In the
Schlagel was a different problem altogether, because unlike DeCamp, who either worked alone or with a very few handpicked operators, Schlagel’s followers were a sizeable portion of the American voting public. Millions of people were backing him, and the number was growing daily. Isolating him from his supporters in such a way that making a mistake large enough to topple him, expose him for who and what he really was, would be next to impossible.
But until the good reverend was brought down, Eve Larsen and her project were in imminent danger, although Schlagel was already denying any involvement in the attack.
“In fact,” he told his flock, “it was members of my flotilla who actually saved lives, at great risk to their own. In fact some of my faithful lost their lives. Let us use the power of prayer but never, never forget the power of action to do the work God has set before us.”
The argument was the same among antiabortionists: killing abortion doctors saved lives!
Lieutenant Craig Moon, the cutter’s skipper, came to the doorway and knocked on the frame. “Are you finished, sir?”
McGarvey looked up. “Just about, thank you. Have your people finished bagging the bodies?”
“No, sir, the FBI is still doing forensics, could be another six hours or longer. But they’ve asked that you stick around a bit longer, they have a few more questions.”
“They can catch up with me in Washington. What’re the chances of getting me ashore?”
The lieutenant had his orders, but Marc Morgan was only the special agent in charge of the Bureau’s on site team while Kirk McGarvey was a former director of the CIA. And it was he who had almost single-handedly put down the attack and killed most of the bad guys. “I can have a helo out here within the hour. Where do you want to go?”
“Tampa International.”
“Will do,” the lieutenant said.
“And I need to make a couple more calls. Can I connect to ordinary phones ashore from here? A landline as well as cell?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll have someone come down to show you.”
“No need, I’ll figure it out,” McGarvey said, and after the lieutenant left he found a phone tab on the laptop’s screen and entered Gail’s cell phone number. After twenty seconds or so, it rang and Gail answered.
“My number’s blocked, so this has to be Kirk, Eric, or Otto.”
“It’s me, where are you?”
“We just landed at Dulles. How’s it going?”
“The Bureau is working the issue. How about you and Eve?”
Gail chuckled. “Not bad for a couple of women who’ve been through what we’ve been through. Especially Eve and her high-dive act.” She got serious. “What’s next?”
McGarvey quickly explained his conversation with the president. “Officially Otto and I are looking for our contractor, and we’re going to make a good show of it.”
“Unofficially?”
“You and Eve are going to draw Schlagel down from his podium while I keep watch from the sidelines.”
“DeCamp’s not coming back?” Gail asked.
“I think he’s going to ground.”
“Revenge?”
“He’s a pro, and Hutchinson Island and Vanessa were nothing more than assignments that didn’t go quite the way he’d planned them. No revenge motive there. Neither operation was personal enough.”
“I meant on the part of his paymasters. From their standpoint he botched Hutchinson Island, and now this.”
McGarvey had already thought about it. “They’ll probably withhold a final payment, but Hutchinson Island was enough of a partial success that they gave him another chance.”
“And you were the monkey wrench in both operations. Might make you their next best target.”
“It’s a possibility,” McGarvey conceded because he had thought of that, too. “Otto’s keeping track of Marinaccio and Octavio, but they’d have to hire someone to come after me, so I’ll watch my back. In the meantime my bet’s on Schlagel because I’m about one hundred percent convinced that he and Marinaccio are connected through the IBC in Dubai. If Schlagel were to make it to the White House he’d be the perfect president for big oil. Be in her best interest to support him.”
“Okay, what’s the next step? What do you want me to do?”
“Is Eve sitting next to you?”
“We’re scattered all over the plane. She’s about six rows back.”
“How is she?”
“Awed by the violence, by all the people killed. A little confused, I think, about Don Price, and saddened by Lisa’s death. She was one of the bright sparks on the team.”
“Intimidated?”
“Angry, but so far as I can tell all the more determined to get on with it.”
“The White House is going to support her project. Publicly. Which means the Coast Guard will provide around-the-clock security.”
“So Lord is finally taking Schlagel seriously.”
“Something like that. Which makes Eve the primary target. If she can’t be bullied into backing away, or if NOAA can’t be convinced by public opposition, or if InterOil continues to support her, she could be in some physical danger again. Probably worse than Oslo.”
“I don’t think that she’s going to run and hide,” Gail said. “She’s pretty tough.”
“How was her reception in Tampa?”
“She was mobbed, and it’ll probably be the same here.”
“I want you to stick with her, even if she objects. And I want you to convince her to return to Hutchinson Island to talk with the SSP and L people about the power connection with her platform. I want it to be business as usual for her, as if what happened in the Gulf was only a little speed bump.”
“That should be an irresistible draw for Schlagel and his people. How soon do you want her there?”
“Within the next day or two, I want to give Schlagel as little time as possible to capitalize on what happened in the Gulf.”
“Where will you be during all of this?”
“Right behind you,” McGarvey said. “But don’t try to spot me. And, Gail?”
“Yes?”
“Carry a weapon and stay sharp.”
McGarvey broke the connection and phoned Otto, telling him essentially the same thing he’d told Gail, and repeating the conversation he’d had with the president.
“How are you planning on going about it, kemo sabe? Schlagel’s people were willing to put their lives on the line out in the Gulf, and they sure as hell wouldn’t hesitate to run over you if they thought you were a threat to him.
And McGarvey told him.
Otto laughed. “Devious, but I think I can put something together that’ll get his attention. May I share this with Yablonski?”
“Only if he promises to keep it between the two of you. No leaks.”
SEVENTY-THREE
