First Target

by Robin Mahle

  Lacy walked into her bedroom and switched on the lamp that rested on a side table where her laptop lay. She’d received an email from Martin Delgado during the meeting, but failed to make mention of it. For reasons currently unknown to her, she was reticent to completely open up about her concerns with the team. Even standing in front of Will. The honesty his eyes portrayed as they stood freezing in the parking lot. She still withheld her true feelings. Was it out of caution or fear that she would discover something about one of them? Something that would shatter any remaining illusions of goodness left in this world? After all they’d been through, it was an unfair assessment on her part. But a piece of her heart had already been ripped away and she had to protect what remained.

  As she opened her laptop, Lacy viewed the email from Agent Delgado. It contained the information she’d requested on Casper Janz, but not without a warning from Delgado.

  In the email, he revealed Trevor had been honest in his rendering of how he came to know Janz. They had both been in Cairo, but Janz, only in passing. Delgado advised her not to take matters into her own hands when it came to Janz. That he was a ruthless man and his involvement in the torturing of prisoners held without proof meant he would toe the line of whoever he was taking orders from. Good or bad. And right now, it seemed Lacy couldn’t be sure whose side he was on. For that, she and the team would need to fall back on Trevor. But nothing about Janz’ relationship with Camden Meeks. Or that there had even been one. “Maybe Will was right.”

  She sat back from her monitor and studied the email, the one she’d been afraid to show her team. Right now, she was the one behaving like a traitor. What gnawed at her still was not knowing Trevor’s whereabouts the morning Turner was killed. She had to know. If he’d done it, why? Did he know more than he was letting on?

  It was too late to think about it anymore tonight. It was past one in the morning. Tomorrow would bring more answers. It had to because, right now, Lacy could think of nothing else but the potential betrayal at the hands of her president, and hidden agendas from the man she held in the highest regard.

  Axell studied the front of Janz’s townhouse as he sat in his parked car a few hundred feet away. He’d procured the address thanks to Aaron Hunter, a man who had gained his full respect. And in the hours between midnight and dawn, he waited, planning for the moment of his arrival. The only way he could understand the part Janz was playing in this was to confront him. Not in some seedy bar with cryptic words, but in the dark of night, the cold barrel of his gun pressed against the head of this man who held the answers Axell desired. He saw that same desire imbued in Lacy’s eyes. The others were patient. Caison and Hunter didn’t really want the truth. They thought they did, but it was only Lacy who needed it so much it was beginning to tear her apart. Axell lay witness to the fact this very evening. She’d revealed too much to him. He would get her the answers because he needed them too. And maybe then he could tell her everything he’d wanted to say. This woman was making him do things he never would’ve done before. From Day One, it had been that way. He held no notions that Lacy could ever have romantic feelings for him, in fact, it was the one feeling he didn’t possess for her either. This was something else. Something deeper. She had been wounded many times over. And like the man he always knew he was, he would get her what she needed. After all, she was like a daughter to him. Only Lacy hadn’t disavowed him the way his real daughter had.

  Axell stepped out of his car, clinging to the shrubbery that fronted the road and acted as a barrier to the residents situated close to the street. He walked within the shadows until reaching the home. He didn’t know if Janz was inside, but in the event he wasn’t, he would at least have the opportunity to search for something that might expose his objectives. Agent Shaw was right to warn him in Beijing. Now the time had come to understand where Janz’ loyalties lay.

  The only way to get in was through the front. The home was attached to another property on the right, and on the left was a fenced area thick with tall, screening shrubs. He wasn’t about to go through there where he couldn’t be sure what he would encounter. A logical assumption was that Janz had the house well-secured. Given his known associates, it was to be expected. So how had Axell planned on entering this mini-Fort Knox? Simple.

