“It’s the lunch with Ann Kavanagh,” I told Justine and Mo-bot.
“We checked it out. Enterprise Web Services took over the tech platform of Karl Parker’s company, Silverlink International, about a month ago,” Mo-bot replied.
“So Karl Parker would probably have met Ann Kavanagh only recently,” I remarked.
“Ann Kavanagh?” Justine said. “Would the Russians really go to such lengths to protect the CEO of a tech company?”
“That’s her,” I said. “That’s Minerva.”
“How can you be sure?” Dinara asked.
“The name of the restaurant where they’re supposed to meet, DC Legitum,” I replied. “‘DC’ is a military acronym for ‘danger close’ and ‘legitum’ is shorthand for a legitimate military target.”
CHAPTER 99
“ENTERPRISE WEB SERVICES is a massive data provider. It competes with Amazon for enterprise-level data management,” Mo-bot explained. “Banks, video streamers, the military …” She trailed off, and I felt the familiar thrill of a lead.
“Jack, there was no way Ann Kavanagh was ever going to make that lunch date,” she revealed. “Tomorrow at midday, the Pentagon will activate its real-time cloud network, linking battlefield operations with live intelligence. It’s designed to give America the strategic advantage, but guess which company is providing the tech behind it?”
“Enterprise Web Services,” I replied.
“Bingo,” Mo-bot said. “It’s called the Field Operations Resource and Communications Engine, otherwise known as the FORCE System. The date for the activation ceremony was fixed months ago. Ann Kavanagh will be there. That’s what Karl Parker’s calendar entry must signify. I’ve sent you a link to an article in Jane’s Defence Weekly.”
I checked my email and found Mo-bot’s message. When I clicked on the link, a window opened, revealing an in-depth feature about the Pentagon’s state-of-the-art battlefield solution, and a profile of Ann Kavanagh, the technical genius behind it.
“If she is Minerva, the Russians will be able to see our every move. Every troop deployment, every base, all our military and intelligence secrets will be open to them,” I concluded with a sinking feeling as the scale of the threat became clear. Technology, not politics, not conventional espionage, was going to give the Russians the keys to the republic.
“She fits the profile,” Justine advised. “I’m sending you what I’ve been able to get on her, Jack. Raised in Ryegate, Montana, she was another small-town orphan who became a ward of the foster system. She enlisted in the Navy aged eighteen, and served with distinction. She started Enterprise Web Services after a short career at IBM, using investment funds provided by a syndicate of European banks and financiers.”
“This is it,” I told Hudson. “You’ve got to run this up the chain of command. Stop the FORCE System going live.”
“I’ll radio it in right now,” Hudson said, moving toward the cockpit.
“Justine, I want you to call Erin Sebold. Tell her everything,” I said, but I could hear commotion at the other end of the line.
“Jack,” Justine replied. “We’re being raided. It’s the FBI.”
I heard people tramp into the meeting room where Justine and Mo-bot had set up their operations center.
“Step away from the computers,” a man’s voice commanded. “We have reason to believe Jack Morgan is a spy for Russian intelligence. This entire organization is under investigation for espionage activit
ies against the United States.”
“Don’t come home, Jack,” Justine whispered. “It isn’t safe.”
“Who are you talking to?” the intruder asked at the other end of the call. “Move away from that phone,” he ordered.
An instant later, the line went dead.
CHAPTER 100
DINARA COULD SEE Jack was stunned by what had just happened. She turned to her computer, opened a fresh browser and went to the Otkrov blog. The top story identified Jack Morgan as a rogue SVR spy, and outed Dinara as his Russian handler. It was a bold move that demonstrated Salko’s desperation to discredit them. It made them targets in both countries, and meant it would be almost impossible for them to find safe haven anywhere. It also took Private out of the equation. The entire organization was now tainted.
“Jack,” Dinara said, turning the laptop toward him. “They’ve upped the stakes. This story identifies you as a rogue SVR agent and says I’m your handler,” she translated. “They’ve given us nowhere to go.”
“We still have friends,” he replied, getting to his feet.
He went to the cockpit door and knocked. “John,” he said. “I need to get a message to Erin.”