King and Maxwell (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 6)

“But not the most interesting parts certainly,” replied Michelle.

“I saw the news. The Iran thing.”

“Did you know that was part of the mission?” asked Sean.

Wingo nodded.

“And how did you feel about that?” asked Michelle.

“It wasn’t my job to feel anything about it. I’m a solider. I volunteered for a mission. My only concern was to carry it out successfully.”

“Which you didn’t,” Sean pointed out.

“Trust me, that one I get,” snapped Wingo.

“Vista?” began Sean.

“Don’t know much about it. Tyler Googled it but there wasn’t anything there.”

“But some connection to Heron Air Service presumably,” said Michelle.

Wingo nodded. “Like you said, I followed a guy from Heron to Vista. That was the connection.”

“And the guy from Heron was of interest why?”

“He was with the people who jumped me in Afghanistan. I figured having a private air charter was a good way to move money around, particularly over two tons’ worth of it. I also had a tip from a friend overseas that Heron was involved. That’s what put me on to them in the first place.”

Sean said, “Alan Grant heads up Vista Trading Group. You know him?”

“No. What’s his interest in all this?”

Michelle answered, “It might be quite personal, actually, going back several decades.”

Wingo looked confused.

“Long story,” said Sean. “But Grant might have some personal vendetta, and he might be using the billion euros to carry it out.”

“Okay,” said Wingo slowly. “But do you have any proof?”

“Not a shred,” said Michelle.

“Do you know what his overall goal might be?” asked Wingo.

“Not a clue,” said Sean. “But if it required stealing a billion euros and publicly exposing the United States in a way that might lead to a war with Iran or fresh terror attacks that could kill a lot of people, then I don’t think it’s something to be taken too lightly.”

“So how do we stop it?” asked Wingo. “Whatever it is?”

“If Grant or a colleague of his was the source for the blogs about the missing money and the overthrow of the Iranian government, then that’s something we can take to the authorities. Then they can bring the hammer down on Grant.”

“How did he even know about the euros?”

“We just found out his father-in-law is Dan Marshall.”

“Assistant Secretary Marshall?” exclaimed Wingo.

“One and the same.”

“He was in the loop. That I know for a fact. You think he’s working with Grant?”