Enemies Among Us by Jeffrey S. Stephens

Author:Jeffrey S. Stephens [Stephens, Jeffrey S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Washington, D.C.

Later that afternoon, Kenny and Reagan were seated in one of the booths toward the rear of the dining room at the Old Ebbitt Grill on 15th Street. Opened before the Civil War, the dark, comfortable setting was the oldest saloon in Washington. Only steps from the White House and a watering hole for politicos and bureaucrats, they agreed it was best at the moment for Reagan to meet with the DD in public and avoid Langley.

“Lawler is furious,” the DD said after they were served beers and bowls of chili. “You were specifically ordered to stay away from Khoury.”

“Again,” Reagan said, then had a taste of his draught. “But if Gellos, Brandt, and I had not showed up in time, Lawler would have two dead agents to answer for, and his friend Khoury would also be taking a dirt nap, or in the hands of who even knows?”

“I don’t disagree.”

“Doesn’t Director Spinelli have something to say about this? Is no one upstairs suspicious about the attack? For instance, how many people knew the Handler was being transported to the Gables? How did those shooters just happen to be there, right at the moment Sam reached that intersection? When did everyone in the Agency get so goddamned dumb?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry, sir, I obviously didn’t mean everyone.”

“I get it, and I share your frustration, believe me.”

“This is a whole lot more than frustration. Three hitters tried to go through Alex and me to get to Khoury the other night. How did they know where we were? Pretty obvious, right? Then Erin was almost abducted at gunpoint when she arrived at Union Station. We get anything from those two yet?”

“Nothing. Same story you got from the survivor of the roadside attack. They claim to be guns for hire, several levels of communication removed from whoever is actually paying and sending them out.”

“It’s probably true. I think we should call Bebon at the FBI. Get them to do their own background checks of all of these players, dead and alive.”

“Good idea, I’ll do that.”

“But keep it away from Turnquist.”

“Who?”

“Victor Turnquist, an executive assistant director at the Bureau.”

“I recognize the name. What’s your problem with him?”

“Khoury gave me the same warning about Turnquist that he gave me about Lawler,” Reagan explained. “I have an off-the-record confirmation that he might be one of the bad guys.”

“Obviously from Dick Bebon, right?”

Reagan managed to laugh for the first time in hours. “That’s off-the-record for now, okay sir?”

Kenny nodded.

“What about Khoury? Have we verified he’s still at the Gables?”

“Gellos has eyes on the situation.”

“I want to see him.”

“Impossible,” the DD said.

Reagan tasted the chili, then added some Tabasco. “Nothing’s impossible, sir, you taught me that a long time ago.”

“He’s going to be interrogated.”

“When?”

“Tonight, at seven.”

“Who’s going to be there for the interview?”

Kenny responded with a look that said he did not want to answer.

“Why am I not surprised? Is Lawler going in there alone? Maybe he’ll bring a hypodermic? Or something less subtle, like a hatchet?”

“The entire interview will be on video, you know that.

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