Firewall (30 page)
Authors: DiAnn Mills
10:50 A.M. FRIDAY
Taryn allowed Grayson to hold her and Zoey. Both trembled in his arms. She sobbed while clinging to Zoey, and Buddy nestled close to her. She’d stopped questioning where the dog had come from because he’d been heaven-sent. And Grayson was another gift from God.
“Hey, you’re safe,” he said. “Both of you.”
“But I failed.” She shook her head, the trauma of more lives lost sinking into her heart and mind. “He programmed a sequence of events at the export terminals in Corpus Christi and Kitimat to cause explosions at eleven. At this point, I can’t stop it without using the backdoor and custom app on my iPhone. And it’s not in the backpack.”
Grayson motioned to Special Agent Thatcher Graves. “Call for those terminals to be evacuated immediately.”
“They have to get people away from the blast zone,” she said. “More will die.”
Grayson squeezed her shoulder, but it did little to reassure her. “Is there anything you can do to override the command?”
“Nothing without my iPhone. The last thing he did before he disconnected was to alter the access credentials.”
Zoey lifted her head from Taryn’s shoulder, her dark curls framing her pale face. “Aunt Taryn, are you looking for your phone?”
“Yes, baby.”
“It’s in my doll. Miss Dina put it there before the bad man came.” Zoey pulled the ragged and dirty doll from under her arm. “It’s inside, under her dress. Miss Dina opened her up and then fixed her.”
Taryn set Zoey onto the muddy lane and examined the doll. The back had been slit and glued. Inside lay the iPhone, minus her red-jeweled case. Why Dina had changed her mind would forever be a mystery, but her decision could change destiny.
“Please, let there be juice.” She kissed the top of Zoey’s head. Had this precious child seen Dina’s murder?
Later . . . later.
She pressed in her PIN, bringing up Nehemiah’s backdoor. “How many minutes do I have?”
“Four and counting,” Grayson said.
She nodded. Once inside the program, which had been set to abruptly build pressure and increase temps, she was able to access both systems simultaneously and return things to normal. A few moments later her body relaxed, and she closed her eyes. “Thank You. For everything.” Glancing at Grayson, she offered a shaky smile. “It’s over. No fireworks on either coastline today.”
He lifted her chin. “With thirty seconds to spare. You’re amazing.”
“My doll,” Zoey whimpered.
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ll fix it for you,” Taryn said. “Even get you a new one if you’d like.”
“Okay. Where’s Mama? I thought she was with you.”
Taryn choked back another sob. She stole a look at Grayson, then back to Zoey. “Jesus came to get her, honey. She’s in heaven with Him.”
“When will I see her?”
“I’m not sure, but when you do, it will be wonderful. Until then, I’m going to take care of you.”
She tilted her head and blinked back a tear. “I’m sad.”
Taryn pulled the little girl close to her. “Me too. We both loved your mama very much.”
Grayson’s arms circled them, and she relished his strength.
“I’ve got you,” he said. “I have both my girls.”
7:30 A.M. MONDAY
Grayson, Taryn, and Zoey walked into the stately church for Claire’s celebration of life. He stole a look at his bruised and battered lady. An usher asked if she’d been in an accident.
“Sort of. I’m on the mend now.”
“You have a beautiful family,” he said to her and nodded at Grayson.
“Thank you, and we intend to keep it that way,” she said.
Grayson felt the commitment in Taryn’s words. They had a long way to go before words of love passed their lips, but this was a beginning. They both understood it.
Zoey sat in the middle of the pew. Fortunately the meaning of death was vague in her little mind. She’d been told people would be singing songs and talking about how much they loved her mommy. Time and patience would help heal all of them. The wall of terror had crumbled once Korzha had been brought down, and other arrests followed.
“Will Bentley and Buddy be all right until we get back?” Zoey said.
Taryn kissed her forehead. “They’ll be fine with Uncle Joe until we return.”
“Good. Uncle Joe is feeling better?”
Taryn nodded. “He just has to be careful around fire ants. I
have a surprise for you. Next week, you and I are going to look for a house.”
