Page 55 of Code Name: Phoenix

“Save it, Jack. I know where your head is at. I get it. Look, between you and me, I hope it works out for you.” Then, leaning in, he continues, “For both of you. I really do, but you need to respect that my priority is taking down Maxwell. Just know that I will try to do everything in my power to protect and save what is important to you. Can you do that?”

His question is fair. Shoes on the other foot and all—I would do the same.

“Yes. I can.”

Logan stands, stretching his legs. “So where does that leave us? Jessa doesn’t remember her time in captivity, but I’m not convinced any of it will help our operation. I’m willing to assist you with her later, but right now we need to focus on Maxwell. Tactically speaking, we have one of his top two hackers. Hackers who, for all intents and purposes, have ulterior motives. Do you have any further information on that front?” After a few steps, he takes his seat again.

“We spoke briefly about her brother last night. You know his body was never found. She mentioned to me that she knows what happened to him, but she wouldn’t elaborate.”

He slumps into his chair, and his frustration boils to the surface. “And you didn’t push? What the hell, Jack?”

“No. I told her I just wanted honesty, and she could pass on any question she wished. I wouldn’t have gotten any further if I pushed it. I think it’s best we keep this to ourselves for now and operate under both pretenses, that he’s alive and he’s dead. In the end, it doesn’t matter who Zane is. It matters where he is, and how we can convince Jessa to get him to work with us.”

I can tell it pains him, but Logan nods in agreement.

I change the subject. “Are we any closer to finding out who our mole is?”

“I only know who it’s not. Outside of me, you, and Link, I can only clear Grey right now. He started with us last year. As for internet access and phone use, everyone was online during that time frame. We’re in the boonies; there’s nothing else to do out here once work is done, Jack. Social networks, games, movies, email. Everyone was online that evening, and since the public computers are only located in the library, near the file room, everyone except Hunter and Grizz was in there, but they were next door, in the common room at different times, which is probably close enough. If they were on their phones or tablets, it would still show as coming from the router in the file room. I have Link working on the exact time frames and confirming all web addresses accessed from the laptops and the phones. But that’ll take a while.”

Clearing our most inexperienced team member doesn’t build a lot of confidence in me. There is still a lot of training Grey needs to go through and protocols that need to be taught, so we can’t bring him into our circle for the time being.

People slip up, they make mistakes, and I’m not willing to risk his life unless it is absolutely necessary.

Logan’s phone vibrates on his desk. He checks the display, then taps the screen, and Link’s voice fills the room.

“We have a breach right now. Someone is attempting to access our communications. They’re trying to force a connection and speak with us.”

My chest tightens as I stand up and move behind Logan while he responds.

“Allow it, but monitor the connection. Shut down anything else they’re trying to do. Take all vital information offline. Open nonessential communication lines only, and shut down all access to the comms room. Send them to me. Can you do that?”

“On it. Sending now.”

Link stays online, and I listen to the tapping of his fingers against the keyboard as he furiously works to open the connection to Logan’s computer.

Then, all at once, the camera light on Logan’s laptop flashes on, and we still. Whoever is on the other end can see us as we wait for the confirmation that I feel in the pit of my stomach is coming.

A window opens. It’s a wheel working to complete the connection. Then we come face-to-face with the one person both of us have been dying to put away for the past ten years.

Logan’s voice holds no surprise and no welcome. “Maxwell.”

The breaches, our prisoners. It wasn’t a matter of if he would make contact; it was a matter of when.

Looking back at us through the screen are the eyes of my nemesis. He’s a lot older, his face hardened from years under his father’s guidance, but I’d still recognize him anywhere.

He was the kid I competed against for Jessa’s attention, though it wasn’t much of a challenge.

From the first time we spoke, I felt like I’d known her forever. It was just meant to be. But Maxwell wouldn’t accept it. He inserted himself between us every chance he could, which was good for me since it was my job to stay close to him.

And now here he sits across from us, sizing up me and Logan in his monitor. He looks around the little bit of room he can see behind us before he answers.

“I’ll get to the point. You have something that belongs to me, and I want it back.”

Anger slices up my spine. Jessa is not his; she never was, and I want to reach through the screen and strangle him until he’s dead for what he did to her.

“Jessa is not an ‘it,’ and she’s not yours.” I fist my hands and growl the warning.

Logan reaches his hand over to steady mine. I’ve lost control already.

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