The Templar Reprisals (The Best Thrillers Book 3) Read online

  “Coupling us up isn’t much of a disguise,” Evart said. “This car screams government issue.”

  “In a city clogged with government issue vehicles,” Wilson answered.

  “Point taken,” Evarts said.

  He admired their professionalism. Wilson had had him slide in behind the driver so one of their protective detail sat to either side of the car. The driver drove in an orderly fashion that wouldn’t arose attention, and both kept sweeping their eyes in every direction. Evarts wondered how they were armed. Evarts felt something on the floorboard and moved his heel around until he could confirm that there was a rifle tucked against the seat.

  “Yes sir, that’s an M-4,” Wilson said. “Just a precaution.”

  “I’ll bet you’re proficient with it,” Evarts said.

  “I have a Silver EIC Badge,” Wilson said matter-of-factly.

  Impressed, Evarts whistled. The Silver Excellence in Competition badge was the second highest competitive marksmanship award. The sergeant knew how to handle weapons. He hoped she would never need to demonstrate her skill.

  “Are you expecting trouble?” Baldwin asked over her shoulder.

  “No, but that doesn’t mean we should let down our guard,” Wilson answered.

  Baldwin turned in her seat to look at Wilson. “Are you going to introduce our driver?”

  “No,” Wilson said.

  They rode in silence for the remainder of the half hour drive. Before they arrived, Wilson said she would exit first while they remained in the car until she instructed them to get out. They were to go directly into the restaurant looking unrushed but without dalliance.

  The arrival went without a hitch and Wilson led them to a table in the far back already occupied by O’Brian. Wilson slid in beside him. Evarts looked around. The immediate tables were empty. He spotted watchers at the first occupied tables toward the door, evidently to create a buffer between their party and the regular customers. The Oak Steakhouse was expensive, but this meal which had evidently requisitioned the entire back of the restaurant would put their normal prices to shame.

  Evarts nodded toward Wilson. “Are you sure you want her here?”

  “Why? Are you planning on using foul language?”

  “I might,” Baldwin interjected.

  After a laugh, Evarts said, “You know what I mean.”

  O’Brian said, “She has the required security clearance and she’s been read in. She stays.”

  Things must be bad, Evarts thought. Instead of an intelligence officer, O’Brian decided to rely on family. So be it.

  “We’re starving, so let’s eat dinner before getting down to business,” Evarts suggested.

  “Considering last time, that sounds like a terrific idea.”

  The food was excellent and the meal congenial. Wilson acted like a daughter-in-law rather than a sergeant first class, and Baldwin kept her profanity to a minimum.

  After they were served after dinner drinks, Evarts asked, “Who is Jim Lewis?”

  “Testing me immediately?” O’Brian asked.

  “I told you he was the price of admission to our confab.”

  “You did,” O’Brian said. “His real name is Jeffery Methow. A high-powered New York attorney. He’s a trust baby with piles of cash. Schooled at Harvard. No military service. A supposed third-degree freemason, but he’s an admitted Templar. If this meeting goes well, I’ll tell you more.”

  “Fair enough. How dangerous is the Templar infiltration of the Army?”

  “That’s an odd way to open discussion,” O’Brian said.

  “I figure it has to be pretty serious for you to give us up to the Templars.”

  Nonplussed, O’Brian asked evenly, “What are you accusing me of?”

  “I’m accusing you of surreptitiously revealing our identity to the Templars so I could help you rout out their presence in the Army. The Templars then leaked our identities to the terrorists to bring them into the open so they could bloody their feud. I blamed the Templars for setting us up as bait, but you committed the original sin.”

  “You’re wrong, on many counts” O’Brian said. “Starting with my motivation, my goal is not to rid the Army of Templars.” He paused dramatically. “I’ve been tasked with purging them from the entire national government.”

