"Tori?" I ask, wondering if I actually heard Avery right. Is she the one from Dauntless working with Molly? If so, what's her motive? Is she really involved in Sam, Harrison, and Frankie's murders? It can't be true, can it? I remember how she acted when Harrison died. She was devastated, blamed herself. Maybe she acted that way because she didn't realize he would become Molly's next victim. No! I refuse to believe it. Besides, if she's responsible, why would she be so sloppy as to use her own ID and password to access the computers during the office break-ins? Unfortunately, we can't question her about it because of her mysterious and quite frankly strange disappearance. Did she orchestrate that, too? Supposedly she's the one who remotely accessed the cameras in the entire city and shut them down. I rub my temple when my head starts throbbing painfully at all the unanswered questions.
"Have you told anyone else about this discovery?" Tobias asks, motioning to the single sheet of paper in his hand that lists the files that were accessed on Harrison, Tori, and his computers.
"Actually, I did mention it to Callen last night," she cautiously says, readying herself for his reaction.
"Oh, I really wish you hadn't done that," he says with a long, drawn out sigh as he runs his free hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry, Four," she says, her voice full of remorse. "We tell each other everything. It's kind of our policy." I think it's a good policy for a couple to have.
"It's alright," he says. "What's done is done but in the future I'd rather you not share sensitive Dauntless information with your boyfriend but it's my fault for not explaining that in the first place." As he studies the paper carefully, his brows knit together. He gets his phone out of his picket and sends a quick message then finally looks at her.
"Have you gone over each one of these files with a fine-tooth comb?" he asks, motioning to the piece of paper he just laid on his desk.
"I really only had time to skim them," she says.
"Okay. Did you notice if any of the files were erased or had data changed in any way?" he asks.
"Not that I saw," she says.
"Was anything printed or saved to a removable drive?"
"I didn't think to look," she says.
"That's alright," he says. "Can you show me the log-in data for the personnel files?" He walks around his desk and stands behind her as she types on his keyboard, bringing up the information he requested.
"It's right here," she says. Tobias leans over her shoulder and studies the screen.
"What's this?" I see him point at something and Avery frowns.
"Um, I'm not sure," she says.
"Is that a remote access code?" he asks. She leans closer to the computer then looks up over her shoulder at him.
"I think it is," she says, sounding confused. "Let me check something." She types furiously on the keyboard until a knock sounding throughout the room stills her fingers. Tobias goes to the door, and Avery and I are both surprised to see Callen standing on the other side of it.
"Come in," Tobias says, ushering him inside.
"You wanted to see me, Four," Callen says.
"Yeah," he says. "But I need you to give me a moment, okay?"
"Okay." I can tell he's nervous, probably wondering why the leader of the faction has summoned him to his office.
"Did I get us in trouble?" Avery asks, her eyes wide and her voice suddenly unsteady. Callen's mouth falls open.
"Not at all," Tobias says, easing both their minds. "What did you just find?"
"I think you're right," Avery says. "That's a remote access code but it doesn't make any sense. It shouldn't be there."
"You've lost me," I say. I've been following their conversation closely as Peanut nurses but I don't know the significance of their discovery.
"The log-in data is contradicting itself," she says. She turns the monitor around so I can see it then points to the screen. "Right here it says that Tori physically entered her ID and password into this computer at 9:42 a.m. on October 4 to access the personnel files," she moves her hand again, "but then right here is a remote access code that shouldn't be here unless the computer was remotely accessed for the information."
"Are the times and dates the same?" I ask.
"Yes," she says.
"Can you tell whose code that is?" Tobias asks. After the trouble with Maria and her cohorts remotely accessing cameras for their own use, the entire technical staff and all the control room workers were each given individual codes so that work could easily be identified. She hits a series of keys then frowns again.
"It's telling me I'm not authorized to look," she says.
"Here, let me try," Tobias says. "I think I remember how to do this." After using the keyboard he stands up with a confused look on his face. My eyes slide to Avery's, and she's wearing the exact same bewildered expression that he does.
"Whose is it?" I ask.
"Apparently, I don't have access either," he says. Now I know the reason for the confusion. He should have unfettered access to every aspect of Dauntless records.
