Yasmine followed Crais’s directions, sensing that Noel kept pace behind her. She checked each corner before proceeding, but even so they had to duck into an alcove more than once as employees passed by. Strangely, no one seemed to be in a hurry, and no alerts sounded.
“Why hasn’t anyone come after us?” Yasmine mumbled as they followed the third sign they’d seen for the Press Briefing Room.
“Raising an alarm might cause too many people to ask questions,” Noel said. “Especially with FBI agents on the premises. I have no doubt that some of the general’s lackeys are hunting us down, though, especially knowing two of them already tried to take you out of the picture. Again. The longer we’re in these hallways, the more likely it is they’ll find us.”
As if on cue, a set of doors loomed at the end of the next hall. A plaque beside the doors indicated that they’d reached the Pentagon Press Briefing Room, while an inconspicuous door to the left, a few yards down, was identifiable by a small sign that read Technical Room.
“That’s what we need,” Yasmine said, waving Noel forward. The hallway was empty, and Yasmine held her breath as she gripped the handle of the tech room door. It turned without resistance, and they both slipped inside.
The broadcast booth sat empty of personnel, but the equipment remained full of life. Banks of computers, soundboards and screens were set up in a long line facing a massive glass window. Through the window, the tech team could monitor the actual Press Briefing Room, which was set up with a podium, a Department of Defense backdrop and rows of chairs lined up from the front to the back of the room.
A surge of hope at finding everything still fired up sent Yasmine rushing across the room to the computer bank. “If they’ve just finished, the tech team must be on break after the morning broadcast. This is even better than I’d hoped. We don’t have to talk anyone into helping us.”
Noel joined her, staring at the equipment as though it might bite him. “You said you want to—what—broadcast the information?”
Yasmine waved her hand at Noel. “Phone.” He handed it to her as she hunted for a cable. Finding it, she plugged the phone into the computer tower and slipped into a chair. “Exactly. Look at the screen over there.” She pointed at a monitor mounted in the upper corner of the room.
Noel squinted at it. “There’s another broadcast in two hours about, uh, some defense policy. Is this normal? I knew the Pentagon did live broadcasts, but I didn’t realize they were so regular.”
Yasmine shrugged, her fingers flying over the keyboard. She opened her phone’s storage on the monitor and began to transfer the files they’d received from Shaun the day before. “I know only because of Daniel. He once told me about this because he was so excited to be a part of a facility contracted by the Department of Defense. He read the entire Department website and liked to watch the broadcasts on his days off. He loved hearing about how his work was making a difference in the lives of people, and he took pride in knowing that he was a link in the chain that kept this country safe and secure.”
Her voice hitched as her emotions threatened to take over, but suddenly Noel’s hands were on her shoulders, reassuring her. His presence reminded her that she wasn’t alone in this—neither the moment nor her grief.
“We’re going to end this, Mina. Right now.” He whispered the words in her ear, gentle and yet full of strength. She couldn’t help but shiver. Why had she kissed him before they’d left the room to head here? She wanted to tell herself that it was a fluke, an anxious gesture in the moment done out of panic and thankfulness that she’d found him, but she knew better than that.
When she’d seen Noel, her heart had flipped upside down, and it had been all she could do not to fall into his arms. How had she come to be so reliant on him, so willing to depend on him, despite so many years apart?
Because we’re meant to be together, came a still, small voice inside. Because you love him, even after all this time.
He treated her as an equal and respected her need not to sit back and wait for things to happen. He knew she could take care of herself, and these past few days had shown that they worked together well as a team in dire circumstances. Would they be able to work together just as well without bullets flying or bad guys chasing them?
She didn’t know, but sitting there with Noel’s hands on her shoulders—knowing that he had complete confidence in her plan—made her anxious to try. She wanted to tell him, to turn around and let him know that she didn’t care if she had to sell the bakery in Newherst. She’d start another one somewhere else. They could make it work, if only he was willing to give them a chance.
But they needed to make it through this day first. Telling him now would be a distraction, and they were going to require every ounce of focus for the next few minutes.
She loaded the last file onto the computer and yanked the cable out of her phone. “Noel, hit that switch over there.” She pointed to the soundboard a few feet away, then returned her attention to the screen while she loaded up the broadcasting program that had been up on the screen when they’d stepped into the room.
Her heart squeezed as she navigated the program. It was, without a doubt, because of Marc that she interacted with the program with ease. He’d been an information technology specialist for a reason, and she hadn’t been able to help but absorb some of his ability and knowledge during their years together.
For the first time since she’d boarded the airplane to return to the United States, she felt grateful for her relationship with Marc while it had lasted. It hadn’t been for nothing. Without those years, however much she’d felt they’d been wasted up until this moment, she wouldn’t have known that the button she was about to click on the broadcast program’s screen would be the thing that might save their lives and finally, finally bring justice for Daniel.