  Chapter 40

  Baldwin sat straighter. “Are you saying these wannabe medieval knights have infiltrated the entire government? That’s ridiculous. Lewis, or Methow or whatever, said there were well under a thousand Templars Knights. And the ones we ran into sure weren’t supermen. Besides, they seemed focused on eliminating a group called the Ikhwan. Terrorists. Terrorists who want to kill the lot of us. You have your sights on the wrong secret society. Listen, the Templars even committed suicide rather than harm police. You put our lives at risk to eradicate a bunch of delusional people with a disreputable, but quite understandable agenda.”

  “Are you through?” O’Brian asked evenly.

  “Not even started.”

  Since Baldwin added nothing more, O’Brian started speaking again.

  “I didn’t leak your identities to the Templars … but someone in my office did. Yes, I have a Templar spy in my department, and I need to expose the mole. Not because I have my sights on the wrong party, but because the Templars have compromised three operations. They’re too damn eager to charge in. They get wind of what Army Intelligence is doing, but they don’t have the whole picture due to compartmentalization. They wreck everything we plan. I need to expose these vigilantes so my operations can proceed without interference.” O’Brian gave each in turn a hard look. “My priorities are correct. Get rid of the Templars so we can make headway against the Ikhwan. By the way, congratulations on getting the name of the group.”

  Evarts thought a moment before speaking. “General, now that you have identified the mole, what are you going to do?”

  “What makes you think I’ve identified the mole?”

  “Because the Templars didn’t compromise three operations; they compromised two. The third was a trap that they sprung on themselves. You leaked our names to your top suspect and your top suspect only. When the Templars later leaked our identities to the Ikhwan, you had your man.”

  The table became quiet.

  O’Brian eventually broke the silence. “Guilty. The two of you presented the perfect opportunity. The Templars would want to know the identity of the couple that helped them take down an Ikhwan-sponsored terror operation. But I didn’t know they would use you as bait. I assumed they would try to recruit a capable mason into their fold. I apologize.”

  “For what?” Baldwin demanded. “For using us without our permission. For the attacks on our lives. For not explaining fully after the first attack. What exactly are you apologizing for?”

  “I understand you’re angry, but—”

  “You’re damn right I’m angry.” Baldwin nodded toward his daughter-in-law. “How would you feel if someone used Diane for a similar operation. She’s trained but without forewarning, she’d be a sitting duck. How would you feel then? Angry? Perhaps rip roaring angry?”

  O’Brian traded glances with Wilson. She gave him a reassuring smile. Evarts understood his wife’s ploy to get O’Brian to feel remorse, but Wilson was a soldier. Soldiers were put in harm’s way by generals all the time. It came with the job. Still, O’Brian’s response surprised him.

  “You’re absolutely correct. It was a rotten thing to do. I sincerely apologize. I especially regret not telling your husband all about it the first time we met. I had just discovered my mole and was too excited to think clearly about the predicament I had put you both in.”

  Evarts knew the level of effort that took for O’Brian. Generals never apologized and remorse went against every fiber of O’Brian’s character.

  “Aw, hell,” Evarts moaned.

  “What? What is it?” Baldwin asked.

  “He still needs us,” Evarts exclaimed.

  Baldwin gave O’Brian a hard lo
ok. “You ass. You apologized just so you could recruit us for more of your intrigues?”

  “Your husband is overly suspicious,” O’Brian said.

  “Am I? If that’s the case, we’ll be on our way. Adios.”

  Evarts stood in preparation to leave.

  O’Brian stood as well. “Diane, could you see Greg and Patricia back to their hotel.”

  O’Brian extended his hand. “I’m sorry to have put you through this.”

  Evarts liked O’Brian. In a similar situation, he wasn’t certain what he would have done different. How much pressure was on him to eliminate his mole? Outside pressure wouldn’t have mattered, O’Brian was incapable of abiding the situation. He would have done anything to reveal the mole’s identity. In fact, he did do something unethical. He had drawn a civilian into a military intelligence operation.

  Evarts started to reach out but stopped just short of grasping the proffered hand.

  “The Ikhwan has a million-dollar bounty on our heads. You can’t do anything about that can you?”

