Mark Young - Off the grid

Gerrit glanced at the screen. “The lab in Albuquerque is down. Kane and Collette are dead. Who do you think might be communicating right now? And with whom?”

Willy glanced up. “I’m sure they have more labs than the ones we know about. And we know Kane was just one of the cogs in a bigger wheel.”

“That makes sense.” Gerrit nodded, thinking of the events over the last few days. “So what do you hope to show us now?”

“One of the cool things about this Megiddo program is that it monitors not only its identified enemies, but its own people. For example, I can access Megiddo and check on who Kane came in contact with-by computer and cell phone-before you showed up here. Check out these links.”

Gerrit and the others gathered around, trying to decipher what the program spit back. “What is this here, Willy?” He pointed to a date and time-stamped entry just before Kane knew they were near the lab.

Willy clicked on the link and expanded the field so they could read the code. “Someone in the D.C. area contacted Kane through their encrypted program. Unfortunately for them, Megiddo knows how to unscramble this. Here is the cell phone tower the phone used to bounce its signal our way.”

Beck placed a hand on Gerrit’s shoulder. “If we can get that cell phone number, maybe we can track down who used it.”

“Look at this.” Willy leaned over the computer and clicked on another link. “Hours before you guys hit this place, Kane called this number somewhere in the Seattle area.” He minimized that screen, opening up another showing the unidentified Seattle number and calls sent and received from that phone. “And then just a while ago, that same Seattle number received a call from the person in D.C. who had been in contact with Kane.”

“Get the cell numbers and tower locations as quick as you can, Willy. I will have my people run this down. We should be able to know who is using both those phones.” For the first time since they landed, Beck sounded excited.

Willy started to shut down the program, but Gerrit stopped him. “Do one more thing for me. Take that Seattle number and check its call history. Can you retrieve data going back a few years?”

“Sure, Mr. G. If it was stored, I can retrieve it. What are you looking for?”

Gerrit swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. He recognized the phone number in Seattle. “Check around the time my folks were killed. Then check that same phone used around the time my houseboat blew up and Mark Taylor and Marilynn were killed.”

Willy bent over the laptop, his fingers flying over the keys. “Like I said, this Megiddo program is sweet, but my daemon program is all aces. I’ve narrowed the scope by date and time. Here, on one screen I’ll summarize these calls around the time your folks…” Willy stopped, looking up at Gerrit. “Sorry, Mr. G.”

“No problem, Willy. Just isolate both time periods and let me take a look at what you come up with.”

Willy finished setting up the screens and stepped away, allowing Gerrit access to the keyboard. “Here you go.”

Beck moved back as Alena moved closer, her body brushing against his. “Can I see, Gerrit?”

He glanced up and saw her face, taut and determined. “Sure, come in closer if you like.”

She leaned over his shoulder. “Thanks. I need to know almost as much as you.”

Gerrit nodded, turning his attention back to the screen. He scrolled down until he came to a series of numbers dialed during the time his parents were killed. His face heated as anger built deep inside. He minimized that screen and began to study the calls around the time his home was destroyed.

He tightened his jaw, clenching his hand into a fist. “Beck, I need a lift back to Seattle. And send word to Joe I know who killed my folks. Now, I’m going to get some answers.”

Beck hesitated. “Gerrit, let me do my job. I can bring this suspect in the right way. Who is it?”

“Forget it, Malloy.” Gerrit glared at him. “Your people won’t get anywhere near this person. Too protected, and he’ll wind up dead before you ever find out what he has to say. Let me do it my way.”

Alena grasped his arm. “Let me come with you.”

He shook his head, taking her hand in his. “Not this time. I need to do this alone, face-to-face. Otherwise, I’ll never get the truth.”

She sighed. “Be careful.” Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek. Her kiss seemed to soften the anger he felt building inside, at least for a moment.

He glanced at Beck. “I promise you I will do everything in my power to bring this person in. Trust me.”

Beck frowned as he studied Gerrit. “Okay, but we’ll be nearby as backup. Just in case.”

“Bring a coroner if things go sideways.” Gerrit looked back at the computer screen one last time. “If he so much as twitches the wrong way, I’m putting him down-for good.”

Beck grimaced. “That doesn’t exactly inspire trust.”

Gerrit shrugged. “It won’t be up to me, Malloy. It’ll be his call.” Just give me an excuse. His gaze met the agent’s, and he knew Malloy could read his mind.

Beck walked away without saying a word.

Seattle, Washington

All the tiredness in his body seemed to slip away after Stuart’s call. His mind whirled with possibilities as he trudged up a moss-covered walkway leading to his house. The modest, single-story residence was all his ex-wife left after the divorce, after he refinanced and bought out her share. She would get half his pension upon retirement and already squandered all their savings as well as receiving full custody of the children.

His last child-support payment would end next summer when the youngest turned eighteen. However, alimony to his ex would continue until the day he died or she found a new husband who might be able to afford her expensive tastes.

That was all right. The call from Stuart tonight meant his future was about to drastically change. No more bargain-basement suits. No more cars older than his dad. No more meals at budget diners, or cold TV dinners in front of the television. He was about to take a sweet ride into the big time.

Travel. Money. Prestige.

All this from one single phone call telling him he would become Kane’s replacement. Kane made one fatal mistake tonight. And even if he had escaped that lab, Stuart was sure to end Kane’s life.

Such mistakes were not tolerated by Stuart and his people. A sobering thought he would take into account in his new life. In fact, he had taken care of some of the bodies after Stuart exacted punishment.

Dawn was only a few hours away. He’d slip inside, get a few hours’ sleep, and then start planning for his new future. The first thing would be to dump this house. He unlocked and opened the door, then stepped inside and threw his coat on the rack near the doorway. He flicked on the light and turned to walk into the living room.

“Lieutenant Stan Cromwell. Your career ends tonight.”

Stan whirled around and started to reach for his weapon.

Gerrit O’Rourke leveled his. 40 S amp;W at Stan’s chest. “Go ahead. Make a move. I always wanted to waste the man who killed my parents.”

He froze and held out his hands. “Gerrit, my boy. Always too smart for your own good.”

Gerrit rose from the chair. “And you’re a dirty cop. Sold your badge for a few pieces of silver.”

Stan caught the fury in Gerrit’s eyes. All the excitement and hope he felt-after talking with Stuart about the future-just blew up in his face. Gerrit wouldn’t let him leave this house alive.

The moment Cromwell came through the door, Gerrit knew it would be a battle to keep his promise to Beck. All he wanted to do right now was put a bullet into this man’s skull. To end this killer’s existence.