"Not yet."
"Okay. Well, here it is." For the next twenty minutes Grant described the entire mission, bringing Mullins up to speed on all details, all names of those involved in the selling of the drug, the men responsible for deaths aboard the carrier.
"Jesus, Grant!"
"Yeah. Sid searched Garcia's rack, stowage bin and locker. Apparently, when Cruz, the PNA's contact in Subic, received the shipment from Bangkok, he repacked the tins in a cardboard box, hiding them in between a stack of new clothes. Then he simply addressed it to Seaman Garcia."
"Who worked as a postal clerk."
"Exactly."
"But wasn't that a helluva big box?"
"No. Aside from the bulky clothes, those pills were in small tins. We figured the intention wasn't to distribute to a wide audience, but just enough to make an impact, and get our attention."
"Sounds reasonable. But what about the kid who was thought to commit suicide? How'd he figure in?"
Grant turned, hearing the heavy door being opened. "Scott, hold on. Joe just got here, bringing me some good old fashioned Navy java!"
Adler put something wrapped in wax paper in front of Grant. "Egg sandwich," he said, as he picked up the headphones.
Grant rolled the chair farther away from the desk, before taking a sip of the hot brew from a standard, white Navy cup.
"Okay, Scott. Joe's hooked up now. To answer your question, we think the kid in Supply was completely innocent. Unfortunately for him, he never examined the contents of those tins before he sold them."
"He just assumed he sold the killers," Mullins added.
"Had to be the case, Scott. With those being red, he might've questioned the change of color when he started distributing them, but apparently he jumped before the announcement was made.
"Sid's positive Ahrens didn't have a clue that Garcia was distributing, let alone what he was distributing, but that's a question that might go unanswered, considering both main parties are dead."
"You think the remaining PNA characters knew?"
"Possibly, but it'll be up to NIS to drag the intel from them."
"What about the distribution on board? How'd they do it?"
"Sid interviewed a couple of sailors who finally came forward filling in the blanks for the process. When someone wanted to buy, Ahrens would set a time and place. We don't know about Garcia's operation, considering those kids are dead, and the others may never be able to answer.
"And as far as how those pills got on board, that's another task for NIS. They'll have to find Phillips for positive answers, but delivery could've happened the same way as Garcia's, by mail."
"Hawk couldn't give you an answer?"
"Once the pills were in Phillips' hands, distribution was up to him."
"Tell him about the money envelope," Adler interjected.
"Oh, right. Sid was determined to find evidence of a money trail. He went so far as to have mail bags searched that were ready to leave on a COD, specifically looking for Ahrens' return FPO address, or anything going to Coos Bay, Oregon, his hometown. Surprisingly, he found one addressed to a post office box in Coos Bay. Inside were five money orders, all made out to his dad."
"What happens to those?"
"Guess they're evidence."
"So the kid lost all the way around."
"Like I said about Hawk, he was caught up in a very unfortunate situation."
"You've gotta feel for his parents."
"Yeah. Isn't that what usually happens? The ones left behind suffer the longest, and end up with the most questions."
Mullins questioned, "Think you'll have more answers before leaving the ship?"
"When we finish here we're to meet with the admiral and Sid again, but I doubt there'll be updates. I have a feeling you'll probably get all the details before we land in Virginia."
"I guess you'll wait a day before you come here to fill in your AAR."
"That's the plan. We've gotta get the contractors out to the property post haste." Grant drank more coffee, before saying, "Now I've got a question for you, Scott."
"Fire away."
"Have you heard any scuttlebutt on what the White House plans on doing, that is, will the Philippine government be contacted and informed the PNA was responsible?"
"Haven't heard anything yet."
"Guess it's too soon. But if anyone wants additional proof, besides our report, Mike took pictures of the barge, it's contents, and the prisoners, who were all neatly tied up."
"I'll pass that along."
Grant glanced at his watch. "Time to go, Scott. Unless anything urgent pops up, we'll contact you when we're back home."
"Okay, guys. Congrats on a job well done! Safe trip."
The meeting was brief. Sid Edmunds reported that the NIS agent who was working with him on the carrier, had been sent to Subic, lending support to the agent already there. Both men would have the responsibility to track and locate Jess Phillips and Avelino Cruz.
Edmunds had his doubts that neither man would still be in the Subic Bay area. But he was more confident in capturing Phillips, than Cruz. Considering Cruz's job had been completed, it was more than likely he had hightailed it back to Olongapo or any of the PNA's locations.
Whether or not the findings were reported to the Philippine president, all hinged on President Carr's decision.
Edmunds rolled his chair back. "Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I've gotta contact D.C. again."
The four men stood. Grant reached across the table, offering a hand. "Sid, it was a pleasure working with you."
"You too, Grant. I guess things go more smoothly when all parties have the same mindset, right?"
"I hear ya, Sid! Maybe when you get back to D.C. we can hook up for a cold one."
"Sounds good to me!" Edmunds reached for Joe's hand. "Good to meet you, Joe."
"Take care, Sid."
Edmunds nodded to Torrinson. "Admiral, I'll report back when I've finished my conversation with NIS." He left.
Once the door closed, Grant reached for a folded paper inside his shirt pocket. "Sir, I'd like to discuss this with you."
Torrinson looked over the written information. "What are these?"
"They're locations where Artadi has residences."
"May I ask how you obtained them?"
"Uh … a gentleman aboard the chopper volunteered the information, sir."
"Ahh. I see," Torrinson smiled. "Is the information accurate?"
"I'm certain it is."
"You're thinking Artadi moves around trying to avoid detection?"
"That's the most likely explanation. Sir, we don't know whether President Carr will decide to bring the Philippine government in on the PNA's aggressive actions against us." He pointed to the paper. "But if he decides to take executive action, I thought those addresses should be considered top secret. You're the only one, besides the Team, who has seen them, sir."
"You didn't mention this to Scott Mullins?"
"No, sir. But I will, when we're at his office filling out our AAR."
"All right, Grant. I'll take it under advisement." Torrinson put the paper in his shirt pocket. "Well, you two, I don't need to tell you what a pleasure it's been. And you were right, Grant. Nothing's changed," he smiled broadly.
Grant tilted his head toward Adler. "I'll let Joe tell you what he thinks, sir."
"It was déjàvu all over again, all over again, sir!"
"And now that you're back in uniform, why don't you consider staying?"
"I can't speak for Joe, but … "
"Sure you can!" Adler piped up. "You do it all the time!"
"As I was saying, sir, we'll have to respectfully decline. We've got a helluva lot going on at the training facility."
"I'm sorry I made you put that on hold, Grant. But I'm extremely grateful that you, Joe and your men accepted the mission."