Compromised Identity
Under surveillanceStaff Sergeant Jessica Dylan confronts a female soldier in the act of stealing her laptop—and almost pays with her life. But a blue-eyed mystery man rushes to her aid just in time, and Jessica learns the handsome army staff sergeant has been investigating her.Sean Turner believes a ring of cyberterrorists who’ve been attacking military bases are now specifically targeting Jessica. And he’s determined to figure out why they are tracking her every move. As the threats against Jessica escalate and attempts are made on her life, Sean vows to stop the hackers. Yet the heart-scarred solider is set on keeping an emotional distance…especially when they discover what the terrorists are really after.
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UNDER SURVEILLANCE
Staff sergeant Jessica Dylan confronts a female soldier in the act of stealing her laptopâand almost pays with her life. But a blue-eyed mystery man rushes to her aid just in time, and Jessica learns the handsome army staff sergeant has been investigating her. Sean Turner believes a ring of cyberterrorists whoâve been attacking military bases are now specifically targeting Jessica. And heâs determined to figure out why they are tracking her every move. As the threats against Jessica escalate and attempts are made on her life, Sean vows to stop the hackers. Yet the heart-scarred soldier is set on keeping an emotional distanceâ¦especially when they discover what the terrorists are really after.
âAre you always this prepared?â Jessica asked.
Her voice sounded laced with skepticism and not a trace of fear. She tended to stay calm in the moment, heâd already seen, but he also knew sheâd been close to tears at some point.
âOnly when Iâve already had to save an assetâs life three times.â
Jessica peeked around him at the man lying trussed on her bathroom floor. Her head tilted, expression darkening. âThatâs the man who was hiding in my car.â
Sean gave a slight nod, watching her. She was afraid, he could see it on her face, but she wasnât about to give in and weaken in front of him.
Most likely, she didnât want him to see she was terrified. That was nothing to be ashamed of. Three attempts on her life in two days would rattle even the most battle-worn vet, especially on home soil where it was supposed to be safe.
For the first time in a very long time, Sean felt the urge to pull a woman close and comfort her. But no matter what he felt, distance was necessary if he was going to put his life and his career back together.
JODIE BAILEY writes novels about freedom and the heroes who fight for it. Her novel Crossfire won a 2015 RT Reviewersâ Choice Best Love Inspired Suspense Book Award. She is convinced a camping trip to the beach with her family, a good cup of coffee and a great book can cure all ills. Jodie lives in North Carolina with her husband, her daughter and two dogs.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
âJohn 10:10
To the men and women of the US military, who fight battles within and without so that we can know peace. And to their families, who bear their warriorsâ armor and fight right beside them.
Contents
âIâll gather the Casualty Notification Team.â
Staff Sergeant Jessica Dylan twirled her pen on the green cloth cover of her notebook, watching the black barrel spin to stop, pointing straight at the chaplain, whoâd stood to gather his papers after leading the casualty briefing for rear detachment. She couldnât shake the thought of a family who was going about their business right now, thinking everything was right in their world.
âYou okay?â Captain Alexander, the battalion rear detachment commander, stopped behind her on his way out the door. âDid you know Specialist Murphy?â
âOnly by sight.â
The captain didnât even hear her. Heâd already moved on, out the door before her reply could even get to him.
Jessica stacked her things and pushed her chair back, feeling older than her twenty-eight years. This was no way to start a Monday.
No, she hadnât known Specialist Murphy, but she could picture his mischievous grin at the Family Readiness Group picnic when heâd paid half a weekâs pay to shove a cream pie in his First Sergeantâs face. It was true to form for Murphy. Heâd taken every opportunity to buck his chain of command. Having license to do it publicly, even for a fund-raiser, had apparently been too much for him to resist.
Pulling the book tighter against her chest, Jessica shook off weighted emotion as she walked across the small courtyard from headquarters to her companyâs building. Death never got easier. If the captain wasnât going to get upset, neither was she. She could fall apart when she got home away from anyone who would see her grief as a weakness.
Her boots thudded heavy on the industrial tile, but they slid to a stop as she neared her office. The door was cracked slightly, light from her huge windows leaking into the dark hallway.
She shoved her hand into her uniform pocket, feeling for the key, vividly remembering how the lock had stuck as sheâd left for the casualty briefing. With her Rear D soldiers on a detail across post and everyone else of consequence in the briefing, there was no one who should have needed access to her office.
Laying her book on a desk in the outer office, she peeked around the corner.
A female soldier, her back toward the door, stuffed Jessicaâs work laptop into a small black backpack, but her focus stayed on the desktopâs screen. She fidgeted back and forth as if she was waiting for something, then reached under the desk, pulled something from the computerâs tower and shut the machine down, just like Jessica had left it.
