True Faith and Allegiance

48

Jack saw an open door to Gerry’s office, so he walked right in, only to find Gerry talking to John Clark and Ding Chavez.

“Oh… sorry, guys,” Jack said. He noticed the ultraserious expressions on the three men. “I’m obviously interrupting something.”

Gerry said, “No, I’m glad you’re here. I was about to call you and Dom in. We just got off the phone with Dan Murray. He’s asked us to aid in the hunt for Musa al-Matari and his people here in the U.S. We are considering moving Dominic, along with support, as soon as we can get some place to send him.”

Jack said, “Because of his FBI credentials?”

“That’s right. It will give him freedom of movement around crime scenes, and it’s safe to assume the ISIS terrorists will attack again, sooner, rather than later.”

Clark said, “Sorry, Jack, but you won’t be on this trip. The potential you could be recognized on a domestic op like this is too great.”

Jack said, “That’s good news, actually. I came to request that you send me, along with some help, to Bucharest. Trust me, nobody’s going to recognize me there.”

Gerry said, “I’ll grant you that, but what’s in Bucharest?”

Gavin stepped into the office behind Jack, who was still in the doorway. He answered Gerry Hendley’s question. “A guy named Alexandru Dalca. He is the person, or one of the people, exploiting the Office of Personnel Management files and turning them into targeting packages against American military and intelligence.”

Gerry reacted with surprise. “I’ll be damned! You actually found who is responsible for the breach?”

Jack said, “We think so, but we don’t know exactly what we’re dealing with yet. We know where this man works, but that’s just about it. Not sure if his whole company is involved, or if he is protected or propped up by some other group. What we do know is that we need to get over there, shadow this man Dalca, and try to figure out what the hell is going on.”

Gerry looked to Clark. “What do you think?”

Clark said, “Since we have no idea of the scope of the breach and which government employees have already been exposed to this guy, it makes sense to use our people instead of just notifying Mary Pat and Dan. Dom will need support on his operation here in the States, but in an in extremis situation he can get help from law enforcement. Jack in Romania, on the other hand, will be on his own if we don’t send others along with him.”

Gerry said, “So let’s give some extra support to Jack.”

Clark said, “What do you think, Ding?”

Chavez just shrugged. “I think I’m heading to Romania.”

Gavin Biery, still standing behind Ryan, cleared his throat.

Jack said, “We will have a need for tech support. I’ll want to run a full surveillance package on this guy, and we don’t know what we’re up against yet. If Gavin could come along, it would be helpful.”

Clark gave Gavin a hard look. “Let me make myself perfectly clear. Tech… support… only.”

Gavin said, “Trust me, I’ll stay out of trouble.”

Jack said, “If tailing Dalca, getting some cams and mics on him, and searching his computers doesn’t pan out, maybe we can turn up the heat, confront him, and make him think we have more knowledge than we really do.”

Gerry said, “Bluff, you mean. John, what do you think?”

Clark said, “I like it. We’ve certainly pulled it off before. Gavin and Ryan seem as certain about this call as can be.

“I know a guy in Romania, ex-Army. He was a founding member of their Brigada Antiteroristă, the USLA, back in the late seventies, and he’s worked as a fixer for foreign media and business interests traveling in Bucharest. I’ll reach out to him and try to hire him to help you guys out with translation and logistics.”

“Sounds perfect,” Ding said.

Gerry called Dominic into the conference room, while Clark called Adara and Midas, both taking a lunch break in his farmhouse kitchen in Maryland, putting them on speakerphone. He then told all three about Jack and Chavez’s plan to go to Bucharest to tail a personality implicated in the OPM breach.

Gerry added, “Ding, I want you to take Midas along. He’s new here, obviously, but he’s got experience in advanced force operations with Delta’s recce squadron, which is all about going in light and covert for recon and such.”

Chavez said, “Happy to have you on board.”

Midas replied over the phone. “I appreciate the opportunity.”

Dom was sitting right next to Chavez. “And me as well, I assume.”

Gerry and Clark exchanged a look, and Dom realized it had to do with him. “Something wrong?”

“Not exactly,” Gerry said. “We have another role for you right now.”

Dom stiffened. “What role?”

“We are going to use you domestically to try to help the FBI run down these terror cells. Dan Murray requested you specifically. If we can get a handhold on a live terrorist, we might be able to get him to talk faster than the DoJ ever could.”

Dom went from defensive to excited in an instant. “That is a good idea.”

Clark said, “Adara, do you remember when I told you, in no uncertain terms, that I’d make sure you and Dom wouldn’t be working together, at least at first?”

Adara’s voice over the speakerphone was hesitant. “You mean just last week? Yes, I recall that conversation.”

“Well… forget I said that. I need Dom in the USA on this because of his FBI credentials. And I need Midas overseas because of his experience. No offense, but his Delta Force background trumps your Navy background when it comes to covert reconnaissance.”

Adara said, “I’d be a fool to argue that logic.”

Dom stiffened up again. Coming to terms with the fact he’d be operational with his own girlfriend.

Adara, on the other hand, was already making plans. “I’ll start requisitioning surveillance gear from outfitting. I’m sure we’re going to have to bring some tech into this.”

Clark said, “Good, Adara. As soon as there is another attack, you and Dom will travel to it. You might have to go commercial if the Gulfstream isn’t back from Europe yet.”

Adara asked, “And what about you, John?”

“I’ll remain here at the office, but be ready to help in any capacity necessary.”

The meeting ended, and everyone in the office, save for Gerry and Clark, shuffled out seconds later, all focused on their missions. The two older men sat there quietly, until Clark said, “This means we’re just waiting on another military or intelligence officer to get murdered by terrorists somewhere in the country.”

Gerry nodded. “You better help Dom and Adara get prepped. The way things are going, I doubt they’ll have much time at all before they’re off.”