New Species 11 True (28 page)

“I’m on it.” She bent over, tapping in commands into the
computer.

Jeanie turned in her seat and reached back, rubbing True’s
leg where he stood behind her. One glance assured her that he wasn’t in the
mood to sit back down. In less than a minute Luna had opened up a page of
thumbnail photos of the task force members.

“Sorry but these are newer ones with an upgraded system.
Just click on each one and it will pull it up. Hit the escape key and they will
close. Go line by line so you don’t miss any faces.”

Jeanie went to work. There were only a few dozen files and
she was happy to report that the jerk who’d drugged her wasn’t among the task
force team members. True and the other New Species seemed relieved at the news.
She was too since she knew True was friends with some of them. She figured she’d
caused him enough hardship without adding the loss of a friend.

True stayed at her side when they left the control center.
More New Species had gathered outside and she felt a little overwhelmed by the
sheer force of them protecting her as they used SUVs to drive a short distance
to another building. It was lit up inside, as if every room was being used.

* * * * *

Tim Oberto met them just inside. “We’re using the conference
room.” He pointed. “Justice’s office won’t accommodate everyone.” He glanced
around at the Species. “My men will be here in about five minutes but I’ll have
them wait outside.”

True glared at the human. “Good. I don’t trust them around
my mate.” He realized he was being unreasonable—Jeanie had cleared all the
members—but he wasn’t about let it go any time soon that she could have been
murdered.

“Damn it,” Tim muttered but didn’t say more.

True kept Jeanie within the circle of his arm, alert to her
emotions since over twenty Species males surrounded them by the time they
entered the large room. Justice, Fury, Slade, Jaded and Bestial took seats on
the tabletops instead of in the chairs. Luna had come as well and she hovered
on Jeanie’s other side. He was grateful for the female’s presence. Breeze also
joined them, covering Jeanie’s back. Pride filled his soul because he knew they
were protective of his mate.

Justice grimly stared at him. “She identified Jerry Boris?”

“I did,” Jeanie spoke before True could. He glanced down at
her, seeing the firm set of her chin. No fear showed on her delicate features.
It made him proud. “That’s the same guy who pretended to be Agent Terry Brice.”

“Son of a bitch,” Tim snapped. “I should have seen it.”

“Explain,” Slade demanded.

“Jerry, Terry. Boris, Brice. He kept the names close enough
so he’d always respond if anyone spoke his name. It’s standard operating
undercover technique to keep the name close so there’s less confusion. The
first names rhyme so it would grab his attention. He damn near got his hands on
her.” Tim refused to take a seat. “That spineless bastard has more guts than I
ever gave him credit for, to pull this off.”

Breeze snorted. “Damn near? His men did get their hands on
her. He just didn’t get her to Fuller and kill her. If we hadn’t prevented her
from being taken do you think she would have survived for long?”

“No.” Tim shook his head. “He probably wanted her alive to
discover what she’d told us so far and for no other reason.” He shifted his
position enough to stare at Jeanie. “I’m sorry, Ms. Shiver. I really am. You
must think I’m the biggest asshole in the world and I don’t blame you. You have
to understand that Jerry Boris set you up in a way that left you looking guilty
as hell. He was in a position to do it and nothing you said made a lick of
sense. I’m sure he fed you everything to make it appear that way. I can’t
apologize enough but please know I mean it.”

“She doesn’t accept your apology,” True snarled.

Jeanie glanced at him but must have read his anger. He didn’t
feel she should accept an apology after all the suffering she’d experienced. He
was grateful she didn’t argue with him when she remained silent. His mate was
too tenderhearted but it would make his decision to stop working for the task
force easy. He belonged at Homeland full-time and seeing Tim’s face would
always stir bad memories and just plain piss him off.

Tiger walked in. “I got the information.” He glanced around,
directing his gaze at Justice. “Warden Boris is indeed at a conference in
Washington, DC. It was mandatory for all high-ranking human staff who have any
dealings with the NSO. Senator Hills holds one every six months to make certain
we’re getting full cooperation from them. Boris has been there for two days but
we learned he changed his flight plans. His original return flight was booked
for the day after tomorrow but he told them there was a family emergency.”

