Chimera

CHAPTER 25

Outside a private plane terminal — Bangkok International Airport

Pete Younger, Major Prethat and Captain Kulawnit all watched as Agent Smith and his two men boarded a small private jet. Younger waited until they were all on board and the door was shut, then he reached for his cell phone and began typing:

OKAY, GED, AGENT SMITH ET AL HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO YOUR EMBASSY… AND THEY’RE UNDOUBTEDLY HEADING YOUR WAY IN A COVERT G5. PHOTO OF PLANE AND TAIL NUMBER TO FOLLOW. TIME TO WATCH YOUR BACK.

International Terminal — LAX Airport

As Bulatt entered the International Terminal at LAX with his carry-on bag, he activated his shut-off Blackberry, read the message from Younger, and then smiled. Then he looked up and saw a pair of three-piece-suited men headed in their direction. The one seemingly in charge stepped forward in front of Bulatt and held out a set of FBI credentials.

“Special Agent Gedimin Bulatt?”

“That’s right.”

“Sir, I’m FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted Grendel from the LA Office. Your boss apparently talked to my boss who ordered me to assist you in any way I can with your current assignment.”

“Really?” Bullet cocked his head curiously. “Would that order possibly include seriously messing with an aggressively obnoxious Fed Spook who plans on tailing me around the country in the comfort of his private jet and interfering with my Interpol investigation… ideally delaying him here for a while… maybe twenty-four hours or so… and then letting him think I’m going up to Seattle?”

The FBI SAC blinked, paused for a moment, and then smiled pleasantly. “That would be my pleasure, sir.”

On the tarmac of the Private Plane Terminal at Ashland, Oregon

As Bulatt stepped out of the FBI plane and onto the small tarmac of the Ashland Municipal Airport he saw a long-dark-haired young woman in a white lab coat approaching.

“Special Agent Bulatt?” the young woman asked.

“Yes, that’s right,” Bulatt nodded.

“Great. Welcome to Ashland. I’m Juliana from the US Fish amp; Wildlife Forensics Lab. I know you planned on visiting with us first before going on to Seattle; but after talking with his Interpol friend — and apparently yours also — Pete Younger, our director thought you might want to see these right away.”

She handed Bulatt a piece of paper and an envelope.

“That is my lab report on the analysis of blood on a skinning knife taken from subject Carolyn Fogarty. I confirmed the blood as coming from a Bighorn Sheep,” the forensic scientist continued.

“Could you match it to a specific trophy head?” Bulatt asked.

“If you bring me the head, yes sir, I could.”

“A second question. Did you receive the two Clouded Leopard carcasses from Bangkok?”

“Yes, we received them yesterday morning.”

“Wonderful.” Bulatt opened the envelope, read the message, and then turned to the FBI pilot standing at the doorway of their plane.

“Can you guys stand by for another quick flight either late this evening or very early tomorrow morning… this time to Redmond?”

“Hop, skip and a jump, sir.” The FBI pilot replied. “You’ve got my cell number. We’ll be ready to leave anytime you are.”