Ellie winced. “Too many people died or are dying so quickly. We haven’t had proper security measures in place to deal with a pandemic like Scorpius.”
Hugh eyed the picture. “To the best of my recollection, Yusef has no training with explosives or nuclear energy.” He looked at the young man’s photograph. “We did hack into his computer, and he had done some research on explosives. But it looked like he was studying both computers and mechanical engineering. When his visa expired, he left the country.”
“Yet he’s back,” Ellie muttered.
“Yes.” Without raising any flags for Hugh, which was a red flag. “If he’s planning an attack on a nuclear plant, he has help. His background doesn’t lend itself to this.”
“Except for the computer part,” Ellie murmured.
“What did he get?” Deke asked.
She shook her head. “Not much. Just the employee records, schedules, and schematics of the plant. The schedules aren’t even in place now.”
“Can he cause problems from the computer standpoint?” Deke asked.
Ellie twisted her lip. “No. Even without people, there are computer safeguards in place that should last for a couple of years, at least. Even if he hacked the entire system, which is incredibly difficult if not impossible, there are safeguards upon safeguards.”
Hugh nodded. “It’d be much easier to just get inside and plant bombs. Especially around the spent fuel.” It had always been his biggest nightmare.
Deke’s phone buzzed, and he lifted it to his ear. “McDougall.” His straightened to his full height, his face going hard. “When? You sure? Thanks.” He clicked off. “That was Ivan. He caught Yusef Masih on camera several hours ago near the plant.”
Hugh stiffened. “We have to get there. Now.”
Ellie jumped up and reclaimed her laptop. “I need my gun.”
Hugh paused. “You’re not going. Not in a million years.”
* * * *
Ellie paused, taking a second to let Hugh’s words sink in. “That’s sweet and all, but if they have messed with the computers, I’m needed.” She liked having him worried about her, but this was life or death. She ran a hand down his arm. “Hugh. Think about it. If they succeed and blow up that waste, we’re all dead anyway.”
He blanched. “Geez.”
Yeah.
“Suit up,” Deke ordered. “We leave in one minute.” He paused. “I’ve read your file, Johnson. You’re trained with explosives as well.”
“Of course,” Hugh responded. “This has always been the threat, Deke.”
Ellie studied him. She hadn’t known that. Hugh always had been much more complex than most people saw. She grabbed her gun to strap to her thigh.
Connor and Deke ran out of the room.
Hugh finished securing his weapon and then drew her close, holding her tight. She slid against him like she’d always been there. His masculine scent and warmth surrounded her. “Be safe,” she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest.
His heart was thundering against her cheek. “You be safe. I ain’t losing you now.”
She blinked back tears. While she was trying to be brave, her bones felt frozen. Her chest hurt. They might not survive the day. She leaned back her head. “We’ll be okay.”
He gently kissed her. “I know.” Then he took her hand and led her out of the room. They jumped into the back of the SUV, where Connor and Deke already awaited. Deke roared away from the hotel. “So. I guess you guys don’t want to shoot me yet,” Hugh said.
Deke shrugged. “Might not be an issue.”
Oh yeah. Ellie coughed. She opened her laptop and brought up her second search. Files flittered across the screen. The program had taken longer than she’d thought. She sighed, finally finding the info she’d needed. File after file of Hugh’s undercover op from the top brass at Homeland. “Here’s the proof that Hugh was always working with Homeland.” Well. Considering they were all probably about to die, that was a bit anticlimactic. Then she snuggled closer to him.
Connor took the laptop and read. “Could be faked.”
Hugh chuckled, the sound strained. Even he wasn’t immune to the nuclear threat they were about to face.
