Wade's War Page 4

  At that, Terk frowned. “Are you saying you didn’t get into the system?” he asked cautiously. “Because somebody cleaned the computers and put in a scrambler.”

  “Ah, yeah, I set that in motion before,” he agreed. “I needed to do something to stop them from getting in.”

  “As long as that was you,” Terk noted, smiling.

  “Again, I hope so.”

  Terk chuckled. “I would prefer to have something more definitive, but I’ll take that half-assed yes for the moment.”

  Wade reached up to scrub his face. “Yeah, you and me both. Jesus, I can’t believe it’s this bad.”

  “It’ll get a lot worse if we can’t get you back up again,” Terk stated.

  “You got any suggestions for that?”

  “Well, getting some rest would be one,” Terk answered, with a note of humor.

  Wade rolled his eyes at that. Then he remembered Sophia. “Is Sophia still here?”

  “She is working with Tasha, but I highly suspect she’s planning on moving in. Now, if you don’t want that, you need to tell me right this moment, and I’ll put a stop to it.”

  Wade stared at him in shock. “Moving in how?”

  At that, Terk’s lips twitched. “I think you probably know exactly how.”

  “Oh crap,” Wade muttered.

  “I can see how much you care about her.”

  “I’ve always cared,” he admitted. “It’s rare to find someone so very much like you, someone you really want, but you know you shouldn’t have.” He shook his head. “It was for her own good that I walked away. You know that, right?”

  “Well, if nothing else, we both know exactly how women feel about us telling them that.”

  He smiled. “And yet she knows nothing about this.”

  “Well, she knows a hell of a lot more now,” Terk told him. “She was there in the computers when you did whatever you were doing.”

  Wade winced. “Great, so she must really think I’m a freak now.”

  “I don’t think she would call you a freak. She’s more fascinated.”

  “Well, fascinated isn’t good either,” he snapped.

  At that, Terk started to laugh. “You won’t get an argument out of me, so don’t try to pick one.”

  Wade groaned. “Why is nothing ever simple?”

  “It’s not meant to be simple,” he stated. “It’s meant to be worthwhile, and they’re not the same thing.” At that, Terk stood. “Now you need to get some rest. Doctor’s orders.”

  “Great. Oh … wait just a minute. I need to tell you something.” He waited for the information to rise into his brain. Terk sat back down again and waited. That was the thing about Terk. If you needed time, he gave you time and never sat there impatiently or tried to push. It was way too important from his perspective that you got the right information. Wade nodded. “I got a name.”

  “A name?” Terk leaned forward. “That would be good news for a change.”

  “I don’t know how much good news though. It was floating in my memory. But it means nothing to me.” Wade frowned. “It’s Lui Pul,” he enunciated it carefully. “Give me a sec, and I’ll see if I can get a spelling, not a pronunciation.” Then he nodded and spelled it out, “L-U-I … P-U-L …

  “Strange name.”

  “Yeah, it is, but that’s how he thinks of himself. Unfortunately, I think, when it comes to dealing with people, they know him by another name.”

  “Well, that’s pretty common in our business. I’m sure if we run a search for that—”

  “We won’t find anything.”

  “Maybe not, but it’s definitely got a European bent to it. So they’re using European talent,” Terk noted. “That isn’t a surprise in our global market. Could be local hires by the US government.”

  “Or could be local hires by the Iranian government.”

  Terk nodded. “We are dealing with a worldwide economy and staffing.”

  “Hell, could even be the Iranian government assisting our own government—a kind of the enemy of my enemy is my friend thing.”

  Terk sighed. “What people don’t understand, they fear—whether our government or another.” He paused, shaking his head. “Still the name itself is not much help.”

  “I know. Dammit, I was hoping I could wake with something really useful.”

  “It doesn’t mean that you didn’t,” Terk noted. “It’s just not enough yet.”

