The Lost Key

Nicholas said without preamble, his voice hard and low, “We know you’ve been lying to us, Ms. Pearce. We know the young man you called Kevin Brown this morning wasn’t an old employee. We know he was your brother, Adam. We have a warrant out for his arrest, and every law enforcement official in the tri-state area has been informed of his acts of treason against this country. They won’t go easy on him when they find him. Trust me on this, you want us to be the ones who take him into custody. Now, tell us how to find him or we’ll arrest you as an accessory to murder.”

Nicholas had taken her off guard. Mike watched Sophie Pearce press back against the chair, maybe a bit afraid now, but then she got hold of herself. She even sat forward, ready to face him down. She said very deliberately, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He leaned forward as well, their foreheads nearly touching. He looked ready to strangle her, but still, she didn’t move, didn’t pull back. “Of course you do. We don’t have time for any more evasions, any more lies. You will tell me where your brother is.” He sat back suddenly, tapped his fingers on the tabletop, loud in the silent room. “Don’t you understand? After your father’s murder this morning, we learned we aren’t the only ones looking for your brother. It’s clear his life is in danger.”

Mike was right, this was the way to get to her. He saw a flash of fear in her eyes.

Mike said from behind him, “I know you love Adam, Sophie, and that’s why you’re protecting him. Believe me, I respect that. You’ve lost so much today. You shouldn’t have to go through this, too. And—”

Nicholas cut her off, his voice steel-edged. “If you don’t tell me everything, you’re going to lose not only your father, but your brother, too. So where is he, Ms. Pearce? Where is Adam?”

She’d wavered, he’d seen it, but now she looked him straight in the eye and said flatly, “I don’t know.”

Nicholas slammed his fist on the table, making her jump. “You’re lying. I can see the pulse in your neck race faster with every single lie.”

Mike said quietly, “Sophie, you know what this is about. You know the men who killed your father are trying to get to your brother. You don’t want his blood on your hands. Help us, Sophie. You know we’re the good guys. We don’t want anything bad to happen to Adam. I have a brother, too. I’d do most anything to protect him. Maybe even go so far as to try to hide his identity to keep the cops from arresting him. But if he was in danger, I would stop pretending I didn’t know where he is.”

That did it. Sophie cracked wide open. She jumped to her feet, splayed her palms on the battered table. “What was I supposed to do, give you his real name? He’s a hacker, he has a record. You know he’s wanted. You’ll put him in jail. Adam isn’t the reason my father was killed, he isn’t.”

Nicholas said, “You think not? Where is he?”

She shook her head. “You don’t understand. Adam wouldn’t, couldn’t, be the reason my father was killed.”

Nicholas shoved the transcript Ben had given him toward her, knowing it looked official. “It’s all here. Your father was lured down to Wall Street this morning with a text message from someone calling himself EP. EP, Sophie. Eternal Patrol, your brother’s underground call sign, which you know very well. Your brother asked your father to meet him. Your father was killed doing so. It doesn’t take a genius to see what’s happening here.”

“But you said the men who killed my father are searching for Adam.” She looked at Nicholas, right through him, and her face suddenly turned hard.

“I see now, you’re lying to me. You’re playing me. You already know who killed my father. You never thought his own son could have done it, you’re not that stupid. No, you want the boy hacker who’s made your lives a misery because he’s so talented, so smart, much more than any of you.”

She jumped to her feet. “I won’t help you put my brother into prison! I’m through speaking now. I’d like to call my attorney.”

She stood there, her arms crossed over her chest.

“You’re not under arrest, Sophie,” Mike said, pushing away from the wall. “You’re free to leave, but please understand, your brother is in imminent danger. Help us find him before it’s too late for him, for both of you.”

“Your father’s dead, Sophie. Don’t let Adam be next.”

Sophie closed her eyes and swallowed. Finally, she said, “You don’t need me. I know how you work, you can track Adam off his phone.”

“We can’t because your brother doesn’t use the same kind of phone as most people,” Nicholas said. “You know he unlocks them, puts his own operating system on them, adds programming to make them untraceable, and the phones themselves are disposable. Think, Sophie. We can’t protect him if we can’t find him, and that’s what’s most important right now.”

She gave it up. “He stays in the Village when he comes to town. If I need him, I leave word at the Starbucks on the Lower East Side, on Delancey between Allen and Orchard. His girlfriend, Allie, works there, she knows how to find him. He thought it was safer if I didn’t have the address.” She stood up. “I’m leaving now.”

Nicholas rose. “Thank you for your help. And Sophie, I’m sure we don’t need to remind you to be very careful out there.”

A hint of panic, but only for an instant. She straightened her shoulders. “I always am.”

28

East Village

4:00 p.m.

Nicholas and Mike left immediately for the Starbucks on Delancey. They didn’t wait for agents to back them up, no time, and both of them knew it. Adam Pearce would be there or he wouldn’t. If they needed help, they’d call in.

Agent Lia Scott was the eyes and ears on Sophie Pearce and was monitoring all calls, e-mails, and communications from Adam Pearce when they found him. She called Mike as they parked a block from Starbucks.

“Lia, what’s up?”

“Hi, Mike, a quick update. We have the trap set up and live on Sophie Pearce’s phone lines, so we’re listening and watching. Our girl is calling all over town, looking for her brother. So far, she hasn’t managed to locate him, but with this many people beating the bushes, he’s going to know you’re coming, and probably run.”

“Did she alert this Allie we’re about to see at the Starbucks?”

“Not that I can tell, but we had a ten-minute lag time while the paper cleared on the phone tap. It’s possible.”

“Where is Sophie now?”

“The phone shows her back at her apartment in the Alexander. As long as she keeps her cell phone on her person, I can trace her steps around town pretty easily. She’s parked right now, and so am I.”

“She doesn’t know we’re listening, so she should keep her phone on. Thanks, Lia. Let me know if she goes on the move.”

“Will do.”

All eyes behind the Starbucks counter were on them the moment they walked in. It was, Mike thought, like they were wearing a sign. She marched up and flipped out her badge. “I’m looking for Allie.”

A handsome young black man with a Mohawk immediately stepped forward. “Allie McGee? She’s not in today. She called in sick.”

“Who’s your manager?”

“I am. Stephen Torres. What’s the problem, ma’am?”

“We need her home address, right now.”

He didn’t move. “Is she in trouble?”

Mike leaned on the counter with both arms. “She’s going to be, if you don’t tell me how to find her.”

One of the baristas said, “I’m Shelley. I’m her best friend. She’s over on Avenue A. One-oh-seven Avenue A, apartment five. She’s probably not there, though, she has school today. She had a huge midterm today, and our work schedule was set last week. I traded shifts with her so she could take her test.” The girl shot her manager a guilty look. “We’re not supposed to trade shifts without getting permission first.”