Knox jumped back in, “With Russia and Ukraine, there are many national security issues, but Headquarters wants to expedite this investigation. We need to pursue the Supernote as far and as fast as we can.”
Then turning to Jake — and every head in the room turned with hers — she said, “Jake, how quickly can you come up with more on the Supernotes?”
The undercover agent paused a moment, then said, “Off the top of my head, I really don’t know. The twenty-five thousand was a down payment on a murder that is to take place next week. Then the lid comes off. We can’t hide a contract killing. We’ll need to go overt and make an arrest.”
“Then we have a week,” she replied without hesitation.
“Give or take a nuclear apocalypse,” said Jake.
“I’m open for suggestions as to how we proceed,” said Knox.
No one said a word. Jake turned toward the odd couple on the other side of the room to see if they were going to contribute. Since they didn’t appear to be on the cusp of responding, Jake took the lead. “How about this? I remain in my cover and I approach Park and tell him of Reid’s plans.”
“How will you get to Park?” asked Olivia Knox.
“I’ll convince Tommy Hwan to introduce me. He’s the guy who brought Reid to me, so now it makes sense for me to warn his boss and give Park a chance to buy out the contract.”
“Then what?” said Hafner, questioning the investigative strategy.
“Saving his daughter may not be enough to have Park bring me into his inner circle but it should give me some cred with him. Then we’ll see where that leads us.”
“I don’t know. The chances for success seem remote and time is of the essence,” said Hafner.
Jake threw up his hands, looked toward Bruce Lee and his silent partner, and said in all sincerity, “I’m open to a better idea.”
If the action-film look-alike or his partner were about to speak, Hafner’s next query cut them off at the pass. In a derisive tone the aspiring bureaucrat interjected, “What do you suggest we do with Reid? Park will have him killed if you tell him about the contract.”
“Do we care what happens to this scum-dwelling lawyer?” asked Jake.
“Yes, Jake, we do care,” said Knox without hesitation.
“Especially with a room full of witnesses,” whispered Trey Bennett.
“I’ll come up with a reason why I need Reid alive. I’ll convince Park to hide his daughter until we can spring a double reverse on the attorney.”
Knox, Upchurch, Hafner, and Bauer traded thoughts on Jake’s strategy before the ADIC proffered her reluctant approval.
As the meeting broke up and everyone began filing out of the SCIF, Jake approached the two strangers Knox conveniently forgot to introduce. He extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Jake. Thanks for your contribution to the discussion this morning. I suppose Henry Yeong could have introduced us the other day and saved the awkwardness of meeting this way.”
The younger of the two men smiled as the older man remained stoic.
The Bruce Lee of the two-man cabal said, “I’m Gabe.”
Jake put it together quickly. “Cheech.”
When the older man’s head snapped, Jake’s suspicions were confirmed. “Semper Fi.”
Gabe smiled as the older man muttered, “How do you know? What’s going on here?” The spook squinted across the room toward Olivia Knox as though he was about to protest. She was deep in quiet conversation with Bauer and Hafner and didn’t notice the accusatory stare.
Jake gave no quarter. “I’m a trained investigator. What’s the Agency’s involvement in all this?”
The older man said nothing.
“I hate all this need-to-know horse pucky. You got a name? I don’t like talking to ghosts; too many conspiratorial thoughts for my weak mind and overactive imagination.”
The older man said, “You can call me Wilson.”
“Is that a first name or last name?”
“Wilson will do.”
“You guys and your off-the-books, black-budget operations. Do you just sit around in SCIFs and make up this crap? Look, Wilson, I’d really like to play your silly little games but my ass may be hanging out on this one. I would like to think I’ve got most of the facts before I run off into some Pyongyang parallel universe.”
Neither man said anything, so Jake pressed on. “Look, we’re supposed to be on the same team. We all know, information is power. So I’d like some information. At least if I end up being fed to mad dogs in a North Korean dungeon like Kim Jong Un’s uncle, I’ll know it was for a good cause.” Still no response.
Olivia Knox, now aware of the growing confrontation, moved toward the three men. Hafner trailed her like a poorly trained retriever.
As she approached, Jake said, “You know, I’m not thrilled my UC role has been outed to the Secret Service and now the CIA. I’m also not interested in being cannon fodder for the next election cycle. Why not fill me in?”
Before Olivia could respond, Gabe stepped forward and took the initiative in defusing the controversy. “Jake, the Agency’s been looking into the Supernote for a long time. The bills have been showing up here for years. We assumed since Henry Yeong was a major player in Korean organized crime, both here and in Asia, he was likely involved in distribution of the counterfeit currency. Yeong’s tentacles reach well beyond Los Angeles and I have verified he is involved in converting the counterfeit currency overseas. I just can’t connect Yeong with bulk distribution of Supernotes here in the United States.
“With yesterday’s payoff, it would appear as though Park may have an exclusive deal with the North Koreans for distribution of Supernotes in this country. Since Yeong and Park are ostensibly competitors for illegal goods coming into the country, I don’t see any way I can get to Park.”
“The last time I scanned the rules and regs, the CIA wasn’t allowed to operate within the United States,” said Jake.
“Actually we can with the right approvals. I first met Yeong in Hong Kong, where I was hired to be part of his security team after two of his goons just happened to get popped for roughing up a prostitute. In the past month I’ve traveled with Yeong to China, Japan, Macao, Singapore, Kish Island, South Korea, and now here to the U.S. Like you, and all of us working undercover, I have to live my legend. As part of Yeong’s PSD, I couldn’t very well avoid this leg of his world tour. Since he isn’t a U.S. citizen the approval process was relatively simple,” said Gabe, nodding at Wilson, who simply grimaced and said nothing.
Knox interrupted. “Jake, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General have signed off on the paperwork. The appropriate authorities are well aware of the Agency’s involvement in this. Yesterday, given the new urgency to find out about what’s happening with the Supernotes, Headquarters authorized me to call this meeting so all of us from every agency involved in this operation understand our respective roles.”
“So are you still in charge of this investigation?” Jake countered. “Or has the Attorney General made a power play to take over?”
Olivia glared at her recalcitrant UC agent and said, “I’m still in charge… at least for the time being.”
“And what’s the game plan — to out me and allow the spooks to continue to march?” Then with sarcasm Jake turned toward Gabe’s partner and asked, “Is your name really Wilson?”
Ignoring Jake’s question, Gabe continued. “Being part of Yeong’s security team doesn’t mean much. Some days he lets me drive. Other days I sit around the office and fetch coffee. I’ve yet to break into Yeong’s inner circle and am not sure I ever will. At this point you may have a better chance of penetrating both Yeong’s and Park’s operations.”