Chapter 26
Inside the office, Colter turned around at the window beside the door and watched McGowan drive away. She might not be as fragile as he first thought when he discussed her candidacy with Leo. She had her own traumatic history, but she presented a tough exterior. Still, their profile of her indicated she was likely suffering from PTSD and was headed for a meltdown, probably sooner than later.
When she was nineteen, her father, for no reason she was aware of, set their house on fire, killed her mother, tried to kill her and then killed himself. She’d cheated on her husband, which their investigation indicated her daughter knew about, and was preparing to leave him when her FBI partner and lover, Travis Meyer, was killed in that fiasco at the Crowley farm. A few months later, her husband’s police car was T-boned, putting him in a coma for three months before he died. Every report indicated she was coping well with her husband’s death, the deaths of her colleagues and her daughter’s recent turn to shoplifting, but that had to be a strain on her.
Her FBI superiors had kept her on office duty despite being cleared in her psych evaluation. That was when she’d started exhibiting some emotional instability. She’d complained of being interfered with on the job, manipulated. Everyone was sympathetic, given what she had gone through, but her career at the FBI was over at that point.
It was only a matter of getting Mattie to contact her about the posting. They didn’t really need someone in her condition on the job, but having her in place would make the last phase of their operation go all that much smoother. And it would close the circle that had been her career in law enforcement.
His seven command crew members were waiting in his office.
“Where are we with everything?”
Jake Gotlieb, Tulsa, stood up first. “Necrosis is ready to initiate. We will have a bot-net of at least one hundred and fifty thousand computers infected and primed to attack once we send it through our connection.” He sat down.
Turner Byles, Slayer, stood up next. “The three stands for the fair are ready for assembly. The QR codes are attached. One swipe will make a nice splash when the time comes.”
“What about Portland?”
“Our man confirmed this morning that he can get the stuff through by Friday.” Slayer sat down.
Orville Rush, Sniper, stood up, his hands held behind his back. “Once it’s through Portland, we can have it prepped and delivered in twenty-four hours.” He sat down.
“Timing is crucial at this stage. Keep on top of everything.”
John Hill, Tracker, stood up.
“You have handed in your cell phone?”
“I have.”
“What we are working on here is vital to the interests of this country. Indeed, it could be said to be of the utmost importance to its national security. I’m sure you understand the precaution.”
“Of course.”
“You will go through a proper vetting process. Saturday was your first test. Once you have proven yourself to be worthy of our trust, some of our restrictions will be eased, if not lifted completely. But the cell phone rule is inviolate. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“Good. Until then, you are confined to base. Only supervised excursions offsite are permitted, and only if you are scheduled to be on that particular team. That brings me back to your first test. What have you to report?”
“Our next clients come in on Saturday.”
Bobby said, “Should we suspend those activities for now?”
“We’ll do nothing unusual that might draw more attention to us. I’ve already told McGowan I have one last group coming in.” He said to Tracker, “And the one that got away?”
“Sniper and I will take care of that Saturday night, sir.”
“See that this next bunch is better prepared and can get the job done. Is Stripes ready for deployment?”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Tracker sat down.
It was a good command crew. Only Tracker hadn’t been with him in Afghanistan, and he’d be kept under tight reign until the vetting was complete.
He turned to Billy and Bobby. “How’s our perimeter?”
Bobby said, “One more day and the grounds will be secure.”
Billy said, “The approaches are secure, sir.”
“Where are we on our packages?”
Billy said, “Wrapped and ready. Deliveries start tomorrow.”
Bobby said, “They’ve moved their cameras again, but we know where they are and can avoid them.”
“What about our recon and surveillance?”
Riefer Ogilvy, Maverick, stood up. “We can see anything we want. We can deliver anywhere, anytime.”
“What about the training exercises?”
“The first ones start in two days, sir.”
“Gentlemen, this is outstanding. I’m proud of all the work you’ve put in.” He retrieved a bottle of Parker’s Heritage Bourbon from a credenza and poured himself a full glass. “Complacency has settled over this country like a lead blanket. Our government is paralyzed and ineffective. It is up to us to teach some very hard but necessary lessons that will only make all of us stronger. Come, join me in a toast.”
His command crew got their drinks and stood around him.
“Once this operation is underway, there will be no turning back. Something like the Boston Marathon bombing will be impossible to repeat.” He raised his glass. “To victory.”
“To victory,” they all said and drank up.
“Keep up the excellent work, men. Dismissed.” He stopped Bobby and Billy from leaving and poured himself another drink. “Keep your eyes on Hill.” He drank the bourbon. “I need to tend to the senator for the next few hours. See that we’re not disturbed.”
The twins left as he poured himself another drink. After finishing a last shot of bourbon, he lit up a perfecto and headed for his house. Mattie, in a pink mini-skirt and sheer white blouse, was waiting for him on the front porch.
She smiled at the perfecto. “That brings back memories. Who is it today?”
“A senator.” He opened the door for her. “I was surprised when I learned he hadn’t met you yet, but I told him all about you and he’s very enthusiastic.”
“That will be refreshing. Leo has no imagination for the game anymore.” She sighed. “He’s getting very tedious.”
“Did he get the coyote?”
“It came Saturday afternoon.” She giggled. “He doesn’t like the way it stares at him. Did you do that on purpose?”
“It’s to remind him to get it right the first time. I had to finish it off when he got squeamish.”
“Let’s go.” She smiled demurely at the men watching her and puckered her lips into a kiss aimed at all of them before entering the house.
In the front hall, he pointed up the stairs. “It’s the same room you used last week. He wants to give you a massage.”
“What am I supposed to give him?”
“That’s between you two. As far as I’m concerned, you just need to do what he wants, smile for the camera and listen to everything he tells you when he gets chatty.”
“What’s this for?” She didn’t usually ask.
“Phthaluene.”
“What the hell is that? I can’t even say it.”
“It’s used to control pests on farms like mine. The European Union approved it three years ago, but our EPA is dragging its feet. I lost thirty percent of my crop last year. I can’t afford to lose that much again while bureaucrats sit around scratching their balls.”
She giggled again and started up the stairs.
“Just a moment.”
She stopped on the third stair and turned to face him. “Sweetie, we don’t want to keep the senator waiting.”
He stepped closer and placed his hands on her legs just above her knees. Caressing the inside of her thighs, he slid his fingers closer to the hem of her miniskirt. He puffed hard and frequently on his cigar, sending up a cloud of smoke between them.
&n
bsp; Mattie inhaled deeply. “Can I have that?”
“Just a few puffs for now.” He took his hands away and handed the perfecto to her. “Did you bring the wig?”
After three puffs, she exhaled hard and handed back the cigar. “God, I’d do anything for one of those. It’s in my bag, why?”
“He has a thing for Elke Sommers. Is that a problem for you?”
She shook her head. “I’ve worn wigs before. Who is Elke Sommers?”
“Just put on the wig and wear this.” He picked up a leather mask off the stairs and handed it to her.
“He wants that, too?”
“You don’t want to be recognized on the video, do you?”
“Right. I’ve done that before, too.”
“Show him a good time, then show him the video when you’re done and give him the envelope I put in the drawer. You know where.” He blew a puff of smoke at her, smacked her ass and sent her on her way.