Black Friday

CHAPTER 56

Henry could tell the FBI agent didn't like him. Despite the compassion she'd shown earlier with Hannah, it was obvious she was having a difficult time listening to his reason for any of this. He didn't care. If he took into account what others thought of him he'd never have built the business empire he had today.

This agent, this young woman looked half his age. What did she know about making decisions that would change the world? He didn't give a crap whether or not she liked him. She could judge him all she wanted. The only thing he cared about now was that she helped him get Dixon back. Nothing else mattered.

"Where is the next attack supposed to take place?" she asked.

He could tell that her patience was wearing thin. She didn't realize it but he had caught plenty in her eyes, read the brief flickers of emotion she thought she could conceal. Henry had hired and fired more people than this woman had probably met in her young life. He saw that she wasn't just getting impatient, she was anxious, exhausted, cautious, suspicious. Not only did she not like him, she didn't trust him.

"I don't know the exact location," he told her. His hands no longer trembled. A good sign. He didn't like not being in control.

She raised an eyebrow. It was the first facial expression she had allowed.

"Sunday is the second busiest travel day of the year," he explained. "It'll be an airport. But I honestly don't know which one. We provided a list, but the choice was left to the Project Manager."

"Why an airport? I thought the jamming devices were designed to cause a commotion in the retail industry? Stall the computers? Play havoc with their profits."

"No, no you don't understand." He shook his head. He thought he had been clear. "This isn't about money. This is about keeping America safe. Keep terrorists from striking us again. This administration has destroyed all the safeguards we worked so hard to put into effect. What better place and time to remind Americans than a mall on the busiest shopping day of the year. Likewise, an airport on the second busiest travel day, stalling travelers returning home."

"Did you know it would be Mall of America?"

"Yes, of course. It's the largest mall in America."

"Then why don't you know which airport?"

He nodded. She was smart. But she still didn't quite understand.

"The largest mall in America made sense, no question about it. But if we knew which airport, we might give it away or incriminate ourselves."

"You're going to give me the list." It wasn't a question.

He hesitated then reminded himself it didn't matter. It was a small exchange for Dixon's life.

"Of course. I don't have it memorized. I'll need to e-mail it to you."

She pulled out her smartphone.

"You'll e-mail it to me before I leave."

Maybe he had done his own misjudging of her as well. She was sharp, quick…gutsy.

"So tell me about this man who calls himself the Project Manager," she prompted him.

"I wasn't the one who hired him," he told her.

"He was hired?"

Another slip of emotion. He could see it, though subtle, it was there in her eyes. Surprise? No, Henry thought it was more a flicker of disgust.

"None of us met him. He made certain we had no idea who he was, what he looked like, where he'd come from."

"Why did you believe you could trust him?"

Henry shrugged. Good question.

"He came to us highly recommended by someone we trusted."

"Are you telling me this man you hired to upset retail business and stall air travel, has his own agenda?"

"Either he has his own agenda or he's following orders from someone in our group. Someone who believes we need bombs rather than jamming devices to wake up America." Somehow he couldn't bring himself to tell her that the group he defended and vowed to protect had gone a step too far, ignoring his warnings, betraying years of integrity and honor in exchange for what? Power? Greed?

"You realize I could take you in for questioning," she told him. "I could make you tell us who that someone is."

"I know my rights, Agent O'Dell, and I employ some of the best attorneys in the country. I'd clam up and you'd have nothing. You need this information and I want my grandson back alive."

Her earlier sympathy had diminished.

"If you want your grandson back you'll need to tell me something. I don't know if you're aware of this but Chad Hendricks and Tyler Bennett are dead."

He winced, closed his eyes. He had suspected as much.

"Their backpacks blew up while on their backs, detonated from outside the mall." Her voice had gained an edge to it. "They were just walking around the mall, thinking they'd cause some commotion—according to you—by jamming a few computers, holding up some lines of shoppers, irritating those greedy retail owners. They had no idea they'd be blown into pieces."

His eyes met hers and he watched her carefully put away the anger, pretending the emotion was a tool of her interrogation practice.

"It's okay," he said. "It doesn't matter to me if you enjoy taking swipes at me."

That surprised her. He could see she wanted to cross her arms but stopped herself. She flexed the fingers of one hand, no doubt preventing them from balling up into a fist.

"Think whatever you must about me," he continued. "I deserve it. But my grandson doesn't deserve to pay for any of my mistakes."

"Let's get back to the Project Manager, Mr. Lee. There has to be some information you can give me about him."

"There is one thing. Though I don't know if it means much. He referred to himself as John Doe #2. I was told he said it as if it were a resumé enhancer."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"My daughter was killed in the bombing in Oklahoma City. The Project Manager knew more about all of us than we knew about him. I figured it was some twisted reference to the alleged third terrorist. For my benefit, perhaps. Remember, they referred to him as John Doe #2? Maybe he said it because it was true."

"Are you suggesting the man you hired as the Project Manager is John Doe #2 from the Oklahoma City bombing?"

Henry shrugged.

"That he even existed was mere speculation, rumor at best."

Henry noticed that Agent O'Dell looked like she was already considering it, wondering if, indeed, John Doe #2 may have been real after all.

"That's all I know," he said. "Did you want me to download that list for you?" He pointed to the smartphone in her hand.

She stared at him a second or two, the information taking time to sink in. He wondered if she had any idea how much of a risk he was taking by telling her any of this.

"So we have a deal?" he asked, waiting for her eyes to meet his. "You'll get my grandson back from this bastard?"

He knew there wasn't anything else she could say. She simply nodded.