Right to Kill

by Andrew Peterson

  She nodded. “Collars and leashes. We always did, even on short trips.”

  “I do too,” Nathan said. “No matter how well-trained your dogs are, you want their collars on for ID purposes. They could—”

  LG’s face changed. “Oh, dear Lord.”

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  She got up from the table. “Their collars! The crosses!”

  “What about them?” Harv asked, also getting up.

  “Glen said it a bunch of times: ‘Never thumb your nose at them, they might save your life someday.’ What if he didn’t mean that figuratively as a Christian, what if he meant it literally?”

  Nathan frowned.

  “Their crosses!” She almost fell, trying to get up on her crutches so quickly.

  He and Harv followed her toward the front door. “Slow down, LG. You’re going to fall.”

  “Elsa! Morgen!” She left the door open and hobbled out to the driveway. Grant and Sherman bounded out behind her.

  “What’s going on?” Nathan asked.

  “I saw an email on Glen’s computer a long time ago. It was from a company that made custom thumb drives. Elsa! Morgen!”

  Her shepherds came trotting around the corner from Nathan’s garage, their white crosses dangling from their collars.

  “When I asked him about it, he said he’d decided not to order them, but the email was a receipt. I never made the connection because there wasn’t a drawing of the crosses. He gave them to our dogs as Christmas presents. Don’t you see? What if you’re right? What if Glen was the target, not me?”

  “Then he had something Cornejo wants,” Harv said.

  She unhooked one of the dogs’ crosses and examined it. “There’s a tiny seam in the middle.” She tried pulling at it, but it wouldn’t budge.

  “Harv, give it a try,” Nathan said.

  Harv pulled at it with some force and it wouldn’t come apart. He produced a small pocketknife, forced its blade into the seam, and twisted.

  When it separated, the three of them stared at the USB connection in stunned silence.

  Nothing needed to be said.

  They hurried into the house and went upstairs to Nathan’s small office. He felt his stomach tighten with that tingling again as he plugged it into his Mac.

  He clicked on the drive and received a password screen.

  “Crap,” he said. “Linda?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Is there something you both use? A gate code, anything like that?” Harv asked.

  “We don’t have a gate at our driveway. The only thing I can think of would be our security-alarm code.” She gave it to them.

  Nathan tensed as he entered the numbers. “It worked.”

  A list of files appeared, most of them Excel and Word. The first one was a video, dated five years ago.

  He double-clicked it.

  CHAPTER 31

  Glen’s face filled the screen. LG put a hand over her mouth and leaned into Harv.

  “Linda, if you’re viewing this video, I’m probably dead or missing and Daniel Cornejo is likely behind it. Please know how much I’ve always loved you. When I first saw you in Caracas, you took my breath away. You weren’t only my rescuer, you were the most amazing woman I’d ever met. We would’ve had beautiful children had we been able to. I loved you with all my heart, mind, and soul.”

  Nathan paused the video, looked at Linda, and knew at a glance she’d never had a clue. Her expression couldn’t be faked.

  She looked from him to Harv and didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to.

  “Everything makes perfect sense now,” Nathan said. “If you don’t want to watch this—”

  “No, I need to.”

  He resumed the video.

  “Nathan McBride and Harvey Fontana came out of retirement to help rescue me. If you two are seeing this, please accept my deepest thanks. Please look after Linda.”

  Glen tried to smile, but it looked forced.

  “We fought a lot because we’re so opposite, you and me. You were always hotheaded, passionate. I was calm and collected. Some would’ve said ‘cold.’ They say opposites attract, it’s hard to argue with the truth. And you deserve the truth.

  “I first met Daniel Cornejo at a Caracas resort. We got to talking and he said he needed a good investment consultant. Please believe me, I didn’t know what he was. By the time I did, it was too late. I was already in over my head. I won’t make any excuses, but I was seduced by the prospect of having such a large client. My business was floundering and Cornejo was like a dream come true.

