Walk the Wire (Amos Decker #6)(95)

“It doesn’t make much sense,” agreed Decker.

“But if this is connected to the increased chatter from the Middle East, then it makes sense to somebody,” pointed out Jamison.

“Then those people must be here right now,” said Decker.

Robie said, “The guys who came after me were a mix of folks. But they could have been hired by others. They looked the mercenary type. Same with the ones chasing you to that barn.”

“Possibly,” said Decker.

“If these people want the stockpiles, assuming they actually exist, they must want to smuggle them out of the country,” said Blue Man.

“Or use them here,” said Decker.

“Which was my next comment,” said Blue Man. “Any indication from this Daniels exactly what sort of biochem weapons we’re talking about?”

“Only that they’re classified and he’ll take them to the grave,” said Decker.

“But Decker,” said Jamison, “remember Daniels said he told Purdy because Purdy was military and had security clearances. And he opened up to you more on the phone not just because you had his hat, but because you told him you had high-level security clearances.” She glanced at Blue Man. “If you all were to talk to him, he might open up even more. I mean, you can clearly receive classified information.”

Blue Man looked at Robie and Reel. “Attend to that. Right away.”

“We can give you the details,” said Jamison.

As they were dropping Decker and Jamison off back at the hotel Robie said to Decker, “While we’re seeing this old guy, you all are on your own.”

Jamison patted her holstered Glock and said, “We’ll be careful.”

“From what I’ve seen so far, you’ll have to be more than careful,” said Reel. “Good luck.”





“ANY ACTIVITY?” SAID REEL, who drove while Robie rode shotgun on the way down to Williston.

“Nothing so far. If we picked up a tail, they’re good.”

“Well, so far, they have been.”

“How much further?”

“Twenty clicks.”

“Read the service record on Bradley Daniels,” said Robie. “Sounds like a real patriot. Purple, Bronze, DFC, and the Airman’s Medal. Well over a hundred bombing missions in the European and Pacific Theaters. Shot down twice. Sat in a life raft with three other crew members for a month in the Pacific before they got picked up by a Navy destroyer. Then got right back in the saddle.”

“Like you said, a real patriot.”

Robie glanced in the side view and saw what he had seen for the last hour: nothing. And he wasn’t pleased by that. None of this felt right to him.

It was well after eleven by the time they got to the nursing home and past visiting hours, but their federal badges intimidated the night supervisor so much, he led them directly to Daniels’s room and then fled.

The old man was fast asleep in his bed. The light was off in his room, and Robie debated whether to turn it on. He finally opted not to.

They drew near the bed, one on each side.

“Mr. Daniels?” Reel said gently, before touching the man’s shoulder.

He started and his eyes opened, then closed, then opened and stayed that way.

“Who the hell are you?” he said, blinking rapidly and sitting up slightly.

Robie and Reel held out their creds and official badges. “We’re with the intel community,” said Robie.

“Turn on a damn light so I can see.”

Reel turned on the overhead light and Daniels scrutinized the badges and cred packs.

“We were told you couldn’t see very well,” said Robie.

“Yeah, well, I let people think that for my own reasons.”

“Okay.”

“These look real,” he finally said, handing them back.

“That’s because they are.”

“What do you want with me?”

“London AFS?” said Reel.

Daniels lay back on his pillow. “I already talked to the Feds. That big fellow. FBI. He took my hat, the son of a bitch.”

Reel reached into her jacket pocket, pulled out the hat, and handed it to him. “And he asked us to return it.”

Daniels looked pleased by this and said, “Well, at least he’s a man of his word.”

Robie said, “Ben Purdy? You told him more than you told Decker. We’ve been ordered here to get the rest of the story.”

“Why?”

“It’s become relevant again, sir,” said Reel.

“You don’t have to call me sir.”

“I do it out of respect. Purple, Bronze, Distinguished Flying Cross, Airman’s Medal? You more than earned it.”

Daniels blinked again and his eyes grew watery. “Everybody I served with is long since dead. My wife’s dead, so are my kids. Nobody left ’cept my grandkids and their kids, and they got their own lives. Sucks being old and alone. I just sit in here rotting away, waiting for the end.”

Reel glanced at Robie and said to Daniels, “You should be at a VA facility. You’d find a lot more in common with the folks there than you probably do here.”

Daniels looked excited. “You can make that happen?”