The Final Flashpoint

by Iona Morrison

  Matt studied the drawing, a frown spreading across his face. “The one element all of them have in common is a connection to Harry Roth and a strong anti-American sentiment, except for him.” Matt held up the sketch Dylan had shown him. “How did a kid raised in New Jersey with no ties overseas get involved in a group of terrorists?”

  “Someone recruited him.” Dylan said.

  Matt nodded at Tom when he sat in the chair next to Dylan. “What is this group doing in the States?”

  “I was asking myself the same question. It’s possible their operation in Mexico was only a training mission for a bigger undertaking.” Tom drummed his fingers on the chair. “It’s possible they have a larger objective in mind.”

  “Now there’s a scary thought, but Jessie mentioned the idea the other night.” Matt frowned.

  “What does any of this have to do with those kids?” Dylan asked.

  “Beats me. I think we’d better take a closer look at their parents while we’re at it.” Matt glanced at the open file again. “Could this group be a small part of a larger group?”

  “I sure as hell hope not,” Tom growled. “If there’s a bigger picture, let the agency work on it. I want to concentrate on these five. Have either of you seen Kaufman around?”

  “I saw him right before you two got back. He was headed for the door.” Dylan stood.

  “I can’t understand why he’s not meeting with us on a regular basis. Dickerson meets with me every morning.” Matt scowled. “If you see Kaufman again, tell him I want to see him.”

  “I will.” Dylan walked out of Matt’s office.

  “Kaufman is an all right guy, but he’s on the fast track, climbing the ladder. I can’t abide it when agents withhold information. We all get different details and work from a different premise, and then we collaborate. We all work together—no Lone Rangers. He’s given me no updates for a few days. Have you gotten any?” Tom’s hand drummed on the chair.

  “No, and I’ve had words with him over it. It started with him calling you to watch my back, and he never told me he was doing it or gave me a reason for it.” Matt scrolled through the texts on his phone. “I’ve not had one text or update for several days now.”

  “I’ll find him and have a few words with him.” Tom pointed at Matt. “Don’t you go anywhere outside this building without me.”

  “I’ll be here.” Matt glowered after him. “You’re not my damn wife,” he muttered under his breath.

  “I heard you, Parker. We’ll get a divorce as soon as we catch our perps.” Tom chuckled on his way out the door.

  He read more of the files. This was a dangerous group of men. Matt didn’t like the idea of two of them having been in Jessie’s store. She was right; concern and love seemed to go hand in hand. He turned his chair to look at the window. Right now, all they had was a gang of four killers, Roth, and his inept tail. When and how did the American come into the group? Timing was important. Was it possible he knew the movements of the students? Misty talked about the hate groups at the school. Were any or all of them somehow connected? Matt hated chasing rabbit trails; he needed something concrete to go on. They were getting closer though. He could feel it in his gut.

  Matt arranged to get Jessie after work. Frank and Tom would have to come along. He needed to run all this by her and get her perspective.

  ****

  When the last customer checked out, Jessie locked the front door behind him. Closing the store was routine. The rag in her hand swished across the tabletops. Chairs were rearranged, the book table straightened, and money taken from the register. Doing the work now meant less work in the morning. With the money bag in the safe, she closed the heavy door, spinning the dial. Walking past the switch, her hand reached out and flipped off the lights at the front of the store. Dream or no dream, I won’t stand idly by and let anything happen to Matt. The blast of chilly night air hit her face; the shiver followed close on its heels. “Come on heat. Work your magic.” She started the car, turning the heat on full blast.

  Dylan’s car was at the Inn. Sweet, they must have made up. She pulled into the parking space, shifted into park, and shoved her hand into her purse to reach her phone as it rang.

  “Jessie, it’s me, Sally.”

  “How are you?” Jessie was happy to hear her voice.

  “I’m great, especially since my divorce is final. The jury found Bruce guilty of assault today. He’ll receive his sentence next week, and then I’ll be free to come to Blue Cove.”

  “Oh, Sally, that’s good news.” Jessie could hear the excitement in her voice.

