“I’m aware of that.”
“Yes, I know. The NSA’s director called me. General Hawthorne was ordered to back off and not get involved.” She paused and slowed her speech for emphasis. “We need Montez alive. If he’s got a sleeper system in place to release damaging info upon a prolonged absence, we need to wring it out of him.”
“How did he find out where I live?”
“If you’re thinking he’s got a mole within our government, it’s a possibility, but we don’t think so.”
“Then how?”
“We can’t say for sure.” She looked at Director Lansing.
“We think it has to do with your trip to Lake Powell,” said Lansing.
Nathan squinted. Lake Powell?
Lansing continued. “The man you visited, the houseboat owner?”
Nathan recalled his name. “Lars Stiegler.”
“He’s missing, presumed dead. Sheriff’s deputies found blood spatter evidence inside his houseboat. Whoever killed him made an attempt to clean it up, but Kane County deputies used BlueStar and found trace evidence all over the place.”
Damn. Nathan had liked the crusty war vet. And now he was dead. Because of his hunt for Montez.
“We’re pretty sure he was interrogated,” said Lansing. “Did you tell him who you were?”
“I gave him my name, Harv’s too. I didn’t think-” Nathan stopped.
“What?” Cantrell asked.
“Harv, the guy on the dock. The fisherman in overalls.”
“Oh hell,” Harv said.
“What fisherman? What are you talking about?”
“We saw a guy fishing on the dock near Stiegler’s houseboat slip. Hispanic, kinda tough looking.” Nathan pursed his lips and shook his head. “The tail numbers,” he said. “Our mystery fisherman must’ve seen the tail numbers of our helicopter and traced it back to First Security.”
“Is that where it’s registered?” Cantrell asked.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“We’ll take care of that right away,” Lansing said. He pulled a small notepad and pen from his coat pocket. “We’ll hide your two helicopters within our system.”
“Thank you, Director, but this still doesn’t explain how he got my home address. All of our employees are super careful about protecting our personal information.”
“I’ll ask around the office and see what I can dig up,” Harv said. “It’s possible someone got careless. We certainly did.”
An uneasy silence took the room.
Cantrell leaned forward in her chair. “Both Director Lansing and I cleared our calendars to come here in person because of your distinguished service record, not because of who your father is. We can’t sanction your direct involvement in finding Montez, but we won’t run interference either. What we’re asking is twofold. Keep me personally informed of your efforts, and consider the bigger picture.”
“As in not killing him?”
“Yes.”
“Assuming we have anything to report, how will we contact you?”
“I’ll give you my personal cell number. Use a public phone and identify yourself as echo five.”
He took the number but said nothing.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we could trust you,” Cantrell said. “I hope that trust goes both ways.”
After Cantrell and Lansing left the room, Stone sat down. “That was some news. I’m glad to hear they at least tried to get you back from Nicaragua. I’m not taking the credit, but I put a lot of pressure on Director Kallstrom. I met with him in person half a dozen times. He never mentioned the Montez payoff.”
Nathan still felt stunned. Montez paid off? By the CIA?
“Nathan, I would’ve told you.”
“I know. And I’ve been wanting to tell you I’m sorry about that phone call last year. The things I said. I didn’t mean it. I know you did everything you could.”
“Already forgotten.”
Nathan leaned his head back. “I’m not sure where we stand. Seems we’re on our own as far as their joint operation is concerned. At least we don’t have to worry about anyone undermining us.”
“So they say,” Harv said under his breath.
“I strongly recommend you keep Cantrell informed of everything you’re doing,” said Nathan’s father. “You could get caught in a friendly fire situation.”
Nathan didn’t respond.
“I’ve arranged with Lansing to secure both of your homes. Several FBI agents will be assigned to watch them until this situation is resolved.”
“Thank you, Stone,” Harvey said. “My family’s already secure. General Hawthorne has them in a safe house back east.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“If Hawthorne was given an order to stop actively supporting us, it came from the of the navy, which probably means the secretary of defense gave the order. There’s no telling how far up this Montez business goes.”
“That’s quite a development. I know both of those men well. You want me to make contact?”
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Domestic Terrorism, his father had unfettered 24-7 access to ranking members of the intelligence community.
“We’re on our own unless you’re willing to help.”
“Of course I’ll help,” said Stone.
“I don’t want you to jeopardize your Senate seat over this.”
“Nonsense. I have the president’s ear. If I have to, I’ll go straight to him.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Four armed mercenaries just tried to kill my son and the special agent in charge of Sacramento’s field office. Yes, I’m sure.”
“Montez has proven to be a resourceful man. He discovered where I live, not an easy trick. I don’t want him going after you and Mom.”
“I have two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Medal of Honor. Do I look worried? I’ll call you as soon as I know anything. I don’t need to say this, but you two need to be extra careful from now on. Trust no one except me and Cantrell. Don’t forget to call your mother. She’s worried sick.” His dad winked. “SAC Simpson seems equally concerned.”
Harv cleared his throat.
