Firewall (29 page)

9:00 A.M. FRIDAY

Some days Grayson would like to toss his BlackBerry
 
—and he’d done that very thing a few days ago. Had it really been just the early hours of Tuesday morning when he and Taryn raced through the streets of Houston? When had his feelings for her begun?

Admiration rose when she called him from the church.

Respect hit him when she announced her determination to be a decoy.

Her courage in the middle of danger and unpredictable behavior made her more attractive.

He rubbed his eyes. The blur of days and the building of one critical issue after another were getting to him. Now he and Joe waited on the side of the road for confirmation of every man in place before pressing forward to what might be a useless venture.

“Are you going to answer that?” Joe said, his tone indicating irritation. “It’s rung three times.”

The caller was the SSA. “Yes, sir.”

“Have you arrived at your destination?”

“We’re waiting on backup. You’ve seen the layout with the house on the left and a barn about thirty yards to the right. But neither Korzha nor Wallace would take a chance on being surprised.”

“Don’t play the hero and go in alone. You’ve got good people there. Grayson, you’re personally involved with this case. Don’t let
it cloud your judgment and get yourself and others killed. Taryn knew the risks when she signed on.”

“Yes, sir.” The SSA hadn’t said anything Grayson hadn’t told himself.

“Do you have any idea how many lives have been lost in this case? I refuse to lose any more on my watch. Focus on Korzha and Wallace. You’re a detailer and plan to the millisecond. Get the job done.”

“I will.” He understood his strengths, his ability to get into a criminal’s mind and keep one step ahead of their plans.

“Good luck.”

Hope, the sustenance of man’s fiber. A prayer lifted for all the law enforcement personnel ready to end this week of terror.

9:10 A.M. FRIDAY

Taryn listened to Ethan explain the two software projects he wanted her to develop. Both sealed the fate of the US. His delight in crippling her country, her home, sent claws of horror through every part of her. She fought to breathe . . . think . . . pray.

Zoey slept at her feet on a filthy floor where rodents crawled. The little girl’s baby doll tucked under her arm. How could she free herself and Zoey from these two madmen? The poor child had been injected with a sleep aid that would keep her oblivious to the world for a while longer. Wallace had revealed that the woman who’d hidden her for Murford was dead
 
—Dina Pedraza, a sister to the man in custody.

Wallace stood at the back door with a high-powered rifle.

“I’m very excited about developing new software for distinct purposes,” Ethan said. “One will attack dam infrastructure. Remember our discussion several weeks ago about the concern for the US’s infrastructure? Over 4,050 dams in this country are just a hair away from failing. We intend to help that problem along by eliminating a handful of the larger ones. Imagine the deaths
and loss of property. Makes the airport bombing look quite small. Don’t you think?” He smiled. “The second target will be the sewage system for the top five major cities. Polluted water. Disease. More deaths. Loss of fish and wildlife. People starving. When this country’s economy is snuffed out and mass panic occurs, the US will fall. You can be a tremendous asset to us, Taryn. Other developers are good, but not with your tenacity and expertise. We’ll launch both projects at the same time, like we’ll do with the two LNG companies this morning.”

“Is there anything I can do to stop you from igniting this disaster?”

“And deny me the pleasure?”

“What about all the innocent lives you’ll destroy?”

“No margin of concern here. The end justifies the means. Something else, too. I’ll need to get into Gated Labs technology, and I’m sure you’ll find a way to make that possible. It’s a shame Rollins is such a wimp. I could have used him internally.”

The futility of trying to talk him down from anything catastrophic hit her hard. He enjoyed what he was doing. That was the new reality. It amazed her how Ethan had fooled those at Gated Labs, his family, and her. The latter made her furious. She’d come so close to giving him Nehemiah’s information before leaving the country with Murford. Nobody would ever use her like a pawn again. She’d risen to the status of leading software developer through grueling work and not compromising when the stakes were high. In this instance, the stakes could not get higher . . . the lives of many innocent people, including Zoey.

“So for me and Zoey to survive, I need to use my skills for the detriment of my country. Tough bargain, don’t you think?”

“What are your priorities? Life or patriotism for a country that’s being defeated by the same principles that made it great?” He snorted. “Your integrity bores me. Because of my generosity, you and that kid have been given an opportunity to live.”

She could argue, or she could feign agreement. The US was
her home, and she’d die defending it no matter what the rest of the world thought. “Ethan, you give me no choice. I see where the world’s headed
 
—technology rules the planet.”

His lips curled. “You’ll have the finest working environment. I’ve overseen the area, and you and Zoey will be able to live on-site.” He smiled. “You can thank me now,” he said as calmly as though he spoke about the weather.

The candle on the table flickered. “When would I begin?”

“That’s a better attitude. We’ll leave the country tonight.”

She pretended to consider his words. At an airport, she could find a way to escape. Weren’t all the airways covered? Her face was posted everywhere. “What about clothes and personal items for us?”

“I’ll arrange for someone to get whatever you need. Where we’re going is not a fashion spot.”

