"Great, thanks. See you next week at the Chief's meeting.” Brennan hung up. "There you go, Lieutenant. I would expect a call from them today."
Two hours later, the phone rang in Josh's office, "SIU, Lieutenant Williams."
"Hey Josh," Medeiros said.
"Monty, what's up? Got something for me?"
"You gonna be around for a while? You've stirred some shit up with this one. Not to mention riling up the US Attorney."
"That was Brennan, he's not known for his patience. But I am here all day."
"We'll be right there," Medeiros replied.
"We?" Josh asked.
"Yup," Medeiros said, and hung up the phone.
A short time later, the receptionist called to let Josh know the federal agents were here. Josh went out to the lobby to get them.
"Lieutenant, this is Special Agent Brad Peterson from Homeland Security," Medeiros said.
"Pleasure to meet you Lieutenant," Peterson shook Josh's hand.
"Josh, please."
"Brad will do for me as well."
As they walked to the office, Chief Brennan came into the hallway. Josh introduced Peterson to Brennan and invited the Chief to come with them.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Brennan, gesturing for the agents to lead the way, followed them to the SIU.
* * *
The group walked into the office, Captain Charland, Services Division Commander, following behind.
"Can I help you Captain?" Josh asked.
"No, Lieutenant, you cannot. Chief Brennan issued an executive order that I am the supervisor dealing with all federal agencies. So I am following those orders."
Josh looked at Brennan.
"Captain," Brennan offered, "I meant for you to deal with them if I chose not to. I will handle this."
"Chief, shouldn't I be part of this? To maintain proper chain of command, should something arise?"
Josh turned away, hiding his smile.
Brennan walked over to the Charland. "Captain, while I appreciate your diligence, I believe Lieutenant Williams and I can deal with this matter. If something arises which requires your expertise, I'll be certain to let you know."
Charland nodded at the agents and looked back at the Chief. "Yes sir, Chief. I'll be in my office if you need me," doing a perfect about-face and walking out.
"The man means well," Brennan said. "But he's not what you would call operational material. He does do paperwork like no one else. God knows we need someone for that nonsense."
Josh sat down and motioned for everyone to grab a seat.
"Anybody want coffee before we start, I can call Captain Charland and ask him to get it," chuckling.
A slight grin emerged on Brennan's face. "You know, Lieutenant, I may decide to put your unit under the Captain's command. It might tame you a bit."
"Oh man, not that. Okay, I'll get coffee...anybody?"
Since no one else wanted coffee, Josh got one for himself.
Brennan watched with amusement as Josh went through his coffee ritual. Adding what seemed like a quart of cream and a pound of sugar to the enormous cup he kept on his desk. "Are you all comfortable now, Lieutenant? Is there anything else you need before we continue with work? You know, the stuff I am paying you to do?"
Josh shrugged his shoulders and sat at his desk. "Nope, I am good to go now, Chief. So Monty, what does the ATF have for us today?"
Brennan shook his head.
Medeiros looked at Peterson, "Okay Brad, your show."
Peterson opened his briefcase and removed an evidence bag with the weapon from the incident on Route 44. Opening the bag, he withdrew the weapon and placed it on the desk.
"Notice anything unusual?" he asked.
Brennan picked up the weapon, "Other than I have never seen anything like it, no."
"Unless you had a friend in the Russian military, it is doubtful you'd ever see one of these." Taking the weapon from Brennan, Peterson said. "It's used by Russian Special Forces, known as Spetsnaz, but this one is unique. It's similar to the Serdyukov SPS 7.62 High Caliber weapon used by their special forces, but with some differences. "
Brennan raised his eyebrows and looked at Josh. "What kind of shit did you step in, Lieutenant?"
"Ya got me, boss."
Peterson put the weapon on the table. "This particular version is all composite material. There are no metal parts, even the ammunition is composite."
"So metal detectors wouldn't detect it?" Josh asked
"Nope, it might even slip by x-ray machines. The disassembled weapon consists of innocuous looking parts."
