Page 96 of Silver Fire
“They’re shoring up their defenses. Are they expecting an attack?” Derek asked. He looked at Maia. “Is the CIA planning an offensive?”
“Not that I know of.”
Just then, Viktor walked into the room. He took one look at them and said, “What?”
“Eight men landed in Dulles last Friday. Definitely linked to Stoltz. We’re wondering if they caught wind about any action against them and are preparing for war,” Tim answered.
Viktor shook his head. “I have not heard anything.”
“Marissa could be playing us. Again.” Derek pointed out.
“She never did in the first place,” Viktor replied. “It was her handler, Blaine. He’s up for retirement, needed some money, gambling problems. Same old sob story.”
“Anything from Blackstone?”
“He’s upset about the kidnapping,” Viktor said. “But I don’t think he’s totally forthcoming. He’s hiding something.”
“Did you push him hard enough?”
Viktor eyed him with his ice blue eyes. “Blackstone is not a soldier, Derek. Our regular menu of torture does not apply to him,” he said derisively.
“Sophie is running out of time,” Derek argued.
“Tim, any progress on Blackstone or Opperman’s network?” Viktor asked.
“Both are sealed tight, encryption is highly sophisticated.”
“We’ll need to bring in a specialist,” Maia said as she looked at Derek.
“Brett,” both of them concluded at the same time. Brett McCord was Jack’s younger brother. Big time environmentalist, he was also one of the most notorious hackers out there. He was instrumental in bringing Jack and Maia together because they met while planning his protective custody.
“Is he available?” Derek asked.
Maia pulled out her phone. “We’ll find out.”
* * *
Sophie felt betterafter taking a warm bath even with a crude setup. She put on some clean clothes and realized they were all white. Virginal white. The back of her neck prickled. She realized by observing Justin that she had some emotional control over him. She wasn’t sure yet how to handle that information.
She wondered what time it was. Though the windows were boarded up, there were cracks through them that allowed sunlight. Right now though it was dark. She could hear a generator cranking nearby and she was certain it was powering this shack right now.
Derek. He probably didn’t know she was missing. Justin had her call Stephen to make an excuse for her absence. Right now she was confused about her feelings toward Derek. Seeing him with Layla brought back some dark memories of Adam. Adam had never taught her the finer points of pleasuring a man with oral sex. He used it as punishment.
Her dark thoughts were interrupted when she heard footsteps and then the door opened.
It was Morgan. “Bishop wants you to join him for dinner.”
“I want to see Beth.”
Morgan turned around, expecting her to follow him. Chuffing with annoyance, she followed the big man through the rickety hallway into a farm-style kitchen.
Beth was sitting on one of the chairs surrounding a folding table.
“Beth!” Sophie cried in relief as she ran toward her friend.
“Sophie, thank god,” her friend exclaimed as they both hugged each other.
“Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” Sophie asked.