Page 25 of Samson

“The Armenian mafia have come to a church in Virginia?” Samson pressed himself back into his seat. “They’ve neveroperated in this area before. Do you have any intelligence from the West Coast?”

“That’s the thing. If it was a bunch of hits ordered on the mafia, I wouldn’t need you. We don’t think they have any intent to move their operation here. What we do know is there was a marriage between the daughter of one of the mafia group to a man here in Virginia.”

“Armenian?”

“No. But suspected of some shady business deals. Art fraud, weapons, and more.”

“That sounds to me like Marc was hired to remove the competition.”

“Except our intel suggests that the hit wasn’t connected to their crime activities.”

“For what then?”

“That’s where the other murders come in. It looks like they’re targeting the church.”

Samson’s stomach tightened. “Armenian Christians?”

“That’s how the puzzle pieces are fitting together.”

“And the reason your evidence is weak?”

“Diplomatic immunity.”

“Are you saying there are people from the Armenian embassy targeting their own people?”

“No. It’s come out of the Turkish embassy.”

Samson shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I told you it’s complicated. And we believe weapons and drugs are being stockpiled for something big. We just don’t know what.”

“You think they’ll attack on U.S. soil? Why aren’t there other agencies involved in this?”

“I’m liaising with them. They thought it would be best for me to connect with you because we have a relationship.”

“Aww, that’s sweet.”

“Yeah, my wife thinks so.”

“I take it you’ve already spoken to a representative at the embassy?”

“Yeah. We’re being stonewalled by the Consul General.”

Samson flipped through the file until he found what he was looking for.

He had to let the name process before he could say it. “Burak Demir?”

“That’s him.”

“Is he making your life difficult for the sake of it, or do you believe he’s involved?”

“Hard to say. He’s very good at keeping his hands clean. He said they’ll investigate themselves and let us know what they find.”

Samson scoffed. “Let me guess, he hasn’t gotten back to you?”

“I know your background. You don’t have any connections inside?”

“My dad’s Armenian, not Turkish.”

---