Order of Truth Read online

  Order of Truth

  The Order Series, Book 4

  Lisa Caviness

  Copyright © 2020 by Lisa Caviness

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  To Mom and the sisters…

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Epilogue

  Also by Lisa Caviness

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Lila Caldwell had seen death before.

  She stood for a moment, taking in what little she could see of the rainy Dallas skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows of her law mentor, Jack Struthers’s penthouse apartment. Her gaze shifted to the white marble floor, which gleamed even in the dull light of the cloudy day. A table in the center of the wide foyer held a gold vase filled with purple orchids. The serene nature of the flowers tickled something in the back of her brain. She stepped farther in the penthouse and any hope of having a good day evaporated as her body stilled. The unmistakable scent of blood settled into her nostrils, taking hold of her senses. Her body shook as past images of lifeless bodies surged in her mind.

  It’s my imagination. Nothing to fear.

  She tried in vain to believe that, but after getting a late start due to another terrifying nightmare, which, ironically, had dead bodies littered at her feet, Lila’s ability to embrace the sunny side of life resembled the rainstorm raging outside—gray and foreboding. She forced the ghastly images out of her thoughts and attributed her off-kilter sense of smell to her runaway imagination.

  “Jack. It’s Lila Caldwell,” she called. “I have the Abbington files for your review.” She shivered again as her voice bounced off the ecru colored walls, and she inhaled another scent, a faint acrid odor of smoke, as if someone had extinguished a fire in the fireplace or something else hot that she couldn’t quite discern.

  After no answer, she called his name again. Could he be in the shower or still sleeping? After a quick glance at her watch, she sighed. Jack was always on time. She ambled a few steps into the living room and noted the scent of blood grew stronger. A chill tickled her spine. This time she couldn’t push aside her senses. She clutched her bag, wishing the weapon she’d left in the car was inside.

  Beige-colored sofas and chairs sat in front of her. A large kitchen with dark walnut cabinets and an expansive bar occupied the left side of the open room. As she neared the kitchen, she jolted as the burnt odor became more pronounced.

  “Jack!” She stopped when she spotted what she believed was the back of Jack’s dark blond hair evident above a chair, facing the large windows. She didn’t want to embarrass him or startle him awake so she called his name again but in a softer tone.

  She moved around one of the sofas as the earthy aroma of blood bombarded her. When she stepped in front of the chair, her mouth dropped open, but no sound emitted. She stared at the blood saturating the once-white polo shirt. A bullet had ripped into Jack’s chest. His torso resembled cherry gelatin, and she wondered if he was even still alive. A moan escaped as if he emitted the sound to confirm his existence.

  “Jack.” She let her briefcase slip from her grip as she leaned over the injured man. Her heart thrummed, and her mind raced. Would CPR help? His chest had almost caved inward. Where would she put her hand to do chest compressions? I can’t just let him die. “Don’t try to talk.” She glanced toward the door. “Help!” The name of the doorman who’d escorted her up to the penthouse escaped her. She fumbled inside her purse in search of her cell phone.

  “You have to get the files.” Jack’s wide eyes were focused on her. His voice raspy and just above a whisper. Each shallow breath gurgled with blood.

  “I have the files right here, Jack. I’ll take care of them. Don’t worry.” Where the hell was her phone?

  He grasped her hands, smearing them with sticky, warm blood. “No, get the files. But don’t tell anyone. Be careful. They are powerful.”

  “I’ll handle it. But now I’ve got to get help. Henry!” She remembered the doorman’s name at the same time she recalled she’d placed her phone in her raincoat’s pocket. Thrusting her hand inside the pocket, she drew out the phone but before she could punch any buttons, she was stilled by Jack’s surprisingly strong grip.

  “Listen!” His brown eyes burrowed into hers. “Must get the files.” He grimaced.

  “What files? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lila gripped Jack’s hands just as hard as he held on to hers.

  “Don’t tell anyone. Take the files and hide them. They killed me because of what’s in them. Very powerful people.” His eyes closed and what was left of his chest quivered.

  “Jack!” She shifted, and the movement jerked his eyes open.

  His mouth fell open, revealing bloodstained teeth. “Get the files. Please.”

  She’d never witnessed the powerful Jack Struthers so weak and vulnerable. “Yes, but right now I have to get help.”

  He pulled her closer. “Intel important. Don’t let them fall into wrong hands. Tell Cheryl and the kids I love them.” He coughed, sputtering blood on her face and arms. “Location of files…” he paused and closed his eyes again.

  “Jack!” Lila held onto his hand. “Don’t die.”

