The Investigators

By Cara Downey

“I think we should handle this,” McAdams said, second guessing if it was right to bring Jemaila into this. “Jemaila is young and she hasn’t had the proper training. This could get dangerous and out of control fast,” McAdams acknowledged.

Jemaila Downing never thought an investigative piece would take her to the places this piece is taking her. She couldn’t figure out what was happening even though she had numerous tip and clues. More research is needed and more digging into the parties involved is needed. She thought she had a clear understanding, but she needs help because she’s about to venture into some dangerous waters.

Daniel Brady has never settled into one place since he musters out of the service. He was the lead investigator of an elite unit in the military. Revered and hated by his peers and colleagues, earned him the reputation of being a ‘hard ass’ but also someone with profound integrity. He thought his days of investigating were over until he’s asked for help and his skills and training come into play.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cara Downey
• Release date: Dec 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005117481

Cara Downey

Cara Downey is from North Preston, Canada a former graduate of Saint Mary's University & The University of King's College. She is an avid reader of erotic romances and thrillers. She loves to dish on Twitter, Facebook and via email with her favorite authors about their current and upcoming novels, and anyone else who will chime in. Cara also loves interacting with her fans via social media as well. You can always find Cara on twitter @cara_downey and on Facebook authorcaradowney

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The Investigators

by Cara Downey

Copyright © 2020 Cara Downey

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

Prologue

Jemaila

I was thirteen years old when I was busted for hacking, and I could have done some serious time. At that time in my life, I was not sure about who I was. I was a black child growing up in a white home. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family and I wouldn’t change my family dynamics for anything. However, I have to acknowledge that that was a part of my life that was a little confusing. Todd and Melissa are my parents. Neil and Alex are my older brothers. They sum up my family and I love them. I have to make that clear. When I wound up on the FBI radar––as I mentioned previously––I was thirteen years old. I was looking for a piece of me that was missing…my past. I never thought that it would end up with me being here, happy in the arms of a wonderful man—Brady. Let me briefly explain how this happened. We’ll begin with the specific incident that started it all, when I got busted at the age of thirteen.

I don’t know why, but I found myself sitting at my laptop remembering the day like it was only yesterday. The only relevance it has today is the fact that I’m a lot better at covering my tracks than I was back then; I’m not bragging even though it may sound like it. Again, it was like it was yesterday; I was trying to figure out who I was. I had so many questions, and I was afraid of asking my parents about my past. I did not want them to think that I wasn’t happy or that I didn’t love them. Being a black child growing up with a white family…I had questions and I needed to know where I came from and about my past. I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to approach them. I was going through all the different scenarios in my head. Should I just be straightforward and ask them? Then I thought I couldn’t. I didn’t want them to think that I didn’t love them. I thought that I could do it on my own. That’s when things kind of got out of control. I thought that if I was careful, and did not leave any traceable prints behind, I’d be fine.

The truth of the matter was that I’d been messing around with computers for a while. I just didn’t know what I could do until I got a little older. I can’t even remember when I started hacking into computers. I never really thought of it that way. I just thought that I was good at getting access into certain programs. I was working on a computer assignment one day, and the next thing I knew, computers were my thing. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. I didn’t get into any trouble––trouble that my parents had to worry about––so I thought it was fine. I learned to cover my tracks. I even joined a group of other kids––and grownups––just like me; it was pretty awesome. I made sure to be careful at all times, because if I got caught doing this, I knew that Todd and Melissa would be upset. I started searching one day, and I hacked into the DMV database looking for information on my birth parents. I searched my natural grandmother and I tried to find my birth mother. I didn’t have any success, but I continued. That’s when the trouble started.

The FBI cyber division had a group of individuals that were monitoring the traffic and flow. I can only imagine how the situation played out. I always pictured that it went something like this.

Sir, we have a red flag, an agent said. Someone has gained unauthorized access to the DMV’s national database.

The senior agent in charge walked over to the computer. The agent told him what was going on. The senior agent in charge then told his agents that they were to monitor and track down the IP address and where the breach initiated. The agents in the division worked hard to track and trace the digital footprint. That’s where I’d made my mistake, because I thought that I did a pretty good job covering myself. In the end, all that I was able to get was that a couple had died in a car accident, April 5, 1994. I thought that it could be possible that these two individuals were my natural parents, but I wasn’t sure, and all I had was the date I was born. August 5th 1991. And I know that I lived with my natural grandmother until the age of two; that’s when Todd and Melissa adopted me and brought me home with them.

