That wasn’t a bad idea, but Brodie replied, “Of course not. We just need her to get a fix on this camp. We’ll make sure she gets safely back to Caracas. Then, if I may make a suggestion, it would be very fitting if a Delta Force team finished this business.”
There was silence on the line; then Dombroski said, “That would be fitting.”
Brodie offered, “I would be happy and honored to accompany the team. To represent the CID and make the actual arrest.” He added, “Ms. Taylor would also like to join the operation.”
Taylor wrote on the map, Ms. Taylor would not.
Dombroski said, “I doubt if that’s possible. But your offer is noted.” He added, “If a Special Ops mission is successful in finding Mercer, he will be taken to you and Ms. Taylor—in Colombia, or aboard a U.S. naval vessel—and you will be the arresting officers.”
Brodie had a different plan, but he said, “Thank you, Colonel. I think you and I and Ms. Taylor have worked out a good plan going forward.”
Dombroski didn’t respond to that, but asked, “When does your flight leave?”
“Soon,” Brodie replied.
“Call me from the airport.”
“We will.” Not.
“And call me when you get to your destination.”
“If we have cell service—”
“Colonel Worley gave you a sat phone.”
“He wants it back,” Brodie reminded his boss.
“You will keep what you need.”
“Yes, sir. Also, it goes without saying that Brendan Worley should not be privy to anything we’ve discussed.”
Dombroski thought about that. “He wants you to call him.”
“Colonel, let me be blunt—Ms. Taylor and I do not trust this man.”
“I think the feeling is mutual.”
“Good. We have different agendas. And I’m sure he’d like to hear from you that you have taken his suggestion and relieved your agents of this assignment and ordered us home.”
“I’ll call him.”
“And I’d like to ask a favor. Our driver, Luis, who was with us tonight. He and his family will present themselves at the U.S. Consulate tomorrow morning seeking visas. Brendan Worley needs to be there and attest that Luis has aided the embassy in furthering U.S. interests in Venezuela and has thereby put himself and his family in danger. Mr. Worley needs to request expedited visas, which the consulate will issue on the spot.” He added, “Their bags are already packed.”
“Have you discussed this with Worley?”
“We have. It’s not one of his priorities.”
“Not one of mine either.”
“It could be. I’ve told Luis to book a flight to Dulles, and to make a claim for political asylum on landing. I’ve given him your personal cell number to call.”
“Thanks.”
“When you meet with him, ask him to tell you about conversations he’s overheard while driving embassy people and guests. Specifically ask him about Worley’s conversation with an American named Ted.”
“What does this have to do with our fugitive?”
“I’m still developing this lead.”
“You’re going a little cryptic on me, Brodie. I do not like cryptic.”
“Do me and yourself a favor, Colonel. Twist Worley’s arm to get Luis and his family a visa. This will pay off.”
“It better. Okay… so I’ll twist Worley’s arm, then lie to him about you and Ms. Taylor leaving the country. Anything else I can do for you?”
“Yes, sir. Just trust us to do what has to be done.”
“If I didn’t trust you, Brodie, you wouldn’t even have been given this case.”
“Yes, sir. I know that.”
“Is Ms. Taylor still there?”
She replied, “Yes, sir.”
“You may want to leave the room.”
She hesitated, then replied, “Whatever you have to say to Scott, Colonel, you can say to me.”
“One of the benefits of your junior rank, Ms. Taylor, is that you’re spared the reprimands. But, okay—you can listen to me chew on his ass.” Dombroski paused, then said, “Scott, what you did tonight was beyond reckless. You endangered not only your life, but also Ms. Taylor’s. This is the CID, Mr. Brodie, not the fucking infantry. But if you want to go back to a combat unit, I can arrange that, and your ass will be in Afghanistan before you can spell it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you are not in military intelligence, Mr. Brodie. If there is more to this case than a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, that is not your business. You are a criminal investigator. You are not James Bond, and you are not Rambo. Do you agree, Mr. Brodie?”
“Yes, sir.” He wanted to remind Colonel Dombroski that it was the colonel himself who had brought up the subject of CIA agent Robert Crenshaw’s death in Peshawar. But Dombroski had