  “With the Templars contained, I can focus resources on the Ikhwan. I promise you we’ll raise havoc with them and with any luck, they’ll have bigger worries than continuing to pursue you.”

  “That’s pretty weak,” Evarts said. “I understand they have substantial cash reserves and leaving the reward in place requires no additional effort.”

  “Let me think on it a day. I’ll get back to you.”

  Baldwin said, “Greg, I think we need to go public.”

  “That won’t do any good,” O’Brian said. “The Ikhwan won’t believe a press release or an interview. They’ll assume it’s a disinformation op. They need to get word from a source they trust that you two are bystanders. Please, give me a day. I’ll figure something out.”

  “Maybe the French?” Evarts suggested.

  “Perhaps, but I’m thinking something more to the point. We need to discredit the leak that you’re a muckety-muck in the Templar Knights. That’s the only way to get them off your scent. Like I said, give me a day.”

  “Very well,” Evarts said. He shook General James O’Brian’s hand. “Sergeant, I believe our evening is over. I’ll accept that ride back to the Watergate.”

  Wilson nodded and slid out from behind the table. As she stood, her face took on a startled expression. Her eyes unfocused as she listened to her earpiece. Her demeanor caused Evarts to swing toward the entrance. The other bodyguards simultaneously leaped to their feet, all eyes on the general, not the restaurant entrance. When Everts returned his gaze to O’Brian, the general was pulling a phone from his pocket. O’Brian listened and made affirmative grunts while Wilson made a call to order their cars to pull around front. She used a code word that Evarts guessed meant there was an emergency.

  What the hell was happening?

  O’Brian ended the call.

  “We need to leave now,” O’Brian said, more animated than usual. “Someone just blew up the Capitol Hill Club.”

  Chapter 41

  In a heartbeat, the entire back of the restaurant surged toward the entrance. Evarts grabbed Baldwin’s hand to pull her along but soon felt someone’s flat hand pushing them from behind. He glanced. It was Wilson hurrying them along. They couldn’t run any faster than the people in front. Automatic short-barreled rifles magically appeared, telling Evarts that these men and women were Army assigned to protect O’Brian. The screech of rubber against asphalt meant that cars had come in fast and slammed on their brakes to stop at the front of the restaurant.

  As they cleared the restaurant, Evarts turned to O’Brian. “Let Trish and I go with you.”

  “No. Go back to the hotel.”

  O’Brian leaped into a ubiquitous black SUV.

  Evarts stuck his head inside, holding the door open, “General, you know I’m a damn good analyst. You owe us for getting us into this mess.”

  “Get in,” he yelled.

  Evarts and Baldwin scrambled into the SUV, and before their backs settled against the seat, the big, heavy vehicle was moving away from the curb at a surprising speed. O’Brian was nodding as he received information through an earpiece.

  At the end, he just said “Copy that.”

  O’Brian turned to Evarts. “I didn’t have time for a discussion out there, but when the two of us get out, my driver will return your wife to the hotel.”

  “No, he won’t,” Baldwin insisted. “Greg and I made a pact that we’d stick together until this is over.”

  “I analyze data; Trish finds it,” Evarts offered. “She an exceptional researcher. You don’t have a better one on your staff.”

  O’Brian looked at each of them in sequence, then just nodded in capitulation.

  Baldwin spoke up, “The Capitol Hill Club’s on First Street. The opposite direction.”

  “We’re going to the Pentagon. Protocol. Others more capable will handle the crime scene. Let’s get a few things straight. I hope you two can offer insights; however, if you’re to accompany me, you follow my rules. I may have to spend considerable time in a secure room. Neither of you may join me. Period. You’re to remain in my outer office, the latrine, or canteen. That’s it. Greg, I know you worked in this building, but don’t wander around. I’ll have someone assigned to escort you.”

  “You mean keep an eye on us.”

  “I mean keep an eye on you. Understand?”

  “Yes,” they both said in unison.

  “Is there a computer with secure access to the internet in your outer office?” Baldwin asked.

