Chapter 26

Jason slid the tablet over the desk. “None of this is making sense,” he said, thinking out loud.

“Colonel?” he heard from two areas.

Jason stood up. “It’s far too much risk for too little reward.”

“I wouldn’t say breaching the President’s security is a reward, Colonel,” Wright snapped.

“Yes, to them, it is, but think about it. Security for the President hasn’t been even close to being compromised. This messenger would never have gotten past the security desk. The only reason he got as far as he did was because neither Ostara nor Lipson knew the messenger was supposed to be a female. He delivered the bag. He could have left. Yet he stayed long enough to be detained. So why go into panic mode? Why toss the drink, knowing it’s not going to stop anything? He drew attention to himself. He’s now here and under guard. Guessing he was searched for any weapons of any kind,” he looked at Wright hoping.

“Yes, of course. He was clean. All we found was a watch, a necklace, and an empty prescription bottle with the name scratched off. We can’t get in touch with the doctor listed. A team is going to check the address.”

“Okay. So now it’s more elaborate. More pieces. It’s overly complicated, and it just results in the messenger being arrested. There doesn’t seem to be a result of all this to justify the complication. We are missing something, or we are dealing with people for whom we may have given more credit than they deserve. Error on the side of caution, but I doubt that is the latter option.”

The President cleared her throat. “Then you and Agent Wright work this, Colonel, using your different methods and means. I cooperated and found out what was going on in my house, Gentlemen. Now, I have had calls placed to clear things up. You should be getting a visit shortly to get your office situated, Colonel. I will expect a call this afternoon with an update. Once you tell them what you need, go and enjoy a meal without interruption.” Like Trace, the President disconnected, ending the conversation and giving neither a chance to argue.

Wright stood up and started for the door. “Colonel, I think you should take the lead on this. I have to admit I haven’t had to deal with anything like this so far.”

Jason laughed. “Agent Wright don’t start to second guess yourself now. As I said you did it all by the book. Slight overkill but understandable. If we second guess now we will again. And it may be a more serious situation when it happens. Perhaps just think of it as a learning experience and move on,” Jason waved to the two men that stood in the doorway inside. “I know I am.”

Despite not fully understanding what that last part meant, Wright nodded and left. It took an hour to work out the layout of the office. Pulling from the list of possibilities with available equipment. Jason had Carlson go looking for an empty box and plastic and tape. The garbage bags he found worked better. They put the bag from Trace in the box, the box into two of the bags, and taped off all the seals. It would work until Trace’s messenger came with the containment case. Then it was off to lunch.

As promised, the buffet was still going. They had replaced most of the breakfast items with simple, fair food. Jason opted for a salad and some ziti and seemed to shock everyone when he got a bottle of watermelon water instead of coffee. Selena got meatloaf and potatoes with a broccoli cheese sauce, while both Ostara and Carlson got cheeseburgers with four different cheeses and fries. They all followed Jason on the drink, varying the flavors. They took their time since the worker setting up the office would take a couple of hours.

Jason talked with the porters and got a case of each of the waters to take back with them. The work crews were done and gone when they got back. It had a lot of stuff. Four outer office desks with dual screen. There were printers, both monochrome and color, in both offices, as well as a countertop and a small fridge. The biggest curiosity was the multi-screen TVs in both offices, playing different news stations.

Selena took charge of putting away the drinks while Jason got Ostara and Carlson moving on the matter at hand. Carlson went off to see if there was anything more from the messenger and to arrange cars and drivers for when they did manage to leave. Ostara went to see Lipson about the details of going to the doctor’s office. Jason also told her to make arrangements for a new place to stay since it was looking like they would be there another day or more. He didn’t think they would be welcomed at the one they had been at again.

He felt slightly useless as he had a task for everyone but himself. He had no idea where to start until he had more to go on. He sat watching the news channels. Most still airing about California, but a couple was talking about world events. Another was talking about the drop in the stock exchange. That got Jason to think about the report President Romero had given him. He made sure Selena was busy, grumpily studying a training book.

He didn’t use the desk in the other office but one next to Selena. He must have been concentrating on what he was doing to notice her getting up and bringing over the coffee mug the President had given him earlier. She was sitting with a smirk on her face while sipping from the other mug.

“I don’t recall asking for this,” he said.

“You didn’t. You are focusing too hard again. Usually, the coffee helps you to refocus.” She grinned when he looked at her questioning. “I pay attention, too.”

That reminded him of the other issues he had to deal with in life. Combined it was a growing number of mistakes in judgments that affected many lives.

“You should focus on that manual. Ostara or Carlson will start quizzing you sooner or later.”

She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him but at least pretended to look at the screen again.

Jason looked at each of the reports again. The FBI had taken over each one, but the state police had done some preliminaries themselves. Everyone had a hundred or more dead or injured. Whoever they were, they didn’t care about bystanders.

Carlson and Ostara came back. The team going to the doctor’s office had reported back that the doctor was closed and on vacation. Ostara and Lipson had gone out while they waited for warrants to enter. They were still tracking down the staff. Carlson’s report on the messenger was not better. All he said was that the man seemed to be a foreigner with limited English language skills. Jason had them tackle the military angle of the attacks.

Wright called a short time later and told him that Eliza was waiting at the main security desk. He would meet him there. Carlson insisted on going and carrying the box, commenting that ranking officers rarely did menial tasks and had subordinates do them instead.

They found Wright at the security station looking confused. The two bags were on the table and beside it looked like a fancy cooler on wheels. Eliza, dressed in a comfortable business style outfit, was standing to one side with an agent beside her. One would think she had to do it every day as calmly as she was.

