Rogue Asset (Book 3 of the Wade Hanna Series) (22 page)

Damien encouraged Wade for more details, “Please, go on.”

“Sikes felt the inspection had taken place, but only a portion of the payment was being delivered.”

Damien sat back seemingly processing Wade last description. He leaned closer to the coffee table and asked, “Do you know what portion of the payment was missing?”

Wade paused for a moment not sure how much of this Leo wanted him to tell Damien.

Wade became a little evasive, he commented, “It was difficult to hear a lot of the conversation. Leo had these rafter mics, and they were speaking a foreign language, so I didn’t get some of that conversation.”

Damien looked straight into Wade’s eyes before he calmly responded, “That was not my question. My question was, do you know which portion of the payment was not being provided.”

Wade’s pulse was racing as he looked into to Damien’s penetrating stare.

“I think it might have been diamonds, but I’m not sure.”

That seemed to satisfy Damien for the moment. He turned to Wade and asked, “Then what happened?”

Wade now found himself on the edge of his sofa and realized if he moved another inch he would fall off. He repositioned himself back further on the sofa.

“After a pause in the firefight Sikes was getting ready to make a move to leave the building and the money behind. He was probably going to get reinforcements. I was given a green to take a shot to immobilize Sikes. My shot hit his leg, and he was unable to leave the warehouse. His next in command, by the name of Zev, came to his assistance. Zev took a position next to Sikes and fired bursts directly at my direction. I was behind some steel pallets, and the shots were landing all around me.

I was given a green to take out Zev from my position. It was a hit to his chest. Kalim from Matubo’s group was wounded and still under the table in the middle of the room where the money was. I provided cover for our two friendly operatives who took control of the situation finishing off two men that took hostile action against them. I was then told to extract and here I am.”

“What happened to the vessel while all this was going on?”

“The vessel left port after I extracted. It had two of Mabuto’s men on board. I spoke to Leo after I extracted. He was following the vessel on a fishing trawler. I don’t have any confirmation of what happened to the vessel after that.”

Damien paused sitting back on the sofa his eyes focused somewhere in the room over Wade’s head. He bent down and confided in Wade, “That explains a piece of the puzzle I hadn’t heard until just now.”

Wade replied, “I don’t understand, Sir.”

Damien had thought for a moment again before he spoke, “The part of the puzzle of how we ended up with Sikes in custody in Tunisia.”

There was another pause as Damien thought putting various pieces of a puzzle together.

He turned back to Wade, this time confiding in him, “Just to let you know, that vessel was lost at sea and the arms never reached Mabuto in Sierra Leone. Our country doesn’t know what happened. We thought the ship may have been diverted or were in the hands of pirates from along the coast.”

Damien rubbed his chin all the while thinking through moving puzzle parts in front of Wade, “I don’t think that ship is anywhere but at the bottom of the ocean.”

Another pause before Damien continued, “Mabuto’s insurrection came when the arms failed to arrive. Shortly after, a push was made by the party in control of the country who now controls the country again. Our sources tell us that Mabuto fled Sierra Leone, and we believe he is now in hiding in Chad.”

Damien took a pause to contemplate his next words, “Sikes is still recovering from his wound in a foreign country friendly to the U.S. It is possible he might divulge some potentially sensitive intelligence information and keep negative publicity from spreading to the U.K and U.S. press. If he survives his wounds I am told he will be extradited and charged with treason, espionage, murder, drugs, and arms trafficking. He is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison. I am told he is now cooperating with authorities before trial.”

After a pause Damien continued, “I understand that just recently the head of the shipping company that owned the vessel in question met an unfortunate demise at the hands of an international crime syndicate who lost a great deal of money on his ventures. As far as we know the money for the transaction was never recovered, although we don’t really have an interest in that financial outcome. All in all our country and department are very pleased with the work you did. You should be proud of how many lives you helped save if those weapons had reached Mabuto in Sierra Leone. Mabuto’s reign of terror seems over, but we are still watching him in Chad very carefully.”

Wade replied, “I am pleased to have been of service.”

“I have one question. How did you like working with Leo?”

“He took some getting used to but in the end he was great to work with. He knows his stuff. May I ask you a question, Mr. Damien?”

“Certainly.”

“I understand you worked with Leo many years ago. Why did you two stop working together?”

“It’s a long story, but I realized at that point in my career, I needed more structure to what I was doing. I like all this official protocol, reporting relationships, formal lines of authority, even the paperwork. It gives me a sense of structure and that I can identify with. It is feeling of belonging that I didn’t have working with Leo.”

