Page 38 of Cyn
“Well, fuck,” Devil said. “McElroy didn’t want to join Al-Shabaab or destroy them. He wanted tolearnfrom them.”
“More specifically, how they recruited and retained young people,” Six added.
Both Cyn and Nora nodded.
“We will likely never know that for certain since Al-Shabaab isn’t going to talk, but I’d bet that’s what he was doing,” Cyn said.
“And being the group they are, they probably didn’t like a US soldier poking around in their business,” Joe said.
“We suspected they were responsible for his death,” Nora said. “Now we have a logical reason.”
Six nodded. “And no need to claim responsibility for it because it wouldn’t serve their purpose. McElroy was an annoyance, not a statement of their beliefs.”
“I wouldn’t wish that kind of death on anyone,” Cyn said. Six and Nora snorted and Devil arched a brow. “Fine,” Cyn said on a huff. “Imightwish that kind of death on a small number of people, but I do find it ironic that if McElroy was the white supremacist that we think he was, his arrogance in assuming that Al-Shabaab would talk to him is what got him killed. The kid had no idea what he was walking into.”
“So, if he was the recruiting arm, what are the others up to?” Joe asked, picking up his beer again. “I mean, other than something in Boston likely involving the guns and explosives Waters referred to.”
“I’d wager they are planning some sort of terrorist attack, but when or specifically where, we have no idea,” Nora said. The other three women nodded in agreement.
“Why don’t I look into Waters,” Six said. “Nora, you take Harrow, and Devil, you take Persons. Cyn, see if the University system has anything interesting on them and then focus on finding the potential location and date.”
Cyn nodded and Joe felt a little left out. He knew this group had been working together as a quasi-team for years, but more than that, he was limited by laws that didn’t apply to them. He couldn’t go digging into those young men’s lives without probable cause and so far, they didn’t have that. What they had was pretty fucking scary, but it was also a lot of conjecture and certainly not enough for him to get a warrant. There was one thing he could do though…
“I have a friend at the FBI. She’s in the anti-terrorist division. I could give her a call and see if they’re hearing any chatter about this area,” he offered.
Slowly, Cyn nodded. “You trust her?”
“What’s her name?” Devil asked.
“I do trust her. Her name is Benita Ricci,” he answered.
All four women broke into huge smiles. He wasn’t surprised they recognized the name, Beni, as she was known to friends, had been in the news a lot lately since she also happened to be recently engaged to the vice president of the United States.
“I love her,” Cyn said.
“I know. I wish we could get her to move up here,” Nora said.
Okay, that was not what Joe had expected. They were talking about her like they knew her. Then again…“Wait, do you know Beni?”
Cyn inclined her head. “Nora and I know her personally. Six and Devil, by reputation.”
“Dare I even ask how?” he asked.
Both Nora and Cyn shrugged. “A little job we did together last year,” Cyn answered. He knew he’d get no more than that, so he didn’t bother prying.
“It sounds like everyone has their marching orders, then?” Devil confirmed as she set down her now empty wineglass. Everyone nodded. “Reconvene tomorrow? Maybe at my house this time so Dan doesn’t have to keep feeding us?”
Joe chuckled. From what he’d gleaned from his brief conversation with the man that morning, he was certain that there was little that Dan liked more than to feed everyone.
“Are you cooking or getting takeout?” Nora asked, looking at her friend suspiciously.
Devil rolled her eyes which was a bit disconcerting coming from the woman who seemed to be immaculately put together and elegant at all times—even for a casual night at the pub.
“Takeout of course,” she answered. “You would have thought I’d tried to kill you all last time I cooked. It wasn’tthatbad.”
None of the women said anything, but Cyn slid him a look conveying that yes, indeed, itwasthat bad. He made a mental note never to eat something Devil cooked.
“Shoji?” Cyn asked, hopefully. Then turning to him, she added, “There are a lot of great restaurants in town, but what we don’t have is good sushi. Shoji is in Boston and she can pick it up on her way home.”
