Primal Deception

by Robin Mahle

  “They’re one and the same,” Will replied. “Right now, SSA Mendez is handling them as best he can, but that won’t last.”

  “Hang on a second,” Aaron said. “I’m back in. Let’s find out who this son of a bitch is.”

  Lacy suddenly felt as though they were under surveillance. “You’d better work fast.”

  “I’m nervous enough as it is, Lacy. Just chill out, would you?” Aaron turned to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  “Yes you did. It’s okay. Just do what you need to do.”

  Aaron continued to type at lightning speed. “Okay, this is where we left off the other day.” He continued to enter more commands. “I’ve got the bank account pulled up.”

  “Sajwani’s?” Will leaned in for a closer look.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Who’s giving him money besides Liwa? I don’t think he’s working alone. Someone who has deep pockets is funding whatever the hell this is and that’s who we need to find.”

  Beads of sweat formed on Aaron’s neck. “Just give me a minute. I’m looking into his transactions now. These guys are smart. This is digital money and hard as hell to trace. I need the logs.”

  “Logs?”

  “The banking logs. They’ll show me the transactions.” He continued to work through the system.

  “God, please hurry, Aaron.”

  Will rested a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Lacy. I won’t let anything happen to either one of you.”

  “This is it.” Aaron’s eyes remained fixed on the screen. “I deciphered the encryption. Holy shit. This guy was getting money from Beijing too.”

  “Aaron, can you get us a name?” Will pressed on.

  “Just give me a minute, for Christ’s sake.” He wiped the sweat from his brow. “I broke the encryption, so I should be able to find out where the cryptocurrency originated. Jesus, these guys are good.”

  “Well, we need you to be better,” Lacy replied.

  “Bam! I got it. Lei Jian. That’s the payor. Son of a bitch!” Aaron marveled at his handiwork.

  “Lei Jian,” Lacy said. “Who the hell is that?”

  “I’ve captured the image. Now I need to get out of here before I’m exposed.”

  “Wait! Can you find out anything else? Are there any identification numbers? A passport? Anything that will tell me who the hell this man is?” Will asked.

  “I—I don’t know. I don’t see anything.” Aaron tried to wade through the back door of the program in search of anything else that would help them identify him. He began to type again and his monitor flashed, then went dark. “Wait. What the fuck?” He stared at the black screen. “No. No, no, no, this can’t be happening again.”

  Lacy’s heart jumped into her throat. “They found you?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” Aaron tried to shut his computer down. “I’m locked out.” He reached for the plug and yanked it from his laptop, then flipped it over and pulled the battery out.

  “That’s it? You’re out?” Will’s eyes scanned his laptop as if searching for whatever could be wrong with it.

  “I’m out, man.” Aaron slammed the table. “Fuck!”

  “That’s it. Will, you’re going to have to do something. Take this to Mendez. We have to have enough now. Aaron is too exposed. We all are.”

  “Okay, okay, let me think.” Will paced the room. “We have a name and we know he’s in Beijing. I can work with this.” He pulled out his own laptop and booted it up while he sat on one of the chairs.

  “What the hell are you going to do?” Aaron asked.

  “I’m going to run a search on the name.”

  “What about your CIA contact?” Lacy asked.

  “Axell’s the one who’s pushing us to wrap this up.” Will continued to log in to the FBI server.

  “You think he doesn’t want the truth either?” Lacy replied.

  “I didn’t say that. I think his hand is being forced.”

  “Then he might be a friend.” Lacy looked to Aaron. “What do you think?”

  “She might be right. We’re treading in international waters here and I’ve broken I don’t know how many laws and we still don’t have all the information we need. If anyone can get it, CIA sure as hell should be able to.”

  ♦♦♦

  Agent Caison stood at attention in front of the memorial wall in the lobby of the Original Headquarters Building at Langley. The black stars etched into the marble were a stark reminder that his job and those of his CIA counterparts carried immense risks.