“I take it this isn’t a subject you want to discuss further?”
“You take it correctly. I’d like to spend a few minutes alone with her.”
“She’s just outside, along with several SDPD officers and FBI agents. This hospital looks like the president himself is taking a tour. Be careful how much you share with her, Nathan. Information of this nature is dangerous.”
Chapter 23
Holly entered his hospital room, no doubt having been fully grilled by Lansing. Her bandaged forearm-suspended in a sling-looked serious. As if walking with a cane wasn’t bad enough.
She sat on the edge of his bed, leaned over, and hugged him. He smelled a trace of her favorite perfume, Light Blue.“You okay?” he asked.
“When I said I had vacation time coming, I hadn’t thought it would involve a gunfight to the death. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“It’ll be with you for a long time.”
“Your first time?”
“Yeah, I lost some sleep. Harv too. It was our first mission in Nicaragua. We took out a vicious sadist who deserved to die, and I thought that would make it easier, but it didn’t. I can still see his chest explode when the bullet struck. It was a twelve-hundred-yard shot with a Barrett M eighty-two, fifty-caliber. I felt it deeper than I wanted to. Last night was different, Holly. There’s no way to know whose bullets did the actual killing, yours or mine. It doesn’t matter.”
She didn’t say anything.
“I’m convinced those mercs were there to take us prisoner. If we hadn’t fought back, Montez would be torturing us right now. We’ve got nothing to feel guilty about.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“I am right. Your mind will go through slideshows of last night’s action. It’s normal, don’t fight it
. You’ll relive it many times. The visuals, the sounds and smells. Let them work through.”
They remained quiet for a few moments.
“How’s your head?” she asked at last.
“Truthfully, I’ve got a blinding headache, but otherwise, not too bad. How’s the arm?”
“What’s one more scar?”
“I said the same thing to Harv. Did you get a chance to talk to my dad?”
“At length.”
“I’m in trouble.”
She smiled. “I’m not sure what I expected, but he’s really quite charming.”
“Stone McBride has a friendly smile when he wants something and an unfriendly smile when he doesn’t get it.”
“Don’t all politicians?”
“Amen to that.”
“What did Lansing and Cantrell say?”
Nathan decided to tell her the truth. “They wanted to be sure Harv and I knew that Montez is full of potentially damaging information that could smear the country if he’s killed. Sleeper measures. They want him alive.”
“So they can do their own interrogation on him?”
“That was the gist. Cantrell wants to stay in the loop with everything we do. I didn’t mention our knowledge of the Hungarian clean coal business. What would be the point? She probably wouldn’t confirm or deny it anyway. She wasn’t telling me much, that’s for sure.”
“Doesn’t this attack on us change everything?” she asked. “Montez knows you’re after him now. Do you think he knows it’s you? I mean, you personally, from your time in Nicaragua?”
“That’s a good question. I suppose if he knew it was me, he’d be quite concerned.”
“Because he’d think you’d want revenge?”
“People like Montez live their lives looking over their shoulders.”
“He must have lots of enemies.”
“He does. Lansing thinks he found me because Harv and I were blown in Bullfrog Bay. I hate to admit it, but I agree. There was a guy on the dock, fishing near Stiegler’s houseboat. He wasn’t that close, maybe twenty yards, but I think Montez left him there to keep an eye on things. If that guy got a zoomed photo of me, all bets are off. He’ll recognize me for sure. But since I never gave him my real identity down there, I’m hoping that Nathan McBride is just another name to him.”
“So what’s next?”
“Have you come up with anything new about Nichole Dalton and her contacts? Husband, boyfriends, coworkers?”
“Actually, the only thing interesting about Nichole Dalton is what we haven’t found.”
“How’s that?”
“It’s been kind of tricky looking into her background. I was worried that sooner or later, Lansing would order me to back off, like what happened to Hawthorne. So now I’m wondering why he hasn’t.”
“Three words.”
“Three words?
“Senator Stone McBride.”
“You’re thinking they had a chat on the flight out here?”
“Count on it.”
“I know your father’s an influential man, but is he that influential?”
“He’s chair of the CDT. His group oversees all matters related to domestic terrorism, and the FBI is primarily a domestic organization. He’s also a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance. So yeah, he’s that influential. Now what haven’t you found on Nichole Dalton?”
“A husband. Or even a father of her daughters.”
“No one?”
“There are no public records on a Mr. Dalton at all. Of course, we don’t know if that would be his last name. So we decided to go right to the source. My San Diego counterpart sent agents over to Nichole Dalton’s residence to comb the place, but they found nothing. And I mean nothing. No wedding pictures, no birth certificates for their kids, no wedding or divorce papers. No files or documents of any kind indicating a father for her children. Nothing.”
“Somebody impregnated Nichole Dalton,” said Nathan. “Twice. It sounds to me like he’s a spook. Since Ms. Dalton works for the NSA, it seems reasonable she’d cross paths with them now and then. She could’ve hit it off with one. If so, why is Montez going to all this trouble to get his hands on him, assuming the father’s the real target? If we’re right, then Montez wants the father alive to wring info out of him. He’s an interrogator, not an assassin.”
