morality were downright charming.
An unfamiliar pang stirred within...right before the plane pitched.
Kate stiffened. “Did you feel that?”
This time he sat up and listened. Before he could get to his feet, they heard a whoosh . The curtain separating them from the cockpit whipped up and flapped violently against the ceiling. The force of the wind pushed Kate backwards. She held tight to her bag and threw the strap over her neck. Objects flew through the cabin: a small pillow, wrappers, bags of peanuts. The in-flight door was open. The cockpit was empty.
Kate’s heart jumped to her throat.
Jack shouted and pointed, but she couldn’t hear a word he was saying. The noise was deafening. Taking hold of her arm, he urged her toward the cockpit. Through the window, Kate saw the pilot open his parachute and disappear into the billowing clouds. Her stomach lurched.
Chapter 5
What the hell was Jack Coffey doing on the FBI’s Most Wanted list? How did Jack get himself into this mess? He’d known Jack since elementary school. If he’d been asked yesterday to pick one person in the world, guaranteed, who would never get in trouble with the law, let alone end up on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, his choice would have been easy...Jack Coffey. Because nobody cared more about “justice for all” than his good friend, Jack. If Jack wasn’t tracking down cyber stalkers, he was teaching companies and individuals to identify, prioritize, and mitigate vulnerabilities. His every thought revolved around making the world a safer place to live.
A.J. was about to shut down his computer for the day when Rick Harvey poked his head into his cubicle. Harvey worked in the Investigative Crime Unit now, but he’d started out in the Computer Division. Harvey had played an important part in amending the Federal Interstate Stalking Prevention Act to include online stalking. He also volunteered his time on weekends by going to high schools across the country, teaching kids and parents how to better protect themselves online by telling them how important it was to use gender-neutral screen names and to not give out passwords. Rick was one of the good guys.
“How are you holding up?” Rick asked, his eyes landing on Jack’s picture on the monitor.
“I’ve been better.” A.J. followed Rick’s gaze. “Doesn’t make any sense, does it?”
“No. Last time I talked to Jack he was thinking about joining me on an upcoming trip to Washington D.C. to talk to a group of teachers and parents. That was two days before Dr. Forstin’s death. Jack never mentioned Kate Huntley or Dr. Forstin. It doesn’t add up.”
“I wonder what Agent Harrison has to say about this. I’m surprised he allowed Jack’s picture to be posted on the Wanted list. He’s usually protective of his men.”
Rick shrugged. “I tried to get into Harrison’s office to see him, but Dorothy told me to take a number. Apparently he has everyone and their neighbors nipping at his heels about this case, including the media.”
“I wouldn’t mind a few answers myself,” A.J. admitted. “I had a supposed computer technician fiddling with more than just wires when I walked in on him this morning. Makes me wonder...”
“What do you mean? Oh.” Rick picked up pen and paper and wrote: “Is your cubicle bugged?”
A.J. nodded and pointed to the row of books on the shelf behind him.
“Well, I better run,” Rick said. “It’s Friday and I’ve got a hot date tonight. How about you?”
“Becky and I are going to the AIDS charity at the Biltmore,” A.J. told him. “Her brother is HIV positive. The tuxedo rental and the gown alone will set me back a few weeks, but it’s the least I could do.”
“Congratulations on your engagement. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
A.J. laughed. “Neither did I, but now that I’ve popped the question, I find myself wondering what the hell took me so long. I don’t deserve her.”
“She said yes, so I guess you can’t
An unfamiliar pang stirred within...right before the plane pitched.
Kate stiffened. “Did you feel that?”
This time he sat up and listened. Before he could get to his feet, they heard a whoosh . The curtain separating them from the cockpit whipped up and flapped violently against the ceiling. The force of the wind pushed Kate backwards. She held tight to her bag and threw the strap over her neck. Objects flew through the cabin: a small pillow, wrappers, bags of peanuts. The in-flight door was open. The cockpit was empty.
Kate’s heart jumped to her throat.
Jack shouted and pointed, but she couldn’t hear a word he was saying. The noise was deafening. Taking hold of her arm, he urged her toward the cockpit. Through the window, Kate saw the pilot open his parachute and disappear into the billowing clouds. Her stomach lurched.
Chapter 5
What the hell was Jack Coffey doing on the FBI’s Most Wanted list? How did Jack get himself into this mess? He’d known Jack since elementary school. If he’d been asked yesterday to pick one person in the world, guaranteed, who would never get in trouble with the law, let alone end up on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, his choice would have been easy...Jack Coffey. Because nobody cared more about “justice for all” than his good friend, Jack. If Jack wasn’t tracking down cyber stalkers, he was teaching companies and individuals to identify, prioritize, and mitigate vulnerabilities. His every thought revolved around making the world a safer place to live.
A.J. was about to shut down his computer for the day when Rick Harvey poked his head into his cubicle. Harvey worked in the Investigative Crime Unit now, but he’d started out in the Computer Division. Harvey had played an important part in amending the Federal Interstate Stalking Prevention Act to include online stalking. He also volunteered his time on weekends by going to high schools across the country, teaching kids and parents how to better protect themselves online by telling them how important it was to use gender-neutral screen names and to not give out passwords. Rick was one of the good guys.
“How are you holding up?” Rick asked, his eyes landing on Jack’s picture on the monitor.
“I’ve been better.” A.J. followed Rick’s gaze. “Doesn’t make any sense, does it?”
“No. Last time I talked to Jack he was thinking about joining me on an upcoming trip to Washington D.C. to talk to a group of teachers and parents. That was two days before Dr. Forstin’s death. Jack never mentioned Kate Huntley or Dr. Forstin. It doesn’t add up.”
“I wonder what Agent Harrison has to say about this. I’m surprised he allowed Jack’s picture to be posted on the Wanted list. He’s usually protective of his men.”
Rick shrugged. “I tried to get into Harrison’s office to see him, but Dorothy told me to take a number. Apparently he has everyone and their neighbors nipping at his heels about this case, including the media.”
“I wouldn’t mind a few answers myself,” A.J. admitted. “I had a supposed computer technician fiddling with more than just wires when I walked in on him this morning. Makes me wonder...”
“What do you mean? Oh.” Rick picked up pen and paper and wrote: “Is your cubicle bugged?”
A.J. nodded and pointed to the row of books on the shelf behind him.
“Well, I better run,” Rick said. “It’s Friday and I’ve got a hot date tonight. How about you?”
“Becky and I are going to the AIDS charity at the Biltmore,” A.J. told him. “Her brother is HIV positive. The tuxedo rental and the gown alone will set me back a few weeks, but it’s the least I could do.”
“Congratulations on your engagement. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
A.J. laughed. “Neither did I, but now that I’ve popped the question, I find myself wondering what the hell took me so long. I don’t deserve her.”
“She said yes, so I guess you can’t
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