  His gaze lifted to the photo sitting on a nearby table of Jack, Cheryl, and their two teenaged boys. Her heart thundered. They were about to lose their foundation, and she couldn’t do a thing to stop this death train. The family would be shattered, a horror she knew all too well.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  He opened his eyes and raised his head; his voice was so soft she had to lean closer to hear his words. “Find 7011 and Jennings. Docs important.”

  Lila’s mind spun with questions she had no time to ask. “I’ll take care of it, Jack. Don’t worry.”

  He nodded, and his head fell back against the chair. “They killed me. They…are…dangerous. You’re in danger. I’m sorry.” More blood sputtered from his mouth then his gaze fixed on her.

  “Jack. Jack!” Lila shook his arm, but he didn’t respond.

  The door ope
ned.

  “I heard screaming. What’s wrong, Miss?” the doorman said.

  “He’s been shot!”

  The man rushed to her side. “Oh, my goodness! Mr. Struthers!”

  As Jack’s hand went limp, Lila stared at the lifeless eyes of a man she’d once believed immortal. Jack’s death was a price too high, but for what? “Call 911. My boss has been murdered.”

  Chapter 2

  “Please gather your desk possessions and meet me in Building 5, Hallway 3A. Tomorrow, 8 a.m. You’ve been reassigned.”

  Cody stared at the email he’d received the previous day from Bill Jessup, a human resource officer at Veridian Technologies, one of the most powerful tech companies in the world. Reassigned. He’d only been at the company six months, each day pounding away as a software engineer programmer on a virtual reality project team.

  Closing the email, he shoved the phone back into his pocket. Although the email didn’t mention the nature of his role, Cody’s gut told him this was what he’d been waiting for. Shifting the small box filled with personal items from his cubicle, he stood under bold letters spelling out the words, Restricted Access.

  “Green, what are you doing here?” Paul Munson said as he rounded the corner.

  Cody suppressed a groan and choked back an expletive. He and Paul had started at Veridian at the same time, and the guy thought he rode through life on a golden chariot. Pompous know-it-all was too nice a description. Although Cody had no intention of competing with Paul, he hated that the guy insisted on always trying to one-up him.

  “I suppose the same thing you are. Any idea what this is about?”

  “Not a clue. But we’re in Building 5, the most secure, top-secret place on the Veridian campus. B5 houses a lot of the top-secret program teams. Been here six months and they are inviting me to the heavy hitter team.” Paul set a box twice the size of Cody’s on the floor. His expression grew serious. “I’m up for the challenge. But whatever this is, it’s only temporary. I will be in executive management before you know it.” Paul’s nod emphasized his point.

  Cody ignored Paul’s inflated comments.

  “Glad you two found the place,” Bill Jessup said, humping down the hall. “Not many people get this far, even though we are still technically in the all clear zone.” He thumbed toward the Restricted Access sign.

  “Why are we being reassigned?” Cody asked.

  Jessup beamed. “Not reassigned, promoted. This is a special team comprised of a select group of experts considered to be the best of the best. You two were handpicked. We had our eyes on you both from the beginning, but we wanted to test you in other, less critical roles, first.”

  Jessup slapped them each on the back as if they were his sons who just received A’s on their report cards. “Believe me when I say this is an excellent opportunity. Shows someone has noticed your potential. This is a big deal. Many of our scientists and engineers are dying to get on these upper-level project teams. Major coup for you. This is a level-fifteen clearance. There are only twenty levels, and I don’t even have clearance that high.”

  Paul puffed his chest. “I won’t let you down.”

  Cody remained silent. This could be the break he’d been hoping for, the reason he accepted a job with Veridian.

  The door swung open, and a short man, wearing jeans and a white polo shirt with the Veridian logo on the chest, emerged. “Cody Green and Paul Munson?”

  “Paul, here.” The jerk stepped forward.

  “Rick Brawley. I’ll be your team leader.”

  Rick, who stood about five feet eight, studied them, his gaze shifting from their heads to their feet. With his slicked-back, dark hair and gold pinkie ring, the man reminded Cody of Lance Sinclair, the current leader of The Order. They had reason to believe Lance was interested in taking over Veridian, which would give him untold wealth, power, and access to intelligence. Something about Rick rubbed Cody wrong but he needed this lead.

  The Order, a covert organization was started in Virginia by Russell Sinclair in reaction to his dissatisfaction with his lack of progression in the Free Masons. Over time the organization change from a simple social group to a powerful assembly of people led by a Grand Commander from the Sinclair family with strict rules for loyalty. Murder, blackmail, torture were common staples for Order business. Lance Sinclair, Russell’s grandson, now headed the organization which boasted members from every walk of life, including government, business, and law enforcement.

