General Nestler picked up the ball there, looking enormously relieved. “If we don’t fund Duplicity, then Keener will have free reign with retrosarin. He’ll produce and sell it outside the United States, which means we have zero jurisdiction and the U.S. is left wide open to attack from every the4Tofist group, malcontent, and enemy.”
“But American citizens are restricted on foreign trade,” Agent Seven said.
“Only if we can prove Keener’s engaging in it, and that could be challenging. The damage could be done before we built our case,” Tracy countered. “To be effective, we have to nix this preproduction. We have to stop Hackett, O’Dell, Moxley, and Keener. Hackett, O’Dell, and Moxley are simple. General Nestler or Agent Seven could simply have them arrested.”
“Don’t forget the coroner,” Adam said.
“He’s working with us. So is Sergeant Phelps’s boss, and Sergeant Maxwell, over at the facility,” General Nestler told Adam, then looked back at Tracy. “Go on, Captain.”
“The problem comes in stopping Keener,” Tracy said. “The military has no jurisdiction over him, or his actions. Without a contract, he’s just another civilian. We can’t charge him with conspiracy without hard proof, and we don’t have it.”
Agent Seven pointed his pen tip skyward. “We have the canister.”
“Yes, we do,” Tracy agreed. “But did Keener give it to Hackett or did Hackett and/or O’Dell steal it from Keener ; d engage in the exercise without Keener’s knowledge?”
The agent grimaced. “We don’t know.”
“Exactly.” Tracy lifted a hand and swung her gaze from the agent to the general. “In my opinion, getting proof Keener is a ‘ willing participant in the entire conspiracy rates top priority.”
Adam nodded his agreement. “Give him enough rope to hang himself.”
“Provided he’s guilty”, Tracy said. “Hackett or O’Dell could have stolen the damn thing.”
Adam hiked a shoulder. “In that case, why wouldn’t Keener report the theft?”
“Money,” Nestler said. “He’ll make a fortune, contracting Duplicity. He reports it and the potential contract dies. Then he’s out every dime he’s expended in research funds.”
“Logical,” Adam said. “Or he could have elected not to report it because Hackett is blackmailing him, like Carver said. That could be the reason, Tracy.”
“Yes, it could,” she agreed. “But what exactly is he using as blackmail bait? Carver said it was personal and it had something to do with me. I’ve tried, but I can’t imagine what.”
Surprise flickered through General Nestler’s eyes.
Janet Cray turned her gaze from the President’s photograph on the wall and spoke up for the first time since entering the briefing room. “General, I know how we can do this.”
Nestler stared down the long, gleaming conference table at her. “I’m listening, Janet.”
“We use Captain Keener as a decoy.”
“No.” Adam adamantly refused. “It’s too dangerous. Tracy’s not even Intel-trained.”
Tracy heard the genuine worry in Adam’s voice and, from his look, so did General Nestler. She glanced at the others. They all had surmised Adam’s worry went beyond Professional limits. She should comment, at least on Janet’s suggestion, but she couldn’t make herself do it. Tracy owed Paul. If he was guilty, then let him be punished, but-please, God-not by her hand.
Janet stood up. “Tracy might not be Intel-trained, but she is Paul Keener’s ex-sister-in-law, and he has asked her to marry him. II Tracy nearly groaned. Now everyone in the room ex A Except Adam was looking at her with suspicion. She laid a glare on Janet. Thanks a lot, friend. Nestler frowned. “When did that happen?”
“Five years ago. After I was released from the hospital,” Tracy said. “When I told Paul I was joining the Air Force and leaving New Orleans, and again after I was assigned to Adam’s case and began receiving threats.”
“I see.” Nestler truly did. More than he wanted to, gauging by his clenched jaw.
“Sir”” Tracy said, hoping to switch the focus back to the matter at hand. “I realize this relationship with Paul raises doubts about my integrity. And I’m sure that my former friendship with Randall Moxley hasn’t done anything to dispel those doubts. But I give you my word, I’m dedicated to my country and to my job.” She should stop there, but she had to be totally honest. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t participate in a sting operation against Paul. He was my husband’s brother. My only ally at a time when I needed support badly. He’s all the family I have left.” She pulled back her shoulders. “But if I’m asked to participate, then I will, and I’ll do everything in my power to assure its success.”
“Why?” Nestler dropped his pen to the pad in front of him. “From what you just said, you’d be reluctant. Keener would sense that. He didn’t get where he is by being a stupid man.”