"Um. Shouldn't you have access to everything?" I ponder out loud, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, I should," he says, his frustration making him sound more like Four. "Avery, how difficult was that information to find?"
"If you hadn't asked to see the log-in data, I'm sure it would have been overlooked," she says. "The remote access didn't show up on the activity logs, which is where I found the original information about Tori's ID."
"That's interesting," he mutters, mainly to himself. "Callen, sorry to keep you waiting. Just after you started in the control room, Zeke told me that you have a natural ability with computers."
"They're a hobby of mine," he says, somewhat embarrassed. "Although I wouldn't call myself an expert."
"What I called you down here for is I want you to team up with Avery," he says. "I need each file that was accessed during the time of the break-ins to be gone over thoroughly. For example, I know that the personnel files were accessed on my computer. What I need you both to look for is which files were accessed and if any changes were made. And just to be 100% clear, it is imperative that none of this information leaves this room for right now, okay?"
"Okay," they both say at the same time.
"How long before you're finished with Tris' computer?" Tobias asks Avery.
"I have one final scan to perform, and then I'll be done," she says. "So far I haven't found anything at all on her computer, and Will's was clean as well."
"Do you have enough time to finish it before lunch?" he asks. She looks at the clock on the wall then nods.
"Good," Tobias says. "After lunch, Avery, I want you to show Callen exactly what you found. Then I want you to start with Harrison's computer and laptop then move on to Tori's. You can leave my computer for last. When you're done, report to me or Tris only. We'll be available until 5:30 then we have to leave for a meeting in the Pit."
"Can you watch the kids for us?" I ask. "I hate to keep asking but right now I would be more comfortable leaving them with someone I completely trust than with a stranger."
"I completely understand, Tris," she says. "I love spending time with Tyler and Tessa and getting to know Teagan."
"Thank you for always taking good care of them," I say. I know I've told her this before but she needs to hear it again.
"It's my pleasure."
"We better get back to work unless you need anything else from us," Callen says.
"That will be all. Just remember, not a word to anyone else about your discoveries," Tobias says. Avery gets up from his desk and Callen holds the door for her. After saying a final goodbye, we're once again alone in his office.
"Does this mean that someone on the technical staff or in the control room used their code to make it look like Tori is the one who broke in to the offices?" I ask trying to understand what just happened.
"I don't know what to think," he says with a sigh as he moves one of the chairs so it is facing the couch. He looks over his shoulder at the travel sleeper when he hears a noise then smiles as he moves across the room and picks Tessa up. He puts her up to his chest, and she lays her head on his shoulder and snuggles with him as he gently rubs little circles on her back. He sits down opposite me, and we just stare at one another trying to absorb what we just learned.
"Let me see if I got this right," I finally say, breaking the tense silence. "Person A broke into your office the day before yesterday and trashed the place while Person B remotely accessed your computer then entered in Tori's ID to make it look like she was the one who perpetrated the break-in. Does that sound about right?"
"Yeah," he says.
"Tori's in trouble, isn't she?"
"I'm afraid so," he says. "I think we need to keep this to ourselves, love." I start to say something but he shakes his head at me. "Hear me out. I'm afraid that whoever is working with Molly is privy to the investigation but I don't have a clue as to who it might be. If Tori is still alive … and until I've seen proof otherwise, that is what I'm going to believe … she might not be for long if the mole knows that we've figured out that Tori isn't responsible for the office break-ins and her disappearance."
"What about Will?" I ask. "Doesn't he have a right to know?"
"He does but we're not going to tell him," he says. "He'll tell Christina, which I don't blame him and then there's the possibility she tells one person and so on. I don't think we should risk it. He may be upset for being kept in the dark but he'll get over it."
"I understand," I say as I put Peanut up to my shoulder to burp. "I hope we find her soon."
"I do, too," he says. A frustrated, faraway look settles on his face, which makes me frown.
"What's wrong … besides the obvious?" I ask.
"Being told that I'm not authorized to view that particular log-in data is troublesome," he says. "I'm debating whether or not I should call IT and have them look into it or just leave it alone and see where the investigation takes us since every one of the programmers minus Avery is a suspect."
