by J. C. Fields
Kruger’s eyes widened and he straightened in his chair. “You’re kidding?”
“Nope.”
“What does it mean?”
“Think about it for a moment.”
Kruger was silent for several minutes as pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
“Ahhh…. shit.”
“Yeah, I would agree.”
***
It took thirty minutes for everyone needed on the conference call to find a suitable location to talk unencumbered. In the sheriff’s office conference room sat Knoll, JR, Allen Boone, with instructions to remain quiet, and Kruger. Joseph was at the safe house where Brian and Michelle were now located. Seltzer and Director Stumpf were at FBI headquarters and could connect the call to the President if needed.
Stumpf started the meeting. “Okay, Sean, what’ve you found?”
“Our friend found the information. I didn’t.”
“Fine, go on.”
Kruger looked at JR and nodded. “We have a recording we need you to listen to.” JR touched a key on his laptop and Bishop’s phone call to Thailand was heard. After it was finished, Kruger continued.
“The call was intercepted yesterday by our friends over at NSA. It was from a phone in Columbia, Missouri to a phone in Thailand. The voice of the caller from the US was identified as Randolph Bishop. Voice print match.”
“What are the plans mentioned in the call? Do you have details?” The question was asked with growing concern by Seltzer.
“No, but a document was found on Bishop’s laptop. It’s a handwritten document with numerous addresses all over the US. The document appears to have been scanned in a hurry, it’s not centered. To me, this indicates it was scanned clandestinely. We have zero proof, but we think Bishop scanned it as insurance.”
“Insurance against what?” It was Stumpf’s voice.
“Bishop indicated on the phone call he was aware of a plan being organized by the man in Thailand.” Kruger paused, but no one spoke. He continued. “The document found on Bishop’s computer is a list of addresses in the United States. One of those addresses was the home of the man who kidnapped my wife and daughter.”
“What kidnapping?” Stumpf tone was harsh.
“I kept it quiet; they’re safe.”
Joseph spoke up. “Paul, I’ll explain later. It was deemed necessary to keep it out of the media.”
Stumpf responded with silence. After several moments they heard, “Fine. Next time inform me.”
Kruger smiled slightly. “The kidnapper was a known associate of the man in Thailand.”
Seltzer spoke next. “Was?”
Joseph interjected, “Terminated.”
The reaction was silence. Stumpf said, “Got it. Keep going.”
Kruger took a deep breath and looked at JR, who smiled slightly. “It’s our assumption the list of addresses may be locations of men who are waiting for a call to conduct a series of preplanned and coordinated terrorist attacks.”
“What’s your proof?” Stumpf voice was less confrontational.
“We don’t have proof. We have a lot of data points, a lot of assumptions and conjecture, a list of addresses, and a gut feeling. That’s all.”
“How many addresses?”
Knoll spoke up, “Over twenty in different cities.”
A slight whistle could be heard over the phone connection. Stumpf voice sounded concerned. “Any indication of when they might attack?”
“None.” Kruger’s voice was louder than he meant it to be.
Silence returned to the conference call. Finally, they heard Stumpf say, “Joseph, what do you suggest?”
“We have to check each address and see if our assessment is correct.”
“Do you have enough manpower?”
“I’ll defer the question to Major Knoll.”
“Major, what are your suggestions?”
Knoll smiled, “We’ve been planning for this possibility.”
“Meaning?”
“My team will assess a number of the locations. If we deem it necessary, we will use FBI Rapid Response Teams or local SWAT.”
Everyone in the conference room heard Stumpf take a deep breath. After letting it out slowly, he spoke, “Gentlemen, if your suspicions about these addresses are correct, we have a potential crisis on our hands. Proceed with your assessment. I will brief the President.” He paused briefly. “Next time anything of importance happens, Sean, inform me.”
Kruger gave a slight smile. “Yes, sir.”
The call ended, but no one stood. The silence was deafening as each man dealt with his own thoughts. After a minute, Kruger looked at the big man. “Sandy, where do you want to start?”
Knoll looked at a copy of the file JR had printed for him. He was quiet for several moments. He looked up. “Dallas.”
Chapter 39
Jefferson City, MO
After the conference call, Kruger realized he was going on twenty-four hours without sleep or a meal. It was almost noon, and he left the sheriff’s office to walk down the street to a small café. Knoll had left for the airport, and JR was busy with Bishop’s laptop. They seated him at a two-top table, and the waitress left to get his iced tea. After she was gone, he placed his elbows on the table and pressed the palms of his hands against his weary eyes.
He felt someone sit down across from him.
“You look about as bad as I feel.”
Kruger looked up and smiled. Allen Boone sat there, his eyes bloodshot with dark circles highlighting his weariness.
“Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
Boone chuckled. He kept quiet as the waitress placed Kruger’s drink in front of him. Boone pointed to Kruger’s tea. “I’ll take one of those, too.” He watched as she walked away. “What can I do to assist, Sean?”
Kruger shook his head. “I don’t really know at this point. We need to see what Sandy finds in Dallas. There’s an address in St. Louis; why don’t you start there and put it under surveillance.”