  “Agent Caison?”

  Will turned to see Axell approach. A Staff Operations Officer, he acted as a liaison between Langley and other CIA field offices. His guidance on strategic operations and knowledge of tradecraft meant he also interacted with the rest of the intelligence community.

  “Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice.” Will shook his hand.

  “My pleasure. I’ll take you upstairs.” Axell led the way to his office. On their arrival, he showed Will inside and closed the door. “Have a seat. What is it that I can help you with, Agent Caison? Given our prior meeting, I’m a little surprised to see you here.” He returned to his desk.

  “There’ve been some recent developments and pursuing them are beyond my authority.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I have two names, Ahsan Sajwani and Lei Jian. Ring a bell with you at all?”

  Axell regarded him with curiosity. “I thought I made myself clear about the direction you and your office were to take in regards to the mall attack. I’m assuming you believe these people had something to do with it? We need the FBI to wrap this up in a nice neat little bow.”

  Caison furrowed his brow as he watched Axell cast his gaze through the window and into the corridor. It was as though he was looking for something or someone. He thought he’d had a good read on him, but this left him to speculate on the man’s intentions. “I know there are people who would like to see that happen, but I’m doing everything in my power to put that off as long as possible—until I can get to the bottom of this. I’m hanging my ass out on the line and I’m asking you to do the same because I’m getting close to something.”

  Axell folded his hands and rested his elbows on the desk. “No. The names don’t ring a bell, so do you have anything else on them?”

  “They’ve both left a money trail that leads to Owen Ballard with Argus Solutions. You know, the people who were contracted with Nova to provide cyber security?”

  “How much are we talking?”

  “Not much. Just two million and change.” Will retrieved the bank statements that were found in Ballard’s home and what they’d found online. “As you can see here, Ahsan Sajwani was depositing money into Ballard’s account. Oh, and by the way, he’s a consultant for Liwa Properties. We traced a large deposit that had been made using cryptocurrency back to Lei Jian. That was the two million.”

  “Given the FBI’s current view of the investigation and who has claimed responsibility,” Axell began, “I’m curious. You say ‘we’ traced the money. Who’s we? Must’ve been someone capable of accessing systems not normally accessible unless warrants are issued.”

  “I need to know how you want to handle this before disclosing any other names.”

  Axell seemed to consider the request. “Looks like this Ballard sent money to an account in Jay Merrick’s name.” He peered over the papers at Will. “Who is he and was he working with Ballard too?”

  “He’s dead. Killed in the blast. I know he had no knowledge of this account, but I haven’t been able to prove it yet. The most likely scenario was that Ballard was either setting up to frame Merrick or he knew Merrick would be dead soon and needed a place to hide the money he’d received.”

  Axell pulled upright in his chair. “Let me ask you this, is Lacy Merrick working with you?”

  Will wondered how he knew about Lacy. He’d never brought up h
er name before. “Are you offering your guidance?”

  Axell laughed. “You want me to go around the State Department, around the FBI, and look into people whom we have no reason to suspect have any involvement in the terrorist attack. But you won’t divulge who I’ll be dealing with? Trust is a two-way street, Agent Caison.” He stood up. “Give me a day. I’ll get back with you if I find out anything.” He extended his hand. “In the meantime, whatever your relationship with Lacy Merrick is, I suggest you keep her out of sight.”

  “Thank you.”

  After Will left, Axell picked up his phone. “Who do you know in MSS?”

  17

  The private aircraft skidded along the runway and came to a stop. Two cars waited several feet away. Moments later, the door opened and Lei Jian, along with a colleague, stepped onto the platform and descended the portable staircase.

  They were greeted by a small team of escorts, headed up by Ahsan Sajwani. “Welcome to Panama.” He greeted the men with his hands at his sides and a partial bow. As he stood upright again, he gestured toward the car. “Shall we?”