“A house?” Her brown eyes sparkled.
“With a backyard for you, Bentley, and Buddy to play.”
“Mr. Grayson too? I mean, when his leg is better.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I’ll be making lots of visits.”
Taryn caught his gaze. Her green eyes offered hope and promise. “Will you help us find the perfect home?”
“You won’t mind a third wheel?”
“I’d welcome it.” A slight blush filled her cheeks. “Mom said she wanted to meet you. You’re her hero.”
“You’re the real hero. Hey, I’m really glad you were able to talk to your family and explain what happened.”
“I need to arrange a visit soon.” She glanced away. “Brad Patterson called me yesterday afternoon.”
“Did he want to know when you were going to clean out your office?”
She gave him her attention. “Sort of. He offered me the position of VP of product development. He tossed in his apologies and a hefty raise.”
Grayson gave her his best surprised look. “Well done. Are you going to take it?”
“I think so. I told him I wanted to work one day a week at home and no weekends.”
“He agreed?” That didn’t sound like the Brad Patterson he’d met, but Taryn had helped save Gated Labs.
“Yes.” She laughed. “I also suggested the company consider an on-site day-care facility and preschool, for better employee morale.”
“What did he think of your idea?”
“He’s going for it. He must have been considering it before my suggestion because he talked about parents being able to share lunch with their children. Even hire an on-site nurse.”
“I’ll need to change my opinion of him.”
She grinned. “Remember your SSA gave me an option of prison or being an FBI recruit? I’d make a poor agent
—always going against the rules. And I don’t want to leave my little girl for training. She needs me now. Plus, I’ve grown fond of the man who saved us.”
“Lucky man.” He would have said more, but he needed patience. “So you’re taking on more responsibility?”
“I’ll still be doing what I love, and that sounds good to me. I requested Kinsley to take over my leadership role on the development team, but she’s resigned. Actually, Patterson said she left the city.” Taryn gave him a sly look. “I bet you know all about those plans.”
Grayson touched her nose. Haden Rollins and Kinsley Stevens had chosen to change their names and start all over. Grayson hoped it worked out for them.
“I’m glad you’re here with us,” she said.
“Before the music begins, I have something to say,” Grayson said. “Congratulations on your fabulous media interview Friday afternoon. You melted those vultures. And when Zoey snuggled against you, the cameras flashed faster than the speed of light.”
“For the first time in my life, I feel the path forward doesn’t have to be alone.”
“Not for a minute,” Grayson said. “I take my protective detail seriously.”
APRIL
—7 MONTHS LATER
10:00 A.M. SATURDAY
Taryn stole a glimpse at the clock on the microwave. Three hours until Zoey’s fourth birthday party. The little girl had chosen a Hello Kitty theme, and even Buddy and Bentley wore bandannas with Hello Kitty on them. Not exactly masculine, but the two dogs would get over it.
Zoey couldn’t keep still, and Taryn was stressed. The party bags hadn’t been filled, and the meteorologists had threatened that the warm spring weather could bring rain. But the front and back yards sparkled with color. Joe had planted marigolds and purple petunias earlier in the week, and of course Zoey had to help.
Grayson had said he’d arrive between ten and ten thirty to pump up balloons. He’d also bring the cake
—and she needed his support. They’d seen each other or spoken every day since September. He’d promised to be her best friend, and he’d never stopped proving his devotion. She valued his advice in selecting a home, a white stucco two-story with a huge backyard, and he’d surprised Zoey with a swing set and a playhouse. He’d gone with both of them to counseling . . . and two weeks ago when the adoption was finalized. Today he promised Zoey a trip to Chuck E. Cheese’s after her party.
The man witnessed her ups and downs, listened to her
challenges of motherhood and her triumphs, and they’d talked about everything from selecting furniture to problems in the Middle East.
In short, she loved Grayson. How very good of God to take a tragedy and weave it into a blessing. The situation with his dad had tempered slightly, and they talked often, even though the conversations tested Grayson’s patience. The older man liked to grouse about his cancer treatment but was holding his own . . . and he adored Zoey.
