The Echo of Violence

the feel of al-Qaeda, yet that’s what the talking heads are speculating. I think the authorities are being misled.”

Tanya took a seat in front of him. “You have any ideas on who’s behind this?”

“Not yet. But I think this video could lead us there. Kinkaid told Alexa that these bastards carried high-tech gear. GPS units, laptops, the works.” He took a deep breath and stared across the room.

“They probably had cell phones that used the Internet, too. Those are not easy to trace,” she added. “A person could have a New York City phone number, but calls made to that number would get routed through the Internet. Anyone with online access could use it. Chasing all this down takes time and manpower.”

After a long moment, he brought up another idea. “What if I got you more help, someone who had mad skills when it comes to the computer? I have a feeling that discovering the source of this video will be vital. It might be worth a shot.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Although I’m not sure I like bringing in someone from the outside, I have confidence in your judgment. You trust this person?”

“You know me. Trust doesn’t come easy.” He grinned. “Let’s just say in the trust department, he’d come highly recommended. I’ll arrange it.”

“What’s his name?” she asked. “You want me to do a background check on him?”

“Already done. I had the need to run one a few months ago.” He gave her the details of where she could find the background check. “His past on paper is sketchy, but I’ve learned a great deal more about him since then. His name is Seth Harper, an acquaintance of Alexa Marlowe and Jessica Beckett. And as luck would have it, he’s here in the city.”

“How will you utilize his expertise? Outside our walls or do we bring him in? I’m sure you’ll want to follow security protocols either way.”

Implementing Sentinels’ security measures would test Harper’s sense of humor. A guy vacationing in New York would not expect to be hijacked into a covert operation with security measures, but that couldn’t be avoided. He felt sure Seth would want to help Alexa.

“Certainly,” he agreed. “I’ll locate him and get back to you. Thanks, Tanya.”

After she left his office, Garrett took the first step in locating Seth Harper in New York. And he had a pretty good idea where to start. Although Tanya and her team had the computer expertise to trace the origins of the video in time, the extra manpower wouldn’t hurt. And recruiting Seth would give him a chance to see him in action.

A very convenient opportunity indeed.

New York City

Upper East Side

Jess knew enough about New York City to realize Alexa lived in one of the high-rent districts. The Upper East Side was a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan between Central Park and the East River, sometimes called the silk stocking district because of the pricey real estate. Her new friend lived in a residential area off Lexington Avenue. Canopied storefronts were combined with small apartment buildings and elegant brownstone row houses.

Yep, this is so you, Alexa. Jess fought a smile as she took in the sights at a crosswalk, sipping coffee from a travel mug and finishing a warm bagel. She’d seen many new things since she moved east. And New York City had been a real departure from her Midwest roots.

Daytime hours in Manhattan were filled with the usual crush of humanity on the streets, locals and visitors from all over the world, everyone with places to go in a hurry. Jess had never gotten into the rat-race mentality. She walked at her own pace to take in the sights. And there was always plenty to see.

When New Yorkers ran out of acreage in Manhattan, they went vertical with the architecture. Over time, modern skyscrapers had been erected next to older structures, and she loved how the city had preserved a keen sense of history. Everywhere she turned, impressive historic buildings looked like a backdrop to a movie that could span decades. And another unusual nod to history was the odd wooden roof-mounted water towers on many of the city’s buildings.

The sights, sounds, and diverse culture of the city infused her with energy as she carried her overnight bag slung over her shoulder and waited at the corner for traffic, the usual sea of yellow cabs, to come to a stop. When the light changed, she crossed the street with the rush of pedestrians and headed for the address Alexa had left on voice mail. Staying overnight would give her a chance to learn more about a part of the city she hadn’t seen.

But she wondered why Alexa left town without much explanation. That only reminded her how little she knew of her friend and how private she was. Jess assumed the trip was work-related, something quick she was doing for Garrett Wheeler. That made her wonder all the more. Was this trip too important for a rookie to tag along?

And what was so vital that she left Seth in the lurch?

Seth. Thinking about him always brought a rush of emotions to the surface. And picturing him with Alexa made her stomach plummet, like free falling in a roller coaster. Since Alexa told her about him coming to town, Jess had had trouble sleeping. Even with New York City being so large, she felt him in her new world, a place she hadn’t quite adopted. She missed Chicago and the roots she had there, but she had needed a break from the old and familiar.

Making the move to New York had been an escape. When she learned Seth was coming, his visit bridged the gap and reminded her how much she missed Sam Cooper and her old way of life—and Seth.

On a tree-lined sidewalk with a small picturesque park across the street, she spotted Alexa’s apartment building up ahead. The architecture was classic, a timeless historical. The discreet four-story brownstone had a quaint exterior of lace-curtained bay windows with carved stone and wrought-iron accents. Molded newel posts with railings flanked stone steps that led to the main entrance, an elaborate wooden door with beveled-glass windows and a secured foyer. Very impressive.

Jess used the code Alexa had given her for the main security door and followed the signs inside to the manager to pick up the key left in her name. An old-fashioned elevator with a brass door was near the front entrance, but she opted for the marble stairs toward the back and headed for the third floor. Apartment 303 was toward the front of the building and probably overlooked the park across the street.

When she put the key in the lock, she heard water running. Noise traveled through ventilation and plumbing systems in older buildings, so she dismissed it. Yet when she got inside, she heard the water more distinctly. Someone was using Alexa’s bathroom.

“What the hell…?”

Jess dropped her bag near the door and pulled her .45-caliber Colt Python. She took a quick glimpse around the one bedroom. She smelled Alexa’s perfume and noticed she had personal photos on the wall, confirmation she had the right place. Jess gripped her weapon, aimed it toward the bedroom, and followed the sound of the shower.

For an instant, she wondered if the noise was part of the maintenance Alexa had scheduled, but as she crept into the bedroom and looked through the half-closed bathroom door, she knew better. A naked man stood behind the opaque shower curtain, his back to her.

Nice ass, she thought. She nudged the door open, slipped inside the bathroom, and raised both her weapon and her voice, “You better have a good reason for being here, Mr. Clean.”

“Holy shit!” The guy jerked around and yanked back the curtain.

Seth Harper stood naked in front of her, his eyes wide and jaw dropping.

Wet. Sudsy.

And in all his glory.

CHAPTER 9

“Harper?” Jess lowered her weapon and her gaze. Self-control had never been her strong suit. “Nice to…see you.”

“Damn it, Jessie. Turn around.”