Another ATF tech comes in behind us, taking photographs. I nudge Rizzo. “Let’s get out of her way.”
As we head down the stairs, we pass a few other techs comingup. Rizzo’s phone buzzes. She checks the screen just as we get out onto the sidewalk.
“Holy shit!”
“What’s that?” I ask, sneaking a peek at her screen.
“I just got the taggant codes for the C-4!”
“You’re welcome.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “What do you mean? What did you do?”
“I had a visit this morning from two CIA operatives. It turns out that Aiden Phillips was one of theirs—at least temporarily.”
“Huh. Do they know where the C-4 came from?”
“He stole it from the Taliban.”
Rizzo checks her screen again. “But these are American codes. This is our stuff.”
“Correct. Part of the huge pile we left behind in August of ’21. I’m thinking Phillips brought it back. Maybe he thought nobody would be able to trace it.”
“I’m thinking the other way. Maybe he knew wewould. Maybe—just maybe—he wanted us to find out.”
If so,I think with a shiver,that’s a whole different kind of message.
CHAPTER 69
Cross
ALEX CROSS IS IN his hotel room at the Carolina Inn, hanging up a few shirts that have just been delivered from the laundry service downstairs.
His phone rings.NO CALLER ID. It’s FBI agent Cannon, from the Charlotte field office.
Alex answers and starts pacing. “Drake! What’s going on?”
“To be clear, Dr. Cross,” says the agent, “I’m not officially calling you.”
“Got it.”
“Here’s the deal. We’ve got a wiretapping operation underway targeting a local chapter of the Dixie Mafia. Drugs, weapons smuggling. Nothing solid yet for our case, but in one of the meetings we recorded, I think your son might have come up. Not sure. One of the agents on the surveillance team tipped me off. I listened to the recording myself.”
Alex grips his phone tighter. “Damon came up? Came up how?”
“Not by name. And it could just be a coincidence. It was hard to make out, with all the crosstalk, but it sounded like a couple guys were laughing about some ‘uppity kid’ getting what he deserved.”
Alex feels his heart racing but keeps his voice level and calm. “Go on.”
“It wasn’t part of the main conversation, but they said something like ‘Why didn’t you take the bike when you were done with him? Could have gotten a few Benjamins for it.’”
Done with him?
Alex says, “Drake, can you bring these guys in for questioning?”
“Sorry,” says Cannon. “Like I said, we’re in the middle of an investigation. It’s been six months. We can’t compromise it now. Can’t give away the wire. I could get in big trouble for even telling you this.”
“I get it,” says Alex. “Where’s the bug?”
