connor shook his head. "Not that I know of. He was just a Colonel back then and in charge of a Brigade when I was in the service. He also was at the court martial every day."

No one in the room blinked at the fact that Connor had been court-martialed. She knew Dave had found out the details and informed the rest of the team.

"The next one is interesting," Abby said, and the image changed to a man probably in his mid-fifties. "This is Jackson Jose Diaz. Head of JJD Investments, LLC."

"That's a major investment fund," Dave said. "Especially in the energy sector."

"Keep that in mind," Abby said and the image changed again to well-known African American man. "Next we have Senator Finch."

"Chairman of the Senate Commerce committee," Katie said.

The image changed again to a thirty-ish woman.

"Congresswoman Leonard," Dave said. "Ranking member on the House Energy committee."

Another image popped on the screen of a long-haired man who looked like a left-over from the ninety's grunge bands.

Everyone in the room looked at each other confused. No one seemed to know who this one was.

"I see I've stumped you," Abby said, popping in on a split screen with a grin. "This is Brenden Towers."

Crickets in the room.

"He's the leader of Ergo Future Power. One of the new anti-fossil fuels revolutionary groups."

The image changed to a bald middle-aged man with a deep tan, like he'd been outdoors for years.

"I've got this one," Ben said. "Harry Seville, oilman from Southwest Texas."

Castello looked at him. "How do you know that?"

Ben shrugged. "My family's from a little town south of Midland. Dad worked for his company for twenty years. Harry liked to work the rigs, especially when they were digging for a new well. It's why he has a perpetual tanned leather look."

"One more," Abby said as another woman, in her mid-fifties popped on the screen.

"Elizabeth Carrigan," Katie said. "She owns a fashion magazine and a small press literary magazine."

"I thought there was a pattern to all this, until Carrigan," Luke said.

"Oh, but there is," Jake said. "Carrigan also donates to various save the planet groups and owns New World Science, the magazine all about alternative energy options."

"But you have people from all sides of the energy debate. Only fossil fuels. Only alternative fuel advocates. The two politicians couldn't be further from the middle if they were standing on opposite poles," Zoe said, feeling more confused. "And I know Markus never had an interest in either side, especially the save the planet groups. So, why's he mixed up with this bunch?"

"I'll bet whatever they're doing, it's all about the money," Connor said, almost repeating her works from last night. Everyone looked his way. "It's always about the money."

"That's what Brianna said, so she's digging deep into all their finances," Abby said. "Which brings me to the other information I have for you guys."

"Did you break the encryption on that hard drive yet?" Zoe asked.

Abby shook her head. "Not yet, but we're still running some algorithms on it. Remember you asked Luke to find out what summits or meetings might be going on in DC this week? I said I'd do that while you guys were flying."

"Right. What did you find?"

"Well, it's Washington, so there's always meetings scheduled all over the place, foreign, domestic, business. But given all the people in these pictures, I'm pretty sure they plan to do something to or at the International Energy Summit taking place on a gated, secure estate in Forrest Hills tomorrow. I've sent the address to your phones, along with the images of these people."

Bings suddenly sounded throughout the room.

"Got it," Jake said. "Anything else for us, Abby?"

"Well one more thing. When I was doing some background on that address, something popped up that might be relevant."

"Like what, babe?" Luke asked.

"Apparently, a gas leak was reported in that area and all the houses had to be checked, including the one where the summit is supposed to be held. It was just two days ago."

Everyone in the room exchanged looks.

"Good excuse to rig the place with monitors or listening devices," Dave said.

"Or hack into the computer system," Luke suggested.

"Disable the alarms," Castello added.

Matt stared at Katie, who was the team's explosive expert. "Or wire in a bomb."

His wife nodded. "It's a good way to throw off suspicion that a bomb was set. Already establish the gas leak theory ahead of time. The house blows up and everyone can run for cover behind the previous inspection of more than one house in the area for a gas line leak."

"Shit," Ben muttered, and everyone else agreed.

"Abby, can you get us a list of all the people attending the summit?

"I can get that," Luke said. "You've been working on this stuff for hours. You should get some rest."

