Page 85 of Fatal Mistake
“A second woman. Do you think he’s choosing women to help him for some reason?”
“Honestly, we don’t know and may not know until we catch him and he tells us, but we’re wondering if it’s because Muslim women aren’t as closely scrutinized as men. This would allow Keeler to move about undetected.”
“How did you discover this woman?”
“Keeler talks about her in his journal. Her name is Nabijah Meer. Does that mean anything to you?”
Tara shook her head. “Have you been able to locate her?”
“No, and all we know at this point is that the origin of her name is Indian and Muslim.”
“India…is ISIS big there?”
“There are millions of Muslims in India but only a handful belong to ISIS. Hopefully Kaci will learn more about Meer and her role soon.”
Tara nodded and tried to wrap her head around the fact that Oren, the boy next door, had connected with a woman from India who believed ISIS’s crazy teachings. “Did you find anything else useful in Oren’s journals?”
Cal shook his head.
“Would it help if I read them?”
He sat watching her for a long time, then nodded. “You might see something that I didn’t think was relevant. But you should know, when it comes to you, Keeler’s not very kind.”
“Finding him and stopping him is what matters. I’ll read them.” She slipped fingers under her rubber bands.
He took her hand and held it between his, his gaze softening.
He needn’t say more.
He would accept her offer to read the journal, and now she somehow had to find the courage to read the scathing words.
* * *
Tucked into the big bed in her room, Tara dropped the photocopies of Oren’s journal onto the comforter and sighed. She didn’t want Cal to see how reading Oren’s personal thoughts would bother her, so she’d fled to the bedroom.
She’d gotten through three of the journals and couldn’t bear to read any more. She pushed the papers aside and got up to pace the room, her footfalls silent on the thick carpet. Thankfully, Cal had settled down in the kitchen to talk to Agent Ward instead of going to his room next door or he would’ve heard her moving about and investigated.
Her phone vibrated on the nightstand, catching her by surprise. She shot a look at the caller ID. Aunt June? Cal had warned her not to call this number except in an emergency. A knot formed in Tara’s chest, and she snatched up the phone.
“June,” Tara answered, trying to keep the trepidation from her tone.
“Sweetheart, I have something I need you to do for me.” June’s voice shook with emotion.
Tara’s apprehensions skyrocketed. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine,” she replied, but Tara heard a thread of unease in her aunt’s voice.
Tara ignored it for now but kept her ears tuned for additional distress. “You know I’ll do anything for you, so what do you need?”
“I expect after I ask, you’ll change your mind about that offer.”
Tara waited for her to laugh after the statement, but she didn’t.
“You’re scaring me, Aunt June.”
A male voice sounding sharp and irritated filtered through the background of the call, but Tara couldn’t make out the speaker’s identity or his words.
“In a moment a bomb call is going to come into the Lone Wolf hotline,” June said. “I need you to make sure that Agent Riggins reports to the callout.”
