Fallout

By Amy Romine

This book picks up where Shockwave left off... Jack and Kate struggle to navigate through the web of lies surrounding them. Chasing shadows, the truth is closer than they realize. Isolated and hiding from unknown forces, can they uncover the buried secrets that killed Mike and put a price of their heads? When Kate makes a deal and leaves Jack behind, will she make it back, or will one misstep destroy all of their hopes for the future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Feb 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781554878932

Book preview

Jack and Kate struggle to navigate through the web of lies surrounding them. Chasing shadows, the truth is closer than they realize. Isolated and hiding from unknown forces, can they uncover the buried secrets that killed Mike and put a price of their heads? When Kate makes a deal and leaves Jack behind, will she make it back, or will one misstep destroy all of their hopes for the future?

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Fallout

Copyright © 2011 Amy J. Romine

ISBN: 978-1-55487-893-2

Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books

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Smashwords Edition

Fallout

Tarot – Two of Wands

By

Amy Romine

Dedication

To my husband and children for their unending support, and my best friend Brenda who believes in me even when I don't. A special thanks to the inspiration for this book Tony Zazza and Victoria Snee from the Morning MIX 102.9

Chapter One

Let's back up and start from the beginning, given what we know as of right now, Kate said, trying to regroup.

Which is what?

Okay, She rose from her seat on the couch, chewing on her thumb.

They had been dueling scenarios for about three hours and yet they didn't seem any closer to finding an answer.

The man who brought them together was dead. Mike Turner was murdered, and while the tragedy had reunited him with Kate, the fallout from the event was just starting to rear its ugly head. Someone had already tried to kill them and with each new piece to the puzzle, another victim's body was uncovered.

It was getting complicated and dangerous.

We know DiAvex is a research and development firm. On January 23rd, a lab within the DiAvex corporate office was incinerated. Five bodies found and identified to be the five researchers working on an unnamed special project. The case was investigated and closed, categorized an accident.

Did anyone verify what exactly the unnamed project was, or are we working under the assumption it was the EMP device you described?

Let's leave assumption out of the equations. Let's just stick with the facts. She raised her hand as if she was pushing the air away. Okay, so all of that over here. God I wish I had a white board.

He moved into the den.

Jack? Where did you go?

He rolled the large white board from the den to the living room. Will this work?

Ah yeah, this is perfect. Why do you have this?

We play a lot of Pictionary.

Kate grabbed the marker and listed out in one corner of the board everything they had just covered. Did I miss anything?

No, we're good.

The case was closed two months ago and then something happens. She stared at the board and wrote a question mark. "That prompted them to reopen the case and start following the paper. The paper leads them to Piker, a confirmed silent partner in the movement of something from here to Mexico.

The NSA came to see me on the tenth and Mike was found on the 21st. Since then, someone's broken into Mike's house, I received the letter and thumb drive from Mike via Hugh Westmore, you were poisoned, and someone broke into my room.

That is quite a laundry list.

I am forgetting something.

When did your room get broken into?

She didn't answer at first, her focus on the board. She shook her head as if suddenly remembering he was there. Last night. Do you have a computer?

Yeah I…

Where is it?

In the study, why?

She moved away.

He did the math of her previous response. Wait, last night? Is that what happened?

She didn't answer and he followed her into what he called a study, but had been told it was actually a junk room with a computer in it. She wove her way to the console. He stood there silently waiting, deciding his question could wait until she finished. He watched her boot up the computer and she went into the DOS system. She was typing faster than he could think. Before he'd finished reading, she rose from the computer and moved back into the living room. Before he reached the living room, she came around the corner.

Is this your only computer?

Yeah…I mean no, I have a laptop as well.

Do you know where it is?

It took him a moment to remember it was in his truck. Why?

I need to see it, please.

Fine, but first you have to answer my question. He stared down into her green eyes before she looked away. Kate.

Yes, fine. I will answer the question. She met his gaze. But you have to promise not to overreact.

I promise.

Yes, that's what happened.

Her shoulders were open to him, telling him she was being honest.

When I got to the hotel yesterday, there was someone in my room. He attacked me from behind with a network cable. I blacked out and when I woke up, Andy was in the room with me. He went after the guy, but it was too late.

Okay. Jack took a breath, pushing the fear and anger in his chest down into his stomach. He wanted to keep his promise. My laptop is in the back of the truck.

Kate turned toward the table housing his keys and then looked back at him. She took his face in her hands, brushing his lips with a sweetness that set his body on fire. He devoured her mouth wanting more, but she pulled back, meeting his gaze.

Be good.

She pecked his lips again before she headed to the door.

Her softness still surrounding him, Jack processed what she had confirmed happened. She was out of sight so he was able to release some of the tension he had in regard to the attack. He growled and, running his hands through his hair before he moved to the back door, let in the kids. He heard the front door open and watched her walk inside with the box in hand. She moved to the couch and he and the dogs followed her. She said hello to the dogs when they jumped up to greet her and then she asked them to stay down.

So why is it in the box? She pulled the laptop from the box.

Uh…it got fried at the station a few months ago.

What do you mean fried?

One minute it was working, the next there was smoke.

Okay, she replied slowly as she sat down next to him. Let's start from the beginning, tell me everything that happened that day.

Jack took a deep breath and went through every detail of the day.

Mike knew the name of a computer guy so I shipped it off. That was the last time I saw it until now. Well, until a few weeks ago, when I got it back.

Kate moved to the computer box. She began searching through the remnants of the box and the packaging. She pulled a piece of paper from the contents and a grin formed in the corner of her mouth.

What?

I know this guy. She picked up her cell.

Jack took a seat on the couch as she waited for an answer on the other end.

"Eric…hey, it's Kate…yeah it's been a long time…no I am actually in Texas right now…yeah…I need a favor. You worked on a computer for a friend