"Leave it alone until we have a solid suspect then bring someone in to look at it," I say.
"You're so wise," he says.
"Are you satisfied with how the meeting went with Mrs. Wheeler?" I ask, wanting to change the subject for just a little while.
"I would be happier if it didn't have to happen," he says. "I have a question for you. Do you think I flippantly threaten to send people to the fence or make them factionless? When she said that Max and the old leaders basically did the same thing, it made me think."
"In my opinion, you use the threats wisely. No one wants to work at the fence or become factionless so it motivates them to do the right thing," I say. "Max used it as blackmail."
"Which technically is exactly what I do," he sighs.
"The difference is you do it to make this faction a better place, and they did it to tear it down," I say. "You're a good man with the very best of intentions, Tobias. Please don't compare yourself to Max and the others."
"You're right," he says. Tyler stretches then starts to roll off the couch but Tobias and I both quickly reach out to keep him from falling to the floor. His eyes fly open in a panic but once he realizes where he is, he calms down.
"Are you okay?" I ask, my heart pounding roughly in my chest. "You almost fell off the couch." He shyly smiles up at me then hides his head.
"Why are you being shy with Mommy?" Tobias asks. He sits Tessa in his lap, and she reaches out and touches Tyler's arm. He moves his hand away from his face and grins at her, causing her to laugh. She has such an angelic peal. With all the laughing around us, Peanut tries to find where the noise is coming from. I carefully take her out of the sling, and she looks at her brother and sister who are both having giggling fits. She stares at them for a while with an annoyed frown on her face then gives them a little grin.
"She smile at me!" Tyler excitedly says.
"I told you she would smile at you soon," I say. I look down at Peanut just in time to see her yawn widely and I look at the clock. "Is anyone ready for lunch?"
"Yeah, I hungwy," Tyler says.
"I could eat," Tobias says.
"How about I take the kids home with me and fix lunch," I say. "We can discuss business later." I know we can't shield the kids from all bad things in the world but they don't need to hear about Dauntless' troubles when they're so young.
"I have some calls to make," he says. "I can make them from home. Let's go." We get up and head out into the hallway. Tobias triple checks that the office door is locked before we head upstairs. When we reach the apartment, I put Peanut down for her nap in the bassinet, and Tobias sits Tessa on the floor with Tyler then excuses himself to our small office upstairs. I quickly mix up tuna salad for tuna melts and toss a mixed green salad, lightly dress it with a raspberry vinaigrette, and put it in the refrigerator to chill. I stick my head into the living room before I put the sandwiches on the stove and find Tyler "reading" a story to Tessa who is totally absorbed in every word her brother is saying to her. Tobias finishes his phone calls quickly and comes up beside me. I stop him just before he announces his presence, and we watch them for a time until Tyler realizes we're standing here and gets shy on us again.
"You're doing a wonderful job of taking care of Tessa while I'm in the kitchen," I say.
"Thanks!" he brightly says, his shyness vanishing.
"How about I take over for you and read you both a story while Mommy finishes lunch?" Tobias asks. Tyler nods eagerly so he gets down on the floor and takes the storybook and starts reading. God, I love him! After watching for just a moment more, I go into the kitchen and start the sandwiches while I dish up some mixed fruit and top it with some whipped cream.
"Let's see. Tuna melts, salad, and fruit," I say to myself. "Maybe some green beans will go with this." I open the refrigerator and check but we don't have any fresh ones so I go to the cupboard and see if we have a jar that we bought the last time we went to the farmers market. "I need to go to the store."
"Are you talking to yourself?" Tobias asks from right behind me, making me jump. "I'm sorry I scared you. I said your name."
"I was thinking about green beans," I say. "I need to make a trip to the commissary. We're running low on food."
"We don't need another vegetable," he says.
"It just seems like the meal needs more," I say.
"It looks perfect to me," he says then takes a step forward and lowers his voice. "Maybe we can have a bowl of ice cream for dessert."
"That's a good idea," I say. "Can you get the kids to the table while I make the plates?"
"Sure," he says then leans down and gives me a quick kiss. While I finish preparing lunch, he puts Tessa in her booster seat and helps Tyler up into his chair.