Damien paused before continuing. “Don’t get me wrong. Leo was the best I ever worked with. The decision not to continue together wasn’t his. It was mine.

Leo doesn’t have the same needs I have. He likes the freedom of being everywhere without having any reporting relationships. He doesn’t need or want to be surrounded by structure.”

Damien briefly paused to think about Wade’s question further and continued, “I suspect you will find in your intelligence career that you will one day have to make choices like the one I made. Perhaps you will decide that Leo’s life fits your personal goals. I personally think it’s too early in your career to be concerned about that choice right now.”

Phil started to get up from his seat and extended his hand signaling that the meeting was over, “I have a briefing to give myself. If you don’t mind, I’ll have my secretary escort you to the lobby. Thank you for a good briefing.”

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Damien.”

Chapter 22

Washington, D.C.

Wade left Damien’s office feeling good that his meeting did not end with his termination. Perhaps his mission had some higher purpose. More bad guys out of the way and some unknown villagers and children in Sierra Leone might still be alive because the weapons never arrived. Perhaps a world rid of Sikes, Kalim, a bad shipping company and crew meant something.

As Wade left the CIA building in New York, his focus on the morning’s meeting was fading. His mind now was only surrounded with images of Megan. The long plane right had given him time to think. His analytical style of thinking though their relationship went like everything else he did including planning a mission. He listed all of the positives, the maybes and prioritized the concerns. Only then did he try to listen to his feelings and embrace his inner voice. He imagined them together, really together for the first time, without the distractions of mission assignments and concerns of unsanctioned black ops and possible bad characters in the agency. The image he saw in them was real and for the first time he wanted to take steps to make that happen. Right now, he just needed to be in her presence. Approaching the curb he hailed a cab.

His taxi driver in front of the federal building was all smiles. Wade was not in a productive mode. All he wanted to do was get to the airport shuttle for the short flight to D.C. Wade’s heart was throbbing. He couldn’t wait to see her surprised face. The taxi driver tried to make idle conversation. Wade wasn’t a participant. He was trying to think about what he was going to say to Megan. A smile came over his face. The words he needed would come when he saw her.

As they approached, the airport traffic was congested. The driver managed to move to lanes to the right. The taxi line was just too long. Wade had an idea. He saw shuttle busses had a special lane. He told the driver to pull over. Paying the driver he jumped out and ran with his bag to the first stop. The shuttle bus got to his commuter flight in just enough time.

When he landed at the D.C. airport, he took the first yellow cab waiting at the stand. The taxi driver from India was all about comical relief. He wanted to be a stand-up comic and was determined to try his routine on Wade as they crawled through D.C. traffic. He kept asking Wade’s advice on how to change his routine. Wade couldn’t focus trying to imagine Megan’s face and what she might be wearing. He remembered a flower shop not far from her building. Yes, flowers would be important.

Wade asked his driver to stop at the flower shop and keep his meter running. He had enough energy to run the few blocks to her office but concluded that would look silly running through the lobby of the CIA building carrying a large bouquet of flowers. It might even cause a serious reaction from security.

Opting for a more subdued entrance he got back in the cab for the several block ride. Wade remembered Cindy at the front desk, Megan’s lively, good-natured receptionist from the last meeting and couldn’t wait for the elevator to open on the 23st floor. The reception was just as he remembered it with large beautiful plants along one wall.

Unfortunately, the person sitting behind the reception desk wasn’t Cindy. Wade collected himself and approached in a reserved manner, “I am Agent Wade Hanna here to see Ms. Megan Winslow.”

The receptionist looked up from the desk and smiled. She looked down her list again turning pages and running her fingers across the employee directory.

“I’m sorry sir. We don’t have anyone here by the name of Megan Winslow.”

Wade was in disbelief, feeling this new girl wasn’t like the competent old Cindy. He shot back losing some of his refined composure, “What are you talking about? She is a senior intelligence officer here.”

The receptionist politely responded, “I just looked again and we don’t have anyone here by the name of Megan Winslow.”

Wade moved around to the other side of the receptionist desk. Looking over her shoulder he scanned the directory for himself. His finger carefully passed down each name starting with the letter W. He confirmed Megan’s name was not on the list. Wade’s mind raced trying to remember the other people he met at the reception. Still in disbelief he looked around assuring himself he was in the right building and on the right floor. The receptionist placed the phone down from answering a call. Wade jumped in asking, “How long have you been here?”

“I started here three weeks ago.”

“Was there anyone by the name of Megan Winslow when you came?”

“No, sir.”

Pointing to the closed door behind the receptionist as though the wall wasn’t there Wade was showing his frustration, “Her desk is right over there.”

His mind racing he kept telling himself,
There must be some mistake
.

Wade looked confused pacing the floor with a bouquet of flowers still in his hand. He couldn’t seem to remember anyone else’s name.

Finally, he asked, “Is there a Mr. Shaw here?”

The receptionist politely responded, “Mr. Shaw is on extended assignment in the Middle East. He no longer has a secretary in this office. I did meet his secretary when I first started. She was very nice.”

Wade walked over and sat down on the leather sofa. Gripping the flowers in a stranglehold as though they might take flight he was trying to think what to do next. Wade couldn’t believe what he was experiencing. Obvious questions ran through his mind.
Did she leave the firm? Was her employment terminated because she got too close to his investigation? Could she be on a covert assignment? Had she been transferred like Shaw? Where the hell was she?
He thought about her condo. He thought if she had to leave quickly she might have left signs at her condo.

He was not getting anywhere speaking to this receptionist. She didn’t know anything. A typical agency move. Wade went over and handed the flowers to the receptionist, “I must be mistaken about Ms. Winslow. These flowers are for you.”

“Well thank you, Mr. Hanna. If I get a call from Ms. Winslow, I’ll tell her you came by this office.”

“Yes, please do that. Thank you.”

He pushed the elevator button. On the way down Wade wondered,
How could someone be in the main office of the Agency for over four years and disappear like that. She must be undercover, but where?

His search would now be unrelenting. Wade knew of a car rental place a few blocks from the office. Upon arrival at the rental agency, he filled out paperwork in the name of one of his aliases and took off hoping Megan was operating out of her condo. It had taken several wrong turns before he found Megan’s complex. He waited until someone coming out opened the glass security door and slipped in before the door closed. From memory, he recalled turning right out of the elevator door on the third floor. When the doors opened on the third floor, the hallway looked familiar. He spotted her door and gently knocked.

A gentleman he did not recognize opened the door. The female standing behind him, thankfully, was not Megan. Wade introduced himself and explained his situation.

“I’m looking for a close friend who used to live here. Her name is Megan Winslow, do you know her?”

“No, I’m sorry, we just bought this condo a few weeks ago. The seller’s name was Radcliff, I believe. We don’t know anyone by the name of Megan. I’m sorry.”

Wade stood frozen with a worried look on his face, “I’m just very worried about her.”

“You look very pale, would you like to come in and sit down?”

“That would be very nice of you. I won’t be long.”

When Wade got through the door, the woman offered him a glass of water. Wade took a sip of the water, “Would you mind if I just quickly looked around to make sure I have the right address?”

“Certainly, please help yourself. We’re still in the remodeling phase.”

Wade glanced around. He saw the bookcase shelf to the left that was now painted a light yellow. It contained none of Megan’s books. The scuff marks on the floor were still where Megan’s table used to sit. Wade checked the location of the kitchen and bedroom. He even noticed the small scratch on the window frame in the living room was still there. There was no mistake. Wade knew he was in Megan’s unit.

“I’m sure this is the correct address. Thank you very much for allowing me to confirm this. I appreciate your hospitality.”

“It was our pleasure. I hope you find your friend.”

On his way out of Megan’s building Wade thought this must have been what Megan felt when he left for his last assignment. At least he told her he was going on assignment and gave her some information even though it was in a weird poem.

He realized Megan had no way to reach him. After being his guide and mentor for the last four years and now his lover he suddenly had a feeling of utter loss and emptiness that he had never experienced before with anyone. Wade felt helpless. He missed her and feared for her at the same time.

She was in the same business he was, and that meant secrets were just part of their lives. There was also a dark side to their lives. Wade remembered her telling him at the Italian restaurant that she was trained to kill a man twice her size. He had no doubt she could take care of herself. His mind jumped back to Angéle. As much as he admired the cold killer instinct in Angéle, Megan was no Angéle. He thought about his suspicions of the Agency and their killing squad.
Did Megan get too close? Had he asked her to do too much?

Wade started to feel anger take over. He knew anger was never a good thing in covert assignments or real life. His head was filled with emotion and questions. He had to think straight. His search for her whereabouts had to be step-by-step. Foremost on his mind was the Agency and their possible hand in her disappearance. He wondered if this was what life would be like as a couple in the Agency.

He thought,
Perhaps I should go back to Alabama then on to Louisiana to see my father. I need to be around people and things I care about. It’s time for me to revisit my swamp where I can think things out.

END