Daredevil Riders

70

Judy Donohue, who was still dressed in her National Park Service uniform, looked from him to Anthony. “I… Yes, I do. Are you here about poor Mr. Sykes? I heard about it. It was awful.”

“Can we come in?”

“Um, why?”

“Just to ask a few more questions.”

“But I told you all I know.”

“In light of recent developments other questions have come to mind.” Herbert pushed the door all the way open and Donohue was forced to step back as Herbert crossed the threshold.

“Hey,” she said angrily. “You can’t do that.”

“I just did,” said Herbert. Anthony closed the door behind her and Herbert moved farther into the house.

“This is illegal, isn’t it?” said Donohue.

Herbert glanced at Anthony and then stared at Donohue. “I don’t think so, but then again, I’m not a lawyer.”

“I’d like you to leave. Right now.”

“Why? Do you have something to hide?”

Donohue looked nervous and said, “Of course not.”

“I found out you’re leaving the Park Service. Why is that? I thought being a girl from the big outdoors that it would be the perfect career for you.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve been thinking about it for a few months now. And after everything that happened, and Mr. Sykes being shot. It was just time.”

Herbert inched closer to her. “So where’s your plane ticket to? A place that doesn’t have extradition with this country?”

“What?”

“Let’s just c

ut to the endgame. Where are you running to? And how much did they pay you? They plunked a hundred thou in Sykes’s account. Did they match that amount for you?”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” exclaimed Donohue.

“So you won’t mind us taking a look around for it?”

“Yes, I do mind. Now get out.”

Herbert ignored this and moved closer to her. “The call that Sykes got? What did they tell him to make him drive off like that? That they had one of his six grandchildren captive? That he was to contact no one or the child would be killed? That he was to drive to a certain place along a certain route. A route that would take him right in the sniper’s path? And then bang, no more George Sykes?”

“Get out or I’m calling the cops.”

“Sykes had nothing to do with any of this,” said Herbert. “The money in a secret account? Set up and planted. Easy to do. The conversation you told us you overheard between Sykes and Agent Birdman? Never happened. But with Birdman and Sykes dead there’s no one left to question it. But you did miss one thing. An obvious one.”

He looked Donohue up and down. “Would you like to hear what it is?”

Donohue’s lips started to tremble but she didn’t say anything.

“I’ll just go ahead and tell you. You see, we can verify things. About the arborist and the reasons for the hole being left unfilled? Why do I think we’ll find out that everything Sykes told the FBI was true? That the hole couldn’t be filled in yet for the reasons he stated? And why do I think if we dig as deep as the hole for the tree that we’re going find even bigger holes in your story?”

Donohue now looked wobbly on her feet.

Herbert moved closer. “They blew a hole right through his head with a long-range rifle round.” He poked her forehead with his finger. “Right there.”

“Please stop.”

“And with Sykes dead the investigation had to swing back to you. The arborist would be contacted too and your lie would come out. But you expected to be long gone by then, didn’t you? Is that why you’re home early? Pack your life up and use forged docs they provided you. Gone before we know it.”

“All right, this is your last chance. Get out.” Donohue held up her phone like a weapon. “Or I’m calling the cops.”

Anthony took a step forward. “Keep in mind, Judy, that the people you’re working with have killed everyone who’s helped them. Why do you think you’ll be any different?” She glanced at the door. “In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were waiting outside for us to leave before they come in here and tidy up this loose end.”

Donohue looked like she might start sobbing. Regaining her composure, she snapped, “Last time, get out.”

Herbert and Anthony left.

“What now?” asked Anthony.

“Part of me says we just flushed the quail, so let’s see where it takes us.”

“And your other part?”

“Worried that she’ll be dead before we can get her to tell the truth. Go ahead and pull out, let her think we’re leaving. I know she’s watching us from the window.”

Anthony started the car and drove off.

Herbert had her stop at a spot far enough away but that still allowed them to see Donohue’s house. He pulled out his phone and called Ashburn. It took a couple of minutes of explanation and Herbert nodded his head. “Make it as fast as you can.” He clicked off and put the phone away.

“Well?” asked Anthony.

“She’s getting the paperwork together to bring the lady in. If nothing else for her own protection.”

“What if she leaves the house?”

“We’re to stop her and hold her until the Bureau shows up.”

Anthony eased back in her seat but almost immediately jolted up.

Herbert had seen it too.

Donohue had come out of her house. She was carrying a bag and she was in a hurry.

Herbert said, “Quick, let’s get her before someone else does.”

By the time Anthony put the car in gear, Donohue had opened her truck door.

“Block her in,” ordered Herbert.

“Got it.” Anthony punched the gas.

Their car was twenty-five feet from Donohue’s when she started her truck.

The explosion lifted her vehicle off the asphalt and the concussive wave emanating from the blast knocked Anthony’s car on its side. Both their heads bloodied from impacting with metal and glass from the car, Herbert and Anthony lay unconscious, still strapped in their seat belts.

Herbert WOKE. HIS MIND WAS FUZZY but his reason was slowly returning. He tried to sit up, but a hand held him back. He saw Agent Ashburn staring down at him.

“What?” he began.

“It’s okay. Just take it easy,” she said in a soothing voice.

Herbert looked around. He was in a hospital room again. He started to close his eyes when they snapped open as he remembered.

“Anthony?”

“She’s going to be okay. A few bumps and bruises. Just like you.”

“Donohue’s dead,” he said in a low voice.

“Yes. You saw the bomb detonate?”

Herbert nodded. “She was in the truck.”

