“Go ahead, Nick. I heard you killed three guys this morning through the grapevine. Do you ever take a day off, partner?”
“It’s worse than missed vacation days, my friend.” Nick explained circumstances and conclusions in short scripted sentences. He included the kingpin’s name of Jahannam and the confirmation of Albanian being spoken by the plotting drug hijackers. “I don’t know Pakistan’s real position with us, but this could also be a simple delivery by a hostile government we suspect of much worse things to say the least. They can always claim they know nothing like when they harbored Osama bin Laden. After you look in to it, give me a call back. I’m free to do whatever it takes on the ground. I don’t know how much leeway the local police will give me to do what should be done if this is a new cell forming already with drug seed money. I’m wondering if this cell was activated the moment we shut down the Isis compound near here.”
Paul had allowed Nick to speak unimpeded to the end, trusting any question Nick knew the answer to would be answered in his delivery. “I will get with you on basic actions within the hour, Nick. I will contact Homeland Security, and bring in the larger FBI forces to work on this. If anyone gives you the slightest problem, call me directly, and tell whoever does it to bend over and kiss their ass goodbye.”
“Thanks, Paul. Will do.”
Nick re-entered the interrogation room. Everyone there gave him their complete attention. “I have been in contact with CIA Director, Paul Gilbrech. He will coordinate forces in the FBI and Homeland Security. We believe this to be another Isis cell activation triggered by the ending of the one in Onalaska. I want to formulate something actionable. When the Director calls me back, I’d like to have a plan if he wants me in on this. First, do the Albanians know your crew by sight, Lisa?”
“No.” Lisa hesitated to say more which Nick recognized as her wondering if she would be labeled a terrorist.
“I have a plan involving you that may get you the suspended sentence you’re praying for. You’ll never get it without helping me, though. You hesitated. Have you met with the Albanians and do you know when this huge shipment they’re talking about comes into port to be trucked through Seattle?”
“I…I was to meet with the Albanians this afternoon with the scores from today and our previous robberies for them to determine if we have enough for the buy-in. What does this plan have to do with me?”
“I’d like you to contact the Albanians. See if they’ll take a meeting with you to look over the loot your crew stole. I and my two associates will accompany you as your crew. I doubt they watch the news so you can refrain from talking about the botched heist with them. I’m certain you weren’t mentioned in anything leaked to the news.”
“Wait one damn minute!” Allen was suddenly upset. “You want Lisa to volunteer as bait to catch terrorists? Are you out of your mind?”
“She doesn’t have to do anything,” Nick replied calmly. “You and your wife seem to think she’ll be able to dance around with popping out a couple names, and get her walking papers with a slap on the wrist. Tell them what’s really behind that door, Detective Donatello.”
“Two to five years, if the judge is lenient,” Tony stated. “No way in hell does Lisa get off with less than that. Armed robberies, dead killers, and a confession as the ringleader means a judge with very little reason for gift giving.”
Liz turned on Lisa immediately. “Don’t do this! We’ll find a way to get through this without you risking death.”
“What way, Mom?” Lisa’s lip trembled, but her eyes were clear. “I’ll have to do prison time… maybe as much as five years. I’ll do anything to stay out of prison. I thought I could handle anything. I was a master criminal on my way to a big score with no one the wiser. Now, Lou and my other friends are dead because of me. My score was with terrorists, and I’m going to prison. Count me in. I’ll do anything you want, Marshal.”
Nick waved off Allen as he began another vocal objection. “Lisa’s made her choice. I’ll keep her safe. I believe we can get her the slap on the wrist instead of prison. One item is very important from this moment on – not one word about anything said in this room. If I get permission to intervene in this, Lisa leaves with me. You and Liz will go home and wait without saying another word to anyone. You will endanger your daughter if you do not do exactly what I say.”
While his audience mulled over what he said, Nick’s phone buzzed. He walked out of the room to take the call. “Hi, Paul.”