by Robin Mahle
“Back at ya.” He smiled. “By the way, why didn’t you press Carol Whitman on who she asked to alter the passport details? Someone did something.”
“I didn’t want to take the chance that she would alert whoever did it. I’m still not entirely sure she handled it on her own. But I need to find Theo first. The rest will be figured out later.”
He nodded. “Take care, Reid. And good luck.” Surrey walked through the double doors and disappeared.
As much as she hadn’t wanted to admit it, Kate had learned a lot from Jonathan Surrey. She learned the type of agent she really was and the kind she ought to be. Whether the two would cross paths was unclear.
Kate walked through the private charter terminal and eventually boarded the plane for Quantico. As she sat in the window seat, she realized how much she had changed since her early days as an agent. Now here she was, hardly 5 years later, and she faced a censure hearing. That would leave quite a black mark on her record and could prevent her from achieving her goals. It was something she didn’t reveal to Surrey. If he was to be hired, he would find out anyway and he could judge for himself the circumstances surrounding it.
But more importantly, Surrey had shown her that the job wasn’t just about the hunt. If she hoped to have a long career, acceptance that the outcome won’t always be what she desired, then she just might get one.
The plane touched down after a turbulent flight. She spotted Nick on the private airstrip standing in front of his car. He smiled at her approach.
“Boy, am I glad to see you.” He offered a tender embrace.
“I’m glad to see you too. So what’s the plan?”
He smiled. “Leave it to you to jump right in. Let’s go. I’ll get you up to speed.”
Kate and Nick walked into the conference room where the team waited.
Fisher smiled as they entered. “And there’s the woman of the hour. Congratulations, Agent Reid.”
“Thank you, but let’s hold off on the accolades until we actually catch him.” She sat down. “Scarborough filled me in. So we have the office in Mexico City on board?”
“They’re coordinating with the local authorities now,” Walsh replied. “Good job, by the way.”
“Thank you.” Kate turned back to Fisher. “When do we head out?”
“We don’t,” he replied. “The international office will take him into custody and work on getting him back here and transferred to the Houston office. Scarborough has already coordinated with Palmero.”
“Oh. So that’s it for us? Nothing left but the paperwork?” Kate asked.
“Dr. and Mrs. Whitman will be brought in for questioning by the Providence Police,” Duncan began. “It’s probable that Mrs. Whitman will be charged with aiding and abetting. Not sure if any charges will be brought against Dr. Whitman.”
“I’m not sure why I had to hurry back. It sounds like everything is under control,” Kate replied with irritation in her voice.
“I wanted you here to help answer questions and to assist the team in Mexico. I hope that’s okay with you?” Fisher asked.
“Yes, of course. Is there anything else? It’s been a long day and I’m sure I have a ton of emails to get through before I go home.”
“No. There’s nothing else,” Fisher added. “When something breaks, I’ll let you all know. Everyone did a great job on this investigation. Well above and beyond. Thank you.”
Kate nodded and stood up to leave.
Nick caught up to her in the hall. “Look, Kate, I know you’re disappointed, but you know where the jurisdictional lines are drawn.”
“I do. I just thought…It doesn’t matter.” She switched on her office lights and walked inside. “I’m glad to be back either way.”
“I’m glad you’re back, too.” He followed her inside. “Why don’t you get caught up and then we’ll sneak out a little early and grab some dinner?”
“Sure. I’d like that. Thanks.” Kate sat down at her desk.
“Okay then.” Nick smiled and walked out.
Kate began scrolling through her emails when she spotted Fisher at the door. “Hey. What can I do for you?”
Fisher took a seat. “I know you’re pissed, Reid. I get it, okay? I came in to say thank you. Getting the mother to come clean…it was no easy task.”
“Thank you,” Kate said.
“I know it’s difficult for you to relinquish control, but those guys in Mexico, they do know what they’re doing. They’ll bring Bishop back to Houston to face justice.”
“I’m sure they will.” Kate studied him. “But there’s still something I need to figure out.”
“Such as?”
“We now know Mrs. Whitman has been helping her son, sending him money and all that. But that doesn’t explain how Walsh’s NSA contact got it wrong when he sent over the information regarding the ticket purchase. We’re talking a good two days of delayed details. How does that happen?”
“The only possible scenario I can think of seems far-fetched,” Fisher replied.
“Let’s hear it.”
“Well, these people have money. We know that. With money comes influence and power. I don’t think it would be too far out in left field to suggest the Whitmans have influence, which in turn could result in selective information being buried.”
Kate raised a brow. “Yeah. That’s what I thought. How do I go about finding the link? How does a doctor, even a Chief of Surgery, and his wife know anyone with that sort of capability?”
“A friend of a friend?” Fisher replied. “Isn’t that how these things usually go? Somebody knows somebody else who can ensure things are diverted, overlooked. Even so, Reid, I’m not sure it matters now.”
“It matters to me. Anyone involved in sweeping Bishop’s wrongdoings under the rug for years needs to be held accountable. The Whitmans and the Bishops may be wealthy and powerful people, but that doesn’t mean they should escape justice in order to protect their names or their son.”
