“You still owe me one more of each.”
Hondo said, “We’re working on it. In fact we’re trying to get you a whole case of chips and salsa, just for you.”
Vick said, “See Ronny, you should try to be more like Hondo.” He turned to Hondo, “Send me that image and I’ll see what I can do.” He backed out the door, guarding the chips as if they were gold.
When he was gone I said, “I’m the one who ordered the case of chips and salsa.”
Hondo grinned and said, “I’m glad, too. It gave us our edge.”
Marcus, who had filmed everything said, “That’s a heck of a personal dynamic you two have with the Sergeant.”
“He loves us,” I said, “Vick just can’t stay away.”
Marcus grinned, “Uh-huh.”
A half-hour later, there was a quick knock-knock on the door. It opened and three men wearing suits and dark sunglasses entered. All three had slight bulges under their coats at the hip that indicated pistols.
The blond one looked at Marcus and his camera and said, “You’ll need to wait outside.”
Marcus said, “Hey, I’m authorized to be here.”
Mr. Blond said, “Turn your camera off and wait outside, please. It will be in your best interest to do so.”
Hondo said, “Go ahead Marcus. We’ll see you in the morning.”
Marcus said, “Yeah, okay.” He gave the three men a look and said, “Don’t forget the First Amendment is on my side.”
Mr. Blond said, “We won’t sir, and we will defend your rights under the constitution with our own lives if we have to. Thanks for your cooperation.”
When Marcus left, Mr. Blond said, “Mr. Wells, Mr. Baca, we’re from the government--”
“And you’re here to help us,” I said.
The three men looked at me without smiling. “Okay,” I said, “Humor aside, what can we do for you?”
Mr. Blond said, “I am Agent Harris, with the CIA.” He showed us his credentials, then turned and pointed at the man closest to him, “And this is Agent Agan, with the FBI.” He then pointed at the third man, “And that is Agent Rodriguez, with the NSA.” Both men showed their credentials.
I said, “Wow, if you rearrange all those letters it spells wiretap.”
Hondo said, “Task Force?”
Harris said, “Yes, part of an international task force.”
Hondo said, “Fill us in.”
Harris said, “I can give you some selective information, that’s about it.”
Hondo said, “Go ahead.”
Harris said, “Ajax Berenko is one of the Romani, so his loyalties don’t necessarily lie along normal lines. He was born in Chechnya, and when old enough joined what was then the Soviet Union’s military. He saw service in Afghanistan, and later when the Soviet Union collapsed, he became a mercenary for hire. He was a key player in the ethnic cleansing of Muslims during the Bosnian War.
I said, “So how is he able to walk around free?”
Agent Rodriguez said, “He changed sides at the last minute and turned on his former compatriots. In exchange for information he was allowed to legally immigrate to the United States.”
“Just great,” I said. “We sure want more of those people here.”
Rodriguez said, “We didn’t want him here, either.”