Boone nodded. “What about Bishop?”
Kruger took a sip of his tea. “I’m going to take one more shot at him and then turn him over to you. I don’t trust myself around him. During my last interview, I struggled not to strangle him. I think it would be a good idea for you to be in the room with me. But I want to wait until we hear something from Sandy. Maybe tomorrow. Let Bishop cool his heels for a day.”
Boone smiled. “Sounds good.”
***
Bishop shuffled into the interrogation room and his shackles were secured before Kruger and Boone entered. After getting a good night’s sleep and an update from Knoll in Dallas. He was ready to talk to Bishop.
They watched Bishop on the video monitor for five minutes before going in. Kruger entered first, holding a file folder. Boone closed the door and leaned against the door frame behind Kruger, his arms folded across his chest.
Bishop looked up. “Who’s he?”
Kruger glared at Bishop. “I ask the questions. You don’t.”
“Fuck you, Kruger.”
“Yeah, well, get used to it, Bishop. Where you’re going, you may find someone doing it to you daily.”
Snorting, Bishop sat back in his chair.
Kruger extracted the printed sheet of the PDF file from the file folder and slid it across the table for Bishop to see. He remained quiet as he watched Bishop’s eyes momentarily grow wide and his lips pull back against his teeth. Then the expression went back to his normal scowl.
“What’s that?”
“I’m surprised you don’t recognize it. It’s from your laptop.” Kruger pointed at one address in particular. “Your friend who kidnapped my wife and daughter lived at this address.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Kruger took a deep breath as he thought of what Stephanie and Kristin endured because of this man. He took a few moments to calm himself. “Sure you do. These addresses are the reason you came back to the United States, Randy.”
Bishop shook his head.
“I’m not stupid, Randy.” Kruger watched Bishop tense when he said “Randy.” “You, don’t like being called Randy, do you, Randy? Not sophisticated enough for you?”
Glaring at Kruger, Bishop started breathing hard.
“Back to the piece of paper. We know what it is, and we’re shutting it down as we speak.”
“You have no idea of what this piece of paper means, Kruger. You’re stumbling in the dark.”
“Good, so you do know. Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Do you think I’m stupid, Kruger? I know how the game is played.”
“No, Randy, I don’t think you’re stupid. I think you’re a manipulative psychopath who thinks he’s invincible. You’re not.” Kruger pointed at the chains. “Your presence here proves it.” He paused for a few seconds. “I thought you would have had a better escape plan than the one you tried. Really lame.”
Bishop’s face grew red as he tried to stand up. The shackles stopped him before he could rise three inches. Boone stopped leaning against the door frame and uncrossed his arms.
“Sit down, Randy.” Kruger put the piece of paper back into the file. “Let me tell you what’s going to happen next. With the knowledge of the addresses and information gleaned from various intercepted phone calls, the FBI is going to shut down the operations of the man from Thailand.” Smiling, Kruger looked straight into Bishop’s eyes. “I haven’t forgot about the man from Thailand. Have you?”
Continuing to glare at Kruger, Bishop remained silent.
Kruger continued, “Once all the individuals on this list are compromised, your friends overseas will think you told us. How else would we have found all of the addresses?”
Bishop’s confident smirk changed immediately. His brow furrowed, and his breath suddenly grew short.
“My guess is, once we have you in a state penitentiary, your friend in Thailand will find some way to get to you. We don’t like it, but, you know, shit happens.” He stared at Bishop.
“You have no idea what is going on, Kruger. There is no way you can stop it.”
“Actually, there is.” Kruger stood, smiled and turned toward the door. Just before exiting the interrogation room, he turned. “We’ve already shut it down in Dallas. Fortunately one of the suspects was taken alive, and he was more than happy to tell us what he knows.”
***
The drive back to Springfield seemed longer than the trip to Columbia. JR’s seat was tilted back and he was trying to sleep. It wasn’t working. “Where do we go from here, Sean?”
“With the information you found on the laptop and what Sandy found in Dallas, the raids on the addresses will take place sometime early tomorrow morning. Probably around 3.”
“You’re not going to one of them?”
Kruger shook his head. “I’m not interested. Sandy can handle it.”
JR straightened his seat and looked over at his friend. “That doesn’t sound like you, Sean. You always want to be in the middle of things.”
Watching the road in front of them, Kruger did not respond right away. After trying to understand his feelings, he exhaled. “Yeah, I know. Not this time. I need to get back to Stephanie and Kristin. I’ve been gone too long.”
JR nodded as the conversation lagged. The comfortable silence of two old friends deep in thought ensued. Five minutes later, JR asked, “What’s it like being a father?”
Kruger took a quick glance at his friend.
JR kept his gaze forward watching the road. “I’ve been trying to imagine being a dad, but so far I can’t.”
“It can be scary. Your concerns turn away from yourself and concentrate on your child. Even when they grow up and leave the house, you worry about them. But being a father has more wonderful moments than scary ones. Watching them grow, their first words, accomplishing new things, laughing, becoming a person you enjoy being around, your first deep conversation, the list goes on.”