  “Contained on this flash drive are the personal financial records I stole from Cornejo’s computer.”

  Glen averted his eyes from the camera and shook his head slowly. Then he faced the camera once more.

  “When I first saw these files, I couldn’t believe the numbers. As you’ll see, his cocaine-smuggling income was over a million dollars a day, and he used his oil-drilling business to launder much of the drug money worldwide. He bought gold bullion, original art, expensive antiques and coins . . . you name it. He must have five or ten tons of gold in his wine cellar. He took me down there once. It’s like a labyrinth. As Venezuela’s attorney general back then, he was untouchable. His enemies had a habit of disappearing, like I almost did.”

  Glen paused and his face reflected pain. It looked like he was about to melt down.

  “I hated what his wealth represented, but that’s no excuse. Stealing is wrong, even when it’s from a man like Cornejo. Over a period of three years, I siphoned over forty million dollars from his accounts. I’m not proud of what I did, but please believe what I’m about to say: I didn’t keep any of it. I gave all of it to charities. Every last penny. I thought if I could put some of his money to good use, it might make up for some of the horrible suffering he’d caused.

  “It was my own fault, being kidnapped. Cornejo invited me down to discuss some new investments he wanted to make. When I arrived at the mansion, Tomas and Ursula Bustamonte were waiting because Cornejo had discovered the missing money. Ursula beat me for days but I knew as soon as I caved, I’d be killed. I’m not sure I could’ve held out much longer. I’d befriended many of his staff and one of his young female servants got word to the FBI that I was being held. She knew I was an American. Had she not done that, no one would’ve ever known my fate. When he found out someone betrayed him, he went crazy. He tortured his staff until he found out who did it. The poor woman died horribly and her death will always weigh heavily on my conscience.

  “After we started dating several months later, you told me Cornejo put a bounty on your head. When you said he offered to double it if you were delivered alive, I knew I had to act. I sent him copies of the files I’d stolen and told him he was safe as long as he left you alone. I should’ve turned everything over years ago and faced whatever consequences I deserved. Instead, I turned the files into our insurance policy. If he left us alone, I’d leave him alone. These flash drives aren’t the only copies. Others have them too. Sleeper measures to insure that, if anything ever happened to me, Cornejo would be exposed. You have to understand I did it to protect you. I’m sorry I never told you.

  “The Word file called NOMBRES contains a list of people who Cornejo might consider threats. I wasn’t his only consultant; there were at least half a dozen others all over the world. You’ll be shocked to see how much money the man laundered. The numbers are hard to wrap your head around.

  “The file called NINOS contains hundreds of portrait-type photos taken with an early digital camera. None of them are pornographic but the numbers under the pictures with lots of zeroes must be prices. Once I saw them, I knew I had to get out, and did. I have no idea why Cornejo kept them, maybe he planned to blackmail the buyers someday. There are other files as well. Cleverly hidden records of extortions, ransoms, and what I believe are contracts for murder.

  “There’s more you need to know, but I don’t know if it will be useful. Tomas and Urs
ula Bustamonte are his illegitimate children. The man you killed on the couch was their adoptive father. The twins were Cornejo’s flesh and blood, but he never told them because he didn’t want to share his wealth.”

  He paused for a few seconds.

  “Nothing I can say will justify what I did and I won’t make any excuses. All the charitable donations in the world aren’t enough to undo what I did, but I’d hoped it would at least purge some of the guilt I felt. It never did.

  “I’ve asked God for forgiveness. I hope you can forgive me as well. I love you, Linda. I always have. I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me and remember the best times we had together.”

  The video ended. No one said anything for a few seconds.

  “He wasn’t a bad man,” she whispered.

  “Harv and I know that, but we need to call Cantrell right away and send these files to her. Maybe she can save some of the people on the list.”

  Linda stared at the list of files. “After he’d been given his new identity, he bought the house in La Jolla. We had our first date in it. He made me dinner. He was always secretive about money. I never asked him about it. Maybe if I had—”

  “None of this is your fault,” Harv interrupted. “Don’t start second-guessing yourself. It’s going to take you a long time to process what we’ve just seen.”

