Kill Decision(65)
“So prove it, then.”
There was a knock on the door, and then it opened slightly. Agent Harrison hurried over to it, putting his nose in the open space, conversing with someone. He turned, and the door opened, revealing a couple of men in nicer suits, putting their credentials away.
Harrison motioned for Agent Tierney to follow him. “Matt. C’mon. The SAIC says Homeland Security’s got this.”
Tierney looked back and suddenly straightened up. “Sir. How can we help you?”
“By leaving this room.” The senior FBI agent held the door open for them while the Homeland Security agent stepped inside. He had a kinder face—a fatherly look, with a full head of gray, neatly groomed hair.
“Oh. Of course.” Tierney glanced back at McKinney and headed for the door.
The Homeland Security agent grabbed the folder from him. “Speak no more of this with anyone. Your SAIC will debrief you.”
“Yes, sir.”
The agents headed out along with the local agent in charge, and the door closed behind them, leaving McKinney alone with the recent arrival.
He nodded and sat down across from her. “How you holding up, Linda?”
She studied him warily. “Not well. Who are you?”
“Agent Blake, Homeland Security.” He produced his credentials again, handing them to her so she could inspect them closely. The gold shield and ID were enclosed in a quality black leather sleeve. “I flew here from Chicago once your report was flagged in the system.”
After examining his credentials she handed them back. “From Chicago? Because of me?”
He nodded.
She dropped her head onto her hands. “Oh, thank God.” She lifted her head up again. “Please tell me you believe me.”
“Something in your written statement intrigues me—your theory about the terrorist bombings. You mention that they’re actually drone strikes. Who told you this?”
“That’s what the man commanding the operation told me. He goes by a—a call sign. ‘Odin.’”
“Odin.” It was unclear whether it was a declaration or a question.
“I don’t know whether it’s true or not.” She studied his expression. “Is it?”
He took out a black leather-bound pad, from which he drew an expensive-looking silver pen. “I have no idea, but if there’s a special military unit here in Kansas City, I should know about it. And I don’t.”
“If they’re a legitimate defense operation, that’s one thing, but . . . I’m a scientist. I needed corroboration before I—”
He patted her hand. “You did the right thing. We need to get this sorted out. You’re lucky you got away—if what you’re saying is true, they’re very dangerous people. Can you tell me where their operation is headquartered?”
She sighed in relief and nodded vigorously. “Yes. They’re in a place called SubTropolis—on the north bank of the Missouri River.”
He nodded. “I know it. Homeland Security and the FBI use it for archival data storage.”
“Then they might be legitimate?”
He jotted notes. “Let’s stick with what we know.”
“They said they chose it so that drone missiles couldn’t hit them.”
“Clever.”
“You’re with the government—can you call someone and find out if this is legitimate?”
“The federal government is a complex organism, Professor. Sometimes pieces of it become . . . cancerous. Dangerous. As a scientist, I’m sure you understand.”
McKinney didn’t know what to feel.
He squeezed her hand again. “I’m sure this has all been very stressful, but what’s important is that you’re safe now.”
McKinney nodded. “What happens next?”
“I need to make arrangements. In the meantime, let’s get you to a safe house. Someplace where no one with access to government systems can find out where you are.”
She gave him a sideways look.
He smiled reassuringly. “I was thinking a downtown hotel under an assumed name. Room service, cable TV. I’ll assign agents to guard you.”
“You believe my story.”
“Let’s just—”
“Then what they told me about the drone attacks must be true. It’s why you came down here so fast, isn’t it?”
He stared at her, unreadable.
“I’d like to phone my father.”
“I don’t mean to alarm you, but if this is a rogue government agency we’re dealing with, your life is in danger. And we’ll need to get your family under protection as well. We need to get you into hiding, and I need to get you out of here as quietly as possible.”