“I hope I can be a good father. I never really knew my parents. They died when I was six in a car wreck.”
“You’ve never talked about them.”
“Don’t remember much. I don’t even have a picture of them.”
“Did you live with your grandparents?”
JR shook his head. “No, both pairs died before I was born. I was placed with foster parents. They adopted me within a year. I was lucky; they were good people.” He paused briefly, a catch in his voice. “They died while I was in the service. I still miss them.”
“How old were you when you joined the army?”
“On my eighteenth birthday. It was the only way I could afford college.”
“Was that when you crossed paths with Joseph?”
“Yeah, I don’t remember him, but he followed my career. Particularly the marksmanship awards I won.”
“I remember him telling me about those. Long and short guns.”
“Yeah, my dad taught me how to shoot.” JR’s eyes stared ahead. “A .22 long rifle and squirrels. We lived on ten acres of walnut and oak trees, far more squirrels than trees. During the fall my father and I gathered up walnuts and took them to a local huller. He let me keep the money.” A smile came to his lips as he reminisced. “I haven’t thought about that for a long time.”
A long silence occurred. “You never mentioned where you went to college.”
JR glanced over at his friend. “I didn’t?”
Kruger shook his head.
“MIT, graduated summa cum laude. Lot of good it did me.”
“MIT, really?”
“Yeah, that’s where I met Stephen Blair. He was smarter, but I did better in classes neither one of us liked.”
“Huh…”
The silence returned for ten more miles. Smiling, Kruger interrupted the quiet. “What do you want, boy or girl?”
“I think Mia would like a girl, but she’s like me; she just wants the child to be healthy.”
“That’s every parent’s wish.”
“I’ve never been good at sports. Not sure I know how to be a father.”
“None of us do until it happens. Some do it better than others. You’ll do fine.” Kruger watched the road for a while as the mile markers passed by. Finally, he turned to his friend. “Go by how your foster dad acted. He sounds like a good role model.”
JR nodded, “He was.”
“Thanks, JR. I needed something else to think about.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Another long silence transpired before Kruger asked, “Do you still shoot? You never talk about it?”
JR nodded. “Yeah, Sandy’s been working with me. It’s like riding a bicycle. You don’t forget.”
Kruger chuckled, “I’ve heard that.”
Part Four
Two Months Later
Chapter 40
Springfield, MO
Kruger sat at his home office desk finalizing a report to Paul Stumpf. The room was isolated on the west end of their house away from the living area where Kristin played. A mature white oak tree dominated the front yard and provided shade for his window during the heat of summer. His desk chair faced away from the window, preventing distractions of the busy neighborhood from gaining his attention.
It had taken six weeks for Sandy Knoll and his team, utilizing local law enforcement agencies throughout the country, to wrap up their take-down of the individuals on the list provided by Randolph Bishop’s laptop. Only two were in the process of carrying out their part of the conspiracy, but were stopped prior to any actual attack occurring. His report summarized the operation.
Stephanie walked into the office, a big smile on her face. Kruger looked up and chuckled, “What?”
“Have you talked to JR in the past few days?”
“No, he’s been tied up with a client. Why?”
“Mia called. They know the sex of the baby.”
“Are you going to tell me or make me guess?”
“They’re having a boy.”
&
nbsp; Kruger leaned back in his chair and nodded. “I think he secretly wanted a boy. He’s never said one way or the other, but from comments he’s made, you could tell.”
Stephanie bent down and stared out of the window behind her husband. Her smile disappeared. “Why are two Highway Patrol cars parked in front of our house?”
Kruger turned in his swivel chair and watched as Allen Boone stepped out of a dark gray Ford Explorer with the Missouri Highway Patrol emblem on the front door. Kruger shook his head. “Don’t know, but I assure you it’s not good news.”
As he spoke, two officers exited the vehicles and stood by the cars as Boone walked toward Kruger’s front door.
Kruger opened it just as Boone stepped onto the porch. “Allen, I hope this is a social call.”
“Wish it was. Can I come in?”
Kruger stood aside, and Boone entered.
***
One of Stephanie and Sean’s favorite spots in their house was a breakfast nook next to the kitchen. It allowed a panoramic view of their treed backyard and deck. When possible, it was the place where the busy husband and wife caught up on each other’s day. The small glass table with four chairs was perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch or early morning cup of coffee. Kruger and Boone sat across from each other with Stephanie between.
“When did he escape?” Kruger asked.
“Early this morning. I was conducting a budget meeting here at Troop D when I was told. Thought I’d better get over here to let you know.”
“What happened?”
“He was being transferred to St. Louis County Court in Clayton for arraignment on the four murders you investigated six years ago. We’re guessing, but we think a truck ran the Boone County sheriff’s car off the road. One of the deputies was found outside the car, and the other still in the driver’s seat. Both were killed with a shotgun.”
“Ah, boy.” Kruger took a deep breath. “Why do they think it was a truck?”
“There was a 911 call received a little after 5 a.m. about a large pick-up and a sheriff’s car stopped along I-70. The caller said it looked like an accident.”