Adam reached over and clasped her hand. “She’d do it for the same reason she continued to seek the truth after I supposedly died. Because doing it is the right thing.”
Tracy could have kissed him. She didn’t of course, but she let him see her promise that she owed him one in her eyes.
“She will, sir.” Janet added her weight to Adam’s claim. “Tracy is noble to a fault.”
Not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult, Tracy held her silence.
Nestler stared at Tracy, long and hard. She didn’t flinch. She wanted to-no one could withstand such in tense scrutiny without feeling discomfort-but she managed.
“I agree with Janet.” Agent Seven added his opinion. “This is the way to go. Paul won’t expect Tracy to act in a Professional capacity. He’s accustomed to seeing her as family.”
“General-”
“No, Adam.” Nestler raised a hand. “I understand Your concern, but I agree with Janet and Agent Seven. I hate to pit one family member against another even under these circumstances, but this is our best chance for a successful mission, and I’m compelled to go with it. Tracy is a skilled and trained officer, and I trust her. In this case, in particular, trust is a rare and valuable commodity.” Nestler paused and looked from person to Person around the table. “Do we all agree?”
In due turn, everyone nodded.
“Tracy?”
” I agree, sir.” Regret, resentment, and dread dragged at her belly. “Duty first.”
“Good.” Jotting some notes to himself on the pad, Nestler stopped abruptly and looked back at her. “Intel rules, Captain?”
“Military oaths, sir.”
“Ah, I see.” He started writing again, the tension lining his face casing slightly. “Call and arrange a dinner at your house tomorrow night. Invite Paul and Hackett.”
“Both of them?” Tracy frowned. “Together?”
The general nodded. “For the record, Captain, you’ve just become corrupt.” Uneasy as hell, Adam listened to Tracy make the calls. Her calm caught him off-guard. It shouldn’t have. Who better than he knew she had the inner strength to rise to the occasion? But it did. Because this was Paul, and she carried a lot of emotional baggage tied to him. What he’d done with Project Duplicity hurt her, made a hard task even more difficult.
Adam watched her prepare to leave the briefing room with Agent 7 and Mark for a crash-course defensive briefing. What could she learn in two hours to protect herself?
Not enough. It took months of specialized training and years of practical experience to become adept at selfdefense.
She could get hurt. Killed.
Every cell in his body revolted, and Adam silently cursed. He hated this plan, but there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. The frustration of that nearly choked him.
After stepping out to confer with his secretary, General Nestler came back into the briefing room, and turned to Adam. “Captain Keener informs me she hates to cook. I’m having Beth arrange catering for the dinner.”
Tracy did hate to cook. But she loved eating potato chips and drinking soda. Especially after making love. Staring at her retreating back, he saw, and even more strongly sensed, the struggle going on inside her. “She’s having a hard time with this, General.”
“Yes, she is.” Nestler dropped his voice to a whisper. “I admire the hell out of her for going ahead with it. Despite Keener’s involvement with Project Duplicity, she personally feels she owes him. In part, she feels she’s betraying him. He handled her husband’s funeral, you know.”
“And her daughter’s,” Adam said, seeing Janet sipping from her mug.
She coughed, sputtering coffee. “Excuse me,” Janet said between small coughs. “Did you say her daughter’s?”
Adam nodded.
“But-but that’s impossible.”
“No, it isn’t,” Adam countered. “Tracy told me so herself.”
“But Adam, it is impossible,” Janet insisted, looking’ pole axed. “Tracy’s daughter isn’t dead.”
Chapter 30.
Adam spun around to face Janet. “What?”
Janet cast a surreptitious glance at General Nestler, then swerved her gaze back to Adam. “Abby isn’t dead.”
The shock nearly bent Adam double. “But that’s impossible.”
“No it’s not. Honest.” Janet swiped a hand down the front of her black dress, smearing the sputtered coffee. “I’d never talk about this-Tracy is my friend-but my instincts are telling me something isn’t right. She let Paul Keener adopt Abby, right after the baby was born.”
Adam dragged a hand through his hair. “So that’s what Hackett has on Keener.”
General Nestler stepped into the fray. “What are you talking about, Adam?”
“Carver said Keener had something on Hackett. Something personal that involved Tracy. She had no idea what it could be, but then, having no idea about Abby, Tracy would be clueless.”
“You’re not making sense,” the general said. “if Tracy allowed Keener to adopt her daughter, it could hardly be a secret from her. So what’s Hackett got? Nothing.”
