Chapter 6

SIX

TUESDAY, 3:30 P.M.

How had Juliette's week gotten so complicated?

It was only Tuesday, and so far, she'd already dealt with a bank robbery, an almost hit-and-run, hackers, and now an abduction—all connected. What would Wednesday bring?

She immediately called the police after watching Blake's video. The image of the man strapped to the chair made her shiver. His bruised face seared a permanent image in her memory bank. Why were hackers breaking into banks and apartments and adding abduction to their list of growing crimes?

Another knock at the door announced the arrival of Matt and Decia. Caleb ushered them into the apartment, and behind them trailed a man who introduced himself as Tim McGregor, FBI Special Agent in charge of cybercrimes.

Things had just escalated to off-the-charts dangerous if the FBI was taking interest in their case.

She studied Caleb. He wore the stress of the past few days like a mask. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and his jaw muscles flexed from clenching his teeth. His personal safety had been violated, not to mention that it had to be killing him to have so many strangers traipsing through his home. The man had always valued privacy as much as security.

Juliette stepped in to manage the full apartment. "Let's take seats in the living room, and we can start from the top so everyone's up to speed."

"That's my cue to leave," Michelle said.

Blake headed to the door to follow Michelle out until Matt stopped him. "Don't go anywhere. We need a statement about Rushmore and that video." Blake's face blanched but he took a seat. He ran a hand through dark hair that had a few strands of silver peeking through. His foot tapped out a rhythm on the carpet, underlining his tension. Was it the stress of the events or something else? Juliette made a mental note to grill Caleb about his partner.

Caleb took the couch, and Juliette tucked herself next to him. Agent McGregor hefted his bulky frame into Caleb's recliner. The man had a few inches on Caleb, who was six foot. But unlike Caleb, the older man had an intimidation factor that couldn't be beat. She hoped to never be on the receiving end of an interrogation from this man.

Agent McGregor scrutinized both Caleb and Blake. The man never blinked, his stare making even Juliette want to squirm.

"We've had our eyes on Rushmore for a few years," McGregor said. "We've found wannabe members of their hacker group popping up in a few cities around the country. Their whole manifesto is based on getting even with the rich and powerful. In other places, they've hacked into some small, regional banks and siphoned money from several high-end wealthy clients which they ‘redistributed'"—he used air quotes—"into other bank accounts. Hundreds of people woke up to find thousands of dollars deposited into their accounts."

Juliette stifled a gasp. "I remember hearing about that."

"Why break into the bank?" Blake asked. "It doesn't make sense. They're hackers."

McGregor shrugged. "They seem to be some sort of vigilante group, robbing from the rich to make amends with the poor. But I've never seen them this bold, to take a hostage or walk into a bank and rob it. It seems like it's one big publicity stunt. They sent out videos on socials showing them waltzing into these banks, throwing cash around. But based on the video message of Theo, you two have something they want." The man sized up Blake and Caleb again, almost as if to silently communicate I suspect the both of you .

Caleb shook his head. "I'm assuming they want access to the security software. I suspect they stole a laptop to try and maybe reverse engineer it."

The agent sat back in the chair. "We'd like to have our top analysts on this, but after looking at your credentials, Caleb, I'd like to ask for your help."

Well, maybe she'd read McGregor's suspicions wrong.

Caleb swiped the screen of his phone and jotted down a name and number on a piece of paper he had on the end table. "This is Theo's wife, Georgia. She works odd shifts as a nurse, but she's probably taking time off. I can't imagine what she and her son are going through. You may need to give her a call in case she has info on how he was…" Caleb swallowed. "How he was abducted. She might not even know he's missing yet."

Agent McGregor nodded. "I've got my people working on this. We won't rest until we find Theo."

Juliette's phone buzzed, and she stepped into the hallway outside the apartment to answer it. "Noelle, thanks for calling me. I know you got my text, but things just got more interesting. I just needed to fill you in on my new case."

"Don't you mean our case? Because if the danger is as prevalent as you've indicated, Alana and I are free and ready to step in and help. Please let us help you." While the comment might have been a jab about Juliette's lack of teamwork, it didn't matter. This time, Juliette wanted everyone working on Caleb's behalf. She knew Alana and Noelle had her back no matter what. And she needed them.

