Code Name Genesis (Jameson Force Security 1)

“About seven years ago, she got pinched by the FBI in a huge cyber-espionage sting. Luckily for our nation’s security, Bebe was caught just before she could complete the download of our nuclear arms codes, which the group she was working for was poised to sell to the Chinese. There was no trial. Bebe refused to name others in the organization and pled guilty to the charges, earning her thirty-five years in prison.”

Gasping, Joslyn snaps around to take in Bebe, a mixture of disdain and empathy on her face. Bebe sighs, collapsing into her chair and giving me an irritated look. “So what’s your point?” she asks.

“I find it fascinating you could have given up everyone else in the organization for immunity, yet you took the fall instead. And you were nothing but their paid monkey—one who happened to be good with computers. You weren’t the person the government wanted. You could have testified for your government, put away a bunch of criminal masterminds who are a threat to our nation, and lived a fulfilling life with your son. But you didn’t.”

Bebe’s teeth gnash and grind, a muscle ticking in the corner of her eye.

“Your son… he’d be what… nine years old now?” I ask.

She remains silent.

“Your mom is raising him in Ohio where you’re from. They come out to visit you twice a year, which I know is a huge hardship on them financially.”

To my surprise, Bebe’s eyes water and her gaze drops to her lap.

“Leave her alone,” Joslyn whispers fiercely. When I swing around in surprise, she glares.

But Bebe is right where I want her, and I’m not about to let up. I turn to the prisoner and ask, “Why, Bebe? Why did you let yourself get caught? Because you’re good… probably the best at what you did, and you should have never gotten caught.”

“You were protecting someone,” Dr. Ellery says in a voice filled with awe and understanding. Now she gets why I came here, and her soothing voice is full of empathy. “Your son, right?”

It’s what I suspected all along because someone of Bebe’s caliber doesn’t get caught. Someone who’s good enough to hack the NSA doesn’t simply let themselves get caught, but Bebe did. And then she rolled over, pled guilty, and went to prison for a good chunk of her life without even a fight.

Bebe searches Dr. Ellery’s face. For a moment, I can see something in Bebe’s expression that might spell the need to release a pent-up secret. But then it’s gone, and her eyes turn cold and silent.

I know deep in my gut Dr. Ellery has guessed what I’ve suspected, but I need Bebe to say it. To confirm my hunch about her before I go out on a limb to gain her freedom.

But she’s not budging. After a long, hard look at me, she starts to stand from the chair and I’m immensely disappointed. She would have been such an asset to Jameson. More importantly, I need her on Joslyn’s case.

Bebe is stopped, however, when Joslyn reaches a hand out and places it on Bebe’s forearm. It’s the lightest of touches, yet Bebe stops, twisting her neck to focus on her.

“You can trust Kynan,” Joslyn says softly. “He’s the real deal. I’ve put my life in his hands because I trust him, and I promise you… he can help you if you just tell him what he wants to know.”

It’s a sweet effort and I’m touched by the sincerity, but it doesn’t appear to sway Bebe. She just stares at Joslyn, her lips pressed in a thin line of distrust. My mind moves to my backup plan, a man I heard about who works in the CIA in their cyber-espionage division. I can lure him away easily, but he’s not as good as Bebe.

“His name is Aaron,” Bebe says quietly as she sinks into her chair. She smiles at Joslyn, then addresses me. “My son’s name is Aaron, and they threatened to kill him if I didn’t get the codes for them.”

“You were a mother first and a hacker second,” Dr. Ellery says softly, an understanding smile on her face.

Bebe gives a nod but clarifies. “I was a mother first and a patriot second. I wasn’t about to give away nuclear codes to anyone. So I left an obvious trail of crumbs as I hacked my way into the database, and I made sure I got caught.”

Joslyn now is fully invested and asks her own questions. “But why not give up the people you worked for?”

“Because word was passed to me very quickly that they’d kill Aaron and my mom if I did.”

“Oh, wow,” Joslyn whispers, her eyes full of sorrow for Bebe.

“And so you gave up your life and your freedom to protect your son and your country.” It’s exactly as I suspected, but I had needed to know if I was right, and, more importantly, if she would be willing to put her trust in me to tell me. For all she knows, I could work for that black-hat group and I’m here to test her loyalty about keeping her mouth shut.