Russia had much to gain by destroying the export of LNG, but controlling the infrastructure of the US? Government agencies would see what was happening and stop the grandiose scheme. Her stomach tightened. Maybe the plan wasn’t impossible.

Ethan laughed. “Even in the shadows, I see the wheels turning. You want all the answers now, but your curiosity will have to take a hiatus.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Who knows? Your services could be used indefinitely. Depends on how nice you are to me.”

Sleeping with the enemy. . . . A disgusting thought, but she wasn’t surprised by the implication. “Can you please untie me?”

Ethan pointed to the gun on the table. He rolled up the cuff of his shirt and revealed a wicked knife. He stood and displayed a holster and another gun. “Are we on the same page? I have my own method of handling unruly and uncooperative people. Your self-defense skills are worthless when my first target is the kid.”

He was right. “I understand.”

He gestured around him. “This small room is the only area that’s not wired to explode when entered. I have an arsenal of
grenades and weaponry at my disposal. The barn will detonate in precisely twenty-five minutes. Armed helicopters will arrive to pick us up. Later on, we’ll board a private plane that will take us to our destination. I’ve been busy while you thought I was in Mexico. There’s no escape and no means of rescue.”

9:55 A.M. FRIDAY

Through binoculars Grayson scanned the area where Korzha and Wallace supposedly held Taryn and Zoey. A police officer on the rear side of the property confirmed the barn held three vehicles: an SUV, a Lincoln, and an Accord. Thermal imaging revealed four persons inside the boarded-up house, all in the rear.

Korzha’d had months to fine-tune his plan, and this setting was the most unlikely spot for him to hold hostages. Police officers were in the woods behind the property. Additional officers and four more FBI agents covered the mud lane leading to the house and barn. More law enforcement and FBI were on their way, including a SWAT team. Not one sound from inside the house.

Grayson handed the binoculars to Joe. “What do you see?”

Joe panned from the far left to the right. “Either a fool or a genius. And Korzha is not a fool.”

“If he were to initiate a war zone in this place, what would it look like?”

“Military-trained soldiers. Weaponry. Grenades. A foolproof way to escape with hostages.”

“A few land mines?” Grayson pointed to the dead grass and brush in front of the house.

“That’s a bit much,” Joe said.

“Take a few steps and prove me wrong. He had two weeks to set up the battlefield.”

Joe shook his head. “You might be right, like you were about Russia’s involvement.”

Grayson picked up a bullhorn from the sheriff. “Valmir Korzha and Cameron Wallace, release the hostages and come out with your hands up.”

“Fat chance,” a male said.

“You’re surrounded.”

“That’s what you think. If we see anyone approaching, the woman and kid are dead.”

Grayson played the odds of what he’d analyzed. Korzha needed Taryn to complete his plans, or she’d already be dead.

Grayson studied the brush to the immediate right and the knee-high weeds providing coverage several feet from the barn. The area looked as deserted as the rest.

“Joe, I’m going around the barn. See if I can detect what they’re doing.”

“I’m with you.”

A car pulled up to the scene. Grayson recognized the agents emerging
 
—and Buddy. The German shepherd raced to Grayson’s side and nestled against him. What a reminder of God’s presence: the angel protector dog. Thatcher Graves jogged to his side.

“Glad you’re here,” Grayson said. “Dealing with a couple of professionals in there.”

“Thought you might need a good eye.” Thatcher’s dark eyes emitted sincerity. “I’ve always been the better shot.”

Grayson grinned. He needed a boost. Buddy nearly knocked him down. “I wonder who arranged for this four-legged agent.”

“I made a few calls,” Joe said. “So now there’s three of us going after Taryn and Zoey.”

Joe didn’t need to be working this hard. “I’ll do this solo.”

“We’re partners, and I guarantee Korzha doesn’t intend to stay cooped up in that old house much longer.”

Grayson didn’t have time to argue. He explained what he planned to the sheriff and other agents, then requested a wire cutter to cut through a barbed-wire fence separating them from the overgrown field. If Korzha and Wallace were to leave with the hostages by car, Grayson and Joe would be ready to greet them. The two men made their way behind the string of cars to the fence, bending low and avoiding exposure. Grayson clipped the wire.

“I hate snakes,” Joe said, crawling through the fence opening.

“And they come in all shapes and sizes.”

“Smart aleck. By the way, there’s a huge ant pile on our right.”

“Thanks.” Grayson watched the house and barn through binoculars. Nothing was visible but the officers stationed in the woods in the distance. He hoped Buddy had an instinct for what they were about to do. “We need to hurry.”

“Korzha and Wallace aren’t playing hide-and-seek.”

They moved fast
 
—crouching, crawling, rushing. Buddy made his way behind Grayson and in front of Joe. Halfway between the road and the barn, Joe groaned.

“Are you all right?” Grayson said.

“Yeah. Blasted fire ants.”

“Send ’em into that poor excuse for a house.”

“I prefer someplace hotter.”

