Page 39 of The Rough Ride (Sanctuary, Inc. #3)

M ajor Chan scrambled from under the weight of her husband’s arm and leg. She climbed over him to answer her work phone.

“Chan.” She glanced at the clock. It was way after midnight.

“Sorry to wake you, Major. This can’t wait.” The young analyst’s voice quavered.

“It’s alright, Phil. Go ahead.” She slipped into the bathroom and put the speaker on.

“That hacker we’ve been researching? She’s been busy.

Las Vegas police issued a warrant for her arrest tonight and issued a nationwide APB.

They found the body of some Canadian demo specialist in the desert three days ago.

He’d been there a couple weeks. Shot point blank through the head.

He’d gone to Vegas for a work convention and never returned home.

Family filed a missing person’s report ten days ago.

Vegas PD combed through his phone and computer.

Illusia’s digital fingerprint is all over his emails. ”

Poor guy. Not good . “Did Vegas PD get an ID? Did she check into a hotel?”

“Oh yeah. Penthouse suite. She spent the big bucks.”

“What name did she use at check-in?”

“Genevieve Ralston. But that’s just the name on the credit card.

FBI’s been chasing this perp for several years.

Credit card fraud is one of her specialties.

She’s on a dozen security feeds up and down the Vegas strip.

She left the hotel with the demo guy in a rented Buick and returned several hours later alone driving a rented Mercedes.

And her fingerprints are all over the dead guy’s belongings.

She did nothing to disguise herself. Her real name is Paula Mumford, born in Wisconsin, age thirty-one.

No rap sheet as an adult but there’s a long juvie record, according to my source. I didn’t actually get to see it.”

“The condensed version, please, Phil.” She fumbled for a Dixie cup and drew some water.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m getting to it. Paula Mumford’s twin brother, Gerald, was a hacker, too.

He made big money hacking for premier outfits but got busted a few years ago.

Long prison sentence. The feds didn’t waste the IOU and allowed him to do his time using his hacking skills in Iraq.

He served with Lieutenant Nelson. She came home to a Purple Heart. He came home in a body bag.”

The major swallowed hard and dropped the cup in the sink. “Do we know where Paula Mumford is now?”

“No known address under that name, but she flew Vegas to Dulles eleven days ago. Until this evening, we haven’t had any fingerprints to connect Illusia and Paula Mumford.

She got really sloppy in Vegas. Almost like she wanted to get caught.

It figures she’s a hacker like her brother, but according to her tax returns, she’s been a nail tech in private salons all over the DC area. ”

“Good work, Phil. Thanks.”

“Wait, wait. Here’s an interesting tidbit. Liz Nelson’s car caught fire tonight in a Big4Less store parking lot on President’s Road. Preliminary findings state possible malfunction or tampering.”

The breath froze in her lungs. “Is Liz alright?”

“Yeah. Medics released her at the scene for follow-up with her primary care.”

Relief rolled over her in a huge whoosh. “Thanks for the update, gotta go.” She disconnected the call and immediately placed another one.

“Security—Hans speaking.”

“This is Major Natalie Chan. I need to initiate protective custody for one of my analysts.”

“Enter the file number, please.”

Using her keypad, she entered a series of numbers.

“Special instructions?”

“Contact Alexandria Police immediately for a patrol car to guard her house until security detail arrives. I’ll be at the location within an hour to brief the agents.”

“Got it. Security activated and Alexandria Police notified. Good luck, Major.”

She hung up and called Liz’s cell phone. It picked up after several rings and repeated a message twice.

This number is no longer in service. Please check the number you are dialing and try again.

Unease raced through the major’s mind. Of course, that was Liz’s number. She’d reached her via cell just yesterday. She tore off her nightgown and threw on some khakis and a sweatshirt, stopping only to open the bedroom safe to grab her sidearm.

Dammit—why hadn’t she seen this coming? Liz Nelson was like a daughter to her.