Black Friday

CHAPTER 64

Nick realized it was silly—okay, even childish—but despite all the stress and urgency he still felt disappointed. Maggie had called him to help, not because she needed a friend, not because she wanted to lean on him, but only because he was a lawyer and he'd be able to sort through the files and court documents quickly and efficiently. Well, it seemed his help might pay off beyond her expectations.

"You've seen this exact list of airports?" She sounded like she didn't believe him.

"Two weeks ago. UAS—United Allied Security sent me to a seminar on terrorist attacks. It was part of my training for the new job position. Mostly the basics—what to look for, how better to prepare and assist those facilities where UAS provides security systems or equipment."

Nick had learned a lot at the seminar but he didn't like that it sounded like a sales conference, even including a guide on how to convince clients to upgrade their old systems. At the time, he thought some of the scenarios they presented seemed a bit far-fetched and wondered if they were simply using scare tactics to increase revenues and bonuses for UAS.

"And you saw this list at your seminar?"

"It's a list of the airports being pitched upgrades."

"Being pitched what exactly?"

"At shopping malls UAS provides security personnel and equipment. All airport security is now under TSA but our company—at least for those airports under contract with us—maintains and replaces all the security equipment."

"Like the scanners?"

"Scanners, cameras, metal detectors, even the wands. But the pitch wasn't only for upgrading current equipment. The plan called for a whole new security package in the passenger arrival and departure areas."

She looked like she didn't understand.

"Right now most airports don't have much security in the ticketing or baggage claim areas. You don't see a camera until you get to the security checkpoint area."

"We're protecting the passengers in the air but not on the ground," she said, nodding.

"Exactly. UAS has been pushing for airports to have metal detectors and cameras in those outside perimeter areas."

"Why were these seven chosen?"

"That, I don't know."

Maggie was pacing the length of the hotel room, a nervous habit Nick had forgotten.

"Where did

you

get the list?" he asked her, though he realized she probably couldn't and wouldn't tell him.

"Who owns United Allied Security?" she asked instead of answering.

"I believe the holding company is HL Enterprises."

"As in Henry Lee Enterprises?" She stopped pacing to stare at him, only it wasn't Nick she was seeing. Something had struck a chord.

"Yeah, that's right. HL Enterprises already owns several companies that are security related, one that produces the equipment, another one that designs and builds structures. I think they took over UAS a couple of years ago. You know how that works—Lee infused a truckload of cash in exchange for the majority voting stock."

She started pacing again. This time Nick watched. He tried to piece together where she was going with all this.

"You think UAS is the target of this group?" Even as he asked it he didn't think the idea made sense.

Maggie didn't look like she discounted the idea. Instead, she stopped again. This time she sat down next to him so she could look at the list she'd left open on her computer screen. She turned and reached over to put her hand on his arm. Waited for his eyes.

"I asked for your help because I need someone I can trust to help figure this out."

It took Nick off guard. He knew his face registered his surprise before he could control it.

"I don't trust A.D. Kunze. I had to tell him everything but I don't trust what—if anything—he'll do with the information simply because it's coming from me."

"What is it with that guy?"

"He blames Tully and me for Cunningham's death."

"That's ridiculous."

"Yes, it is, but he's interim director and he has the ability to make us miserable. I think that's the only reason I'm here. He knew this would be an impossible profiling assignment. I think he wanted me to fail. Even the parking lot fiasco, I think he expected me to screw up. You saw those surveillance videos. Very unlikely that we'd ID those young men from the videos or from any profile I'd come up with. And here's the thing," she said, gripping his arm now, "it didn't matter."

"What do you mean it didn't matter?"

"It didn't matter who the young men were that carried the backpacks. They were incidentals. They were cutaways." There was an urgency in her eyes, a frenetic pace to her words as if she was thinking out loud and Nick was simply there to hear it.

"Back in their dorm room they'll find Web sites in their computer caches for how to make bombs," she continued. "They may even find traces of bomb-making material. But no matter how much time and effort we put into finding out who Chad Hendricks and Tyler Bennett were, or if Patrick was even involved, none of it will matter. The cutaways won't lead us to who really did this. They can't lead us, because they didn't know who planned this. They didn't even know what was planned for them. There is no path because the Project Manager didn't leave one. He took care of everything."

"Wait a minute. Who exactly is the Project Manager?"

"That's what I need your help in finding out. If I can't connect him to any of the John Doe #2 suspects then I need to try and figure out where he's going to attack next."