Fisher stood. “How about we take that on after they bring in Bishop? I promise you, anyone involved in the murders, directly or indirectly, will pay the price. Can you give me that?”
Kate nodded. “I can. Thank you.”
He started to leave but turned back. “One last thing. When we last talked, you didn’t seem all that impressed with Surrey. Any final thoughts about that?”
Kate looked away and considered her answer. “I’m torn, to be honest. On the one hand, he’s good at his job. No doubt. I knew that from my experience with him in Denver. But on the other, he has a different philosophy than we do.”
“How so?” Fisher asked.
“He doesn’t seem like the type of agent who takes home his work. I think he gives it his all, but at the end of the day, he’s happy to set it aside.”
Fisher chuckled. “And that’s a bad thing? That’s how you survive in this business, Reid. Take my word for it.”
“You’re not that way,” she insisted.
“Are you sure about that?” He turned away again. “I’ll get with you as soon as I know something.”
Kate returned to her unanswered emails but couldn’t get the idea out of her head that there was more to the families, particularly, Mrs. Whitman, than what she knew. Walsh had helped her at the beginning of this investigation, and it was his NSA contact who retrieved the vital information that ultimately led them to believe Bishop, who was now going by the name of Eli Parnell, was in Mexico. So maybe it was time to get his input once again.
She picked up her phone. “Levi, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk about Carol Whitman,” she nodded. “Great. No. I’ll come to you. Thanks.”
Kate noted the time and her promise to Nick that the two would leave early and have dinner together. The week had seen them jetting back and forth and getting little in the way of sleep, so the time together was needed. However, as she was prone to do, getting to the bottom of things, and not letting them go, was her way. It might not have been Surrey’s way, but it
was how she preferred to do things.
She wrapped her knuckles on the doorframe as she peered inside Walsh’s office. “Hey.”
“Kate. Come in.” He set his attention to her. “You think there’s more than meets the eye with Mrs. Whitman, huh? Good. Me too. Let’s talk about that.”
She sat down and wasted no time. “I want to know everything about the Whitmans and the Bishops. Their circle of friends, any political ambitions, whether related to the hospitals or government. I want to know who they know because, Levi, someone knew what we were up against and knew how to throw us off track.”
“I couldn’t agree more. And since we’re no longer involved in this case, what’s the harm in pushing forward?”
“See? This is why we get along so well. We’re the same,” Kate said.
Walsh revealed a crooked smile. “Maybe so. That said, where do you want to start?”
“We take a look at charitable organizations Mrs. Whitman is a member of. Dr. Whitman too. I’m also thinking medical boards, hospital administrative boards.”
“Because the folks on those boards usually hold sway,” Walsh replied.
“Exactly. I want to find a connection to someone either on the political side, who could influence law enforcement, or who might be a member of law enforcement…”
“Or possibly someone, a lobbyist maybe, who holds influence over someone in power. And any connection we can find to the intelligence community.”
“Yep,” Kate nodded. “So how do we go about doing that?”
Walsh eyed her. “I thought you knew?” He laughed. “Just kidding. There are a few places we can check. The hospital boards will have members listed in a public database. Charitable organizations might be a little tougher, but I think if we can pull the Whitman’s taxes, we’ll be able to find donations, which will give us a place to start.”
“We’ll need to go to the DOJ to sign off on the request for tax returns. But it’s possible to do it without the Whitman’s knowledge,” Kate replied.
“Agreed. However, Fisher will need to be informed about this. If we go over his head to the DOJ, and considering you’re already about to be censured, it’s not worth the risk.”
“Nor is it worth the risk of pissing him off. I won’t go around him like that,” she said.
“Good. But you’ll need to consider the prospect he’ll say no,” Walsh added.
“I’ll present the case. He won’t say no. There’s no way this family has been able to do what they’ve done without outside help.”
“I’ll be there to back you up, but this has to come from you. Trust me on this. It could change the outcome of your censure hearing if you put together a solid case against the family that allowed their son to commit atrocities.”
Kate nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Levi. I’m glad to have you in my corner.”
“Always.”
25
The restaurant near the bayside condo in Woodbridge that Kate and Nick shared was where they had chosen for a late dinner. The quaint restaurant that oozed French flair was a nice change of pace from the fast food they had eaten over the past several days. Even better was that it had been just the two of them tonight after Kate kept her promise and left Walsh, setting aside their plans until tomorrow. What difference would it make in any case? The FBI international office in Mexico City was organizing the arrest of Theodore Bishop.
Kate was beginning to come to terms with the idea that the case was over, at least from a standpoint of bringing in Theodore Bishop. Fisher was right. They had done their jobs and led the authorities directly to him. It was all standard operating procedure now.
She raised the glass of wine to her lips, feeling guilty to be drinking in front of Nick, but he had insisted it was fine. Kate wondered if there would ever be a point where he could drink again or was it time for her to concede that he was, in fact, an alcoholic, no matter how she spun it. This would be their life now. Kate had never been a heavy drinker and had seen what booze had done to her father before he finally got help. This was familiar territory.