“Colonel, a moment, please,” Wright waved him over.

“Yes, of course,” Jason directed Carlson toward the cooler and stepped over to where Wright stood.

“She’s got clearance, Colonel. Everything here has already passed security checks and cleared to enter the building.”

“Yes, I know. Eliza and her sisters are all trained couriers. Eliza is the oldest and has been doing it the longest, so her clearance is the highest. They work for private industry to diplomats.”

“So why the sideshow with agent Lipson?”

Jason nodded toward where Carlson was still standing. “If you would, Eliza should get that back to her father for testing and evaluation.

Wright nodded and waved the agent away. He watched as Eliza smiled politely and professionally, and she stepped over to the cooler. She opened it and had Carlson put the box inside. She had brought the largest containment they had, and there was some room to spare but not much. She looked it over and made sure it wasn’t interfering with the unit seal but never touched the box inside. She closed the lid and punched a few commands on the display. There was a slight hum and a click before she hit a few more keys.

“No contaminants detected, though with the wrapping, it wasn’t expected. We will do a full test back at the lab,” she announced as she straightened. “I packed the replacements personally. However, due to the urgency of the pickup, the second part of the delivery is still being processed and will be later this afternoon or evening. We will notify you when it is ready and get an updated delivery location. If I could have my tablet and phone, I could sign off on the receipt.”

The desk officer waited for an embarrassed Wright to approve before he handed over the devices. Eliza pocketed her phone and worked the tablet for a moment. She even connected it to the cooler screen. “I hope everything you see meets with your approval,” she said after she disconnected and tapped on the screen again. She handed the tablet to Jason.

“Thank you,” Jason looked over whatever was on the screen and used his finger to sign off. “I rarely see anything to disapprove. Especially when it comes to your professionalism, Eliza. The primary pickup is the concern and is concluded. The seals are intact. Primary delivery is met. Please relay that there is no rush on the secondary. Looks as if we will be here at least another day. I don’t anticipate the immediate need. The Lieutenant will conduct your escort out to your vehicle.”

“That isn’t standard,” Eliza took the tablet.

“Nothing is standard about any of this. Including where we are standing.”

“Should we expect nonstandard for the second delivery as well?” Eliza’s professionalism wavered slightly.

Jason glared at her. “I will do what I can to ensure we are as standard as we are normally. Talk to your father if you have an issue with change. Be prepared for a repeated lesson if you do and some bitching from your sisters since they will be included.”

Eliza stiffened. “I will relay your message,” she said sharply, but her tone was not right. “If I am free to go,” she faced Wright.

“Everything is above board. We have no reason to keep you here.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. I am in the secondary lot.”

Carlson reached for the case, but Jason pulled him back. “Escort Lieutenant, she maintains the package at all times. She leads you follow. No more than three feet behind. No one is to interfere with her handling of the case. When she secures it in her vehicle, she will have you sign off on the lockdown code, time, and date. Be sure because once you acknowledge and submit that on her tablet, there’s no changing it, and she will not know it. Ensure she gets out of the parking area and out of eyesight for five minutes before you come back inside.”

Eliza was already a good ten feet away. “Yes, sir,” Carlson yelled as he ran to catch up.

Jason grabbed the two bags from the table and started back to his office, Wright followed. “You want to talk about overkill? Seems a bit much for a box that couldn’t be worth more than a few hundred at best.”

“Yes, if that were the only concern. That kind of security is normally reserved for higher value since it costs a million dollars plus courier fee.”

“You are kidding. A million to transport that bag? We could have sent it by FBI detail for a fraction of that.”

Jason nodded in agreement. “However, Trace said it was a group of agents from the alphabet soup group. I’m not sure which or if he would be very receptive to another batch coming in after having been conned by a team. And even though I don’t think it is, if the contents were tampered with, we would possibly be giving back the only clue as to who by back to them. But that all being true, this is Trace’s way of telling me he’s found out or suspects something. He’s telling me to up my security.”

“Colonel, you are here. There is no more secure place in this country.”

Jason knew that wasn’t entirely true but didn’t say it out loud. “For the moment, but we do have to leave here at some point. I don’t need another incident at our hotel.”

Wright stopped him at the door. “Another incident?”

“Yes. A tactical team tried to attack us in our rooms. I got a warning about it and arranged for the local PD to catch them. I wasn’t sure about it because it was a drop, but I didn’t want to change it. I didn’t think it was a real assault. When your people were waiting for us, I thought it was your little show.”

“Colonel, that was all put together at the last minute. It was being rehearsed even as you walked in the door.”

“That explains why it was so piss poorly done. And it means another agency playing a game, or I used up a good amount of luck with that buggered-up Sig you all saddled me with.”

“We didn’t send it to you in that condition, Colonel. We have been backtracking it since this morning after you said its condition. I’ll check with PD and get a report on the arrest,” Wright hurried off.

Jason didn’t feel any better with that tidbit of information.

He went inside and found Ostara with Selena. “Captain, have you found accommodations for us all tonight?” he asked, setting one bag by the door after checking both.

“Not yet, sir. I haven’t found one that can accommodate everyone. There are several conventions in town, and hotels are nearly booked solid. I’m on a waiting list to see if any cancel bookings.”

“Book five different hotels. Try for a few blocks apart if possible, but no more than ten between. If not, let’s just find motel rooms somewhere as close together as possible. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just clean. When he comes back, you and the Lieutenant need to go back to our former lodging and retrieve all our belongings. Odds are management has them waiting for someone to pick up anyway.” He took a step. “See if agent Lipson is available to go with you. Tell him he’s on the job.”