Torn (Deep 8, #5)

41. Roger

FORTY-ONE

Roger

The day drags, each second stretching endlessly as we wait on pins and needles for intel about the fortress. Strip poker with Harlow holds my attention for a few hours, but the underlying tension is palpable. The sooner it’s over, the sooner Harlow and I can be together. She seems to be warming up to the idea but isn’t convinced.

As the sun sets, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, we sip our after-dinner drinks. The phone buzzes, and we startle like a bomb has gone off.

"Romeo here." I wink at Harlow, who rolls her eyes. It’s not a stretch I could play an older Romeo.

"You may be the Edgar to King Lear. Think about it," Peter chimes in.

Edgar is a fascinating character, always adapting to fit the situation. During this mission, we’ve often had to switch tactics to keep up with the changing narrative. In the end, Edgar avenges his brother’s treason, while King Lear is led by arrogance and cruelty. My father is arrogant, but not cruel.

"Well done. I didn’t know you knew Shakespeare."

"I minored in English literature and brushed up after your reference to Romeo. The only Romeo here is me." He laughs.

"Boys, can we get down to it?" Harlow interjects, her impatience evident.

Pippa’s voice cuts through. "Mac and his brothers came across the rear entrance of the fortress. Everyone who entered stepped on a scale like they were being weighed."

Peter adds. "I’ve heard of this type of security system. The floor calibrates using body weight and tracks everyone’s position step by step. The software monitors where everyone is in the house. If anyone who has not been weighed enters, it sets off an alarm. It’s costly and I’ve never seen it used before. If they are using this type of security, who knows what other security measures they have. My gut tells me this is one of the Deep 8’s headquarters." Peter’s eyes widen with a fear that sends chills down my spine.

"So, there is no way in without being detected immediately?" Harlow’s tone sounds defeated.

"Yes." Pippa’s head drops.

"Is there a way in through the outside?" I suggest, grasping at straws.

"No. They have cameras and guards. They’ve built this out in the open, which is smart with trees around the outside perimeter. There are no trees or cover of any kind near the building. Their cameras will catch anyone approaching. My tracking tape is being delivered to you. Hide it on your skin where you won’t be searched." Peter grins. "You know the drill. It will be active for forty-eight hours."

"Has Deep 8 made contact with you?" My fingers drum against the table.

"No. We’re expecting contact at any time now." Peter’s voice is strained.

"I have more information on the blackout. The power didn’t come from the power stations. The electricity came from one location on the outskirts of Perth. Sean said the Stellarium has an infinite or near-infinite power supply. We assume they have some and are testing its function with the power grid. The power was turned back over to the power stations," Pippa informs us.

"I noticed the cell phones were out of service. Usually, they are reliable during a power outage. Could they be testing software to disable or block Wi-Fi capabilities?" Harlow asks.

"I haven’t cracked the encryption on the last piece containing the USB and the software. I'm not familiar with the code. Their encryption is next level. I hate to admit this, but it’s shaking my confidence." Pippa’s face falls.

"Pippa, you are the best at what you do. You solve problems other people can’t even imagine. You’ll figure this out. I have faith in you and am thankful you’re on our team," I say.

"Thanks, Roger. I appreciate that," Pippa says as Peter puts his hand on her shoulder.

"We’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything. Romeo out." Peter grins, and the screen goes black.

"Romeo my ass," I mutter.

Harlow moves around in her chair and looks at me through sad eyes. "This is my dad’s doing and I can’t help. What do we do now?" She asks.

"Your father may have been coerced into working for Deep 8." I wiggle my brows. "I know how to get your mind off of things. Let's go to bed."

"I hope you’re a cuddler because that’s what I need right now." The revelations of the last couple of days are taking their toll on her. There are too many loose ends.

I take her hand in mine and lead her to the bedroom. Her eyes have dark circles, void of their usual sparkle. My fingers lift her chin. "Hey, we’re going to get through this. I will get my father back, and you will get the answers about your father."

"I hope so. This gets more complex by the minute." She sheds her clothes piece by piece and crawls into the satin sheets.

My clothes hit the floor as I slide in behind her. My mind isn’t on making love to her but soothing her soul. "Flip onto your stomach." She obeys without question.

My legs hug her hips, and I massage her neck, back, and legs. She moans in approval, releasing deep sighs of stress, exactly what I want her to do. Giving her comfort helps calm my nerves. I trace my fingers over her tattooed skin until her breaths even out and she’s asleep.

I lie on my back next to her, staring at the ceiling. I can’t tell her I don’t know how we’ll survive this. The hurdles are numerous, and the odds are against us. Deep 8 seems to be holding all the cards. I’ve wracked my brain trying to figure out how to catch them off guard. The rest of the teams are doing the same thing and coming up empty.

They say it’s darkest before the dawn, but I’m not sure we’ll see the dawn. Harlow may not get her answers, and I may never see my father again. We’ll leave with unresolved issues, playing a guessing game to figure it out.

Harlow rolls in my direction. "Stop thinking. Sometimes you need to disconnect to find the answers. Epiphanies come at the most unexpected moments and at the weirdest times. Tell me more about your childhood. I love to hear stories about how you grew up in Texas. I don’t know anything about it."

I roll over to face her. "I’ll take you home to meet my mom. You two would get along well. You both have the strength to persevere under adverse conditions."

"At least one mother in the world would like me. I’m looking forward to meeting her." She snuggles in close and closes her eyes.

This is the first glimmer I have Harlow wants to continue our relationship after the mission. Hope is our lifeline, and we’ll hold onto it for dear life. The human condition allows us to have hope when nothing else is available.

We fall asleep after we share stories about our childhood escapades, finding solace in our pasts. Based on our daredevil moves, we were cut out for the job as agents, taking risks, and outmaneuvering the enemy. We need to find the space allowing us to see the big picture and find holes in their plan.

The phone rings, jolting us from sleep. "Hello?" I say, knowing it can only be one person.

"We have a message. Get on a secure line." The phone goes dead.