“Brother David,” Chloe said.
Though my gut twisted with the title, I couldn’t be the leader of the Shadows as just Dylan. I nodded.
Joel shook his head. “All right, Brother David, we need to stop playing nursemaid and get down to business. If you’re sure we’re safe here, this is a great place to get our plan in gear. The computer system in the lower level is stellar. I know how to use it and backdoor us into some sites. It won’t be long until I’ve got us not only on the dark web but authorized to broadcast. I’d say by tomorrow morning, we will be able to get a message out, something short to the Shadows. Not enough to sever Father Gabriel’s orders of radio silence, just enough to let everyone know that you didn’t die in that explosion—that Brother David is alive and ready to keep this going, to move the Shadows to the next level.”
“It’s nearly four in the morning. Do you think that this could wait until morning?” Chloe asked.
They both looked at me.
“I’d say it already did. Let’s keep going and see what we can learn. We can’t call the campuses, but shit, let’s start contacting individual Shadows.”
“From what I’ve learned,” Joel said, “This was an FBI operation. Somehow they coordinated it with all three campuses.”
“Our fucking Shadows in the FBI have some explaining to do. How the hell did it get this far?”
“I don’t know, but I’d suspect that just like we have people inside the FBI, they had people or a person inside The Light.”
“How in the hell didn’t we know that?” I asked.
“That’s what we need to find out. What are you going to name her?” Joel asked as we walked down the stairs.
I’d already thought about this. I knew the name she deserved. Yes, she’d been a pain in the ass, but in a few days, she’d be awakening with a new life for the third time. “Stacy,” I replied. “It means ‘resurrection.’”
Chloe nodded as both of their phones buzzed.
“Hello,” Joel answered. “Yes, all three of us are here.” His eyes opened wide as he disconnected his phone and turned to me. “That was a Shadow on the inside of the FBI. We need to get out now! I’m sorry about Stacy, D. But the FBI is only minutes away. Shadows first, we need to flee.”
CHAPTER 37
Jacoby
For the middle of the night, the Anchorage field office was a hive of activity. Each new agent who came up to me slapped me on the back, congratulating me on a good run. They were all proud of the end results: no fires on the campuses, no mass suicide. Special Agent Adler said that the president had even called the director, pleased that he didn’t have a PR nightmare on his hands.
After a few more congratulatory pats and affectionate ribbing as a few of my old colleagues called me Brother Jacoby, I made my way back to the evidence room. Standing at the doorway, with my mouth agape, I took in the other side of my mission. I’d lived it, been in the trenches, but this, the boxes of evidence, as well as board after board of pictures, creating theories and trails, was the end result of years of research.
“Jacoby, come in,” Special Agent Adler called from his temporary office. I wasn’t sure how long the operations would be located in Anchorage. Usually Adler and all the unit’s operations were housed in Virginia.
I followed him into the small private room and shut the door.
“I wanted to let you see these pictures in private.”
“Thank you.” No one other than Adler and the other two agents in the SUV knew about my relationship with Sara.
Opening the folder, I pulled each glossy photo out and studied the faces. Every one of the women had bandaged eyes. It was standard protocol; however, that wouldn’t impair me from being able to tell whether one of them was Sara. I’d spent three weeks looking at her with her eyes bandaged. I’d still recognize her nose, cheeks, hair, and lips.
Even those features weren’t easily distinguishable on some of these women. Their injuries were extensive, yet the bruises and fractured bones barely registered. I’d flown women in similar condition more times than I cared to admit. I’d helped to carry their unconscious bodies onto my plane and taken them across the country. The only thing that mattered to me as I stared at the pictures was identifying Sara. I hated the thought of her being in that bad a shape in less than twenty-four hours, but if it meant she was alive, I’d nurse her back to health. I’d done it once before.
Sighing, I shook my head and placed the folder back on Adler’s desk. “None of them are Sara.”
“Every other agent who’s looked at those photos has commented on the extent of the injuries. You didn’t say a word.”
I met his gaze. “I’ve seen it, firsthand. There’s nothing new to me in those photos.”