Page 173 of Secrets Beneath the Waves

My questions only increase as I jump into the car and put on my seat belt while Graham backs up.

“What’s going on?” Mariam asks.

“The man at the church managed to plant a tracker on Graham,” I say.

She shakes her head. “How’s that possible?”

“I don’t know, but they shouldn’t be able to track us now,” Graham says. “I’m going to drive around a bit longer, just to make sure we’ve lost them, and then we’ll head to the safe house.”

“Why follow me?” Mariam asks. “They’ve already made their demands.”

I shrug. “I don’t know, but that’s what we’re going to figure out.”

Forty minutes later,we get to the safe house. The small, one-bedroom apartment rented by the CIA is nondescript and furnished with only the basics. A couch and a few chairs in the living room, a separate kitchen and dining area often used for interviews, a bathroom, and one bedroom. There are no pictures on the wall. Nothing homey at all, but that isn’t the purpose of the space. Security has been prioritized with upgraded locks, reinforced doors and windows, a security system, and cameras.

Lizzie is already there and immediately pulls out a small handheld device.

“You’re all clear,” she says after scanning the three of us to make sure we didn’t miss a tracker.

“We need to ask you some questions,” I say to Mariam.

“Can I use the restroom first?” She holds up her hands that are still shaking. “I just need a moment to pull myself together.”

“Of course, but first. . .” I grasp the Faraday bag with her phone in it. “Lizzie is our tech guru. I’d like her to look at the ransom video. See if she can find any clues that might link us to whoever has Oumar.”

Mariam nods. “Of course. Anything you need. The code to get into the phone is 3877.”

I hand Lizzie the bag as soon as Mariam shuts the bathroom door.

“Anything else you need from me?” Lizzie asks.

I nod, already having made a mental list. “There’s also the tracker I found on Graham in the bag. I need you to see if it’s possible to trace it back to the source, and I need you to authenticate the ransom video.”

“Do you have reason to think it’s a fake?” she asks.

“No, but I don’t want to assume anything at this point. Try to pull any clues from it that might tell us where he is.”

Lizzie nods. “I’ll get to work on it right away.”

Graham glances down the hallway as Lizzie heads to the living room, where she’s already set up. “Mariam seems scared, but cooperative at the same time.”

“I don’t think she feels like she has a choicenotto trust us.”

“Do you think she’s who she says she is?” he asks.

I hesitate before answering. “I’m not sure yet. Oumar has been my asset for over a year, and nothing she’s said so far raises a red flag, but he never talked about her much, and I never met her.”

“What are you thinking?” Graham asks.

“Just that we need to move forward cautiously. I also need you to verify her identity and double-check all the information she gives us.”

“Agreed.” Lizzie nods. “Graham and I can set up in the living room and give you the dining room.”

I wish I had more answers, but this was our job. To sort through the noise and find out the truth.

“I did manage to get a photo of the man at the church,” Graham continues. “Hopefully it will allow us to identify him.”

“And the license plate of the car that was following you?” Lizzie asks.