"Stop by and see Ian. Mike is on his way back from overseas. Everyone is confirmed for the conference call, but Mia needs to speak to you before that."
"Thanks.”
His brother’s voicemail made him uneasy, and the return call made on his way to Ian's office went unanswered. Esther, Ian's Gal Friday, and the organization's unofficial controller, a bit mother and part James Bond's Money Penny, ushered him inside.
"The switch in my schedule let me catch up on some outside chores. Remind me to do it more often. What did Homeland Security's deputy undersecretaries want?" His brow quirked. "Caught sight of them exiting the building on my way in. Guess they don't want to talk to the new guy."
Federal agencies consistently contracted on certain high-profile matters. The fourteen men invited to join the Chase brothers’ new private high-level protection company upon separation from active duty were all commissioned Homeland Security investigators. Troy Bremen, the fifteenth man who joined the fellowship two months after the founding, held the title too. The credentials gave them legal accessibility to top-secret databases as well as arrest capabilities. One band of men did everything from crowd control to covert activities, and now, thirty-five Eagle’s Talon teams had been formed. For those privileges, the U.S. government gained help in affairs relating to customs, immigration, weapons, cybercrime and money laundering. The operators could go into gray areas.
"Doesn't matter what they think—didn't promote you for your roguish looks. Brynn wanted info you refused to share." Ian aired finger quotes. "You're their point of contact. For a moment, I thought they were going to come to blows after she pitched a bitch, and Todd threatened to take her off the case.”
Martin shook his head. "Glad I pulled our people out. Threat management is performing another appraisal. Technical analysis traced what's being marketed and linked the purchases to the stolen identifications. An unknown target is filming, copying, marketing and distributing violent pornography, some involving very young children.
"The identities and credit cards are being usurped from a catalog database. A consumer makes a purchase for an amount over five hundred dollars. A fraudulent bank card is opened in their name. The thief creates an email address, uses a burner phone and a drop box. A cash advance is made, deposited to an account in the assumed name and cashed out. By the time the theft registers, the paper trail is destroyed. They all have one data hub handling transactions inside the continental U.S. in common."
"Todd shared two new important pieces of intelligence when Brynn stepped out. The details are being appropriated from terminals in Silverton." Ian made eye contact with Martin.
Silverton, Iowa, was Martin's hometown. A three-hundred-acre farm for corn, soybeans, pigs, and egg-laying chickens on the outskirts of the southeast side was still home to his parents, brother, and sisters and their families. "Can I run this by you? Austin's wife is about to have their first kid. Is it alright with you if I head out and coordinate the case from there when it goes hot?"
"Ask the CEO. Congratulations, Uncle Martin. You can tell them you’ve had some practice.
"Need to get used to that.” Martin smiled at a memory from March. Ian had left for a meeting at the Pentagon. While sitting with Ian’s wife, Cassie, discussing potential nannies for their coming twins, an attempt to take a warm shower for a backache turned into rapid onset labor. Kieran scrambled to call his brother home, while Martin turned from her security chief to coach. Ian arrived just in time to stand in wonderment at the birth of his sweet twins, Sarah and Joshua Chase. He shook off the happy memory and asked, “What was the second piece of information?"
"Homeland lost two more of their people."
"Damn, what were they doing?"
"No time to tell me. Brynn never mentioned it. Cassie dislikes her, says she's a cougar."
"That wouldn't be my word, but she does like you." With a hearty laugh, he returned to his office. Checking off a few more things on his list, he headed to the teleconference room for the leadership call.
Inside the room, screens flashed as they connected digital calls to each location head and their seconds-in-command from London, New York, Denver, and San Diego. The DC personnel joined Martin.
With the meeting called to order, Martin’s thoughts drifted to his adult life and how he spent most of his time with these people, some from his Navy days and some through his job. The recent restructuring, creating Chase Security International, promoted him up the chain. The change didn't alter his easy-going demeanor. The men and women in the room understood when action was needed, he was a fierce, unflinching role model.
The meeting covered major personnel issues and staffing shortages.
Karen slipped inside, her expression filled with fear. "I'm sorry to interrupt. Can you step out?" Her hands shook.
"Tony, continue for me. Be right back." He hesitated before leaving the room.
"Your dad called. There’s an emergency." She twisted her wrists.
"Did he say what about?" He picked up speed.
Sprinting to his office, she ran beside him, "Austin," she gasped.
"Marty,” a breathless Dennis Bailey answered.
His voice dropped. "What's happened?"
"Austin was shot. The ambulance is rushing him to Horizon. The chief said it's bad."
"Was he wearing his vest?" he sputtered.
"Don't know. Janey, Mom, Livvy, Mandy, and I are on our way."
"I'll be there as fast as I can. Dad, tell him...tell him I love him." After a stabilizing breath, he turned to his secretary. "Call Esther and have her make my arrangements; I need to go to Iowa."