"Christ," Josh said.
Yup," Medeiros added, "even he'd have a hard time finding it."
"So how'd the dead guy come up with a weapon like this?" Josh asked.
"The bigger question is why someone with this weapon targeted an East Providence Police Officer or his wife," Peterson added.
"I don't think my wife was the target," Josh replied.
"Well, we're not sure Josh," Peterson said. "She's involved with some high profile appellate cases. We're going to need to do an in-depth interview with her."
Brennan chuckled.
"Did I say something funny, Chief?" Peterson asked.
"No, no. It's just, I know Keira and she won't respond well to an interrogation."
"When you interview her I want to be there," Josh said.
"Fine," Peterson answered. "So long as we do the questioning."
Now it was Josh's turn to laugh. "Look, Brad. I know you have a big deal here with this weapon. However, you need to keep something in mind; my wife is a determined, smart, and forceful defense lawyer. She'll smell any attempt at an interrogation and jam it up your ass. All I am saying is ask nice, or you'll get nothing."
Peterson smiled, "Monty told me all about you and your wife. Look, I am on your side. I am inclined to agree you were the target and not your wife. The sooner we can eliminate her as the target the faster we can figure out why they were after you."
Josh nodded, "When you talk to her, tell her that. It will work better."
Peterson looked at Medeiros, "No time like the present for the rest of the bad news."
Medeiros nodded his head.
Peterson continued. "Okay, here's the rest of the story. From what we can find about the guy, he is former Russian military, Special Forces. The Russians are not enthusiastic about providing information. We do know many ex-Spetsnaz guys went to work for Russian organized crime. This guy surfaced in an investigation several years ago. The group operates out of New York with ties to DC, Boston, and Providence."
"Providence?" Brennan asked. "What the hell would Russians want in Providence?"
"Let me give you a brief history lesson about the Russian mob. First, they make the old Mafia types look like girl scouts. Second, they make money any way they can. Gambling, drugs, hijacking, stolen cars, land grabs, credit card fraud, extortion, protections rackets. You name it, they do it. They enforce their hold with sheer, unadulterated brutality."
Peterson let the words sink in.
"If your wife was not the target, then we need to figure out what you did to draw their attention."
Josh listened, then said, "All we have going in here is the usual nitwit drug dealers, a few gang related guys, but nothing of this level. I can't think of anything we're working that amounts to more than local stuff."
"Perhaps there is a link you haven’t found. We'll need to review your current cases, as well as anything over the last few years. There is something here; we've just got to figure it out."
Chief Brennan rose from his chair. "Okay, we'll provide whatever you need." Turning to Josh, "Lieutenant, from this moment this is your top priority. If you need more help, I'll pull some people from Detectives. You keep me informed. Am I clear?"
"Thanks Chief, I will."
Brennan turned to the federal agents, "If there is anything else you need, you just let the Lieutenant know and we'll find a way to get it."
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Brennan shook the agents' hands and opened the door to leave. Captain Charland, sitting on the desk of the receptionist, tried to appear busy. "Is there something you need Chief?"
"No, Captain. I think we're all set.” Shaking his head, Brennan returned to his office.
* * *
"I told you if you played nice, she'd cooperate." Josh said as he and Peterson left Keira's office, heading back to the station.
Peterson shook his head, "She is a piece of work. How the hell did you two ever meet, let alone marry?"
"Long story," Josh laughed. "Where do we go from here?"
"I reached out to the FBI Counterterrorism Center," Peterson said. "Maybe they have something new on the dead guy,"
"I may not have too many fans at FBI Headquarters," Josh said.
"Oh yeah, Monty told me the story," Peterson laughed. "I heard there was great merriment in FBI HQ with your little surrender party. Not to worry, these guys are some of the good ones. They hate it when US Attorneys misuse FBI resources. They want to help figure this out."
"Let's hope you're right," Josh said. "I have a feeling before this is over we might need their help."
