Page 146 of State of Retribution

Bingo, Avery thought.

As one agent after another reported their areas were clear of the man they were looking for, Avery relaxed ever so slightly and prepared to send in crime scene and forensics technicians to process the items found.

Avery walked in from the command center and took a look for himself at the 3D printer and the items scattered on the workbenches in the barn.Then he called Jake Malone to report in.“Offenbach was holding his ex-wife and kids in a locked room, and we found Ramsey hog-tied and shot in the leg.”

“Jesus,” Malone said.“Are the wife and kids okay?”

“Waiting on EMS to evaluate them.Ramsey’s lost a lot of blood, but he’s alive.We also found a huge 3D printer that’ll most likely turn out to be the source of the unmarked drones.”

“It’s unbelievable that he’s been doing all this while showing up to work every day and collecting a paycheck from the District.Although, after what we’ve been through around here, nothing should surprise me anymore.”

“This is a pretty sophisticated operation, Jake.If you ask me, he’s been planning this since the day Sam caught him where he wasn’t supposed to be.”

“Seems that way.”

“What do you think went down with Ramsey?”

“He probably stopped being useful to Offenbach, who’s the mastermind.Ramsey isn’t smart enough to pull off something like this.What’s the next step in finding Offenbach?”

“We’ll talk to the ex-wife and hopefully get some insight from Ramsey.I’ll keep you posted.And we’ll coordinate any release of information with your team.”

“Thanks, Avery.”

“You got it.”

Jake calledeveryone into the conference room for an update.In addition to the Homicide squad, the chief, deputy chief and the other captains had been asked to attend as he brought them up to speed on what’d transpired at Offenbach’s property.

“God, he had his wife and kids out there?”Sam asked.“How had we not heard anything about them being missing?”

“Maybe because no one had noticed yet.”

“Wouldn’t the schools be looking for them?”Cruz asked.

“They’re homeschooled,” SWAT Commander Nicholson said.“Offenbach was adamant about them not being ‘indoctrinated’ by public education.”

“What the hell does that mean?”Gonzo asked.

“Beats me,” Nicholson said.“But he had a beef about it and insisted his ex-wife teach them from home.She taught elementary school before they were married.”

“We used the pings on his cell to find him in Atlantic City,” Sam said.“Can we do that again to find him now?”

“He won’t have the cell with him,” Nicholson said.“He’d be wise to that after Atlantic City.”

“That’s true,” Sam said.“Does the wife have a cell he might use?”

“That’s a good idea,” Malone said.“I’ll get a warrant for her phone, too.”

“I really want to talk to the wife,” Sam said.“Do you think Avery will let us be part of that?”

“He may let us be part of it,” Farnsworth said, “but you will not be.Too much conflict of interest to have you anywhere near this, Lieutenant.”

“Understood,” she said through gritted teeth, “but someone from here should be allowed to be there when she’s questioned.”

“We’ll send Gonzales and Cruz if Hill is amenable,” Malone said.

A knock on the conference room door preceded Patrol Officer Clare sticking his head in.“Pardon the interruption.Lieutenant, there’s a Ryan Goodman here to see you.He’s demanding the chance to speak with you.”

Sam stood as she frantically tried to remember who he was.Right.The father of Nate Andrews’s wife, Emily.“Demanding, huh?He’s the father-in-law of one of our murder victims.”

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