Primal Deception

by Robin Mahle

  He removed his shades and sat down next to her. With elbows on knees, he gazed ahead. “Thanks for meeting me here.”

  “You wanted to meet outside the office,” Lacy began. “That can’t be good.”

  He turned his attention to her. “We’re getting some help from the CIA now, though not officially, not yet.”

  “Because you convinced him that Liwa is somehow involved?”

  “Because Ballard and his wife are dead and there’s a money trail that spans from Dubai to Beijing to Panama and no one seems to know how it’s all tied together.” Will sat up again and cast his gaze across the park. “We found out that Ballard received a payment of two million dollars two weeks before the bombing.”

  “And that money came from Beijing?”

  “Yes.” He looked at her and his face reflected back at him through the lens of her glasses. “I’m sorry, Lacy, but I had to tell them about Jay’s account. I didn’t have a choice after what happened to the Ballards. This is turning into something much bigger than any of us thought.

  “I understand. I wouldn’t expect you to keep that from anyone.” She removed her glasses and peered directly into his eyes. “Owen and Julianne are dead because of me. I found that account and the bank all but handed Owen to you on a silver platter; along with his associates, even if we can’t identify them yet. I don’t know how all this ties to the bombing, but it does. You see that now, right?” She waited for a response, but it seemed he had none to offer. “For all of my husband’s faults, he was not a dishonest man, nor was he disloyal. Not to me and not to his country. In my heart of hearts, I know that’s true, even if all the evidence suggests otherwise. Will, I’m begging you, please, we have to get to the truth.”

  “We’re visiting Tom Neville at his office later today to question him. Mendez has requested Argus hand over Ballard’s personnel file to look into his behavior over the past six months or more.” He paused for a moment. “And Jay’s.”

  “Did you know Jay was managing an account that’s a subsidiary of The Dalian Company? Take a wild guess where their parent company is based.”

  “China.”

  She placed her index finger on her nose. “You got it.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “He mentioned it to me once. And, I cleared out his desk. I have his phone, which includes his contacts. It didn’t occur to me until after we discovered the money from China, and even then I wasn’t sure if it mattered. But now? I’m convinced it’s all part of this same fucking game that Ballard was playing and it cost Jay his life.”

  “There’s something else I have to tell you, Lacy. I’ve been told that later today, your supervisor is going to request that you extend your initial leave of absence. Insist that you need more time to grieve.”

  “I suppose that’s to be expected in light of the situation.” She displayed extraordinary composure in the face of yet another devastating blow.

  Will seemed to marvel at her strength. “I’d better be going. You’ll be all right?”

  “Always.”

  ♦♦♦

  “Lacy, can I see you for a moment?” Michelle was flanked by two FBI security officers who surrounded her cubicle.

  “Sure.” It looked like this was it. The moment they were going to feed her lines about conflicts of interest and how it wouldn’t look good for the Bureau. All the usual bullshit, but then, Michelle had warned her, and Lacy went ahead anyway.

  They returned to Michelle’s office and the look on her face told Lacy her instincts were right.

  “I’m so sorry about this, but I’m going to have to insist that you extend your bereavement leave indefinitely. I understand you only just returned, but in light of new information, this seems the best course of action to ensure transparency for the Bureau. I know this will all work itself out soon, but for the time being, I’ll need your credentials, Lacy.”

  Lacy pulled her tag off the belt loop of her dress pants and placed it on Michelle’s desk. “You know as well as I do, this isn’t what it seems. And I just need time to prove that to you.”

  “I granted your earlier request because I trusted your intuition, but unfortunately, it seems we were both wrong.” She held Lacy’s gaze. “And I have to ask, have you accessed any information pertaining to the mall attack today or anything that might be linked to the investigation?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.” Michelle turned to the security officers. “Please help her gather her things and escort her from the building.”

  Lacy regarded the woman who’d been her role model since arriving at the Bureau. “You know Jay’s not involved in any of this.”

  “I’m sorry, Lacy, I really am.”

  The officers held the door open and Lacy walked out of Michelle’s office and the three headed back through the halls amid stares and whispers. She held her head high, knowing that only days ago, these same people had just offered their condolences at Jay’s funeral. She had nothing to be ashamed of. They would know that soon enough.

  As she began placing her personal items inside the small file box, she noticed Agent Caison approaching.

  “I’ve thought a lot about what we discussed earlier,” Will began, shifting glances between the officers and Lacy.

  She stopped and placed her hands on top of the box. “Oh yeah?”

  “There’s a guy I know who could probably help you out; you know, just until this mess gets cleaned up.” He smiled. “I’ll pass along his number. He’s a good guy and he’ll take care of you.” Will patted one of the officers on the shoulder. “Careful, she might take the stapler.”

  A hint of a smile crossed her lips and Lacy continued packing. It looked as though Agent Caison was going to come through for her after all.

  ♦♦♦

  Lacy arrived unannounced at Aaron Hunter’s apartment and knocked on his door. She was going to have to enlist his help now too. “It’s me, Lacy.” She was relieved to discover he was home.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” Aaron peeked into the halls of the building. “You okay?”

