“No. We’ve got an APB out on it. City, state, and local law-enforcement cops are stopping anyone seen riding Enduros regardless of color. Maybe we’ll catch a break.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“We’re doing everything possible to find them.”
“I’m pretty sure I know why the Bridgestones went to the farmhouse. I think it’s where they stashed the missing Semtex from the compound. Probably in the tunnel or the underground room. Can your forensic people check for trace evidence of it?”
“Yes, but it’s very difficult to detect. Semtex doesn’t leave-”
The bartender returned with their drinks. Nathan’s O’Doul’s was served with a mug, cloudy from frost. He poured some and offered a silent toast. Under a solo spotlight onstage, the musicians continued their jamming.
“Semtex doesn’t leave much of itself behind,” she continued, “even when it’s exposed. It’s not like gunpowder or ANFO, we can test for those compounds easily. If it was still sealed in its crates, all bets are off.”
“We should’ve spent a few minutes poking around out there.”
“I was the one who wanted to get up to that cabin.”
“There’s a bigger question here,” he said. “A huge question. If the missing Semtex was there, why did they want it?”
Holly stared. “I don’t like that question.”
“I think it’s fair to assume they weren’t trying to complete a sale in progress, and I seriously doubt they were selling individual crates. That’d be too risky. They’d have a single buyer for all it.”
“Who do you think they were selling it to? Foreign terrorists? An Al Qaeda cell operating within the United States?”
Nathan shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. It was more likely being sold to radical militia groups. They love the stuff. It’s way easier to use than ANFO or TNT. The Bridgestones are coldblooded, but they aren’t terrorists. Something tells me they wouldn’t sell to radical Islamic types. I just can’t see them doing that. It’s all about money, not hatred of their country. I don’t have anything to base that on but my gut instinct. If the Bridgestones could somehow be caught and interrogated, I think we’ll find they’ve been doing business with militia groups, not terrorists.”
“By strict interpretation, the Bridgestones already are terrorists,” Holly said. “Look at what they’ve done so far.”
“I can’t deny they’ve committed some horrible crimes, but at the risk of sounding callous, not on a grand scale. Like I said on the drive up to the cabin, if they try something, it won’t be a random target. They’ll go after whoever hurt them. The FBI and now me.”
“Why do you think the Bridgestones showed their cousins where the money was hidden? I mean, they could’ve told them to get lost for a couple hours while they buried it.”
“I wondered the same thing myself. I think they had this routine planned from the beginning. It’s a believable bone to throw. That much cash gets serious attention. You remember Henning’s reaction to seeing it? If the cousins were ever questioned by the authorities, they could hold out for awhile, then give up the cash and the cabin, making it seem like they caved.”
“So you think the Bridgestones used the money as a distraction, a decoy? They sacrificed it?”
“It worked, didn’t it? Once we had the cash and the info about the cabin, we were out of there in a hurry.”
“I can’t deny that.”
“Listen, Holly, there’s something you need to know, and I don’t want to do it behind your back.”
“Okay…”
“I’ve arranged a phone call with Director Lansing tomorrow.”
She stared, her mind working. “May I ask why?”
“This whole thing reeks of my father’s involvement. I asked Harv to call Frank Ortega and verify my suspicion. Ortega confirmed it. When we first met with him, Ortega told us Director Lansing knew of our involvement before the raid. He said he’d never do something like that behind Lansing’s back. Lansing then told Ortega he didn’t want to know about it, kind of a don’t-ask, don’t-tell thing, but Lansing didn’t say no. I think Ortega called in a major favor to involve us. He knew we were a covert-ops team, knew how we did things. I think he wanted his grandson found at any cost.”
“What do you hope to accomplish by talking with Lansing?”
“Holly, I’ve known Harv through life and death. I’ve never seen him like this before. It’s tearing him up. He needs closure too, maybe more than he’s willing to admit to me or himself. What they did to James Ortega and now to two more of your people… It can’t go unanswered.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I want a green light to pursue the Bridgestones.”
She shook her head. “Lansing will never agree to it.”
“I’ll give him our word we won’t kill them or seriously hurt anyone in the process. Obviously, we’re aware the FBI needs them alive for questioning. You’ve seen us in action.”
“It’s what I haven’t seen that concerns me.”
He looked down, didn’t respond.
She reached across the table and touched his hand. “That wasn’t fair to you, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
“It was honest.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.”
“We’ve done some horrible things, Harv and I. I’ve always felt what we did was justified in the name of national security even though this little voice in the back of my head sometimes said otherwise. The night we accepted this assignment, Mrs. Ortega said something to me, something that rang true. She told me life is never as simple as a book of rules. She also told me she didn’t see the world through rose-colored glasses.”
“I don’t either.”
“I’m not suggesting you do. I’m just saying there’s more at stake than justice for James Ortega and your two techs. You don’t know how long those guys have been peddling Semtex. The FBI and ATF need to find out who’s been buying it and try to recover as much as it can.”
“That’s all true, but I can’t see Lansing agreeing to your continued involvement. Why would he? He’ll want containment at this point. Involving you further has serious consequences if it ever leaks to the media. He’s got the resources of thirty-one thousand employees under his command and a budget of six billion dollars. In all honesty, he’ll say he doesn’t need you.”
“Just like he didn’t need us at the compound or to find James Ortega?”
Holly said nothing.
“We’d prefer to have his blessing, but we don’t need it. The stakes were raised when the Bridgestones found out who we are. One way or the other, they’re going down.”
“And you think you’re the ones to do it?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Where will you look? This is a huge country, they could be anywhere.”
“They’re still here, in Sacramento.”
“Why?” she asked.
“They have unfinished business.”
“Tell me you’re not thinking of using yourself as bait.”
“Actually, I am.”
“Absolutely out of the question. You know what those guys are capable of. Suppose something went wrong and they managed to get ahold of you?”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I couldn’t live with that on my conscience. Please promise me you won’t do it. Give me your word you won’t do it.”
“Holly…”
“Your word.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you.”
“If Lansing isn’t aboard, will you help us? It would help if we had access to the FBI’s NCIC database.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
Nathan didn’t respond.
“I’m willing to help you, but there’s only so much I can do, so far I can go.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
She ate a pretzel and followed it with a sip of wine. “I suppose if you were to make an unofficial request for some very specific information on a very specific individual within the NCIC system…”
He smiled. “Good enough.”
“You understand that officially I said no, right?”
“Yes, absolutely. Officially you said no.”
They exchanged a smile.