Matt manipulated a mouse and metadata began scrolling on the monitor for several seconds, followed by a library of text messages and phone numbers. “We tracked all of the senders and receivers. For the most part, it’s disappointingly mundane. Takeout orders, Jiffy Lube, cable company. Would you believe the guy’s into fantasy football?”
“He was an assassin, not a monk,” Garin said.
“Truer words were never spoken. Appears this gent was quite popular with the ladies too. Looks like you broke at least half a dozen hearts when you stopped his, Mike.”
“He stopped his own.”
“Well, we followed up on all of them. One in New York, another in Pensacola. He must’ve operated mainly out of D.C. because we found four of his honeys in and around the District. All of them checked out as ordinary civilians,” Matt said, still scrolling. “Except one number.”
“Who does it belong to?”
“No one,” Matt said. He scrolled until he reached the number in question—a northern Virginia area code. “We traced this number. It’s a hard line to a duplex in Lorton.”
“All right,” Garin asked impatiently, “who does the house belong to?”
“A dead guy.”
“It’s empty?”
“Don’t know. The owner died four months ago. He lived by himself, so it should be vacant. We’ve got a guy surveilling the place but the drapes and curtains are all closed and there’s no sign of activity. The executor is an attorney in Arlington. He’s filed papers with the probate court but doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to sell. The property hasn’t been listed yet.”
“When was the call made?”
“Yesterday.”
“The Zaslon guy called the dead guy’s house?”
“Yes. And apparently the dead guy picked up.” Matt pointed to the monitor. “See? The call only lasted twenty-three seconds. Not unusual in my experience. Dead guys aren’t too chatty.”
“Peculiar,” Garin said. “Zaslon calls a number for an unsecure phone using an unsecure phone.”
“And talks to a dead guy. Don’t forget that.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Maybe he slipped up.”
“Again, these guys don’t make mistakes, Matt.”
“Maybe he was in a hurry. Maybe he didn’t have his service device handy. Not necessarily a big deal. The call only lasted twenty-three seconds and he could’ve talked in a way that would sound innocent to anyone listening.”
“How good is the guy on surveillance?”
“Good enough,” Matt replied. “Once upon a time he was in SAD.”
Garin nodded approval. “Do me a favor, just in case. Ask Dan to send three more people to support the guy. Just before I came here Dan told me Bor was probably in the District. If he shows up at the house, I want sufficient resources deployed so we don’t lose him. But if he does show, surveil only. No one engages until I get there.”
“We’ll handle it, Mike.”
“No one engages.” Garin rose. “I don’t care if your guys are former Special Activities Division, Delta, or Six. Got it?”
“Don’t worry. I’m well aware of Bor’s capabilities. Where are you going?”
“Shower and a change of clothes.”
“So you finally noticed.”
CHAPTER 43
MOUNT VERNON, VIRGINIA,
AUGUST 16, 9:07 A.M. EDT
Dan Dwyer had provided Olivia with use of his communications room to place a secure call to James Brandt.
Olivia had placed several calls to Brandt since he left the White House. She’d grown increasingly frustrated as each one went to voice mail. In Olivia’s mind, the commander in chief needed to be briefed.
Now, according to Dan Dwyer, DGT analysts had concluded that Taras Bor was in the nation’s capital. The president needed to be advised as soon as possible. The confluence of increased activity at Russian industrial sites, unusual troop movements, and Bor’s presence in Washington was not merely alarming, but a matter of urgency. Olivia was convinced something bad was coming, and, with Bor in the mix, it was coming soon.
Brandt picked up. “Hello, Olivia.”
“Apologies for disturbing you, Professor. Jess told me you weren’t feeling well.”
“That’s all right, Olivia. I’m not so infirm that I can’t speak on the phone. And I trust your judgment whether to contact me. I suspect there have been developments pertaining to the Russians?”
“There’s been a rather unusual pattern of movement of Russian troops and matériel.”
“Baltics?”
“Yes, but not just the Baltics, Professor. There’s been movement of Russian troops southward on either side of the Caspian. Russian naval presence also has increased in the Persian Gulf.”
“When did this happen?”
“I can’t say precisely. Very recently,” Olivia stressed. “But there’s more, Professor. Taras Bor likely is in Washington. Right now.”
The silence from the other end gave Olivia hope that Brandt now might be of the same mind.
“Do we know definitively that Bor’s in Washington? Has he been identified?”
“Not definitively.”
“No witness IDs? No photos?”
“No. But in addition to the signature shootings in Georgia, there have been other odd occurrences. DGT’s analysts have fed a ton of data into their computers. Police and fire reports; vectors. Admittedly, they’re operating from the premise that it’s Bor, but they conclude he’s most likely in Washington. I’m not sure we can afford not to operate from the same premise.”
“I think it’s time to brief the president, Olivia,” Brandt said to Olivia’s relief. “There are a lot of moving parts. The more moving parts, the more likely the Russians are up to no good.”
“Since you’re not feeling well, would you like me to brief him in your stead?”
Brandt laughed. “I’m impressed, Olivia. A bold offer from my painfully shy and retiring aide. But I fear I might end up like Wally Pipp. Seriously, I appreciate your consideration, but I think I can manage.”
“There’s another matter you may wish to take up with the president, Professor.”
“What might that be?”
“We’ve had a significant void in our national security apparatus since the assassination of the Omega team. We need to address that void.”
“Barely a month ago we didn’t even know of Omega’s existence. No one did. Especially our adversaries, so we thought,” Brandt said. “So first things first. Let’s meet in my office so you can brief me on everything on which I need to brief the president. Then, at the appropriate time, you and I can discuss Omega.”
“Professor, we didn’t know about Omega because, thankfully, they did their jobs. Based on what we’ve seen since we’ve come into office, it’s clear Omega was, and remains, essential to our national security. Especially in the present environment.”
“Essential, yes. But not indispensable,” Brandt countered. “Delta and SEAL Team Six can fill the void for now.”
“Professor, I spoke with Mike Garin…”
“And what did our intrepid hero have to say?”
“Professor, you have to acknowledge he knows what he’s doing and what he’s talking about,” Olivia prefaced.
“That I do,” Brandt acknowledged.
“He’s adamant that Omega needs to be reconstituted immediately. He insists America is naked in the present threat environment, especially considering the possibility that Bor is back in the country. A team tried to kill Garin just a short time ago. Remember: The same thing occurred only a few weeks ago—just before he averted Armageddon. His judgment on these matters should be taken with the utmost seriousness.”
“Point taken. But how does Garin propose reconstituting Omega with Senator McCoy’s likely opposition? And even if McCoy approved, it would take months to stand up.”