"Caleb is an old Army friend, and the threats are escalating." She filled Noelle in on Caleb's case. Or make that Ivy's case.

"Wait. Stop. My head is spinning. A twelve-year-old asked you to be a bodyguard for her uncle?"

Juliette sighed. "Technically, yes."

"A kid hired you?" Juliette could envision Noelle's smirk.

"Technically, yes, but I may do this one pro bono. My conscience won't let me pilfer a little girl's piggy bank money. I have some time off coming up anyway."

"No worries," Noelle said. "We'll make it happen. It sounds like Caleb needs someone to watch his back."

"Whether he thinks he does or not." But based on this last conversation with the FBI, Caleb knew the dangers were real, and he probably wouldn't fight her if the Elite Guardians were also watching Ivy.

Juliette disconnected the phone when she spotted Ivy bounding up the stairs. The girl raced toward her and flung herself into Juliette's arms. "I'm so glad you stayed," Ivy whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Juliette looked up and discovered a familiar face standing next to Ivy. "Abby, it's nice to see you again," Juliette said.

Abby smiled. Her salt-and-pepper hair gave off grandmother vibes even though the woman probably wasn't even sixty yet. "I try to help out when I can. I was already at the school picking up my grandson. What's going on here?" Abby motioned toward Caleb's apartment as a myriad of voices carried into the hallway.

"Where's Uncle Caleb?" Ivy pushed the door open and ran inside. Abby tried to peer around the doorway, but Juliette moved into the doorframe and blocked her view.

Juliette wasn't sure how to answer without upsetting Abby. "The police had some more questions about the break-in." Which was true in a roundabout way.

Abby nodded. "I heard the commotion last night and opened my door a crack. Saw a man dressed in all black run by. But I gave my testimony to the police already." She continued to try and stick her head through the entryway.

"I'm glad you were safe last night. I'll let the police know you stopped by, and they can contact you if they have any more questions."

Abby nodded and Juliette eased the door shut just in time to hear Ivy's outburst. "Something else bad happened. I just know it. Don't lie to me. Why are the police here?"

Juliette walked into the living room and found Caleb sitting on the couch with Ivy glued to his side. "Someone sent a threatening note to work," he said.

Matt and Decia wrapped up their questioning, and Juliette ushered them out of the apartment. Agent McGregor said he'd be in touch and left, trailing the officers while barking orders to someone on his phone.

Soon it was just the three of them. Juliette sat in a chair across from the couch, and Ivy turned to Juliette with tears in her eyes. "You can't leave. You have to protect Uncle Caleb. What if the bad guys come back?" She faced her uncle. "Promise me you won't go to work tomorrow."

Caleb stared at Ivy. "Why, Ivy? What is the reason for so much fear?"

Ivy crossed her arms. "I can't go to school if you go to work. I'll worry too much."

"Ivy, why are you so sure something will happen if your uncle returns to the office?" Juliette asked. The girl's insistence seemed to point to something specific.

Ivy shrugged. "I just have a bad feeling about his office. Like the bad guys might be there and try to hurt Uncle Caleb."

Caleb shook his head. "Not buying it. Just tell me what you found out when you were poking around on the internet in places you aren't supposed to be."

Her eyes widened, but Juliette caught a hint of relief. "You're right. I was going to tell you tonight." She got up and trudged to her room, returning with the missing laptop. She handed it to Caleb.

She sat on the couch and stared at her sneakers. "I stole it from the pile on the table. I saw a strange program on it and thought maybe it was one of the puzzles you used to create for me. But as I dug deeper, I knew it was bad. And there was an email account with some people talking about targeting your office. And then someone broke in, so I knew it was for real and not something you set up to challenge me."

Juliette could see the internal stress cracking through Caleb's exterior defenses. He opened the laptop and typed a few things. "This is why someone broke in," he said. "They installed malware on this computer. It's not online, so no one could trace them. But if someone received this laptop and connected it to the internet, the criminals would have access to the bank's system."

Ivy shook her head, her auburn curls bouncing across her forehead. "Promise me you'll stay away from your office. It's not a safe place."

He poked around in the laptop and uncovered another file. "I assume you figured out the key to this?"

She nodded. "It's a personal email account." She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and read the cipher. He pulled up the website, but the entire inbox was empty.

"What did it say, Ivy?"