  “It’s never enough,” Wade growled. “That’s the problem with this kind of work. It’s just never enough. We do what we can, but we only get tidbits.”

  “Not true,” Terk argued. “The stuff you were picking up before the whole team was attacked was amazing.” Terk paused. “What we need is to get you back to that point again.”

  “And I don’t know how to do that.” Wade frowned. “I tracked that signature last minute, right before we were all downed. And honestly, I’ve been trying to find its spores, but it’s been really hard to locate again.”

  “Did you see anything like that within our system? Was it in the computer or in the code?”

  “That’s the thing about tracking within electronics,” he noted. “It’s not the same thing as tracking on a physical realm. Everything changes and looks and feels differently at that level.”

  “So, is that a no?”

  Wade frowned and then shook his head slowly. “No, it isn’t a no. I’m not sure what it is yet, but I don’t think it’s a no. So there is a good chance it was him—that same signature I tapped right before we all got hit has now shown up today,” Wade stated reluctantly. “I’m just not sure I can say that for certain.”

  “Got it,” Terk murmured. “I want you to rest and then try hard to go back in again and see what you can come up with. But not until you’ve rested.”

  “That’s not easy to do, like waving something in front of a bull and expecting us to calm down over it all.”

  “You’ll do what you need to do because you have to,” Terk murmured. “We all do.” And, with that, he got up and headed for the door.

  “Wait,” Wade cried out.

  “What?”

  He frowned. “There’s just … Something’s right there,” he murmured. “I can almost feel it.” Terk backed into the room and sat down right beside Wade. Terk just waited and waited, until finally Wade closed his eyes in dismay. “I can’t get it.”

  “You will,” Terk stated. “I have every confidence that you will.”

  “What if I can’t?” he cried out.

  Terk smiled. “Then we won’t worry about it. You know as well as I do that we can’t push what isn’t there, no matter how much we may want to.”

  “It’s hardly fair though. I feel like I’m dead weight.”

  “You’re here. You’re alive. And you’re a damn sight more than what we had before. Now get some rest.” And, with that, Terk was gone.

  It wasn’t exactly the most encouraging support Wade had ever heard, but he understood because it was true. They didn’t have much info before, but now they had a name—or part of it at least. It’s just wasn’t enough, not yet. He closed his eyelids and tried to rest, hoping that the other information would slide up through his subconscious. It happened a lot of times that way, but, back then, he was whole. Now he was still so damaged.

  When he opened his eyes the next time, he wasn’t alone. Sitting in his room, whether he wanted her there or not, was Sophia.

  She walked closer and sat down on his bed and picked up his hand. She whispered, “How are you?”

  “Ask me later.”

  “I got it. Tasha said you were in the computer?”

  He opened his eyes and then nodded. “Yeah, it was me.”

  “That was freaking amazing, but how?” she asked. “And since you did whatever you did, nobody has been back.”

  “Which is why I did it,” he explained, “but it tired me out.” He didn’t explain what he did, why, or even how, and he could only hope that she would let it slide. Some thing
s were just too complicated to explain. And the stuff his team did? Well, it needed to be parsed out in bits, or it could overload a person.

  She patted his hand gently, and he relaxed, shifting on the bed. “You’re still in a lot of pain?”

  “Not so much. I was in a coma for a few days. Since I came out of it,” he added, “everything has just been really taxing. Not the same. Senses, nerves on overload, that type of thing.”

  She hesitated before speaking. “I don’t know anything about this stuff, but did they do something to you while you were in that coma?”

  His eyes flew open, and he stared at her. “Like what?”

  She winced. “I really don’t know because I have no clue what we’re talking about here,” she admitted. “It just seems plausible to me that, while you were in such a vulnerable state, they might have done something.”

  “No … and the reason I can say that with any degree of certainty is because I know that Terk kept up security around us the whole time.”

  She stared at him and blinked. “Like the whole time? Guards and everything?”