  “I’m glad you’re home. Sorry to drop by like this, but I need help.” Lacy made her way inside.

  “What happened?” Aaron closed the door and stood in the middle of the open area that encompassed the kitchen, dining, and living areas of the small apartment. He moved toward the small black leather sofa. “Have a seat and tell me what’s going on. This is about the bank account in Jay’s name, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. It was brought to the attention of higher-ups and I’ve been asked to take an indefinite leave of absence.”

  “Oh man. I’m sorry, Lacy. But like we talked about before, don’t give up on Jay. I’m telling you, this doesn’t involve him. I just know it doesn’t.”

  “I know that too. I do. Jay was one of the good guys and I forgot that for about ten seconds.” She placed her hand on his knee. “Thank you for helping me to remember.”

  “He was a good friend. I miss him.”

  “Me too.” Lacy smiled warmly at her old friend. “This whole thing—Aaron, it’s turned into a giant Charlie-Foxtrot and I’m losing control.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” He couldn’t help but smile.

  Lacy noted his expression and nearly laughed herself. “It’s what Jay and I always say—said—at home when the kids were around and we had to watch our language. I guess I got in the habit, but you get the gist.” She turned serious again and began pacing the room. “Three people are dead. Jay and two of our friends, well, who I thought were our friends. Aaron, I need your help. This bank account looks really bad. And now my credentials have been stripped. I won’t have access to any information on the investigation. They’ve shut me out of everything.”

  “What can I do?”

  “I’ve dragged you into this and for that, I’m sorry, but I need someone who knows how to get inside, gather information without being noticed. I guess what I’m asking here is for
your help getting into Liwa Investments, Nova’s parent company. And a bank in Panama where Jay and Owen Ballard hold accounts.” She paused, noticing Aaron’s growing concern. “If it doesn’t work, or you’re discovered, I won’t let you take the fall. You know that, right? This will be on me. I’m just not as capable as I used to be and I know you were the best—are the best.” She rushed to his side and sat down next to him. “There’s no one else I trust with this, Aaron. Jay is innocent. And it was Owen Ballard and whoever the hell he was working with that either took part in planning the attack or is somehow tied to it financially.”

  “Wait a minute. You’re convinced these events are one in the same?”

  “Yes—I am. And I need your help figuring out how. Someone paid Owen Ballard two million dollars just weeks before the bombing. And that someone was based in Beijing.”

  “China.” Aaron rubbed his full beard. “Shit. You have any idea what that entails? How rigorous their internet security measures are?”

  “No. But I’m guessing you do.”

  “Messing with the Chinese could bring one hell of a shit storm right on top of us.”

  “I don’t have anyone else to turn to.” She held on to his gaze as though her life depended on it, because it did.

  “Where do we start?”

  ♦♦♦

  “I’m getting heat from the Administration, Agent Mendez.” Trevor Axell stood in front of Mendez’s desk. “We need to call this thing.”

  “We can’t. Not with these latest developments. We can’t be sure of who all the parties involved are yet.”

  “I understand. But we have a fearful public who are demanding answers.”

  “You mean, who the Administration wants to be placated? That’s really what this boils down to, isn’t it?” Mendez rose from his chair. “Hey, no, I get it. It’s an election year. The public want answers and it doesn’t matter if those answers are the truth.”

  “Don’t give me that bullshit,” Axell replied. “We already have a group who’s claimed responsibility. The bomb maker is dead. He’s already been tied to a terrorist group in Bahrain. This isn’t coming from me. A statement needs to be made with the information we have to date.”

  “And what about Nova Investments and Argus Solutions? What about the money—and where it came from?”

  Caison entered the office and the two ceased conversation.

  “Agent Axell? What are you doing here?”

  “He’s telling us we need to call it quits on this investigation. After all, we know who was responsible.”

  “What?” Caison turned his attention to Agent Axell. “We don’t know shit right now. This whole China thing’s thrown a wrench into the works and we need to know who’s behind the money.” He returned his attention to Mendez. “I don’t get where this is coming from.”

  Mendez pointed up. “The powers that be.”

  “I had to tell an employee of the FBI that she was being recused from the investigation, forced to take a leave of absence, because of a suspected involvement on the part of her husband, who, by the way, died in the blast. And now you’re telling me that what, we’re going to take everything at face value? Fuck whoever else might be involved. Hey, everyone! We have an Islamic extremist group responsible for the attack. You can all relax now!”

  “Just calm down,” Axell began. “As I told Mendez, this isn’t coming from me. And I won’t be the one to tell you that you can’t pursue other leads. I’m just saying that the Administration wants the public to know that we know who’s responsible. They don’t care what comes after that.”

  “After the election, you mean?” Mendez added.

  “Look, I don’t give a shit about the election. I give a shit about finding the truth.” Caison dropped into his chair.

  “Whatever you got to do, man. They just want to put on a good face for the American people.”

  “Can we still count on your help?” Caison asked. “Someone sent Ballard money that originated in Beijing. We can’t get access to China without the CIA.”

  Axell seemed to consider the request. “You open up China, and you open up a can of worms. You get that, right?”

