Page 87 of Blind Trust
“Well, his body was discovered yesterday morning. An overdose.”
Kekoa was putting news articles on the screens overhead that supported everything Ms. Bridges was saying. Nic looked to Jack, wondering where this was going and what MI5 needed from them.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to prove why O’Sullivan was killed, but our suspicions are that whoever was behind it is working furiously and lethally to keep their identity a secret.”
“Every person who’s claimed to know that person’s identity has been killed.” Lyla released Nic’s hand. “Do you think Walsh knew?”
“We won’t know until we talk to him,” Jack said. “But that’s why we’re meeting tonight. We believe there was more on that flash drive than an article pointing to Ammar El-Din. Likely a name, or names, maybe even photos.”
“But the drive was corrupt.” Nic looked at Kekoa. “We have nothing.”
“Whoever is coming after us doesn’t know that.”
Nic looked at Lyla, and his heart writhed at the fire lighting in her eyes. The horrible memory of finding her on the floor next to Genevieve’s lifeless body came back. The pieces were adding upto a reality he didn’t want to accept—one he believed Lyla had already committed to before it was even asked of her.
“You’re going to lure them out with the flash drive.” He could feel everyone’s gaze turn on him, but his focus was one hundred percent on the woman he could see steeling herself for what was coming next. “What are you asking her to do?”
“I’ve spoken with Director Perkins,” Ms. Bridges said, “and he’s going to work with Mr. Hudson’s wife to start spinning chatter that your agency has a flash drive containing the names of those involved in the arms trafficking in Venezuela. MI5 is going to corroborate the story. The ATF is coordinating with your Department of Defense to release a memo to Diplomatic Security Forces about the weapons recovered in Venezuela.”
“What we need Lyla to do”—Jack hesitated, his serious expression meeting Nic’s—“is deliver the flash drive.”
Nic’s heart pounded. “To who? Where?”
Lyla’s hand slipped beneath the table and found his again. Her touch was both reassuring and also crushing to his soul. Could he sit here and watch her take this risk? Would his heart be able to handle it if she was the one in the hospital? He shoved the awful thought away and focused on Jack’s answer.
“President Lawson is offering his full support,” Jack said. “He suggested setting up a principals meeting with his national security advisor, the secretary of defense, secretary of state, the director of Homeland Security, and Lyla to play up the ploy.”
“And you think it’ll work?”
Ms. Bridges nodded. “I’d be convinced.”
“It will work,” Jack said. “We need to go on the offense on this one, but I want us all to be in agreement.”
Kekoa’s eyes darted between Lyla and Nic before he gave a nod.
“I’m in,” Lyla said.
Nic drew on faith he knew could only come from God, because if it was up to him, he’d list a thousand and one reasonswhy this was a bad idea. Beginning with the fact that he’d finally acknowledged he loved Lyla—all of her—and now it was time to confront the risk that love posed to his heart. He took a fortifying breath, looked her in the eyes, and said, “Let’s roll, Stinkerbell.”
30
“Honey, why didn’t you tell Tori you were going to pick up Anthony from his therapy class?”
Brooks froze midstride and nearly caused the Army captain behind him to run into him. “Pardon me.” He pressed the cell phone to his ear, not sure he’d heard his wife correctly, and weaved his way through harried military and government personnel foot traffic to get to the Pentagon’s outer corridor windows for his best chance at solid phone reception. “Lydia, what did you say?”
“I asked Tori to go by the school and pick up Anthony from his therapy class, but his teacher told her she saw you pick him up.”
Panic pushed Brooks to move, but if he did he might not be able to get the details he needed. “Lydia, is Tori there?”
“Yes, why?”
“Honey, put her on the phone, please.” Static filled his ear, and he ground his teeth. “Lydia, did you hear me?”
“Yes, hold on.” A second later Tori came on the phone. “Hey, Daddy.”
“Tori, baby, did Anthony’s teacher tell you she sawmepick him up?”
“Uh, I don’t know. I think so.”