She clicked the button and stood. “Let’s get inside that room.”
Noel nodded, trusting her without question, and headed to the inside door that connected both rooms. He paused as she came up behind him.
“What is it? Let’s go. The information is going live.”
“I know. I just—Before we go in there, I need to say something. I’m sorry for pushing you away in the car last night. I thought I knew what was best for you and for me, but—”
“You were wrong?” The tension around Yasmine’s insides began to ease. “I’ve been wrong, too. I didn’t see—I didn’t want to see—what’s been in front of me all this time. I don’t know why this is happening, and I wish that seeing you again had been under better circumstances.”
“But God’s reasons aren’t our reasons.” He smiled as Yasmine’s eyes widened in surprise. Had she heard him correctly? “I know, I know. I’m learning. Your faith and strength makes me feel strong, Mina, and I want the assurance you have as you face obstacles head-on. I know it’s my own fault for pushing God away, but you’ve shown me that having faith doesn’t mean giving in. It makes you stronger, more courageous. I love you for it, and I want that, too.”
The air rushed from Yasmine’s lungs as she processed his words. “You…what?”
He smiled, gentle and sweet and tinged with the anxiety of the moment. “I love you. And when we get through this, I’m going to show you how much. We can make it work. I know we can. But for now?” He leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips, as rushed and yet full of hope as the one she’d given him only minutes before.
She parted her lips to speak, searching for the right words to respond, but he shook his head and pulled the door open a crack.
“Uh-uh. Later. The information is going live, remember?” He winked and stepped through the door as Yasmine forced herself to breathe again. She followed him through, her heart light and surging with joy. They walked to the front of the room, heading toward the podium where she would expose the general’s schemes to the whole world, and—
A muffled bang split the room. In front of her, Noel faltered, stumbled and gripped the podium, confusion and sudden fear rippling across his face. Had anyone else heard that? Of course not, Yasmine realized—this was a room used for official broadcasts and recordings, and would most definitely be soundproofed from the rest of the building’s noise.
Noel’s eyes met hers, and she saw the agony of defeat the moment before her gaze was drawn to the drip of red against the room’s gray carpet. Noel clutched at his leg, grimacing.
General Stark stood at the Pentagon Press Briefing Room door. Special Agent John Crais stood with him, Stark’s gun now pressed into his side.
“Hello, Special Agent Black. Miss Browder. I think it’s about time we met, don’t you?”
* * *
“General Stark.” At his side, Yasmine hissed the name through clenched teeth. Noel wanted to reach out and offer comfort, but it was all he could do to cling to the podium and remain upright. The shot had hit his upper leg, immediately dredging up old fears and doubt. What if it took years to heal again? What if this shot had just taken away everything he’d worked so hard for…and what if he couldn’t protect Yasmine from whatever happened next? He prayed silently that the wound was superficial enough to allow him to act if he had the chance. I refuse to be terrified or discouraged, Lord, he prayed. I know You’re with Yasmine, and I believe You’re with me, too.
“Either of you decide to play the hero, and the next one goes through his stomach.” General Stark shoved Crais away from him. Crais stumbled forward, coming to a stop between Stark and Yasmine. Stark waved his gun as he spoke as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “Or your mentor’s skull, Agent Black. It’ll be far more difficult to explain away than what happened to Miss Browder’s brother, but I feel that there’s a good story to be concocted here about a new agent being unable to handle the pressures of the Bureau. Or something about how you were both involved in a plot against the United States, blah blah, national security. You know the buzzwords as well as I do.”
He did. And Noel had no doubt that General Stark had the connections and the finances to cover this up or explain it away without question, just as he’d done so far. As vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who could stand against his word? And if anyone tried to oppose him, he’d simply have them killed. Just like he’d admitted doing to Daniel.
The man was a murderer, plain and simple.
Noel’s hope faded as their options seemed to drain away, but when he glanced at Yasmine, he nearly lost his grip on the podium. She appeared not only determined but also…assured. The hard mask on her face exuded a confidence that he had trouble finding inside himself. Where was that coming from?
Did it matter? He loved her all the more for it.
“So you admit you had my brother killed,” she said, almost shouting her words. Why was she speaking so loud? They were the only ones in the room.
Or were they?
“An unavoidable casualty, Miss Browder,” Stark said, stepping forward. He lowered his gun and held it at his side as though he didn’t even expect resistance. The man was fearless. “But your brother was snooping around in things that were none of his business.”
“None of his business? I think the safety of American soldiers is everyone’s business, especially for someone like Daniel, who believed in the work he did at the inspection facility—work you deliberately sabotaged for your own financial gain. Falsified inspection reports put good soldiers at risk, General, and you had my brother murdered for trying to keep this country safe. Just like you’re supposed to be doing. How can you live with yourself?”