  “I think it might only be for a visit. A new job opportunity has come my way since I’ve been here. I want to talk it over with you girls when I come to see you. I don’t know what to think about it. I’m both nervous and excited at the same time.”

  “Where would you live?” Jessie asked her.

  “In Rocky Pointe, which would be close enough to come see you from time to time. I’m not sure I want the job, but I’m excited about life for the first time in a long time, and I’m looking forward to Katie’s wedding. Who knew she’d get married before you?”

  “I did. Katie has wanted this ever since I can remember. Dylan is a super great guy.”

  “What about you and Matt? Any date yet?’

  “No, we’re getting to know each other and working our way toward engagement. We aren’t in a hurry. Seeing what happened to you reminded me to take it easy. I do love my hunky cop, though.”

  “I’ll call Katie when we’re through talking. I’m looking forward to hanging out and spending some time with you gals.”

  “Call us with the date, so we’ll know when to expect you.”

  “I will, Jessie. See you soon. Remember you promised to help me get my life back on track.” The phone clicked off before Jessie could reply.

  Sally sounded excited. Jessie couldn’t help wonder what the job opportunity was. Sally could use a break and some good things to come her way.

  ****

  Matt’s car pulled in next to hers. She waved, leaned in the open window, and gave him a kiss. “Hi, all.” She slipped into the backseat and latched her seat belt. “I see Matt was able to get you out of the recliner tonight, Frank.”

  “He had to work at it.” Frank laughed.

  “You seem to like it and feel right at home there.” She patted his hand. “You’ll be happy to get back in it after your next track.”

  “I need to do some work and get outside for a while. I’ve been idle the past few days. I sleep more when I’m bored.” He smiled at her. “I could find things to do, I guess, but I’ll have enough work to keep me busy when I get home. I’ll enjoy the quiet times when I get them.”

  “Where are you taking us?” She caught Matt looking at her in the rearview mirror.

  “Tom has never been to the diner. I thought we should take him to meet Franny.” Matt winked at her. He drove down Main Street toward the turn onto the highway.

  “You’ll love it, Tom. It’s a trip back in time and great food.” Jessie’s eye lit up.

  “I agree,” Frank said.

  “We were ordered out tonight by the chief here. It seems one night away from you is one night too many.” Tom turned to glance at Jessie. “I was afraid I’d have a mutiny on my hands if I didn’t give in.”

  “You won’t regret it.” Jessie listened to Matt’s banter with Tom over his last remark.

  “I wanted to bring you up to date on the case and hear what you think.” Matt explained the new details they had learned about the perps.

  “You got all the info after you left my store earlier?” Jessie saw Matt nod. “It seems strange they would come here to murder four college students. The murders must be only the tip of the iceberg. What’s going on?’

  “I believe we are all in agreement this is a part of something bigger.” Matt turned on Old Homestead Road. “We are waiting for some intel from Interpol. I want to know what they were involved in overseas. Mexico seem
ed to be a training exercise for them. At least that’s Tom’s take on it, and I agree.” Matt parked the car. He unhooked his seat belt and turned to look at her. “Tell me what you think.”

  “My first instinct is to ask whether they’re a small part of a larger group or operating alone. Having thrown the question out there, I’d say, either way, we have our work cut out for us.”

  “You’ve got that right.” Tom unlatched his seat belt.

  “You should get Jeremy involved with the research on them and see if they have ties to any other organization.”

  “I sent him the names and mug shots this afternoon.”

  She smiled at Matt. “Of course you did.”

  “I hope he’ll have something for us soon.” Matt opened his door.

  “I’ve read through the intel on Harry Roth, and he’s up to his eyeballs in criminal activity around the world, including organ and human trafficking. He also has ties to a few terrorist groups.”

  “I wonder how he keeps it all straight. Some of the groups he’s involved with are at odds with each other. He has to keep one step ahead of them all to stay alive.”

  Matt stepped out of the car. “Let’s eat.”

