Chapter 29

Hector's point of view

My hermana has so many secrets. The greatest programmer and hacker is none other than my Angel. I always knew she was a highly intelligent woman. That there was more to her than meets the eye. Since I first discovered her association with the Cordeli-Plum winery, I suspected she had a secret life in the military.

When she started exercising in my gym with me, I knew she had a secret military life. Her exercise regime contained all the core exercises I've seen from the Rangeman military men. Even working behind the scenes, she would still be required to complete the basic training. It was obvious to me she completed her training at another base besides Fort Benning with Ranger and his closest friends.

However, I did suspect she was responsible for the Rangeman search program rewrites. Who else would know how our programs work? The only other options were Rodriguez and Silvio. I've seen their codes and knew it wasn't their style. This program rewrite had the flair of none other than Eclipse. The elusive computer genius.

I remember thinking it was a ruse to throw off suspicion. Nobody knew how high her father moved up the ranks during his time in the special ops. Frank Plum is a highly decorated soldier. Stephanie as Eclipse has quite a few decorations as well. Unknown to our boss Ranger, her rank is higher than his. He may have spent more years on the ground, but she spent nearly as many years behind the scenes.

Her skills are unmatched by anyone. Making the connection between her and Eclipse was almost a leap of faith, but eventually it started making perfect sense. It's one of the reasons she is so good at completing searches. Her mind works in amazing ways. I hope Rodriguez is right about Steph sending me another program to fix the flaw in our security programs.

Confronting Angel was something I was almost afraid to do. On one hand, she has many enemies and needs to maintain her anonymity. The other reason is more personal. I'm afraid to lose her as my hermana.

Rodriguez didn't exactly confirm my claim, but he could see I knew the truth. I could tell he also knew the truth. It wouldn't surprise me if he uncovered the truth around the time they got married. Angel would never keep this type of secret from her husband.

I completed my exercise routine then hit the shower in my apartment. Angel used to have extra clothes in my apartment, but now they're in the apartment she shares with her husband. After a quick shower and shave, I went to my office on the second floor.

As he said earlier, I found a familiar parcel on my desk. I excitedly opened the package hoping to find the fix to my program. A note written in Spanish was wrapped around the USB drive. It had the familiar flow of her words. Using my personal laptop as a test, I loaded the program and ran the application. I wasn't surprised with how effectively it worked. Stephanie and I really need to work together to fix all the Rangeman programming. Her brilliant mind will help me plug any holes in our systems. If it all works out, we could create better programs to take Rangeman security to a whole new level.

I grabbed my phone and sent my hermana a text.

SPOV

Hector: Thank you.

Me: For what exactly?

Hector: You know. Come see me.

Me: Be there in a few.

I finished dressing before wrapping my arms around my gorgeous husband's naked torso. "What's on your mind Sweetheart?" he asked me.

"I think Hector knows," I replied.

"You'll be correct. He does know. In fact, he confronted me in the gym," he confessed.

"Did he ask or make a statement?" I wondered.

"Statement. He wasn't really asking for confirmation. Hector just wanted me to know that he knows your guarded secret." I could get mad because he never said anything, but I really didn't see the point. Lucas never keeps secrets from me. Besides, he's telling me now. I trust him completely.

"I'm honestly surprised it took this long for him to figure it out," I confessed. Hector is a very intelligent man. If he dug deep enough, he could've uncovered my identity sooner. Then again, I did hide that information extremely well. Anyone who makes it past the second line of defence is subject to having their hard drive completely wiped clean. It was a very sinister move, but maintaining my secret is paramount to staying alive.

My hermano is very trustworthy. I knew without a doubt he would keep my secret. Giving Lucas a quick kiss, I asked him to meet me for lunch and left to meet with hector.