She blew out a breath. "A conversation in the draft folder. About a new target. And then GPS coordinates of your office."

Caleb's chair creaked when he sat back. "Why didn't you come to me? We could have gone to the police, and maybe these bad guys would have been caught."

Ivy's eyes pooled with tears. "I knew you wouldn't like me hacking, and I thought I'd uncover more information to give better leads to the police. I should have said something right away. I'd never do anything that might hurt you. I'm so sorry."

"Your uncle and I will talk about a security plan to keep him safe," Juliette said. "You hired me, remember? You don't need to be in charge of your uncle's security by tracking down leads."

Ivy pleaded with Juliette. "You can't leave his side. Are you staying here tonight? You can sleep in my room. I've got a trundle bed and everything." Ivy bounded off to her bedroom as if it was a done deal that Juliette would have a sleepover.

Caleb's face flushed and he wrung his hands together. His anger was almost tangible. "Rushmore has now messed with my family. If they find out that Ivy saw their program and most likely memorized it…"

Juliette moved next to him on the couch. Not too close though. She wanted to touch him, reach out and take his hand, but she knew he wasn't keen on people invading his personal space.

"I think you are both in danger. And I'm here for you. And before you say it, I don't think you need a bodyguard. You are more than capable of taking care of yourself, but you need sleep so you're sharp tomorrow. Let me take the couch. This way you both can rest well."

Absolutely, the man was more than capable of defending himself. But Caleb needed someone to watch his back. A fierce sense of loyalty welled up inside of her, something she hadn't experienced in quite some time.

She risked it and dared to put a hand on Caleb's arm, and he stilled. "Didn't you once tell me that sometimes you need to let someone else protect you? Let's take it day by day."

He nodded, and she realized her hand was still on his arm. A sizzle of excitement came from her touch. Maybe she should have thought this through a bit more before she'd agreed to spend the night, even if it was on his couch.

But then again, that's what made her Hazard Pay Montgomery. Always rushing in for the rescue, even without a solid plan.

And he was Caleb. The solid, dependable rock that she'd come to rely on once.

"You know I'm not going to just back down from this, Jules. These hackers think they're coming for me. I'll turn the tables on them. Hunt them down, expose their hiding spots in the most remote corners of the internet. They won't get away with this. They've kidnapped Theo, and Ivy's not safe if they uncover what she knows. I'm going on the offensive."

"I expect nothing less. Just remember, we're partners. You know any of the others from our basic training class would do the same thing for you. I just happened to have been close by when the call for duty rang out."

His tight facial expression relaxed a fraction. "Yeah, I guess you're right." Caleb checked his watch. "Maybe I can order us some Chinese food for delivery." Her favorite.

"I'd love that."

"I'll need to call Agent McGregor to let him know what Ivy has uncovered."

"Yes, good idea."

A text to Noelle confirmed her decision to stay, and Noelle responded with an offer to bring Juliette a change of clothes.

Caleb headed to the kitchen, probably to avoid more awkward small talk. Would things between them ever be comfortable again?

He turned back toward her. "Something doesn't sit right about this. Jules, what if one of my employees is a member of Rushmore? Because how else did they get their program on the laptop?"

* * *

WEDNESDAY, 6:30 A.M.

Juliette was at least right about one thing. Caleb had gotten a good night's sleep. But from the second he'd opened his eyes, his heart had been racing. She was sleeping on his couch.

He stretched and turned off his beeping phone alarm. Last night after Ivy had gone to bed, he and Juliette had made a plan. They'd called Agent McGregor, who'd come and retrieved the laptop. But not before Caleb had checked out the program.

Based on the email communication from the hackers, he assumed the hackers were targeting the office to search for the missing laptop and destroy any incriminating evidence. Agent McGregor had assigned agents to the office, and the security in the building would double down their efforts in screening anyone who entered.

Caleb planned to attend his staff meeting and then work remotely. But as a leader in the company, he also wanted to make his presence known to alleviate their fears. He refused to hide. Employees would still be grieving Theo's disappearance and probably be nervous about their own safety—his blood boiled every time he thought of Rushmore kidnapping his employee to get to him. He checked his phone, but he hadn't received any updates from Agent McGregor in finding Theo.

