Measure of Darkness

that, right?”

“By your minions and others,” Naomi says. “Therefore it will already be known that you came to this door and entered this residence.”

“I’m aware of that,” Bevins snaps.

“Perhaps you are here to demand answers. In which case your presence is justified.”

Bevins shakes her head. “An assistant director doesn’t do fieldwork, or conduct interviews out of office, or take statements that can’t be confirmed by another agent. We most certainly do not confide details of an ongoing investigation to a private investigator.”

Naomi cocks her head. “Ah, so that’s the dilemma. You need a reason to be here.”

Bevins, looking miserable, nods.

“Perhaps I refused your request for an interview, but agreed to make a statement to you alone, under my own terms,” Naomi suggests, adding, “I do have that sort of reputation.”

Bevins remains skeptical. “What would be the nature of your statement? What can I take back that would hold up?”

Naomi shrugs. “How about this: we know who abducted Randall Shane and why.”

Bevins appears to be shocked. Some of her poised-to-leap strength seems to weaken. “You do?”

“Certainly. The operation to detain and interrogate Randall Shane was ordered if not directly supervised by Taylor Gatling, Jr., under the aegis of his company, Gatling Security Group, and with, we must assume, the direction and approval of his bosses at the Pentagon or Homeland. The specific agency has not yet been determined by us, but we assume that whoever it is acts under authority of the Patriot Act. Had you waited until tomorrow, this would have been duly reported by Attorney Porter, either to you or to the Agent In Charge.”

Bevins looks thoughtful. “I am the AIC of this particular case,” she points out.

“Which case? The frame Randall Shane case? The missing-child case?”

“The Joseph Keener case. Because of national security, his murder takes precedence over the missing child.”

“Ah,” says Naomi.

“It wasn’t up to me.”

“No, of course it wasn’t,” Naomi says.

“I’m a cog in a very large machine,” Bevins says. “Although that could change tomorrow. Would you really have reported your suspicions about GSG involvement?”

Very carefully Naomi says, “I would never lie about a thing like that. Moreover, I want the FBI involved in the hunt for Joey Keener.”

“So that’s my excuse for being here?”

“Sounds legitimate to me,” says Naomi. “Surely you can make it sound convincing.”

“Maybe I can at that.” The big woman clears her throat. “Can I ask you a favor? Could I get a glass of water?”

Naomi doesn’t have to ask. I leap to my feet and return in flash time with water, ice and glasses for everyone. Teddy had mouthed the words Red Bull as I left the room, but I pretended not to notice, since he’s already shivering from the effects of too much caffeine.

After drinking deeply, Bevins carefully cradles the empty water glass in both hands, as if absorbing the coolness. Apparently resolved to continue, despite whatever legal, moral or personal jeopardy may be involved.

“Just as well you made the Gatling connection,” she begins. “I won’t have to explain that part. You’re familiar with what his company does in the war zone?”

“In general,” Naomi says. “As a private contractor, GSG provides security, interrogation and forward reconnaissance, including target identification. Also heavy involvement in Predator drones, the arming, flight and maintenance thereof. Young Mr. Gatling seems to have a hand in every aspect of the war on terror.”

Bevins nods slowly. “That he does. And that’s where the problem lies. He’s become, shall we say, just a bit too enthusiastic.”

“By enthusiasm, you mean torture.”

Bevins looks surprised. “No, that’s not what I meant. Okay, yes, you’re right, his crews have been accused of taking it too far, the so-called chemical interrogations, but that’s not what I came to tell you about. You already know that part.”

“There’s another part?”

“Oh yes,” Bevins says. “The part where Taylor Gatling goes rogue. The part where he plays God. The part where his powerful friends, many of whom have become rich with his help, have conspired to assist him in his mission, or at least to cover for him when the crap hits the fan.”

That has us all sitting up straight, paying attention.

“What I’m about to tell you is classified. The mere fact that I’m sharing it with you is a crime.”

“Only if someone in this room testified to such,” Naomi says. “I assure you, that’s not going to happen.”

“Okay,” Bevins says. “Here goes. You’re aware that Gatling’s interrogation units were accused of injecting suspects with so-called ‘truth serum’ drugs, correct? That was in the public record. That’s when the so-called Intelligence Committee went into executive session, to hear the rest of the testimony. The minutes of that meeting have been heavily redacted, but I was able to look at the original testimony. GSG actions go way beyond chemical interrogations. On more than one occasion his civilian crews have targeted suspected terrorists without authorization. They have launched Predator missiles, Hellfire missiles and taken out targets on their own. This is clear from the testimony. For months Gatling had been complaining to his Pentagon superiors that the CIA, which has the authority to order assassination strikes, had frequently refused to do so because they didn’t trust some of the targets identified by Gatling’s men. Thought they were being overenthusiastic, IDing every tribal leader with a beard as al Qaeda. Gatling disagreed, vehemently. He’s one of the righteous, a true patriot, and they’re a bunch of CIA wimps afraid to pull the trigger, defend their own country, even if it does mean the occasional wedding party gets blown to smithereens, or a school is mistakenly targeted, both of which happened. You get the picture? Taylor Gatling is running his own private war. He has the men, he has the ability to deliver death from the air and he has used it. This is well-known within the Pentagon, but if you think that means Gatling is about to be prosecuted or his contracts canceled, you would be wrong.”

“Because of the retired generals, the ones who invested in Gatling Security Group.”

“Exactly, and a number of lower-ranking officers, all of whom covet high-paying jobs with GSG when they retire or resign. Which means they’re willing to provide cover by retroactively approving Gatling’s targets. Covering both his ass and theirs. Pretending it was all a mistake, the authorization got lost in the paperwork. The Intelligence Sub-Committee has so far done nothing about it, and if we’re waiting for them to grow balls, we could be waiting forever. It’s far easier, and less dangerous politically, to look the other way.”

“It has ever been thus,” Naomi points out. “But what has this to do with Professor Keener?”

Bevins gives boss lady a steely look, as if daring her to make the connection. “Nothing, directly. But something else came up before the committee, in secret testimony. Something very instructive, if you know enough to pay attention. There was a question about GSG’s involvement in unauthorized domestic surveillance.”

“QuantaGate.”

“Yes. QuantaGate, and specifically Professor Keener. That push to have the FBI investigate Keener? It came from Gatling himself. And when the Bureau reported finding no evidence of espionage, Mr. Gatling apparently decided to take matters into his own hands. He had become convinced that Keener was, indeed, passing secrets to the Chinese, and initiated what he called ‘countermeasures.’ He claims, and the committee apparently believes him, that the so-called countermeasures were nothing more than surveillance, as authorized by the Patriot Act.”

“But you don’t believe that.”

“Someone targeted Keener for assassination. It could have been Gatling.”

“And he framed Shane at the same time, as revenge for testifying against his father?”

Bevins shrugs her agreement. “Two birds with one stone.”

“This all makes sense,” Naomi says. “It fits the facts as we know them. But one thing I don’t understand, one thing that haunts me: If Gatling knew he was going to have Keener taken out, to prevent him passing secrets, why kidnap the boy at all? Why take Joey Keener?”

Bevins has a strange look on her face. The same look people get just before they’re going to be sick. “I was