"Thanks, Mommy," Tyler says when I put his plate in front of him.
"You're welcome," I say as I kiss his head. I put a plate in front of Tobias then sit down myself. Just as I'm getting ready to take my first bite, Tobias' phone rings. He usually ignores calls during mealtime but with everything going on, he excuses himself from the table to take the call. Tessa excitedly bangs her butterfly on the table and squeals as she watches me eat.
"You're getting closer and closer to baby food, aren't you, little one?" I say. "Mommy's going to have to talk to Isobel or Stella about when I can do that. I don't want to start too early. You don't even have any teeth yet." At her last doctor's appointment, Zander told me to watch out for signs of teething but so far there's nothing besides the drooling and chewing on anything within reach that she can put in her mouth. I check her gums nightly but they feel normal. I momentarily thought when she was sick right before Peanut was born that it was teething but it wasn't; she just had a cold. Tobias comes back into the dining room from the sunny room as Tyler likes to call it because of how bright it is in there and sits down. He's quiet with a concerned look on his face. "Who was on the phone?" I finally ask when I can't take it anymore.
"Zeke," he says. "He was giving me an update."
"What did he find?"
"Nothing," he says.
"Then what has you so far away right now?" Tyler looks at his father with furrowed brows.
"He wight hewe," he says. Out of the mouth of babes!
"I know," I say with a soft chuckle. "I was just asking Daddy what has him troubled."
"Oohh," he says as he starts squirming in his seat.
"Do you need to go potty?" Tobias asks and Tyler nods his head up and down hastily. "Well you better go. Don't forget to wash your hands when you're finished." He gets up and runs into the powder room.
"Our boy," I say with a sigh. "So, what has you so … bothered?"
"Zeke saw something on surveillance this morning that has me … concerned," he says.
"What's that?" I ask, his unease rubbing off on me.
"Molly talking to Ruth in front of the Merciless Mart this morning," he says. Oh, no!
"You're keeping tabs on Ruth, too?" I ask. What does this mean?
"No, we were following Molly, and she led us to Ruth," he says. "I'm glad you didn't call to ask about the familial connection. I don't think she can be trusted."
"I don't believe that," I say. "I'm sure there's some other explanation. Ruth has never given me any reason to mistrust her. Her son was evil on every level but Ruth is nice."
"I thought so," he says, "but maybe she's playing you." I slowly start shaking my head in disbelief.
"Until I have concrete proof that Ruth is like her son, I refuse to believe that," I snap. He reaches across the table and covers my hand with his. I close my eyes and take a deep, calming breath. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice. I know it's not your fault. I'm just tired of not knowing who we can trust. It's exhausting."
"I know what you mean," he says. "How about we work from home this afternoon until we have to go to the Pit?"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," I say. "I'll start the background checks on the woman who were in the training room with Kirsten."
"I'll continue going through the backlog of video," he says with a sigh. "If we're lucky we'll finish before Christmas but then we'll have all the new footage to sift through. I sense a vicious cycle forming." I get up and ease myself down on his lap. He tightly wraps his arms around me and buries his face in my neck. "I love you, Tris. I'm sorry this is happening … again."
"We'll figure it out. We always do."
"I know," he says. "I'm just tired of all the bullshit." He tightens his hold on me, and I move my arm, draping it over his shoulder and kiss his temple.
"We both need to remember something, we have a lot to be thankful for," I say, looking over at Tessa who is gnawing on her fist. When our eyes meet, she smiles brightly. "We have each other and our three little munchkins. I'm sure all this drama will be over soon and things will get back to normal."
I think I hear him say, "Whatever that is," right before he softly presses his lips to mine. I'd love nothing more than to linger and let this tender kiss continue but just as Tyler comes out of the bathroom and snickers at us, Tessa starts whining loudly. "You get Tessa. I'll clean up the kitchen then dish up some I-C-E C-R-E-A-M." Tyler looks at us expectantly. He doesn't exactly know why we spell things but he knows that when we do it, usually something good comes afterwards or at least that's how it's worked so far.