  Lei Jian and his partner stepped into the back seat of the black Town Car and was soon joined by Sajwani and the driver, Imad Mufid.

  “We have voiced our concerns to the head of the bank and they have agreed to allow us to participate in resolving the problem at hand,” Sajwani said.

  “This problem should not be underestimated, Mr. Sajwani. We are here to get to the bottom of it without further potentially damaging exposure to our people.”

  “Of course, Mr. Jian. That being said, this meeting will not show up on any banking records, no guest sign-in sheets or badges being assigned. This is strictly off the books.”

  The Bank of Panama towered over the rest of the buildings downtown. Jian’s car arrived and Sajwani led the way inside. “We’re here to see Mr. Marquez,” he said to the woman at the front desk.

  Moments passed before a man who was flanked by a sizeable entourage moved toward Jian and his team.

  “So nice to see you again.” Marquez offered his hand to Jian. “Please follow me and we can get started.”

  Jian fell in beside him as they walked toward the elevator. “We appreciate your willingness to resolve this issue quickly and quietly.”

  “Of course.” Marquez stepped out onto the top floor of the sky rise and entered a conference room. “Please come in and take a seat.”

  ♦♦♦

  Lacy slipped on her shoes as she sat at the kitchen table, preparing to leave. Celeste eyed her with uncertainty. Lacy felt her stare and returned her gaze. “What is it, Celeste?”

  “It just seems like you’ve been gone a lot these past several days.”

  She sat up and turned in her direction. “I know I haven’t been very forthcoming on my reasons for being away and I’m sorry for that, but it’s not something I can speak freely about right now.”

  “I’ve been hesitant to say anything, but the children do need you right now. They are still afraid, they’re grieving, and they need their mother. I’m sorry to be so blunt.”

  Lacy closed her eyes. “I haven’t been around much lately and you deserve an explanation. The kids deserve an explanation.” Austerity shrouded her face and sounded in her voice. “I’m searching for something that, in the end, will explain my behavior. I’m doing this for them.”

  “How much longer, then?”

  “As long as it takes to get to the truth.”

  “And will that truth bring you peace?”

  “I can’t answer that.” Lacy rose from her seat and grabbed her things. “I’ll be in touch later this afternoon.” She turned her attention to the family room. “Aaron? Are you ready?”

  Lacy held the door open while Aaron walked outside into the early light that exposed a bright sky. “I’ll be in touch, Celeste. Please tell the kids I love them.” She closed the door without waiting for a response. Guilt had begun to weigh her down as she stepped inside the car and grasped the steering wheel. Her head dropped against her knuckles.

  “You okay?” Aaron asked as he joined her, sliding into the passenger seat.

  “Fine.” Lacy started up the car and made her way through the winding community roads and eventually onto the main street where she would pick up Agent Caison and prepare to meet with his CIA counterpart. Their circle was widening, which brought about even more concern.

  She pulled alongside the abandoned apartment building and texted her arrival to Will. Staring at the door of the building, Lacy waited for him to appear. She checked her phone, but no reply. With an urgent sense of caution, Lacy checked her rear view, then side view mirrors. “Where the hell is he?”

  Aaron seemed concerned and cast a glance over his shoulder. “I don’t know. I guess we should go knock.”

  She’d begun to fear the worst. But just as she turned off the engine to get out, Will appeared at the front of the building. She eyed him as he walked to the rear passenger side and stepped in.

  “Morning.”

  “Jesus. I thought something happened to you. What took you so long?”

  Will raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry. I was on a call.”

  She shook her head and held his stare when a sudden burst of laughter erupted. “I’m sorry. I’m getting too paranoid.” Lacy still chuckled as she started up the engine again and glanced to Aaron, but he didn’t seem amused.

  Her smile turned to shock and Lacy jumped when the crash of shattering glass flew at them from behind. Instinctively, her hands pulled away from the ignition and covered her head.

  “Drive! Lacy, drive!” Aaron shouted at her, his neck dripping blood from a shard that sliced the side of it.

