Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(58)
* * *
Valeria was amazed at how much talking Lizzy could do without saying a single thing. She had Bertie eating out of her hand about what was going on at SA Tech while never disclosing any important trade secret, not that they knew any.
One thing was clear though, Bertie loved power as much as Sebastian did, and he hated that Sebastian was nipping at his heels. Valeria kept an eye on Rue as he stared at her. Someone was holding a grudge.
Val’s phone vibrated, and she looked at her watch. Nine forty-four. This was taking forever and Valeria had already decided Bertie was exactly the same as Sebastian. She didn’t know what Lizzy was looking for. Either man would do anything, legal or not, to defeat the other.
Valeria’s phone buzzed again. Grant knew they were busy. It buzzed again and Valeria slowly pulled it from the front pocket of her jeans and casually looked down. Shit. Her heart sped up so fast she was sure she was flushed, but instead of leaping up, Valeria rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
“Look. I got things to do. We’ve given you enough to know we’re legit. Wire us a million dollars now and my girl here will get you some more information. Here’s the account.” Valeria leaned forward as Lizzy looked at her. She tapped her phone with her left pointer finger as she used the right to write down an account number. Valeria slouched back in the chair and crossed her arms and resumed looking bored.
“That would be good,” Lizzy smiled, encouraging Bertie to pick up the phone. In less than a minute, the wire had been placed, hands had been shaken, and they were out the door.
“What the hell is going on?” Lizzy asked as she headed for the elevator. The door opened instantly and Valeria pushed the button for the lobby.
“I’ll tell you in a second.” She looked up at the video camera and flicked it off.
The elevator slowed to a stop and the door opened. Turning away from the lobby, Valeria led them out the back door, setting off the fire alarm. “Mollia Domini is going to try to blow up the world’s biggest stock exchanges.”
“When?”
Valeria looked at her watch. “In thirteen minutes.”
* * *
“What time is it?” Tate asked as she and Humphrey walked toward the Oval Office. “I know our meeting was for 9:45, but I’m moving so slow on these stupid crutches. I thought I was ready for them, but it’s irritating my shoulder wound a bit.”
“It’s just now time for the meeting. Somehow I don’t think Birch will care if we’re a few minutes late,” Humphrey said as they headed through the office full of secretaries, staff, and various people waiting for meetings.
The door to the oval office flung open and a white-faced Birch stood, pain radiating from his face as he held his broken ribs. “Get me the head of the SEC and the president of the New York Stock Exchange!” Birch yelled at his secretary. “And Jess, get me the heads of the New York offices of the FBI, police, and Homeland.” Birch looked up and saw them. “We’re under attack.”
Birch disappeared back into the Oval Office as Humphrey ran and Tate hobbled so fast the pain of the crutches slamming against her upper ribs would make a normal person cry.
“Freeze the markets now! We have credible intelligence there is an imminent terrorist attack ready to strike the exchange in thirteen minutes,” Tate heard Birch order into the phone when she got there. “Evacuate the building immediately.”
“New York police commissioner, FBI, and Homeland on conference line three,” Jessica shouted out.
“Jess, I need the British and Australian prime ministers, the Federal Council of Switzerland, and the chief executive of Hong Kong,” Birch shouted back as he picked up the phone.
Birch looked at them then. His face was hardened in the midst of potential disaster. “Tate, Humphrey, be ready to take over any calls. It’s Mollia Domini. They’re taking out the markets with suitcase bombers. Looks like New York is the main target. They’re hitting it at peak trading time. If any of these exchanges are damaged, it’ll be enough to send the world’s markets into chaos.” Birch trailed off, imagining a result that would be incomprehensible in terms of damage. “I have pictures and am sending them now to the heads of state and our agents in New York. They’re in your inbox.”
Tate nodded as she pulled up the files. Locke. Son of a bitch. He was going to hit New York.
“Now!” Birch yelled. “And don’t you fucking dare give me that jurisdiction shit. Everyone clear the area and look for Brandon Locke and his men. The bomb will be in a bag of some sort.”
“I have London and Switzerland on two,” Jessica called out.
“Here, talk to my chief of staff for the rest of my orders.” Birch handed the phone to Humphrey and picked up the secure line. “You need to close your exchanges immediately. We have credible intelligence of a terrorist attack and have sent the names and pictures of the men with the suitcase bombs. Freeze trading and evacuate. The attack it set for twelve minutes from now.”
“I’ve woken up Hong Kong and Australia and have them on a line out here!” Jessica yelled, standing with a phone in her hand and the cord stretched as far as it could.
Birch tossed the phone to Tate as he ran. “Finish it!”
“This is Tate Carlisle, press secretary to the president.” Tate answered the questions as fast as they came. Oh God. They had thought they had been prepared for whatever Mollia Domini had planned.