Daylight (Atlee Pine #3)(32)

“A fact we were well aware of. But we took every precaution, dug through the background of everyone who knew about your relocations. We could find nothing, no common denominator that would lead us to the mole. We constantly changed personnel, so that the inner circle was different, so that those who knew the most were limited. It was the most puzzling and infuriating phase of my career. After Colorado, the decision was made to take you out of witness protection and move you to Andersonville, Georgia. I was assigned there to personally look over you and keep you safe.” He paused to clear his throat once more. “I clearly failed at that.” A single cough followed this last comment, and then turned into a series of wracking ones.

“Jack, are you all right?”

As the spasm subsided, he said, “I’m fine. Just . . . tired.”

“Look, you clearly need to rest, but can I ask you a favor?”

His tone instantly became alert. “Certainly. Anything.”

“Can you provide me with information about who was in the loop with my family’s experience back then? I mean, anyone you can remember, no matter how attenuated their connection was?”

“Atlee, a lot of them are long since retired or even dead.”

“I still would like to go over them.”

“I don’t see the purpose.”

“Then I’ll tell you. Ito Vincenzo came to Georgia. He tried to kill me, and he took my sister. Whoever leaked our locations in Ohio and Colorado did the same in Georgia. That person must have communicated either with Bruno or Ito or someone close to them. If I can find that person, they may lead me to Ito.”

Silence followed for a few moments.

Lineberry said, “I’ll see what I can do. But I’ve been long since removed from that world. My contacts are largely no longer viable.”

“If you run into obstacles, call me and I’ll see what I can do to help,” she said. “I told you back in Georgia that we had to try to do this together. And I haven’t changed my mind.”

“And sometimes dredging up the past can be more devastating than people realize.”

“I need to know the truth. And I need to find my sister, and your daughter, Jack! Ito is really the only connection I have right now.”

“He may not even be alive,” said Lineberry.

“No one has seen him since 2001, apparently. But that’s not proof that he’s dead. Until I know that for sure, I have to keep looking for him.”

“It’s quite ominous that Teddy Vincenzo was murdered right after speaking to you. You don’t think . . . ” Lineberry’s voice trailed off.

“No. I don’t think it’s connected to my case. I think Tony Vincenzo was into something far more serious than simply drug dealing. And I think he told his father. And his father paid the price.”

“Then Tony Vincenzo is a target as well.”

“And I just hope we find him before the people who killed Teddy do,” replied Pine.





CHAPTER





20





A SMILING PINE SAID, “John Puller, Carol Blum.”

Puller shook Blum’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Carol. I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”

They were standing in the lobby of Pine and Blum’s hotel. It was the following day, and the weather had turned chilly and rainy.

Blum stared up at the tall, ramrod-straight, and good-looking Puller. “I can say the same about you, Agent Puller.”

Pine said, “Let’s grab a coffee and talk about our next steps.”

They followed her into the small café off the lobby and ordered coffees. Then they took their drinks over to an empty seating area, sat down, and looked at one another.

“How’s your case coming?” asked Puller.

“We’ve learned a few new things but we’re still trying to gain some traction. My priority is to find Ito Vincenzo. I spoke with someone who might be able to help me find out what happened to him, but it’s a long shot. So let’s talk about your case. If that will lead me to Ito faster that’s where I need to go.”

“Meaning Tony might know where his grandfather is?” said Puller.

“It’s the reason we came to Trenton in the first place.”

Puller nodded. “Well, I can’t say I’m gaining much traction, either. I tried again, but the Trenton police have now completely closed me off from the investigation. I can’t see any reports. I can’t talk to the cop who shot Jerome Blake. They have closed ranks and left me on the outside.”

“You said the Bureau of Prisons guy, Moss, warned you off. Maybe he talked to the Trenton folks and told them to stonewall you.”

“I’m not surprised that Moss might have told the Trenton folks to stand down, particularly after he had that meeting with me. I’m just wondering why the Trenton folks are going along with it. It clearly stinks of a cover-up.”

“And how about your side?” asked Blum.

“Disappointing because there’s been very little support. And I don’t expect that to change. There’s a hush coming from the uniforms that I don’t understand. I expected someone to show some backbone, but it’s extraordinary how they all seemed to have fallen in line.” He paused, his gaze rooted on his knees. “It’s not the Army way to just stand aside meekly when an injustice is being done. Why the hell do we even wear the uniform or take an oath?”