She smiled at her husband. "I'll take a short one, then keep working on cracking open that hard drive. If I get anything useful for the mission, I'll let you know. You guys stay safe, okay?" she said, concern in her voice and eyes. She'd been on enough missions with the family to know they were heading into something dangerous.

Considering Abby was pregnant, Zoe was very glad Luke had convinced her not to come along on this mission. She already felt guilty putting her family in danger once more.

"They know what they're getting into," Connor said behind her just loud enough for only her to hear and squeezing her uninjured shoulder.

Squeezing his hand she glanced over her shoulder. "Doesn't make me feel less guilty."

"You know this is what we do?" Dave asked, drawing their attention. "We all took oaths when we joined up with all our agencies to protect and defend."

"That's when you were officially on the government's payroll in some fashion or another," Zoe argued.

"Not me," Katie said. "I never promise those things. I just got sucked into it."

"Beg to differ with you, Katie," Castello said. "The day you walked into the police station to turn evidence on your stepfather's cult group for that bombing, you'd already committed to protecting people."

"My point," Zoe said, reclaiming the conversation, "is that you're under no obligation to anyone to put your lives in danger for something I dropped at your doorstep. Something that started off personal for me."

"Wrong, cuz," Luke said, looking up from his laptop, his fingers stilled. "The moment this Markus dude tried to kill you, it became personal to all of us. Saving others from whatever this guy has planned? That's just icing on the cake."

She shook her head, but looked each of them in the eye to read their promise to her. They were in it for the long haul. "You guys are crazy."

"You should know," Matt said with a grin. "You're part of the family."

?

The phone in his pocket buzzed.

Quintus pulled it out to read the caller number.

"What did you find out?" he asked without preamble. He'd sent the man on a mission and there was no other reason for him to be calling but to report what he found.

"Eight bodies."

"A woman among them?"

"That's a negative, sir. Two in camo jackets hidden behind some pine trees. The other six dressed in black all about a hundred yards into the mountains. The cabin, although torn up from gunfire, was empty."

"No one dead inside?" he asked, anger building as he stalked around the old warehouse like a caged tiger he often watched at the National Zoo.

"None."

Dammit. She was still alive.

"What do you want me to do, sir?"

"Head back here and collect your men. We have a job tomorrow and I need everyone. Meet me at the warehouse at twenty-one hundred hours."

"Yes, sir."

He disconnected and pocketed the phone.

Damn Zoe. How did she survive both hit teams? Who the hell was helping her? He'd sorely miscalculated the depth of her abilities or her resources. Or both.

She'd been with Areneum for nearly a decade now. Although always working alone to infiltrate drug cartels, trafficking rings or the occasional arms dealer like Bricker. Would she call them in to find him when they'd bought the news of his death years ago?

No. They'd think her crazy. It had to be someone else. But who?

What he needed was more information.

Pulling out his phone again, he dialed Doreen's number.

"Hello, good lookin'," the flirty southern accent on the other line irritated him like it always did, but he forced himself to sound interested. "Been a long time. What 'cha need?"

"Hey, yourself, darlin'," he said in the southern drawl he'd perfected just for her. "I'm wondering if you could find an address for someone for me?"

"Sure, but it's going to cost you."

It always did.

"I'm going to have some free time if you're up to a trip for a weekend at a spa or my cabin?"

"Mmm, I'll have to think about it," she said with a purr, meant to entice him. "Whose address do you want me to check out?"

"The name's Zoe Edgars."

"Should I be jealous that you have me looking for a woman?"

"Now darlin', you know me better than that. She's just a business client," he said, walking to the open door and staring out into the murky grey Washington sky.

"Well, if it's just business. Give me a minute."

Doreen was nothing if not efficient. Unfortunately, after the mission tomorrow, she would become another loose end he couldn't keep open. The trip this weekend would be her last.

It took longer than he thought for Doreen to return to the line.

"Sorry, it took so long."

"Was there a problem?" he asked, knowing Zoe wouldn't just put her information out there for anyone to look up. But Doreen wasn't just anyone. She had clearances to search for hidden information for the CIA.

