“They know he’s a prepper, but they don’t know the extent of the connection he has to Mark,” Stacy said.
“So you did tell them Brandon was there,” Tessman charged.
“I didn’t. I wouldn’t interfere with what Valerie and Tom were trying to do, to get Brandon away from Mark and get him back in touch with Jessica. I supported her getting away from Mark, too.” Her gaze went to Brandon. “Sorry, Brandon, but your father’s a dangerous lunatic.”
“You’re a card-carrying member of the group, in it up to your fucking eyeballs, Brandon,” Burke said. “Something tells me Valerie doesn’t know to what extent. I’ve seen your arrest record.”
“I was raised in it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to get out,” Brandon said.
“Well, this is your chance. You have to come clean to the Feds we’re going to turn you over to,” Burke said.
“Did either of you recognize any of the men back at the warehouse?” Tessman asked. “Or the blue van?”
The two in the back seat exchanged another stare. “Yeah, they were from a group out of Green Bay. I recognized the blue van. The guy who owns it is a hardcore member,” Brandon said.
“He and the blue van have been at the warehouse a few times,” Stacy added.
“Give us his name and anything you know about him right now,” Burke barked.
“Guy Peterman. He lives in a little brick ranch in an old neighborhood a couple of blocks from Lambeau Field.”
“What’s the name of the street?” Burke pushed.
“I don’t know, but you can see the lettering on the stadium from his yard.”
“I’ll call it in. Did you hear all that, Taco?” Burke asked.
“Yeah,” Wilson replied. “It sounds like he has enough info to bring a lot of the group down if he tells the FBI everything he knows.”
Burke’s eyes flickered to his rearview mirror and Brandon Ellison. The question was, did he really want out?
Foxtrot
“Ithink we have a tail,” Burke said to Tessman and broadcasting it to Wilson and Rogers in the other SUV. “The silver Trailblazer.” The traffic had thinned out after the last exit. He’d been watching the Trailblazer as it had been hovering behind them since they got back on the interstate after their bathroom break. It had matched their speed.
“Only one way to be sure,” Wilson replied. “Let’s reduce our speed and let it pass us.”
Burke kept his eye on the rearview. After they’d dropped their speed by ten miles per hour, it took the Trailblazer a moment to react. It closed the distance before backing off. “I think we have our answer,” Burke transmitted.
“We’re coming up on a cross lane. Let’s pull U-ies and see what the Trailblazer does,” Wilson broadcast. “Let’s see if this guymoves it from passive to active pursuit. If he follows, I’d expect an attack.”
Wilson immediately pulled into the left lane. Burke followed. “We’ll soon see if there’s a second vehicle. If they only have one vehicle, they’re either amateurs or short-staffed.” Both situations were good for them. Snagging one of these guys to interrogate was the best-case scenario for them. His eyes went to his rearview, making eye contact with Ellison. “If your dad knows you're alive and thinks you’ll flip, will he move to eliminate you?”
The brake lights on the white SUV in front of them, just feet before the ‘Authorized Vehicles Only’ lane, happened as Ellison answered. “I truly have no idea what he’ll do.”
Burke braked hard. He took the U-turn at a high speed, spilling out onto the highway going in the opposite direction with squealing tires. Thankfully, there was no oncoming traffic. Tessman turned in his seat and watched the cross lane. The silver Trailblazer flew by it, but the blue minivan behind it turned onto the cross lane and then pulled out behind them.
“Gentlemen, we have a new tail, a blue Toyota Sienna,” Tessman broadcast.
Brandon Ellison turned in his seat to look back at the minivan.
“Do you recognize it?” Tessman asked.
“No, but I don’t know all the vehicles associated with the members of the local groups,” Ellison said.
Tessman’s eyes settled on Stacy questioningly.
“I don’t either,” Stacy insisted.
