Page 63 of The Rough Ride

“Yeah, yeah. I’m getting to it. Paula Mumford’s twin brother, Gerald, was a hacker, too. He made big money hacking for premier outfits but got busted a few years ago. Long prison sentence. The feds didn’t waste the IOU and allowed him to do his time using his hacking skills in Iraq. He served with Lieutenant Nelson. She came home to a Purple Heart. He came home in a body bag.”

The major swallowed hard and dropped the cup in the sink. “Do we know where Paula Mumford is now?”

“No known address under that name, but she flew Vegas to Dulles eleven days ago. Until this evening, we haven’t had any fingerprints to connect Illusia and Paula Mumford. She got really sloppy in Vegas. Almost like she wanted to get caught. It figures she’s a hacker like her brother, but accordingto her tax returns, she’s been a nail tech in private salons all over the DC area.”

“Good work, Phil. Thanks.”

“Wait, wait. Here’s an interesting tidbit. Liz Nelson’s car caught fire tonight in a Big4Less store parking lot on President’s Road. Preliminary findings statepossible malfunction or tampering.”

The breath froze in her lungs. “Is Liz alright?”

“Yeah. Medics released her at the scene for follow-up with her primary care.”

Relief rolled over her in a huge whoosh. “Thanks for the update, gotta go.” She disconnected the call and immediately placed another one.

“Security—Hans speaking.”

“This is Major Natalie Chan. I need to initiate protective custody for one of my analysts.”

“Enter the file number, please.”

Using her keypad, she entered a series of numbers.

“Special instructions?”

“Contact Alexandria Police immediately for a patrol car to guard her house until security detail arrives. I’ll be at the location within an hour to brief the agents.”

“Got it. Security activated and Alexandria Police notified. Good luck, Major.”

She hung up and called Liz’s cell phone. It picked up after several rings and repeated a message twice.

This number is no longer in service. Please check the number you are dialing and try again.

Unease raced through the major’s mind. Of course, that was Liz’s number. She’d reached her via cell just yesterday. She tore off her nightgown and threw on some khakis and asweatshirt, stopping only to open the bedroom safe to grab her sidearm.

Dammit—why hadn’t she seen this coming? Liz Nelson was like a daughter to her.

36

Liz wiped a few drops of water off her phone and tapped the screen. It blinked once and went dark. She powered it on again, but it shut down a few seconds later.

She shook her head. The carandher phone?Unbelievable.That’s what she got for letting the phone get wet. She shoved it in her pocket. Maybe it would fire up in a little while.

She blew her hair dry and headed for the kitchen. Knowing Nick, he’d bring food back with him, but she’d give anything right now for something other than peanut butter crackers. His fridge was almost barren, but she found a brick of cheese and an apple. She leaned over the kitchen counter and nibbled while staring at the twinkling Georgetown lights outside his living room window.

If only she could explain her work situation to Nick. The Major was usually right. Top-tier hackers searched for information, but they didn’t physically harm their victims. On the other hand, too many weird things had happened lately. What were the flowers about? Why had that hacker breached onlyher files? There were dozens of people working higher security projects in the same building, and their files went untouched. It didn’t make sense.

A floorboard creaked. Her nape crawled. She glanced around the living and dining room, saw nothing, and told herself to calm down.Old buildings had their quirks.

Of course, she also understood Nick’s point of view. She’d been edgy for weeks now, contemplating the ramifications of her ruined files. It would take her at least two months to rebuild her entire cast of online personas. And it had to be unsettling for Nick to knowsomethingwas going on and not have details.

Liz wrapped up the remainder of the cheese, stowing it in the fridge. Now was a good time to set up the port-a-crib. She found it in the corner of the master bedroom.Aww…he bought bedding with pink hearts.She held them to her chest and smiled.He’s already planning for Ella to be part of his life.

She wrestled the plastic cover off the linens when a door clicked shut. She set the bedding down, walked to the door, and peered down the long hallway.Weird.He hadn’t mentioned tenants. She yanked the phone from her pocket, but it didn’t even blink. So much for calling Nick to ask him about the eerie nuances of the property.

Maybe the security person he’d stationed out front had arrived? She sidled to the drapes and glanced down the road.That must be Lana in the silver sports car parked across the street.Liz huffed a laugh. Her nerves had sizzled during the car fiasco and ensuing flashback. Help was right out front—not that she needed it. Nick had assured her the woman was a Sanctuary, Inc. operative and a professional badass.

A distinct unease settled in her chest. Even if she wantedto, she couldn’t call Lana because her damn phone didn’t work. When would she learn that phones and water weren’t a good combination? She’d dunked one in a toilet when she was hugely pregnant with Ella and another in a gutter on a rainy day. She shook her head. It didn’t matter. Nick would be back soon enough.

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