CHAPTER 1
EXPOSED.Kiley felt exposed.
Standing there. In the dark.
Waiting. Waiting.
The moon hunkered behind heavy clouds. The streetlights dim. The quiet Washington, D.C., suburban shopping area shrouded by foggy mist.
A whisper of wind broke through the trees, carrying the damp, earthy smell from nearby planter beds packed with vivid yellow-and-rusty mums. The rustle of branches created the only sound and movement. A normal fall night.
And yet ... Kiley couldn’t relax. Maybe her FBI agent instincts were warning her to be careful. Maybe. Or maybe it was more.
She looked at her watch, the green number glowing in the eerie fog. 11:20 p.m.
What was taking her confidential informant so long? Firuzeh had promised to arrive by eleven. Had something happened to her?
She’d called Kiley at eight to warn of an imminent terrorist threat. A threat so grand, Firuzeh said it would make the tragedy of 9/11 pale in comparison. Millions of lives could be impacted. Kiley had heard exaggerations like this in the past, but Firuzeh’s intel had always been credible.
Millions.
Kiley shuddered and hoped Firuzeh was wrong this time.Not that she ever had been. Not since Kiley first met Firuzeh when she called the FBI a year ago with a tip related to one of Kiley’s investigations.
The hum of an automobile droned in the distance, grabbing Kiley’s attention.
Finally.
She stepped deeper into the shadows, took a long breath, and held it. She focused her night-vision binoculars across the narrow street where she and Firuzeh often met. Headlights drifted through the fog, two solid beams forming as the small white Toyota drew closer. Kiley zoomed in on the license plate.
Yes. Firuzeh’s car. At last.
Kiley released her breath, the puff of air evaporating in the mist, but continued to glass the area with her binoculars, her attention sharp.
The car pulled to the curb and stilled.
Kiley’s phone vibrated against her leg. Seeing Firuzeh’s name on the screen, Kiley answered. “I see your car.”
“Where are you?” An edge of worry cut through Firuzeh’s tone.
“Across the street by the coffee shop.”
“I can’t see you.”
“It’s foggy, but I’m here.”
“I’ll be over in a second.” Firuzeh’s car door opened. She stepped out and glided across the street like a waif, the ends of her brightly colored headscarf fluttering behind her.
Kiley took a long look through the shadows cloaking the storefronts. Made one more check of the road, wet with September rain, and glanced down the street at parked cars.
Nothing out of the norm for a Saturday night in the quiet suburb.
She stepped out to greet the young woman who’d always impressed Kiley with her self-sacrifice for the greater good.
Kiley respected Firuzeh’s sacrifices and wouldn’t waste any of her time with small talk. “Tell me what you know.”
“I cannot.” Firuzeh’s big brown eyes widened, and she glanced around as she bit her full lower lip. “Not until you promise to bring my entire family into witness protection.”
Kiley’s mouth fell open at the unexpected demand. “That’s not how WITSEC works. I need the information first, and then we can assess the need for security measures.”
