Page 97 of Into the Gray Zone

“Can we get real time?”

Before he could answer, Kerry entered the room, saying, “Man, this is turning into a mess.”

I said, “Did you tell them about our Chinese theory?”

“I tried to, but we have zero proof. I couldn’t very well bring up your actions here as evidence. I mean, I really couldn’t say that Jennifer had been chased by Chinese agents when she was breaking into a terrorist safe house that we hadn’t told the RAW about, or that you took out two Chinese assassins just before stopping a terrorist attack in Agra that they think is a misfire. That wouldn’t go over very well, and other than that, we have no real proof.”

I said, “Good, because we got something from that phone Jennifer took.”

He rolled his eyes and said, “That phone is going to be an issue.”

“What do you mean?”

“The RAW didn’t trust the local police with anything they found on the bodyguard. Before their interrogation team got on the ground they ordered the locals to just conduct an inventory and store everything with him, with instructions to bind his hands in such a way that he couldn’t access any of it.”

I said, “Shit. I was hoping it was incompetence.”

“Nope. The interrogation team arrived, and he was supposed to show up with everything he had on his body the night of the attack. The interrogation obviously didn’t happen, and when they searched the body, the phone was gone.”

“What do they think happened to it?”

“Right now, they’re blaming the locals for being incompetent, but I’ve got half a mind to throw it in the bushes for them to find. The last thing I need as the head of the CIA is to be found hiding evidence involving a major terrorist attack from the RAW. The conspiracy theories and the fracture of our relationship would be massive.”

“Sir, the phone had contact with a handset that’s been on the Chinese telecom system. The bodyguard was talking to someone who was then talking to China. I’m right on this.”

He said, “All the more reason to somehow get it into RAW hands without our fingerprints all over it. There might be something on there that we would miss, but the RAW would find.”

Brett said, “Honestly, Pike, we don’t need the phone anymore. Creed’s done what he could.”

I said, “I guess that’s true, but how are you going to get it into their hands? I’m sure they’ve already searched the holding area he was in. It’s not like you can drop it there now.”

“They have, but I wasn’t kidding about dropping it in a bush. They didn’t search from the holding area to the spot where he was shot, and I’ve asked to see his cell. The RAW chief thinks it’s a waste of time, but he’s agreed because he thinks I badly want to find it.”

“When’s that supposed to happen?”

“I told him I had a meeting and I’d come back to the temple after. So probably just before sunset, after the Oversight Council. Which will be perfect.”

Veep said, “You’re literally going to do a dead drop with some guy walking right next to you?”

Kerry said, “Hey, once upon a time I was a swashbuckling operative. It won’t be an issue. What else did you find about that phone?”

I looked at the team, then returned to him, saying, “We know the location of that handset. It’s here in Jaipur. I think it’s the Chinese control for this entire mess.”

“And?”

“And he’s the key to resolving this debacle. If we roll his ass up, we can locate the hostages.”

Chapter56

Abercrombie VanSant—aka Sledge—felt his first spike of fear when his captors removed his blindfold and cut off his flex-ties. The fear rose higher when he was removed from the van and separated from the women. The terror skyrocketed when the van drove away with the women inside, leaving him alone with the two lunatic killers.

He said, “Are you separating me because I’m American? I’ve read about that happening on aircraft hijackings.”

The taller one—the leader—threw on a small backpack and said, “Yes. We’re going to cross that bridge over the tracks and move to a secure location. You will feel out of place because you’ll be one of the few Caucasians inside, but you are to act like you’re on a tour. We’re your guides just showing you around the area.”

“But I look like a clown in this outfit. Won’t it be insulting? Like I’m making fun of them? Won’t it draw attention?”

Sledge was still wearing the outfit he’d been given for the party, a dhoti and kurta ensemble of red and gold, and Sledge had felt conspicuous wearing it even at the party. He was certain it would be out of place where they were going.

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