  Chapter 28

  Jessie shut off the light and laid her head back against the pillows. She could still see the look on Tom’s face when Franny had called him son. He’d chuckled all the way back to town. He couldn’t get over Franny’s fifties hairstyle, heavy blue eyeshadow, and her poodle skirt. Every time she licked her pencil tip and stuck it in her hair, he had smiled. Tom described the evening as a flashback in time to some of the old reruns he had watched on TV as a kid.

  The meal was enjoyable and good as always. Of course, the wonderful pie was the way to top off the evening. She’d had a slice of pecan pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The evening had been a small reprieve for a few hours. The sense of impending trouble was never far away. It had lurked beneath the surface of their conversation all night.

  Blue Cove was the epicenter for now. Why? Had Matt’s cases somehow crossed with Harry’s criminal involvement somewhere? Or had they been drawn into it when Amir’s body came ashore? Either way, they were in it. If she were a gambling person, she’d say it had to be the first. Matt and Harry were somehow linked.

  She had seen each of their ghosts for a reason. It was time to get them involved in helping to solve the case if they were still in the area. She had no idea where to begin to look. Would the angel be nearby? She could only hope.

  ****

  “I enjoyed the evening, Matt. I haven’t been called son in years.” Tom headed down the hall. “I’m turning in.”

  Frank followed Tom. “I am, too. I’ll just go take Radar out, and we’ll be ready for the track when you call.”

  “Sounds good. See you in the morning.” Matt sat in his recliner with his laptop in his hands. He began reading an e-mail from Jeremy. He glanced at his watch. It wasn’t too late. Matt called.

  “I was reading your e-mail. I wanted to hear what you thought as you read the information on these men.”

  “They’re each dangerous for different reasons. I wrote beside each name what his field of expertise seemed to be and what they did on each of the jobs they had been involved in.”

  “I can see that. Their skills range from munitions to chemistry. This has the potential to be a disaster. What was the first thought that struck you as you read all of this?” Matt asked him.

  “It scared the hell out of me. You can add torture to the list. The first question that came to my mind was why is the group here? It has to be more than the Foreign Students’ Club. I want to know how their paths crossed. I’m trying to find a link now.”

  “We had the same question here,” Matt told him.

  “Why were the students’ bodies in your jurisdiction? I think it might have been engineered that way.”

  “To suck me in. Bait. We’re in agreement, so far.” Matt ran his hand through his hair.

  “I believe Blue Cove may be a side story to why these men are in the country, though. I think it’s a personal vendetta before they finish a larger mission.”

  “I agree, which is why we have to stop them.” Matt clenched his jaw.

  “Did you notice the one suspect’s expertise in bomb making?” Jeremy asked.

  “I noticed. His rap sheet involving those skills is unnerving, to say the least.”

  “I’ll work at finding the link; you take them out before they can do what they came here to do.”

  “I’m going to give it my best shot, along with all the agents working with us.”

  “One word of warning, which is free—these men are dangerous. Don’t be a hero alone.” Jeremy told him.

  “I don’t plan on it. Thanks, Jeremy, call me anytime. I think you ought to move here and be a part of the team.”

  “Believe me, I’ve considered it.” He ended the call.

  Matt turned the TV on and turned the volume down. He laid his head back and put his feet up.

  ****

  Matt jerked upright as Tom grabbed the remote. Daylight seeped through the blinds and the voice of the morning news anchor rambled on about the weather.

  “Did you sleep here all night?” Tom shut off the TV, cutting off the man’s cheery voice.

  “I guess I must have.” Matt rubbed his eyes.

  “Why didn’t you go to bed? Couldn’t you sleep?” Tom walked into the kitchen to put the coffee on.

  Matt followed him. “I received an e-mail from Jeremy. He had some information on our perp’s activities overseas. I wanted to hear what he thought, so I called.”

  Tom filled the filter basket with coffee. “Something tells me we need it strong this morning. What was his take?”

  “The same as ours.” Matt paused. “Jeremy thinks Blue Cove is a payback, and they’re here for something bigger.”

