Chapter 11
Unknown location
Code Name: Raven
Adull ache pulsed behind Jade’s eyes. The thin mattress beneath her, not much better than lying on the floor.
The wall pressed cold against her back. Her eyelids fluttered open.
A single bulb glowed overhead. Well, she wasn’t dead.
But not rescued either. She swallowed and grimaced at the sandpaper inhabiting her throat.
Her mind whirled, attempting to piece together what had happened.
Charlie team, Liam, the explosion. A small whimper escaped. Please let the guys be okay.
Jade pushed upright, the cot creaking under her.
Her body protested the movement, but not as much as her head.
Stomach churning, she willed it not to revolt.
Once she got the nausea under control, she scanned the room.
A twelve-by-twelve space made of concrete blocks, with the two cots and bathroom she’d noticed when she arrived—more like thrown, into her new prison.
“Welcome back.”
Her head snapped toward the voice. A man sat in the shadows on the floor, but visible, his back against the wall. A bruise marred his jaw, and he had a black eye.
“They said you wouldn’t wake for another few hours.”
Her stomach twisted. “Evan?”
“In the flesh.” His laugh turned into a cough, and he clutched his ribs. “Or what’s left of it.”
She scanned the room again. “Where are we?”
“I’m not sure.” He shifted and winced. “They brought me here a couple of weeks ago. Said if I helped, they wouldn’t touch you.”
A zip of guilt traveled through her. The man had tried to protect her and had gotten hurt in the process. “Help with what?”
He dropped his gaze to the floor. “I didn’t want to do it, but they gave me no choice. Then they took you anyway.”
The lock clanked, and the door opened, flooding the room with light from the hall. Two silhouettes stood in the entrance.
One of the men placed two trays of food on the floor and slid them inside. “Boss said to eat. If you don’t cooperate, we start in on him again.”
The door slammed, and Evan flinched.
Jade’s pulse thundered. “Evan, what are they talking about?”
“They want you to create a program. An autonomous cyber-weapon system that can infiltrate military networks, monitor their comms system, and rewrite commands in real time without detection.”
Her breath caught. “They want me to put our troops in danger? Sell this technology on the black market or to some extremist network? For what purpose?”
His gaze met hers. “Why do you think?”
Jade’s shoulders drooped. “Money. It’s always about money.”
Evan nodded.
What rabbit hole had she fallen into? “Why me?”
“Because you are one of the few, if not the only one, that can create it.”
“I’m sure there are others. Those who are smarter than I am. Again, why me?”
“Jade, let’s not play games. Your intelligence is through the roof. You are one of the few people with the background and know-how to do this. Your mind creates things on a level that is unreal.”
Jade had never told anyone about her high IQ, which led to her adeptness at seeing patterns and map systems multiple steps ahead at an astonishing rate.
She’d found out in high school, but had never let anyone know.
Her teachers had commented on her quickness at picking up new concepts, but Jade was good at downplaying it.
Only the counselor who’d tested her knew of her intelligence level and her uncanny abilities that came with it.
Jade had requested that she not share the results.
How had these people found out? How did Evan know?
Determination and a bit of attitude settled in. She lifted her chin. “Then they’ll be disappointed.”
He shook his head. “You can’t fight them. They won’t hurt you. They’ll hurt the people you care about.”
A question nagged at her. “Now that they have me, why are you still alive?”
“Because they think I can convince you to build this program. Once I’ve outlived my usefulness, I’m a liability.”
That, she believed.
“Go ahead. Eat.” Evan retrieved his tray.
Jade eyed the food. What if they drugged it?
“It’s not poisoned.”
“Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that.” The snark came out before she could stop it. She sighed. “Fine.” The meal looked tasty. Not gruel or bread and butter, but seasoned chicken with rice and vegetables.
Twenty minutes later, the guards returned.
The one with black hair grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. “Time to work.”
The other guard held a gun on Evan. “Let’s go.”
She stumbled up the stairs, and the guard shoved her down another hall to a room with computers and external monitors.
“The boss will be with you in a minute.”
Jade’s heart raced. Finally. The person responsible for her torment over the last few days would show his face.
