The Syrian connection, now that he’d had time to think it through, was looking more and more unlikely. Okay, so if the Bridgestones hadn’t gotten it from Syria, where did they get it? Did someone within Freedom’s Echo have a connection to international arms smugglers? If so, who? Was the FBI looking at other members besides Leonard and Ernie? Surely they had to be. The bureau would be asking the same questions as Nathan: Where did the Bridgestones get the Semtex?
Chapter 17
With the smell of Italian food still lingering in the air, Frank Ortega sat at his desk waiting for his phone to ring. When the damned thing finally bleeped to life, he looked at his Chelsea ship’s bell clock. Four minutes late. He pivoted his wheelchair and stabbed the speaker button.
“What the hell is going on out there?” he asked. Not hello, or good afternoon, or how arethings in DC?
“We’re trying to sort it out.”
“Trying to sort it out? What kind of answer is that? They burned my grandson alive.”
“Frank, I’m as angry as you are. He was your grandson, but he was also my employee.”
“There’s a big difference.”
“Damn it, Frank. I know that. Your grandson isn’t the only casualty. I’ve got twenty-four additional unhappy letters to sign.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I haven’t been sleeping well. I’m… I’m so damned angry, I just want to kill someone.”
“I wish I could bring him back, unwind the clock, and start over. I’d do a lot of things differently.”
“Let me be clear, Ethan, I don’t blame you for any of this.”
“Maybe bringing McBride aboard wasn’t such a good idea. He complicates things.”
“Why? He’s under your control, isn’t he? He found my grandson.”
“Yes, but he also killed the Bridgestones’ kid brother. That was an unexpected twist with unexpected consequences.”
Frank tried to keep his voice calm. “He did exactly what I asked of him. You’d have a dozen dead SWAT agents if he hadn’t been there. I asked him to back you guys up and that’s what he did, to the letter.”
“You know I’m grateful for that. But the problem’s different now. It’s bigger, more public. What am I saying? Public? It’s worldwide news. And there’s over three hundred pounds of Semtex still missing.”
Ortega pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep the conversation on track. “All the more reason to have McBride on their trail, then.”
“It was that damned tunnel. If they’d shown it to James, he would’ve told us. As far as we knew, the Bridgestones had no way to get the Semtex out of there. Or themselves, for that matter. We had that compound under constant surveillance. This whole thing would be over if it wasn’t for that damned tunnel. Hell, I don’t know. Maybe I should’ve anticipated something like this. Maybe I should’ve had choppers orbiting just over the ridgeline. I could’ve-”
“It’s not your fault, Ethan. I don’t mean to interrupt, but let’s stay on track. Do we keep McBride aboard?”
“At this point, I suppose we don’t have much choice. It’s all I can do to contain him. If he finds the brothers before we do, that’s great. But I don’t see that happening.”
“What’s he doing now?” Frank asked.
“He checked Ernie Bridgestone’s visitation logs from Fort Leavenworth before going out there. He spoke to Ernie’s former shrink, then came back and made contact with Amber Sheldon in Fresno, but she doesn’t know where Bridgestone is.”
Frank paused. When he spoke, there was a hard edge to his voice. “What did Sheldon tell him? Did she-”
“Frank, I don’t know. McBride’s been tight-lipped. He spotted a couple of my agents watching her, but he doesn’t know for sure they’re mine.”
“Don’t kid yourself, he knows.” Frank wheeled around and looked at the photographs on his wall. “Maybe we should cut ties with McBride.”
“No. I hate to admit it, but you’re right. McBride’s probably our best shot. Despite what we think of his methods, he gets the job done. He thinks the Bridgestones might go after his father next. He told my SAC in Sacramento he thinks the bombing is probably a diversion.”
“Some diversion.”
“And on our consciences.”
“The hell it is,” said Frank. “We didn’t make those bastards do anything.”
“You know what I mean. Look, if McBride’s as good as I think he is, he’ll eliminate the problem and we’ll close the book on this.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Three thousand miles away, FBI Director Ethan Lansing hung up and leaned back in his chair. He needed to go home to his wife and kids. If containment weren’t forthcoming, he’d be spending a lot more time there, which when he thought about it, wasn’t an altogether bad idea.
Leaving Fresno behind, the FBI Lear climbed into the clear afternoon air. Nathan pulled his cell and called Harv.
“You on your way?” Harv asked.
“Yes, we’re just leaving Fresno.”
“We’ve come up with squat on the financial insider.”
“There may not be one. I’m beginning to think they’ve been stockpiling cash. They probably have a huge stash buried somewhere.”
“That’s beginning to make the most sense, but it’s also going make it a lot harder to find them.”
“I know.” Nathan lowered his voice. “Bear with me, Harv. I’m playing a hunch.”
“Okay.”
“I left my name and number with Amber Sheldon. I told her if Ernie calls back she’s to tell Ernie I came looking for him. I asked her to specifically mention me by name.”
Silence from Harv.
“There’s more. Amber’s got a nineteen-year-old daughter. Guess who the father is?”
“No way.”
“Amber never told him.”
Harv paused, thinking about this new twist. “You’re thinking if he discovers he’s got a long-lost daughter he’ll want to see her before bugging out.”
“Yep.”
“Then everything depends on Ernie calling her again. What if he doesn’t call?”
“I’ve got that covered.”
“What’s your plan?”
“Five-by-one,” Nathan said.
“Understood. Want me to pick you up at Sac International?”
“No, Henning’s got a vehicle there. I’ll see you at the hotel in about an hour.”
“Stay safe, partner.”
Nathan settled in for the short flight back to Sacramento. He needed to talk with Holly Simpson, just the two of them. Everything hinged on her being honest. At a minimum, he was going to need the full media power of the FBI to implement his plan for trapping Ernie. He’d just have to wait and see how his conversation with Holly went. Despite everything he suspected about Director Lansing, he still felt Holly could be trusted. They’d connected on an emotional level, and he didn’t think she would willingly betray him. Willingly being the operative word.
He turned toward Henning, who was looking at him. “I’d like to visit with SAC Simpson tonight. Alone, if you’re okay with that.”
“It’s up to her.” Henning pulled his phone and dialed the hospital. He asked to be connected to Simpson’s room. “Hi SAC,” he said. “How are you feeling? Yes, we’re on our way, should be landing in about twenty minutes. Nathan McBride wants to stop by.… Yes, tonight.… Okay. We should be there in about an hour plus or minus. Okay.… See you then.”
“Thanks,” Nathan said.
“No problem. May I ask what it’s about?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Look,” Henning said. “I don’t blame you for being suspicious. There hasn’t been a lot of trust around here.”