I was thirteen and I had a million questions. The agents didn’t have to work that hard to pinpoint the footprint I left behind. I found out later that I was pretty good—for an amateur. The agents told me they were surprised when I got caught. They thought that the person or persons who hacked into the DMV were good. They said they were able to get in from behind and work their way forward to obtain the information they needed. I got busted on a Friday night. My brothers had come home from university for the weekend, but the day had started like any other day.

Jemaila, Todd is going to drop you off at school, Melissa told me.

I’m coming down. I didn’t initially get the information I needed. I had made the decision to try again later in the day after school.

What’s wrong? Todd asked me.

Nothing, I was working on something last night and it didn’t yield the results that I was hoping, I told him.

Anything maybe I can help you with? Todd asked me.

No…thank you. I’m good.

The agents had gone to their senior agent in charge and provided him with the information he needed. The IP address was registered to an address in New York and the residence belonged to a Todd and Melissa Downing.

The senior agent in charge probably looked and said nothing.

Whoever this person is, he or she should be working for us, because in a few years’ time their skill is only going to advance, said one of the agents.

When I got home from school, I was going to start another search––but use a different program than the one I’d used the previous night. The previous night I’d made a mistake when I was trying to cover myself and left a digital footprint that would force anyone following me down a rabbit hole. I thought the possibility that I would get caught was slim… Boy, was I wrong. Neil and Alex were home from college. Alex went to Harvard Business and Neil went to New York University as an English major. They teased me a lot, but I guess that’s what older brothers are supposed to do.

Dinner is ready, Melissa called to everyone.

You guys are really busy. I hardly see you anymore, I said to Neil and Alex. This was the first time in a couple of weeks that both had been home. Dinner that night was great. I love tacos, they’re my favourite. I was about to head upstairs to my room, when there was a knock at the door. Todd was the one to answer it.

Mr. Downing, may we come in to talk with you for a few moments? the police asked.

Yes, please come in, Todd greeted them. It didn’t take long for me to figure out why the police were at our door…with two agents in tow. I realized in that moment I was busted. The men entered the house and made their way to the living room and sat down. They started talking with Todd and Melissa. When everyone turned and looked in my direction…I knew I was in big trouble.

Shit, I said.

What’s up? Neil asked.

Turning in his direction I just admitted, I did something last night––well, the past couple of weeks really––and I thought I was careful. It’s obvious, I wasn’t. Shit.

Todd came into the dining room and I could tell by the look on his face…he wasn’t happy. He told me to come with him to the other room. He directed Alex and Neil to stay put. Once I was sitting down, the two men in suits told me who they were. FBI special agent Collins and FBI special agent Smith. They were alerted to a security breach that had taken place at the DMV. I was playing stupid at first, but they knew that it was me. Melissa was upset but understood after I explained why I did what I did. Todd, on the other hand, was a different story. He started yelling and pacing all at the same time.

He told me how I’d ruined my future and I could go to jail or a juvenile detention facility. I started to cry. I didn’t want to be separated from my family, especially since I had already lost one. I escaped being arrested and juvenile detention by the skin of my teeth. I was given a break. Remember, this kind of stuff doesn’t happen every day.

I had to agree to do community service and give time at a homeless centre for an entire year. Todd and Melissa grounded me for two months, and my laptop was taken away. They sat me down and asked me why I did what I did. I explained my reasons again, and I told them that I did not want them to think that I didn’t love them. They said that they understood, and they told me about my background and where I came from. Looking back…I should have just gone to them from the beginning.

CHAPTER 1

The general’s office was quiet despite the activity within the building. He had arrived earlier this morning than he usually did. There were a lot of issues on the table. Decisions had to be made and directions had to be taken. McAdams wasn’t sure if what he was about to do was the right thing. He was up all-night thinking about it. Getting her involved was dangerous. Especially because she didn’t know who she truly was. The FBI had been monitoring her since she was thirteen years old. McAdams had been monitoring her since then as well. He’d promised that he would. It was a blessing that she was placed with such a good family. He had no doubt that she’d turn out to be a beautiful woman because she took after her mother. Smart, independent, and her skills have only grown with time. McAdams was not happy that she was never trained how to fight. He wanted to make sure she knew how to protect herself. But that was one of the conditions that he’d agreed to, even though he wasn’t happy about it. The condition was to let her live a normal life. And when she was fully integrated, then she would receive intense physical training.

