Page 172 of Protecting You

Keeping up a steady stream of prayers, she hacked into SJSS’s system.

CHAPTERFORTY

Callan tried to feel optimistic.

Grant was not only a former Green Beret and a current police detective, he and his wife were part owners of a private security company. His wife, the model-beautiful blonde in the library playing the part of bodyguard, had actuallybeena bodyguard.

That would teach Callan to judge a book by its cover.

Grant had called on their other bodyguard buddies, who were on their way up from Boston. He was seated at the table, staring at a screen containing a map of the island, and talking on the phone to a man named Bartlett, another owner of the security company. They were strategizing.

Gavin had been in touch with Agency contacts. One offered to send resources, but the operatives were too far away to be of any use tonight.

The old spy had reached out to the management team at SJSS, hoping they could disable the drones even if Alyssa got access to the command system. He was waiting for a call back, pacing the small dining-room-turned-command-center.

Callan stared at the screen, waiting for something to happen. Why wasn’t Alyssa in the code? Had something gone wrong?

Was she dead? Was Peri?

Type something.

Come on, Alyssa. Give me a?—

He blinked. Had he imagined it, or did the screen shift?

He must’ve gasped because Gavin moved close. “What?”

Callan didn’t answer, just stared, and then…

A line of code appeared.

Random letters and numbers. He tried to decipher it. It didn’t make sense as code, which meant…

He wrote the line down.

“What does it mean?” Gavin’s tone was commanding, but Callan ignored him.

COMMAND>HQP1LDKJE2UIR3HQI4LDKJS1UIA2HQF3LDKJE4

“That makes no sense.” Gavin sounded furious. “What are we supposed to?—?”

“Quiet.” Callan issued the command as he circled the numbers.

Putting together the letters after each number, he sawLUHL…

That meant nothing. But the letters before the numbers…

PERISAFE.

Peri. Safe.

Hot tears stung his eyes.

Thank God. Thank You, God.

Gavin squeezed his shoulder. “Looks like they both are.” Thefor nowwas implied.

The line disappeared.

---