  Several devices were available on the internet that could defeat garage door openers’ rolling codes. Luckily, Axell worked for the CIA and getting his hands on a device slightly more sophisticated wasn’t hard to do. The trick would still be what was inside, but getting into the garage would be child’s play. And inside of 8.7 seconds, the door rolled open, revealing Janz’ Mercedes. Good news. He was home.

  Axell withdrew his gun and made his way to the garage entry door—locked, with a deadbolt. This wasn’t much more of a problem considering the age of the home and, by the looks of the lock, it was the pin and tumbler style most homes had. He retrieved his bump key, a specially made key that could penetrate and unlock most of these styles. If the CIA was good at anything, it was getting inside people’s homes or as they call it, a black-bag job. Though a US citizen wasn’t usually the target demographic. Nor was former CIA.

  Without a trace of forced intrusion, he disengaged the deadbolt and quietly turned the handle under the assumption that once he was inside, an alarm would beep until shut off, or without a code, would sound loudly throughout the home. Axell had less than a minute from the time the beeping began until the time the alarm activated. He would ascend the stairs, assuming Janz had already been roused by the noise and was likely holding a gun at the door. At which time, Axell would make his presence known. Janz would either shoot him through the door, a likely possibility, or inquire as to his presence. It was a crapshoot.

  The beep sounded in a low “I’m warning you” sort of way. The time had come for Axell to make his way up the staircase. However, it seemed Janz had other plans.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Axell whipped around on his heel, gun aimed at the voice behind him. “Well, this is unexpected.”

  The men held each other within point blank range.

  “I said, what the hell are you doing here, Axell?”

  “I need answers. And I knew you wouldn’t fall for the note on the windshield trick again. Though I had considered it.”

  “Fuck you. You’re in my house. I could shoot you and no one would blink an eye.”

  “You could. But so could I. What are you willing to bet I hit you first?”

  Janz paused, appearing to consider who was the better shot. Within seconds, he held both hands up, gun aimed at the ceiling. “Fine.”

  “Okay, then. We can get down to business.” Axell kept an eye glued to the man’s gun even while he’d begun to lower his own. “Can we have a talk now? Officer to officer. After you turn off the alarm, of course.”

  Janz ejected the cartridge and placed his weapon on a nearby table and keyed in his alarm code. “Have a seat.” Janz walked into the kitchen and pulled out a chair. “You want a coffee?”

  “Sure.” Axell followed him after placing his own weapon out of reach. “Sorry it had to be like this. I’ll be honest with you, Casper, I can’t tell which side you’re on. I had to take precautions.”

  “I’m on the winning side.”

  Axell nodded. “Pretty much what I thought. So not much different than Cairo, then, huh?”

  “What the hell do you know about Cairo? You didn’t have to go through the shit I did. At least I was getting intel. What were you doing? Kissing the station chief’s ass? Looking for a way to get out of that desert hell hole?”

  “I think we remember that time a little differently.”

  Janz placed a mug in front of him before taking a seat opposite at the table.

  “Thanks.” He sipped on the coffee. “Are you playing both sides, then?”

  Janz laughed. “Both sides? Of what?”

  “Look, we can pussyfoot around this until daylight, but I’m not leaving here until I get some answe
rs.”

  Janz grinned. “Who are you talking to at the Agency?”

  “No one. Not about this.” Failing to mention that Handley authorized his trip to Beijing was vital because Axell couldn’t rule out anyone’s potential involvement at this point.

  “What about you heading to Beijing? I have friends there, you know. They were all up in arms when you showed up meeting with Cheng in Bureau 17. What? You think they wouldn’t figure out who you really were? I told them to back off. You’re welcome, by the way.”

  “Was it you who sent Agent Shaw to see me at my hotel?”

  “No. I don’t know Shaw. Not personally. I know CIA has operatives there again, but I stay out of their way and they stay out of mine.”

  “Who’s Dalian’s US investor, Casper? That’s all I want to know.” It wasn’t, but he had to start somewhere. “You tell me who it is and we’re done here.”

