Page 135 of To Die For

“As a conduit for Glass. He told me he tried to give them money and other things over the years, but Dwayne Odom hated him and wouldn’t accept any of it. Maybe he came to you for help.”

“As I told you, the quid pro quo with Glass was the dismissal of the RICO charges, Devine,” said Davenport. “Regardless of what happened to those witnesses, that was going to happen. That was the deal. His family mess has nothing to do with us. In fact, I know nothing about it.”

“So why did the FBI take custody of Betsy Odom?”

She replied tersely, “That’s the Bureau’s business. Askthem.”

“I did and got the runaround.”

“Then I would respectfully suggest that you ask again, this time more forcefully.”

Devine studied her stony features while Chambers played with a button on his suit jacket. The thing was, he believed her. And he also believed that whatever the FBI was up to with Betsy Odom, Davenport was not in agreement with. He felt perplexed and uneasy with the thought that the Bureau might be playing him, too.

“What do you want from us?” he finally asked as Campbell nodded.

“We know that you went to Ricketts, Washington,” said Davenport.

Devine perked up at this. “I guess that town is well known to CIA.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Pru Jackson told me that the government owns lots of things, people, and places. And Ricketts has lots of toys it can’t afford. Courtesy of Uncle Sam? Or CIA? And even though I’m sure you’ll deny it, some ofyourgoons kidnapped me and probably would have tortured and then killed me if Pru Jackson hadn’t come to the rescue.”

“And why do you think it was us?” asked Davenport curiously.

“Jackson followed the truck after it picked up the two guys I turned the tables on after they snatched me. She saw them flown outin body bags in a very special helicopter that apparently only DHS and your agency use. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t DHS, so that leaves you. And SPD found a print on one of the shell casings. They ran it through the usual databases, but hit a roadblock on a special database. I’m guessing it’s restricted to members of your agency.”

Davenport shook her head. “Your guess would be wrong, Mr. Devine. Wewerealerted to the print search when it hitthatdatabase. But that database is restricted because it contains the prints of people known to associate with terrorist organizations, both foreign and domestic.”

“So you’re saying you deny access to forensic evidence results sought by the police when they run across really bad guys?” said Devine incredulously. “You just let them walk?”

“In no way do we let themwalk. We monitor them to see if we can catch even bigger fish and learn about their ops and intentions. We also will go back to the police in certain instances and inform them discreetly of who they are dealing with. In this particular case, the print hit was on a man named Albert Russell. He is a known member of 12/24, at an enforcer level. We did not inform the Seattle Police of this because we did not want them to blow up our plan to bring the entire organization down in order to ID one dead bottom feeder’s involvement.”

“And the chopper?” said Devine.

“It was not our chopper and not our people. That sort of aircraft is also used by the other side, Devine. They are incredibly well funded. And contrary to your assertion, Ricketts is notourtown. But itisowned by someone else.”

“Who?” said a startled Devine.

“We believe Ricketts, Washington, to be the unofficial headquarters for 12/24/65,” said Chambers.

CHAPTER

63

DAVENPORT AND CHAMBERS HAD FINISHEDtheir talk with Devine and Campbell and left. Plans were apparently being laid by the feds. Complex and dangerous plans. Which, to Devine’s mind, had little chance of actual success.

A thoroughly frustrated Campbell had eventually gone back to his room, while Devine sat in a chair staring out the window at the Seattle darkness. It was quiet and he needed the solitude to process everything. And Davenport’s advice kept coming back to him:That is the Bureau’s business. Askthem.

Twenty minutes later, certain things had crystallized in his mind. Possible answers to questions that had been troubling him clicked into place. It was like the final few pieces of an exasperating puzzle coming together.

And I made assumptions I shouldn’t have. And now I have to make sure, or as sure as I can be, when everyone keeps lying to me.

He called Campbell and asked the man about some inquiries he said he was going to make.

Campbell said, “Right, Devine, sorry. With everything going on I forgot to fill you in. It will interest you greatly, I think.”

After Campbell finished telling him what he’d uncovered, Devine clicked off and immediately made another call.

---