His suspicions from last night returned and made his stomach sour. Someone in his company was in league with the hackers. And Caleb would do everything in his power to flush out the mole in his organization.

Laughter filtered through the cracked bedroom door, and he threw on some clothes. He walked down the hall to see Ivy and Juliette sitting at the dining room table.

Juliette pointed to the bar that separated the dining room from the kitchen. "Made you some coffee."

He nodded his thanks and poured himself a cup. Ivy pounced. "Are you going to the office today? Oh, please, let's all play hooky. The three of us can spend the day together. Please, please, please?"

The three of us?

Ivy's voice got whinier with each please. Her intelligence made her seem all grown up, but she was still a little girl, loving silly things and believing that everything was right in the world. He prayed she didn't have to grow up so fast.

"Ivy, I just need to run in for this meeting. It will be half an hour, and then I'm out of there. I have to meet with the executive committee and then address the staff. It won't take long."

When Ivy realized she'd get nowhere with Caleb, she turned to Juliette. "Talk him out of going into the office today. Or at least don't let him out of your sight."

Juliette smiled. "Well, you are footing the bill for my services, so you're the boss. I will stick to him like numbers on a spreadsheet."

Ivy chuckled. Caleb sipped his coffee. He could get used to laid-back mornings like this. When was the last time Ivy had laughed like that? As if she didn't have a care in the world.

"Let's go, math genius," Caleb said. "Get ready and I'll take you to school. You can buy breakfast before first period."

He turned to Juliette after Ivy had scampered off to find her backpack. "You really don't have to follow me around all day. I'll just drop Ivy off, stop in at the office for an hour tops, and head back here. Security has been tightened around the building."

Juliette shrugged. "Like I told Ivy, she's my boss for today. You're stuck with me. Why can't you play hooky for one day?"

He sighed. "I'm not going to get rid of you, am I?" Not that he wanted to. The thought of spending the day with a beautiful, strong, and intelligent woman sent his pulse into overdrive. Especially this one.

She shook her head vigorously. "Nope. I have Agent McGregor's number, and he's keeping me updated. I've got no place to be." She flipped her phone so he could see the text chain.

The reality of their situation hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. "Theo was supposed to be in this meeting too. Which means that it's even more important that I go, offer my condolences and make sure I put their minds at ease that the business is running smoothly. Everyone will want to see the company leaders working hard despite the tragic situation."

"Then we'll make sure that happens."

Ivy emerged from her room with her overstuffed backpack. At the front door, the girl made one more plea for Caleb to stay away from the office, but he shook his head. "I'm just going in for a few minutes. Juliette will be with me. It will be fine." Ivy stomped out into the hallway in protest, and they headed to his car. Their first stop was to drop Ivy off at school. Hopefully she stayed there today. But if not, Juliette had asked Noelle to shadow Ivy. They were just waiting for clearance from the school.

After Caleb and Juliette watched Ivy walk into the school for visual confirmation that she wasn't going to ditch, Caleb pulled out of the school's parking lot and headed toward the office. Juliette remained unusually quiet. Unlike him, she was a talker.

"Are you mad that I'm going in? That I'm not taking Ivy's concerns seriously? Because I understand that the threat is real. But I have people who need me. I can't run and hide." Why was she giving him the silent treatment?

"I'm not mad. I just don't understand why you won't take a day off. Especially in light of Theo's situation. I'm sure people would understand. I mean, I was always the workaholic. It's just strange to see you obsessed with work and stressed to the max."

He ran a hand through his hair, mad that she could read him so well. "Co-owning a company and starting it from scratch with Blake was stressful, and I have a lot on my shoulders. Besides, I need to protect my clients that have placed their trust in my business. Just like you serve your clients."

Juliette glanced at him from her passenger's seat. "I get it. But we also didn't eat breakfast. And I didn't have enough coffee or sugar to keep my mind razor sharp. Can we please stop at the café near your office. Pleeease?"

Her pouty lips and Ivy-like antics worked. "Fine. I can't believe I have to contend with the two of you now. I have some time before the meeting, so let's get you your sugar fix."

She pumped her fist in the air. He parked on the ground floor of the garage across from his office building. The café was on the corner, with a great view of the street. When they arrived, the hostess seated them by the window. He could see his office on the top floor of an eight-story high-rise dotting the Savannah downtown business district.