  “Damn, this is one time I don’t want to be right. I’m calling my superiors.” Tom added the water. “Go take a shower, sleeping beauty; I’ll make breakfast. We need to get out to the station early this morning.”

  Matt walked down the hall to his room. He turned the shower on and stepped under the warm spray. Another fine mess he found himself in again. He poured some shampoo into his hand, rubbing it into his hair. He had better come up with a damn good plan fast. Everyone knew it, even if Tom and the others avoided saying it to him. Roth wanted him taken care of before he finished the mission he was being paid to do.

  “Something smells good.” Matt joined Frank and Tom in the kitchen.

  “I can’t do much in the kitchen, but I do make a killer omelet.” Tom flipped the omelet in the pan. “Grab a plate. Frank has his, and this one is yours.”

  Matt handed him a plate. “Looks good.”

  “Try it with some salsa.” Tom stuck a piece of toast on Matt’s plate. “Don’t forget the coffee; it’s nice and strong. It will get you through all the meetings I have set up for today.”

  Matt poured a cup of coffee and sat at the counter next to Frank. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I did.” Frank took a bite of the omelet. “Good eats, Tom.”

  “I told you I make a great omelet. Do you like it with the hot peppers?”

  “I do, but I like most food with a little heat.” Frank drank his coffee.

  “Me too, everything is better when it’s hotter.” Tom joined them at the counter. He dumped hot sauce all over his omelet. “I had a chat with my superiors, and let’s say things are moving along. You’ll be in meetings all morning. I think Kaufman might have been downplaying the significance of the evidence, but I gave them an earful. Believe me, heads are going to roll.”

  “Does that mean we’ll be tripping over more agents?” Matt spread jelly on his toast and took a bite.

  “I would imagine. We are going to get some of the top experts in the field. A few of the field agents here now will be leaving. I hope Kaufman will be among the first out of here. He didn’t handle this case well, and he didn’t wo
rk with the locals. That’s a no-no with our superiors. We’re trying to right our image among the locals, you know.” Tom gulped down his food. “We need to get a move on.”

  “Can I finish this in peace?” Matt drank a sip of his coffee.

  “Of course, if you can finish it in the next five minutes.” Tom took his plate to the sink. He rinsed it and placed in the dishwasher.

  “I’ll take care of the kitchen.” Frank carried his dish over.

  “Thanks, Frank. You’ll need to bring Radar by to a meeting at one this afternoon. I’ve been talking about you with Dickerson and the lead agent assigned to this case. They want to meet you.” Tom handed Frank the sponge.

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Okay, Matt, put your coffee in a mug and let’s get out of here.”

  “You’re getting damn pushy for a guest.” Matt stood and carried his plate to the sink. “Thanks, Frank; we’ll see you at one.” Matt poured his coffee into a travel mug and followed Tom to the garage. Within a few minutes, they were on their way to the station. Matt wasn’t a big fan of meetings, but he didn’t have much say in the matter. Tom saw how serious the situation was and Matt knew he needed all the help he could get.

  “Look who spent the night last night.” Matt honked as he passed the car with its sleeping driver.

  “At least he knows that we know he’s there. Is the guy really that dumb?” Tom chuckled and waved at the bleary face peering at them through the car’s windows.

  ****

  “Damnation.” Marshall hit the steering wheel. His cover was blown. How could he have been so dumb as to fall asleep on the job? The cop had seen him. Hell, the whole neighborhood had probably seen his car parked there. He was lucky no one had called the cops. Marshall shook his head. The last drink must have put him over his limit. He had passed out again. Double damnation, the cop had seen his car. He was done. What excuse could he give his boss?

  Chapter 29

  Jessie was heading into the church when she saw the first ghost. Amir was near the gate to the cemetery. She walked toward the graveyard, and that’s when she saw Ryan and Shara near the bench by Gina’s grave. Amir was watching her. She stopped in front of him. “We’re getting closer to solving your murders; please help in any way you can. I thought I should tell you. If you are waiting for Carlos, he’s alive. He made it.” Jessie heard her name.