Counterfeit Lies

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

By the time Jake and Park finished counting and bagging the packets, the three loaders, the rental truck, and the rolls of fabric were gone. Jake followed Park and his two bodyguards as they left the warehouse and drove east to San Marino. He checked his mirrors, carefully searching for surveillance, either friend or foe. He spotted nothing out of the ordinary but knew his fellow FBI agents were professionals who could elude detection. He couldn’t risk their interference either. Not now; too much was at stake.

Jake knew he was trapped between two — perhaps three — rival gangs and the possibility Park had enemies in his own organization who wanted to bring him down. He also knew from his previous undercover experience the high-wire act without a net is always more entertaining to the patrons than the participant. Jake just hoped to avoid the high winds and a plummet to the asphalt below. He waited until both cars pulled onto the freeway before punching the speed-dial feature on the phone.

Trey picked up on the third ring after spotting the caller ID. “Jake, let me put you on speaker. I’ve got Brian here with me.”

There was a click. “You there?” asked Trey.

There was an awkward pause as Jake wrestled with revealing Gabe’s death. He caught himself in a role he’d accused so many of playing. He was comforted by the fact he needed to make the notification in person, not over the speaker from his cell phone.

“Yeah, I’m on my way back to Park’s house. Any word?” asked Jake.

“On what?”

“On anything,” said Jake, frustrated he had to spell out his interest in the investigation.

“I’m not hearing anything from Hafner or the Agency.”

“Figures. Did you come up with anything on the bartender?”

“Yeah,” said Trey, rummaging through the papers on his desk. “Turns out your drinking buddy’s slave name is Jerome Johnson. He legally changed it to Kareem Abdul five years ago after he converted to Islam while at Folsom. He’s a two-striker. Both convictions are for armed robbery.”

“Is he still on paper?”

“Nope, got off parole last November,” said Trey.

“That explains why he can tend bar at Yeong’s place,” said Jake.

“I thought alcohol was prohibited for traditional Muslims. Wasn’t that the whole issue with the Somali cabdrivers in Minneapolis refusing to transport passengers carrying booze?” asked Trey.

“It is. It’s called haram, forbidden in Islam. We were schooled on the culture before we deployed,” said Brian.

“Those 9/11 hijackers didn’t have problems with partying before the attacks,” said Trey.

Brian continued. “That’s the great thing about martyrdom. It cleanses you of all your past sins. You are absolved of everything and once you pull the pin of the suicide vest you are whisked straight to Paradise, where your seventy-two virgins await.”

“So you think he’s ready to martyr himself?” asked Trey.

“No, but a terrorist cell can be very forgiving if he’s putting in work. Financial success can trump martyrdom,” said Brian.

“What about Candy?” asked Jake.

“Squeaky clean. She has a brother upstate in Folsom but she has no convictions, no arrests,” said Brian. “Does that make her approachable?”

“That’s a tough call. If she knows anything she might be willing to talk, assuming she thought as much about Tommy as he did of her. Let’s hold off for now,” said Jake. “Have you been able to pull up the crime reports on Kareem’s two convictions?”

“Both home invasions; confessed to the first one, convicted of the second. The report mentions a drug problem and he needed a quick cash infusion. Did he strike you as using?”

“No, he’s clean. If anything he might be on juice, steroids. He’s a rock. I certainly didn’t notice any needle marks and his eyes were clear.”

“What’s going on at your end?” asked Trey.

“I’m following Park back to his place. See if the kidnappers have called.”

“We’d hear if they did.”

“Is there any activity on Park’s phones?” asked Jake.

“A few condolences.”

“What about Hafner and the Agency? Are they giving you anything? Is NSA picking up any overhears?”

“Hafner’s keeping us both in the dark. I think they believe my loyalty sides with you rather than management.”

“Great, I can use a partner in Adak when I’m doing background checks for security clearances. Listen, I can’t really talk about it now but we have until the end of the day to wrap this up. I need both of you guys on the ready.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Trey.

“They’re shutting this down at midnight. That means we have a little more than six hours. Just be ready. I’ll explain it all later. I’ll call you after I leave Park’s place.”

“Be safe,” said Trey, ending the call.