  “I can get one. Secure from outside surveillance but my people monitor all devices inside the building.”

  “Good enough,” Baldwin said. “Let’s make the most of these few minutes. We may not see you again for hours. What’s your biggest question?”

  “About this attack, the Templars, or the Ikhwan?” O’Brian asked.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Right now?” He paused to think. “Is the Capitol Hill bombing a terrorist attack; if so, which terrorist group? Don’t assume the Ikhwan. Why the Capitol Hill Club? Is a second attack planned? Probably … so when and where? Are there Ikhwans or surrogates in D.C. and if so, how do we find and eliminate them? How do we find the Ikhwan leadership? How can we use Methow to expose more Templars? That’s off the top of my head. There’ll be more.”

  Evarts asked, “Do you have assets in Jakarta?”

  O’Brian became focused. “Of course.”

  “Methow told us the Ikhwan leadership is there now.” Evarts made a flippant gesture. “It could be disinformation.”

  “Jakarta?” O’Brian paused to think. “Makes sense. Probably in a heavily populated area so we can’t drop a Hellfire on their heads. If we locate them, we’ll need a Delta team on the ground.”

  “Methow also said they move every three months, and he had no idea how long they had been in Jakarta. One more thing, he said there’s backup leadership in another geographic area and the Templars have no fix on that group.”

  “Let me think.” O’Brian took a moment, then keyed a text message on his secure phone. When he finished, he said, “What else did you learn in Methow’s debrief?”

  “Trish?” Evarts said.

  “The leadership of the Ikhwan is a triumvirate, a caliph and two advisors. The caliph assumes the name of the Prophet. Second in command is the top guy in the backup team. Meaning—”

  “Meaning if we take out the leadership, they can seamlessly continue operations,” O’Brian interrupted. After a moment. “That may be a weakness.”

  Evarts nodded. “To assume immediate command, there must be a communication link between the two triumvirates.”

  O’Brian was about to pull out his phone again but saw they were pulling into the Pentagon.

  “Anything else. Quick,” he said.

  Baldwin spoke rapidly. “Methow said they usually headquarter in Muslim countries, but not always. The Ikhwan money trail is too complicated for now, I’ll write a report.”<
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  O’Brian got out of the vehicle and stuck his head back in. “I’m extremely interested in Ikhwan finances. Very. How long for the report?”

  “An hour? Rough draft?”

  “I’ll be back in an hour. You two wait here for an escort.”

  O’Brien looked at the two men in the front seat and got a nod from each of them to confirm they had heard the message to his guest passengers. O’Brian slammed the door and Evarts heard locks engage. As O’Brian raced into the building, he pulled out his phone.

  In less than two minutes, Wilson opened the door. “I guess I’m your minder. Come along.”

  As Evarts exited the SUV, he saw her government-issue car parked behind the escort vehicle. Wilson had trailed them the whole way.

  Evarts smiled at Sergeant Wilson. “The general couldn’t have made a better choice.”

  “He could’ve made several better choices. I’ve already worked one and a half shifts.”

  “We’ll try not to be a burden,” Evarts said.

  “You already are. To top it off, I was ordered not to call in one of my MPs to babysit you.”

  Once again, she marched off without looking back.

  “Someone is supposed to get me a computer,” Baldwin yelled after her.

  Wilson took out her phone and ordered an underling to bring a military-issue laptop to General O’Brian’s office. She evidently felt that answered Baldwin query because she hurried on, saying nothing to either of them directly.

  When Evarts caught up, he said, “You’re pissed. Why?”

  “Some assholes blew up two dozen people in my country and I’m assigned to watch a couple of useless civilians because I happen to be related to the general. This is bullshit. I was trained to run to ground these kind of assholes, instead I’m twiddling my thumbs with the two of you.”

  “Were you only trained in field work?” Baldwin asked.

  “That was an impolite question, ma’am.”

  “I presume from your answer that you were taught investigative skills.”

  Wilson stopped and looked hard at Baldwin. “I’m a financial forensics specialist. What’s the purpose of your question?”