Protector in Disguise, page 13
“I don’t want anything to risk Matt’s life.” His mind had already started racing, and his thoughts turned darker and darker. The whole mission seemed more and more impossible as he allowed doubt to consume him.
Fiona watched him, her eyes not filled with fear, but with a piercing intensity. “Jason, we need to think this through logically. Going directly to them could be a trap.”
He turned sharply, his eyes blazing. “They have our son, Fiona. What choice do I have?”
“You always have choices,” Fiona responded. “You need to take a step back. Your reluctance to disconnect from your emotions is limiting your ability to see the big picture. We have to break every aspect of this operation down in order to understand what the risks are and formulate ways to reduce those risks.”
“We don’t have a week to do a whole project analysis on what will work and what won’t. I have to be there in—” he looked at his watch “—three hours. It’ll take me two hours to drive to Woods Hole.”
“Figuring out a plan won’t take longer than thirty minutes if the people you’ve been bragging about to me are as capable as you say they are. Besides, you can work in your car to finalize smaller details.” She leaned back in her chair and raised her brows in that way a middle-school teacher did when handling headstrong preteens.
Steve, Meaghan and Sam nodded in agreement with her. Fiona had transformed from someone the team protected to a valued member of the team with zero deliberation from Jason. In reality, he’d never hire someone like her. Her background had layers and layers of walls protecting her from discovery. She’d never disclosed any of her past work, nor had she ever explained the details of her actual skill set either during their marriage or in the past few hours since beating the hell out of Harper. Too much risk for a fledgling security team to take on. Yet, here she was, making plans and collaborating with the team he’d put together. Somehow, their allegiance had crossed over from him to her.
“Although I don’t know your past, as you won’t disclose it, I doubt you’ve ever experienced this scenario,” Jason said to her.
“You’d be surprised, although I admit my emotions for the safety of Matt have altered my usual distance from this sort of thing. What I do know is Porras blames you for the death of his son,” she said. “What makes you think he won’t enact the same revenge and kill Matt right in front of you? Once you’re there, that’s the first thing he might do. Get it out of the way and then head back toward South America.”
Jason felt as though she’d hit him with an axe. The possibility of Matt being killed so soon after he arrived on the boat had been on his mind, but hearing Fiona articulate it made it all the more chilling.
She continued, “You charging in there is exactly what they’re expecting. I’d bet they also have some pretty decent firepower that would take out a rescue boat or even a helicopter. Why give them what they want?”
Jason hesitated. The immediate rush to save Matt dissipated. “Then what do you propose we do?”
Fiona picked up a pen at the table, tapping it gently over a pad of paper as she laid out her thoughts. “First, we should inform law enforcement. I know we’re afraid they’ll hurt Matt if we involve the police, but there are ways they can help covertly.”
He shook his head. There was no way he was going against their directives without solid assurances that the authorities wouldn’t rush in for an arrest without regard for Matt’s safety. “It’s too risky.”
“Riskier than you going in there alone and unarmed?” she challenged.
“What’s your second idea?”
“Use a minidrone equipped with a camera as Sam suggested. We’ll send it to scout the area first, take stock of what we’re dealing with. We need information, Jason.” The tapping continued, a nervous tic he’d noticed about her when they were in college.
“And third?”
“Third,” she paused, taking a breath, “we negotiate, and while doing so, we use the time to gather as much information as we can to form a tactical advantage. This can be through the police, through surveillance or even through a third party. We cannot just walk—sail—into what could be an elaborate revenge scheme.”
He sighed, his eyes meeting hers. “They will not negotiate. They have all the cards. You know this too. If we had something they wanted, besides me, I’d agree with you, but if Porras doesn’t get his way, there would be nothing stopping him from leaving tonight.”
Fiona moved closer to him. “I concede that point, but if we all put minds together, we may realize we have something they want and would be willing to bargain for. We’ll get him back, Jason. And we’ll do it by being smarter, not just braver.”
With newfound resolve, they turned their attention to enacting Fiona’s plan. When the sun disappeared behind the bank across the street, Jason appreciated Fiona’s approach. He of all people understood that bravery wasn’t about charging into danger—it often involved having the courage to change course, especially when guided by a voice of reason.
When the plan was nailed down into a reasonable operation, Jason drove alone to Woods Hole.
The traffic wasn’t too bad and he made decent time onto Cape Cod and into the small community at the southern point. Seagulls soared overhead, their silhouettes contrasting against the moonlight. The docks were mostly empty, save for some fishermen returning with their catch of the day, a line of cars waiting for the next ferry and a few tourists taking an evening stroll.
Jason parked his car in a dimly lit corner, away from prying eyes. His heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The operation they had planned had to be precise, with no margin for error. He got out of the car, stretched his legs and walked to the dock where a subsequent email from Porras said the zodiac boat would be located.
Hidden between two large fishing vessels was the gray inflatable boat with an outboard motor. A GoPro camera had been rigged onto the motor, to watch the happenings on the water. No doubt he’d locate a tracking device if he took the time to look, but that wouldn’t matter. Everyone knew where he was headed.
