She shook her head.
“It’s essentially a cellular network for criminals. They use smartphones that are wiped of all normal capability and equipped with encrypted software. Members within their organized crime sect can only talk to each other.”
“So it’s like a private cell phone group?”
He shrugged. “For lack of a better explanation. It’s impervious to any attempts at tracking, hacking or eavesdropping. Criminal enterprises use the service to plan murders, drug and human trafficking, weapons deals... You name it, the network helps facilitate the crime. Only, no one can join the network without personally meeting the so-called CEO, and he only agrees to meet through a referral of a high-ranking current subscriber.”
She leaned back, processing. “You said Adam moved up the ranks in an organization. Was he one of those high-ranking subscribers willing to give you guys a referral?”
He regarded her with surprise and admiration. “You catch on fast. What was your doctorate in?”
“Electrical engineering.”
He nodded but seemed disappointed. Her stomach suddenly felt hollow, a weird sensation she couldn’t shake. There was no reason to care what he thought. She loved her field, excelled in it.
“We certainly hoped that’s what Adam wanted to meet about. Kendra and I have been undercover for years working toward that very goal. Adam arranged a meet with Kendra. He chose the location. It was last-minute because there was a raid scheduled to take down his organization today. Today was the earliest we could meet.”
The flash drive grew hot in her hand. If she’d known that its contents had the potential to hit most of the criminal organizations in the country at its knees she would’ve handed it over the moment she’d remembered. But she still didn’t know why Kendra had used her name, so she nodded for him to continue.
“Like other federal agencies, the FBI has arrangements with many colleges. They’re usually perfect public places to meet. Our university liaison—who isn’t an FBI agent—assigned Kendra your name as a cover. If I were to make an educated guess, I imagine the liaison thought Kendra already had a cover because her photo was already in the system—except it was really you—so all she had to do was add me as her husband.”
A lightbulb went off. “Yes, my photo was already on file with conference attendees. They required one when I signed up for the conference, along with my bio.”
He shrugged. “If we want more answers on how the mix-up happened, we’ll have to wait until Kendra is awake.” He smiled as his eyes searched hers. The extra scrutiny increased her pulse. “For your safety, Kendra is registered with the last name Catmull at the hospital. No one should be able to connect the dots between you two.”
The speakers crackled and invaded the silent room. “Lee Catmull, please report to the surgery waiting room.”
Lee’s face turned white. If Audrey hadn’t known better, she would’ve believed that Kendra was his wife in that moment. Maybe their covers had become so ingrained that he loved her like one. She tried to imagine him as a future brother-in-law, but her brain refused. Too much to wrap her head around in one day, especially since her newfound sister might not live through the night. She reached over and grabbed Lee’s hand, squeezing to keep her fingers from shaking. She bowed her head before either of them could object. “Lord, please help.”
It was probably the lamest prayer in the history of prayers, but it was all she could vocalize. An unbidden thought surfaced. If her sister died, would a target suddenly be on her back instead?
* * *
Lee didn’t let go of Audrey’s hand, but instead helped her to standing and walked back out of the chapel. He’d just made her an FBI asset—he didn’t even want to think about the paperwork that awaited him in the future—but after what he’d just told her, he needed to make sure she wasn’t a flight risk. They still had so much to talk about.
They strode together to the open doorway of the surgery waiting area. He continued to hold her hand because it seemed to help her remain calm. Besides, she was the one who’d reached for his hand in the chapel, and if it kept her from breaking down like she did at the hospital entrance, it would be rude to let go before she was ready. Rows of chairs faced monitors displaying lines of patient numbers and surgery status updates.
“Look at your bracelet.” Audrey pulled her hand from his and reached for his wrist.
He’d forgotten the registration attendant had placed the plastic-coated identification on him. He looked down at the number and found its match on the screen. “Surgery in progress.”
A man in scrubs approached, holding a blue bag. “Can I see your wrist?”
Lee held it up and the man handed him the bag. “Thanks for answering the page. Here are her things. The doctor will be out shortly, after surgery, to update you.”
Lee opened the bag enough to see Kendra’s clothes, folded, and the white gold wedding band she wore. He took the nearest chair, far enough away from listening ears.
“I think it’s time you have this.” Audrey pressed a flash drive into his hand.
Lee looked between the silver object and Audrey. His blood burned hot. “Is this from—”
“Yes. Don’t be mad. I had no idea if I should trust you or not. I’m still not sure exactly what mess I’ve landed in. And to be fair, I didn’t realize Adam had put something in my purse until a few minutes ago. I thought he was trying to steal from me.”
Lee took a deep breath in through the nose. His partner was in surgery and her lookalike had no inkling of what was at stake on the mission. Anger wouldn’t benefit anyone.
He rolled the drive in between his fingers. Two caps bookended either end of the drive. He flipped off one side to find the standard USB adapter but the other cap was designed for iPhones. He inserted the adapter into the charging port. The screen flashed an encryption notice.
“I’m going to need you to look away.”
She rolled her eyes and twisted her torso in the opposite direction. Lee keyed in his credentials and opened the FBI software to read the contents. An image of Lee and Kendra popped up on the screen with the covers they’d started developing three years ago. Lately, he’d started to wonder if he would ever get to be himself again.
The notice listed an address Lee recognized and tomorrow’s date. Adam had made the referral happen.
From what Lee and Kendra had gathered before the meet, a referral meant the CEO of the Masked Network was planning to meet them and had their photos to boot. Their covers would’ve been investigated and held up to scrutiny.
Except, Lee and Kendra’s covers were a package deal. Kendra would in no way be recovered in time, but if she didn’t go, the network would want to confirm where she was and why she didn’t show.
Any unnecessary attention could lead them to discover Audrey and, worse, the discovery of Adam’s death, which would prompt the network to go farther underground than ever. If Lee lost the chance to take the network down, more senseless assassination orders like the murder of Diego, the teenage boy he’d mentored in Seattle, would continue to happen without law enforcement being able to find evidence. If clients of the Masked Network were ever arrested, they only had to say three little words and their phones would automatically erase all data. Lee had seen it happen with his own eyes.
A man in scrubs, complete with cap and a surgical mask hanging from his neck, exited the double doors at the end of the room. He approached the nursing station, and an attendant pointed at Audrey. Lee unplugged the drive from the phone and pocketed it. He placed a hand on Audrey’s back as they