King and Maxwell

CHAPTER 39

THEY DROVE TO SEAN’S HOUSE and filled him in. Michelle was surprised by what he wanted to focus on.

“Why did those punks at school say your dad was AWOL and a crook?” he asked.

Tyler stared at him angrily. “My dad is not–”

Sean cut him off. “I didn’t say he was. That’s not my point. What I’m asking is where did they get that idea?”

Tyler now looked puzzled. “One of them said his dad told him. And his dad is in the Army. That I know for a fact. He’s a lieutenant colonel.”

Michelle said, “Or they might have made it all up just to harass you, Tyler.”

“No,” said Tyler. “Those jerks don’t have that much imagination.” He paused and added, “If he heard it from his dad and his dad’s in the Army, I guess it might have come from there.”

Sean shook his head. “I don’t think so. The Army has put the kibosh on this whole thing. They’re coming down like an Abrams tank on us and we’re not even in uniform. I don’t see them letting the rank and file flap their mouths. Actually, I don’t see the rank and file even being in the loop on this.”

Sean pulled out his laptop and started clicking keys. He looked at the results, clicked some more keys, and then nodded.

“I Googled your dad’s name. And this came up. There’s a leak,” he said. He spun the computer around so they could see.

He continued, “Not the mainstream media yet, but there are three articles dealing with this. They’re actually the same article just repeated in strings. Meaning other online media outlets are picking it up now.”

Tyler and Michelle read the pages on the screen.

Tyler said, “Shit, they know that Jean is missing too. How did they find that out?”

Sean replied, “Maybe because the source behind this story was the one who made her disappear.”

After they were finished Michelle sat back and summarized the articles. “So, missing money. Unauthorized money. And a missing soldier named Sam Wingo smack in the middle of it. The White House refuses to comment as does the Pentagon, which means everyone will assume they’re covering it up. So that’s obviously what the punk’s dad was referring to. He’d read this article.”

“Right. But who the hell was the source?” asked Sean.

Michelle eyed the byline of the first article. “If this was the original that the other outlets just copied, it was George Carlton. He has a blog devoted to military and political matters.” Michelle looked at Sean. “You know of him?”

“No. I’m not much into the blogging world, but I wonder if Mr. Carlton has received a visit from DoD?”

“He’s local. Bio says he lives and works in Reston, so maybe he has. But they surely wouldn’t have wanted him to write this.”

“Not saying they would. I meant after the fact, to find out his source.” He read over the article again. “The White House refuses comment. I wonder why they were even asked?”

“The White House?” said Tyler. “What does that place have to do with my dad?”

“That’s for someone else to know and for us to find out,” observed Michelle. She glanced at Sean. “You think we should check out this blogger?”

“After this story he might be lying low.”

“How low? Like in a grave low?” asked Michelle.

“Shit,” exclaimed Tyler. They both looked at him. “Are you guys being serious?” he asked.

“Serious about what? How dangerous this is?” said Sean sternly. “Then yeah, we are serious as shit.”

“What about Tyler’s dad contacting him?” asked Michelle.

“Next point on my to-discuss list,” said Sean. “Does he want to set up a meeting?”

Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know. He didn’t say.”

“Sure he did, Tyler,” said Sean.

“What do you mean?”

“I set up the Gmail account for you. And I added a back door.”

Tyler stared at him. “So you already read the email?”

“And decoded it,” added Sean.

Michelle looked at him in amazement. “Sean, I’m seeing your Steve Jobs side and liking it. Very sexy. But I am pissed you didn’t tell me before now.”

“I just saw it five minutes before you got back.” He looked at Tyler. “So he wants to meet with you. He set a time and place. He’s just waiting for your response.”

Tyler looked uncomfortable. “I’m not sure my dad would be cool with you guys coming too.”

“So you were just going to meet with him alone?” said Michelle. “And who would be covering your back?”

“I… I mean, I guess I hadn’t thought about that yet.”

She said, “Well, if your dad is the kind of guy I believe he is, he’ll think about it. And he won’t do anything to put you in danger. So why don’t you write him back and tell him we’ve got your back and we’re part of the team and he needs to meet with all of us. Face-to-face.”

“But what if my dad won’t do it?” said Tyler.

Michelle shook her head. “I’m not sure he has much choice. We can’t let you go and meet with him alone. It’s too dangerous.”

Tyler said quickly, “I guess you’re right. My dad wouldn’t want me to get hurt.”

“Glad you see our point,” said Sean. “So send him another email. Tell him you can meet him tomorrow night at the place he gave you. You can tell him we’re investigators you hired to help him. Then we’ll go and see what he has to say.”

“Okay,” agreed Tyler.

“Sean, look at this.”

Michelle was pointing at the computer screen where she had pulled up the latest on the bombing at the motor court in south Alexandria.

“The police are looking for two people seen leaving the blast site. A man and a woman.”

Sean said, “Maybe we should have stayed and told the cops our story.”

“Hindsight is twenty-twenty,” she replied. “Too late now.”

“Uh, guys,” said Tyler. He was peering out the front window of the house. “There are like some dudes in your yard.”

Sean and Michelle exchanged another look, then strode over to the window and looked out.

Michelle sucked in a breath while Sean let one out.

“Shit!” they said at the same instant.

“Is that kind of like a SWAT[28] team?” asked Tyler, backing away.

Sean shook his head. “No, that’s exactly like a SWAT team.” He turned to Michelle. “Take your gun out, remove the clip, and put it down on the table over there. Quick.” She did this and Sean followed suit with his weapon.

Sean said, “Tyler, go into the kitchen and sit at the table. Keep your hands in plain sight. And whatever they ask you to do, you do, understood?”

Tyler’s face was so pale Sean was worried he might pass out. He put a hand on his shoulder and smiled reassuringly. “Been through stuff like this lots of times, Tyler. It’s going to be okay.”

“You swear?”

“Absolutely. Now go into the kitchen.”

As soon as he was gone Michelle said, “When have you confronted a SWAT team before?”

“Never in my life.”

“Great.”

“I’m not waiting for the warning,” he said. He moved to the front door.

“Sean, wait.”

But he had opened the door and stepped outside with his hands up.

Sean was confronted by a dozen armed and armored men who had their assault weapons pointed at him.

“Is there a problem?” asked Sean.

One of the men came forward. He had on body armor and a face shield. He drew up the shield so Sean could see who it was.

Agent McKinney of DHS said, “Oh, yeah. A big one. And you’re it.”