Page 100 of False Flag

“Respecting treaties that were signed to stop an attempted genocide isn’t bullshit.” Staci didn’t bother to hide her anger.

Casper cocked his head. Was he even lucid enough to tackle the question?

Finally, Gerard responded. “Jake, we’ll stick with the original plan. I want you in the water with Staci when we film, but also, without Lloyd, we’ll need you when filming on land too.”

“But we don’t have a where to film,” Staci said. “The maps aren’t done. No locations means no research questions. No research design means no permit. Jake might not be here very long. We need a plan now.”

“Relax. We’ll go over all that tomorrow, when we record our first podcast together.”

“We’re recording tomorrow?”

“Yes, and fieldwork will begin the day after.”

“Not without a permit, it doesn’t. I won’t conduct illegal fieldwork.”

“Access has been granted.”

“Doesn’t matter if you haven’t notified the provincial and local governments. Every agency with jurisdiction will want to see your research design.”

Gerard smiled and leaned back in his chair. “We don’t need a permit, and we won’t be digging or trespassing.”

“Many parks and preserves require a permit for filming for other than personal use.”

“Good thing we’ll be on private property, then. The landowner will even be present for filming.”

She turned to face Casper, who had a smug smile on his face. “Seriously? You expect your fans to believe we’re going to conveniently find evidence of Mu here, on Letora Island, where you just so happen to have based the expedition team?”

“It’s a shakedown cruise,” Gerard said. “Like the dive last week. We’ll talk about methodology. Local history. Archaeological fieldwork 101. The perfect introduction to you and the project.”

She sighed. “I’m not your documentary’s main character. You are. I’m here to vet the work, not teach the class.”

“Don’t be nervous. You’ll be great.” He picked up his wine and drained the glass.

At least he held his alcohol better than the billionaire.

Chapter Thirty-Three

They walked back to Geoduck House in silence. Staci wished they were going to the boat, where they could speak freely, but that would raise too many flags. Casper might be a fool, but Gerard was not.

At last, she and Jake were alone in her suite. Jake’s belongings remained in Heron House. He’d get them tomorrow. They still had a lot to do before they could sleep tonight.

They prepared for bed in silence. Face washed, teeth brushed, bladder empty, at last, Staci freed the thumb drive with Lloyd’s files from its cotton cocoon and settled in bed with the computer Freya had provided. They would upload the files while sitting in bed, so they’d be close enough to speak in whispers.

Staci had a white noise machine—it looked like a normal sleep aid—that also distorted words. They needed to be careful using it, however, lest they alert security that they were cloaking their communication.

They settled on the bed side by side, the computer on Staci’s lap as she plugged in the thumb drive, initiating the file download and installation. The new computer would be a ghost of Lloyd’s, complete with the last two weeks of incoming and outgoing texts and mail, plus all his web activity, social media and forums visited, logins and usernames.

All information that would most certainly be erased from Lloyd’s actual computer if Jake were given access to it.

While they waited for the files to load, Jake shifted his position, nudging Staci forward.

“What are you doing?” she asked with a laugh as he wriggled between her and the padded headboard.

“You look tense. I’m going to give you a massage.”

He settled behind her, his thighs spread with her back to him and her butt pressed against his crotch. He placed his hands on her shoulders and dug into her trapezius muscles with his thumbs.

She let out a sharp groan. “Oh god. That’s soooo good.”