As he pushed off in the small boat, he set the entire plan into motion. It was a gamble, but so was sailing straight into enemy hands. At least this way, they held a few cards and were active participants in this very deadly game.
The lights from the waterfront shops faded as he traveled farther from shore. The slapping of the water on the bow provided a rhythm to his journey, something to calm his mind as he prayed for everything to fall perfectly into place.
Chapter 13
Fiona didn’t want Jason to drive away alone, but knew he’d be monitored as he arrived near the boat. He’d been so focused on rescuing Matt at all costs that he’d let caution and planning fall away. It had been a risk to challenge him in front of his team, but she remembered the days after learning of Jason’s death. Her intense grief prevented her from handling her job. The only reason she’d been able to get out of bed had been knowing Matt had lost his father and needed her more than she needed to hide under her covers. The pain of knowing Matt was now in such a dangerous situation made breathing difficult and she too was losing her ability to objectively work out a rescue plan, but like before, Matt would not be saved by her falling apart. She needed to keep it together for both Matt and Jason.
Jason had left a half hour before. That was a decade if he ended up needing backup, but they had to make sure no one saw their involvement. She walked into the conference room, now the control center for the entire operation. The soft glow of computer monitors lit Sam’s and Steve’s faces. A concentrated energy filled the space as they worked against the clock, finalizing coordinates, updating maps and checking intel.
Meanwhile, in a government building somewhere outside Washington, DC, Kennedy stayed glued to her monitors, tracking every movement on air and on the water. She and Sam stayed in constant communication.
Calvin had remained hidden from Fiona, in his own space, since the technology wasn’t so easily transported into the conference room. She located him in a room where screens around him displayed data streams, video feeds and encrypted messages.
“Come on, Porras,” he muttered under his breath, “Give me something.” With every keystroke, he delved deeper into the web, trying to uncover any hidden trails Andres might have left behind.
“Do you need anything before I leave?” she asked.
“Just for you to get that family of yours back together in one piece. Jason has been a bear for the past year and even with everything going on around him now, he’s got a different attitude. A better one.”
The news made her focus even more on her task.
She waved and met up with Meaghan. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She’d changed into black pants and a black rain jacket.
Fiona was still in Meaghan’s yoga pants and T-shirt, although she borrowed a blue hoodie from Noah’s office. The word from the hospital was that he would be fine after some exploratory surgery and time off. That he’d risked his life for Matt made her forever indebted to him.
They drove south in Sam’s car, a small silver Prius. It had some zip and blended in with the cars around them, as Noah’s had done.
“How are you holding up?” Meaghan asked her.
“I’m scared, angry, exhausted and my muscles ache. Otherwise, I’m perfectly fine.”
Meaghan laughed. “Sounds like you’re ready for our objective.”
“The idea of floating out to sea at night isn’t my idea of fun, but I can’t leave Jason out there alone.”
Meaghan parked the car near a private marina, and Sam and Steve pulled up next to them. Sam unloaded the drone, while Steve carried a mini mobile command post with tracking and satellite gear. Fiona stared out at the waves crashing to shore and hoped Jason and Matt were safe. His plan had been to fall upon their mercy or to infiltrate them, grab Matt and somehow leave the boat and return to shore with both of them alive. It wasn’t much of a plan, and from what she’d read about that group they would have enough resources to keep a former military operative from taking down a boatload of trained mercenaries. This plan was better, she hoped. There were no guarantees in this business, but risks could be reduced with planning. There was no way Jason had headed into this without a bit of bravado, and that might help him or hurt him. Between their two different approaches, Matt’s chances of getting off the boat increased.
Jason had told the rest of the team he had to go to the boat alone. If they were as competent as he claimed, they’d be there as backup without Porras knowing. The only team member she knew, or thought she did, was Meaghan, who was currently focused on loading their small boat with supplies—two extra life preservers, a first aid kit and a few weapons. For just short of five years, Meaghan had lived next door to Fiona and pretended to sell insurance policies. And here she was about to embark on a sea rescue against members of a drug cartel. Fiona was more than a bit impressed. She also felt as though she could confide in Meaghan more. They had similar backgrounds and although Fiona could never disclose what she had done in her past life, she could remain vague and still find connection. She wouldn’t be critical of Meaghan for spying on her, as Fiona had hidden her own secrets and would continue to do so. According to Jason, Meaghan had not known her boss was related to her and Matt. She handled the assignment like a true professional and had been as betrayed as Fiona by Jason’s lies. It would be interesting working with her as a team.
They exchanged a few brief words, double-checking every last detail of the plan. Meaghan’s determination to get Matt back safely gave Fiona the confidence needed to jump back into this world with two feet. Matt’s life, and Jason’s, depended on her.
Steve approached them with a tablet in his hand. “I’ve got a live feed from Kennedy’s satellite connection. It’ll give you both a bird’s-eye view of the yacht. I’ve marked the potential entry points on it. Hold back until Sam can confirm it’s the right one with the drone.”
“Can Calvin track my phone? I have no GPS,” Fiona said.
