by Robin Mahle
“And that’s it?” His eyes conveyed doubt in Will’s answer.
“That’s it. Feel free to call my boss, SSA Kelly. Hell, you can call Director Mobley, if you like.”
That seemed to do the trick. Throwing around Mobley’s name was enough to make just about anyone back down.
“No. That’s fine. If that’s the way Headquarters wants it.” Fraser opened the front door. “Come in. Take a look around.”
“Thanks.”
Will had a keen eye for details, a skill that had served him well during the mall attack investigation. In fact, he was the one to discover Jay Merrick’s carrier bag, which contained the man’s final gift to his wife. It also contained the flash drive, which he’d turned over to IT. And in the end, it was Lacy who realized what was on that drive and was the very reason he was here right now.
“Have you received the phone records yet?” He began to study the room, dissecting each corner, every book, every knickknack, and what he’d hoped to find was anything that might point to communications prior to his death with Jian or his people.
“Yes, I’m happy to send that information over to you,” Fraser replied.
“What about his wife? Have you spoken to her regarding any recent visitors to the home?”
“Yes. She said no one ever came over. Their children are in college and it was just the two of them. She said everyone in D.C. seemed to treat them like outcasts since his resignation.”
“Had he seemed agitated that day? Did she say?”
“No. Of course, he’d been holed up in here, she said, for the majority of the day. Said he often came in here to be alone. That he wasn’t the same since leaving his position.”
Will continued to look around. “And you guys scoured his laptop?”
“You’re more than welcome to get a copy of the report from Computer Forensics. They didn’t find anything that might explain why he was murdered.”
Will immediately thought of the letter. It seemed like Kendrick hadn’t kept a copy here, or they would likely have already discovered it. He approached a bookcase and furrowed his brow at one of the titles. He cocked his head slightly to read the words on the spine. It was a book on the Chinese economy. And as he continued to peruse the shelf, he noted others of similar topics.
“You see something?” Fraser asked.
“No. Just interesting reading he has here.” Will turned from the bookcase. “You want to take me outside where his body was found?”
♦ ♦ ♦
With the turn of a 3D printed key, and entering four little numbers on a keypad, they were inside Turner’s impressive home. Colburn walked inside ahead of Lacy and moved straight for the home office. “Let’s start in here. We’re looking for the server. Probably only used as a backup, but most of these guys have something where they can transfer data from their work laptops.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Depends on the usage and what’s stored. I back up files onto my own server; nothing classified, of course.” He winked. “But I wouldn’t use a cloud-based system if my life depended on it. Too many people out there like our friend Hunter.”
Lacy smiled. “I suppose so. But even if we find one, how are we supposed to get into it?”
“We don’t need to. And I already know there is one because we found it yesterday when we set up surveillance.” Colburn walked toward a small closet inside the office. “See. Here it is.” He knelt down and pulled the server out with gloved hands. He reached around the back and retrieved a dongle; essentially, a small USB the size one would find when using a wireless mouse. “I’ve got it.”
“What is that?”
“A keylogger. We popped this baby in yesterday too, figuring we’d want to know what Turner was keeping.”
“A hardware keylogger. Wow. Old school. Nice, but definitely old school.”
“Sometimes the old ways are best.” Colburn pushed up to his feet. “We can take a look and see what’s on it when we get back. No need to reinstall it because Hunter will be able to pull the passwords and get remote access from that point.”
“Well then, we should focus on finding any sort of financial information. Get an idea if and from whom he might be taking money.” Lacy opened the small lateral filing cabinet near the closet. She rifled through the files and then immediately knew she’d found what they were looking for. Lacy retrieved the file marked “Jan,” undoubtedly, his wife’s name, and began perusing the file. “I think I got something here.” She pulled out her cell phone and took pictures of the documents. “Looks like bank statements to me, and they’re in his wife’s name.”
“Perfect.” Colburn turned his attention outside at the sight of movement. “Oh hell, we’re not alone. Put that back. We need to get the hell out of here.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Fraser led the way to the shore of the lake. “This was where his wife found him.”
Will began to examine the area. Mud covered much of the grounds, a few footprints presumably from him and his wife when she found him were visible. He looked to the left. “Would anyone have seen someone approach from this direction?”
“I believe so. As you can see, the road fronting the home is just ahead where you’re looking right now. But we’re thinking the killer approached from this side.” He turned toward the right.
“What makes you think that?”
“Because he was strangled first. Means the killer would’ve had to stay out of Kendrick’s periphery until he was close enough.”
“He was shot too. How many times?”
“Just the one.” He pointed to the area on his side as an indicator of where the bullet would’ve struck Kendrick. “Right here. We did find the shell casing over here a few feet to the right.”
“What was the caliber?”
“.40. Probably a Glock, but I’m still waiting on forensics. Silencer fitted too.”