  “Nice to meet you.” Cody shook Rick’s hand, who offered a quick, loose, pump before giving Cody a feeling that the man considered himself superior. Rick and Paul should get along great.

  “Good luck, guys,” Jessup said, turning and retracing his steps down the hall.

  “Follow me. You are about to enter what we call the hive. You’ll see why.” Rick swiped his badge across a security panel which unlocked the door. They entered an anteroom with five monitors and a row of lockers. “This is where you’re stripped.”

  Paul’s mouth dropped opened.

  Cody didn’t react but continued to eye Rick.

  He grinned. “Just kidding. Sort of. Gentlemen, you are about to embark upon entry into one of the world’s most secured offices, rivaling the high-tech Situation Room in the White House. We do not allow personal cell phones or any electronic devices past this point. You will see your name above your assigned locker. This is where we strip you of your personal devices. Please deposit them inside.”

  Cody hated the idea of not being connected. After he placed his cell inside the locker, he froze. In an instant he made the decision. Removing the chain from under his collar, he cut a glance at Rick. When the man turned toward the security monitor, Cody tucked the silver necklace with a compass pendant under his phone. Probably best not to chance Veridian monitors detecting the hidden GPS device inside the compass.

  “Green, what are you doing? Saying a fond farewell to your phone. Let’s go.” Rick stepped up to a station and placed his head in front of a panel. Seconds later, another door unlocked. “We use a series of biometric security measures. These are retinal scanners. Our first task will be setting up your access credentials.”

  Cody followed Rick through a heavy door similar to a bank vault which led into a large, windowless, two-story room. The upper loft area had several stations with large computer monitors and rows of network servers tucked inside hexagonal inlets. Underneath were rows of computer equipment and more servers. The entire setup resembled a beehive, hence the hive moniker.

  Rick stopped and waved a hand upward. “We set our equipment inside those inlets to keep them cool. You probably noticed a definite drop in temperature. We like to keep it about sixty-eight degrees in here. You won’t be actually working in this room on a daily basis, but everything here is essential to our work and completely segregated from the rest of the company. We’re like our own sovereign island.” He laughed, then pivoted. “This way.”

  After a short walk down the hall, they arrived at an unmarked door. Rick placed his handprint on a wall screen and the door swung open. They were greeted by a middle-aged woman with short dark hair and large square glasses.

  “Our new recruits.” Rick rocked back in his expensive loafers. “This is Tally Unger.” He waved at the woman and then motioned for them all to sit.

  Cody entered the windowless office and sat in one of the soft-cushioned chairs in front of the desk. Bare white walls and a steel-gray carpet gave the room a clinical atmosphere, as if someone were studying them from a secret location. Cody didn’t see any evidence of a two-way mirror, but he did observe a small orb in the corner of the ceiling indicating a camera. They were being watched.

  Paul took the chair next to him.

  “Ah. Paul Munson. Twenty-seven years old, hails from Stamford, Connecticut, matriculated from University of Connecticut. Parents, Jerome and Tanya.” Tally crossed her arms and stood behind her desk. “Jerome is head of the grounds crew at UConn, and Tanya works for an insurance compan
y. Two siblings, older brother Jerome, Jr. or JJ and younger sister, Debbie. JJ’s girlfriend Crystal is pregnant. Debbie is a senior at UConn, majoring in business. Your parents are considering a cruise for the next vacation, probably in March or April.”

  Paul’s eyes widened.

  “I won’t ask if I’m right because I already know I am.” Tally chuckled. “All the information is out there for me to retrieve.”

  “Yes, it’s all true,” Paul’s voice was thick.

  Tally turned to Cody. “You are a bit of a country-music sad song straight out of Virginia. Grew up in a lower-class neighborhood without a father. Mother works at the Sparkle Nail Salon. Brother, Holden, was dishonorably discharged from the Army. Spends time boozing and getting high, and basically ignoring his three-year-old son. You managed to get yourself to MIT, then on to Purdue for your graduate degree.” She cocked her head. “Well done, Mr. Green.”

  Cody tensed. How much did this woman know? Cody considered his allegiance to The Alliance, the covert FBI group formed to combat The Order, a dangerous, almost cult-like organization with tentacles extending into the highest levels of government, business, and law enforcement. The Alliance had been careful not to leave a digital footprint of anything. Cody’s connection with The Order had been avoided at all costs on social media and even in emails and texts.