Holloway leaned back in his chair. “I can give you a little basic information you might not know. The fact is, chemical weapons were never actually used by the United States. But they were stockpiled after World War II at a number of bases. In 1985, Congress ordered the destruction of all the aging munitions.”
“I’m aware,” Bran said.
“The Alamo facility was built to eliminate the weapons stored in underground bunkers on the site. When the project is completed, the depot will be closed.”
“In the meantime, however,” Bran said, “someone was able to gain access and steal an unknown quantity of those weapons—an amount, I’m guessing, that is not a number you would like known to the public.”
The general’s features tightened.
Bran leaned toward him. “The army needs to find out where those munitions have been taken and recover them. We need to prove Colonel Kegan was not involved in the crime. I suggest we work together to our mutual benefit. What do you say, General?”
Holloway’s lips thinned. Clearly he didn’t like being pressed. “Knowing you would be here today, Captain, I took a look at your service record. I know you were Delta, that you were in Afghanistan and God knows how many other places around the globe. You have an impressive list of commendations and medals that rival the best of our soldiers. Before you were injured and left the army, you were clearly a valuable asset to your country.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Here’s what I can tell you. The munitions are normally transported by truck from the bunkers they’re stored in to the destruction facility. In this case, the truck carrying the weapons was diverted, plundered, then put back into service. Its payload was missing and not discovered until several weeks later. That’s all I can tell you.”
“I understand there was a computer glitch,” Jessie said. “That’s the reason the theft wasn’t discovered right away. Clearly someone hacked your inventory system and made changes to cover the disappearance.”
The general’s already straight posture stiffened even more. “Who told you that?”
Jessie just smiled. “Like you, General, there are things I’m not at liberty to say.”
The general rose abruptly from his chair, putting an end to the meeting. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I’m out of time. As I said to you before, Jessie, I’m sorry for your loss. On a personal level, I liked your father very much.”
She and Bran also rose to their feet. “Then you’ll be pleased when his innocence is proven,” Jessie said.
A muscle ticked in Holloway’s cheek. “In regard to the threats against your life...has it occurred to you that whoever stole the weapons might believe your father gave you information about the theft, something they don’t want revealed?”
“Has it occurred to you, General, that the men who are trying to kill me don’t want me to continue my investigation because they don’t want me to find out who actually stole the weapons?”
The general fell silent. His gaze turned to Bran. “I can talk to the provost marshal, see if I can arrange some sort of military protection for Jessie.”
“Since we have no idea who’s trying to kill her or who we can trust, at present it’s not a good idea.”
The general gave a curt nod of agreement. “Perhaps you’re right.”
He spoke to Jessie. “I can’t guarantee how any of this is going to shake out, but I can assure you of one thing—you won’t find a man whose skills make him more capable of protecting you than Captain Garrett.”
“I know,” Jessie said softly.
“Thank you for your time, General,” Bran said. “If there’s anything more you can share with us, I hope you will.”
The general remained stoic as Jessie left the office and walked next to Bran back to the SUV. He hadn’t given them much, but maybe he didn’t know a whole lot more himself. Didn’t mean she was giving up. She was the daughter of a colonel in the US Army. Retreat wasn’t an option.
Jessie sat quietly as Bran pulled out of the parking lot.
“It’s almost noon,” he said. “Let’s get some lunch before we drive down to the depot.”
The facility was an hour southwest on I-25, and Jessie had to admit food sounded good. “I like that idea.”
Using the disposable phone, she got on the internet as they drove out of town. On Tripadvisor, she found a Mexican restaurant called La Fiesta that had a ton of five-star reviews.