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14. Sullivan

14

SULLIVAN

D avid had returned from Edinburgh, then left almost immediately after exiting the helicopter. Even from the window seat, I could sense his anger through his body language alone.

Fallon and I decided, at my insistence, that we’d wait for his return to discuss our individual efforts in the Tower-Meridian investigation.

Instead, we focused on the changes she’d been implementing behind the scenes at the Crown Herald. While I’d kept the bulk of my research off the main servers, I wasn’t naive enough to think my own computer was secure. In fact, it was far less so. I supposed a part of me believed I could fly far enough under the radar that no one would be looking. It was a ridiculously stupid supposition in light of what was intended to be my murder.

When she mentioned the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre—or NCSC—I admitted to having heard of it. What stunned me was that she’d worked with them on the cybersecurity protocols that had protected our research from the massive data breach that occurred simultaneously with my arrival at Edinburgh Castle.

The media’s relationship with any government entity was tenuous in the best of circumstances. The mandate of news agencies, at least the ones who still practiced ethics in journalism, was to inform the public of issues that would affect their lives. Governments strove to keep those same issues out of the press entirely. Theoretical independence was tested on a daily basis with conflicts often playing out through legal injunctions, public criticism, restricted access to officials, or threats of prosecution under the Official Secrets Act.

Agencies that operated under the umbrella of SIS, such as the ones David and his friends worked for, were particularly under threat of exposure. Case in point, David aka the Duke of Ashcroft, was a bloody assassin. If outed, not only would the Crown face criticism and scrutiny, but he’d have a target on his back for the rest of his life.

I understood the threat the media represented not just to him but anyone in government, all too well. Journalists would do anything to protect their sources and refused to turn a blind eye when it came to political scandals. Classified information was leaked either in an attempt to raise subscription rates via sensationalism, whether it be online or in print, or under the guise of whistleblowing. What few comprehended were the moral and ethical dilemmas we regularly faced. I truly believed the majority of people who chose to pursue a career in my profession had no interest in exploitative journalism. Another way I supposed I was naive.

“Sullivan? A hand?”

I looked over to where Fallon precariously balanced on top of a rolling ladder while she attempted to reach a rather large book from the highest shelf.

“Why couldn’t I have inherited my father’s genes and grown beyond five feet four?” she muttered, standing on tiptoes. I’d offer to get it, but I was only an inch taller.

“What are you after?” I asked.

“What appears to be monastery records. Ancient ones. The entire shelf is lined with them.”

“Is there a good reason you wouldn’t want to request assistance?” I asked.

“Of course there is. Climb up and spot me.”

“Got you,” I said, placing one hand on her waist. Honestly, I doubted I was any help at all. If she toppled over, I’d likely go with her.

“Success,” she said, handing the volume to me. “I think I might be able to reach another.”

“Or die trying,” I muttered.

“Come now, Sullivan. Where’s your spirit of adventure?”

“Having come close to death once this week, I’m hesitant to tempt fate twice.”

“Shall I save you a second time?” I heard David say from behind me.

I turned and smiled. “This time, it’s Fallon who needs your assistance.”

He walked over to the ladder and took the heavy book from my hands, then held his free one out to help me down.

“What are you after up there?” he asked Fallon, who hesitated to accept his assistance once my feet were firmly planted on the floor.

“History has always intrigued me,” she said, abandoning the second tome she already had her hand on. “I can’t resist once I spot something that looks remotely ancient.”

David set the book on the table and stood by the ladder when Fallon made her way down.

“It’s a silly fascination, really,” she said under her breath.

“So, you’re back,” I said, attempting to distract David from looking at the book he’d placed on the table. While it may contain nothing significant, my gut, along with Fallon’s level of interest, told me it might.

He sighed. “I am that.”

“Did you learn anything of value?” I asked.

“I might have done. Too soon to tell.”

I folded my arms out of reflex. Did he really believe I’d brief him, Con, Tag, and Gus without him sharing information with me?

“I’ve been sent to see if you’re ready to meet,” he said, looking from me to Fallon.

“Of course,” she responded. “I’ll just gather my things.”

“We’ll join you shortly,” I said, in effect, dismissing him.

For a moment, I thought he intended to wait for us, but after nodding once, he left the room.

“I need to hide this,” Fallon said, lifting the record book from the table.

“Why? What’s in it?”

“I don’t know yet, but something tells me if our host knew of my interest, it, along with the others, would disappear.”

“Here,” I said, walking over to the window seat. “I noticed a hidden storage area beneath the cushion yesterday.”

She raised a brow and smirked. “You noticed it?”

I raised my chin but smiled. “In the same way you did what we intend to hide.”

“Touché. Is there anything inside?” she asked when I lifted the hinged cover.

“I haven’t looked.”

She chuckled. “Liar.”

I laughed too, but I hadn’t since, right after I noticed it, David had walked in.

She placed the book inside while I held the cover open. “Did you see that?” she asked, pointing at another set of hinges. However, there was no handle on the cutout that appeared painted shut. “Later,” she whispered.