Noel watched for surprise or shock to flit across the general’s face—something, anything, that said they had him backed into a corner. Instead, General Stark laughed.
“Financial gain?” He laughed again, his shoulders shaking with cruel mirth. “You stupid, shortsighted fools. Have you not been paying attention at all?” He held up his hand and gestured with two fingers. Suddenly five men in black armor poured out from behind the Department of Defense backdrop and fell into formation around the room, surrounding them.
“Back entrance,” Noel muttered, feeling like one of the fools Stark accused them of being. “There’s a prep room behind the backdrop. Of course. I should have known.”
“Yes, you should have. I can get anyone into anywhere, even the most secure building in the country. Haven’t you figured that out by now?” General Stark gave Noel a bemused look. “And my dear Miss Browder, financial gain was never my aim. Yes, I ordered the facility to falsify the inspection reports, but the only person getting financial kickbacks was Anthony Clarke, and I imagine he used some of that to ensure his employees remained cooperative. You’d be surprised how a little boost in one’s bank account can encourage a person to cooperate without question.”
Noel’s rage increased as the general spoke. Yasmine was right—this man was responsible for keeping the country safe, and yet he’d deliberately put his own men, the country’s own protectors, at unnecessary risk. “Your corruption is despicable, sir.” Noel resisted the sudden urge to spit at the man’s feet. “You’ve betrayed everything this country stands for, everything this facility we stand inside of works to protect.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Stark took several quick steps toward Noel, his anger finally surfacing. “I’ve always served my country, and I would do anything necessary to protect its interests. There is no corruption here, no personal gain.”
“Then where is the money going?” Yasmine shouted at him, her entire body leaning forward as if she was prepared to attack at any moment. “Who does the mystery account belong to?” General Stark faltered. He blinked, then peered at Yasmine as though seeing her for the first time. “That’s right. We know all about the money trails. Emails, financial reports, everything. We have proof of your corruption. We can even show you. How do you answer for that?”
“Oh, you will show me. I’m afraid that’s the sort of information that I’ve trained my black ops team to dispose of, regardless of the source. Digital, human, it doesn’t matter. That’s how I keep America safe, Miss Browder. My team is under my leadership alone, not beholden to the restrictive laws of the land, because our enemies don’t play by the same rules we do.”
Like a candle lit in a dark room, General Stark’s words illuminated everything. The attacks on Yasmine. How their attackers knew Noel was FBI and understood how to try to stop him from protecting her. The constant, unrelenting pursuit of Yasmine, whose brother might have told her what he’d found out about the inspection facility—and why the soldier who’d shot at Yasmine in the diner would be willing to take his own life rather than give up even one word of information. Stark had developed an obedient, lethal and highly illegal black ops team made up of soldiers supposedly killed in action that had no true oversight—because he was the oversight.
Money could accomplish almost anything, including getting a team of deadly soldiers into the Pentagon under the general’s orders, just like it convinced an inspection facility operator to lie on his inspection reports and get those reports passed through multiple levels of gatekeepers at the Department of Defense.
The general’s influence and reach, his solitary control of massive finances and his position of power in the government had enabled him to develop a covert, unregulated team that operated under the radar.
General Stark’s face split in a slow, wide grin. “I can see that you understand now. And of course, that means you’ll also understand why I can’t allow you to leave this room. My men will take care of the mess and no one will ever be the wiser. I assure you, Special Agents, Miss Browder, that this country will be a better place thanks to your sacrifice. We can’t have you exposing this operation and bringing something so pedestrian as legality into this, you realize. Boys? On my signal.”
He raised his hand, fingers pointed upward. The five black-clad operatives that surrounded them dropped into a firing stance and aimed their weapons.
Noel couldn’t act. The pain in his leg had worsened, and there were too many operatives around the room for Crais and Yasmine to take on.
This was it. The end for all of them. There was no escaping this time, despite everything they’d done—despite everything he’d done to keep Yasmine safe.
I’m sorry, he wanted to say, but Yasmine wasn’t looking at him. Did she blame him for this? He’d thought they felt the same way about each other, and if his life had to end right here and right now, he would do whatever he could to spare her pain.
He tensed his muscles, ready to leap from the podium and cover her with his body. Maybe God would be merciful and he could shield her from the end. Maybe Stark would accept his and Crais’s deaths and let her go. Maybe—
“Ready,” said Stark.
It would never work. Noel knew that deep inside. But if they were going to die, he wanted the end to come with her name on his lips.
“Aim,” said Stark.
“Yasmine,” Noel whispered, hoping she would turn and look at him. But she didn’t. He spoke to her anyway. “I love you.”
Stark’s smile grew wider.