‘I’m sure you’ve got a million questions.’
‘Nothing I need to waste everyone’s time with right now. You haven’t got the next demand letter yet, have you?’
‘Not yet,’ Lasker said.
‘Chances are the price will be going up. Do you think the delivery will be as difficult?’
‘We hope not,’ the director said. ‘But I wouldn’t bet on it.’
Kaulcrick said, ‘We were hoping to identify them first.’
‘Any promising leads?’
Neither Kate nor Kaulcrick answered. Finally Lasker said, ‘Not really.’
‘That’s too bad, but I guess it won’t affect me finding Bertok, which, by the way, is not going to be easy.’
Everyone was silent for a few seconds before the director said, ‘Actually the two problems may overlap. All three victims, and the agent at the drop, were killed with the same gun, a Glock model 22. That’s the same model Bertok carried.’
‘There are thousands of those guns out there,’ Vail said. ‘Why would you think he could be involved?’
‘Well, he was designated by name to make the drop, and whoever is doing this has a good knowledge of extortions, which Bertok worked. Plus he did disappear along with the money. I certainly hope he’s not involved, but to be perfectly honest, we don’t know.’
‘If it’s him, why this last murder?’
Kaulcrick said, ‘In theory, he could be looking down the road for a defense. Why would he kill again if he already had the money? He’s in law enforcement. He’s used to seeing people getting caught when they thought they couldn’t be. It’s cheap insurance. Three murders or four, they can only give him the needle once.’
‘I guess it’s possible, although that would take someone who is extremely cold – but I suppose two million dollars can get you to a lot of warm places,’ Vail said.
Lasker said, ‘So, Steve, will you help us?’
‘If I agree, I have a couple of conditions.’
‘I’m certain we can work them out.’ The director opened a drawer, took out a black case with a gold FBI shield pinned to the outside, and slid it across the desk.
Vail opened the credentials and looked at his photo, which had been taken during new agents’ training. ‘It’s hard to believe I was ever that…on board.’ He closed the case and put it in his jacket pocket.
‘Whether you find Bertok or not, I can make that permanent, with all the seniority, including the time you’ve been out of government service.’
‘I appreciate the offer, but it may be premature. I’m not here to find out if I can now be a good soldier. I know I can’t. What you want me to do is difficult, which means, because of the methods I may find necessary, it’s likely just a matter of time until you’ll regret bringing me into this.’
‘Right now that’s a chance I’m willing to take.’
Vail smiled. ‘That’s exactly what my last ASAC said to me.’
The director forced a short laugh. ‘Okay, but if you don’t want your job back, we’ll have to pay you something. How about a percentage of any money recovered, or a flat amount for finding Bertok?’
‘Which brings us back to the conditions. Two items. First, I’m sure at some point I’ll have to get assistance from FBI field offices. Unless SACs have changed, they’re not going to like taking orders from some imported street hump. So I’m going to need someone with enough capital letters in front of his – or her – name to make those guys nervous.’
‘Like Deputy Assistant Director Bannon?’ Lasker said.
Vail looked at her. ‘How about it, Kate, think you can make the right men tremble?’
She felt herself starting to blush, but extinguished it with a sarcastic smirk. ‘Looks like I’m going to be the one taking orders from some imported street hump.’
‘And second?’ the director asked.
‘That I not be paid.’
Confusion narrowed the director’s eyes. ‘That doesn’t make any sense.’
Vail smiled. ‘If I’m being paid, sooner or later someone will consider me an employee and start giving me orders. We all know how that’ll end. No, my payment is to not have to take orders from anyone. Maybe when we’re done – if I’m successful – I’ll add up my hours and you can pay me the hourly rate for a bricklayer.’
‘Then what’s to prevent you from becoming a loose cannon?’ Kaulcrick asked.
‘Hopefully nothing.’
‘I have to tell you, I voted against bringing you into this,’ Kaulcrick said. ‘I’m sorry. There’s enough confusion.’
‘If you keep being that honest, Don, you and I will survive. Even through the confusion.’
Lasker said, ‘If you don’t want anything more than a pittance, why would you take on something like this?’
Vail looked over at Kate. ‘Apparently, because I can.’
Vail sat at the desk in his D.C. hotel room reading from the laptop computer Kate Bannon had given him. Everything from the Rubaco Pentad case, including crime-scene photos, lab reports, and surveillance logs, had been downloaded into it. For such a clandestine operation, an incredible amount of material had been reduced to writing. As he took another bite of the cold room-service hamburger, there was a knock at the door.
It was Kate. Although holding a briefcase with both hands in front of her, indicating her visit was official, she had changed clothes and was wearing a dress and heels. ‘Hi,’ she said, and walked in, looking around. ‘How’s the room?’
‘You’ve seen my apartment, how good does it have to be?’
‘Good, good,’ she said distractedly. ‘Is there anything else you need?’
‘What are you offering?’ he said in a playful voice.
‘Equipment, bricklayer, equipment. Like an agent’s handbook or a pair of brass knuckles.’
‘I’m not the kind of person who thinks about his obituary, but I’d hate for it to read, “He died because he brought a laptop to a gunfight.”’
‘Okay, I’ll get you a weapon,’ she said. ‘We’ll need to get you to a firearms range to qualify.’
‘Do you really think there’s time for that?’
‘It’s