  “You can’t believe that’s what this is about? My work with Yang? The MSS?”

  “If not, then what? Why don’t you shed some light on this situation for me?”

  “Look, I can get you the investor, but it won’t matter. The deal was done legally, within the sanction’s regs.”

  “Who would want to keep Yang here? And keep Dalian functioning. Have you seen the news? You know what’s been happening in this country, right? Tonight? The Cultural Center? This country is about to blow. Just like Egypt did during the Arab Spring. Only it’ll be so much worse.”

  Janz studied Axell. “Malcom Ford. That’s who you’re looking for. It’s his money.”

  “He’s the Dalian investor?”

  “Yes. Look, Axell. Regardless of what you might think of me, and what I’ve chosen to do with my skillset, we were on the same team once. And I need you to listen to me when I say you and your team need to end things here. You’re on your own if you choose to pursue Ford or any of his associates. And especially Yang.”

  “How far up the food chain does this go?”

  “Honestly? I don’t know. I do what I’m told and that’s that. I do what I have to do to stay alive. And I suggest you and your people do the same. There are things going on that neither of us know or fully understand. Give Ford a cursory look. You’ll see that I’m right. Nothing out of the ordinary. They are exceptionally good.”

  “Then why couldn’t we find him? We found you.”

  “I’m not the one who matters in this game. That, you need to understand. I don’t matter and neither do you. And Lacy Merrick? The woman who started this?”

  “She didn’t start this.”

  “No. You’re right. She just shoved it in the public’s face and created the situation we’re in now.”

  “Sounds like this would’ve come to a head regardless,” Axell continued.

  “In time. But I’d hoped to do my part and get Yang on the ropes. That’s what they want.”

  “That’s what who wants?”

  The window behind Janz shattered and the ear-piercing crash forced Axell to jump. A bullet sliced into Janz’ head. “Jesus!” Axell rolled out of the chair and onto the floor when the flurry of gunfire raged.

  He low-crawled through the house to get his gun and continued through the back exit. The shots ceased and the sound of car alarms and dogs barking replaced the noise. He had no idea who was after him, but he suspected Janz had been under surveillance and his house bugged. Now, as he stood outside in the dark, his eyes struggling to adjust to the scant light, Axell had to find a way out. He didn’t know who was there or if he was outnumbered. Going through to the front of the house was high risk and he preferred to take calculated risks. But he would not have that luxury this time.

  Sirens sounded in the distance. A neighbor must’ve called the police. “Thank God.” Axell knew the man or men would flee the scene and then he could make his way out the front and toward his car. But he would have to do so without being seen by the approaching cop cars or anyone else.

  He stepped carefully through the side yard, getting tangled up in the shrubs he’d already tried to avoid once. And for this very reason. The thorny branches poked through his long sleeves and jacket. “Should’ve worn my leather coat.” He pressed on until making his way to the fence where he could examine the street. “Shit!” Cops were already there, but no sign of anyone else. The gunmen were gone.

  He waited for the police to kick their way into the townhouse before he hopped the fence and high-tailed it to his car. He reached the street, where he spotted officers still huddled at the home’s entrance while others were inside, flashlights shining. It looked like spotlights on a stage, swaying back and forth.

  The remote on his car made the lights flash as Axell stepped inside. “Damn it.” It seemed he was far enough down the road not to be noticed. Still, he pulled away, leaving his headlights off until he was far enough from the scene. Axell retrieved his cell phone. “Meet me at the shop. Now!”

  Chapter 14

  Dawn broke through the clouds when Lacy arrived at the very place she’d left only a few short hours earlier. But the urgency in Trevor’s voice had forced an abrupt awakening and she left the house leaving only a note for Celeste.

  She pushed through the rear entrance and into the grey-lit halls to the voices in the bullpen. The rest of the team was already inside. “Sorry. Got here as fast as I could. What happened?”

