“Why isn’t there more intel on Afridi?”
“He’s not associated with any recognized terrorist organization like al-Qaeda. My sources say that terror is a hobby for him and he likes to run the show himself, like a boy with a model train set.”
“Is Afridi in Pakistan now?”
“No, he has a home in northern Virginia.” The Spook gave her the address. “He was in residence on the day of the attempt at FedEx Field, and he’s still there.”
“That seems odd. You’d think he would want to head home as soon as the plot failed.”
“Something is keeping him here, but I can’t help you with that.”
“Thanks,” Dana started to say but the Spook was already moving to another section of the gallery, where he commenced to study Joachim and the Beggars, by Andrea di Bartolo.
T he traffic was deadly, and it took Dana an hour and a half to find Afridi’s estate. It was in the countryside, approachable by a narrow country lane and sequestered in the middle of a forest of oak and maple. Dana drove along the wall that protected Afridi’s house and grounds from prying eyes. An iron gate sealed off the only entry from the road. Dana could make out a guard shack behind the gate and a guard wearing a blazer, a black turtleneck, and tan slacks. He looked fit and ex-military, and Dana bet he was armed.
Dana parked at the far end of the wall and walked a circuit around the property. There were gaps where she could see the house, but she also saw other guards, and she bet there were security measures she couldn’t see. When she decided that she wasn’t going to learn anything useful, Dana drove home.
A man wearing camouflage lay in a blind in the woods high up the tree-covered slope across from the entrance to Afridi’s estate. As soon as Dana’s car was out of sight, he lowered his binoculars and radioed in her license number. When he learned the name of the owner, he called his superior and told him that Dana Cutler had conducted surveillance of Imran Afridi’s property.
Chapter Forty-four
“I have great news,” Bobby Schatz told Ron Tolliver as soon as the guard closed the door to the contact visiting room. “The government is dismissing your case.”
Tolliver stared at his lawyer as if he had not understood what Schatz had said. Bobby chalked it up to shock. He smiled.
“By the end of the day, you’re going to be a free man, Ron.”
“They’re letting me out?”
Schatz nodded. “Remember our first meeting? The prosecutor was taping everything that was said in the interrogation room. When I came in to talk to you, I demanded that he stop because it’s illegal for the government to record a conversation between a lawyer and his client.” Schatz grinned. “We got lucky, Ron. Crawford broke the law. He kept taping our conversation. There are a ton of cases that hold that this type of conduct is presumed to be prejudicial. In your case, there’s no question that your case was prejudiced, because I laid out our trial strategy during the meeting.
“This morning, one of Crawford’s superiors phoned me. He’s in big trouble, and the DOJ doesn’t want its dirty linen aired in public, so they’re not fighting my motion to dismiss. You’ll be out of here today.”
If Schatz thought that Tolliver would thank him, the prisoner disappointed him.
“Where am I going to go?” he demanded.
“Maybe home to Ohio?” Schatz suggested.
Tolliver looked incredulous. “Are you insane? You don’t know my father. He’s ex-military and a flag-waving patriot. I’d be lucky if he didn’t shoot me. And if he doesn’t, someone else is bound to. Everyone in America has heard that I tried to kill ninety thousand people. As soon as I step out the door, I’ll have a target on my back. Every nut job will be out to kill me, and I don’t think the CIA will take this lying down. They probably have a hit squad waiting for me.”
“Ron, my job is to win your case. I did that. It’s your job to figure out what to do with the rest of your life.”
Schatz lowered his voice and leaned close to his client. “Maybe you should call your friends. They got you into this. Maybe they’ll help you out.”
Tolliver looked at the tabletop. Schatz could see he was thinking hard about his predicament.
“Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?” Schatz asked.
Tolliver shook his head.
“I’ve left clothes and money for you,” Schatz said. “I wish you good luck.”
Chapter Forty-five
Brad had been questioned by the Capitol Police and the FBI for hours after the incident with the intruder, and Senator Carson had told him to take the next day off. Having a lazy day at home was terrific, but it also meant that he was behind in his work when he returned to the office, so he’d had to stay late to catch up. Brad was putting the finishing touches on a memo when Senator Carson appeared in his doorway. Lucas Sharp was standing beside him.
“Good, I’m glad I caught you before you left,” Carson said. “You live near here, don’t you?”
“Just a few blocks.”
“I’ll give you a lift home. It’s too late to be wandering around Capitol Hill alone.”
“I don’t want to be any trouble.”
“Nonsense. I insist.”
Brad was exhausted and grateful for the ride. The trio took the elevator to the garage in silence. Lucas Sharp led the way to a black Lincoln town car. Sharp drove, and the senator sat in front. Brad told Sharp his address just before the car pulled out of the garage. Then he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked at the street signs.
“I think you took a wrong turn,” Brad said. “We’re headed away from my apartment.”
“We’re going to my house first,” Senator Carson said. “There are a few matters Luke and I need to discuss with you.”
Brad wondered why they had to go to the senator’s home to talk. He was also having trouble keeping his eyes open, and he was starving.
“Can this wait until tomorrow, Senator? I’m out on my feet.”
“I wouldn’t ask if this wasn’t really important. I have plenty of guest rooms. You can sleep at my estate when we’re through, or Luke can drive you home.”
“Okay,” Brad said reluctantly. He wanted desperately to head for his apartment, but you don’t say no to a United States senator, especially if he’s your boss. “Let me call my wife to tell her I’ll be late.”
“That’s not necessary,” Sharp said. “We won’t keep you long.”
There was an undercurrent of menace in Sharp’s tone, and suddenly Brad felt uneasy, but he didn’t insist on calling Ginny.
Everyone was quiet during the ride from the Capitol to the Virginia countryside. A little less than an hour after leaving the Capitol, the car parked in front of a white colonial mansion with a portico shaded by an overhang supported by pillars. The estate had reminded Brad of Tara from Gone with the Wind when he’d visited for the staff picnic shortly after he’d started working.
“My wife and the kids are in Oregon, and I’ve given the staff the night off, so we won’t be disturbed,” Carson said when Brad got out of the car.
“What do you want to talk about?” Brad asked nervously.
The senator opened the front door. “I’m interested in how much you know about Jessica Koshani’s connection with Executive Escorts and how you came by the information,” Carson said.
Brad hesitated. “I told you I can’t talk about that, Senator.”
