High Alert

CHAPTER 24

Back at Project HQ, Nick gave Cotter's recorder to Stephanie. But when she played the recording, it was blank. Nick called Elizabeth and briefed her on what had happened. Selena and Stephanie listened to the conversation.

"We have to assume the men in that car were the ones who killed Cotter and searched his apartment," Nick said. "But why were they still at Cotter's building? If I'd just murdered someone, I wouldn't hang around."

"They could have been waiting for someone," Elizabeth said.

"How would they know someone would show up?"

My analysis indicates an eighty-nine point four percent possibility that they were waiting for you, Nick.

"Freddie. I didn't know you were listening."

I am always listening, unless I have been instructed not to.

"Okay, I'll bite. Why do you think they were waiting for us?"

I do not understand your reference to mastication.

"Freddie," Stephanie said, "I'll explain it later. Why do you think those people were waiting for Nick and Selena?"

Analysis of the video purporting to show a defecting Russian agent claiming that Washington and Moscow have formed an alliance against China reveals a unique technical signature consistent with the technology found in the camera used in the drone destroyed by Nick. Logically, whoever is responsible for sending the drone to spy on Project Headquarters is also responsible for the video.

According to that video, the assassination of the Chinese ambassador by a North Korean agent is a false flag designed to distract the Chinese from the supposed conspiracy between Washington and Moscow. The Project team was present at the assassination. Therefore, it is logical to assume that we would be involved in investigating that event. It is also logical to assume we would interview Cotter and try to determine where he had gotten his information.

Stephanie heard Freddie say "we"' and realized that the computer's artificial intelligence had evolved to the point of identification with humans, at least with the members of the Project team. It was unexpected.

"Are you saying the same person who sent men to kill Cotter told them to wait for us to show up and ambush us?" Nick asked.

That is the logical conclusion.

Harker's voice came over the speaker phone. "Freddie, this is Elizabeth. I have a question."

Good morning, Director Harker. How are you feeling today?

"I'm fine, Freddie, thank you. Let me see if I understand what you're saying. You think that the same person who sent the drone also manufactured the false video."

That is correct.

"You also think this person knew we would want to talk to Cotter?"

That is correct.

"That still doesn't provide a reason to ambush us."

I do not have enough information to determine a reason.

"Who is this person?"

I do not have enough information to determine who is responsible.

"You said the technology used to create the video has a unique signature in common with the drone Nick destroyed."

That is correct.

"Can you perform a search for similar technology used in other applications?"

Yes.

"Good. Please do so. If we can find more examples, we might be able to trace them to the person responsible."

Processing.

"It doesn't make sense," Nick said. "I understand why someone might want Cotter out of the way. But why pick a fight with us?"

"And send a drone to attack us?" Elizabeth said.

"It feels personal," Selena said.

"Personal?" Nick looked at her. "Why do you think it's personal?"

"I don't know, it just does. Whoever it is must see us as a threat and thought we'd come looking for Cotter."

"They were right about that."

The light on Nick's phone for the line from Langley lit up. Nick answered.

"Nick, this is DCI Hood. We've identified the traitor who sent the plans for Black Dolphin to North Korea. He was an aide to General Samson of the Joint Chiefs."

"I'm putting you on speaker," Nick said. "You said he was an aide?"

"He's dead. He shot himself with a .45. It made quite a mess."

"Are you certain he's the one?"

"Yes. It gets worse. We think he also copied our war plan for China."

"That could explain how Cotter got his hands on it."

"I'm more concerned about China getting hold of it. The FBI is going through everything in Sanford's home and office as we speak, looking for anything that could lead us to his handler."

"Phone records?"

"His regular cell phone is clean. They found a throw away with calls in the phone log from different numbers, all disposable. It's probably a dead-end, but you never know. We're looking at his finances now. If there's an unusual amount of money, it might be traceable."

"Why did he do it?"

"We'll find out. At least the mole has been found and the leak stopped. You could even say that justice of a sort has been served."

"That's not much consolation to the families of the men who went down in that sub," Nick said.