Juliette ordered bacon and eggs plus a whole pot of coffee, and Caleb ordered the same. Then Juliette amended her order to include a chocolate-covered bear claw.

"Stop judging me," she said in a singsongy voice.

He shook his head. "I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking it—rather loudly, I might add."

"I wouldn't dream of judging you. You put as much sugar into your body as you want."

Why did this feel like a date? They'd started to make inroads to the comfortable companionship they used to have, and it was a breath of fresh air in his smog-filled life.

"Do you miss the Army?" Juliette asked as she attacked her bear claw.

He thought for a moment. "I was never die-hard Army like you, Jules. I was meant to be an analyst, and while I liked my time serving, I'm much more suited to owning my own company. I provide jobs for people, and I get to build my own software. It also lets me afford Ivy's expensive tuition, so it's worth it."

The waitress brought their breakfasts. "Can I say a blessing for the food?" Caleb asked.

Juliette hesitated but nodded. He said a quick blessing and dove into his eggs. "Your faith has sustained you all these years," Juliette said. "In a world that changes on a daily basis, I'm glad you remain constant."

"Actually, God is the only thing that remains constant amidst the chaos. The one I can rely on to never let me down. Even the most complicated mathematical equation would fail if not executed precisely. When the world seems bleak, I still see God in everything around me."

Ah, there it was. One of the main challenges in their friendship. Juliette only trusted herself to protect others. She failed to see how God had rescued her.

Juliette took a big bite of eggs. "You're really good with Ivy," she said. "It's nice to see you in a fatherly role. She's lucky to have you." Maybe he wouldn't say anything about her subject change.

He put down his fork and took a sip of coffee. "Well, she might not think that all the time. I try and challenge her to grow her computer skills, but she gets out of hand with her hacking. I want her to enjoy her childhood, but she's in such a hurry to grow up and do adult things. I just wish I could provide a normal childhood for her."

"But she's extraordinary. Just like you."

Heat climbed into his cheeks at the comment. "I do the best I can. I even found her a counselor through our church, and it seems to be helping. I think."

"Maybe I'll go with you sometime." She took a few more bites of the bear claw.

Had he heard her right? "To church?"

Two things raced through Caleb's mind. First, Juliette had changed her position about God.

And second, she wanted to see him again.

She met his gaze, and he forced himself to not look away. "Yes. Church, as much as I'm uncomfortable with it. You're the most logical person I know. With all of your intellect, if you believe in something, I can't write it off completely. Plus, things changed when I went through cancer treatment. Suddenly I was faced with a situation I couldn't control. It makes a person think, that's all. Sometimes on my sickest days, I just had to believe there was more to life than living and dying. There must be some kind of hope in the middle."

"God's there, Jules. In the midst of our darkest times. You just need to rely on him and not on your own strength and understanding."

The waitress interrupted them and dropped off the check. Juliette poured herself another cup of coffee, and Caleb paid the bill.

"I'm sure Ivy would love it if you joined us for church," Caleb said. And so would he. Which was why he needed to be careful, or he'd be in the same situation he'd been in three years ago. Wanting something he couldn't have. She'd left him. Just like everyone else he'd ever loved. His mom had abandoned him. His dad had died. His sister had been taken from him in that senseless accident.

He wasn't willing to risk his heart only to be disappointed again.

The two walked out of the restaurant. At the corner, they waited for the light to change.

"I'll only be an hour," he said. "I can set you up in a spare office if you have some work to do?—"

A tremor moved the ground under his feet. Earthquake? A lamp post in front of them swayed. He blinked, and he was in Afghanistan, watching Juliette fall off a cliff.

He yanked Juliette to the ground behind the smoking Humvee, shielding her from the impending blast. But it wasn't a military vehicle, rather a mailbox. And the screams weren't his teammates trapped in a burning car but people pouring out of his office building.

He forced his mind into the present and watched black smoke and flames engulf the side of his office building.

* * *

WEDNESDAY, 9:20 A.M.

Ivy checked her phone. She'd ditched second period and headed to the soccer field. A PE class ran laps on the track, but under the bleachers made a perfect hiding spot.

What if CyberLane didn't show?