“He doesn’t have family that I am aware of,” Tim grumbled. “Lying
bastard. He had a wife but she died a long time ago.”

“The first flight back here leaves at six a.m. his time.
That’s three our time,” Tiger finished. “He’s booked on it. His new flight
schedule allows him time to reach Fuller before the second-shift transfer.”

“I want him arrested right now. Do you know what hotel he’s
at?” Tim yanked out his cell phone. “I’ll have him picked up there. Someone
from Fuller might have called him to give him a heads-up. The jerk could
attempt to run. I have some trusted friends in DC who will make the arrest. I’m
not leaving this up to random cops.”

Jeanie tensed, drawing True’s attention. “You can’t do that,”
she protested.

“Why?” True didn’t like that response. “You’ll be safer if
they arrest him now instead of waiting until he reaches California.”

Her pretty brown eyes peered up at him and he could see her
distress. “What if there are others out there like me?”

“What do you mean?” Justice didn’t sound any happier than he
felt.

Jeanie pulled her gaze from his to stare at the feline male.
“Mr. North, he lied to me and got me to work undercover. There could be other
people who are in the same situation I was in.” She leaned against True. “Don’t
you understand? He used me and he could be using other people.”

“We’ll have Darkness force him to tell us if he knows of any
other locations.” True was certain the male could do it.

Jeanie chewed on her bottom lip.

“What is it, mate?” True knew she wanted to say more but
didn’t. “Don’t hold back.”

She glanced up at him, then at Justice. “Do you really think
he’s going to be honest about it if he’s using someone else the way he did me?
Or admit to knowing where other New Species are being held?”

“Darkness can be very persuasive,” Justice assured her.

“Are you willing to make a deal with him that will allow him
to go free? I know what Polanitis wanted. They were discussing it at Medical
while I was there and I heard some of it. A million dollars and to be sent to a
country without extradition. Who is to say Brice won’t demand the same? I
really don’t want that bastard set free and he could do the whole ransom thing
again if he doesn’t give up everything he knows.”

Justice glanced at True, confused.

“You were outside. That’s what he asked for. Darkness wasn’t
pleased.”

Justice nodded and gave Jeanie a soft look. “We don’t make
deals. We break bones to make them talk.”

“And the warden of Fuller Prison would know that’s how you
operate, right?” Jeanie pushed away and True eased his hold to allow her to
stand on her own since she seemed to want to.

“He runs the prison he’s going to be living in. It’s…hell,
right? He knows that better than anyone. I’ve spent time with
Brice—Boris—whatever his name is, and trust me, he had me totally fooled. I don’t
think he’ll tell you everything he knows. I think he’ll do anything to save his
own ass and that means leaving people like me and those poor New Species in
whatever hellish place they are in. Brice wanted to make sure I couldn’t testify
against him. The last thing he’ll want is more people pointing the finger at
him or more crimes added to the list if there are other locations he knows
about. He might keep quiet just out of spite to get even for being locked up.”
She looked up at True. “He’ll have nothing to lose since he knows it’s all over
once he’s arrested. But he can get revenge by holding back what he knows.”

“Darkness can be persuasive,” Fury stated. “I wouldn’t mind
spending some time in interrogation with him as well.”

Jeanie sighed. “He doesn’t know we know who he really he is,
right? I’m not supposed to have viewed those files yet. What if we made him
think I got sick from the drug or something to delay that? It would give you
time to track where he’s been and hopefully learn more before he’s aware that
he’s been identified. You can tap his phones. He’s got to be freaked out and he
might try to cover his tracks.”

“Jeanie,” True rasped. “He’s too dangerous to allow him to
run free. He could flee the country.”

She turned to face him. “What if he resists arrest or
something? What if he’s shot and killed? This is a guy who doesn’t have a
heart. He couldn’t to be able to do all the shitty things he’s done. He won’t
feel an ounce of pity or regret for lives lost. What if there are others who
are praying every day for someone to come in and rescue them?”

