National Burden (28 page)

“Done.”

As Travis placed the order, the Russian took a seat in the chair closest to the fire, as if he needed the added warmth. He did not take off his overcoat, but rather just stared into the flames somberly.

Once he’d settled into his own chair, the president said, “Mr. Ambassador, why don’t you tell the Vice President and Mr. Haden what you asked me over the phone.”

Bukov nodded, not looking up from the fire. Then, as if it took every ounce of strength he had left, he sighed and turned back to the others. “Mr. President, gentlemen, I am here to officially request asylum in your country.”

+++

Jonas Layton was talking with Neil on a video conference when the others returned to their hotel suite. He had headphones in his ears and didn’t even notice them when they walked in.
Situational awareness, dude
, thought Cal. He tapped Layton on shoulder, making him jump.

“Oh, hey.”

Cal waved and held up the thumb drive to Neil on the computer screen. “Got something.”

Neil squinted. “Have you tried to access it yet?”

“Nope. Thought you and Jonas might be better at that.”

“Jonas, do you mind if Cal uses your computer?” asked Neil.

“Go for it.”

Cal handed the thumb drive to Jonas, who removed the cap and inserted it into his laptop. The three Marines looked over his shoulder as he attempted to access the files. “Looks like it’s encrypted.” Jonas clicked a button to share the screenshot with Neil. “Neil, you seeing this?”

“Yeah. Be careful. It looks like it may have some kind of kill switch.”

Jonas did a bunch of clicking and dragging that Cal only half understood. He knew enough about computers, but was nowhere near the level of Jonas and Neil.

“I think I’ve got it.” With one more click, the sole folder opened, now showing others. “Where should I start?”

“Click on the one that says SVID,” suggested Cal.

Jonas did. When it opened there were maybe twenty files labeled numerically. “Want me to play one?”

“Yes,” said Cal.

Jonas double-clicked on the first file and a new screen popped up, taking a moment to load the video. When it finally did, the five men watched as a grid of four surveillance videos came up. They watched for a couple minutes, no one saying a thing, trying to capture the significance.

“This could take forever,” said Trent, already bored by the display.

“Why don’t we try one of the other folders,” said Cal.

Once again, Jonas did as instructed, double-clicking on another folder and opening the first file inside. This one contained some type of ledger, or was it a bank statement? Cal couldn’t tell.

“Tell you what. Jonas, could you send this over to Neil so his guys can dissect it?” asked Cal.

“No problem. Sending it now, Neil.”

“Cool. I’ll let you know when I’ve got something,” said Neil, already diving in.

Neil’s face disappeared and Jonas shut the laptop.

Cal took a seat, and leveled his gaze onto Jonas. “Let’s get back to the conversation we were having before we left. I’m curious to know why you think the President could be involved with the Russians.”

Jonas’s mouth became a hard line. Cal could tell he didn’t want to say. Did that mean he was involved, too? He was going to kill Neil if that was the case.

Jonas exhaled and returned Cal’s stare. “It was Geoffrey Dryburgh who tried to have me kidnapped.”

It was like time had stopped in the Oval Office. President Zimmer looked to Travis then to Vice President Southgate. Both men speechless.

“My God,” whispered the President.

Ambassador Bukov had explained the rationale behind the incursion in Lithuania and the coalition to tank the dollar. Behind it all had been one man, Geoffrey Dryburgh.

“Mr. President, I must say that I am ashamed of my role in this charade.”

“You sure as hell wouldn’t have felt sorry if you’d gotten away with it,” snapped Travis.

Bukov didn’t disagree. “What can I say? It is part of the game we play.”

Zimmer interjected before Travis could say anything. “What was the end goal? Why would Dryburgh want us to look bad? Surely he knew it would come back on him as well.”

The Russian shrugged. “He did not tell me this, but I believe he had planned on using either scenario to see you removed from office. Lithuania might not have done it, but at the time your support within your country was not as strong as it could have been. Now, with the debt crisis, I believe he somehow would have helped public sentiment turn against you. Not that it would be hard. Again, this is merely speculation on my part.”

Zimmer knew the second part was especially true. He’d known it would be a gamble taking money from Americans, but it had seemed like the only shot.

“How did you come to the conclusion that asylum was your only course?”

Bukov laughed. He was in a better mood than when he’d arrived, already having downed three glasses of vodka and now feeling safe within the confines of the American capital. “The leaders of my country are not as forgiving as you, Mr. President. I was able to convince them that the Lithuania ploy had not been my fault, although I’m ashamed to say one of my underlings disappeared after the fact. But the idea to play off of your national debt was my idea, at least in their minds. Early this morning I got word from a friend that a team of assassins was on their way to find me. Luckily I’d had my television on when you gave your speech or I might not be here now.”

It was so crazy that Zimmer almost didn’t believe it. How could Dryburgh be so reckless, so stupid? Maybe there was a chance that Bukov was lying just to save his own skin.

Before he could ask more about Bukov’s relationship with Dryburgh, Travis interrupted. “Sir, I just got a text from Cal. He says he needs to talk to you now.”

“Can’t it wait?”

“He said 911, sir. He never says that.”

“Dial his number and give me the phone.”

Travis speed dialed his cousin and handed the cell phone to the President. Zimmer ignored the confused look on the face of the soon-to-be-drunk Bukov.

“Cal, it’s Brandon.”

“Oh, hey.”

“What’s up? We’re kind of in the middle of something right now.”

“Yeah, sorry. I just thought that you should know. We’ve got proof that Dryburgh is in on the debt deal with the Russians.”

“Wait, what? How did you get it?”

“It’s a long story, but we’ve got him. He’s been testing the market, muscling his way into companies…I can explain later, but I just thought you should know.”

