Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Foster couldn’t believe how much information Pen had given them. He’d dropped her back at her hotel then met up with the guys on his team and a few other SEALs on Kevlar’s team. They needed to find corroborating details for the information Pen had relayed to them.
T was sitting at the table, typing on a laptop when he’d come back in from dropping Pen off. The man looked very into whatever he was looking at.
Before Foster could grab his laptop and take a seat, T pushed his chair back and stood. “Holy shit, I think I found something.”
“What?” Bang moved to stand behind T.
“Pen mentioned the flat in Paris. So I was looking at holdings associated with Kaya. I found this one company, North Forges. We have a link between North Forges and Kaya. It was documented a few years ago, but we couldn’t figure out what the company did.
We never tied it to any activity. It was just another shell company Kaya operated. ”
“Okay, so we know that was tied to Kaya, but we looked into it, North Forges doesn’t own anything.”
“No, they don’t, but one of the people on the board is Davut Yaldiz, a name we suspected is actually Kaya. Davut Yaldiz owns a company named Tri-corp. Tri-corp is tied to another company, and then another. I have it all documented. The fourth company down owns a flat in the Saint Germain district.”
“No shit?” Foster said. “So we have that information secure.”
Kevlar bent over T’s laptop and studied the information. He shook his head as disbelief developed on his face. “This is some great work, man. Someone else go through the information, before we take it up the chain.”
“What are we working on next?” Wave asked.
“I’m tracking down the story about Spain,” Jump said.
“I’m working on the Spain information, too,” Cy said.
Wave’s lips thinned and then he nodded. “Good. Let’s keep going through everything. We’ll be here late, so let’s get working on the information we have and what we can tie to Kaya.”
They dug in, searching and researching every tiny bit of information Pen had given them. Some of the information led nowhere.
It was close to midnight, and they were still working on the information when his phone buzzed. He checked the screen, seeing a text from Pen.
I remember! I’ll tell you in the morning.
He stared at the text, trying to figure out what she meant. Was she talking about the memory she couldn’t access? He replied.
We’re still up working. Want to tell me now? I can come get you.
He waited only ten seconds when his phone rang. It was Pen.
“Hey, want me to come there and get you?” he asked.
“I called for a taxi when you said you were still up and working.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I can do it. I remembered. I can take this taxi and meet you at the entrance to the base. I can do it.”
“Only if you’re sure. I can come get you if you don’t want to take a taxi.”
“No, I need to do this.”
“I have faith that you can do it.”
He heard her take a deep breath, and his heart squeezed. She was making a huge sacrifice for them. He hoped this information was as big as she thought it was.
Pen had no idea if she could actually get in the cab or if she was being delusional. She had thrown on her clothes and was downstairs minutes after she’d gotten off the call with Foster.
She was physically stronger but still had to walk slower than she wanted. It was her mind that was giving her the most trouble. Once downstairs, she stood in the lobby, checking out the area, making sure no one was down here except the person working the reception desk.
Headlights flashed in the glass doors out front. Her taxi was here.
Her stomach cramped as she gathered the courage to go outside. She was in San Diego, not some foreign country. No one who wanted to harm her knew where she was. She could do this.
Walking out on her own, putting herself in the line of fire, was almost debilitating. Each step was like walking through thick mud. It was like her legs didn’t want her to move forward, but she had to go meet with Foster and his friends. What she’d remembered was too important to let slide.
The doors slid open, and she moved one step, then another.
Each step got easier, but still, it was nearly painful to make her way out to the cab and willingly get into the car with a stranger.
This man wasn’t here to abduct her or take her back to Kaya or her father.
He was here because she needed a cab to take her to the base and talk to Foster and his friends.
Then she was in the car telling the guy where to take her. She texted Foster, telling him she was in the taxi. Each mile brought her closer to him, and she relaxed a little more.
By the time the car pulled up at the gates to the base, she realized she was okay. Foster was there to meet her and drive her onto the base.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he turned into the lot where they would park.
She thought about his question. “I think I am. It wasn’t too bad. I was really scared at first, but I knew I was safe.”
