Chapter 5 - Jessica’s Job
Jessica was not a spy.
That was almost disappointing.
She was exactly what she looked like.
A thirty year old events consultant who liked expensive things and resented me because Brendan still talked about me.
Diane recognized useful resentment.
Then paid.
Not millions.
Rent.
Trips.
A luxury lease.
“Consulting fees” from Vale Foundation.
In return Jessica did small favors.
Check Cassidy’s social media.
Ask Brendan what devices I used.
Search my purse if opportunity.
Photograph anything military.
Jessica claimed she thought Diane was building divorce leverage.
Did she know about Mercer Tactical Freight?
No.
Did she know federal implications?
No.
Did she know taking my secure phone was wrong?
Yes.
Then the bucket.
Whose idea?
Diane’s.
Jessica expected only verbal humiliation.
Then Diane brought metal bucket from utility room.
Dirty ice water from champagne bins and mop sink.
She dumped.
Jessica laughed.
Then remembered her task.
Security footage showed her hand moving toward my purse.
She did not open before I reached phone.
Then she shoved rag in my face.
That was her own.
Then Brendan.
He dragged me toward entrance because Diane told him:
“Get her outside if she makes scene.”
Why?
So Jessica could access purse inside.
Again.
Brendan claimed ignorance of device theft plan.
Messages supported he was not told.
But he still assaulted me.
Domestic case separate.
Then Jessica’s lawyer approached federal investigators.
Cooperation.
She handed phone.
Messages.
Bank transfers.
She admitted.
In exchange? No promises publicly.
Then one text:
DIANE:
Red icon opens direct military line. Get screenshot.
JESSICA:
Why?
DIANE:
Because Cassidy has been lying to Brendan for years.
JESSICA:
About her dad?
DIANE:
About everything.
So Diane knew General Carter.
How?
Charles.
Then another.
JESSICA:
What happens if I get phone?
DIANE:
Nothing. Photograph screen. Put it back.
No espionage sophistication.
Just access.
Then night of dinner:
JESSICA:
She brought green jacket. Looks military.
DIANE:
Of course she did.
That line felt personal.
Then family court hearing.
Brendan appeared with counsel.
I appeared with mine.
No military uniform.
No father.
No show.
Judge considered temporary protective order from physical assault.
Security footage.
Diane bucket.
Jessica rag.
Brendan pulling my arm.
My elbow strike.
Defense said mutual confrontation.
Video showed my action after repeated grabbing.
Then Brendan’s attorney:
“Ms. Carter used a secret military protocol resulting in armed aircraft surrounding family home.”
My attorney:
“The aircraft response was part of preexisting federal operation. Ms. Carter had no command authority over it.”
Agent Ward supplied declaration limited to unclassified facts.
That ended theatrics.
Then custody.
Baby unborn.
No custody order yet beyond future contact planning.
Court ordered Brendan no harassment, no unsupervised contact with me, communication only through app regarding pregnancy.
No Diane or Jessica at birth.
After birth, paternity and parenting plan to be determined.
Brendan looked furious.
Then he messaged through app:
You embarrassed me.
Not:
Are you okay?
Not:
How is baby?
I saved.
Then next day:
How is baby?
Maybe attorney told.
I answered:
Medically stable.
Nothing more.
Then my father.
He wanted to hire private security.
I said no.
“There is already federal protective assessment.”
He nodded.
No argument.
Then:
“You’re still my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“You were assaulted.”
“Yes.”
“I want to do something.”
I looked at him.
“Be Dad.”
He sat.
We ate takeout.
That was all.
Then federal search.
Mercer archive turned out to be encrypted accounting database.
Not secret weapon plans.
Payments.
Shipping identifiers.
Names.
Enough to map network.
One alias appeared repeatedly.
V. MARCH.
Ward believed Diane.
Then another.
J. VALE.
Charles.
Then:
B. VALE.
My stomach dropped.
Brendan.
Was he involved?
Ward cautioned.
“Could be Brendan. Could be billing code.”
We needed proof.
Then transaction date.
Three years earlier.
A $48,000 payment from Mercer linked account into Brendan’s design company.
He had told me that money came from Diane as “investment.”
Maybe he benefited from network without knowing source.
Or knew.
May you like
For first time, Brendan might actually be part of target set.
Continue to the next part: A payment hidden in the Mercer archive leads directly to Brendan’s company, forcing Cassidy to question whether his ignorance was real or merely convenient.
