“But the form, was it legit? Was it a trap?” Valerie stuttered.
“It’s legit. And we’re here to help you,” Rogers said.
“Cut them loose,” Wilson ordered. “I’m going to call MP to confirm the Jessica Rosenthal story. Moe, secure the back door you came in through.” He stepped away from the room and paced back towards the front office as Tessman hurried to the back hallway.
Burke went over to Valerie Butler and cut the zip tie, freeing her hands.
“His vitals look much better,” Rogers said as Valerie stepped over to the exam table. “Let’s try to awaken him.”
Rogers made a fist and rubbed it hard against the unconscious man’s chest. “Wake up, come on, buddy, wake up.”
“Brandon, wake up,” Valerie chimed in.
He stirred and came to a semiconscious state. He was disoriented but recognized Valerie and addressed her by name. Burke wandered into the warehouse and tapped out a text message as he stood near the hood of the white SUV. He could hear Wilson’s end of the conversation from where he stood at the back of the vehicle.
“Yes, if you’d reach out to her and verify the story ASAP, that would help determine our next move,” Wilson said. He listenedto the conversation on the phone and stared at Burke. “Thanks, Woods.” Then he disconnected the call.
Burke walked to where Wilson stood. “I sent the additional info on the blackmail and injuries they treat here to Control. She’ll get it to both Smith and Big Bear.”
“Thanks,” Wilson said. He nodded towards the treatment room. “What do you think?”
“It’s elaborate if it’s a lie, which means it was prepared ahead of time,” Burke said. “She didn’t come up with all that on the fly.”
“No, she didn’t. And her husband and the other woman’s faces didn’t show surprise at anything she said,” Wilson agreed as Tessman stepped up to them.
“So that means there is a private militia operating up here,” Burke said.
“That explains the supplies in those storerooms,” Tessman said. “I have the back door secured.”
Wilson nodded.
“Do we try to infiltrate the militia? Brandon Ellison could help us with that,” Tessman said.
“No longer our mission,” Wilson said. “We work through what we have in front of us and get it turned over to the authorities.”
“When did that change?” Burke asked.
“I just changed it. This is bigger than anyone thought when we were given that part of the assignment. A lot more man power than the four of us is going to be needed to investigate this. I’m sure Big Bear will back me up on it,” Wilson said.
Burke chuckled. “You’re determined to have this wrapped up and get home by Christmas.”
“This is my first Christmas with Rae and Lilly. Unless something life-threatening goes down needing our team, I’d like to be there. This,” he said, his arm waving around the warehouse, “isn’t immediately life-threatening. It’ll keep for the feds to sort out, which I think will take them a while.”
Burke nodded. “They have the manpower. We don’t.”
“Okay, we get the Ellison kid in touch with his stepmom to talk some sense into him, get his agreement to cooperate, and then call the feds in and leave this mess in their laps.”
“Sounds good to me,” Burke said.
“And if Big Bear doesn’t agree?” Tessman asked.
“Then I guess we’re all going to miss Christmas this year,” Wilson said.
The three men walked back into the treatment room. The kid on the table was looking more alert. Valerie Butler was just tellinghim what had happened and where he was. She also told him that they were federal agents.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Brandon Ellison erupted with more energy than anyone would have thought he had in him. “Do you have any idea how livid my father is going to be about this?”
“He won’t know,” Valerie said.
