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“Aw,” Raven said with a smile and nearly touched it before remembering what it was. “Ew! You peed on that, didn’t you?”
Maggie laughed again. Raven was reminded once more of how good it was to be with friends and people who loved her, and she thought about Hank. He really would be all alone under Witness Protection. That was a hard existence to live. Corbett and Ridge weren’t going to like it, but she was swaying towards Hank’s side of the argument. Starting over was okay as long as you had a foundation to build on.
Brownsville, Texas
DEA Field Office
Tuesday Afternoon
Gomez and Lewishad arrived that morning, but the director had been delayed in the main office in Virginia. He finally made it to Texas about three o’clock that afternoon. In the meantime, all four of the agents waiting for him had pretty much speculated the situation to death. None of them wanted Samuel to be guilty of this. It was the ultimate betrayal to a law enforcement agent, to be sold out by one of their own. These guys were especially tight. They not only worked together, but since it was such a small office, a small operation, they had also become best friends, and a lot like family. It was heart-wrenching to think that someone they had risked their lives for and with would turn against them.
Director Kemp had met all the men of the group before, except Freeman. After they were introduced, they went into a conference room. Corbett wasn’t sure what to expect from the meeting. For the hundredth time that day, he had to convince himself he’d made the right decision.
Kemp was the first to speak. “I know how difficult this is. The only other part of our job that can even compare emotionally would be having to report the death of an agent to his family. But regardless, it’s a job that we have to do. One that, if we fail to do, could cost us the lives of one or more of our most loyal agents. Agent Lindstrom, fill me in on this snitch of yours that started all of this from the beginning.”
Corbett took a deep breath before answering, aware of the gravity of the statement he was about to make. “The kid’s name is Barry. He’s a nineteen-year-old delinquent that really wants to go legit, but he’s got nothing much to draw on, you know? His dad’s been locked up most of his life; mama’s a prostitute. He had two older brothers—one died in prison and the other was killed in a drive-by when he was fifteen. He also has a sister who, at sixteen, already has two kids. He started running drugs when he was nine and has been running for the same dealer for ten years. They trust him, so they talk more around him than they would just anyone. He’s given me all good information in the year I’ve been using him. He didn’t point a finger directly at Agent Dillon, but he said that the ‘snake in the grass,’ as he put it, was named ‘Samuel.’”
“And there have been two times when Agent Dillon was tested, essentially,” Lewis said, taking over. “The first time, we set up the operation that netted us the capture of the three men that led to us being able to dismantle the cocaine operation in San Antonio. Only Corbett and Freeman and Gomez and myself knew what was going down that night, and it was the first time in a while that we ended up with the element of surprise. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the one operation Sam wasn’t involved in, we succeeded. Then there was the meeting that we had yesterday where Agent Dillon was inadvertently told of the connection we were looking into involving Gilberto Sanchez. That house was cleaned out before the agents got there. They knew we were coming.”
“I haven’t had time to look over Agent Dillon’s file,” Director Kemp said. “How is his record?”
“Exemplary,” Gomez informed him.
“Does he have a family?”
“Yes, a wife and daughter,” Corbett said.
“Agent Lindstrom, do you know his wife well?”
“Yes,” Corbett replied.
“Could you give her a call, maybe ask to speak with him, but also ask how she’s doing, see how she seems. An agent can rarely endure this type of stress without his spouse at least having some idea that something heavy is going on.”
“Sure,” Corbett agreed.
He picked up his phone and found Sam’s home number in his contacts, but he had his reservations. Tammy was the last person he wanted to get into the middle of this. The woman deserved better. And so did their child.
The phone was answered by an older woman. “Hello?” she said.
“Hi, I was looking for Tammy or Samuel Dillon.”
“This is Tammy’s mother, Charlene. Neither of them is here. Can I take a message?”
“Oh, hello, Charlene. This is Corbett Lindstrom. I met you at their wedding and again at the baby’s christening and first birthday party.”
“Oh yes, Corbett,” the woman acknowledged, and then she burst into tears.
“Charlene, what’s wrong, why are you crying?”
“Oh, Corbett. Samuel says I can’t tell anyone. Not even any of you. He says I’ll be putting Tammy’s life in danger. But… I’m so worried. I’m sick with it!”
Corbett immediately tensed, but he tried to keep his voice calm and soothing. “Worried about what, Charlene? Tell me what’s happened. I promise, I only want to help.” He put the phone on speaker so the other men could hear.
“Tammy’s been… kidnapped! She’s been gone for months now.” The woman was talking fast, and through heavy sobs. “I… I… I’m not sure I even believe that she’s still alive. Oh, God! I’ve never said that aloud. She’s my baby. Please do something, Corbett!”
Corbett did his best to reassure her, and then he told her that it was very, very important for Sam’s peace of mind that she didn’t tell Sam she had spoken to him. She vowed she wouldn’t, but he re-iterated it twice more before hanging up.
So that explains it, he thought, relieved he’d figured out his friend’s motive but fearful for Tammy’s life. Looking at his superiors, he asked, “What do we do now?”