  “Well, not quite the security that you would imagine”—Wade grinned—“but someone was watching over me. Terk is pretty amazing.”

  “I know. I’ve heard … things from your team,” she shared, “but nobody ever really explains anything.”

  “That’s because you’re on a need-to-know basis. Terk doesn’t involve himself very much with each of these scenarios, unless there’s actually a problem, in which case he jumps in and warns the appropriate people. The team doesn’t discuss our particular skills much, so a very limited number of personnel has access to substantial information.”

  “I can sorta understand that. The compartmentalization cuts down on who can find out what—not among us. In case we’re caught. Okay. That rings true and makes sense now,” she agreed. “When I was at Levi’s place, one time Terk said something to Ice that worried her. She didn’t go out that day, but I don’t really know what was behind it all.”

  “You don’t argue with Terk when he shares insights like that. He’s just way too right too damn often.”

  “And that’s kind of scary too,” Sophia murmured.

  “Very, but when you have somebody who can give you an inside scoop, you take it, and you make it work for you.”

  “Got it.” Sophia nodded. “Do you want something to eat or drink?”

  “As much as I want to say no, I probably should,” he admitted.

  “Well, feel like getting up? Or I can bring you something to eat. Any preferences for what you want me to get for you?”

  He rolled his eyes at that. “I’m not an invalid.”

  “No, but you’re exhausted, and, if there’s anything I can do to help, I’m more than happy to.”

  And she had said it in such an honest way that he nodded. “Sorry, not trying to be a prick here,” he apologized, “I’m just tired.”

  “And I understand that part.” She sighed. “I might not understand a whole lot about this, but I’m getting there. What I do see is an exhausted man whose reserves have been spent doing something that I couldn’t help with, even if I wanted to. So, if getting you some food is in any way a help,” she explained, “I’m happy to do it.”

  “Good luck with that. You’ll probably have to fight Tasha for food.”

  Sophia chuckled. “Oh my God, does she still eat like a horse?”

  “Two horses,” he replied instantly. “Honestly I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “She’s beautiful inside and out,” Sophia noted, with a smile. “We’ve been friends for a long time, and that is a friendship I value.”

  “It’s a good thing,” he noted, “because, when it comes to things like that, around here, our relationships are about all any of us have.”

  She nodded. “I really do understand that.”

  “Good,” he agreed, “because it’ll be tested. Everything you have ever believed will be tested. Then, when you finally think you’ve got it, it’ll all get thrown up in the air, come back down as something completely different, which you may no longer recognize.”

  She stared at him, considering his words. “You know something? Life was getting boring before anyway. I’ll go get you some food, and I’ll come back as soon as I can.” She stood and walked out.

  Wade remained in bed for a moment, only to look over his room and see her bags. She really had brought them over, apparently waiting for him to say yes or no. He frowned at that, wondering if they could get past everything that had gone on before. Was there any reason not to go in that direction?

  She was already here; she was already in danger, and, if he were honest, he didn’t want her to be anywhere but here. With that, he got up and made his way to the bathroom. When he returned, he tossed her bag on the spare bed and laid back down again.

  When she walked in a little bit later, she smiled at him. “Good news! Tasha didn’t eat all the food, so I guess it’s your lucky day after all.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He yawned, chuckling at her cheekiness. “I’ll tank up a bit, and then I need to drop again.”

  “Aye, aye, captain.” She grinned and proceeded to bring over his meal.

  He shifted on the bed, sitting up a bit, then looked up at her. “Did you bring some for you?”

  “I’m not hungry,” she replied easily. “Besides, I need to see that you get enough.”

  He frowned at that but realized that it really made the most sense, even though it sat wrong.

  “Glad to see you’re not arguing,” she murmured.

  “Well, I would if I were feeling better,” he noted, “but really no point in arguing over something so obvious.”

  She smiled. “Good.” Glancing over at her bag at the end of the second bed, she asked, “So does this mean yes?”