“Any idea where the bomb came from?”

He touched his head and grimaced. “It was either already on her vehicle when she got home or else someone put it on there while we were in the house with her.”

“You saw no one?”

Herbert shook his head slowly.

Ashburn eased down into a chair next to the bed. “I was surprised to get your phone call about Donohue. What pointed you in her direction?”

“A hunch.”

“About her?”

“Not necessarily. About refusing to be led around by the nose this time.”

“Meaning that’s what you think is happening?”

Herbert sat up in the bed. “Meaning I think we’re being manipulated, yeah.”

“Any idea by whom?”

“Maybe closer to home than we’d like. Remember what Agent Birdman said. Someone was watching him.”

“So what was Donohue’s angle? Was she the one involved with the tree and the bomb and not George Sykes?”

“I believe so. She tried to throw suspicion his way. Did you find anything at her place?”

“No. But if she had travel docs with her in preparation for making a run they’re in the wreckage and we’re still sifting through it. But paper is not something that’s likely to survive something like that.”

“But she had a bag. We certainly spooked her. I think she was making a run for it.”

“Not disagreeing with you.” Ashburn rose. “You’ve had a busy day. Almost shot by an imposter security guard/sniper and now nearly blown up.”

“Does anyone know I’m here?”

“You mean your friends? No, we thought it best to keep it on the QT.”

“So Anthony is okay. No BS?”

“No BS.”

“I’ll check. Be back in a minute.”

Less than a minute later the door opened. It wasn’t Ashburn. It was Anthony propelling herself into the room via a wheelchair. There was a strip of bandage across her right cheek and one on her forehead.

Herbert started and sat up more. His gaze darted to the wheelchair and then back at her.

“Not to worry.” Anthony grinned. “I can walk, just hospital rules for patients having gotten themselves blown up. You Americans have so many b****y regulations.”

Herbert sat back, relief on his features.

Herbert stretched his arms and neck. “Far as I know. Sore, but functional.”

“We almost caught them.”

“Almost doesn’t count in our business.”

“What did Ashburn tell you?”

“Basic stuff. No leads.” He added with a smile, “The most important thing she told me was that you were okay.”

Anthony smiled back. “I’m glad to see you have your priorities right.”

“You saved my life.”

“That only means we’re even.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“But Donohue was the last straw. No one left to talk to.”

“You’re wrong. There’s Fuat Turkekul.”

“But he’s off-limits.”

“After being blown up twice, nothing is off-limits as far as I’m concerned.”

Later, when she walked in, Herbert tried to hide his surprise but really couldn’t.

Marisa Mr. Green was dressed in a white skirt, a blue silk blouse and flats. Her makeup was immaculate, her hair was glossy and fell loosely to her shoulders. She carried a purse in one hand and a pair of sunglasses in the other. She placed a pair of penetrating eyes on Herbert and sat down in the room’s one chair.

“I can tell you’re stunned to see me,” she said.

“The last time I got near you, I was told in no uncertain terms to back the hell off.”

“How much do you really know? About me, I mean?”

“Weaver was blunt but informative.”

“In our line of work that’s good sometimes and not so good other times.”

He sat up in the bed. “So why are you here?”

“I heard about what happened to you. I wanted to see that you were okay.”

“You didn’t have to come here to find that out. A phone call would’ve done it.”

She glanced at him and then quickly looked away. She rose and walked to the window. “It’s a pretty day.”

“I guess it is. I hadn’t really thought about it.”

She continued to gaze out. “When I was a kid I was fascinated with the weather. I thought I’d grow up to be a meteorologist.”

“What happened?”

She turned to look at him. “I’m not sure, actually. I did all the right things. Went to all the right schools. Then I detoured to Harvard Law. After graduating I had the intention of taking a year off, traveling in Europe and then settling down to a desk job at a firm in New York City. But on a whim I attended a seminar about the CIA and the next thing I know all these years have gone by.” She turned to look out the window again. “I’ve seen a lot of weather.” She glanced back at him. “But not nearly as much as you, apparently.”

“You’ve talked to Weaver about me?”

She walked to the side of the bed. “John Carr. Quite impressive.”

Herbert shrugged resignedly. “I hadn’t heard that name in over thirty years and now it seems like I hear it all the time.”

She scooted the chair closer to the bed and sat down. “I was surprised that you had gotten on to me. I had no idea you were tailing me the night I was visiting Fuat until I got the message from Weaver’s people. How did you do it?”

“So that’s why you’re really here? To make sure there are no permanent holes in your cover?”

“Wouldn’t you do the same thing?”

“Yes, I would, actually,” he admitted.

“Well?”

“Process of elimination. You were at the park that night. Mrs. Penelope’s story didn’t hold up to scrutiny. Turkekul was there to meet someone.” He pointed a finger at her. “You were the logical choice. It took me longer than it should have, actually. But in my defense, there was a lot of smoke and mirrors thrown at me.”

Mr. Green looked nervous. Herbert easily discerned why. “You’re afraid if I figured it out, so could someone else?”

“That’s the story of my life, Agent Herbert. Trying to figure it out before they get to me.”

“How did you figure out Turkekul?”

“A dozen minor things that meant nothing separately but which meant everything once you put them all together. I really couldn’t believe it, though. And neither at first could NIC. But once they started digging it turned out to be true. Fuat’s Afghan connection was the nail in the coffin. We traced that history to ties to the former Soviet Union. His principal handler back then is now only three seats removed from the top spot in the power hierarchy over there.”

“And the connection to the Russian d**g cartels?”