Three years ago, Robert Collucci, then the US Attorney Rhode Island, indicted Josh. Collucci, driven by blind political ambition, forced the civil rights matter to a federal grand jury. He directed the FBI to make a big show arresting Josh, trying to inflict more trauma. Chris Hamlin, the Lieutenant in charge of SIU at the time, got word of the plan and arranged a nightmarish reception for the agents. When they came looking for Josh, the agents ended up in a giant shit show, orchestrated by Hamlin and carried out by members of the police department and many of Josh's friends. It was not something the agents would forget anytime soon.
It proved embarrassing for Collucci. Not enough to derail his election to the Senate, but losing the case proved painful to his ego.
As they arrived back at the station, Josh saw the unmarked car in the front lot. Flashing back to his battle with the FBI Civil Rights Unit, he looked at Peterson.
"Friends of yours?"
"I hope so," Peterson answered, "I hope so."
Josh and Peterson went to the Chief's Office. Captain Charland stood guarding the door to the inner office.
"Who's in there, Captain?" Josh asked.
Charland smirked. "That information is on a need to know basis."
The intercom on Donna's desk chimed in, "Is Lieutenant Williams here yet Donna?"
"Yes Chief, and Captain Charland as well," she replied.
The distinct sound of Chief Brennan groaning came over the speaker. "Ah, I see. Ah, oh hell. I'll be out in a minute."
Brennan came into the reception area, "Captain Charland, I am glad you are here," walking over to the Captain, bending down to whisper. "Would you compile a list of arrests by Lieutenant Williams and the SIU over the past three years? Please keep this confidential. Do the research yourself. Please do not involve any of the civilian records personnel."
Charland nodded, looked at Josh and the Homeland Security agent, and then left the office.
"That should keep him busy for a bit. Come on in gentlemen, you're gonna love this."
Josh and Peterson followed Brennan into the office. There were two others inside. Brennan introduced them as FBI Counterterrorism agent Zach Kennedy and US Deputy Attorney General Frank Lachance.
"Okay, now that we know one another, why don't you explain the nature of your visit," Brennan said.
Kennedy opened a briefcase and took out a small digital recorder. "What you are about to hear is not to leave this room, understood?"
Josh looked around the room and joined Brennan and Peterson in nodding agreement.
"The conversation I am going to play for you is from a court-authorized wiretap. The order came from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court," Kennedy said. "This is serious stuff. We are monitoring an individual known to have connections to Chechnyan Terrorist organizations. I remind you, gentlemen, this is for background information only. We are here because Agent Peterson and the FBI Special Agent in Charge in Providence reached out for our help. He said we owed you one."
Lachance interjected, "I looked into the case against you, Lieutenant Williams. I wish I could say it never happened but we know that's not possible. Let's just say once the Providence SAC explained the circumstances, I agreed we did owe you one."
"I appreciate it, sir," Josh replied.
"Frank, please Lieutenant. No need for formality."
Josh nodded.
Lachance looked at Kennedy and motioned for him to play the recording.
As the recording started, a voice came on speaking something other than English. The call was brief.
Kennedy explained. "What you heard was Russian. Here's a copy of the translation," placing a document on the desk.
Josh read the file.
Subject Shashenka Dmitriev, referred to as Sub SD
Unknown Caller referred to as Unsub Caller
Sub SD: "Yes."
Unsub Caller: "We need to meet, tonight."
Sub SD: "That is not possible."
Unsub Caller: "Make it possible."
Pause. Muffled background voices likely Russian.
Sub SD: "Tonight, 11 o'clock, same place as before."
Call ended
A second call followed, Kennedy explained, taking place three days after the first call. He put a second document on the table.
Unsub Caller: "You have the asset?"
Subject Shashenka Dmitriev (SubSD): "Yes, where does it need to go?"
The next few words froze Josh's heart. He heard a description of his home address, his personal vehicle, and usual route in the morning to the station.
"What the hell?" Josh said.
Kennedy held up his hand, "Keep listening, there's more."
