Calculated deception, p.11
Calculated Deception, page 11
Another student walked through the doorway and startled when he saw Ree. He introduced himself as Josh Goodwin. Ree reached out her hand and he shook it loosely. He had a medium build and wore a loose university t-shirt and khakis that had long been frayed on the bottom. Josh’s eyes darted between her and the lab, his torn attention making her wonder if he possessed the same distracted mind of Ivan. He was either distracted or a genius, but given her friendship with Ivan, the scale of probability tilted towards genius. Josh seemed genuinely terrified of her and clicked the end of his mechanical pencil during their entire interaction without making eye contact. He would take some winning over.
The last student of the morning was Beckett Parish. He was a Ph.D. candidate from England with a baby face and a polite disposition, but that could have been his accent playing tricks on her. He stopped at her desk as soon as he walked in to introduce himself. Ree asked him about himself and was able to extract herself from the conversation about ten minutes after her first question. He was friendly and loved chatting about both himself and what he did. She would make sure she had more time before she asked him questions in the future.
Ree settled herself into her chair after greeting the first wave of students and created memos and notes to direct whoever would continue her research at the automotive safety engineering lab. While she had officially relocated, she had a trail of breadcrumbs to create to make sure she didn’t leave any loose ends with Dr. Moran. There was a very real possibility that no one would continue her research at all. She sighed at that. He would continue on as the only professor in her lab since propulsion was apparently the more grant-worthy science of the moment.
With a clear task to complete by the end of the day, time passed quickly. The next time she looked up from her work, only Ivan, Matt, and she remained in the lab. She had missed lunch entirely. Matt gave her a bemused wave.
“Did you get everything done, Ree? I was wondering if I couldn’t convince you to come out to dinner with me, since you seemed to have missed lunch?”
Before she could answer, Parker popped his head in the door. “Ree? Are you ready to leave?” He looked at Matt and Ivan. “Unless you’re in the middle of a meeting?”
Matt’s head whipped around to Parker and a look was exchanged between the two men that Ree didn’t completely understand. Ivan seemed to be amused, folding his hands on his desk to unabashedly watch the scene unfold.
Ree unlocked her desk drawer and pulled out her purse. “We’re just wrapping up. Sorry, Matt. We’ll have to get together another time.”
Parker walked over to Matt’s desk and stuck out his hand.
“Parker Landon.”
Matt stood, matching Parker in both stature and disposition, and shook his offered hand. “Matt Brown. Very good to meet you. Do you work with Dr. Ryland?”
Parker looked to Ree and back at Matt. “No, not in an official capacity. I interviewed her for a book I’m writing on female professionals, and we’ve been dating ever since.”
Ivan said, “Female professionals? You should interview my wife, Joanna. She is a primary care physician at Grace Hospital, just down the street. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind helping, with you being good friends with Irina. Irina can give you her cell phone number. Better yet, perhaps you could join us for dinner sometime soon, Parker?”
* * *
Parker recognized the interrogation for what it was. It might just work in their favor. He grinned broadly. “That sounds terrific. Just let Ree and I know the when and the where.” He held out his hand. Ree wavered slightly, suddenly brought back to reality after a day of distraction back at her real job. She grabbed onto his hand like a life preserver, gave a small wave to her two new colleagues, and made her exit.
Parker and Ree exchanged a look on the way out of the building, and Ree asked, “You want me to set something up for as soon as possible, I’m guessing?”
“Affirmative. You learn quickly, young Padawan.”
Ree snorted. “Really? You’re quoting Star Wars at me, Agent Yoda?”
“For the record, they are great movies.”
“I’m not judging.”
“Nothing to judge, Dr. Ryland. By the way, are all of your friends freakishly smart?” Parker gave Ree’s hand a light squeeze.
“Coming from an engineering major who graduated at the top of his class, that’s pretty rich.” Ree bumped Parker with her hip and opened the door to his sensible, navy mid-sized car.
“Did you do a background check of your own, professor?”
“Did you expect anything less?”
“Nope. Proud of you, Doc. You must have called Sandy again. Set up that dinner?”
“I’ll work on it. It’s not easy for me to lie to my friends, Parker.”
“I know. But if they have nothing to do with this, they’ll understand. Alexis is already at your house. Need to go anywhere before I drop you off?”
Ree directed him to her favorite local sandwich shop, where she ran in and grabbed four sandwiches. She handed him two of the sandwiches when they reached her house. “Give one to Mike for me, will you? Appreciate you guys keeping the country and me safe and all of that,” Ree said, her face reddening. She dashed out of his car before he could say thank you.
The next few days passed without incident, even though Ree’s nerves were wearing thin while they tried to make sense of what was happening. The FBI team had been unwilling to tip their hand by putting a camera in Ivan’s lab with so many people around and a trained suspect who might know they were being chased, so they were back to older, slower investigative techniques.
