local senior living development on Coronado Island. Several of her friends were there and loved it. She could still be independent, but as she needed more care, it could be added on.
While Scot was sorry to see her sell the home he had grown up in, he knew it was time. The best part of the move, though, was how much happier she was in her new place. “All’s well that ends well,” Lara had said. And she had been right. He just wished that they could have gotten to know each other better before Lara had been taken from him.
“I’m sure she understands,” said Gary.
Harvath was going to respond, but stopped as the server returned with a pot of hot coffee and filled all of their mugs.
By the time the man had left the table, Nicholas had changed the subject.
“I’ve got some good news,” he stated. “Gary has done a little digging into what happened down in Key West and—”
“Hold on,” Harvath interrupted. “Gary’s been read into what happened down in Key West?”
“Yes he has. And before you push back, know this. You made your position crystal clear. You didn’t want to run this business. That was fine while Lydia was here, because she was willing to do it. But when she was killed, we had to make new plans. You were MIA, so we did it without you. Gary’s the best person for the job and you know it.”
He did know it, and he couldn’t argue.
“Scot, this has all been moving fast,” said Lawlor. “Nicholas and I have been huddled with Bob McGee since the funerals. Everyone wanted to give you space—including me. But you have to understand, that’s over. The fight’s here and the fight’s now. I said yes to this job because I know that I’m needed and, frankly, because I wanted to work with you again. But all that matters at this point is if you want to work with me. And, of course, if you’re still in the fight.”
Part of Harvath wanted to stand up, walk out, and go back to drinking in Key West, but he couldn’t do that. Lawlor had called him out and no Tier One operator, no American war fighter was ever out of the fight. As long as the country needed them, they would keep going no matter what toll it took.
Even so, Harvath was careful not to knee-jerk himself into a commitment. As much as he loved the Old Man, Carlton had been a master manipulator and had taught him a lot about his gut and people who tried to appeal to him through it.
Instead of answering right away, he circled back to the information Gary uncovered. “What did you find regarding Key West?”
Lawlor removed a folder and slid it across the table. Harvath opened it and, sipping his coffee, scanned the pages as Lawlor narrated.
“The chief in Key West is a graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute, and we happen to know each other. His officers showed up moments after you left. The two heavies you laid out both had outstanding warrants, so after they got some much needed medical attention, they were taken into custody. After our initial conversation, the chief made a call to the Florida Attorney General. In exchange for dropping some low-level beefs, they were able to get the suspects to cooperate.
“The bottom line is that someone they don’t know paid them five hundred bucks to get you outside and beat the crap out of you.”
“After which, I was supposed to get a bullet in the head,” said Harvath.
“They claim to have no knowledge of anything else.”
“But they knew enough to remove their jewelry and buy new long-sleeve shirts and boots in order to help avoid identification.”
Lawlor nodded. “From what the Key West chief says, it wasn’t their first rodeo.”
“How far did the chief get read in?”
“Not far at all. The two goons were still unconscious when the cops got there, so they didn’t see anything. No one but us knows about the would-be shooter.”
It was good intel. Lawlor had come through for them and he had done it quickly.
Harvath turned to Nicholas. “Have we identified the corpse?”
“Not yet,” the little man answered, “but his weapon was pretty interesting. Glock 43. Single stack magazine. Nine-millimeter. It was modified with a switch that stops the slide from cycling. Not only does it make it quieter, but it prevents the brass from being ejected. The suppressor appears to have been 3D-printed. Perfect for a