“That’s true.”
“Everything points toward this clean coal negotiation in Hungary. It’s a small piece of the world’s energy scene, but any threat to OPEC’s oil production raises red flags. Everything we do depends on oil. Everything. Wars are fought over it.”
“Sounds like a question for your father.”
“I’ve asked him to poke around and see what he can find.”
Holly took his hand. “I have some bad news. I have to leave. Lansing made it clear he doesn’t want me in close proximity to you for a while.”
“Don’t tell me he expects you to return to work.”
“I have to be debriefed first. Then I’ll need to be cleared to resume active duty by my physician and a bureau shrink. I’ll be on leave, officially, but I can’t spend it near you.”
“He’s right. It’s reasonable to assume there’ll be another attempt to kill or capture me. I’d feel a whole lot better knowing I didn’t have to worry about you.”
“It feels like I’m abandoning you.”
“You aren’t.”
“Well, I’m going to put my recovery time to good use. So far, nothing has turned up in Bullfrog Bay, evidence-wise. The dead mercenaries from last night are being processed and printed as we speak by San Diego’s ME. I’m going to glean what we can from them. We’re also printing the severed finger and doing accelerated DNA analysis on it. Same with the other three dead men.”
“Any idea how long all that will take?”
“The prints are being run through the IAFIS and Interpol databases as we speak. Turnaround time can vary. It’s usually no more than twenty-four hours. We’re checking the DNA profiles through CODIS. That’s also about a twenty-four-hour turnaround.”
“CODIS?” he asked.
“It stands for our combined DNA indexing system. There’re millions of profiles in it. Many Interpol member countries are also using the CODIS program. We can reach well beyond our own borders.”
“Sounds high-tech.”
“It is. High-speed computers have really improved turnaround time. But with all such systems, they’re only as good the people operating them. We’ve got a great team in our lab at Quantico.”
“No doubt. When are you leaving for Sacramento?”
“Within the hour. I’m flying up there with Lansing in the Lear. He wants a tour of our renovated field office. There’s a bright side to all of this,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Grangeland. She’s not going anywhere.”
“Speaking of, where is she?”
“I gave her the day off.”
“Smart move, given who’s in town.”
“I’m not comfortable concealing her involvement, but I’m more uncomfortable not having her support you. She’ll get in touch. Or you can call her.”
“Well, I guess this is good-bye for now.”
“Nathan.…”
“I know. I promise, no unnecessary risks.”
“I hate good-byes.”
“Me too.”
“I’ll call if anything turns up on the dead mercs.”
She gave him a kiss and a gentle embrace, then left the room.
Nathan leaned back and stared at the ceiling. Why had Holly become so important to him?
The answer scared him.
Chapter 24
For the second time in as many days Nathan awoke feeling disoriented and parched.
Quickly he got his bearings. His La Jolla home. On the floor. In his bedroom. Grant and Sherman at his side.
He reached up to his nightstand and grabbed the bottled water. The clock indicated 1910 hours. He thought about
Nichole Dalton’s daughters. Too much time was passing. He needed to get moving. He sat up too quickly and the room spun.
“Easy, partner.”
Harv. He focused on the chair near the closet. “How long?”
“A few hours.”
“You been sitting there the entire time?”
“I’ve been catching up on some reading. You know, you could’ve slept in your bed. No one would hold it against you. You were shot in the head.”
“Don’t remind me. Is that a pistol in your lap?”
“Don’t get excited.”
“Are the SWAT guys still here?”
“Yes. Apparently, they’re not going anywhere. I guess our reputation precedes us. Holly said they had more volunteers than they could handle from the San Diego field office alone once the word got out that the Lone Ranger had been shot. You could’ve ducked, you know?”
Nathan stood, feeling stiff and sore.
“Do you feel nauseous at all?”
“I’m fine.” He squinted in thought.
“What?”
“The dead mercs from last night.”
“What about them?”
“I want to see the bodies.”
“Why?”
“We might be able to confirm they were Montez’s men.”
“You have doubts about that?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“What you need is more bed rest. That bullet rang your bell pretty good. You look like shit.”
“Quit mincing words.”
“Okay, you look like hammered shit on a cold lawn.”
“Let’s get serious,” Nathan said.
“I am serious.”
Nathan shook his head. “Three words. Nichole Dalton’s daughters.”
Harv’s grin vanished. “Right. I’ll call the ME.”
“Just like that? And he’ll see us?”
A trace of a smile returned. “As I recall, we installed a heavily discounted security system in his house last year. I think he’ll take my call.”
Dr. David Phelps didn’t like opening his facility after hours, but softened when Harv explained the situation was “life-and-death urgent.” Harv suggested one of Phelps’s other technicians could meet them, but Phelps thought that would be bad form and said he would handle it personally. They agreed to meet at the front entrance of the new facility. Harv told Phelps they’d be in a blue Mercedes sedan.
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