Adara said, “Ali did not discover your foray into baccarat, but Yusuf did.” She nodded at the older man. “Yusuf finds out most everything about anyone who could be important to us.”
The older man, Yusuf—was that his real name?—studied him a moment. Was he considering pulling a knife out of his pocket and stabbing Khaled in the neck?
Yusuf nodded to the two younger men and each gave Khaled his first name.
Yusuf said, “You wonder perhaps that a woman is part of our brotherhood. You must accept that she is or we will say goodbye to you.”
“I will admit to being surprised by most everything I’ve heard this evening,” Khaled said, and again smiled. “But having met Adara even briefly, I doubt she would have it any other way. I hope my being here means she approves of me.”
Adara patted his arm. “We shall see. We would like you to join us for dinner at the Carousel Club for more discussion. I trust you like French cuisine and a fine wine?”
Three hours later, once back in his flat, Khaled went into his kitchen, made coffee, twisted the left leg of his kitchen table a quarter turn, and pulled out his burner mobile. He plugged the recorder into the USB port and sent his recording to John Eiserly. Then he texted his impressions:
A lot of polished rhetoric, but nothing damning or specific was said, either at the Said house or at the Carousel club. You’ll hear some probing questions and I trust I responded believably.
Yusuf seems to be in charge. He is by far the oldest of the fourand smart, I think, very smart. I imagine he could have nodded and either of the young men would have stuck a knife in my gut. Or perhaps it is Adara who is in charge. She was treated with great respect, deferred to. The two young men were acolytes, men you would think would be talking of sports and their love of Guinness. I will await further contact, I hope from Adara Said.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Rebel Navarro house
Titusville, Virginia
Friday evening
Rebel and Tash greeted Autumn and her parents at his front door. Tash was nearly bouncing, he was so excited they’d come; he was talking a mile a minute. “Uncle Rebel made paella, his mom’s recipe, and it’s filled with all kinds of fish and shells and tomatoes—”
Rebel laughed. “Tash was my cheering section. I just hope it’s edible,” he said, and waved them into the living room. Joanna had never been in Rebel’s house, and she looked around her, admired the high ceilings, the beautiful woodwork, and the art on the pale yellow walls. She said, “I’ve wanted to see your house, Rebel, after Autumn described it to me. Ethan told me you and the architect worked together on it. It’s beautiful.”
Rebel thanked her and gave Ethan Merriweather a beer, Joanna a white wine, and Autumn and Tash iced tea, with lots of lemon.
Tash said, “Uncle Rebel sent off his book to New York and he said now he can breathe for a while. He read me parts of the book and it’s really scary. I nearly jumped a mile when the hero got a net thrown over him and he was pulled up and he was hanging from a tree branch, and there were snakes and—”
“As I said, my cheering section,” Rebel said, and hugged Tash against his side.
The doorbell rang. Rebel excused himself and walked to the front door.
The two FBI agents stood outside, holding up their creds to him, their faces grim.
Briggs stepped forward. “You’re under arrest, Mr. Navarro, for wire fraud and conspiracy.”
Before he knew what was happening, Briggs had whirled him around and the other one, Morales, had fastened zip ties to his wrists.
Morales said, regret and disappointment in her voice, “We’ll be asking Child Protective Services to send someone over to take your nephew, Tash, into foster care.”
Ethan Merriweather pulled his badge from his shirt pocket. “I’m Sheriff Ethan Merriweather. Please show me your warrant and your credentials,” and he stuck out his hand.
Briggs said, “Stay out of this, Sheriff. This is a federal matter.”
“I would like to see your warrant and your credentials,” Ethan repeated, his hand still out.
“Don’t move, boyo,” Briggs said to Rebel. He and Morales handed Ethan their credentials and Morales pulled out a warrant from her coat pocket. Ethan read it over. “You’re arresting Mr. Navarro on charges he was involved in the theft from the Navarro Investment Fund?”
“That’s right. As you see, Sheriff, everything is in order. We’re taking Mr. Navarro to Philadelphia, where he’ll be questioned.”
Morales said, “Mr. Navarro, I suggest you contact your lawyer and have him or her meet us at the Federal Building on Abbott Street.”
“Uncle Rebel!” Task flung himself at Rebel, wrapped his arms around his waist. He yelled at the agents, “You can’t take him anywhere! He didn’t do anything. Let him go!”