Will recalled the shots fired at the restaurant. Before the police arrived, he’d found one of the shell casings nearby and being uncertain of his level of trust for just about anyone at this point, he slipped it into his pocket. He’d discovered it was also a .40 caliber and knowing that these two weapons, at least, the ammunition, were a match, made it seem all the more likely that they were dealing with the same assassin.
13
The unexpected guests were moving in on Lacy and Agent Colburn’s territory, which was to say that it seemed they were all looking for the same thing. Lacy ducked below the line of sight and followed Colburn out of the room and toward the back of the home where a set of French doors would be their only way out.
“Who is it?” Her words were imbued with panic. “Is one of them Sajwani?”
“No. Just go—quickly.” He opened the back door and they fled into the yard and toward the fence. Colburn leaned over and laced his fingers. “Jump.”
She placed her left foot into his cradled hands and gripped the top of the fence while he pushed her up. His strength was greater than she’d expected when her body was catapulted over and she stumbled to the ground. “Hurry!” Lacy stared at the fence, waiting for Colburn to hop over.
In a split second, his head appeared and she was never so grateful to see his salty hair. He tumbled over the top and landed with an awkward thud, slamming his knee on a jutting stone. Lacy helped him to his feet. “Are you okay? Can you walk?”
He winced in pain now that the full weight of his body rested on his knees. Blood dripped from a gash. With a nod of assurance, he pointed ahead, mouthing the word “go.”
Lacy started toward a side gate at the neighboring house. The sound of their steps on the brick pavers that lay over much of the grounds was unavoidable and whoever had come must’ve heard them, but they were left with no choice except to flee as quickly as possible.
“Hold up!” Colburn approached the gate first, still appearing to be in pain. He peered over the gate. “Let’s try this again.” He helped her over and struggled to pull himself up but soon joined her.
“We need to make it across without them spotting us. They’re in Turner’s backyard already, so I think we have time before they realize where we are. We’ll go to the end of the street, then cross over and back to the house.”
Lacy began to jog but realized how far Colburn had trailed. When she stopped and turned back, he motioned for her to continue. In defiance, she shook her head, but he persisted and finally Lacy knew she had to keep going.
At the end of the road, she took another look back and saw that Colburn was still lagging. The time had come to cross to the other side of the street. The house was in sight and they would be safe soon. She surveyed the area and spotted no one approaching. Her heart told her to stop and wait for him, believing that perhaps they had made it and were now in the clear, so she did.
When Colburn caught up to her, his face masked in disappointment. “I told you to keep going.”
“I can’t leave you behind.” She grabbed his arm and led the way across the two-lane road. “Who the hell is coming after us?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out. Let’s just get back to the house.”
Now on the other side of the street, both cast their gaze toward Turner’s home. A car was parked in front, but still no one appeared.
“They’re looking for the letter. They have to be,” Lacy said.
“We’re almost there. Just keep going.” Colburn returned his attention to the building ahead. “Stop!”
Lacy whipped back toward him. “What is it?” Upon turning her eye in the same direction, her heart sank.
He quickly handed her the dongle. “Lacy—run.” Colburn stood tall and moved in front of her.
“I’m sorry.” She ran in between the adjacent building for shelter and continued through the alleyway. A gunshot sounded, startling her, and she turned back. “No!” Her eyes darted back and forth as she reached the end of the alley. To her left was the house, but the risk of going back there now was too great. On her right was the unknown. She was in an unfamiliar place and had no idea what lay ahead, but the unknown was her only option.
♦ ♦ ♦
A final inspection along the banks of the murky lake and Will felt he’d gotten all he was going to get and needed to get back to Lacy and Colburn. “Thank you, Agent Fraser. I think I’ve gotten what I needed.”
“I can still have my team send you whatever you need for a full assessment on the status of our investigation.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that. In the meantime, I’d better head back and let you do the same.” Will started toward the house again.
“I’m sorry if I was defensive.” Fraser walked alongside him “I do understand the severity of this case. A retired diplomat, who frankly retired under somewhat inauspicious circumstances. I’ve heard the rumors, as I’m sure you have as well.”
“No need to apologize. We’re all working toward the same goal here. And whatever the truth is, it will come out.” They reached the front of the home. “Thank you for your cooperation.” He began to walk toward his car and, with a final glance at the stately home, Will drove off, heading back to the house.
A message sounded on his cell phone—a missed call in a part of town with a weak cell phone signal. “Shit.” He glanced at the caller ID and listened to the voicemail Lacy had left him.
“Someone showed up at Turner’s house when we were still there. We got out, but something happened to Colburn. Got split up. I need help. They’re after me now.”
The call was cut short. “Damn it!” He pressed her contact info and waited for her to answer. “Come on. Pick up!” The call went to voicemail and he slammed on the steering wheel. There was only one person he knew who could ping her phone, but Aaron was at Langley and cell phones weren’t allowed in the building where he worked. He would have to find another way to get to her and fast.
