“The seafood was outstanding. I love the conch ceviche.”
“How long are you going to be in town?”
“Not long. I have a lot of things to get done right away. I may be returning there shortly”
“Really? That bad?”
“Yeah, just may have to check out more of paradise.”
“Well, I’m here if you need anything, including the spare car.”
“That’s great. I really appreciate it. Right now I have to do some copying, mailing, and phone calls.”
“Why don’t we just go over to my office? You can do it there.”
“Works for me. Thanks.”
After getting settled at the office, Wade asked for a box to pack the vials for mailing. Those he would ship to Morrison. He needed several copies of all the documents so he could have them translated.
Wade found a quiet office to place a call to Yari. “Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.”
“I was worried sick not hearing from you. What’s going on?”
“I’m back in Houston, at my cousin’s office.”
“Did you interrogate and terminate Mashburn?”
“I interrogated him and let him go.”
“What?”
“It’s a long story, which I don’t want to get into right now. I got everything we need on the Lockhart murder, including the names above him ordering the hit. There was a recent Mashburn assignment in Spain. I recovered documents from him that are written in Spanish. They will have to be translated.”
“Send them to me. I’ll take care of that. Why did you let Mashburn get away?”
“I had to make a compromise decision in the field when I discovered the Belize plot. If Mashburn was terminated, Condor would just cancel the Belize mission or change tactics. I felt it was better if Mashburn just disappeared and stayed hidden. If he doesn’t do a good job of disappearing, he won’t survive long anyway. Keep your ears to the ground on Mashburn’s whereabouts.”
“What’s the plan now?”
“I staged Mashburn’s departure as a robbery. If all goes well, he’ll be discovered alive at the house. I need you to monitor calls from the house, the real estate office, and the Belize police station. There should be a robbery report coming in on that house address. I need you to also keep monitoring Condor, especially calls between him and Stephan. We have to find out how they’re going to react to Mashburn’s departure and any change in plans regarding interruption of the war games.”
“How much time do we have?”
“Not sure. I grabbed most of their weapons and stashed them in a safe place. That might give us some additional time while they try to replace them.”
“Got it. Not a problem. What do you do next?”
“The second operation is too complex and involves too many operatives. I can’t handle it alone. I’m going to have to involve some Agency resources. I just haven’t determined who or how yet.”
“What happened to those black cases Mashburn brought in?”
“The black cases are still in place at the cemetery. To remove them would alert Condor and Stephan. I’m sure they’re a big part of the Belize operation.”
“What about Mashburn’s other weapons?”
“I stashed them in an offsite storage facility. I’m hoping Stephan will conclude they were taken as part of the robbery. The police report shouldn’t refer to the stolen items as weapons, just luggage and personal items.”
“Did you find out how Mashburn killed Lockhart?”
“Yes. I got all those details. It involved some real exotic drugs. I have samples, which I’m sending to Morrison for analysis. We’ll need to track the source of those drugs, but for right now, we need to focus on what Stephan and the other operatives are planning in Belize. From what I was able to find out, it’s going to be a terrorist attack to disrupt the war games ceremonies, but I’m not sure of the motive and don’t know who ordered the attack.”
“I’m on it.”
“We’ll talk soon.”
Wade’s next call was to Gabe Morrison. He told Gabe about the drugs he was sending, his interrogation of Mashburn, and where and how Mashburn had received his orders to kill Lockhart.
Wade dreaded the next call — not because she might be irritated, but because of how long it had been since he had said he would call. He gritted his teeth, not sure what he was going to say.
“Megan speaking.”
“I take full responsibility and am prepared for my punishment.”
“Well, hello, stranger. How did your fishing trip go?”
“It got a little more involved than catching fish.”
“I can’t wait to hear that fish story. Where are you?”
“I’m in Houston at my cousin’s office. I just got in a few minutes ago.”
“Catch anything?”
“I sure did, but it goes beyond fish.”
“I hope it’s not a disease.”
“It’s not. Let’s just say it’s something I need to talk to you about in private.”
“I take it you’re not in a good place to talk?”
“That’s right.”
“Is the matter personal, between us?”
“No. It’s really business, I guess, our business, and it needs to be handled privately.”
“Why don’t you call me tonight? I can have a secure patch put over my home line.”
“I sure will. Is 9:00 p.m. your time good?”
“Perfect.”
Wade wanted to change the subject away from his mission. He lightened the conversation when he asked, “How’s everything else going?”
“Fine. Busy at work. But most of all, I miss you.”
“I feel the same way.”
She sighed aloud. “You know, I like having you in this awkward position where you’re embarrassed to speak in front of other people. I’ll have to find ways to get you in that position more often.”
“That’s not funny.”
“I didn’t say it was funny. I had other ideas. I’ll wait for your call tonight.”
After he hung up, Wade wasn’t sure what he had accomplished with the call, although he was pleased Megan wasn’t too upset. Not only did Wade have to decide what he was going to say that evening, but he wondered how secure the call would be.
Wade needed to talk with someone he trusted. The only person he could really trust with his dilemma was Jake Pisano in New Orleans, but he had to find a way to meet face-to-face. He called a short time later, and they agreed to meet the next day at the Old Grille. Wade left Houston in his cousin’s car at 4:30 a.m. to make the six-hour trip.
Chapter 21
The drive from Houston to New Orleans gave Wade time to think about how much he was going to tell Jake about the Belize mission and the new threat. Wade remembered it was Pisano who had made the introduction to Gabe Morrison. Maybe that was a good way to start their conversation.
“Good to see you, Jake.”
Jake was worried about Wade’s call and not in the mood to dance around the issue. “Does your visit have anything to do with the shooting at Fort Benning?”
“I guess indirectly. I just got back from Belize, where I interrogated the suspect Mashburn, believed to have killed Lockhart. That’s the murder Gabe Morrison is investigating.”
Jake was quick to respond. “I remember. What were you able to find out?”
Wade provided Jake with details of the interrogation and the discovery of the new plot in Belize. Some of the details came fast and were overwhelming with lots of interlocking parts. Wade made it clear that he was looking for guidance. After a few pointed questions, Jake held up his hand in question.
“I’m afraid to ask, but what did you do with Mashburn?”
“I told him about the planned hit on him and let him go. I hope he takes my advice and permanently disappears and retires from the business. There’s always the possibility he won’t, of course. Based on what I’ve told you thus far, what do you think?”