“They are members of an organization called Chesapeake Security and Training Company. This company employs former military and has contracts for hire all over the world, but lately a lot of PSD protection in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to the event on your yacht, the unit in question was involved in a significant engagement in Iraq, where they killed several supposed terrorists and saved an American patrol outside Baghdad. The team was then rotated home, but it’s unclear how or why they wound up on Nantucket Island at the same time as your yacht. They have obviously since been caught up in the events that unfolded.”
“Your assessment, Joseph?”
“Formidable. They have deep resources and clearly first-class talent. My sources couldn’t gather any details beyond what I’ve told you, but we know this group retreated behind the fences of their facility in Maryland. We’ve done only passive reconnaissance on the property, but it appears to be professionally staffed and very secure.
“The main entrance to the compound looks the same as any other estate in the area: a large, wrought-iron gate, hung between two brick façades on either side of the driveway. Thick woods provide natural concealment and limit visibility to about ten yards. It is surrounded by almost ten thousand acres of nature sanctuary, affording additional privacy.
“Expertly concealed around the foliage of the entrance are aseries of high-resolution infrared cameras that record everything that passes the gate, day or night. The driveway has a pronounced serpentine drift, preventing anyone from driving faster than a crawl. A variety of early-detection devices throughout the property are reinforced by armed patrols constantly monitoring the compound’s security.
“About a quarter mile inside, a twelve-foot-high chain-link fence topped by razor wire protects the inner perimeter, along with a manned guardhouse and attack dogs.”
Joseph handed his principal a thick folder containing his notes, a few photos, and all the open-source documents about CSTC his team could gather. The day after the storming of the yacht off Nantucket, Joseph had told his Russian-mobster contacts that any information they provided about the event would be well rewarded.
It wasn’t long before a dock worker in Charlestown, Massachusetts, mentioned that some Irish guys had been asking about Russian and Chinese crime syndicates, and poking around about the ferry explosion.
The guys asking questions worked for the Teagan family. Plenty of Boston families had Irish names, and then there were the true Irish—the believers. The Teagans were the latter. It didn’t take too long to find out that one son, James, had left the family business for the greener pastures of the American army. And that James had been an Army Ranger, had deployed to the Middle East multiple times, and was now employed by a private military contractor on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Egorov listened intently as his security officer finished the briefing.
“This is all very helpful, Joseph, but I have one more request. I’m afraid I need you to deliver it by the time we land.”
Joseph nodded, his mind racing:What order was he about to receive?(These were never really “requests.”)
“I want the names and photos of everyone who was on my yacht, starting with their leader.”
Joseph did some mental calculations. They were four hours from Palm Beach. The names alone would be difficult enough to locate, but people in the spook world were notoriously camera-shy, so it was entirely possible that no images existed. He would have to shake the tree hard.
“Sir, I will do my best and get this started, but I can’t lie to you: This task will be challenging. May I ask why the rush for photographs?”
Their eyes locked, steel to steel and no emotion.
“Because right now they are surveilling my fucking house.”
CHAPTER 80
The mountains of North Carolina
“Folks,” Senator Tabitha Doyle began as she stood at the head of the mahogany table after a brief break. “From here on, we are all in this together, right?”
The gravity of the moment was not lost on any of us. We all nodded our assent.
“At some point, each of us will be forced to break an oath and share information that we have sworn not to share. For me, that time is now.”
She paused before revealing her secret.
“We have a source in Taiwan who suggests that for some time a Chinese agent has had access to the inner sanctum of our Justice Department. This source has recently mentioned details about Senator Harrison’s abduction and torture that are not widely known, nor have they been made public. Although Rocket’s Red Glare is brand-new, it may already have weaknesses. What do we do next?”
I realized that everyone in the room was looking at me to answer Doyle’s question. What came naturally to me was to ask one in return: “How reliable is the source?”
“Our Ground Branch friends have found his intelligence to be actionable.”
“Senator, is there any chance this guy is probing to see what we confirm for him? I’ve heard all theManchurian Candidaterumors since I was an Army private. What makes this one so credible?”
“I say this with great caution, but given his past, and the quality of the information he has previously delivered, I believe we should consider this source reliable. Could he play us? Certainly. There is a spy somewhere close to us. I don’t suspect that Rocket’s Red Glare is compromised per se, but I believe they may be stumbling toward us.”
I looked at Oliver. He nodded, confirming that he already knew what I was thinking.
“Then let’s roll up the twins in Florida. Right now. Do not passGo. Oliver and I will alert the rest of the team, and we will snatch those two idiots where they sleep. Then we’ll find out exactly who, what, when, where, and how this mole knows what he knows. Case closed. That’s my suggestion.”
