Jigsaw (Black Raven Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

world-wide networks and assembled cyber data without being detected. Personal phone calls, banking records, emails, text messages—in short, anything was fodder for Jigsaw. The data became pieces to the largest jigsaw puzzle ever conceived, with the pieces cyber-enhanced and sorted through by the brilliance of Barrows and his ability to engineer computer code that assimilated raw data into meaningful information.
    The puzzle pieces would one day fit together. Not one minute too soon, because the goddamn terrorists needed to be stopped.
    Zeus turned towards the reception hall. “Ragno, on top of the business aspects of the ITT job, I need your help with a personal issue. Keep this between us. Help me figure Sam out. I really only know the things about her that she told me, or that Samuel told me. I want to know everything about her that makes her act the way she acts, like she’s encrypted code. This time, I’m damn well going to crack it.”

Chapter Two
     
    Paris, France
    Monday, January 31
     
    “Samantha? President Cameron would like to speak to you.”
    Samantha Dixon Fairfax’s finger hovered over the send button on her laptop as the words registered. She was sitting on the corner of the couch, papers spread to her side, with her right foot tucked under her left leg.
    She glanced into the dark eyes of Charles Beller, who bent towards her with the cell phone that he used for the business of the Amicus team. Charles gave her an arched-eyebrow nod. “His secretary is holding for you to accept the call.” He silently mouthed, Wow.
    My thought, exactly.
    The U.S. Amicus team of lawyers to the ITT consisted of Samantha as the newly appointed chief, with two lawyers—Eric Moss and Abe Smith. Samantha and her team were facilitators for the judges so that the trial proceedings ran smoothly. They were to make recommendations regarding questions that arose during the trial, and as the proceedings drew to a close they were to ultimately make a recommendation to the judges regarding what their ruling should be. Her recommendation to the judges of the U.S. needed to be persuasive enough that it won the vote of all the judges, not just those from the U.S.
    With the first official day of ITT proceedings concluded, Samantha, Charles, Eric, and Abe were working together in the Hotel Grand Athens, where they were staying.
    Sudden silence, heavy with the same expectation that accompanied the flash of time existing between lightning and thunder, filled the hotel suite’s living room. All eyes were trained on her.
    Samantha had met President Cameron several times at social gatherings and fundraisers. This was her first official call from the White House. E-mail forgotten, she slid the laptop from her lap, deposited it on the couch, and stood out of habit. Her legal training had taught her that important conversations were best conducted on her feet.
    She gripped the phone as she stepped forward in a slow pace. “Samantha Dixon Fairfax.”
    “Ms. Fairfax, please hold for President Cameron,” a male voice said.
    Heart quickening as she waited, she drew a deep breath.
    Calm down.
    Act like you’ve been here before.
    She was determined her legal career would take her important places. If things went as planned, this was not going to be her last official call from the leader of the free world. She walked forward five steps, between the table and the couch, turned, retraced her steps, and turned again.
    “Good evening, Ms. Fairfax.” President Cameron’s unmistakably deep voice held a hint of a Northeastern accent. “I know it’s late in Paris. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
    “No, Mr. President,” she said. Feet now glued to the floor, she glanced at the Eiffel Tower from the sixth floor of their hotel in the Seventh Arrondissement area of Paris. Floor to ceiling windows provided an unobstructed view of the tourist attraction. In the dark, winter night, lights turned the iconic structure into a soaring golden beacon.