“You want us to put him under surveillance?” Tim moved
closer.

Jeanie turned her head, focusing on him. “Yes.”

“He needs to be taken into custody.” True scowled. “He’s a
danger to you.”

“Wait a minute,” Tim appeared to be considering the idea. “She
might be onto something.” He tapped his cell phone against his other palm. “We
could bug his house, his car, search it, too, without him being aware we were
ever there. We could find out if he’s got burner phones stashed. We know he’s
out of town.” He grew silent but the wheels of his mind were still spinning
from the intense look of concentration on his face. “Yeah. I like this idea
better.” He glanced at Jeanie. “I just decided I really like you.”

“Tim, I don—”

“It’s a great plan,” Tim said, cutting Fury off. “I agree
that he’s a dickhead and vindictive. We can get inside his home and ghost any
communication devices we find. Anything he does, we’ll know about. He wouldn’t
have taken that shit with him to DC. The security there is outrageous and he’d
have gone through scans at the airports. I know they only take carryon luggage.
It’s standard procedure. He’d have left any burner phones at home because the
security detail assigned to them is from Senator Hills’ office. He’d have
worried about them noticing two phones on him and they do room checks often to
make sure no one got in while they were at meetings. That includes checking his
bags for tampering.”

Jeanie beamed, happy. True wasn’t. He wanted the human
locked up where he couldn’t do her any harm.

Tim wasn’t done. “We can plant devices in his computers at
work and at his house. I can call in a favor at the airport. The head of
security over there was one of my boys from the service. I’m sure that bastard
Boris has a laptop he took with him and it will be easy to tag with a ghost
program. The airport scanner it has to run through could have an issue so it
delays him long enough for one of my tech guys to grab his case and gain access
to his computer. He’ll just think it’s stuck in the machine until they
supposedly get it fixed. Anything he does on it will be transmitted to us. We
can see every damn stroke he makes on the keyboard and see what he sees. We can
gain access to any of his passwords and email accounts we don’t know about. It
will also give us more time to look into what he’s been up to. The safer he
feels, the more he’s likely to fuck up. Ms. Shiver has a point. He’s going to
want to cover his tracks and probably set up new protocols to deal with anyone
he’s working with currently, in case of his arrest. Otherwise he’ll fear they’ll
contact the NSO directly if they don’t hear from him when they normally do.”

“We aren’t even sure if there are other humans he’s deceived
or other locations Species are being kept,” Flame stated. “We do know he is a
direct threat to True’s mate.”

“Exactly,” True agreed.

“He’s gotten money from us twice by using her to verify
where New Species are being held and my team is still searching for other
transactions he could have been behind.” Tim frowned at True. “Her idea is
better than just grabbing him. I have a lot of faith in Darkness but hell, this
guy has nothing to lose. He doesn’t have family to use against him. We can keep
her safe. I’d also like a chance at seeing where he stashes his cash so we can
get it back. He’ll create an escape plan and that means accessing that money.”

“She shouldn’t be in danger at all,” True growled, not
liking the idea.

“Please?” Jeanie turned in his arms and peered up at him.

He looked down at her and knew he would give in. It was the
sight of her unshed tears, something that affected him strongly. “I just want
you safe.”

“I know. I want that too but I also want to make sure there
aren’t people out there who could be saved. I’d rather be at risk for a bit
longer than always have to wonder if safeguarding me cost lives.”

True bit back a snarl and lifted his head, staring over the
top of hers at Tim. “Do it.” He glanced at Justice. “We need a better plan to keep
her safe than just more officers. I want her taken to a new location where it’s
more secure and he has no chance of discovering where she is. Perhaps
Reservation in the middle of the Wild Zone.”

Justice slid off the edge of the table to stand. “Tiger? What
is your suggestion?”

The feline male frowned, giving it some thought. “The house
next to yours is empty. Director Boris obviously had more access to our
computers than we knew about and may have kept tabs on what we’ve done since we
took over Homeland. He’ll suspect we’ll transfer the couple to Reservation
since it’s what we’ve done in the past. I think we should keep them here.”