The door swung open. “Hello, Jade. It’s good to see you.”
Her mouth dropped open. It couldn’t be.
“What’s wrong? Not who you expected?” Pink lips curved into an evil smile.
“Breana? Why would you do this?” The knife of betrayal stabbed deep.
“Easy.” Her psychologist inspected her perfectly manicured fingernails. “I hear things. Lots of things. So, I figured, why not make money from them and find a beach somewhere to disappear.”
The woman’s lack of caring made Jade’s stomach knot. “And you want me to help you destroy our military?”
“Destroy is such a harsh term. I’m not in this for political purposes. It’s strictly business.”
Now, the information about her IQ and programming capabilities made sense. She’d confided in Breana. Thought they were friends.
“Here’s the bottom line. Evan has laid out the parameters for the system. A blueprint, if you will. Up to a point. Your job is to finish the plan and build the program.”
Jade folded her arms. “And if I refuse?”
“Hmm, you obviously don’t care as much about BlackKnight Security as I thought. Don’t forget, I know how you feel about them. Especially Liam McKnight.”
The underlying threat sent Jade’s heart racing. “Please.” Her voice squeaked. “I’ll do whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt them.”
“That’s what I thought. Evan, please show my guest to her workstation and get her up to speed. I want a prototype completed within a month. However, I need a sample of the code in forty-eight hours to send to my potential buyers. A snippet of what to expect.”
“Two days? That’s impossible. And a month to complete the whole thing…” Jade shook her head. Pieces of what Breana wanted weren’t new concepts, but the ability to rewrite authentication commands in real time without detection? That was a different ballgame.
“Not for a genius like you. I know how fast your mind works. How do you see systems whole, not in pieces? Plus, it’ll keep you working unless you want McKnight’s death on your conscience.
And by the way, no one will find you.” Breana’s eyes gleamed with a cruelty she’d never noticed before.
“I don’t need everything, Jade. Only enough to tempt those interested in the program to start a bidding war. ”
Jade’s hands shook at the implications of her failure. But two days to create enough code to appease the dregs of society? Did Breana know nothing about building programs of this type? Snapping her fingers and making it write itself was as likely as her creating it on time, if at all.
“Evan, I trust you’ll assist Jade. We wouldn’t want to add more bruises to that handsome face of yours.”
Evan’s shoulders drooped. “I will.”
Breana and all but one guard left the room.
“Come on.” Evan held out a chair for her. “Might as well get started.”
Jade dragged herself to the computer and sat.
Coding wasn’t the hard part. Anybody with a knack for programming could follow the architecture.
It was her ability to mentally see and understand how every piece would behave once the system came alive.
That’s why they needed her. Her gaze examined the room.
“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t. She has cameras everywhere. It’s not worth the risk.”
Tears pricked her eyes. She hadn’t given up hope, but it sure had dwindled. “Tell me what you’ve laid out.”
“I have the framework done. But it’s the intricate details that I’m not capable of.
Especially rewriting while fooling cryptography, monitoring, and let’s not forget the human factor.
I can’t hold all the dependencies in my head at once.
I’ve seen you work. I know you can. I suggest you use that big brain of yours to give the boss that sample she requires. Then we’ll tackle the entire program.”
“Right, because even the sample will be easy.” She rolled her eyes. But Evan was right. A quick down and dirty to show the usefulness of the program.
One hour bled into another and then another.
Her headache had returned, and the hum of the air conditioner grated on her nerves.
But she continued writing code and adding to the bones of the autonomous cyber-weapon system Breana had demanded while Evan reviewed her work.
But something bothered her, and she couldn’t figure out what.
Evan’s pen rolled off the table, and he bent to pick it up.
Jade stared at him. His movements were fluid and not pained. Hadn’t they hurt his ribs when they’d beaten him? And why didn’t he look anxious?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Evan asked.
“Sorry. I zoned out for a minute.” Her instincts screamed at her to trust no one. She glanced at the clock. “We’ve been at this for hours. My brain is mush.”
He pointed to the table across the room. “The guards brought in a few snacks and drinks. Help yourself.”