“Nobody. I used a dedicated air-gapped device for this stuff. No network connection except when I was actively sending or receiving messages.”
“Where’s that device now?” Trent asked.
“In my apartment in Arlington.”
“You want us to believe you left that behind?” Jake scoffed.
“I couldn’t exactly bring it through TSA screening. So, yeah, it’s hidden in my workshop.”
Ryan, who’d been silent until now, spoke up from beside Omar. “Does anyone have a key to your apartment? A partner? A relative?”
“No. I’m alone.” He gestured to his wheelchair. “Ever since I got out of the Walter Reed, it’s just been me and my hot rod.”
“What about a cleaning service? Maintenance workers?” Ryan pressed.
“I don’t use a service. And maintenance would have to schedule with building management. They can’t just walk in.”
Omar’s mind raced through the possibilities. If Cal wasn’t accessing his own email, then someone else had the device. Or had hacked his system remotely. But Cal said it was air-gapped.
Unless—
“Cal,” Omar said slowly. “When’s the last time you physically checked on that device?”
Cal thought for a moment. “Right before I left for Calgary.”
“And it was secure? Exactly where you left it?”
“Yeah. In the false bottom of my tool chest. Sonofa?—”
“What?”
“A couple weeks ago, I had a break-in. Nothing was taken. I figured it was just some junkie looking for cash or electronics. But they went through my workshop. Made a mess of it.”
“And you didn’t think to mention this to security?” Jake’s voice was dangerously quiet.
“I reported it to the police. Filed a report. They dusted for prints, found nothing.”
Omar stood and paced the small room. “Did you tell your handler how you were communicating with them? The air-gapped device you were using?”
Cal was silent.
“Answer the question,” Ryan said in a warning tone.
He sighed. “Yeah. I thought they’d be impressed.”
Jake shook his head. “They weren’t looking for valuables. They were looking for your communication device. And they found it.”
“And evidently cloned it,” Cal said sourly. “Because I’ve received instructions, but I haven’t sent anybody anything since I left Virginia.”
‘So, they can access everything you can access, and they can pretend to be you. Looks like you’ve been nominated as the fall guy for this enterprise.” Jake laughed. “Chelsea would call that karma.”
Cal’s face contorted with panic. “You gotta help me. I changed my mind. That’s why I came here. To intercept the shipment. Try to make things right.”
“Make things right,” Trent repeated. “By doing what, exactly?”
“By documenting the explosives. Getting proof. Turning it over to the authorities.”
“Instead of coming to us,” Jake said.
