Page 104 of Secrets Beneath the Waves

“Who are these three men?”

“They’re Middle Eastern. I’m thinking they’re from Iran.”

More silence on the other end. Her parents were like that. When it came to such serious matters, they became reflective. Analyzing every detail. Going through every possibility.

She took the time to do her own analysis.

Her dad spoke first. “None of the three guys you’re dating is the mole. They don’t have any money. Whoever is selling information to Iran is charging a lot for it.”

“That leaves someone else in our office.”

“I’ve checked out everyone in the Cayman CIA offices. I didn’t find anything suspicious.”

“Alex, could someone up here see Luke’s calendar?” Mom asked.

“They could. They wouldn’t even have to hack into it. The higher ups have access to everything. Luke’s phone. His computer. Where he’s been every minute of every day. Don’t forget that all CIA employees wear a chip these days.”

Years ago, the CIA embedded their employees with locator devices implanted under the skin. That way, they knew where everyone was at all times. Somehow, Ellie was exempted. Her parents had obviously pulled some strings. She was embedded with an AJAX chip that her parents controlled. That way if she was ever kidnapped or captured in the field, they’d know where to find her.

“If someone targeted you today, then it’s because you either got really close to the mole, or they know you’re our daughter,” Mom said.

“Matthew knows I’m your daughter,” Ellie said.

“He’s not dumb enough to betray us,” Dad said sternly. “He knows what would happen to him.”

“This makes me think the mole might not be in Cayman at all,” Mom said. “I’m beginning to think he may be here in Langley.”

“If that’s true, we have a bigger problem than a mole,” Dad said grimly. “Someone at Langley is selling out our family.”

“What happened to those men who tried to kill you?” Mom asked.

“Two of them are in the bottom of the Cayman Trench. The other one is dead in his car. At the marina. I have their cell phones. I killed a fourth one a few days ago.”

“I’m going to send you a link that’ll give me access to those phones,” Dad said. “I’ll also check your boyfriends’ phones and their computers.”

“I thought you said I could trust them.”

“No!” Both her parents said it in unison.

“I mean, as far as being the mole.”

“Honey, I don’t think you can trust anyone at this point. And Ellie,” Mom said, “if you need backup, say the word. Your dad and I are ready to come down there at a moment’s notice.”

She managed a faint smile. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll let you know if I need the help.”

As she hung up, Ellie’s mind churned. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered. Four men were dead. How many more people did she have to kill before this was over?

She still hadn’t killed the one that really mattered.

The mole.

He had to be next. She wouldn’t really be safe until he was dead.

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

The next day