“As long as it’s not covered with blood, I’ll be happy.”
Twenty minutes later Smith was in the sweats and T-shirt, which on him were slightly too small, and walking to an electronics store that Nolan had suggested. He purchased the phone and fired it up with a charged battery that the clerk had offered. He dialed Klein.
“Glad to hear that you’re alive,” Klein said. “Ms. Russell left the hospital and is working on the bacteria angle.”
“Left the hospital? So she’s recovered?”
“Apparently enough to leave. She’s concerned about the CIA mole finding her and is keeping on the move.”
“Did they type the virus that she had?”
“It was a variant of avian flu. Nonmutant.”
Smith heaved a sigh of relief. “So not the strain we’re searching for. Still bad, but it sounds as though she’s recovering.”
“She seems as convinced as you are that Dattar is behind everything.”
“I heard from Howell. He confirmed it. Told me about some sort of weapon.”
“I think it’s in the coolers,” Klein said.
“I have to agree. But how in the hell are we going to find them?”
“I thought you were intending to use Nolan as bait,” Klein said. Smith had not been thrilled with the idea when he’d had it, but now he found that he detested it.
“Initially I thought we could contain the risk, but after last night’s near fiasco, I’m reconsidering it. I almost didn’t get to her in time. She nearly got killed.”
“It may be our only option.” Klein’s voice was calm. Smith didn’t reply. He was nearing the building and slowed. “She’s always at risk of being killed until Dattar gets his money back or is neutralized,” Klein continued. “She’s got to know that and just might be willing to assist. Why don’t you tell her what you’re thinking? Give her a chance to make the decision?”
“She’s a civilian. She doesn’t understand the risk and is not trained to protect herself.”
“She put some of this in motion when she stole the money. She may be at risk, but she seems perfectly capable of understanding the danger we’re facing. I’d like you to explain it to her.” Smith didn’t reply. “You seem to have changed your mind on this tactic. Is there something I’m missing here? Something you’re not telling me?”
“No. I’ll address it with her.”
“Good. Where are you staying? I’ll tell Howell and Beckmann.”
Smith turned onto the street and spotted two men leaning against a tree opposite the apartment building. “Never mind. They’re here.” He rang off and strolled up to them. Howell watched him approach, but Beckmann was intent on watching two aging men who sat next to him on wooden crates and played dominoes. He glanced up as Smith came near.
“How did you find me?”
“We found the cabbie that drove you here. Beckmann and I were just coming around when you and Ms. Nolan jumped into it,” Howell said.
Smith snapped to attention. “Did anyone else see that cab drive off?”
Howell shook his head. “No. We canvassed the area after you left. There was no one. You’re fairly safe for the moment. Happy to see that you handled the situation so well.”
Smith grimaced. “Khalil and the CIA mole both got away.”
“A pity,” Howell said. “But not surprising. Khalil has a way of staying alive.”
“Come on in. I want to hear all about the guy you found.”
He punched in the code, and both men followed him into the kitchen. Nolan was at the counter eating orange slices. A bag with the logo of a grocery chain was on the counter next to her. She was back in the jeans and navy sweater and her feet were bare. Smith made the introductions and noticed that she regarded the two men with a wary look in her eye. The men took chairs around the table, and Smith started coffee.
Howell ran down what he and Beckmann had learned.
“Russell seems to think the weapon may have something to do with the missing bacteria coolers,” Smith said.
Beckmann nodded. “I agree. There’s the attack on the Grand Royal; Dattar escapes; the coolers are stolen; and now a foot soldier of Dattar’s says he’s planning an attack. It seems to be a logical conclusion.”
“But now he has no money to launch the attack.” It was the first time Nolan had spoken.
Howell raised an eyebrow. “Why is that? Dattar is thought to be quite wealthy.”
“I stole it.”
Smith watched Howell and Beckmann over the rim of his coffee cup and was pleased by their shocked reactions. They were as surprised by her announcement as he had been. Beckmann gave a soft laugh.
“Just like my ex-wife,” he said.
Howell shot him an amused look. “One hopes you didn’t give her all of it.”
Beckmann just shrugged. Howell glanced back at Nolan with new respect.
“Your audacity surprises me, but it concerns me as well. Dattar is not one to be stolen from. Also, are you quite sure that you got it all?”
“As of two days ago I was.”
“She can’t access the Internet. It’s how they’re tracking her,” Smith said.
“Is there no computer here?”
Smith pushed off the counter. “Actually, I hadn’t gotten that far when I bumped into you.”
“There’s a Mac in the living room. It should be clean,” Nolan said.
“Would you mind checking?” Howell said.
“Not at all.” They followed Nolan into the living room and waited while she accessed various sites. After a moment Smith heard her suck in a breath. “Twenty million dollars was deposited in one of his Cayman accounts twenty-four hours ago. It’s a functioning account that the authorities must have overlooked.”
“Can you find its source?”
Nolan worked the keyboard, keeping her focus on the screen. “It came from a wire. I can’t access the routing numbers. I’m sorry.”
“Seems as though Dattar has arranged some interim financing,” Howell said.
Smith began to pace. “So he’s back in the game. We need to flush him out.” Smith focused on Nolan. “It has occurred to me, as well as to Russell, that dangling you and his money might encourage him to come out of hiding.”
Nolan sat back in her chair, a thoughtful look on her face. To Smith’s relief she didn’t appear outraged or betrayed by his suggestion. He watched her think the proposition through. Howell raised an eyebrow at Smith but refrained from commenting, and Beckmann shifted forward in his seat. After a long pause she looked up at Smith and her usual determined expression was back.
“Would all three of you gentlemen be present to take Dattar down once he appears?”
“Yes,” Smith said without hesitation.
“I’d like nothing better,” Howell replied.
Beckmann nodded. “Of course.”
“Then let’s do it,” Nolan said.
35
Wendel drove into the parking lot near CIA headquarters, killed the engine, and sat back with a sigh. She’d driven through the night, gone to her house for a short nap, and come straight to the office. She collected her things, along with her keycard and a briefcase, and headed inside. Marty was due to call in thirty minutes. He needed her help from within the compound in order to continue his search for the mole. Russell had given him her password and access codes, but now that the stalker had found him through that patch, he wanted hers as a new entry point. He also wanted both women’s computers turned on so that he could delve deeper.
The building was beginning to bustle in the morning. She passed through the security checkpoints in a tired daze. She made her way to her office, keeping her face neutral for the benefit of the security cameras that lined the halls. Inside, though, she was shaking. Turning on the computer was of minor assistance, but if the agency discovered that she’d helped an outsider to breach their network, she’d be charged with aiding and abetting treason. Yet she knew that it was necessary. The delayed transmissions had nearly killed Jordan and were compromising God knows how many other missions. Her office was past Russell’s. As she got nearer to Russell’s office, she saw that the door was closed, which was odd. She was almost sure it had been open when she’d last seen it. She slowed, not sure that she wanted to confront whoever was in the office. She knocked once and opened the door.