Thursday
“Some of the videos and articles aren’t here,” I said in a surprised whisper.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. Someone must have removed them over the past twenty-four hours.”
Luke shot me a disbelieving look. “Come on, Ellie. Are you saying they’re gone because you were screening them?”
“I don’t know. I just know they were here yesterday.” I clicked onto Wikipedia and started reading. “My God! There was a whole paragraph about alleged Chinese discrimination against the Uyghurs. It’s gone too.” I turned to him. “I swear to God it was here yesterday. Melissa can vouch for me. I told her about it.”
Luke swiveled around and glanced at Melissa, who gave him a tiny wave. Then he turned back to the screen and skimmed the article. When he was done, he leaned back. “So. A stranger runs you around the North Shore. You meet with her, and she tells you Parks was a double agent working for the Uyghurs. Then she fills your head with BS about persecution and suffering, and you come to the library to verify her story.”
I nodded.
“Yesterday it seemed to check out. But now some of that ‘verification’ has disappeared.”
“You sound like you don’t believe me.”
“I don’t know what to think. Anyone can change a Wikipedia article. Whenever they want.”
“I know.”
“So who edited the article? And why now?”
“Everyone knows the Chinese are the best hackers in the world,” I said quietly. It wasn’t my best comeback. “Next to the Russians,” I added.
“It doesn’t take a hacker to change a Wikipedia article,” he said. “The woman you met with yesterday could have done it herself.”
“But why? Grace wants the world to know about the plight of the Uyghurs.”
“Maybe she doesn’t.”
“No. I don’t buy that.”
“Why not? We still have no idea who’s on first. Hollander, Delcroft, Parks, the Uyghur woman, the Agency guy—”
“Stokes.”
“Whoever. All of them have an agenda,” he went on. “And by asking questions and talking to people, and especially by getting that flash drive decrypted, you’re screwing them up.” He tapped a finger on his lip. “Even if the Uyghurs’ claims of persecution are true, it’s not a state secret.” Luke went on. “It’s also no secret that the Chinese and US are working together to fight terrorism in that part of the world.”
“So you think the Chinese had something to do with this—this disinformation?”
“Look, Ellie. I don’t know who’s behind it, and I don’t care. But I do care about you. And Rachel.” He paused. “Meanwhile, the shit is getting deeper and deeper. Which is why we’re going to disappear for a while.”
“What—and not follow through on the flash drive? We have to.”
“No. We don’t. Or should I say, you don’t. Believe me, if Dolan figured out the encryption, so will Delcroft.”
“But I’m the only one who has the whole chain of communications. From both sides.”
“You don’t think Delcroft, or someone else, was hacking Parks’ email?”
I kept my mouth shut. He had a point.
“But, okay. Let’s assume you’re right. And that flash drive is the only proof of Hollander’s treason. What do you think Delcroft will do when they find out their chief engineer betrayed them? You think they’re going to thank you and give you a medal?”
“Luke…” My voice rose. Melissa caught my eye and tapped her index finger on her lips.
“Do you think for one nanosecond they’ll let it go public at all?”
I blinked.
Luke went on. “Whoever is behind this is going to want to cover it up. Make sure nothing sees the light of day. And what do you think they’ll do to the messenger who brought them the proof?”
I thought about the target on my back. It was growing larger. “I can’t disappear forever.”
“True. That’s why I went to see Grizzly this morning.”
“What for? What can he do?”
“Poke around, for starters. Find out who the key players are. Especially that asshole Stokes. Which is another reason why we’re leaving.”
I conceded. “You’re right.”
“Good. We’ll drive up to Lake Geneva. Rachel too.”
In spite of the situation, I smiled. “She’ll be thrilled. She’ll get to hang out at the Abbey spa every day. But what about Dad?”
“The security at his place is pretty good. He’ll be okay.”
This was true. With the bars on the doors and windows and a security guard 24/7, it can remind me of a prison more than an assisted living facility.
“Then we’ll fly up to the cabin at Star Lake,” Luke said.
The cabin at Star Lake was the place where Luke and I fell in love. Or should I say, the place where Luke allowed himself to love me. We make it a point to go up there every few months. He leaned over and cupped my chin. “Okay, sweetheart? You know I’m only trying to protect you.”
I nodded. “But do you think the cabin is a good idea? There’s no cell or Internet reception up there.”
“Exactly.”