“Which is why only the wealthiest of clients can afford him,” Jake added.
“Okay,” Zade joined in. “This Akmar’s a total douche. What does he have to do with Craig Wyatt?”
They all waited as McQueen changed the picture once more. On the left half of the screen was the same picture of Wyatt from before.
Dressed in his military-issued desert camo, the guy was smiling for the camera. In a casual stance, he loosely held his AR-15 with one hand and had his other shoved into his pants pocket.
They each had pictures just like it from their time overseas. Finding something to smile or laugh about in the midst of Hell was definitely worth remembering.
Nate’s gaze slid to the right, and his stomach dropped. What he saw there was a thing of nightmares.
Craig Wyatt, or what was left of him, was handcuffed to a chair. It was obvious the man was dead.
From what Nate could see, the former SEAL had been badly beaten, either stabbed or shot in the gut, and his pinky, ring, and middle fingers on his left hand had been severed.
“Jesus,” Nate muttered beneath his breath.
“Achim?” Kole asked Jake.
“It certainly fits his M.O.”
“What the hell was Wyatt involved in that would bring this sort of shit down on him?” Zade directed the question to Gabe, but it was Jake who answered.
“That’s what we’ve been hired to find out.”
“I’m all about taking more of Ryker’s money”—Matt piped up—“but Craig Wyatt was Navy. Shouldn’t NCIS be investigating this?”
Jason Ryker, the man Matt was referring to, was R.I.S.C.’s Homeland Security handler. As head of a covert intelligence department within Homeland, Ryker often hired R.I.S.C. to perform ops the government couldn’t officially be involved in.
“There are complications that come with this particular job,” McQueen answered.
He changed the screen again to show United States President, James Russell, and another man.
The picture was taken during a highly-publicized meeting. Both dressed in suits, the two men smiled as they walked together down one of the many White House hallways.
“Isn’t that Edric Yavuz?”
Jake nodded. “The current president of Turkey.”
“Ah, hell.” Matt leaned back in his chair. “I do not have a good feeling about this.”
“You shouldn’t,” Gabe said matter-of-factly.
“According to Homeland’s intel, President Yavuz has possible connections to Achim Akmar.”
“Connections. What exactly does that mean?” Zade asked their boss.
“It means chatter’s been picked up and suspicions have been raised that our guy Akmar is on Yavuz’ payroll.”
“Hold up,” Nate jumped in. “Are we really saying Turkey’s president, the same guy who’s been all over the news lately professing his love for America, ordered the torture and subsequent murder of an American soldier?”
“That’s what Homeland needs to know.”
“Again,” Matt piped up. “Y’all know I’m not one to turn down money, but why all the secrecy? Why not have the CIA or one of the other alphabet agencies look into this?”
Gabe looked across the table to Matt. “Can you imagine if this shit leaks, and it turns out we’re wrong? President Russell is supposed to sign that treaty agreement with Yavuz in a few weeks. If the intel isn’t solid and someone’s just trying to set Yavuz up, it could end badly for both countries.”
“Gabe’s right,” Jake agreed. “According to Ryker, the Secretary of the Navy doesn’t want to touch this one. Frankly, I can’t say I blame him.”