Unsub Caller: "Use someone local to drive him there. I want it done quickly. We don't need anyone looking into our agreement."
Sub SD: "I will see to it."
Call ended.
Josh slammed his hands on the table, glaring at Kennedy. "You guys knew this and didn't tell me they were coming. What the hell? Your idea for making amends is bullshit."
"Josh, listen to me for a minute,” Kennedy said. "The caller never said what city or state. It was just an address. There were hundreds of similar addresses in the country. We had no idea which one."
Josh stood glaring at the agents. "Bullshit, same old fucking federal bullshit. What was so important you thought it okay to let them try to kill my wife?"
"Josh, listen to me. We looked at as many addresses as we could. This is a terrorist group we're looking at. We were focusing on high-level targets, something that would give them a splash in the news. These guys don't kill cops except as collateral damage."
Brennan spoke up. "Calm down, Josh. You're not a high-level target. You're not even a low-level target; except perhaps for Keira, when you wreck her car."
This caught Josh off guard. He didn't realize Brennan knew about his wrecking Keira's car.
"Not much gets by me, son," Brennan said, catching the surprise in his eyes. “Sit down and listen to what else they have. These are good guys this time, trust me on this."
Josh walked back to his seat, "Sorry, I don't like it much when the job reaches my family."
"Understandable," Kennedy replied. "Let us explain something else and I believe you'll see this in a different light."
"Okay," Josh nodded, "I am all ears."
Kennedy stood and leaned against the wall. "After the first call, we weren't able to trace the caller. They use burner phones, one time use, and they dump them. After the second call, we got lucky, or they got lazy. They made a second call with the burner phone, to a number we could trace."
Josh sat up a bit. "Please tell me we know where this guy is now."
"The second call went to a woman, a working woman so to speak, in the DC area. We've had surveillance on the house since then. So far, it's been the usu
al collection of upstanding citizens. Lawyers, city councilmen, two or three Members of Congress, and an aide to a Senator. But nothing so far as we know connected to anything of significance."
Josh looked at Brennan, "Couldn't be, could it?"
Brennan chuckled. "This is Rhode Island, Josh, anything is possible."
Kennedy looked at the two, "Something you'd like to share?"
"The Senator's aide," Josh asked, "wouldn't happen to be the aide to Senator Robert Michael Collucci?"
Kennedy looked at Lachance, "Perhaps we all have something to share."
Josh explained the nature of the Grey investigation to Lachance and Kennedy. "I know I may have stepped on Collucci's dick with my little surprise visit, but having me killed over it is a stretch. There must be something else here. Shit like this doesn't happen here. It's East Providence for Christ's sake, not Moscow."
"Obviously," Lachance answered. "Look, we took a chance bringing you guys into this. Now I think we may have a common interest in your matter. How about I have Zach provide you with any help we can offer and see if we can figure out Collucci's association with these guys?"
"We'll take all the help we can get," Brennan said. "I won't tolerate people trying to kill one of my cops, or their family, and I want the bastards who did this. We'll do whatever we have to do. You'll have our full cooperation."
Kennedy and Lachance shook hands all around and headed out. "We'll be in touch. Meanwhile, here's my private cell number." Lachance said, handing the cards to Josh and Chief Brennan. "You run into any roadblocks, you call me. Anytime."
After the Feds left, Josh, Brennan, and Peterson went into a side conference room. "Josh, I don't want to bring any more paranoia into this but I want you to use this room to store any case information. I don't want any prying eyes seeing things and running to the press. There'll be rumors enough circulated by whoever saw the Feds here. Between that, and the little fiasco on Route 44, they'll be all over this shit."
Josh smiled, "Tell `em they're trying to indict me again. The weak, lame, and lazy will believe it and it'll give them something to speculate about."
Brennan smiled, "A little disinformation campaign. I like it. Okay, I’ll tell Charland to keep it confidential, which will guarantee every politician in the city finds out by the end of the day."
Silenced Justice: A Josh Williams Novel Page 8