McAdams went back to staring at the files on his desk, trying to figure out who would be the best person to navigate in Jemaila’s direction. All the individuals were former members of an elite investigation unit––the 110th unit. The CO at the time during the 1990’s was a guy by the name of Daniel Brady. He had been and most likely still was the best investigator the military had ever seen. And his record spoke for itself. The other individuals he selected were at the top of their game as well. McAdams felt a bit of shame when reading Brady’s file. The army did him wrong; there was no if, ands, or buts about it. But even if McAdams wanted to select Brady, he was off the grid; no one has been able to find him. And word of mouth was that if you found him, it better be good or it was your ass. McAdams closed his eyes as he tried to figure out how to track down Daniel Brady, or at least attempt to. What was going on was big. It was different from the last time Jemaila stumbled onto a story involving the military. It wasn’t a theory, but cold, hard fact that this situation was more dangerous. However, they couldn’t prove it and that wasn’t from lack of trying. His people were working tirelessly, many sleepless nights, going through the data they collected.

There was evidence of drug trafficking, and because it crossed state lines and the international waters, the FBI was involved. The world has definitely changed. McAdams remembers the days when the military was handled by military, none of this joint task force and collaboration. McAdams had to agree to work with the bureau because not all parties involved were military. Jurisdiction didn’t just lie at the feet of the United States military; it also was at the front door of the FBI. McAdams had to accept that both bodies had to work together on this one. He was positive that the FBI weren’t going to be happy that they had a civilian involved, but McAdams agreed he would deal with that bridge when he came to it. There was a knock at his door that brought him out of his musings. McAdams put the files into his drawer.

Come in, he yelled to the person knocking on the door, and when they entered, he asked, Did you have the package delivered?

Yes. I had it delivered this morning; she should have already received it, a solider responded.

I can be assured you followed my instructions to the letter? McAdams asked again.

Yes. I followed your instructions. You know what’s going to happen when she finds out what we did, right? the soldier asked. He knew the level of integrity of the man in front of him, so he never questioned when asked to complete this task.

Yes…but it’s a risk I’m willing to take, McAdams acknowledged.

I still think we could have been able to find out what was going on ourselves. I’m sure if we continued pushing Downsville, he’d give it up, the solider said, ensuring his words didn’t have a hint of questioning to them.

If we could…I wouldn’t be forwarding this information to her, McAdams replied. Trust me she’ll find out what’s going on, she’s that good, he added.

I still don’t understand why she isn’t working for us. We could use her in intelligence, the solider said. McAdams just looked at him, but his facial expression was thinking the same thing. Is there anything else, sir, that I can assist you with? the soldier asked before leaving.

No. Just remember that you’re to keep your mouth shut. Do not breathe a word of this to anybody. Do you understand? McAdams warned him.

Yes, sir…I understand, the soldier confirmed.

~~~

Monday mornings were never good.

I thought I’d be used to waking up early in the morning and hitting the ground running. I’d never had any issues waking up early while attending journalism school at New York Film Academy. Working part-time at the Times with my dad––who can occasionally be a hard ass––was an experience I wouldn’t change for anything. My dad always said he could definitely see me taking over as editor once he retired. That always put a smile on my face.

I learned that morning traffic in New York was crazy once I moved to the meatpacking district. I realized that if I didn’t leave early in the morning when I had the opportunity, I’d most definitely be late for work. It wasn’t okay for me to be late since my dad was the boss; I knew it wouldn’t be a good look. I took the same route every morning to get to work. My loft was a twenty-minute drive away. I’d moved into the area upon attending university. I was able to purchase the loft with the inheritance from my trust fund. Before my grandmother passed away, she’d had a life insurance policy, and the money from that policy was placed in a trust for me. She’d used some of money to pay for university. There was still a fair bit left over, so I purchased a loft in the meatpacking district. My parents, Todd and Melissa, weren’t happy about it, but they grew to accept it.

Doing a once-over in the mirror, I headed off to work. My morning routine to work never changed. I headed out east on Gansevoort St. toward West St., then turned left onto 11th Ave, keeping right at the fork and turning right onto W 23rd St., then finally turning left onto 8th Ave and arriving at my destination which was on the right. The New York Times.

Morning, Todd, I’m early for a change, I said after reaching our floor.

Well… Todd paused in mock surprise. Call the national guard. My daughter arrived to work early for once, and on a Monday at that.

I laugh while shaking my head.

A package came for you in the mail. I placed it on your desk, Todd informed me.

I nodded my thanks as I made a beeline to my desk. I picked up the package; there was no name and no return address. I thought that was strange. Opening the package, inside were photos and three names. One was of a two-star general––Downsville was his last name––and the other two individuals were Russian; the little information available