“There is an endgame to this. We need to focus on how these weapons are connected. The decoder card is nothing without other weapons. The people at Deutsche International were trying to break its code for a reason.” Jed clicked his remote, enlarging each item as he mentioned them. “The explosive device trigger was in that crate because Hell saw Croatian words on the side of it. We already know this, though, because that was the last out-shipment the CIA dropped while Gorman was in charge. Gorman knew it was there, so why not these CIA moles?”
“I wish there was a more definitive way to confirm all this,” Sullivan growled. His large hand curled around his mug. “Much as I don’t want to spoil our confidence in this remote-viewing shit, a crate with Croatian words on the outside doesn’t mean it was in Croatia or Macedonia or wherever else they speak that language.”
“I would have been very surprised if you didn’t question my certainty about this,” Jed said. His light eyes had the spark of a man who was certain about his facts. “Last night, I double checked with Eight Ball and confirmed that the numbers I saw on the side of the crate belonged to the same shipment number sent out in the drone as relief aid. Also, there’s another very important piece of proof Hell can produce herself.”
Helen blinked. That was the first she heard of any proof. She cocked her head at Jed.
“Tell them what you heard before you bilocated again.”
Realization dawned. “I heard a woman’s voice. She was barely discernible, but I think she was calling a name. Cameron?”
T’s startled reaction caught Helen’s attention. “A woman?” T asked, exchanging glances with Jed. “As in Patty and Cam?”
“You know a Cameron? And the woman too?” Helen questioned. She bit her lower lip. “She was locked in the crate and someone was beating the heck at the side of it. It’s...Jed, I told you he was talking like an American...was that this Cam?”
Jed nodded. “Some of you were at that vault fire at the CIA HQ not long ago, helping then Task Force II O.C., Rick Harden, to rescue our Nikki. Cameron Candelaro and Patty Ostler, who worked under him, disappeared that night. Word was, their bodies were dumped into two of the crates being shipped out the same night. Sullivan, Hell has never met either Cam or Patty Ostler and doesn’t know the back story.”
Heknewwho those people were, and hadn’t said a word.
Sullivan scratched the back of his ear. “Wow,” was all he said. He then gave a male shrug, as if that was good enough for now.
“But that was months ago. If she were still in the crate, she’d be dead by now. How do you explain that?”
Hell frowned. “Months ago? She was definitely alive during my RV session.” She thought for a moment. A mental snap. “The second universal agreement. It was where the weapons were dropped, not where they are now, so what I saw was at the point in time those weapons arrived at their location.”
“So not necessarily the current location,” Shahrukh said.
Jed nodded, his expression thoughtful. “But we’re close to the trigger. Since our SEAL contact is working on retrieving that item, we’ll wait till I talk to him. Next, we have the location of the missing Stealth. Shahrukh, you’re going to retrieve what’s left of it. It may not be at the same location, but a Stealth isn’t difficult to trace when we have a general location.”
“Wait a minute—” Flyboy sat up, an indignant look on his face. “The Stealth’s mine.”
“It’s in Kurd country. And he might have to travel through Pakistan to retrieve it. Shahrukh would be able to go in and out of those places better than a blond blue-eyed hotshot, Flyboy.”
“There’s always another way,” Flyboy objected heatedly. “No one’s playing with a Stealth without me.”
“Stealth parts, Flyboy,” Shahrukh corrected. “There wouldn’t be much left of it for you to fly.”
“I don’t—”
“You two can discuss this later,” Jed interrupted, “although I’d prefer you handle Project X-S Bot, Number Five. It’s flight simulation and nano-technology, something you’re familiar with.”
Flyboy scowled. “Give me the file. But that doesn’t mean I’m dropping the Stealth discussion, Rukh. Even if I have to fight you with a sword for it.”
“That’d be a stupid bet,” Shahrukh said, white teeth showing.
Helen couldn’t help grinning. Testosterone overload was so fun to watch.
T winked at her and rolled her eyes.
“Alex, I know your plate’s already full with Maximillian Shoggi. I think we need to talk about setting him up with the decoder. Thanks to us, he’s already lost out on several important weapon bids. He’s a very hungry arms dealer at the moment.”
Alex’s eyes glittered. “That’d be a pleasure.” He turned to T. “Time to get back into your Tasha skin. Mad Max thinks you’re his link to me.”
T tapped her fingers on the table before turning to Jed. “Evil.” She examined her nails. “I think I should be the one going after the Stealth parts.”
Helen watched with growing amusement when both Alex and Jed didn’t spare her a glance, as if the whole thing was settled. That was so not the way to get T to cooperate.
“Armando,” Jed said, his gaze catching Helen’s. She saw the knowing gleam there. “You’re going to go undercover at the same place where that remote viewer is. It’s a place called Stratter’s Pointe.”