Only Joe could find humor in the worst of situations. They had cover from the road and from the woods, and all they had to do was take out two men and free Taryn and Zoey. FBI work had never been easy, and he had no reason to think so now. Sounds from the road indicated the SWAT team was in place.

Grayson and Joe moved closer to the barn. The sound of a turbulent sky grasped his attention. Two helicopters approached, their swish of whirling blades growing louder. They weren’t law enforcement. The copters circled and descended onto the field behind the house.

Grayson spoke into his mouthpiece. “Do not open fire until we see what’s happening. We’re circling behind them now. I’ll signal
when to fire.” He swung a glance at Joe. The man’s face and lips were swollen. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Joe shook his head. Couldn’t speak.

“Need to get you help.” Grayson contacted Thatcher. “Joe’s down. Looks like anaphylactic reaction to an insect or snake. Need an EpiPen.” He checked Joe’s breathing
 
—shallow.

The helicopters hovered over the field. Joe grabbed Grayson’s arm. “Go,” he mouthed.

The pressure increased on Grayson’s arm. Help was coming for Joe, but how could he leave him, the man who’d loved him unconditionally? He stared into Joe’s eyes, and the message was clear. Grayson swallowed hard and nodded. He stole away with Buddy, praying for what he was leaving and what lay ahead.

The barn stood a little more than fifty yards away. He calculated his speed and the copters’ mission. His thoughts turned to his dad and the cancer. Strange, when he needed to focus on disabling two helicopters without killing Taryn and Zoey. But when this was resolved, he’d call Dad. See if their relationship could be patched up.

An explosion rocked the countryside, and the barn blew splinters up and out. Grayson dove to the ground, but a flying piece of wood scraped across his thigh, anchoring itself with a nail. Probably rusty. He jerked the nail and wood from his burning flesh. Pure adrenaline and a bigger dose of God spurred him on. Buddy was uninjured.

“Good dog,” he whispered. “So glad you’re here.”

Seeking cover behind one pile of debris after another and ignoring the pain in his thigh, he peered toward the helicopters landing near the house. He limped across the field while calling for backup to wait for his signal to open fire. The SWAT team would burst onto the scene when he gave the word.

An area between the woods and the copters exploded. . . . Within seconds, another blast erupted between the house and the road. How many more land mines were planted?

To his left, Taryn emerged from the rear of the house carrying Zoey and struggling with her left arm in a cast. She walked single file, body to body, with Wallace in front and Korzha in the rear. They moved toward the second copter. From the corner of his eye, Grayson caught sight of officers exiting the woods. One raised his rifle. Only an expert sniper needed to attempt this, and he doubted the officer was the man.

“Do not fire,” Grayson shouted into the mouthpiece. “I’ll give the call to take out the copter pilots.” He didn’t want shots fired into the engines and a resulting explosion.

The officer refused to stand down, and from Grayson’s stance, he didn’t have a clear shot at the pilot nearest him. Another officer rushed toward the shooter but not before he fired, missing the pilot and plunging a bullet into the engine of the copter nearest the woods. The explosion sent fragments of metal propelling in all directions. Taryn and her captors took cover beside the helicopter nearest the house. As soon as the pieces stopped flying, Korzha and Wallace used Zoey and Taryn as shields, shoving them into the remaining copter. Only time stood between Grayson and the copter exploding from the bellowing flames.

The pilot who manned the remaining copter fired repeatedly.

Gunfire split the air, most likely from Wallace, while the SWAT team rushed forward. The pilot in the hostages’ copter went down.

Grayson refused to take another shot and risk the hostages’ lives. Wallace climbed into the front of the copter, a skill not recorded in his profile. Korzha was the one with his pilot’s license. Grayson took Wallace out, then moved around the copter to face Korzha.

“Give it up, Korzha,” he said over the swirling blades.

“No thanks. My next bullet will take care of one of the hostages. Which one? You choose.”

“Let’s talk. What do you want?”

Korzha laughed. “I already have it. The export terminals in Corpus Christi and Kitimat will explode at eleven. Nothing you can do to stop it.”

The SWAT team moved closer, but a clear shot at Korzha was impossible. “I suggest you release them. You have the password.”

“Right. And you’ll shoot me down. This is a trio deal. We’re leaving.” He pushed Wallace’s body from the cockpit with his gun aimed at Taryn. She wouldn’t try to overpower him, not with Zoey and a broken arm.

Grayson calculated three seconds to take the shot, but the wound in his thigh made him dizzy, affecting his aim. Buddy barked and growled, dividing Korzha’s attention. Grayson leveled a bullet into Korzha’s head. The man fell back. Lifeless.

Taryn jumped from the copter. While holding Zoey with her broken arm, she grabbed the dead man’s backpack.

She limped toward Grayson and Buddy amid the shouts to move away from the copter. Grayson guided her and Zoey to safety . . . hurrying them away from the death zone. Simultaneous explosions sent all of them to the ground. He positioned his body over Taryn and Zoey.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I knew you’d come.”