“So you’re saying we have video feed of the bodies going in?” asked Sean.
“Yes we do. Nice and clear. And it turns out the guys who did the deed worked with Foster when she was stationed in the Far East. I guess she didn’t trust Quantrell to do the job right. We’ve picked up these men, and let’s just say they are being cooperative with the Bureau in building the necessary case.”
“Couldn’t have happened to two nicer people,” said Bunting, who looked and sounded far more confident now.
Harkes patted him on the arm. “Sorry I had to keep you in the dark on everything. And for roughing you up and threatening your family. The people I was dealing with were very smart and they were watching me the whole time. I had to play it right next to the edge to get them to trust me.”
Bunting said, “I have to admit, my suspicions about you were aroused after you let Avery live, even after I pushed the button.” He paused. “But now he really is dead.”
“No he isn’t. He’ll be waiting for you at the New York office on Monday.”
Bunting’s face collapsed. “What? But the phone call?”
“They wanted to kill him. But I convinced them we could always do it later. So we just did a little subterfuge on you instead. I wasn’t going to let them kill the kid.”
“Thank God for that.”
“And your family is safe and sound under federal eyes.”
“I know. I spoke to my wife.” He hesitated. “I’m thinking about taking some time off. I believe the E-Program can survive without me for a bit.”
“I think that would be a great idea,” said Paul. “And quite frankly Eddie needs a break, too. And he and his big sister are going to start spending more time together, starting right now.”
Harkes walked off to finish what he’d started a long time ago.
“A good guy to have on your side,” said Paul, as she watched him go.
“I’m sure he said the same thing about you,” replied Bunting.
“How did you two meet?” asked Sean.
“Let’s just say it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Sean was about to respond when his phone buzzed. He looked down and recognized the caller’s name.
It would be a call that would change absolutely everything for Sean King.
CHAPTER 86
THE DREAMLINER 787 LANDED at Dulles Airport right on time, and the jumbo jet slowly came to a halt. The pilot taxied the plane to an open space on the outskirts of the airport property. There were two SUVs waiting at this spot. The jet door opened, a set of portable steps was wheeled into place, and Mason Quantrell walked down them. He was dressed in pressed jeans and a white shirt with a North Face parka over that. He had a briefcase in hand. He looked casual and happy.
He smiled and waved when the window of one of the SUVs rolled down and he saw Harkes sitting inside. He climbed in next to him.
“Good flight?” asked Harkes.
“Fine, fine. Got your message. We were just descending into Dulles. Sounds like it could not have gone better.”
“No, it really couldn’t have,” replied Harkes.
“I can’t wait to hear all about it. Why don’t we drive to my home in Great Falls? My chef studied in Paris and my wine cellar is open for your inspection. We can have something to eat and you can debrief me.” He paused and added, “Does Foster know yet?”
Harkes smiled. “I was saving the best for last.”
Quantrell laughed. “You’ve set it up beautifully. She will be beholden to me forever since we saved her tight little ass. I can get any budget increase I want through now.”
“We need to make one little detour,” said Harkes.
Quantrell looked at him. “What? Where.” Quantrell also noticed that the SUV had not started up. They weren’t moving.
Harkes rolled his window down again and motioned with his hand.
“What are you doing, Harkes?”
Quantrell flinched when the truck door was ripped open and four men appeared there.
“FBI,” said the lead agent. “Mason Quantrell, you’re under arrest.”
As the agent read Quantrell his rights, Harkes opened his car door, climbed out, closed the door behind him, and walked off.
He never looked back.
One down, one to go.
Ellen Foster had bathed, taken time over her hair, and dressed meticulously. She now sat in a chair in the front room of her beautiful home, in her fashionable neighborhood filled with highly accomplished people. This was where she belonged, she was sure of that. She had overcome much to get to this point in her life. And now?
When the message had come it was an unexpected one. She had thought it would be Harkes informing her that everything was fine. That would have been the fair and just thing, Foster firmly believed. Only life was often neither fair nor just. This was one of those times, unfortunately.
Sitting in her bathroom in front of her mirror applying her makeup, she had thought a lot about the last few years of her life. They had been filled with many triumphs and a few unavoidable failures – like her marriage. Her husband was rich but not nearly as famous as his wife, and that had grated on him. A supremely insecure man despite his fortune, he had finally driven away all the feelings she once had for him.
The divorce had made some headlines and then died away. And her life had gone on. As it should have.
She sat with her hands neatly folded in her lap as she gazed around the perfectly appointed room. It really was a beautiful space; she’d been so content here. So happy. It was a perfect blend of seemingly blissful domestic life and professional superstardom. She touched her earrings. Extravagant gifts from her ex. The necklace she wore was worth fifty thousand dollars. The diamond and sapphire ring nearly twice that. She wanted to look perfect for this, her final act.
It was an act necessitated because Harkes had betrayed her.
Harkes had been working for others. He had not been loyal. Instead of helping her, he had succeeded in destroying her. The underling had turned on its mistress. She should have seen it coming. But it was too late for that now.
Life really was unfair. All she had done was try to keep the country safe. That was her job. And for that, this was her reward?
She heard the trucks screech to a halt in front of her home. She rose, went over to the secretary, and removed the gun from its hiding place. She wondered briefly how the papers would initially report it. Not that it mattered, really. Her ex-husband would be mildly surprised, she assumed, though he’d remarried a far younger woman and was starting on the family she had never wanted to have with him.
Foster did regret that she would have no one to mourn her. That was sad, she concluded.
The footsteps raced up the front porch.
Her security detail would be powerless to stop them.
That was all right. She didn’t need them to be stopped.
They had a warrant, she was sure of that.
She shook her head, took a breath.
They were right at the door. They pounded on it.
“FBI,” one deep voice said. “Secretary Foster, please open the door.”
She lifted the Glock to her right temple, positioning herself such that she would fall onto the couch. She smiled. A soft landing. She deserved that. It was fortunate that she had taken two Valium. That made things far less stressful. Anyone contemplating killing herself, she thought, should take advantage of the product.
The FBI gave one last warning. She could envision the hydraulic ram being placed against her front door. It was hundred-year-old reclaimed wood. It would not yield easily. She had a few more seconds.
She wondered if Harkes would be with them. She wanted to look into his eyes one more time. She would beat him still. She wanted to see the triumphant look ripped right off his face as the bullet slammed into her head. But he probably wouldn’t be.