Nick sipped on his sparkling water and sliced off a piece of mouthwatering filet mignon. “I’m glad we’re doing this. It’s about time.” He placed the steak in his mouth.
“Me too. This job doesn’t leave a lot of room for us, does it?”
He shook his head and swallowed the bite. “Maybe it’s time for us to make room.”
Kate held his gaze. “There was something Jonathan Surrey said to me earlier this morning. He said that I didn’t know how to leave behind the work and that it would cause me to grow resentful and eventually burnout.”
“How long has he been with the Bureau?” Nick asked.
“About as long as you, I believe. Though he’s a bit younger, more around my age.”
“Burnout?” Nick appeared to consider the idea. “Well, you know that was why I wanted to transfer to BAU Headquarters. Then, of course, I started to feel like I was missing out. It’s a strange thing, you know?”
Kate nodded. “I’m sure it must be. I just don’t think I know how to be any other way. This work is my life. It’s our life.”
“Where will that leave us, then, when we’re too old to do this job anymore? What will happen to us? Will we have anything in common?”
She was taken aback by the question. He’d never expressed concern in this way for their future. It was always just assumed they would be together. Maybe this was something she needed to hear. “I think it’s getting past the time to consider a family, Nick. It’s unlikely, given my history, that I would ever conceive anyway, but we aren’t getting any younger either. And with this job?”
“I understand that. I wasn’t speaking solely to the idea of a family. I’m talking about us.”
Kate’s phone buzzed and so did Nick’s. They peered at each other before swiping open the screen.
She read the text message. “Oh no.”
Nick shot a look at her. “He’s gone.”
They returned to the office where the others had already gathered. It was after 11pm in Washington, and Mexico City was on Central Standard Time.
“As you know, Bishop wasn’t at the apartment his mother had informed us about. The agents had their team in place alongside the Mexican authorities and when they approached the door, there was no answer,” Fisher began. “Subsequently, they forced their way inside only to find his clothes gone. They also found this.” He tossed a photo onto the conference table. “He kept a scrapbook of the disaster sites he not only visited, but all natural disasters that have taken place worldwide over the past ten years.”
“What the hell is with this guy’s obsession with disasters?” Walsh asked.
“It’s where he feels he has the most power,” Kate began. “Little oversight because of the chaotic nature of the scenes. Desperate people all looking to him for aid. What more could an angel of death ask for?”
“How long do they think he’s been gone?” Duncan asked. “Any idea when he left? Surveillance video, anything like that?”
“If any exists, it’s in the hands of the Mexican authorities,” Fisher added. “That’s something the office down there will have to deal with.”
“Why are we here, then?” Nick asked. “If those guys are tasked with finding him, where do we fit in?”
“That’s a good question. Here’s what I’d like to do. Reid, get on the horn with Carol Whitman. There’s a damn good chance she alerted her son out of guilt. If so, she might know where he fled to. Scarborough, you and I are going to Mexico City to assist the office there.”
“When are we leaving?”
“As soon as we’re done here,” Fisher replied.
Walsh looked around the team with noted concern. “And the rest of us?”
“Wait!” Kate peered at her phone. “I know where he is.”
“What? How?” Fisher asked.
She walked over to him with the phone open to a news article. “Look at this. The day before yesterday, a magnitude 6.
7 earthquake struck Guadalajara.” Kate looked at him. “He’s there. I know he is. He wouldn’t be able to resist the urge, even if his mother told him he was about to be captured, or in spite of that fact.”
Fisher eyed the rest of the team. “Well? Given what we know about Bishop, do we agree he’s likely to be there?”
Nick raised his hand. Walsh raised his and finally, Duncan raised hers.
“We should go there as a team,” Kate said. “We know more about Bishop than any of those guys down there. I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
“Damn it.” Fisher sighed. “I’ll need to clear it with the Mexico City office, but I have to agree with you on this one. We can’t afford to let him slip through our fingers this time. He won’t give us a third opportunity.”
The chartered flight arrived in Mexico City at midnight, local time. The team was greeted by a handful of Mexican National Guardsmen, a civilian police force created in 2019. Dressed in military gear, their presence was intimidating.
“I thought our people were coming?” Nick asked Fisher as they stepped onto the runway beneath a pitch-black sky.
“I was informed that the secretary of Security and Civilian Protection wanted to keep his people in the loop. They insisted their people escort us.”
“And what about the Mexico City office?” Kate asked him.
“They’ll take us there.” Fisher turned to Walsh. “You might need to take point with these guys.”
“You got it, Boss.” Walsh headed the pack and met who appeared to be the officer in charge as they stood in front of the military-style vehicles and carried assault rifles across their chests. He held out his badge with one hand and raised the other as a precaution. “Hola, señor. Mi nombre es Walsh. FBI.”
“I speak English, Agent Walsh, but I appreciate the gesture.” He offered his hand. “I’m Alejandro Perez, Unit Coordinator. I’ve been instructed to escort your team to your FBI office in the city. If you and your people will step inside the car, we’ll get started.”
“Absolutely. Thank you.” Walsh turned back as the others were fixed in place still several feet behind. “They’re our escorts. It’s time to move.”