She dragged in a covert breath and forced her focus back to Eliza, who’d grabbed a seat at the head of the table. Ozzie and Samantha sat on the opposite side from Hannah. As for Fisher? He was nowhere in sight.
“…mentioned Cesar had his attorney present when they stopped by your apartment.”
“That’s good.” She nodded, and then made a face of anguish. “I wish I could call and tell him I’m okay. I hate the thought of worrying him.”
“He knows you’re with us.” Sam squeezed her hand beneath the table. “And he’s got his lawyer and his partner to keep him company.”
The thought of Pete and Marco being there to see Cesar through things brought comfort. She returned Sam’s gesture, squeezing his fingers in silent thanks.
“Okay, first things first.” Ozzie absently massaged his wife’s shoulders with one hand even as he used the other to peck at his laptop’s keyboard. “Since the D.O.D. never received Hannah’s intel, that means the fate of Texas rests with us. How are we planning to save the Lone Star State from a devastating blackout?”
Hannah sat up straighter. “In the exchanges I intercepted between the Chinese and their mysterious contact here in the U.S., they spoke of where the breach in the system was located and how a skilled hacker could exploit it. If I could somehow gain access to the plant’s control center, I could pinpoint the problem and code in a firewall to patch up the weakness. And just to make thingsextrasecure, I could plant a Trojan Horse that’ll fry the system of anyone trying to circumvent the firewall. It’ll take me…” She screwed up her face as she thought. “Thirty minutes, maybe? Forty-five tops?”
She slumped back in her chair when she realized the logistics of her plan were a nightmare. “Except it’s not like I can hop on a plane. I’d never make it through security at the airport. I’m sure my name is on every watch list there is. And evenifsomehow I was able to make it to Texas, how would I gain access to the power plant?”
“Pretty easily, actually,” Sam said and she blinked at him in surprise. He shrugged. “We know a couple of guys with private planes who’ll fly us south, no questions asked.”
“As long as one of them is available.” Eliza pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her crisp slacks. After a quick scroll through her contacts, she lifted the device to her ear. Two seconds later, she said, “Ricky? This is Eliza with Black Knights Inc. We need transport for…” She held the phone to her chest and looked directly at Ozzie. “I’m assuming you’ll be staying here to man the shop?”
“No out-of-town missions for me until this one”—he placed his hand on Samantha’s belly—“makes her appearance.”
“Right.” Eliza nodded and raised the phone back to her ear. “That’d be transport for four to Texas tonight.”
Hannah heard the man on the other end say something and Eliza’s gaze landed on her. “Where in Texas would we be headed?”
“Austin,” Hannah supplied, blinking myopically at how quickly things were moving. “The plant in question is right outside the city limits.”
Eliza relayed the information and then grew quiet as she listened to the mysterious Ricky’s reply. Her eyes darted back and forth as if she were cataloging the details of his response. Eventually, she nodded. “Perfect. That’ll work. Standard rate?” She paused as Ricky answered, then flattened her mouth. “Don’t pull any of that after-hours bullshit on me. Remember who you’re talking to.”
Whatever Ricky’s response was it made Eliza laugh. After she sobered, she shook her head. “And that’s why I love you, Ricky. You’re nothing if not consistent. As for the return trip, let’s play it by ear.”
After thumbing off the phone, she explained, “Ricky can be fueled and ready to go wheels up at oh-three-hundred.” She glanced at her phone’s glowing screen. “Which means we have two hours to get everyone ready to roll with all the appropriate gear.”
Hannah opened her mouth to askwhat gearfollowed bybut how will we gain access to the power plantbut Fisher beat her to the punch. He’d suddenly appeared at the bottom of the staircase leading to the third floor. “Sounds like I missed somethin’ important. What’s happenin’?”
“We’re gonna get Hannah into the vulnerable power plant so she can perform her hacker magic and put a Band-Aid and a booby trap on the spot where their system is vulnerable,” Sam explained.
“Roger that.” Fisher nodded. “When do we leave and what should I wear?”
“Leave here at oh-two-hundred. Wheels up at oh-three-hundred,” Eliza told him. “And you should wear your best suit. You’re going to be a fed.”
“Oooh.” Fisher rubbed his hands together. “I do like role playin’.”
“What about her?” Sam gestured toward Hannah, who finally understood how laypeople felt when they were stuck in a group of hackers talking shop. Those around her may as well have been speaking a foreign language for all she could comprehend of their plan of action.
“She’s going to be with ERCOT, I think.” Eliza’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. “If we try to say she’s an agent like the rest of us, whoever’s working security at the plant might get suspicious.” Eliza winced and turned to Hannah. “It’s the purple hair. Self-expression isn’t generally encouraged in FBI agents. But, for the record, I think your hair is beautiful. Please don’t be offended—”
Hannah raised a hand. “No offense taken.” She started to ask…well, one of the hundred questions swirling through her head, but Sam interrupted her before she could snag one and get it out of her mouth.
“What’s our cover story?” His crystalline gaze was pinned on Eliza.
Yes,Hannah thought.Whatisour cover story? How the hell are we going to get inside the plant?
“Not sure yet.” A wrinkle formed between Eliza’s eyebrows. “I have a vague idea, but I’ll flesh it out on the flight down.”
“Great.” Sam clapped his hands together. “So everyone needs to shower, shave, and change.”
“Wait.” Hannah lifted a finger, her head absolutely spinning. “I don’t have any clothes here.”
