“Spell it?”
“S-c-h-w-”
“S, c, h.” Alex went back to the beginning and started flipping again. “S, c, s, c. Aha. Got it.” She pulled a file out, showing the title on it to Gerd.
“‘Swords.’ What is this?”
“Read it.”
The German put his mug of coffee back on the table top, and opened the folder. He read down the first page, and Alex watched as his eyes began to widen. A moment later he looked up at her.
“This is it.”
“Yes.”
Gerd began turning pages, his jaw clenching. “Alex, how did you find this?”
“I’ll tell you later. Right now, lets grab that file, and the letter, and see if Micha will let us take them, or at least copies. They’re mainly focused on US activities, so maybe he’ll let me have the originals.”
“Where are we going?”
“Back to the house. Teren needs to know what we found.”
He nodded. “She’s not going to be happy, though.”
Alex looked up from packing her computer. Her face was grim. “Can’t say as I blame her, can you?”
He shook his head.
Micha made copies of the files for the BKA, but agreed to let the originals go with Alex. He was going to say no, but when he heard how important they would be to her investigation, decided to alllow her to take them. Besides, he grinned to himself, she could be very persuasive.
As Gerd drove them back to the safe house, Alex explained how she knew where to look for the file.
“It was in that letter I was reading, the one with the atrocious handwriting.”
“The letter told you to look under the word ‘swords’?”
“Well, yeah, kind of. It’s really difficult to read, but once I got it, things just made sense.” She shifted in her seat to face him. “The letter has no addressee. But there’s a note on the bottom that said it should be typed and sent to such and such post office box.”
“So?”
“The box is the one in Washington, where the CJ letter came from.”
Gerd nodded. “Okay, go on.”
“After I saw that, I realized it had to be a report from Eisenbein to CJ, and since Treville was mentioned several times, it was probably concerning his visit last year. I checked the dates, and they match.”
“Well, you knew that Treville and Radcliffe had visited St. Luther’s during their trip six months ago.”
“That’s just it. Treville didn’t. He was away somewhere, on the border between Poland and Lithuania. He met up with George Mather there, and they killed Perry.”
“Okay.” Gerd bit his lip. “You knew that from Teren, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I did. But the letter confirms it. It says in black and white that Radcliffe and Treville showed up, but had left. It said that thanks to CJ, Treville had joined George Mather in time to remove the two CIA agents who had been posing as smugglers.”
The light turned green, but Gerd didn’t notice. He was staring at Alex. “You’re saying that Treville was warned — by someone other than Mather?”
“Yes. At that point, they thought they’d gotten Teren, too. Must have been a shock to realize they hadn’t.”
The honking behind Gerd finally registered and he put the car into gear. “So, CJ has a CIA contact, or is in the CIA.” He nodded. “That makes sense. What else did the letter say?”
“It said that, while Radcliffe had declined to be involved, it looked like all was set for the, quote, Swords, unquote, to continue their operations. Mather would be returning to the States, and would return to his duties, despite the CIA’s attempts to find him.”
“Arrogant son-of-a-bitch.”
“Yeah. Anyway, the quotes he used around the word Swords made me think. I figured if he had records on it, they’d be in the files, so I decided to check under the word, and the rest you know.”
Gerd nodded. “Was there anything else in this letter? Anything to point out who this guy might be?”
“Unfortunately, it simply ackowledged his leadership of the Swords, and gave the address. Other than that, the identity is still a mystery.”
“Damn. Would be nice if we had a name, rather than initials.”
“True, but this is a hell of a lot better than I ever dreamed we’d find. That folder lists all of the conspirators, including the mysterious CJ, Jabob Dawkins, Martin Richmond, and Treville. The only one that’s not listed, and we know is involved, is Derek White.”
“You are certain he’s a part of this?”
“Positive.”
The two of them were quiet. Alex turned and watched the scenery through the window. Gerd sent a glance her way every few minutes.
“Alex?”
“Yes, Gerd?”
“I’m glad Teren has you at her side.”
Alex turned back and stared at him. She didn’t know what to say, and for several long moments, she simply gazed at him, her mouth open slightly. Finally she shut it with a snap, and looked out the window again.
“Thank you, Gerd.” I’m glad I’m at her side, too.
Teren was still sitting on the couch when Alex and Gerd came back into the suite. She looked up at them, and Alex smiled at her.
“Hey, looks like you were a good kid, huh? Stayed put like you were supposed to?”
“Yes. Alex —”
“Teren, you were right. Even though it’s in German, Alex found the clue.”
“That’s great, Gerd. Listen —”
Alex sat down next to her, examining the new bandage on her head. “How’s your head? The doctor take you off couch restriction yet?”
“Well, kind of.”
Gerd was headed to the little kitchenette to get a drink, and he noticed the bags in the corner. “Hey, Teren, why are your suitcases out here?”
“What?” Alex stood up and walked over to the duffel bags. “Why are they all packed, Teren? What’s going on?”
Teren leaned back. “I’ve been trying to tell you since you came in. I got in touch with Ken.”
Alex folded her arms and waited. “And?”
“And there’s been another shooting. In Washington DC. In front of the Capitol.”
The green eyes went wide with shock. “Oh.”
Teren kept her eyes on Alex. “I called my office. They suggested we go back. Tonight. We’ve got tickets on a late flight.” Her eyes softened perceptably. “We’re going home, Alex.”
Chapter Thirty-five
The room grew so quiet that Teren could hear the low ticking of the wall clock.
Gerd recovered first and dropped onto the couch beside his friend.
“How the hell did you find this out?”
“I borrowed a computer and checked our hotmail account.” She turned back to Alex. “Ken’s been trying to get in touch with us for a day and a half — I sent him a message that we’d had trouble but got the message.”
Alex was still standing frozen. Her eyes blinked every few seconds, but other than that, she simply stood where she was staring at Teren.
“Alex? Are you okay?” Gerd asked.
She shook her head to clear it, and sat in the chair opposite Teren and Gerd.
“We’re leaving?”
“Tonight. Graves thinks it’s a good idea, and so do I.”
“Why?”
“Because Stephen Radcliffe was the person killed.”
Gerd dropped his head down below his shoulders, and shook it. Alex just leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.
“Do they know who the shooter was?”
“Well, Ken said the evidence was pointing to Derek White. The agents Cliff sent to pick him up, missed him in Alabama.”
“Great.” Alex ran a hand across her eyes and sat up. “So, Graves thinks we should head back to the States? I don’t get it.”
Teren shrugged. “That’s the good news. He and Cliff Jackson arranged a little meeting for you, with the Director. You’ll be allowed to tell your side, and if he agrees, you’ll be reinstated.” She grinned. “From what he said, you have a good shot of clearing your name. But we need to get there now — the Director is going on vacation in three days.”
Alex waited a few seconds longer, then launched herself off the couch and into Teren’s arms. She squeezed her friend, hard, and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek.