No Fortunate Son (Pike Logan, #7)(33)

Palmer said, “Nobody’s talking. He’s just got his ear to the ground. He’s heard about all of these meetings. He’s sniffed a story but doesn’t know what it is. He won’t publish without comment. Why he went to DHS is a mystery.”

Kerry said, “Because the leak is in Homeland. That’s why. Someone’s talked. That’s what always happens. They get a whiff of blood and then start swimming for the carcass floating in the water. He’s smelled the blood downstream and is now trying to find the body.”

Gerald bristled. “Nobody in my office talked. I’m the only one read onto this.”

“Bullshit. Someone in your office—a contact of his—has pieced together something and fed it to him. It might be solely based on your schedule, but make no mistake, Grant is good. And honestly, half the time he listens. Maybe we bring him into the fold. He won’t want to get anyone killed.”

Vice President Hannister spoke up for the first time. “No way. We let him get his nose in the tent, and we’re screwed. It’ll be just like you say. He might keep his word, but his cubicle mates will then start sniffing. It’ll blow, and my son will die.”

Easton Clute nodded his head vigorously. “I agree. He can’t find out. My son and daughter are worth more than someone’s scoop.”

President Warren sat back and rubbed his eyes, saying, “The wonders of a free and open press.” He pulled his hand away and said, “Meet him. See what it’s about but don’t look too eager. You agree immediately, and he’ll think he’s near the body. Drag him out with mundane stuff, then finally agree, as if it’s a huge favor. Then find out what he’s talking about. Hopefully it’s just some stupid noncontroversy. Drones on the border or some other bullshit. If it is, let him run with it. Keep him focused on another story. Hell, it might work in our favor. He breaks a story I don’t care about, and the slavering twenty-four-hour news cycle will pick it up and go crazy, letting us work the real problem.”

Palmer said, “And if it isn’t?”

“Then we deal with it. But let me make this perfectly clear: Nobody in this room had better be keeping secrets from me. You hear anything, and that includes from the press, I want to know.”

He looked around the room, catching Kurt’s eye. Kurt nodded, once again feeling adrift. Torn between his desire to save his niece and his loyalty to the administration. But the president was only one man. As much as Kurt trusted him, he knew Warren would defer to the “expertise” in the room, and Kylie would die.

Kurt glanced at the secretary of defense, the man’s grief radiating out like heat in a sauna. He focused on the vice president and recognized the same visceral fear that was eating at his own soul.

Come on, Pike. Work your magic. I need it now more than ever.






21




Kevin Fegan pulled a sheet of paper out of the printer and handed it to Seamus. “This is a paper wallet. It doesn’t look like much, but it’ll hold all of the Bitcoins.”

Seamus looked at the printout. In the center was an orange rectangle with a QR code. Sticking out of the end of the rectangle was a smaller tail with another QR code. He said, “I’m supposed to trust this thing?”

“Better than online. Someone could hack your account, or we could be tracked. This way, you can move the money anywhere you want, between different accounts, and it’s air-gapped.”

“How does it work?”

“Once we get the Bitcoins in our online wallet, we scan that big QR code and simply send the coins to that address. To remove them, we set up a new online wallet and scan the smaller code.”

“Why’s it shaped like this?”

“That’s just the Web design. You’re supposed to cut it out and fold it up like some stupid origami thing. Turn it into a ‘real’ wallet. All that really matters are the QR codes. You could cut just those out if you wanted, but make no mistake—if you lose those codes, it’s the same as losing a real wallet. Your Bitcoins are gone forever.”

Seamus said, “This is the weirdest crap I’ve ever seen. You sure Bitcoins are real and untraceable?”

“Oh, they’re real all right, and after I send them through the Bitcoin Fog website, they’ll be clean. The only hang-up is that we’ll have to do small amounts each time. Like no more than ten thousand dollars’ worth.”

“That’s not a problem. How long will it take the Americans to come up with the Bitcoins?”

“They’ll want to keep it secret, so they’ll be buying them in small lots. To not spike, I’d say a few days. A week at the most.”

Peering over Kevin’s shoulder, Colin said, “All of that sounds good, but this’ll only work if we stay alive to spend it. Tricking the Americans into thinking a Muslim group took the hostages will only last as long as they never talk. You said before that wouldn’t happen, but killing them won’t stop the hunt for us. It’s a very dangerous game.”

“I never said I was going to kill them.”

Colin crossed his arms. He said, “I think it’s high time you let us in on your secret plan.”

Seamus looked at Kevin. He nodded in agreement. Seamus considered, then said, “Okay. I suppose you deserve to know the whole scope of what we’re about to do. Remember our contacts in Croatia? The ones who got us the weapons a few years ago?”