She paced in the confined area under the rows of concrete seats. Why was she so nervous? It's not like she was worried about cutting class. She and CyberLane had been chatting for a few weeks now. And while Ivy wanted to find out more about the hacker group, what she really wanted was a friend. And CyberLane had connected with Ivy in a way most people couldn't.

"I wasn't sure you'd be brave enough to skip Mrs. Hillard's class," a female voice said from behind her. Ivy turned and found a girl, probably around sixteen years old, with long, dark hair and a neatly pressed uniform that matched Ivy's own.

"CyberLane?"

"Call me Layna."

"Ok. I'm Ivy."

The girl gave Ivy a quirky smile. "I know who you are, Ivy. We've been chatting for a while, and I've been watching you. You've got some mad hacking skills. I hear you have a photographic memory as well."

Ivy shrugged. She had an eidetic memory but didn't want to correct her friend.

"Look," Layna said. "My brother wants to give you a chance to use your hacker skills for good. Can I trust you to keep our secret? Just until he gets the approval to hire us, and then you can tell everyone that you have a government job as a white hacker."

Wasn't that what she'd told Uncle Caleb she wanted? This seemed too good to be true, but why would Layna go out of her way to lie to her?

"Yeah. I won't say anything."

Her friend nodded. "My brother has a big job for us. One that will help the feds stop bad hackers. And he only recruits the best of the best. It's my first assignment. Are you sure you're up for the task?"

Ivy nodded. Layna handed her an iPhone. "I figured your uncle took your phone after that stunt you pulled hacking into the school system. Nicely done, by the way. You passed the first test." So, Layna had sent the boy with the twenty-dollar hack job to erase his grade.

Ivy relished the compliment. This girl was an upper classman, and quite possibly her first friend at this school.

"Keep this phone on you at all times," Layna said. "It's a burner phone so that we can get in touch with you. Don't let anyone find it. Things are about to go down in the next couple of days, and I have to be able to reach you."

Ivy took the phone and shoved it into her pocket.

"What's the project we'll be working on?" Ivy asked.

Layna squinted. "I'm not sure I want to tell you everything. How do I know you won't run and tell your uncle?"

"There's a lot he doesn't know about what I do."

"Like what?" Layna smiled, putting Ivy at ease. "If I can tell my brother something awesome you've done, he'll give you a job, and we'll get to hang out. It will be so much fun. I've always wanted a sister."

Ivy's mind conjured up images of herself and Layna hanging out after school, working online, and using their skills to help people. And she liked the scenes. If only the dreams were real.

But what could she tell Layna that might be impressive? Before she could decide, she blurted out, "I'm helping the police track down Rushmore. I know about their malware program."

Ivy's mouth went dry. Why had she said that? She didn't know this girl, and she'd gone too far by implying she was in on the investigation. And now Layna knew Ivy had seen the program.

But if it helped her find out more information about Rushmore, maybe it was okay.

"Well, that's a juicy secret," Layna said. "Don't worry. I'll keep it to myself and my brother. He'll definitely want to hire you now. Especially if you can help bring down that notorious hacker group. No one knows who they are."

The knot in Ivy's stomach untangled a bit. She was helping the good guys. Her uncle wouldn't stay mad at her if she found information on Rushmore. And then he'd let her work with Layna and her brother. Her mind spun with the possibilities. She'd be just like her uncle. Stopping cybercriminals and fighting for justice. Uncle Caleb couldn't deny her the opportunity if it gave them information on Rushmore. They'd take down the hacker group. He'd have to let her accept the job.

She rubbed her forehead to rein in her thoughts. One thing at a time.

Layna moved closer to Ivy and lowered her voice to a whisper. "No one can know about this. My brother's job is classified. Can I trust you?"

Friends. Ivy nodded. "You can trust me."

"Us hacker girls have to stick together. There aren't that many of us out there. I need to know you have my back no matter what."

"Of course I do. We're friends." Ivy loved how the word friends rolled so easily off her tongue. Most of her other classmates teased her because she knew all the answers. But Layna was different.

"Here," Layna said, taking off one of her many clunky bracelets. "Have this. It's a friendship bracelet. It means we're officially sisters. I've got your back, and you have mine."

Ivy took the bracelet and slid it on. Layna turned like she was going to leave. Over her shoulder, she met Ivy's eyes. "Just keep the phone handy. I'm sure my brother will be calling with good news."