“Homeland Security was informed of this threat,” Garrison said. “It was up to them to disseminate the information. Not our place to tell local law enforcement directly.”
“But Claudette told you.” Her eyes shifted to Declan.
“It was secondhand information. I had no proof,” he gritted out.
“Still not his place to inform you,” Garrison said. “Depending on how you received it and where you’d gone with the information, you could cause a panic.”
“Do I look like someone who’d go cause a mass panic?” Gabby snarled.
“Gabby, calm down,” Declan said. “Things were just moving too fast.”
“You can say that again,” Bristow mumbled.
Something in the way Garrison and the other man exchanged glances sent a riff of unease up Declan’s spine.
“What exactly is going on?” he asked.
Garrison’s jaw hardened. “It’s our belief that Ortega had ingested the virus.”
“What?” Gabby and Declan exclaimed at the same time.
“He’s infected with Ebola.”
Declan was speeding down the 101 to get to GHD. They all piled into Gabby’s vehicle so everyone could get updated on all fronts. Garrison sat beside him, but he kept his ears peeled to the conversation Gabby was having with her partner on the phone.
“Yes, everyone,” she told Kelso. “Everyone who has ever had contact with Ortega since the raid.”
Bristow was in the backseat with Gabby. They marched … or rather sprinted after her when she raced to her Honda, wanting to get to Division quickly. Declan drove while she made all the calls she needed to make. He found it curious that she let Garrison ride shotgun. She was directly behind Declan’s seat so maybe it made sense. She could talk to the guard at the gate when they got to her building.
“I have no time to explain. I don’t have a lot of information myself. Yes! Thanks.” She hung up and scooted between the console. “Kelso is organizing everyone together and activating the bioterrorism protocol. The SWAT will take care of their own for quarantine. Screw Homeland Security. They can take my badge later. I’m not sitting on this information now that the virus could be out there.
“I’m putting my neck on the line scaring the shit out of everyone at Division, and maybe half of the LAPD leadership,” Gabby said. “I get why this information needed to be handled delicately, but if someone doesn’t explain how Claudette is involved, then you guys better be scrambling for bail money.”
“Ms. Dumont carried the virus into the country,” Garrison said.
“What?” she gasped.
“She had a long clandestine relationship with Ortega behind your father’s back,” he said. “One could say it was a physical and emotional affair, and a business partnership. I don’t have confirmation of any of that.” Garrison glanced at Declan. He didn’t give the CIA officer the details of what Claudette told him, so John had jack shit to tell Gabby. “All we know is that the Z-91 biological weapon was destined for an arms dealer operating in South America. But Ortega reneged on the deal and decided to screw with everyone who’s trying to overthrow him or bring him down.”
“That’s a lot of risk for revenge.”
“He’s a megalomaniac. He wants to do things big and leave an impression.” Disgust colored Garrison’s voice. “Hence, the shopping mall fentanyl attack.”
“Captain Mitchell …” she whispered.
“Yes. I believed their enmity has spanned almost two decades.”
“His son’s friend was a snitch. Ortega found out and killed the captain’s son and friend in a drive by.”
“And since Mitchell couldn’t get to Ortega, he went for his associates and made it difficult for them.” Garrison turned in his seat to look at Gabby. “Mitchell took you in and used your own tragedy to fuel his own vendetta against the crime lord.”
“The Cap may have a personal stake in seeing Ortega off the streets,” Gabby said. “But he’s a fair man. He’s pushed the line sometimes, but Frank sacrificed any promotion due him so he could stay connected to the streets and not sit in a pretty office on the sixth floor, embroiled in politics. He could have been chief of police ten years ago, if he wanted that.”
“Sounds more like a crusade to me—”
“You don’t know him—”
“G, just shut it, okay?” Declan growled. He was also trying to work out how to tell Gabby that her ex-stepmother was in a way responsible for her father’s death, but that would involve divulging the truth about Theo’s parentage. He needed to grab some coffee somewhere, but it looked like the Division’s brew was gonna be it. Knowing now about