Page 27 of Fearless
“Unless they already had a camera of their own and had been watching you,” Harper answers instead. “That was Zurkowski.”
“How do you know?” Savannah asks.
Harper shrugs. “When you date someone for more than a year, you get to know their smile. He’s got a small chip on his right canine. You can’t miss it.”
This is not the time to let jealousy get in the way, but I am jealous. I’m jealous that Harper has dated other men even though she’s almost 30 years old and a grown woman. I’m jealous that she gazed upon Zurkowski’s smile long enough to notice a tiny crack in a tooth. I force the feeling deep into my stomach and focus on what matters.
“If it’s the same guy from earlier, then it explains why he wanted me to get you someplace safe. He still cares about you,” I say, feeling a tinge of bile rise in my throat.
“It doesn’t matter. What I want to know is why he is on that boat stealing twelve vials of uranium. Is he working for my dad or against him?”
Ben mumbles the name Zurkowski over and over again. He snaps his fingers. “Zurkowski! I knew that namerang a bell when I read his file. I crossed paths with him on several ops while I was a ranger. We weren’t in the same Battalion, but we were in the same Regiment at one point. He bled red, white, and blue.”
“Maybe he’s bleeding green now,” Jerry retorts. “Maybe they all are, and Finnegan found out about it.”
“They’re getting away,” Leanna nearly shouts. “I can’t believe they killed those men, and for what? A couple of pounds of uranium at most? How much does a nuclear bomb require, anyway?”
“Between 30 and 40 pounds for a small bomb,” Patrick replies.
“Those tubes weren’t more than six or seven inches long and an inch wide. There couldn’t be enough to make a nuclear weapon,” Leanna says hopefully.
Carter shakes his head and embraces his wife. “I love your optimism, but enriched uranium is dense, and one pound of it takes up less than one and a half cubic inches. If those cylinders are full, then there is more than enough for a small nuclear bomb.”
Leanna holds her stomach and heads for the bathroom. “I think I’m going to throw up.” I don’t blame her. I feel sick to my stomach as well.
I zoom in on one of the men lying on the deck and notice the slow rise and fall of his chest. “Leanna will be happy to know that they didn’t kill the crew. They just tranquilized them.”
Ethan pushes his chair back. “Patrick, I want you to find out where Carlos lives and then send the information to Carter as soon as you can. I want that family on their way up here, stat. Carter, you and Leanna need to pack your bags. If Carlos andhis family agree to help, I want you to escort them. This is too dangerous for a civilian to be involved, and as tough as Leanna is, sheisa civilian. I want her out of harm’s way.”
Carter nods, and his shoulders slump in relief. “On it. If you hadn’t made the suggestion, I was going to. I want Leanna safe regardless of whether or not Carlos and his family agree to help us.”
“Of course. I’ll be sending Dr. Blackstone with any equipment he may need to transport Carlos’ sibling in case there’s an emergency while en route. I’ll also get a safehouse prepped and ready for the family,” Ethan declares.
Harper scrunches her nose and furrows her brows. “I thought we were supposed to be standing down?”
“We are. Sort of,” I tell her. “When Whitman sends his agents and doesn’t find anything on the boat, he’ll still need our help. We’ll give it to him under the condition he allows us to see this through to the end. If he wants the glory, then he can have it. We just want answers and to find your parents.”
Several hours later, the crew wakes up and navigates the boat toward the dock. They’re greeted by four federal agents waiting for them. The young captain of the boat argues about illegal searches but is pushed aside when one of the agents shows him a warrant while the other five agents begin scouring the boat. They come up empty, having no idea that the material has been stolen.
“Where is it?” the agent demands.
“Where’s what?” the young man asks, playing dumb. I’ve got to give the kid credit; he puts on a good show.
“The uranium. We were informed that an illegal transfer of weapons-grade enriched uranium occurred on this vessel.”
The boy shrugs without a care in the world but rubs his neck where the dart had hit him. “If you can find whatever it is you’re looking for, you can have it. My friends and I took the boat out to do some fishing and have a few beers.”
The owner of the resort, a short man with tan, weathered skin, beady eyes, and a hawkish nose, scrutinizes the crew with a hint of disdain. He admonishes them with a nasal and condescending tone. “I should fire each and every one of you. Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone to replace you, and we’re booked solid through the holidays. Lucky you. Consider yourselves on probation. One more step out of line, and I won’t hesitate to let you go. Also, you can kiss your Christmas bonus goodbye.”
Carlos buries his face in his hands. “I needed that bonus to pay for my little brother’s medication.”
The owner sneers. “You should have thought about that before taking my boat out for a joyride. I’ll have my eye on you in the future until you can prove yourselves trustworthy.”
Eventually, the FBI agents let the boys go after tearing the boat apart. The owner does not. He makes the crew clean up the mess and put everything back in its proper place. By the time they are done, the sun is beginning to rise, and there is a knock on our door.
I do a quick check of the outside camera and note two of the agents are standing on the front porch with a laptop in hand. “Mr. Cavenaugh, FBI. Open up,” anagent says while pounding on the door a little harder than before.
I shut off the video feeds to the cameras before opening the door, and they barge inside before I even have a chance to invite them in. Frustrated by the intrusion, I don’t bother to greet them and instead say, “You do not have a warrant to be here, and I allowed you in as a courtesy. Do not walk in here as if you own the place. I assure you, you do not. During my time in the FBI, we treated all agents with respect, both active and retired. For the time being, this is our home. Please treat it as such.”