"This Zoe's driver's license address is for a place that doesn't exist. I had to do a property search and that was sealed, but I finally got it." She read him the address and he put it into his phone. Both of them knew not to message the information over the phone where any spyware could document it.

"Thank you, darlin'. Don't forget to let me know how you want to spend this weekend."

"I'm thinking a spa outing would be lovely."

"It's a date," he said before hanging up.

Glancing at his watch, he calculated how much time he had before Draper and his men showed up for the briefing for tomorrow's operation. At least eight hours. More than enough time for him to scout out Zoe's address. Since she knew he was hunting her, he doubted she'd return to her lair. No, she'd go to ground somewhere else. But there was the chance she left some clue inside that would put him on her trail or whoever was helping her.

?

"If there's a bomb, we're going to need more help than just us," Matt said after Abby hung up.

Jake leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hand over his face in frustration. "We're going to have to be very careful who we bring into this, given that three parts of the government are already involved in this plot. The military, the senate and congress."

"I have two guys I trust at the Marshall's office here in DC," Castello said.

"That's good." Jake turned to Zoe. "You think we can trust anyone with Areneum or NSA?"

She sighed, which wasn't a good sign. "I took this operation off books with them because my suspicions that Markus might be alive was just that, a suspicion. I'd hoped to have proof to bring to my handler at Areneum to go after him. I hadn't planned on it ballooning into this conspiracy. And I also had to wonder if his supposed death and reappearance as someone else might be some undercover operation that no one was to know about."

"And you didn't know if Markus had a mole in the agency to help hide his identity," Connor stated.

Zoe blinked and stared at him. "How did you know?"

He shrugged. "Makes sense. You felt betrayed by your mentor who put you in these agencies. You wanted help that you could trust, so you go to your family. You could've reached out to someone you worked with at…Areneum, was it?"

"Yes."

"Or the NSA, but you didn't. You're not sure who or if there's anyone you can trust at either place."

As the two talked, Jake wondered if they realized the bond they'd quickly formed since he'd rescued her off that mountain. It was obvious to him. The same thing happened between him and Sami after he kidnapped her out of the hospital parking lot. Matt and Katie's bond formed when she forced him to help her escape a hitman attempting to kill her. One thing about the Edgars, when put in a point of stress, their inner strengths and natural ability to instinctively know whom they can trust surfaced. Connor Davis didn't know it yet, but he was Zoe's person.

"So, Areneum and the NSA are out," Jake said and turned to Dave and Matt. "Any chance you can reach out to local law enforcement?"

Dave pulled out his phone. "It'll take a few minutes, but I can see if my old Captain can connect us with someone he trusts here in town."

"I'll get in touch with the head of the Ohio Highway Patrol. He's on the National board of HP's and can give me a name to contact in Maryland," Matt said, already scrolling through his contacts.

"Let's keep the details close to the vest, until we have those names," Jake suggested. "The fewer people that have them, the less likely leaks will hit our group of conspirators."

"What about your people at the FBI?" Ben asked, reaching for a second sandwich. "We've used them for our other operations."

"Yeah, that's the problem." Jake took a long drink of water from his bottle. "Those were the local field agents. The agents here work out of the national bureau, which means they're under direct supervision of the administration."

"The guys you don't trust," Castello said.

Matt nodded. "The reason you left and started EIS with us."

Everyone in the family knew that Jake had been offered a promotion into the National office here in DC, but he chose instead to leave and start the private investigation group with people he trusted to take on cases they believed in.

"So, the FBI is a no?" Connor asked.

Jake gave a half-shrug. "More like a maybe. I do have some contacts with lower-level agents here."

"Army or National Guard?" Matt asked.

"No." Connor shook his head with his lips pressed in a defensive line. "If General Marsten is mixed up in this, we could be looking at an armed coup. Or at least some of the men under him might be involved."

"So, the feds are out," Ben said.

"Not really," Luke said, looking up from his laptop once more. "As the saying goes, Houston, we have a problem."

Jake's stomach sank. "Tell me."

"Secret Service is going to be in the way."