  The crack of a gunshot sounded again and Lacy slammed the gas pedal amid more flying glass. The tires of her heavy SUV were slow to react and she hit the steering wheel. “Come on! Come on!” With a hard turn, Lacy was on the road, speeding away from whoever was firing the shots.

  Will pointed his gun through the broken window. “Just keep going!”

  “Jesus! Jesus!” Aaron looked back at a man on a motorcycle who was holding the gun. “Go, go, go! He’s catching up!”

  “I’m trying!” Lacy pulled a hard right and felt the two left wheels raise from the road. “Aaron, you’re bleeding!” She looked at the blood spilling down his shirt.

  “Just go. He’s still following us. You have to lose him, Lacy,” Will said.

  Her hands trembled and her eyes searched for a safer path ahead. Whoever it was already figured out where they’d set up. How long would it be before they found out where she lived?

  “They fucking found me.” Aaron still peered through the shattered rear window, his eyes glued on the man with the gun.

  “Go to Headquarters. He won’t follow us there. It’s the only place,” Will said.

  Lacy heard him speak, but her head was scrambled with thoughts of her children’s safety.

  “Lacy?” he shouted. “Did you hear me? Go to Headquarters now!”

  His words finally reached her. “Okay, okay.” She pressed again on the gas pedal and put distance between them and the motorcycle. The freeway wasn’t an option because her SUV was too slow. The motorcycle would easily catch up to them and fire again. No, she would have to lose him in the streets.

  Two blocks ahead, she made another sharp right, then again at the next block. Headquarters was in the opposite direction, and they needed to turn around, but her maneuvers were designed to make it more difficult for their would-be killer to keep up.

  “It’s working, Lacy. Just keep going.” Will still faced the back window.

  She began to make a series of turns, zigzagging as best she could without flipping her vehicle. These were streets she knew well, probably better than the motorcycle man. “Do you see him? Is he still there?”

  Aaron continued to survey the road behind them. “I think you did it. I think he’s gone.”

  “He’s right,�
�� Will said. “You lost him.”

  Lacy quickly glanced at the red stain that was growing on Aaron’s shirt. “We need to get you to a hospital.”

  “No. We’ll have to file a report and all that other bullshit and that’ll just bring them to our door. We can’t risk it,” Will replied. “I have a better solution.”

  ♦♦♦

  Agent Axell stood up from the chair as they entered the door of the man’s home. “Looks like you could use some help.” He took Aaron by his arm and helped Will bring him to one of the chairs. “You mind if I take a look at that?” He began to exam Aaron’s wounds but stopped. “You sure you lost the tail?”

  “I’m sure,” Will replied.

  “Good.” Axell opened a gym bag that rested on the floor of his entryway. He pulled out a first aid kit, only not like the kind Lacy recalled using when her family went camping.

  He approached Aaron. “Any other pieces of glass in there?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Okay, this is gonna sting.” He pressed a disinfectant pad against Aaron’s neck and Aaron pulled away.

  “Son of a bitch!”

  “I told you it was gonna sting. Now let me get this stitched up or we’re going to have a whole ‘nother set of problems to deal with.”

  Aaron returned to his position and let the man do what needed to be done.

  “I guess it’s safe to assume whoever was after you this morning was working for the people who you hacked—twice,” Axell began. “And I think we know, at least in part, who some of these guys are.” He looked at Will. “You want to tell them?”

  “I enlisted Agent Axell’s help after briefing him on what we’d discovered and he made a few calls,” Will began. “We now have a new direction to take this investigation; one that I know is going to ruffle a whole lot of feathers.”

  Axell finished the last stitch. “There, you’re good as new.” He placed a gauze pad and taped it over Aaron’s neck. “It doesn’t look pretty and you’ll have a decent scar, but hey, chicks dig scars, right?” He looked at Lacy. “No disrespect, Ma’am.”