Zimmer couldn’t find the words to reply for a moment.

“You still there, Brandon?”

“Yeah. Thanks for the heads-up.”

“No problem. How are you doing?”

“I’m…I’ll be okay.” Zimmer shook the cobwebs of shock from his mind. “Hey, how quick can you get down here?”

“We’re still wrapping things up in New York, but…”

“I need you here now.”

“No problem. I’ll let you know when we land.”

President Zimmer handed the phone back to Travis and looked to Ambassador Bukov. “Ambassador, I’m happy to grant you asylum in our country, but there’s a favor I’ll be needing first.”

+++

Cal pocketed his phone and moved to grab his gear. “Change of plans. We’re all going to D.C.”

Daniel and MSgt Trent nodded. It was Jonas who looked up in surprise. “Me too?”

“Unless you wanna sit here by yourself, I think it might be good idea.” Cal could tell by the look on Jonas’s face that he wanted to go anywhere but the nation’s capital.

Trent walked over to the wizard billionaire and offered him a hand up from his seat. “Don’t worry, Jonas. I won’t leave your side.”

Whether it was the thought of being alone, or the comfort of having the near seven foot power of MSgt Willy Trent as his protector, Jonas Layton gathered his belongings and prepared to leave with the others.

As they went to board the private elevator, Cal’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and glanced at the text. His eyes went wide. “No fucking way.”

“What is it?” asked Daniel.

Cal shook his head, eyes steeled. “We’ve gotta make one stop before we head south.”

+++

They pulled into the stone drive, the large black gates opening with a yawn, fog hanging lazily on the perfectly trimmed grass. Daniel drove the rented sedan around the curving path and up to their destination. The sprawling mansion awaited, Leo Martindale standing inside the front glass door. He was talking to someone, and it took Cal a moment to realize Leo was on the phone with a bluetooth in his ear. He waved to Cal as he got out of the car. Cal bent down to talk to his companions.

“Top, you stay here with Jonas. Daniel, why don’t you come with me. I may need your help remembering some of the details.”

Daniel left the car running and stepped out into the cool Southampton air. Cal led the way in, the front door already held open by Leo. He pointed to his ear indicating that he was still on the phone. Cal nodded.

They followed the billionaire through the house as Leo finished his call. When they got to the kitchen, he pulled out his earpiece and set it on the reclaimed wood countertop.

“What going on? Did you guys find something?” asked Leo, grabbing a Smart Water from the fridge.

“We did,” answered Cal.

“So?”

Cal put a finger to his lips and pointed up as if to say someone was listening.

“I’m the only one here. My family’s tucked away in Vail until this thing blows over and I had the staff leave so I could have some privacy.”

“Let’s talk out back,” Cal suggested.

Leo’s eyes scrunched in confusion, but he nodded. “Let me just grab my coat.”

“Tell me where it is and I’ll catch up with you,” said Daniel.

“We’re tight on time, Leo. We’ve got a flight out in less than an hour,” said Cal, already headed to the backyard.

Again, the confused look. “Okay. My coat’s in the front closet next to the door we came in through. Grab the one with EGA on the front, will you?”

Daniel nodded and went to retrieve the coat. Cal was halfway to the back door. Leo followed.

Cal walked at a fast clip, and it took Leo a second to catch up to him on the gravel path leading to the steps spilling out onto the beach.

“Hey, what’s with all the hush-hush?” asked Leo, starting to shiver as the cold wind whipped through his collared shirt.

“They’ve got your house wired. We can’t talk in there.”

“Wait, who has my house wired?”

Cal walked faster. “I’ll tell you as soon as we get as far away from your house as we can. The sound of the waves should mask any directional microphones.”

“Cal, what the hell is going on?”

“They know you’re helping us and they’ve been watching.”

“Who?”

Cal didn’t answer.

By the time they’d walked down onto the beach, the wind was blowing hard, kicking up stinging sand in their faces. There wasn’t a soul on the beach in either direction. Cal kept walking toward the large breakers. Leo followed, shivering harder, hands tucked in his armpits.

Once they’d gotten five feet from the Atlantic, Cal finally turned, looking all around, making sure no one was close. Not even the other houses were visible, the fog laying a dull cover over the landscape. They were alone.

“Can you tell me what’s going on now, Cal? Come on, I’m freezing out here.”

Cal didn’t seem to care, gazing out over the ocean, dark clouds obscuring the horizon and a storm blowing in overheard.

“Why did you do it?” asked Cal over the sound of the pounding surf.

“Do what?”

“Why did you help Dryburgh?”

Leo face hardened. “What are you talking about?”

“You know what I’m fucking talking about. The stocks. The debt play with Russia.”

Cal could tell by the look on Leo’s face that he knew he was caught. Neil had found it all. Once they tracked Dryburgh’s actions, it had only been a matter of time before the trail led to Leo’s firm. To cap it all off, Leo’s dead head of security had left more than enough proof, including video and documentation that proved Martindale was the mastermind behind the plot. He’d even had the foresight to leave a letter with a summary of his boss’s actions and the final thought that Martindale was onto him with the words, “I think he knows, and that’s why I’m leaving this for someone to find.”

“You think you’re so fucking smart, Cal. You have no idea.”

“Please tell me.”

“The world isn’t all about right and wrong anymore. There’s a whole world of gray that most people never take a second to consider. Did you know that if we go on the same course we’ve been on, China will own us in less than twenty years? It’s true. I’ve done the math. I’ve been on the committees. These fucking communists want to own us. They want to see us ground into the dirt and piss on our graves. Well, I’m not gonna sit back and let it happen.”