Enigma (FBI Thriller 21)

“Where is it?”

Bowler pointed to a telephone book that lay on top of a rough-hewn coffee table. It wasn’t a phone book, it was a hollowed-out box. Ollie called out, “A SIG Sauer P238. Where’d you get it, Mr. Bowler?”

“At a gun show in Baltimore maybe twenty years ago.” He swiped his hand over his cheeks to wipe away the tears. “A criminal I defended didn’t like the sentence the judge handed down and he tried to kill me. I bought the little SIG then. I never leave home without it.” He looked down a moment, then said, “I don’t suppose I can talk you out of taking me back to Washington?”

The assassin’s burner rang.

Ollie and Ruth exchanged looks.

Ollie picked up the cell. “Hello?”

50

BELEEN AIR

MANASSAS REGIONAL AIRPORT

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

Ms. Mindy Fuller checked the schedule on the company computer in front of her, then looked up at Cam and Jack. “Agents, I haven’t heard from Ralph Henley, but that’s not unusual. He’s with a client he normally flies. He left early this morning before I came in, entered their destination today as Richmond, a scheduled return at two o’clock.” Mindy checked the schedule, frowned. “He should have been here an hour ago. He has another client scheduled at seven o’clock for an evening tour of Washington.”

Cam said, “Show us his flight manifest, please.”

“I don’t have it. Ralph always keeps his own book with him.” She pointed to the computer. “All I have is his schedule and destinations.”

Jack leaned closer. “What was his schedule yesterday?”

“He was with one of his usual clients, his destination Leesburg, Virginia, arriving back here late. It says he clocked out at ten o’clock last night.”

“What is his client’s name, Ms. Fuller?”

She looked nervous. “A moment, please.” She dialed an extension, waited, then asked in

a near-whisper, “The FBI agents are asking for a client’s name.”

She listened, slowly nodded. “This is highly unusual, but Bob says to give you whatever you want. And he’s asked to speak to you. The client’s name is Alvarez, Cortina Alvarez.”

“The address?” Cam asked.

“The Satterleigh Condominiums, 2378 Rutherford Avenue Southwest.”

Cam and Jack traded a look and followed Mindy behind the service counter to Bob Jensen’s small office. Jensen was one of two owners of Beleen Air, in business for thirty years. He was an older man, laugh lines around his mouth, but he wasn’t laughing now. After they showed him their creds, he told them he’d already spoken with Special Agent Lucy McKnight. “I understand we’re dealing with criminals here, and believe me, I want no part of it. Of course I’ll tell you everything I can.”

But Mr. Jensen had never met Cortina Alvarez, had occasionally seen a woman and others climbing into the helicopter, but they never came in. Ralph collected the payment for each trip for them, always in cash. Yes, that was unusual, but everyone was free to pay in whatever manner they wished. He had no other contact names. As for Ralph Henley, he’d been on the payroll since 2008, above suspicion until now. He was conscientious, you could count on him, and it wasn’t like him to be late.

They told him about the fake tail number and Henley’s actual destination yesterday, the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Mr. Jensen stared at them. “You’re telling me Ralph is working for this Cortina Alvarez woman, filing false flight plans? He flew one of my helicopters to the national forest? Why? Is he transporting drugs? Drug dealers?” Jensen spurted out a string of robust curses. “I’m going to take him apart when he gets back.”

“No need, Mr. Jensen,” Jack said. “We suspect he’s been doing worse than transporting drugs. Agent Wittier and I will deal with Mr. Henley. We’ll remain here until he lands.”

Cam and Jack were waiting in Cam’s Miata when Bob Jensen came running out of the building an hour later, waving his hands at them, obviously upset. They were out of the car in an instant, met him halfway. Jack grabbed his arm. “Mr. Jensen, what is it?”

Jensen swallowed convulsively, blurted out, “The helicopter Ralph was flying, it was reported down in a wooded area in Maryland. Eyewitnesses said it exploded in midair. I don’t know anything more, I can’t find anyone who knows anything or who will talk to me.”

Cam was already on her cell. Two calls later, she was speaking to the rescue crew on the ground at the crash site. When she punched off her cell, she cupped Mr. Jensen’s hand. “A witness saw the helicopter explode in flight. They’re guessing it was a powerful bomb, from how far the wreckage is strewn over the woods. They’re still searching for victims on the ground.”

Jensen swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “As I told you, Ralph was scheduled to fly Ms. Cortina Alvarez today, but I don’t know for sure if she was his passenger. Do you think she was on board with him?”