♦ ♦ ♦
Sirens approached in the distance, probably due to the gunshot that rang out, which would have been unusual in this part of town. Lacy kept moving. Her legs were wearing out as she pushed to get farther away. She needed to find a safe place to hole up.
The sun was above her head as the morning quickly turned to afternoon. Lacy believed she’d outrun them, though remained in the shadows as a precaution. A firehouse was just ahead and it would offer her a location to convey if she tried Will once again.
This time, he answered. “Lacy! I’ve been out of range. I’m so sorry. Thank God you called. Are you okay? Where are you?”
“I’ve tried to stay off the grid, but I’m heading toward a fire station up the road. I ran for miles, maybe five or six from where we were. Will, I think they killed Agent Colburn.”
“Is it safe for you to stay there? I’m heading your way now.”
“I think I’ll be safe. My God, Will, he saved my life. Keith Colburn saved my life and now he’s gone.”
“Just hang in there, Lacy. I’m on my way.”
Within minutes, she spotted Will’s car approaching. Walking out from behind a large tree and toward the sidewalk, she reached the car and opened the passenger door. “What took you so long?” Her face masked in relief.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”
She stepped inside, tired and drenched in sweat from having run so far and so fast. “We have to find Agent Colburn.”
“We’ll head back toward the house and see if anyone is still there looking for you.” Will began to pull away. “Did you see him get shot?”
“No. He told me to run—and I did. I should’ve stayed with him, Will. I abandoned him.”
“You did the right thing. If you would’ve been hurt too...” He stopped. “Did you two find anything in Turner’s house?”
“Yes. He had a keylogger installed yesterday on Turner’s server when they put in the cameras. And I have a picture of a bank statement in his wife’s name. That was as far as we got because someone showed up.”
“Do you know who it was who shot him?”
“No. Colburn heard two people approach the house, and that was when he told me to run out to the back. We jumped into the neighboring yard and escaped out onto the street. But when we tried to make it back to the house, someone was waiting for us.”
“That’s when he told you to run?”
She nodded. “He handed me the keylogger device and I ran. After I was, I don’t know, maybe half a block away, was when I heard the gunshot.”
“Then you don’t know who was hit. Could’ve been the other guy.”
“If it wasn’t Agent Colburn, don’t you think he would’ve reached out to one of us by now?”
With notable distress, he replied, “Probably.”
“I don’t think it’s safe to go back to the house, Will. They had to know we were staying there. How else would we have been stopped only steps away from it?”
He shook his head. “No one knew where the hell we were.”
“Someone did.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Axell stood behind his desk. His hands were balled into fists with knuckles pressing hard on its surface. The call had come from Caison, and while neither knew for sure the fate that had befallen his friend and colleague, Axell felt betrayed. Who in their small circle of trusted associates had given away their location? The problem still lay in the fact that he didn’t know who exactly was after them.
His first instinct was to call Colburn’s cell phone but feared that could jeopardize whatever situation he might be in. If Colburn had been free to call, he would’ve already. Instead, Axell left his office and made his way to see Hunter. He’d tried to maintain distance to avoid the appearance of a personal relationship, but all that had now been tossed out the window. All he cared about was finding Agent Colburn.
He spotted Hunter at his desk inside the small, compartmentalized unit in which he worked. “Hunter?” Axell leaned over his desk. “I need you to find Colburn. Now.”
Aaron seemed to understand the urgency and began to locate Colburn’s cell phone. After several minutes, he was
able to spot his last location. “I pinged his phone and this was his location as of an hour ago.”
“Where is he now?”
“There’s no signal. Either his phone is off, or…”
“Right.” Axell didn’t wait because he already knew the ending of that sentence. “You’re coming with me.”
The two left in haste as Aaron tried to ignore the eyes of his colleagues who followed them. “Where are we going?” He struggled to keep up.
“I told Caison to check out the area around the house and Turner’s home. We’ll meet up with them nearby and assess the situation.”
“Oh God, what happened?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure as hell going to find out.”
They jumped into Axell’s car. He sped out of the parking lot and drove toward the house.
“Have you been in contact with anyone outside of our team?” Axell asked.
“No. Of course not. No one knew what I was doing. I made sure of it. Did I screw something up? I swear I was careful.”
“I just need to be sure you weren’t being watched.” Axell turned to him. “What about the supervisor who trained you? You said she might’ve seen what you were working on the other day.”
“Maybe. But I don’t think so. I mean, no. I’m sure she didn’t.”
“Then who?”
The rhetorical question hung in the air until they reached the rendezvous point. As soon as Axell rolled to a stop, the two jumped out.
Will and Lacy met them halfway.
“Any word from Agent Colburn?” Lacy asked.
Axell cast his gaze down and shook his head. After a moment when all seemed to reflect on the probable answer as to why no one had heard from him, Axell continued, “Is anyone waiting for us?”
“Not that I could tell,” Will replied. “I drove the perimeter but not the actual street in case we were recognized, but we saw no one.”
