Conspiracy

122

The customs agent came up to Tommy Karr’s belt.

“Could you and Mr. Dean come with me, Mr. Karr?” she asked.

“Now how do you know I’m Tommy Karr?” said Karr, suppressing a laugh.

“I was told to look for the biggest man on the plane.”

“Got you there,” said Dean, shouldering his carry-on bag.

The diminutive customs agent led them around the side of the row of customs stations, through a door, and into a hallway that was part of a secure area at Los Angeles International Airport. Another customs agent met them and asked to see their passports.

“Gee, I don’t know if I have mine,” said Karr, before handing over his brown diplomatic passport.

“Plane ride put you in a goofy mood?” asked Dean as they were led down the hall.

“No — twenty-something hours of Abbott and Costello did. I have the ‘Who’s on First’ routine memorized. Want to hear it?”

Dean declined.

They were shown into a conference room used by the customs agents for briefings and updates. When the agents left, Dean asked the Art Room what was going on.

“We think Tolong’s death was staged,” said Sandy Chafetz, who’d taken over as their runner while Rockman got some rest. She explained that DNA evidence had proven that the remains that were brought back weren’t Tolong’s.

“Our working theory is that McSweeney, Gordon, and Ball were involved in taking the money during Vietnam,” said Chafetz. “And for some reason they had a falling-out.

The FBI and the local police are reinvestigating Gordon’s death; it’s very possible he was pushed rather than jumped from that window.”

“So you think Ball was the one who tried to kill McSweeney?”

“We’re not sure,” said Chafetz. “It looks from his credit cards that he was there. But we can’t find him now to verify that. There may be another player — it’s possible someone killed him, or he’s just hiding out. Everyone’s looking for him — FBI, Secret Service, and us. Tommy, they want you to join the press corps covering McSweeney. Stay undercover and see if you spot Ball or pick up anything else suspicious.

We’ve uploaded photos and other information for you, along with credentials.”

“I always wanted to be a reporter,” said Karr.

“What am I doing?” Dean asked.

“Mr. Rubens wants to talk to you about your assignment himself.”