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“They all know who he really is,” I said under my breath, not intending to say it out loud.
“Burns, we need to read Irish and Cope in on this,” said Decker.
“Agreed, but if I recall correctly, you are not the lead on this investigation.” Burns turned to Stella.
“He wasn’t serious. I mean, I’m not really the decision maker here.” She looked from me to the screen.
“Yes, Stella, you are, but I’d suggest you consider not reading Ali in just yet,” said Decker.
“Right. Buck, would you please ask Irish and Cope to join us?”
“Roger that.” I stood and was about to walk toward the door when Burns held up his hand.
“Before you do so, there’s one more thing I’d like to go over with Ms. Hunter.”
I sat back down.
“Much in the same way Agent Copeland, Agent Warrick, and Mr. Ashford have stumbled into something much more far-reaching than they ever anticipated, so did your aunt. I caution you, as I have them, to be absolutely certain you are aware of what you’re about to take on. It is my understanding that Barbara warned you that if you continued to pursue this story, the consequences may be dire.”
“I’m not afraid,” said Stella, raising her chin.
“You should be,” warned Burns.
“I can’t walk away. I could never walk away.”
Burns nodded slowly like he had earlier. “In that case, I’ll tell you what I know about Operation Argead, along with where their weaknesses lie: with the ringleader—Nicholas Kerr.”
After filling Stella in on what he knew about Kerr then briefing Irish and Cope, Burns asked Rip to deliver him back to the airfield. When we came back inside after saying goodbye, Decker was still live on the computer screen.
“I’ve just received two pieces of information out of Lyon. First, Smoke and Casper met with the daughter of Pierre Martin, other than telling them she didn’t believe the murders were random, there was little else she remembered.”
“What’s the second thing?” asked Irish.
“Casper’s just informed me that Daniel Byrne assigned someone to track Siren Gallagher. She’s the IMI agent who worked the Kensington Whitby op with Smoke.”
“Has Siren been working this mission since then?”
“Negative,” answered Decker. “We have no idea why Byrne has any interest in her other than he was the one who hired her to work for Irish Military Intelligence.”
“Should we consider her a suspect?” I asked.
“Negative,” he repeated. “I can’t get into why not just yet, but I can confirm that she is not working for Byrne.”
“Copy that.”
“Buck, there’s another matter I need to discuss with you.”
I assumed it was about the ranch and offered to step outside.
“We’ll take a walk instead,” Stella offered.
“Don’t go too far.” I winked.
“How is she?” Deck asked when I walked back over to my computer after closing the door behind them.
“I’m sure she’s as overwhelmed as I am.”
“What about before Burns’ visit?”
