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“I wondered the same,” I agree. “They were very organized in their actions. This wasn’t some last second plan or a happy accident. So how did they know?”
“I don’t have definitive proof, but I believe we have someone in our department that’s on the take,” Morris admits. “I followed procedure to the letter when you informed me of the outing to the bar. I notified the chain of command and the other members of my team where we would be and the time. Today, I found where the schematics of the bar had been marked by someone at our office. Someone not a member of my team.” Morris looks up to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry, Luke. Looking back, this person has in casual conversation been pumping me for information on Marley’s case. I should have picked up on this sooner.”
“Who’s the person?” I question.
“Konner Jones,” Morris answers. “He’s a tech employee, only been working with us for a few months. Since I picked up on his interest, I’ve done as deep a dive on him as I could get away with, without alerting him or any of the other technicians. I can’t prove it, but I believe he is tied to the Brotherhood.”
“Does this Jones have a sister?” I ask, the pieces beginning to come together. Morris eyes widen as he nods.
“How did you know?” Morris asks.
“Have you seen the footage from Jay’s the night Marley was taken?” I ask as Morris shakes his head. I quickly pull up the footage and hit play. I watch Morris as he watches the video. The moment the man who favored Kristen appears, Morris jumps to his feet.
“That’s Jones!” Morris turns to look at me with shock. “He was in on the abduction? He’s been at work this whole time,acting like everything is fine, even helping look for them. That bastard! I’m going to beat his ass.”
“Not if I get to him first.” I roll back from the table. “Where is this fucker? I’m going to force him to tell me where Marley and Shelby are being held.”
“Whoa, hold up, Luke.” Rosco is on his feet preparing to intercept me. “We need to be smart about this. We can’t show our hand before we can be certain he can’t get away from us. Morris what can you tell us about this guy?” I don’t like it, but Rosco is right. If I go in there half-cocked, the bastard could get away and alert the Brotherhood that we are on to them.
“He’s a computer genius,” Morris informs us. “Likely much better than we know. I suspect he’s been holding back so we don’t get suspicious of him. I need to find out what all he’s been up to during his time in our office, but I can’t use our guys to investigate one of our own. I don’t know who else might be working with him.”
“Let me do it,” Kelvin jumps into the conversation as he begins to type. He suddenly stops, giving Morris a hard look. “I trust you aren’t going to throw me in prison for what I’m about to do, right?” I can see indecision warring in Morris’s mind. He’s a good man and doing something illegal goes against his moral compass, but at the same time, we need this information. Marley’s and Shelby’s lives depend on it.
“Do what you have to do,” Morris finally concedes. “Just don’t tell me how you did it.” Kelvin flashes him a grin.
“Not a problem,” Kelvin replies before typing furiously. We all sit impatiently while Kelvin works his magic. After several long tension filled minutes, Kelvin looks up. “Look this is going to take a little while, why don’t you all find something else to do, in the meantime. You’re making it hard to concentrate.”
The rest of us get up and clear the room, allowing Kelvin to work in peace. Once we are in the hall, I lead the group to my office. We need to be ready to move as soon as we have theinformation we need on Jones. I’m still reeling from the fact that Kristen is involved in all of this. I knew she was obsessed with getting into my bed from what Enos told me about what she’d done that led Enos to firing her on the spot, but I never thought she’d try to physically hurt Marley.
“Am I the only one shocked that Kristen is involved in this?” I ask when everyone is settled. I look up to meet their gazes, and judging by their looks, they all feel the same.
“You aren’t alone,” Bo responds. “I didn’t think she’d stoop this low, but I wouldn’t put anything past that bitch. She’s a gold digger. She’ll be on the side that’s going to get her the most.” I nod. Everything he’s saying is true. I’m ashamed that I ever hired her. I should’ve had better instincts, but I’d been in a bind at the time. Will Marley ever forgive me for failing, once again, to protect her?
LUKE
Acouple hours later, the door to my office bursts open. “You all need to come see this,” Kelvin demands. “I’ve found something.” We all head back to the conference room following a very anxious Kelvin. His actions are causing my anxiety to skyrocket. Kelvin is always the cool collected one no matter what’s happening around us. If he’s disturbed by what’s he’s found, I fear Marley and Shelby are in for worse than what we’d thought.
We enter the conference room. Kelvin has videos up running on the screen. I scan the images, trying to figure out what’s playing. It’s street level footage at the Pier where the Stars and Stripes event takes place. Families with children are milling around in the sunshine. Kids with ice cream cones are smiling on the boardwalk. Joggers are running down the beach in another image.
“What did you find?” I ask once we are all inside the conference room. Kelvin types on his computer, splitting the main screen, pushing all the video images to one side in smaller boxes. The other side of screen looks like an image of someone’s computer screen. Konner Jones’s search history is displayed. Allthe case files from Marley’s abduction are on the list as well as other files that has Morris on his feet.
“Open that one,” he compels Kelvin, indicating a file labeled Morris 1. Kelvin clicks on the file. It opens to reveal page after page of detailed notes on Agent Morris’s team, their movements, current addresses, and information on their families. Kelvin forwards the file to Morris for him to continue reviewing while Kelvin pulls up a file that makes my blood run cold.
The file name is Robertson’s Weakness. Images of Marley on my patio, exiting my vehicle, entering Invictus Security from the parking lot door pop up on the screen. How the fuck did he get these images without us knowing we were being watched. Before I can process this information, Kelvin speaks up, changing the images once again.
“This file is the most disturbing,” Kelvin tells us as he clicks on a file labeled, My Glorious Plan. The schematic of a suicide vest pops up, followed by a map of the Pier and surrounding area. Notes marking areas to place bombs for maximum damage. “After I gained access to his desktop at the FBI, I began going through the files. I found a list that seems to be a things to do list. One of those things is a trial run prior to the event. The informant is correct that they are planning to execute their chaos during the Stars and Stripes event. I’ve found plenty of evidence to support this. I believe based on Jones’s notes on the Brotherhood’s plans they will be making a trial run, soon. Perhaps even today.”
Kelvin pulls up the CCTV images again. “I think we need to get down there, set up surveillance. This is our best option to get Marley and Shelby back.” Kelvin turns to face us. Bo is already on his feet.
“What the hell are we waiting for?” No one moves just yet as we are processing the information Kelvin has given us. “Come on! Let’s go!” Bo bellows, spurring us all into action. I’m on my phone, issuing a group text to all my employees, asking for allavailable to check in for a new assignment. Bo moves toward the door as if we are just going to head down to the Pier without a plan.
“Hold up Bo,” Rosco calls out, jogging to catch up to him. “We can’t just run down there. We need to be organized, have a plan.” Bo growls in frustration. I understand how he feels. I’m ready to head down there, too, but Rosco is correct. We need to be prepared. It would not be in Marley’s or Shelby’s best interests for us to expose ourselves to the enemy before we have eyes on the girls.
It takes entirely too long, but a few hours later, we are finally on the move. We have a team of twenty-five in position in and around the Pier, on the boardwalk, the beach, and various locations along the streets flanking the targeted spots indicated in Jones’s file. I’m sitting in my vehicle, watching a section of the street that had been labeled as a likely target. I place the binoculars to my eyes, zooming in on the people strolling down the street. My heart is pounding in anticipation. Please let this plan work out. Let the assholes show up with Marley and Shelby.
Dusk is approaching. I’m losing hope we are going to find the girls today when Enos comes over the comm. “I have eyes on Jones.” I sit up a little straighter knowing that Enos is just a block north of my location.
“Do you have eyes on the assets?” Bo barks into the comm before I can ask the same.
