Page 40 of Beachcomber Danger

Dane snorted. Acer had had a particular aversion for assassins ever since he’d been the target of a gun for hire not long ago. It was a mystery why it should bother him now after fighting his way through two wars’ worth of armies.

“What did you get?” Shana asked.

“Names. Or their DBA handles.”

“Spit it out.”

“You’re not going to like it.” Acer went back to his computer suite. Dane waited and slashed a look at Shana not to push or they’d be there for a while.

“Jane and John Doe.”

Dane kept his face firm and waited for the rest of the story to fold out.

“Evidently it was more than just the code name NSA used for them, it’s their DBA. I found their website—or hiding spot, I should say—on the dark web. I zeroed in on their communications with the professor and got a hit—a very recent hit.” Acer tapped a few keys and turned the monitor in Dane and Shana’s direction.

“The only reason I was able to identify the comm was because Jane and John apparently were in a rush and didn’t take their usual double-layered precautions. So far nothing back on the professor.”

Dane looked at the message, but it was heavily coded and he decided not to take the time to puzzle it out. Looking at his watch, he said, “Translate.”

“Jane or John is looking for direction—asking about you two. Looking for confirmation of your identity. I don’t know how long they’ll wait for a response.”

Dane let out a puff of air, knowing they’d never get a response—or at least not any kind of response that would be good for Dane and Shana.

He said, “I suspect DHS closed Zarate down. They already have him. Either that or he’s run to ground.”

“What does that mean for us?” Shana asked.

Dane looked at her sparkling eyes. He saw that she knew the answer and wanted his confirmation. She always wanted him to brave the truth no matter how harsh.

“It means the assassins will be after us.”

Acer grunted. Shana kept her eyes on him and didn’t speak.

“Time to talk to the Governor. Now,” Dane said. “We need to know what NSA and DHS are doing in real time or we could be dead ducks.”

“You mean dead f—ks, don’t you?” Dane knew Acer didn’t like being out-hacked and especially not when it made him feel responsible for putting him and Shana in the line of fire.

Dane clapped his friend on the back. “Dial up the gov. Let’s get on the same page. Virtually speaking.”

“If DHS pulled the plug on Zarate’s communications line—or took control of it–” Acer said.

“Then our John and Jane Doe won’t have anyone to confirm that Shana and me not their rivals. Might think they need to get us out of the way to get their payday.”

“You don’t think they’d call it off if they don’t hear from Zarate?” Shana said. She was charmingly hopeful. He hated to dash her optimism.

“Could go either way,” he admitted. “But since the sweet ass of the love of my live is on the line, let’s assume the worst.”

Acer dialed up the Governor. Peter answered before the first ring stopped.

“Damn, it took you long enough to call. I’m en-route now. What the hell is going on?”

“Good to hear your voice too.” Dane knew the Governor hated when communications were out of his control. In the field, he’d always found the radio silence portion of their black ops missions the most damnably difficult part. It had been the only time Peter was prone to lose his cool. But he wasn’t the only one.

Dane caught him up on Acer’s latest intel of John/Jane Doe’s attempt at communicating with the professor and the likely result of no response.

“First I’ve heard of it. How long ago?”

“About an hour. Not too long after the airport fiasco,” Acer said.