Hector was waiting for me when I arrived. I could tell he was slightly anxious to talk to me. Almost like he was afraid I would react poorly to his newly acquired knowledge. We entered his sacred space and he used his fob to scramble the cameras.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at him until he finally decided to talk. "You're Eclipse," he announced. I nodded, confirming his statement. Lying to him would never be an option for me. He's done so much for me since we first met. "You are also the best programmer and hacker. Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"My identity in the army was intentionally kept a guarded secret. Very few people knew the mastermind behind the programs and the intel. More people know who I really am than during my military career. It scares me a bit," I rambled.

"Hermana, your secret is safe with me. I would never betray your trust. Lucas obviously knows," he added.

"He does. Like you, he pieced the puzzle together. Only you, Luke, dad and I know this secret. It seems the more I help, the more I allow people to see," I said thoughtfully.

"Your search program rewrite was amazing. Silvio and I never thought to break down the criteria the way you did. Automatically filling in the parameters in subsequent search modules streamlined the program and sped up the process. We can complete one week of searches in less than a day. Can we collaborate on a security system rewrite?" Hector asked hopefully.

"If time allows. Have you or Silvio started writing the program? I could check it over if you like. Maybe show you the tricks of the trade?" I joked.

"It would be my honour to have you help," he replied.

"I really wish I could help you right away, but I'm leaving early tomorrow," I informed him.

"So your husband told me. How long will you be away?"

"No clue. It all depends on what I can uncover. So much is riding on my ability to provide intel for an upcoming mission," I answered.

"You will do an amazing job. Trust in yourself." He pulled me into his arms to give me a tight hug.

"I'm not mad at you for discovering my secret. You're my hermano and have my back," I whispered.

"Thank you," he said before kissing my cheek. I kissed his cheek then turned to leave his cave.

Lucas was waiting for me outside the door. He gave me a perfunctory hug before letting me get to work. My sister Mallory was scheduled for an interview this afternoon. I wonder how many of my Merry Men would assume it's Valerie.

LPOV

I took my wife to Pino's for lunch. Hector, Roger, Lester, Bobby and Tank came with us. We were spending time together before Stephanie leaves on her mission tomorrow. Tank knew she needed a leave of absence for a minimum of two weeks. The core team obviously knew she was leaving, but they wisely kept their questions to themselves. I could tell she appreciated their lack of inquisition.

Lester looked as though he was chomping at the bit to find out where she was going. He kept opening his mouth to talk to her. She kept using her drink to hide her smile of amusement. I noticed she moaned louder as she ate her meatball sub, making him more uncomfortable.

He mumbled something about, "Evil woman." My wife nearly spit out her drink from laughing.

"Are you having a problem?" Stephanie asked him.

"Nope," he groaned as he discretely fixed himself.

My wife pinched my hip before gently rubbing my thigh. It was as much of a warning as it was a tease. She was letting me know she was completely messing with Lester. Watching Lester squirm was amusing my wife. I must admit it was amusing me too.

We returned to Rangeman in the same cars we left in. I was driving my car with Stephanie and Hector. Roger was on his way back to the precinct, having met us when Stephanie invited him. Tank, Lester and Bobby were in Tank's SUV.

I gave my beautiful wife a kiss before we entered the elevator. We tried to keep our affection outside the view of Rangeman's cameras. Maintaining professionalism while we were at work was important to both of us. Neither of us wanted our coworkers to catch us in a compromising position. I exited on the second floor while my wife continued to her office on the fifth floor.

Carter contacted me regarding a visitor entering the building. She had asked for Tank instead of Stephanie. I checked the feed and saw a woman had entered the building. She looks like a skinnier version of Stephanie's sister Valerie. Her hair is shorter, she's skinnier and more muscular too. It fit Stephanie's description of Mallory perfectly. "Her name is Mallory," I said when Carter answered the phone. "She has an interview with Tank."

"That's what she said too. She looks so much like Stephanie's sister Valerie, so I was confused," he admitted.