  ♦♦♦

  The front porch was shaded from the late afternoon sun and Lacy rocked back and forth on one of the white rockers she and Jay bought only last year. The cars that drove by were few and far between, but she knew everyone in this neighborhood; what they drove and where they worked. It was a small, tight-knit community and to spot an outsider was easy.

  Lacy held her gun in her lap with a decorative pillow over the top as she surveyed the streets. Owen’s and Julianne’s deaths rendered thoughts that she and her children’s lives might be at risk. Perhaps she was being overly cautious, but she had no idea who was behind their deaths and wasn’t going to take any chances. Jay had insisted they get a gun a few years ago. Never once had it been taken out of its case, until now.

  A shimmer of light bounced off the street sign ahead in the dusky sky. A car was coming. She waited for it to turn the corner. It was him. Agent Caison drove slowly along the brick-paved street in his FBI-issued vehicle, a newer-model Ford Fusion that screamed “federal agent.” He stopped alongside the curb and cut the engine.

  She remained seated—just her and her gun—while the kids were inside with Celeste. The purple sky gleamed behind him as he stepped out and made his way along the flagstone pavers embedded in her front lawn. His sandy blonde hair pushed back into place with his fingers, his smile held sympathy behind it as he directed his attention to her.

  “Evening.” He stepped onto the porch.

  “Evening. Have a seat.” She gestured to the chair next to hers and reached for the pitcher of iced tea. “Want some?”

  “Sure. Thanks.” He took a sip. “I guess you’re wondering why I’m here?”

  “Well, I wasn’t expecting your call quite so soon, but I’m not upset by it.”

  “Good.” Will eyed the pillow and how tightly Lacy’s grip on it was. “What’ve you got there?”

  “Protection.”

  “From me?”

  “From whoever killed the Ballards and my husband. So, Will, why are you here? After our conversation this morning, I guess I figured you had a job to do and that was that. But then you stopped by as I was being shown the door.”

  “First of all, if I thought you or your family were in any danger, I wouldn’t let you stay here. The people who killed the Ballards did so because I made the request to the bank in Panama and word probably got back to whoever is pulling the strings. But aside from that, I do believe there’s something going on behind the scenes that’s making me question the motives of certain government agencies.”

  “Really?”

  “Let’s just say there’s more to this than the Army of Islam, regardless of their having claimed responsibility. I think we can both agree on that. And, the fact that we’re being pushed into making a statement to the public giving them credit for the attack.”

  “How will it help me with my current situation?”

  “The money. Ballard and Neville. And what gets me the most is Beijing. Mendez put in the request for Ballard’s files and Jay’s. What you said before about the Dalian Company being Jay’s account? We’re talking about two major competitors. Both of which originate from countries we rely on for trade. A Liwa Properties mall being blown up around the time Ballard was taking money from them and from someone in Beijing? You and I both know that’s no Goddamn coincidence.”

  “I’m glad you’re finally coming around, Will.”

  “I think they want us to bury any investigations into Dalian. They’re the single largest investor in the US from China.” He took another long drink of his iced tea.

  “We have no evidence that Dalian is involved in any of this. Someone from China sent Ballard money for what I can only assume at this point to be information about Nova and Liwa Properties. That’s still a big stretch to assume they paid
him off to help plan an attack or maybe look the other way as it was being planned,” Lacy said. “We need more than speculation. We need a name.”

  13

  The veined marble floor in the lobby of Nova Investments gleamed beneath a chandelier that Agent Caison eyed upon entering through the revolving doors. His footfalls echoed as he neared the front desk. “I’m here to see Tom Neville.” He presented his badge.

  The man behind the desk seemed unfazed by the presence of an FBI agent in light of recent events. “And your name is?”

  “Special Agent Caison.”

  “Thank you.” Pressing Neville’s extension, he began, “Yes, sir, I have an Agent Caison here to see you.” He waited for a reply. “Of course, thank you.” The man eyed Will again. “He’ll be right down. If you wouldn’t mind taking a seat over there.” He gestured to the seating area, which boasted two large sofas perpendicular to a sleek wall-mounted fireplace. The low blue flame delicately flickered behind the sealed glass.

  “Thanks.” Will approached the area and noticed a magazine resting on the coffee table. The cover revealed a photo of Nova’s CEO shaking hands with his counterpart in Dubai. Both stood in front of the parent company headquarters.

  “Agent Caison?” Neville approached him with his hand extended. “I’m Tom Neville, pleasure to meet you. Why don’t we go up to my office?” Neville began walking back toward the elevators and looked over his shoulder. “I’m sorry I haven’t made it a priority to meet with you sooner.”

  “Agent Mendez made the request last week.”

  “I’m afraid I’ve been inundated with meetings regarding upgrades to our security systems, as I’m sure you can imagine.”

  The two stepped onto the elevator.

  “Yes, I can see why that would be a priority for you.” Will stood next to him, arms behind his back as though at attention. He cast a sideways glance to Neville and noticed what appeared to be a nervous tick. He’d learned to read body language as part of his training and this was a man who was worried about something.