Page 13 of Caught
Ryan blinked in surprise while Leilah clapped her hands in glee.
“Don’t we need all hands on deck?” he asked.
Omar shook his head. “Charlie has a direct line to the Deputy Inspector General for DCIS.”
“Charlie? As in Charlie’s Seafood Tavern? That’s why we’re meeting here?”
“Yep. Charlie’s the guy behind the bar. He’s a retired submarine captain. Friend of Trent’s,” Omar explained.
“Charlie was the commanding officer of a submarine squadron,” Trent corrected. “He was one step away from rear admiral when he retired, which he had to do because he discovered a warrant officer who was selling technology to the Russians and took it to DCIS. After a months-long sting, they nailed the guy, but some of Charlie’s squadron decided he was a snitch. They made an ill-advised move on him, Charlie bashed some heads, and, well, you know how it goes. Now he owns a seafood joint.”
“Given Charlie’s in with DCIS, Trent reached out. And about ten minutes before you two lollygaggers showed up, he worked his magic,” Jake said. “The four of us—Trent, me, you, and Omar—have an appointment with the deputy inspector general’s chief of staff at three o’clock in Arlington. Just us. Nobody else.”
Ryan frowned. “I understand why you and Trent are going. Why me and Omar?”
“Because your former agencies are both mixed up in whatever the heck is going on. We might as well have all the players at the table,” Jake explained.
“So DEA and DOJ are sending representatives to the Pentagon, too?”
“No. But you were both requested. And we’re meeting off site. This is a sensitive matter, and the chief of staff doesn’t want to raise any alarms by traipsing us all through the building.”
Ryan scratched his chin. “I still have the gun you gave me. I assume everyone else is carrying?”
Seven pairs of eyes landed on him, and he resisted the urge to squirm. “What?”
“What?” Omar parroted. “You’re the one who claims your weapon is your razor-sharp intellect. Remember?”
Ryan remembered. He also remembered the sight of Grover Anderson’s brain matter and blood leaking onto the floor beneath his body. He pictured Natsuo Ito’s broken body at the bottom of a flight of stairs and recalled the crime scene photos of the lethal beating that ended King Cortez’s life. He’d relied on his mind his entire life, but, right now, he needed actual firepower.
Leilah waited impatiently through the late lunch of fish sandwiches and Old Bay-seasoned French fries, counting the minutes until the men left for their appointment in Virginia. Finally, they pushed back their chairs and stood.
While Jake and Trent kissed Chelsea and Olivia goodbye, and Omar lingered awkwardly near Marielle’s chair, she rose and gave Ryan a quick peck on the cheek.
“Be careful, please,” she whispered in his ear.
He responded by pulling her close and kissing her harder. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but you be careful, too.”
She pulled back and gave him an innocent doe-eyed look. “Shopping isn’t a particularly dangerous pastime.”
He narrowed his eyes but said nothing. As soon as the four men had walked out the door into the main bar area, Marielle turned to her.
“What are we doing? Because I know we’re not going shopping.”
Leilah attempted to display indignation but quickly dissolved into laughter. “Okay, you got me. Who’s up for a road trip to Frederick?”
“Frederick, Maryland, is home to some great art galleries and antique shops,” Marielle mused.
“Not to mention Fort Detrick,” Olivia added pointedly.
Leilah sighed. “We need to talk to Reuben Cowley. He knows something. And we have no idea if the guys will get anywhere with military brass. Even if they do, it could take a while. Bureaucracy and all that. What’s the harm in talking to this guy?”
“There’s plenty of potential harm,” Olivia countered. Leilah opened her mouth to argue, but Olivia held up her hand like a crossing guard. “There’s plenty of potential harm, but there’s also a good chance he does know something. I’m not opposed to a little self-help.”
Leilah brightened. “Oh good. Of course, if anyone wants to sit this out, I completely get it.” She eyed Chelsea.
“Didn’t you specifically ask Jake to bring me?” Chelsea asked.
“I did, but that’s because I wanted you to decide for yourself if you’re in or out. I didn’t want to make the decision not to include you.”