“A GPS is part of the life preserver. Don’t take it off,” Meaghan replied.
“What about Jason? Are you tracking Jason?” If Fiona could have microchipped Matt, she would have. Personal liberty meant squat when the person was dead. She shook that thought from her mind and held on as a large wave lifted the dock a few feet higher, then dropped it back down.
“We’re tracking Jason. We’d never let him go without something to locate him quickly.”
Fiona knew that, but with under an hour to organize this and years on the outside doing nothing to remain in shape or up-to-date, she wasn’t quite as capable as she’d been telling herself. That thought scared her the most—that Jason had been right about her. She’d not only be in the way, but her lack of preparation would hinder the rescue and possibly place her husband and son further in harm’s way.
“Thanks, Steve,” Meaghan said, glancing over his shoulder to look at the screen before taking the tablet from his hands. “This will be helpful. How’s the chatter? Anything on the Coast Guard’s channels?”
“So far, it’s quiet. Calvin is listening to them and will contact us with updates. Be quick. We don’t have a big window.”
Fiona focused on what they were saying. She had a good idea of the entire team and their jobs within the organization. “We’ll stay connected as much as we can. Sam, you’ve done similar operations on boats of this size. Any last-minute tips?”
“Stay low, keep quiet. These yachts often have more guards than they show. Matt is our priority and Jason. Revenge, justice and any other bullshit you’re bringing with you is secondary. Steve and I are going to head out first to give the drone a chance to find openings and learn the situation.” He had a calm confidence to him. It reassured Fiona that she was dealing with a highly professional team, although the proof would be in how well they implemented the plan. As she’d seen at the bunker, the element of surprise and unlimited resources could destroy even the most prepared team.
“Once you’re ready, signal us. We’ll be able to slip in closer and get a better viewpoint.” Meaghan slipped on a black life preserver and handed the other to Fiona. “How did you end up with the speedboat?”
In the shadows, a sleek, black speedboat bobbed gently, its powerful engines making the smaller boat seem more like a rowboat than anything tactically useful. Although Fiona would have preferred to be on something a bit larger, a bigger boat would also be a bigger target.
“Seniority. Let’s go.” Steve, wearing all black like Sam and Meaghan, boarded the larger vessel and Sam followed behind with two silver cases.
After Meaghan hopped on board the smaller boat, Fiona stared at the open water between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard. Then she turned east toward Nantucket, an island that wasn’t visible from Cape Cod. If she overshot or undershot her direction, they could end up floating out to the Atlantic Ocean and miles and miles of isolation.
Chapter 14
The inky black of Nantucket Sound stretched forever before Jason. Without lights on the zodiac, his main means of navigation were his phone and the lights on the large boat waiting for him. The waves rose and fell, making his stomach reel from the bag of chips and soda he’d grabbed on his way out of the office. As each minute passed, he came closer to his son, but he had no idea whether he’d be able to rescue him. Fiona was right. Without backup, both he and Matt would never make it out of this alive.
Moonlight broke through the cloud cover, offering fleeting, celestial beams over the water, each one a beacon guiding him to the yacht anchored in the distance.
As the yacht emerged from the shadows, two figures signaled him to approach. After another forty yards, the two men came into focus. From their silhouettes, they each carried an AR-15 but wore jeans and surf shirts. Despite blending into the preppy environment, there was no mistaking their purpose on the boat.
“Hold up.” The command cut through the lapping waves as Jason cut the engine, allowing the zodiac to drift toward the yacht. The two men moved with military precision, and one climbed down and boarded the zodiac, his hands rough as he searched Jason.
“You won’t need this onboard.” The second man grabbed Jason’s phone from his hand, pulled the battery out and tossed all the pieces into the salty water. He then frisked him for anything else he was carrying. He found nothing.
The welcoming committee then pushed him toward the ladder and told him to start climbing by jabbing the rifle into his back. He scrambled up from his tiny boat, climbing until he reached the rich teakwood deck of the yacht. There was no easy escape from here. He would need backup or a boat. He looked around for Matt, but couldn’t see him. Instead, he saw a woman lounging by a hot tub and several more men with weapons lingering about.
Sitting like a king on a lounge chair in the moonlight, Andres Porras nursed a glass of crimson wine. Although Jason had never met the man, he’d done his research in the years since the botched operation. Porras was the reason he had to hide himself away to protect his family. Despite all those years of planning, his nightmare had come to life on a multimillion-dollar ship. Strands of gray threaded through his enemy’s otherwise dark hair. When the man’s eyes locked onto Jason’s, determination masked all other emotions. Determination to bring about his version of justice by causing Jason to suffer as much as he had. His logic was flawed, however, as he’d been the person who sent his son to his death, and Jason had merely been the last person standing at his botched raid.
“Welcome, Jason Stirling.” Andres’s voice dripped with icy calm. “I’ve waited so long for this.”
Jason remained as composed as he could. “That’s a lot of energy you put into someone who has never done anything to harm you or your family.”
Andres tilted his head as though Jason’s words made no sense. “You don’t believe that. Why else would you fake your own death?”
