Who are these guys going after? he wondered.
Next he looked at the evidence from the Technology Symposium hosted by De Luca and his company Texas Silicon and Software. The photos of De Luca, the media crew, and Fiona Koss brought back his feelings of guilt. He wondered if this was a similar feeling doctors had when they lost a patient.
The conclusion of the report was that an anti-American group known as “Anarchy” did the job. Jazz had heard of this group. They had a more peaceful arm that conducted protests outside the gates in Naples and Sigonella.
So how are these two related?
It hit him at once.
“Holy Shit!”
“What?” said T-Ball.
“These guys aren’t anti-government, they’re anti-technology!”
“Huh?”
THIRTY-NINE
Just then the door opened and Special Agents Cruz and Pucharelli stepped in.
Jazz called out as they entered, “Elena! I got an idea!”
The two g-men looked at each other quizzically. They could sense genuine discovery in Jazz’s voice.
“What?”
Jazz recognized Pucharelli from Rome.
“Hi, Agent Pucharelli. How are you?”
“Fine, thanks, Lieutenant.”
“Listen, did Anarchy claim responsibility for the attack on SECSTATE?”
“No they didn’t,” said Pucharelli. “But terrorist groups don’t always…”
“Does Anarchy usually claim responsibility?”
“Well, yes but…”
“Then I would suggest to you that Fiona Koss was not your target, De Luca was.”
“What?” Elena said incredulously.
“These guys are not anti-government, they’re anti-technology. You don’t have a McVeigh on your hands, you’ve got a Kaczynski.”
“Slow down, We needed some insight, not an Encyclopedia Brown secret decoder ring solution,” Elena said acidly.
Pucharelli put a hand on Elena’s shoulder. “Hold on, Elena, let’s hear what the man has to say.”
“Don’t you guys see it? This is how the cases are linked. The guys in Texas are going after De Luca and Texas Silicon and Software. Same thing with the group in Italy. They may be linked closely, or loosely… but he was the target.”
“Then explain all the maps and satellite photos of government installations.”
“I’d say to you, ‘Explain all the maps of the major cities in the Southwest.’ To explain maps of all the military installations is easy, that is where the explosives came from, whether bought or stolen. I’ll wager that every map in San Patricio was of a city that had a tech conference or symposium that De Luca attended.”
Now Elena was turning red.
“I’m sure. The guy has been in every city with a population over 100,000 in the U.S. selling his product,” she said with sarcasm and disdain.
Jazz turned toward Pucharelli, ignoring Elena’s rebuke.
“Well, that is your start. I know it will be a heady task, but you should identify who attended all of the conferences in those cities. That will begin to narrow it down. My guess is that they are or were conducting reconnaissance on how this guy moves, what his modus operandi is. Then they plan or take the right opportunity and bang… big pink mist.”
Now Elena stepped in front of Pucharelli. She could tell that Jazz was winning her fellow agent over quickly. It made her angry, yet attracted to him at the same time. She leaned over and placed her hands on the table, shooting an angry look at Jazz.
“Okay wise guy, why not just mail a bomb to this guy, why not put one at his house or on his car?”
“Simple. These folks do not want to miss. They had to get him the first time. And they know that De Luca probably does not open his own mail, business or otherwise. Similarly, he probably has security on his house and vehicles. No, they had to get him in public… remember they have already proved to be very sophisticated and calculating.”
Elena was furious. She stood tall again and pointed an accusing finger at Jazz.
“You’re a bastard you know that? I’ve been working on this for months now! Months!”
“Elena!” Pucharelli yelled. “Sit down. Calm down.” He waited until his counterpart had in fact sat down.
Though she was no longer crimson, Elena gave Pucharelli a look that said, “Idiot! He is trying to throw us off the trail!”
He answered the look.
“Elena, the fact is that the lieutenant here has a good point. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to see all the pieces in a different way.”
Now Jazz stood. He spoke with a softer tone.
“Agent Cruz…. Elena…. I’m just trying to help. Believe me my excitement in seeing an answer to this case has nothing to do with a desire to embarrass you or the FBI. And I don’t fancy myself as an ‘Encyclopedia Brown,’ as you put it.
“The fact is ma’am, that I have been an EOD Technician for less than a year. In that time I have indirectly or directly been involved in the deaths of four people and the maiming of two more. Quite simply, I feel responsible for those people.
“My exuberance revolves around bringing those responsible to justice. I’ll sleep better when that happens.”
He could see Elena getting red again. Standing next to her, Pucharelli put a hand out toward Elena, motioning her to remain silent.
Jazz realized that he was cutting deep, but he continued anyway.
“I suggest that you get past who is going to get the credit or the blame in this investigation and find the answer. I am not an agent, I may be completely wrong. But the fact that your colleague is willing to listen to me indicates that there is at least one possibility that you have not considered.
“My shipmate and I are going to my parents’ home in Annapolis now. We have seen and done a lot of shit in the past six months particularly and we need a break. You guys decide if you need or want our help, and give us a call.”
Jazz looked to T-Ball who sat dumbfounded during the whole exchange.
“T-Ball, you feel like crabcakes?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I know a good place to get cakes and malteds.”
“I’m there.”
The agents said nothing as the two sailors walked out.
Pucharelli waited a few seconds and followed them out. He watched as Jazz and T-Ball got into their car and drove away.
When he returned, Elena was still sitting quietly in the same seat.
“I don’t think he’s our man.”
“Hmmph.”
“Take it easy, Elena. We can keep all of this in this room.”
“I don’t know how I’m gonna get outta this one, the surveillance I mean.”
“Well at least you can do it on your terms. Suggest that it end, new evidence reveals that he is no longer a suspect. You had to look right? I’ll back you up on that. I was with you on this one not two hours ago.”
“How did this happen?”
“I’ll tell ya what, that guy should be an agent.”
“I wish people would stop saying that.”
“Elena, really, take it easy.”
“No, don’t you get it? I feel the same way he does. I feel like Koss and De Luca are on me. If I had done a better job…”
“You’re wrong… dead wrong, Elena, so don’t go there. It is just time to regroup.”
Elena stared into space, angry with herself. She wondered if she had allowed Jazz to distract her on this case for all of the wrong reasons.