  She turned to face them. “I don’t know if I can be alone right now.”

  Harv put an arm around her. “We’ll always be here for you.”

  CHAPTER 32

  46 HOURS BEFORE THE ELECTION

  Nathan answered his phone. Cantrell.

  “Turn on CNN.”

  Nathan hurried into his living room, pressed the remote, and found the right channel. The tail end of the aerial clip zoomed, showed a man being taken in handcuffs from a huge mansion. Nathan recognized it—Cornejo’s palatial house in Caracas. The camera angle wasn’t great, but Cornejo’s face couldn’t be mistaken. He turned the volume down and read the news ticker along the bottom of the screen.

  VENEZUELAN PRESIDENTIAL FRONT-RUNNER DANIEL CORNEJO ARRESTED IN CARACAS MANSION. CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING, EXTORTION, CHILD TRAFFICKING AND MURDER.

  The news ticker started again.

  “You got him,” Nathan said.

  “No, we got him. It’s the lead story around the world. I wish you could see things around here. This is huge.”

  “I’m glad it was worth it.”

  “You have no idea. Ursula got on board when we told her that Cornejo was her biological father. We got tons of testimony and leads on more caches of information that she and her brother had stashed away. That, plus the thumb-drive documents, will mean Cornejo’s going to prison for the rest of his life. Venezuelan authorities are going to do their best to locate as many of the children as possible.”

  “What about Ursula?”

  “She got spared a needle. Part of our deal. Don’t worry, she’ll never see daylight again.”

  “I’m assuming they raided his basement?”

  “Yes. They found over one hundred million dollars of gold bullion in his cellar and another three hundred million in other stuff. Seems he was quite the pack rat.”

  Nathan shook his head. So much wealth, so little compassion. “So where does this leave Venezuela?”

  “Acting president Cadenas is on a solid path to victory now. You didn’t hear this from me, but ever since Garmendia’s incapacitation, the state department’s been conducting secret negotiations with him. He’s anxious to normalize relations.”

  “For a price, of course.”

  “It’s how the world works, but in this case the price won’t be high. Venezuela’s economy’s on the brink of collapse, after all.”

  “And the nuclear issue you mentioned?”

  “Nipped in the bud. Let’s just say it’s not a banner day in Tehran. DNI Benson’s briefing with the president went well and your names were mentioned. Needless to say, our commander in chief remembered you guys and wanted me to personally offer his thanks. Now it’s my turn. Thank you again, Nathan. Please extend my gratitude to Harvey and Linda.”

  “I will. She doesn’t want to stay in La Jolla. She needs a fresh start somewhere.” He hoped his message was heard.

  “We can always use another good analyst.”

  He ran his hand along Sherman’s back. “I think she’s game. Harv and I are coming out there next week. Harv wants to see your algorithm at work.”

  “I’ll make it happen. What about you?”

  “I’m heading over to the Hoover Building. Holly’s arranged a personal tour. I’ve never been in it.”

  “Don’t even think about buying your airfare or hotel stay. It’s on us.”

  “I’ll accept it, with no strings.”

  “None offered.”

  “I need a small favor.”

  “Name it.”

  “I need a name and address.” He told her why.

  “Be careful, Nathan. That may not go so well.”

  “I trust my instincts.”

  “I’ll send you a text in a few minutes. Good luck with it. I’ve got to run. I’ll say it this time. Goodbye, Nathan.”

  Nathan arrived in the Santa Monica area a few hours later. He didn’t know what to expect from the meeting, but it was something he needed to do. After parking a few blocks away, Nathan walked along the sidewalk. The Wounded Warriors ball cap he wore helped mitigate the grooves on his face. He didn’t think of himself as a wounded warrior per se, but he believed in its trademarked statement: The greatest casualty is being forgotten. Not in this Marine’s world. Nathan thanked vets wherever he ran into them. If uniformed service members dined in a restaurant with him, even at a different table, he picked up their tab. And it didn’t matter how many there were. Four or forty, he paid the bill. There were few absolutes in his world, that being one of them.