"Okay," I say. I give him a quick peck then get off his lap. "Come here, little one." I pick Tessa up out of the booster seat and she roots towards my chest. I carry her into the living room and sit in the club chair. Just as I get her situated, Peanut starts crying. Hhm. She shouldn't be hungry yet. It must be her diaper. Tobias stops what he's doing and moves to her bassinet.
"Are you hungry, too, Peanut?" he asks as he lifts her into his arms. He comes over in front of me and I see that she's sucking on his knuckle. I look at the clock and realize that I miscalculated, and it's been over three hours since her last feeding.
"Oh, my poor baby," I say as he lies her in my arms. I put her to my other breast with her body crossing Tessa's, and she nurses eagerly. "Mommy is so sorry but you were being such a big girl. I'm surprised you weren't screaming."
"Thanks, Daddy," I hear Tyler say then he and Tobias come into the living room. Tyler kneels behind the coffee table and Tobias hands him a small bowl with a single scoop of rocky road in it.
"You're welcome," he says, as he sits on the couch with a matching bowl, although his has two scoops. "Let me know when you're done and I'll help you wash your hands and face. Yours is in the freezer, love."
"Thanks," I say with a yawn.
"How about we try to give Peanut a bottle this evening and see how it goes?" he says. "I could be helping out with feedings if she could take a bottle." I look down at my girls and know he's right but there's a part of me that doesn't want to share this experience with anyone else but I know I'm just being selfish.
"Okay," I say. "Have you had an update from Will on the search for Tori?"
"They're running out of places to look," he says.
"What about the car that left the compound at the time of her disappearance?" I ask. "Has it been spotted?"
"No," he says. "The GPS has been disabled so we can't track it. You know, I've always thought of the city as small … or our part of it at least … but it's times like these that make me realize just how massive a place we live in. We may never find her, Tris, and you have no idea how much I hate myself for admitting that out loud." A shiver runs through my body at his admission. Until right now I was certain that she would be found but maybe he's right. We may never know what happened to her.
"Can you take Peanut?" I ask when she needs burped. He puts his empty bowl next to Tyler's and takes her from me. I watch as he paces in front of the fireplace as he pats her back. By the time she burps, Tessa is nursing from my other breast.
"Here you go," he says as he puts her back in my arms. When he comes back into the living room after putting the dessert bowls in the dishwasher, he sits down on the end of the couch with his laptop and starts scanning video feeds. Tyler pulls out a puzzle book and climbs up on the couch next to him. I study them while the girls nurse. They are so similar. They both have a foot on their knee and a determined look on their face. Tobias notices my stare, and his eyes raise to mine. "Do you need something?"
"Yeah, my camera," I say. He looks confused, so I point at his little mini me. He looks at Tyler and starts grinning. I think it's the first honest to God smile I've seen on his face in days. "Like father, like son."
"Do you need help?" he asks when he sees Peanut stop nursing.
"Please," I say. He sets his computer aside and lifts her off my chest. It takes less time for her to burp this time. He gently places her in the bassinet when she can't hold her eyelids open. I gaze down at Tessa when she stops nursing and her eyes are closed and her mouth is hanging open. I pat her back for a time but she never burps.
"Do you want me to put her in her crib?" he asks.
"No, I'd like to keep her downstairs with us," I say.
"I'll go get her bouncy seat," he says. "She can sleep in it." He's gone and back in a flash then puts her in the vibrating seat and buckles her in.
"I'm going to go get the files I need from your office," I say. "Can I have the key?"
"I'll go get them," he says.
"I can do it," I say.
"I would feel better if I did it," he says. "I'm sure nothing will happen but it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Okay," I say.
"Do you have the list of names?" I ask.
"It's on my desk," he says. I walk him to the door, and he gently caresses my face with the backs of his fingertips then lowers his lips to mine. He kisses me softly, sweetly then sighs. Before he straightens up he whispers in my ear, "I'm counting the hours, Mrs. Eaton." His lips graze my temple then he disappears out the door. I take a deep breath then blow it out, willing my racing heart to slow. I should be used to it by now but it still amazes me that he can arouse me with one simple statement. As I turn to head back into the living room the doorbell rings.
"What?" I ask as I open the door. "Did you forget your key?" I'm expecting Tobias on the other side of the threshold but instead find Ruth.