  Axell was pale and his face glistened with sweat. “Casper Janz is dead. I was with him when shots were fired into his house. They must’ve had him under surveillance.”

  “Oh my God. Are you okay?” Lacy rushed nearer.

  “I’m fine. I got out undetected. Thank you all for coming down. I know it’s early.”

  “What does this mean, Axell?” Will was the first to ask the question all seemed plagued by. “Who do you think did this?”

  “And more importantly,” Aaron began, “are we in danger now?”

  Lacy noted his concern and turned her attention to Axell. “Was it Yang’s people?”

  “I wish I could answer all your questions. Right now, I have far more questions than answers myself and that’s a very bad position for us to be in.” He began to pace the room. “My gut tells me this was not Yang.”

  “Then who?” Lacy continued. “Our people?”

  “What do you mean, our people?” Aaron asked her.

  “I mean, our government. You said yourself, Trevor, Janz was former CIA. Is it possible he’s still engaged? Or playing ball with someone in the administration.”

  “State?” Aaron asked.

  “Possibly. That’s where I would suggest we look,” Will replied. “But the moment we start getting more intel on Janz, he’s taken out?”

  “There’s one other thing,” Axell began. “I know who the investor is. Just before they got him, he gave me a name. Malcolm Ford.”

  “Maybe you should’ve started with that.” Aaron approached his workstation and opened his laptop. “What else do we know about him?”

  “Nothing, except Janz insisted that the transaction was perfectly legal. That we wouldn’t find any wrong-doing on his part. And—that we shouldn’t look too deep.”

  “Then why has it been so difficult to find him?” Lacy asked. “This could get us a step closer.” She’d all but forgotten about her earlier animosity. Axell had been in real danger and it frightened her.

  “Look, I just had bullets whizzing by my head. You’ll forgive me if I lack a willingness to sit here and stare at a computer screen until we find something on Ford. Or nothing, as the case might be. My main concern right now is to find out who wanted Janz dead and why. I can only assume it was because he was talking to me. If it was Yang, then I can deal with that. If it was someone else, on our side of the fence, then I see this as a problem that could put us in jeopardy.”

  “We should see Mobley and tell him what’s happening. This isn’t like before. We’re here because of him and Director Handley. Trevor? What about getting a meeting with both of them? They have to be made aware. Now that we
know Malcolm Ford is the investor, that gives us a jump start. Let those guys put a team together to find out who killed Janz. We can’t do this on our own again. We don’t have to do this on our own again. That was the whole point to this task force, right?”

  “Lacy’s right, Axell,” Aaron began. “We have the backing of the intelligence community this time. How can we draw on that support to get some answers?”

  “I’ll visit Handley. He’ll need to know about Janz,” Axell began. “Caison, you and Lacy should get with Mobley. Tell him what we know so far about Ford and Janz. Get a recommendation from him. Let’s get down to business. We’ll reconvene here later today.”

  “What can I do?” Aaron asked.

  “Get anything and everything you can on Malcolm Ford.”

  “Will do.”

  With uncertainty of who fired the shots into the home of Casper Janz and the possibility of CIA involvement, Axell would deliver his remarks to the CIA director with careful calculation. His briefing would include the request for additional resources: surveillance, analysts, and help from Agent Shaw in Beijing, who was already very familiar with the situation. In fact, Axell was reluctant to reveal the name of the investor until he knew more about him.

  “Thank you for seeing me, Director Handley. I know it’s early.” Axell tendered a greeting.

  “Of course. I don’t have much time, so let’s get down to brass tacks. Your call mentioned the loss of one of our own.”

  “That’s right, sir. Former CIA Officer Casper Janz, who it seems was operating under the name of Matthew Greiner and who we believe was Yang’s right-hand man.”

  “The same individual you suspected of dealing with the MSS? The reason you went to Beijing in the first place. Only now, he’s dead. And you suspect Yang’s people?”