"Send Mallory to her interview. Tank doesn't like when his appointments start late." Carter gave me a grunt and hung up the phone. I watched the elevator camera engage when Mallory entered the car. It automatically took her to the fifth floor where Tank was waiting for her. When she started to follow him, I stopped watching the feed.

Steph: She's here.

Me: I saw. Carter called. Thought it was Valerie.

Steph: lol. Poor guy must have been confused.

Me: He was very confused.

Steph: So excited she's here. I hope she stops by my office.

Me: Ask Tank to send her your way.

Steph: Na… I'll let her be. We'll see her tonight.

I wasn't sure what to say. There was only one thing I could think of to make our night go smoother. Using my office phone, I contacted Ella. "What can I do to help?" Ella asked when she answered.

"Steph and I are having guests for dinner. We're working until 1700 which doesn't leave us much time to prepare dinner," I started.

She cut me off, "Lucas, I have a few crockpots set up at your house already."

"How?" I asked.

"I offered when she told me about your plans for this evening. She gave me a set of keys and the alarm codes," she replied.

"You are a life saver," I stated.

"Anything to help my Stephanie," Ella stated before hanging up. I really shouldn't be surprised. My wife always takes care of everything. Ella is like a second mother to Stephanie.

I kept watching the elevator cameras to see when Mallory left the building. She has been in the interview with Tank for the last three hours. It really must be going well. I wouldn't be surprised if she announced she was hired at Rangeman.

When I checked the camera in my wife's office, I noticed Mallory had a chair pulled up at her desk beside her. It looked like Stephanie was showing her the programs we use for searches. I could see my beautiful wife's eyes glint a second before she started laughing. Her sister tried to fight back her laughter before finally caving. They both looked into the camera at the same time and waved.

An email arrived asking me to create the ID badge for Mallory Price. I imagine Hector is tasked with programming a fob for her to use. She'll have limited access within the building. Standard operating procedure dictates she could access the gym, range and fifth floor. I wouldn't be surprised if Stephanie gave her access to our apartment.

We drove home with Valerie following behind us. Just like Stephanie, she easily got along with the men. It was strange seeing a woman who acts like my wife, but looks like her sister.

Frank, Valerie, Edna, Alice, Mary Alice and Lisa were waiting for us on our front porch. Traffic home from Rangeman didn't cooperate with us today. I just hope it wasn't indicative of how our evening would transpire.

Stephanie jumped from the car, ran to the house, unlocked the door and disabled the alarm. We walked into the house to the smell of scalloped potatoes and roast beef. "Supper smells amazing," Mallory moaned as she entered the house.

"What are we having?" Valerie asked. Even though their voices sound the same, you could tell them apart by their speech. Valerie was more proper Burg where Mallory was rougher from the Army.

Mary Alice and Angie couldn't stop staring at their aunt. It was comical and sad at the same time. Lisa was brave and approached Mallory. "Why you look like mommy?" she asked.

Mallory squatted to lower herself to Lisa's level and replied, "I look like your mommy because I'm her twin sister."

"Sister like Aunt Stephie?" Lisa asked.

"Exactly, but unlike your aunt Stephie, I look just like your mommy," she carefully explained. Lisa smiled and grabbed her aunt's hand.

Our evening went extremely well. Edna was excited to finally meet her granddaughter. Valerie, even though Mallory is more like Steph, found it very easy to talk to her sister. We listened as Mallory told Valerie and the girls all about their other aunt Emily. "Where is aunt Emily?" Mary Alice asked.

"She's in heaven," Mallory replied.

"With grandpa Mazur?" Angie asked.

"Yes, Angie. She's with her grandpa in heaven," Stephanie answered.

Since it was a school night, Frank took Valerie, the girls and Edna back home. Mallory stayed for a few more hours before she decided it was time for her to leave as well. She was staying in a hotel in Pennsylvania.

I only had a few more hours to spend with my wife before we had to leave for the airport. We made love before calling it a night.