He let her know, “I’m not crazy. I know when something looks and smells wrong. I know when to retreat. That’s why I’m still alive.”
“I’ll remind you of that.”
“Also, I had another thought about the Hen House. According to Raúl, it’s run by MBR-200, which is connected to the regime. So this raises the question of why Mercer would be in a place that he must know has connections to the mob who have connections to the government—a place where he’d be likely to run into MBR-200 guys, police, and even government officials.” He reminded Taylor, “Simpson said Mercer looked comfortable there. Like he ran the place, or maybe he was there for some reason other than to dip his wick.”
She nodded. “We’ve established that Al Simpson uses colorful language in his eyewitness account.”
“Point is, if I were a gringo on the run, I’d pick someplace else in Caracas to hang out and have a beer. Unless…”
“Unless he’s somehow involved with the colectivo and/or the regime.”
“Right. Though that may also be a stretch. But… why the hell would he be in a whorehouse that’s dangerous to him on many levels?”
“He could be into child prostitutes.”
“Somehow, I don’t think so… and if he was, he’d have one delivered to his place of residence.” He added, “It’s the Hen House, not the girls, that he finds comfortable.”
“Ask him when you arrest him. Or ask the girl who you pay for information.”
“I will ask the girl. Or several girls. We are not allowed to interrogate Captain Mercer.”
“And you always follow orders.”
“If I can remember them, I follow them.” He glanced at his watch. “We should change into evening wear and get moving.”
Taylor looked at him. “One more thing, Scott. We’re about to embark on a mission that may end badly. So I want to know what Colonel Dombroski told you that I had no need to know.”
Brodie had seen that coming and replied, “I told you. Robert Crenshaw.”
“No. It’s something else. Something that has to do with me.”
“Good deductive reasoning.” He added, “We can discuss this back in the States.”
“No, we can discuss it now.”
“All right… As you have already guessed, Dombroski told me you were once involved with a CIA guy.”
“And I am forever tainted.”
“No, you are forever under suspicion.”
“That’s total bullshit.”
“Be that as it may.”
“I slept with the guy, Scott. I didn’t get recruited by him.”
“Good. End of discussion.”
“Is this going to follow me for the rest of my Army career?”
“I hope not.”
“If I slept with a Mafia guy, does that make me a suspected member of the Mafia?”
“Actually, yes, and the police would like to speak to you.” He pointed out, “If nothing else, it shows bad judgment.”
“That’s ridiculous. Who haveyouslept with?”
