Chapter 32

thirty-two

DYLAN

Two days later, I stood in Alex’s office, staring at the whiteboard. We’d tried everything we could think of to make the program work, but it was still aborting in the last processing phase.

Alex handed me the latest report. "We're nearly there."

I opened the folder, half-expecting to see a page of error messages. Since we’d returned from Boulder, Alex had been on his best behavior—no casual brushes of his hands against mine, no accidental collisions in the kitchen, and most importantly, no kissing.

I kept telling myself it was for the best. Focusing on the program was more important than thinking about Alex. I had a job I enjoyed and people who depended on me. Getting involved with a client was about as intelligent as stepping off a hundred-foot cliff.

I studied the report’s first page, then turned to the second, staring in amazement at the code. “I can’t believe it.” The grin on Alex’s face made my breath catch. “We did it?”

“We not only did it, but we’ve solved issues I didn’t know existed.” Alex pulled me upright. “All eight phases of the program worked perfectly. Congratulations, Mr. Holmes. You’ve helped create one of the most important electronic defense systems of the twenty-first century.”

Alex hugged me tight. “I couldn’t have finished the program without you.”

“You would have managed,” I mumbled, the sweet, tangy scent of pine and woodsmoke tickling my nose.

Alex leaned back and grinned. “But not as quickly. Thank you.”

The warmth in his eyes made me sigh. I stepped away and tried not to think about how good it felt to be close to him. “I’m glad I could help. What’s next?”

“I need to tidy up a few loose ends, make sure my documentation’s correct, then send everything to the Pentagon.”

“How long will that take?”

“A couple of days.” Alex walked across to his desk. “I’ll email Richard and let him know the program’s ready. He’ll place the next team on standby.” Pulling out a chair, he began typing.

I wasn’t sure whether Alex wanted me to stay for longer. To be honest, there wasn’t a lot I could do, and that was probably a good thing. “While you’re doing that, I’ll start packing.”

Alex’s head shot up. “Packing?”

“To go home. My team’s working on my projects as well as their own. They’ll be happy to see me.”

His smile dimmed. “I thought you’d stay for a few more days.”

I could drown in his gaze. Leaving would be difficult, but I had to go. “I can’t stay. You still have a lot of work ahead of you. We can talk after your project’s completely finished.”

“What about the Haqani Army?”

“Maybe you were right. They haven’t contacted you for a while. It could mean they’ve given up trying to find you.”

A guilty blush spread across Alex’s face.

My eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I couldn’t believe Alex hadn’t said anything.

“I had other things on my mind.”

I strode across to his desk. “Ignoring their threats won’t make them go away. What did their last email say?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t read it.”

I searched Alex’s face to see if he was joking. He wasn’t. “Now would be a good time to open it.”

Alex frowned but didn’t argue. Scrolling through his emails, he clicked on the most recent one from the infamous terrorist cell.

As he read the email, his face lost all its color. “They’ll kill my brother if I don’t give them the program.”

“But you don’t have a brother.”

Alex turned the computer screen toward me. “I know, but for some reason, they think this man’s related to me.”

I studied the image. A man was walking down the aisle of a store, pushing a shopping cart full of groceries. He was probably in his mid-thirties, tall, and slim. With brown hair and an oval face, he looked like Alex, but that could apply to a lot of people.

I picked up the satellite phone. “My team at Bryant Security might be able to find him.”

Alex frowned. “You think we’re related?”

“I don’t know, but either way, his life could be in danger. Does the email tell you who he is or anything about him?”

“No—only that he’s my brother. ”

Without any information, it would be difficult to find him. “Forward me the email. I’ll see what my team can do.”

After he sent the email, Alex printed off a copy. “I don’t remember Mom being pregnant.”

“Did she mention anything about your dad having an affair?”

“No, but he used to disappear for days at a time. Mom never knew where he’d gone.”

I took a folder off the bookcase. Inside were copies of the emails Alex had received from the terrorist group. I placed the latest one on the table, then one by one, took the others out of the folder.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked.

“Looking for patterns. It’s time we started thinking strategically.”

“You want to find the person who’s sending the emails?”

“I want to find the whole cell. The FBI has been searching for them but, so far, they don’t have any leads.” I picked up the photo of the mystery man. “This might be our best hope of locating them.”

Alex took a deep breath. “What should I do next?”

“Keep working on the EMP project. While you’re doing that, I’ll call Bryant Security. When I’m finished, I’ll give you a hand.” I left the photo on the table and walked into the hallway. I needed some privacy when I spoke to Ryan.

We had to prepare for a worst-case scenario, and that could be more traumatic than Alex realized—especially if the man in the photo was his brother.