I nodded, replaced the cushion, and gathered my things.

When Fallon and I entered the dining room, we noticed it had been transformed into what one might see on a detective drama TV series.

“Wow,” I said under my breath, taking in the electronic evidence boards.

“We’re locked up tight,” said Con when I took one of the open seats. “Meaning the highest level security protocols have been implemented. What you share in this room stays in this room. The same is expected of the two of you. If you cannot agree or are unwilling to sign an NDA, then this meeting ends before it begins.”

“And will you do the same?” Fallon asked.

“Of course,” Con responded. “We see this as an opportunity for collaboration. One that could benefit us all individually but also the agencies we represent.”

Fallon, who’d also taken a seat, folded her arms and rested them on the table. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

I glanced at David, who was studying me. Was he waiting for me to balk? If I did, then what? I could hardly venture out on my own, even with support from the Crown Herald, especially now that the ramifications of Weber’s capabilities were becoming more apparent.

“I’ve sent both of you the NDA draft. Once you’ve had the chance to review it, we’ll all sign one physical copy.”

Considering the meeting could not commence until we’d done so, I pulled up the document on my computer and began reading. No doubt Fallon had far more experience with agreements of this nature and would spot things I’d miss.

While brief, the terms seemed concise. The paragraph that defined what constituted confidential information was the lengthiest as it detailed all forms of information that would be covered, including both written and verbal details, digital and physical documents, and intellectual property.

The rest outlined specific permissible uses, exclusions and exceptions—or that there weren’t any—and duration and termination. Beyond that, each person in the room was listed by name, along with their respective entities.

“I’m good with this,” said Fallon, raising her head and looking over at me.

“As am I.”

“Good. Let’s get to work.” Con signed the physical copy of the document first, then passed it to Fallon, who was seated to his right. After she skimmed it, she signed it, then passed it to David.

Apart from Con, the overall mood in the room was somber.

“Before we get started, I have an update on yesterday’s security breach,” said Tag, the last to sign.

“Go ahead,” said Con.

“A combination of measures designed to interfere with GPS tracking were utilized. Drones were used to create electromagnetic interference while localized jammers served as backup to keep the intruders’ presence undetectable. Finally, sensors picked up on heat signatures that, in essence, were decoys.”

“Thus, the overheads were ineffective,” said David.

“If anyone has any doubt about the sophistication of what we’re dealing with, think again,” Con added.

“And, just in case all that failed, footage inside Glenshadow’s surveillance was looped and false data planted.”

David got up from the table and walked over to the window. “How soon can we return to Ashcroft?”

“Twenty-four to forty-eight hours,” answered Con.

“And in the meantime?”

“We’re working on our systems concurrently,” said Tag.

David’s mouth gaped.

“The timetable isn’t nearly as long,” Tag added.

“What about Blackmoor?”

“The same,” said Con. “However, I’ll remind you that before this meeting began, I told each of you that the highest-level security protocols have been implemented. What that means is our scrambling capabilities are equal or better than theirs.”

“Fucking hell. Anyone capable of doing what Weber’s done this far certainly knows where to hit next.” He turned to me. “We’re leaving.”

Gus stood. “Ash, hold on?—”

“I said we’re leaving. The matter is not open for discussion.”

“I’ll, um, get my things together,” I said, pushing my chair back.

“I’ll help,” Fallon offered.

“Ash, they cannot hit us again,” I heard Con say, but rather than listen to the rest, I went upstairs.

“Wow,” said Fallon when she followed me into the suite. “Nice setup.”

“Truthfully, it’s too much space for me.”

She raised a brow. “Clearly, you had no princess fantasies as a child.”

“In this case, it would be a countess.”

“Right,” she said while I took items of clothing out of the closet and placed them in the suitcase David had requested be brought to me when we left Ashcroft.

“If we hadn’t already signed an NDA, I’d assign you this story. A duke and two earls, all part of the SIS’ most secretive and elite unit.”

“I’d turn you down.”

She chuckled. “Not hard-hitting enough for you, Sullivan?”

“Some things are better left to the unknown.”

She sat on the edge of the bed. “You trust them, then?”

“Enough that I was prepared to brief them on my investigation.”

“Where do you suppose you’re off to?”

I shook my head. “I’ve no idea.” I walked over to my laptop bag, pulled out the pocket knife I kept inside, and cut along the seam of the bottom. I reached between two pieces of cardboard and removed a third. Affixed to it was a microSD card.

“Sullivan?” Fallon gasped. “Are you certain you’re ready to hand this off?”

I nodded. “It’s all here. Well, everything that isn’t in here.” I pointed to my head. “I’ll be interested to see what you make of it.”

“What do you want me to do with this?”

“Review it in the safest place you can find. Then brief them if you’re comfortable doing so.”

“Not without you, I won’t.”

“The choice is yours. However, time may force your hand.”

She nodded. “Understood, and hurry back, Sullivan. I’m anxious to continue our exploration of Glenshadow’s library.”

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