. “But it is a secret from Tracy, sir.” Too agitated to Sit, Adam stood and paced the length of the briefing room. “Tracy didn’t allow that adoption. She doesn’t know there’s been an adoption.”
“Adam,” Janet interceded. ,I’m sorry, but that just isn’t true.”
“You’ll have to prove it to Me, Adam insisted “No offense, but Tracy would never walk out on her daughter,”
“I can prove it.” Janet went to the credenza at the end of the room and lifted the phone. She requested Tracy’s Intel file, stat, and then sat down at the conference table with General Nestler. “It’ll be here in about five minutes.”
During the wait, Beth brought in more coffee. His stomach roiling, Adam could barely stand the smell. No papers in any file would ever convince him Tracy knew about Abby. “Janet, you know that locket Tracy always wears?”
“Yes.” She lifted her cup and looked at him through the steam rising from it. “She lost it.”
“I found it.” Across the table, Adam braced a hand on the back of a chair.
” She’ll be thrilled.” Janet smiled. “It was a gift-her last gift from Matthew.”
“That’s not why Tracy wears it.”
General Nestler frowned up at Adam. “Is this locket significant?”
“To Tracy, yes. She wears it because it holds her only photo of Abby.”
Adam swiveled his gaze to Janet. “Does that sound like a woman who would give her child up for adoption?”
Janet frowned. “All I know is I can prove she did it, Adam. I’m sorry, but truth is truth.”
“Truth is truth, and Tracy giving up Abby isn’t it. I’d bet my life on it.” Steaming, Adam rapped the back of the chair. “Keener pulled something.”
A discreet tap sounded at the door.
Janet answered it. She returned to the table with an accordion file and rummaged through it. Finally, she “Pulled a legal document and passed it to Adam. “Here. The adoption papers.”
He couldn’t make himself look at them. “You knew about the adoption because you’d read the document in Tracy’s Intel file. But why didn’t you ever ask her about it?”
“I’m her friend I not her priest.” Janet frowned. “Tracy never talks about Abby. Never. And if you bring her up, she changes the subject.”
“Why?” She’d talked to Adam about her.
Janet’s voice softened. “Some hurts just go too deep.”
Adam tapped the documents. “I don’t care what these say, I’m telling you Tracy believes her daughter is dead.”
He glanced down at the shaky signature scrawled in the block.
“Well?” A frown furrowed Nestler’s brow.
“It’s Tracy’s writing, sir. But I swear she thinks Abby is dead-” He looked at the general. “If Tracy knew Abby was alive, why would she continue to mourn losing her?”
“Regret over the adoption? That’s common, I’m sure.”
“She didn’t. do it, sir,” Adam insisted. “Look, I know this woman, and I’m telling you she’s convinced Abby is dead.”
Nestler paused, stared at Adam a long moment. “Let’s say You’re right.”
Adam gripped the chair back hard. “I am right.”
“Then how did Keener get her signature?”
Adam had no trouble seeing it in his mind’s eye. “Tracy was injured in the car accident that killed her husband. Within hours, she gave birth-four months prematurely-and she remained hospitalized for over a month. Initially, she was heavily sedated. According to Tracy, Paul Keener arranged the funerals for Matthew and Abby. Tracy was too ill to attend them.”
Nestler’s eyes gleamed. “But she would have had to give him the authority to make those arrangements.”
“Yes,” Adam emphatically agreed. “And when Keener had her sign those documents, I suspect he added this one.” Adam held up the adoption papers.
“oh, God.” Janet slumped back in her chair. “Her baby’s alive, and she doesn’t even know it!”
“But Hackett knows it, and he’s blackmailing Keener with it.” Nestler squeezed his eyes shut and dipped his chin to his chest. “His only brother’s wife.” Nestler let his gaze rove the ceiling, his mystified tone laced with disgust. “He used his niece. His only brother’s widow.”
Adam clenched his fists, wishing for five minutes alone with Paul Keener-and Hackett. Both of the bastards knew the truth and hid it from Tracy. Because of them, she had suffered five damn years of misery and misplaced guilt. And they’d let her. “Keener asked Tracy to marry him. Not once, but several times. How the hell could he do this and still want to marry her? How could he justify stealing her child, even to himself?”
“Money,” Nestler answered. “Keener Chemical is a very successful corporation, and it has been for three generations. Yet Tracy lives only on her salary. When she became friends with Moxley and of interest to Intel, we checked her out to find out why. Matthew died before amending his will. She inherited half of his estate, excluding what was in the Keener Chemical Trust. And that was everything. Tracy essentially didn’t inherit a dime.”