  “Yes, what?” he asked, bringing the sandwich midair.

  She looked over at him, smiled. “My bags.”

  “Yes, it’s a yes. At least for the moment, while we figure out if this is what we want. At least this way I can keep an eye on you.”

  She hesitated and then slowly nodded. “Ditto.”

  When he realized what she meant, he shook his head. “You know that you can have a far easier life somewhere else, right?”

  “I already told you that it’s been boring. Remember? So just eat and shut up.”

  He burst out laughing, and, by the time he finished his food, he felt the fatigue hitting hard again. “I think I need to crash.” He could barely keep his eyelids open.

  “You need to because we’ll need you soon,” she noted.

  “Why is that?” He yawned again.

  “Because, without you at the helm here, we’ll be more than a little shorthanded.” He immediately bolted upright. “Merk and Damon are still out on their sting op?”

  “Yes. They lost the guy in an underground parking garage. They’ll sit there for a while, but, with just a partial crew, they can’t stay there long.”

  He sat up, turning to throw his legs over the bed.

  She shook her head. “Hell no, I shouldn’t have told you anything until you had some sleep.”

  “But you did, and now I’m worried.”

  “Then you need to rest up to get back on your feet so we can utilize you,” she stated. “You’ve got four hours, and then I’ll wake you.”

  “But will you?” he asked in frustration.

  “I promise,” she stated calmly. “I know how important this is to you and to the team. So four-hour crash time, and then you’re off on your own.”

  He smiled, nodded. “It’s a simple test.”

  “And I won’t fail you,” she whispered, as he closed his eyes and sank back into the bed.

  “Watch out for the next att—” he muttered inaudibly. Then he was gone.

  Chapter 3

  Sophia walked back out to the main room, finding Terk standing there, waiting, his hands on his hips. “I told him that I’d get him up in four hours,” she said
to Terk, knowing in some ways that gaze saw more than she’d ever understand.

  “We, on the other hand, need to figure out what’s going on and to make things a little bit clearer in terms of plans,” he noted. “It would help a lot if we all got four hours.” He was clearly on edge and exhausted too.

  “Well, you for sure. Go ahead and grab your four.” When Terk hesitated, she continued. “I’ve done lots of operations with your brother. You don’t believe me, but you can check with him,” she offered. “So take a leap of faith and get four hours.”

  He hesitated, looked over at Tasha, working on the computers.

  “I’ll work with her, and see if we can get ahead.”

  Terk nodded. “The systems are much more secure now after Wade did what he did, but we need to lockdown the computers and our new headquarters.”

  “Tasha’s also running scenarios that I’m not really privy to yet.” Sophia frowned. “It would help if I was, but again I’m not quite there yet. Just so much that needs explaining to me.”

  “And speaking of explanations”—Tasha rose and walked closer—“anybody got a problem with me filling her in?”

  “No.” Terk shook his head. “Sophia has to know. Although she might decide to leave as soon as she hears more,” he teased, with a note of humor.

  “I don’t think so,” Sophia noted. “I’ve thrown my lot in with you guys, even if only for the sake of having another go at Wade. But, once I’m in, I’m in. You go rest, and we’ll figure out where this hacking bastard is.”

  “What makes you think he’s even still around or will come back?”

  “Something Wade said, as he dropped off.” She frowned. “Something about watch out for another attack.”

  Terk’s eyebrows shot up. “Did he just say that?”

  “Yeah, but he was falling asleep, so didn’t expand on that theme. Personally, I’d expect the next attack to be physical.”

  “Which means we need to be prepared either way. I will be in my room, if you need me.” With that, Terk left the operations room.

  Sophia watched as Terk walked away and headed off to the bedroom at the corner. After a few seconds, she turned to Tasha. “Will he rest?”

  “He’ll rest as much as he can,” she replied in a low voice. “Usually that’s not very much.”