  The stop he’d made before this one went surprisingly well. Again, he hadn’t known what to expect, but it was also a visit he’d needed to make.

  The day was bright, with no signs of the previous storm that had carpeted Southern California. Staying on Pico, he crossed 26th and saw his destination ahead: Santa Monica Car Wash. Buried in their electronic worlds, not one of the cell-phone addicts sitting in the waiting area looked up as he strode past. Fine with him.

  He spotted his mark drying off an expensive sedan. Without hesitating, he approached the kid.

  “Remember me?”

  Oliver Kline looked up with a confused, almost frightened expression. Then recognition hit. The kid didn’t say anything and kept wiping the sedan’s door panels.

  “You don’t have to talk to me. I’m just here to give you this.” He extended his hand. “It’s a new Samsung Galaxy S7. All yours. All you have to do is activate it with Verizon.”

  When the kid didn’t take it, Nathan set it on the trunk of the car. Oliver eyed it while wiping the bumper.

  “I took your phone, so I’m replacing it. Simple as that.”

  Oliver looked him in the eyes and he saw the same intelligence he’d seen in the alley. Nathan turned to go.

  “Is this your Lexus?”

  It isn’t much, he thought, but it’s a start. “I’m parked down the street.”

  The kid moved around to the far side of the sedan. “How’d you find me?”

  “Your mom.”

  “My mom? How’d you— My cell phone.”

  Nathan smiled and nodded.

  Oliver didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “I told her what happened. She was really pissed. I got grounded for a month.”

  “You’ll live. When I told her I was the man from the alley, she wrapped me up in a bear hug that would make my girlfriend jealous.”

  “Yeah, she’s pretty strong.”

  “We had a long talk. She worries about you. A lot, actually. She says you don’t listen.”

  He looked down.

  “Look, if you keep out of trouble and stay on the straight and narrow, you’ve got a
job waiting for you in my company.”

  “What kind of job?”

  “Let’s just say you’d be helping people stay safe. It’s a good job. I think you’d like it. I get hundreds of applications for a single slot.”

  “Where did you learn to fight like that? I couldn’t believe how fast you were.”

  “The United States Marine Corps.”

  “For real?”

  “For real.”

  Oliver looked around and lowered his voice. “I was really scared. I thought you were going to kill us.”

  “How’re your friends doing?”

  “Uh . . . they’re not really my friends.”

  “You told them you were going back to school, didn’t you . . .”

  “They called me names.”

  “Names won’t hurt you, bullets will. Look, I’m not here to give you any fatherly advice. You already know what to do. The job offer is real, Oliver. No BS.”

  “Did you tell my mom?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did she say?”

  “I got another bear hug, and a kiss. I had to reward her for it: anyone who gives that good of a hug deserves a payback. I gave her the money for your driver’s-ed classes.”

  Now he looked genuinely confused. “Why’d you do that?”

  “She said she couldn’t afford it. Let’s just say I consider it an investment.”

  They fell into silence again.

  “I was a lot like you at your age. Defiant and stubborn. Nobody could tell me anything. I started fights, got into trouble, and ditched school. I was also horny as all hell.”

  Oliver smiled.

  “I see you know what I mean. You’re at a tough age. There’s good news and bad news. The good news? You’ll outgrow it. The bad news? Life doesn’t get any easier.”

  “What happened to not giving me fatherly advice?”

  “Okay, you caught me. It’s one of my many character flaws.”

  Oliver grabbed the phone and pocketed it. “It was gonna take me forever to save enough money. Thanks, man.”

  “You’re welcome. I want you to promise me something.”

  “What?”

  “I want you to do a Google search with the words ‘poverty in the Congo’ then click on the images. Poverty in the Congo. Got it?”