Vince was in a hospital after a complete mental breakdown. Once he realized how he’d betrayed his country, he attempted suicide. And yet he still had charges to face for his actions. Grayson and Joe visited him every Sunday night.
The doorbell rang, and she hurried to answer it. Grayson stood in the doorway hosting an irresistible grin and holding a Hello Kitty birthday cake. He wore a pair of jeans like no other man on the face of the earth.
“You’re a lifesaver,” she said.
“I told you I’d pick up the cake.”
She took it from his arms. “I’m talking about the timing. I’m stressed to the max. Why I think a four-year-old’s birthday party has to be perfect is beyond me.”
“Bravo.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Admitting it is the first step.”
She started to add that his kiss made her dizzy, but she’d save it. “I have fresh coffee, and would you believe Zoey is cleaning her room?”
“That tells me she’ll need help, but I want to talk to you two together first.”
Taryn crossed her arms. “Is this about our private party at Chuck E. Cheese?”
He flashed his incredible blue eyes. “It’s about a party all right. I’ll get the munchkin.”
She poured coffee, her thoughts trailing to the party bags and
the little girls from Zoey’s preschool class. Motherhood was fun but exhausting.
Grayson carried Zoey into the kitchen and lowered her beside Taryn. “I’ve got to do this before the birthday celebration.”
He bent to one knee, and Taryn smiled. He had a special gift for Miss Zoey. How considerate.
“Taryn, Zoey, I have something I want to ask you.” He opened his hand and displayed two small boxes.
Taryn’s heart beat triple time.
He reached for her hand. “You two are very special ladies to me. I can’t imagine going through a single day without seeing or talking to you. Guess I’m saying I love you very much. I know it’s only been seven months, but, Taryn, would you marry me?”
Her eyes widened. She didn’t need to think twice. “Yes, oh yes. I love you, and I’ll marry you. Right after the birthday party.”
He laid one of the boxes on the floor and opened the other for her to see. A glittering princess-cut diamond picked up the sun rays through the window behind them.
“It’s beautiful.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Grayson, you shouldn’t have gone to such extremes.”
“My girls are worth so much more.” He stood and kissed her, sending warmth and joy through every inch of her body.
Zoey tugged on his shirt. “What about me? Do I get to marry you too?”
He dropped to one knee again and took her hand. “Miss Zoey, would you let me marry Mommy Taryn and be your Daddy Grayson?” He opened the box to show a gold heart necklace that looked like two puzzle pieces.
“Ah, it fits together.” Zoey clapped her hands.
“Like us,” he said.
“Oh, Mr. Grayson, you shouldn’t have gone to such ’tremes.”
Not a muscle moved on his face. “Is that a yes?”
Zoey wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
“Best birthday ever.” She nibbled on her lip. “I think Mommy in heaven asked Jesus to give me a new mommy and daddy.”
Grayson picked her up and planted another kiss on Taryn’s lips. They all had a better tomorrow, and forever had a beautiful sound to it.
D
EAR
R
EADER,
The idea for
Firewall
has been with me since 2007. It started as a what-if: what if a couple on their honeymoon were separated, a bomb exploded, and like Taryn, the young woman learned her husband had been using an alias? The story would not leave me alone, and the more I thought about it, the more the plot grew.
My friends at Houston FBI are amazing. They helped me with protocol and arranged phone calls with those who serve in the bomb squad and terrorism units. For their support, I’ll always be grateful.
A side note: strange dogs frighten me, especially German shepherds, and I wanted a heroine who was more courageous than I in that arena. Remember what Claire told Taryn about being approached by an unfriendly dog? Claire told the dog that Jesus loved him. I say the very same thing each time I encounter a strange, unfriendly dog.
I hope you enjoyed Taryn and Grayson’s story. My goal is always to entertain readers and inspire them to attempt great things!
Be blessed.
DiAnn
Expect an Adventure
DiAnn Mills
