“So, there’s no escort? And I’m persona non grata?”
“That’s right.”
Teren nodded, even though she knew Cliff couldn’t see her. “What time is this meeting, Cliff, and where?”
“Ten. Outside the Fine Arts building at Temple University.”
“Got it. Tell me, Cliff, are you following the orders of your superior?”
There was a pause at the other end. “Officially, yes. Unofficially, absolutely not.”
“Well, I was never official anyway. You find out what’s up from your end, and I’ll find out what’s going on down here, alright?”
“Great. Be careful.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Teren flipped her phone closed and walked out the doors onto the sidewalk.
She took a moment to open the lockbox holding her weapon, which she slid into her shoulder holster. Then she located the person she needed. It was a police officer, standing and talking to a group of cabbies. Looked like he was giving one of them a ticket. By the time he was finished and headed back to his car, Teren was by the door. She held up her ID badge.
“Excuse me, officer, but as a federal agent on a case in need of a fast ride somewhere, I’m commandeering your vehicle.” She snapped the slim wallet closed, and opened the driver’s door. “I’m driving. If you wish to come with, I suggest you get in on the passenger side, because I’m leaving. Now.”
She climbed into the car, with him protesting. Without another word she slammed the door and turned the key, smiling at the reaction of the officer as he ran around to the other side of the car.
“Rookie.”
*******************************************************
Rick Price and Ken Thomas were in Price’s car, while Alex and David waited in a loaner from Jeff Harnisch. Alex kept drumming her fingers against the steering wheel, until David finally lost it.
“Alex, stop it.”
“Sorry. I’m just tense.”
“No kidding. Relax, Reis. This isn’t the first time we’ve had to take someone in like this.”
“I know. But something about this doesn’t smell right. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like it.” She stopped for a moment, staring out the windshield. “I almost wish Teren was here.”
“You’re kidding. I know you like her, but …”
“David, she’s handled stuff like this. She’s always very cool, and nothing gets her upset.”
“Except me.” He grinned at his partner, relieved to see her crack a smile. “You’re wound tight, and so is everyone else. We don’t need the spook making everyone extra nervous.”
“You’re just upset with her cause she got the drop on you that night.”
“Yeah, right.” He was quiet, then he nodded. “I wish she was here, too.”
They were sharing a grin when Alex suddenly sat up straighter. “There he is.”
A small black car was turning into the parking lot. As the agents watched, it pulled into the space between the two FBI vehicles. Alex waited until the car’s engine had been shut off, then she opened her door.
Kyle Brogan climbed out of the small hatchback, looking around nervously. He saw Price, and nodded to him.
“Thanks for meeting me, Rick.” His voice was shaky, and Alex could see the circles under his eyes. He was wearing a polo shirt that looked like it had been slept in.
“Everything’s okay, Kyle. Your wife and kids are fine.”
“Yeah? Did you get them out of the city?”
“Not yet, but they’re under heavy guard at a safe location. Janet’s fine. But she’s worried about you.”
“Right. So am I.”
Alex came around to Brogan’s side of the car.
“Kyle, this is Agent Alex Reis, from the Washington office. Alex, this is Kyle Brogan.”
Alex nodded at him and offered her hand. Brogan ignored it.
“Got a deal for me, Reis?”
“We’re working on it. Mr. Brogan, do you know who would want to hurt you or your family?”
He turned and looked at her. “I thought you were the researcher, you knew all about Klan and other groups like that.”
“Are you saying the Klan wants to kill you? That’s hard to believe, seeing as how their leader is your cousin.”
“You think family matters now? No way. To shut me up, they’ll do anything.” He looked back at Price. “You gotta promise me you’ll protect my wife.”
“We will. Don’t worry.” Rick glanced over at Alex, and saw the slight nod of her head. “Kyle, you said you could tell us about what’s been going on.”
“That’s right, right after you tell me we’ve got a deal.”
“Mr. Brogan, we can’t make any deals until we hear back from the Justice Department in the morning.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? The deal is this, Reis: I don’t get prosecuted, I don’t go to jail, and you shits protect me and my family from those sick fucks.”
“Who, John Treville and Derek White?” Alex asked.
“Treville, yes. Derek? Fuck no. That shit head couldn’t dig his head out of his own ass with both hands and a shovel.”
“Then who else are you talking about?”
“Richmond. That smartass, smug, rich son-of-a-bitch. He tells us that he and his friends have this plan, see. Kill a few commie bleeding hearts. Blame it on some far out really bad guys. Maybe find a stupid skinhead to take the blame.”
“Why?” It was the question that they all wanted answered.
“Why not? It helps two ways, John said. It gets rid of these faggots, and if we play it right we can put the blame on someone so far out there that it’ll make someone like Mallory seem middle of the road.”
“John Treville?”
“Yeah. Treville, Richmond, Derek, Jacob, and C.J. from Washington. Those guys were behind the killings.”
“And how was Gerlach involved?”
“Mallory? He wasn’t. I mean, he’s a big shot, yeah, but this was too secret. They didn’t want anybody to know. Only the people involved.” He shook his head. “I told them not to trust that fucking spook Mather. He wasn’t a soldier, he was a mercenary. But no, they knew best, and they wanted someone who could get the job done. Then when they caught him trying to sell the shit they’d given him, Derek fucking blew him and Wilford up, in my goddamn car! I should have known then that I was next. But I thought —”
“Okay.” Alex had to break in. “I understand there’s a lot we need to talk about, Mr. Brogan. I’d like to suggest that we don’t do it here. I think it’s best you accompany us —”
“Accompany you? Fuck you. I don’t go nowhere ‘til you tell me I got protection and immunity.”
“The Justice Department will have to make the final determination, but I’m very sure they’d be willing to give you immunity in exchange for your testimony.”
“You’re sure. That ain’t good enough.”
“Mr. Brogan, there is a felony warrant for your arrest in the works. I’d like to take you in voluntarily, but I will place you under arrest now if you don’t cooper—”
The sound of squealing tires broke into the conversation, and Alex looked up to see Ken drawing his weapon.
“Ambush! Get down!”
There was a car pulling up to the curb of the street just outside the parking lot. Gunfire and shattering glass were the only sounds Alex heard as she pushed Brogan down before kneeling in between the cars, her gun in her hand. Rick was on the other side of Brogan, and he also had his weapon drawn. David, she knew, was one car behind them, and Ken was one in front.
Alex peeked over the hood of the car to see one of the other two Philadelphia agents lying on the ground by the car blocking the entrance. The other agent was hiding behind the driver’s door, trying to take shots at their attackers. Alex looked backwards, toward the area where Wister and his officer were hiding.
There was no movement on the bike path.
Cursing, Alex raised up and aimed, waiting until she saw a member of the ambush squad do the same. Then she fired, and ducked back quickly. Not quick enough, she thought, as the bullet grazed her left shoulder. She glanced at Price as he ducked as well.