Parker popped in every few days at the lab, but primarily, he stayed in the van with Mike, solidifying his cover and supporting the analyst team. They would have dinner with Joanna and Ivan on Friday, and Alexis coached Ree on how to handle the interaction. Their lack of progress in any other area was frustrating, but it was part of the game. Parker pushed on Sandy for more information, but he was unable to provide anything actionable. The only new piece of information for Parker was that the CIA had originally delivered the tip that something was happening. However, when Sandy circled back with his counterpart at the Agency, they claimed to know very little else and would not reveal their source.
When Friday arrived, Parker and Mike discussed tactics, but the goal for the evening was simple – to sell Ivan and Joanna on his relationship with Ree and find out what he could about the Nobelkovs. He would bring a bottle of wine and his Glock. Unsure of exactly what they were walking into, they’d keep a backup crew close by. They’d done more with less.
17
Ree exchanged messages with Joanna all week to set up their dinner and answer her many questions about Parker. When Friday eventually arrived, Ree spent most of the day working closely with Alexis. Alexis left the lab a half an hour before Parker was due to arrive to make sure their actions didn’t appear as coordinated as they actually were. While Ree waited for her ride to the Nobelkov’s, she sat on a stool in the lab reading a draft of an instruction manual for the fatigue machine Ivan warned her would never work. She looked up from it to study the equipment when she heard footsteps. Now all too aware that she was alone in the lab with someone coming up behind her, she forced herself to turn around as normally as possible while looking for sharp or heavy objects, just in case. Her purse was in the adjacent office, too far away to be useful.
Simon glanced at the book she was reading before speaking. “Dr. Ryland. I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to show you my work. May I show you the fatigue equipment I have been working on?” Ree had met Simon earlier in the week. Their interaction had been polite, but his previously butter-smooth tone now held a note of annoyance. He probably didn’t want her meddling with his equipment.
“That would be great!” Ree forced her voice into a cheerful register. “I’m on limited time, however. I’m leaving for dinner soon and my ride will be here any minute. I’m new to the lab, and I’m interested in learning about what everyone who works here is doing. What does your machine do?” Given Simon’s obvious irritation, she decided to leave off the part where Ivan told her he needed help.
Ree and Simon whirled in tandem at the knock on the lab door.
Parker leaned in the doorway. “Ree? Ready to go?”
Oddly relieved despite the unremarkable interaction, Ree made her apologies to Simon and grabbed her purse on the way out. Parker was wearing a dark gray button-down and jeans. Ree looked down to make sure she was presentable. “One second.” She held up a finger and rummaged in her desk, quickly switching out her sneakers for short heels.
“Perfect. Let’s go, Doc.” Parker slipped his arm around her waist and guided her out of her office.
* * *
Simon watched them leave. Dr. Ryland didn’t seem suspicious and dropped her interest in his machine as soon as the man had arrived. He felt in his pocket for his knife and kept his hand there until he calmed down. His suppliers were working on the remaining parts, and while he had to tell The General he had fallen behind, he would make up the lost time. Even with all of the deliveries, Dr. Ryland was distracted and oblivious to what he was doing. Yes, she had been an excellent choice. Simon closed the cover to his exposed equipment and grabbed his backpack.
As he left the building, a hand on his shoulder stopped him short. His nostrils flared, and he forced himself to grab the wrist of the person and look at them rather than just kill them on the spot. It wouldn’t do to kill a colleague in broad daylight, even if it was an accident.
When Simon realized who was behind him, he flicked the wrist off of his shoulder and began to walk. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“He’s concerned about exposure.”
“He has no reason to be.” Simon led the man who had been with The General almost as long as Simon into a narrow walkway between buildings. Knowing The General’s love of secrecy, this piece of nothing probably didn’t even know what Simon was doing. Just that he needed to do it right and something hadn’t gone to plan.
“Then why did he send me?” Simon whirled and flicked his knife open, pinning the weasel to the wall. He held his blade against the man’s stomach, eyes darting to make sure no one saw him push the man against the hard brick of the building. The man brushed it away and laughed. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“And neither would you. You don’t know what could happen if I died.”
“Perhaps I should clean up your mess while I’m here.”
“There is no mess to clean up. No one knows what I am doing.”
“Or they won’t for much longer. Fix it. He won’t tolerate another mistake.” The man shrugged and walked away with his back to Simon.
Simon gripped his knife and considered the merits of throwing it at the man’s exposed neck. Despite the temptation, The General’s wrath would be formidable, and it wasn’t worth the risk of discovery. His message had been clear enough, and The General would be satisfied that he had made his point. Simon just needed to finish his work and make sure the professor he was using for cover didn’t start asking too many questions.
* * *
Parker pulled his car into the driveway of a red brick home with white trim. He was calm, but the woman to his right was anything but. It was too risky to bring surveillance equipment with them, so they were going into Ivan and Joanna’s house with limited back-up. All he had was a glorified panic button on his phone that would simultaneously bring in an armed team and alert whoever might be scanning for bugs that federal agents were in the house. Arresting Ree’s best friends while blowing his cover was not a good way to end an investigation, but it was better than getting killed. They’d just have to watch the food and stay alert.
While Ree had paled when he instructed her to let the Nobelkovs take a bite of everything first, she was willing to go along with his plan. He thought Ree would calm down on the drive over, but as they approached their destination, it became clear his assumption was based more on hope than any supporting evidence.
Ree tapped her finger on her leg as he parked the car. Parker reached for the door handle, but Ree stilled her tapping long enough to place her hand on his arm. “Parker, wait.”
He pulled his hand back and readied himself for her change of heart. She was certainly entitled to reservations. Careful not to give her new ideas for what might go wrong, he kept it simple. “You okay?”
Ree shook her head quickly. “No. I mean, yes. I’m fine. But you should know. I don’t date a lot.”
“That’s hardly a crime. Some would say you’re careful. I mean, you like guys, right?”
Ree raised an eyebrow. “That’s what you think I’m worried about? I told you I had an ex-boyfriend.”
“It doesn’t matter to me who you do or don’t see in your free time. You’re doing great.”
“That’s wonderful, but please stop. Just stop. I like guys, I just don’t date a lot. There was the guy.”
“The asshole ex-boyfriend?”
“No. Yes. Look, please let me talk.” Ree wrung her hands and closed her eyes. “It was several years ago, and I’m over it, but Joanna doesn’t think I am, because I don’t date a lot so she might bring it up. His name was Brent, and yes, he was an asshole. But I was fine after he backed off, and I’m fine now. I’ve just not found anyone who holds my attention for more than a few dates, and I don’t date guys I work with, and I work a lot, so it just hasn’t happened for me. And that’s not a big deal. To me. They may freak out on you a little, but they’re just excited. Don’t let their questions bother you. They just care.”
“Okay. So Brent was an asshole, but I’m not. You are now a third degree black belt and a good shot, which is somewhat related. You are now okay. Your friends are excited to meet me, but they might be a little protective. Got it. So...we’re good, right?” Parker scratched his head.
Ree nodded. “We’re good. You are not an asshole, and they’re just excited for me.”
“Careful. Praise like ‘not an asshole’ could give me a big head. You ready to go in now?”
Ree shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Great. Let’s do this.”
* * *
Joanna peeked through the curtain at her visitors. Ree and Parker were talking in the car, and it seemed serious.
“Darling, no spying,” Ivan said over his shoulder, walking past her with a salad bowl in his hands.
“I’m paid to know what people are thinking.”
Once he emptied his hands, Ivan came back into the living room and planted a kiss on the top of her head. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he continued, “My beautiful wife, you are paid to diagnose your patients’ illnesses, not read their minds. And you are very good, but that does not allow you to spy on your friends.” He continued his thought but switched to Russian. Joanna turned to glare at him.
“I did not learn your language to hear you say that I am nosy.”
“My love, the evidence suggests otherwise.” He patted her on the bottom. “And, if you don’t move away from the window, they will catch you spying.”
Resigned, Joanna left her post at the window and flopped onto the couch. She fought a smile as she stared down her husband, who looked at her fondly in return. Before he could tease her any more, the doorbell rang, and Joanna bounded to the door to greet her friend and accept the bottle of wine that Parker offered.
* * *
Parker tugged Ree’s hand. She had frozen in the Nobelkovs’ foyer after stepping through the door. His judgment remained clear, as the Nobelkovs seemed nice enough but were virtual strangers to him. He checked to see if Ivan and Joanna had noticed Ree’s odd behavior, but they were already walking towards the dining room. Parker gave Ree’s hand a gentle squeeze, and she gave him a grateful look in return. At least she wasn’t glaring at him with her eye lasers. The eye lasers earned their name after he suggested that she take it easy on a run because of the stress of her situation. To prove a point, she dragged him eight miles that day and victoriously told him where he could put his eye lasers. His new teammate was competitive. Lesson learned.
* * *
Parker and Ree settled in the open seats across the table from Ivan and Joanna. Ivan leaned back in his chair and waited for the show to begin. Joanna had been talking his ear off all week about what he knew about Parker, which was nearly nothing, how long Ree and Parker had been dating, which he didn’t know, and what Parker did for a living, which he also didn’t know. When she tossed her hands in the air and dramatically informed him he was “such a man,” he knew she would waste no time getting to know Ree’s new friend a little better. Particularly after she caught them in their pajamas the previous weekend. This would be a fun night.
* * *
Ree attempted to enjoy spending time with her friends. She tried putting the true purpose of her visit from her mind. However, it was difficult to hold a conversation when she knew that Parker would, at some point in the evening, excuse himself to go to the bathroom and instead snoop around the Nobelkov’s house when he felt the time was right.
Even the simple things became jarring. Parker pulled glasses from the Nobelkov’s cabinets and offered to fill them up with water. Joanna shot an approving look to Ree when he offered, but Parker’s motives were more calculated then they appeared. He was making sure they weren’t going to get drugged that evening, since they were, to use Mike’s words of encouragement, “playing on a high wire with no safety net.” Someone needed to teach that man how to sugarcoat the truth a little bit for the non-professionals in the room.