“I’m glad you were able to do it for your own sake. I would have come to pick you up if you needed me to.” He parked the car and turned to her. “Thank you for coming back.”
“Sure.” She let go a pent-up breath. “I wrote down some stuff, but I need to tell you.”
“Let’s get inside. Everyone is eager to hear what you have to say.”
They entered the building as excitement twisted with worry. She knew this was important for them and she hoped she got this right. She knew this was her true memories, and not something made up.
She entered the room, and all eyes turned on her. It was more than just Foster’s friends, there were other people there, including the lieutenant she didn’t like.
Her feet froze. “Oh, he’s here.”
Foster paused and glanced around. “Ah, his name is Grant Belford. Do you know him, or is it something else?”
“No, I don’t know him. He just reminds me of someone.”
“You’re safe with us.”
“I just don’t want him close to me.”
“He won’t be allowed near you. Trust me, I’ll keep him away.”
She nodded, and he put his hand on her back, keeping her close. He steered her away from Lieutenant Belford, making sure he had no access to her. When she sat, Kevlar was close, so he leaned in, speaking in low tones.
“Make sure Belford doesn’t come close to Pen.”
Kevlar stood and glanced toward Belford then gave a sharp nod. “Got it.”
T stepped close to him, so Foster informed him to keep Belford away from Pen. Belford might be an okay person, but this was about making sure Pen felt safe. Everyone went quiet and Pen started telling them what she remembered.
“It was during the summer, I’m not sure exactly when, but he was talking about a plan to attack. It’s in December. Kaya said something about planning the attack for the first Fatemiyeh.”
“That’s the first week of December, right?” Bang asked.
Foster shot Bang a look, hoping he stayed quiet and let Pen speak. He didn’t want her going off course.
“I don’t know exactly when they were doing it, only what he said. He also said something about Crete and Naples, but he also mentioned Garcia, but that’s not a city. I mean Garcia is a name, but it didn’t sound like he was talking about a person, but a place.”
Her words made Foster’s blood boil. He squeezed his fists, so he didn’t react and frighten Pen.
That bastard was planning a new attack on the US military, most likely the Navy since he was targeting those specific places.
An attack at Garcia would be risky since so many US military used the base, and it was in the middle of nowhere.
They would see him coming for miles. Why did he hate the Navy so much?
“Oh, and he said that this would be bigger than the last time. Said he didn’t kill as many people as he wanted to with the last attack.”
“Anything more?” Kevlar asked.
Pen’s shoulders rose as she breathed in. She closed her eyes and blew out a breath then shook her head. “I don’t think so. Let me check my notes.”
He read over her shoulder, seeing that all the information on the page was what she’d spoken about.
Maybe the new attack wouldn’t happen. She could be off about what Kaya had said, but it would be on brand for Kaya to plan another, bigger attack.
Now they had an idea something was being planned so they could do something about the attack.
It was time to watch the areas and make sure no one was watching them watch those areas.
One of the officers stood. “It sounds like we have a lot of information to consider. I think we should reconvene in the morning.”
Everyone stood and Pen slowly rose. She didn’t have to get up, but she didn’t know. The officers left the room, and his buddies were getting ready to leave.
“Are you ready to go?” Foster asked. Pen nodded then sighed. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. I’m just tired of hearing the road noise. It’s late and I don’t know that I’ll get back to sleep.” She glanced up and met his gaze, panic flaring in her eyes. “I didn’t mind, though. I wanted to tell you about what I remembered.”
“Thank you. We really appreciate it. This will make a difference.” He had a wild idea but didn’t hesitate to run it by someone else.
Maybe this was a mistake, but he was making it, anyway.
“Why don’t you stay at my place? I have an extra room, and a bed in there.
The neighborhood is quiet, and you can sleep late.
I have food in the refrigerator, and you can relax.
Seriously, I’m asking as a friend. I just want you to be able to relax and get some rest.”
Foster waited for Pen’s reaction. He wasn’t asking her for any reason other than just trying to be nice. Though she was beautiful, and he liked her, he wouldn’t push her for more. She wasn’t ready, and he knew that without a doubt.