reality, freezing her in midstep.
'Is our chariot turning back into a pumpkin?' Jake's face showed no trace of a smile.
Against her will, Kate sank back down into her chair. 'Just a minute — maybe it's something that can be dealt with quickly.' She slipped on her headset and connected. 'This is Primary.'
A twenty-something kid with green hair and several piercings dotting an eyebrow, ear and lip appeared on the screen. 'Primary? This is Autom8. I got a line on your dead merc.'
Turning the rest of her body toward the screen, which had her full attention now, Kate waved Jake off with one hand.
'Subject is — or was, rather — one Jordan Tancreo, formerly of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.' The man's picture appeared in a split screen next to the hacker's metal-decorated profile. 'Former army military sergeant, then a police officer below the equator, but he apparently decided neighborhood bribery and shakedowns weren't enough for him, so he went for the big time and joined Mercury Security, Inc.'
Kate leaned in. 'You're sure about that?'
'Employed with the company for two years before his untimely demise.'
Kate drummed her fingers on the desk. What does this mean? Was it pure coincidence that Terrence Weatherby, who had spoken to her at the conference yesterday, had no idea who she really was? Or did he? After a moment, she dismissed the thought. Paranoia is a way of life in this business. These two events had to be connected only by the merest of coincidences. However, she couldn't have been handed a better way to investigate them…
Kate moved the microphone away from her mouth. 'Rain check, Jake — I've got something here I have to follow up on.'
With a silent nod, he ghosted out of the room while Kate turned back to the monitor. 'Good work, Autom8.' She didn't pause at his online handle — Kate had been dealing with various hackers for far too long to be amused or concerned at their unusual idiosyncrasies. 'Get me all current data on the company.'
'It's uploading now for you, both public and private data. They seem to be having some cash-flow problems lately.'
'That would explain their trolling for business at the convention. Great, this is great. Keep digging, but be sure to stay out of sight.'
The hacker recoiled as if she had slapped him. 'Naturally.'
'Right, no offense.' Kate winced — sometimes her intensity about the job could be taken for brusqueness.
'None taken. Autom8 out.'
Kate disconnected and leaned back for a moment, weighing possibilities. Making her choice, she hit a key on her computer's speed-dial directory, listening to the phone ring.
'Hello?'
'Samantha, this is Kate.' There was an odd kind of echo on their connection that Kate couldn't figure out. 'Where are you?'
'I'm standing in the entryway of your suite.'
Kate pushed back from her improvised office to see Samantha, her face pale, standing right next to Jake, who was holding her long cashmere coat. He shrugged and disappeared into the adjoining bedroom.
'Well, I guess we don't need these anymore.' Kate took off the headset and waved her in. 'What's going on?'
Samantha slid the recessed door closed behind her. Taking a small device from her pocket, she quickly swept the room for bugs, even going over Kate and her computer. She then attached it to the window and pressed a button, making the device emit a faint, high-pitched whine that vibrated the window ever so slightly. 'Okay, we're clean. What I have to tell you cannot —
Kate slowly closed her laptop. 'Samantha, you know I can't give you that assurance. If this is really that sensitive a matter, then perhaps I'm not the one you should be speaking to.'
Samantha walked in and sat on the sofa. 'That's the issue at hand, since this does involve the current mission. It's just — there's a particular aspect of it that is of vital importance to the security of Great Britain — and America, as well.'
Kate mulled it over for a second. 'All right. Tell me what's happening, and let's see what we can do about it. Would you like something to drink?'
'No, my digestion is already in knots as it is.' Samantha brushed back her hair and continued. 'Here's what I can tell you. It is imperative that we recover that woman who escaped the Wyvil house, and any data storage devices she has on her.'
'Okay, we're working on that. May I inquire as to the sudden paramount leap in her importance to your government?'
Samantha actually glanced at the door before speaking. 'Yesterday, the headquarters at MI-6 was infiltrated on-site, and our computer system was broken into from the inside.'
Kate had been prepared for anything but that. 'My God, I thought the new headquarters building was impregnable.'
'So did the architects and builders. The hackers found an old, abandoned sewer pipe that ran exactly where they needed it — from Wyvil Road. They broke through and were able to access the mainframe undetected. It seems they used a backdoor — even though we were sure we had eliminated all of them. We're still getting an idea of the damage, but it appears that they might have our entire playbook — classified information, agents in place, everything. If word of this got out, you can imagine the black eye it would give the department. I can see the headlines now — MI-6 Can't Even Protect Its Own Headquarters.'
Kate's mind whirled as she absorbed the magnitude of the news. 'Not to mention the damage caused in the intel community if any of the data is leaked to the public. I can think of dozens of organizations that would pay handsomely for even a fraction of what those files contain.'
Samantha nodded. 'Exactly. Long-term operations scuttled, deep-cover agents blown, informants exposed. It might set law enforcement back a decade or more worldwide. There are terrorist and crime rings around the world who would love to know just what we know about them. No matter what, that woman — and every bit of stolen data — must be recovered.'
'We're doing everything we can at the moment. I assume that MI-6 has scrambled everyone they have to work on this?'
'Every available officer is scouring the city for her. That's another thing — there may be cross fire if the Midnight Team runs into anyone from MI-6. They're under orders to consider anyone attempting to approach or assist her as an immediate threat, and to capture or neutralize them using whatever methods are available. Even she is expendable, as long as the data is recovered.'
'Understandable. I'll let our boys know. If MI-6 gets to her first, we'll break off our pursuit. If we get her first, we'll arrange a handover as soon as possible,' Kate said.
Samantha took a deep breath. 'Kate, with what I've just told you, does that change your mind in any way about using the Midnight Team?'
'I have the utmost faith that they will be able to get the job done, even with this new wrinkle. Our teams have not failed in executing an assignment yet, and despite what others have been saying, I'm counting the Wyvil Road operation as a win. I expect this one will be no different.'
'I hope you're right.' Samantha rose. 'I've got to head back — they've pulled me in to consult on this. I'll do what I can to keep you informed.'
'Check in whenever you can. If anything breaks on our end, you'll be the first to know after me.' Kate got up with her and walked Samantha to the door. 'Don't worry, with all of us on the job, she won't get away.'
'Yes, but more operators in an area also means a higher chance of something going wrong,' Samantha said.
'Then we'll just have to do our best to make sure that doesn't happen. Stay in touch, and good luck.'
'You, too.'
Like a silent butler, Jake appeared to help her on with her coat. Samantha flashed a wistful smile at both of them, then let herself out.
'I take it that wasn't a social call,' Jake said.
