1st Case - James Patterson Page 0,72
the laptop, and I had my finished image. It looked exactly like the original. He’d have to blow it up to wall-size before he’d be able to see any impact from the embedded code.
None of which was my immediate concern. The most vulnerable part of this whole process was in the next step: transferring that infected photo from Rena’s laptop to the Android.
I had no idea if the app would detect that granular a file change or not. If it did, then I’d just wasted two days of hell and was about to lose everything, including Eve. But there was no stopping now.
I turned off the laptop’s Wi-Fi first. Then I slid the phone across the table, keeping it flat, with the camera aimed at the ceiling. I plugged its charger cable into a port on the computer and transferred my spyware-laden selfie to the Android’s photo library as quickly as I could.
Once that was done, I yanked the charger cable and posted my image on the Android so he could see it. Then I turned the laptop’s internet back on and started watching for any incoming reports.
Within seconds, I had confirmation that the spyware had rooted. So far, so good.
HOT, he wrote me. THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT.
You like that? I asked. It nauseated me just to write it, but I had to string him along.
Let’s just say you earned your next question, he said.
As I watched the laptop, the screen blinked twice, repopulated, and spit out an IP address, followed quickly by an actual street location.
147 Condor Street, Boston MA 02128
I didn’t need another Q and A with him, but I did need more time. So I kept going.
Why did you take Eve? I asked. Why not me?
As he worked on his answer, I tore back onto the laptop and mapped the address I’d been given. Condor Street was over by the Chelsea River in Eastie. Only 2.9 miles from my current location. Easy striking distance.
I wanted to see what you could do on your own, he texted. You depend on Eve too much, you know that?
That’s not true, I typed back even as I was scanning the route on the laptop, committing as much as I could to memory.
Moving on, he said. I want to see more now. And I do mean MORE.
I was ready for this, too. I’d known I was going to need a big stall at some point. I also knew this guy was a horny son of a bitch.
I’m all sweaty from my ride, I told him. If we’re going to keep going, I need a nice hot shower first.
Excellent. Can I watch? he asked.
No but you can listen, I said. And you can see when I’m done.
No clothes this time. And no towel.
Give me fifteen minutes.
Hurry up, he said. I won’t wait forever.
You won’t have to, I told him. It’s like I already said. The game gets better as it goes along.
And I meant it. Just not in the way he might have thought.
It was time for me to snap this trap, once and for all.
CHAPTER 79
I CARRIED THE Android into the bathroom and set it on the sink, without a view of the shower. Then I turned on the hot tap and let the bathroom start to steam up.
I draped a towel around the showerhead so it would sound like someone was in there.
And I slipped out of the bathroom, closing the door behind me.
A few seconds later, I was back in Rena’s office. I grabbed the phone and dialed Billy’s number, but it went straight to voice mail. Dammit! It felt like forever just getting to the beep.
“Billy! It’s Angela! I don’t have time to explain, but I know where they’re holding Eve. It’s 147 Condor Street in Eastie. God, I hope you pick this up soon.”
I couldn’t call the police. If they got to that address without instruction, Eve was screwed. Someone needed to head them off or get there first. So I ran back along the hall and down the stairs to the guard station on six.
One of the guards stopped me right away with a hand out. “Hold it right there,” he said.
“I need to get hold of anyone on Agent Keats’s team,” I told him. “It’s an absolute emergency. An agent’s life is at stake.”
The other guard picked up the phone. “I’ll try Agent Keats right now,” he said.
“He’s not picking up!” I told him. “Call Audrey Gruss’s office. Call whatever emergency contact you need