Read Online An Armageddon Duology by Erec Stebbins - Free Book Online
Authors: Erec Stebbins
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crews worked with investigators combing the remainder of the vessel. A sharply dressed man, attired in a suit, with black hair and a French nose walked up to the FBI agents.
“JP,” said Savas. “What do we have?”
Rideout squinted in the light of the rising sun. “Well, this is big league forensics. Half the evidence is at the bottom of the harbor. But from what we’ve found and working with witnesses on shore and in other boats who saw the explosion, we’re talking about multiple detonations spaced a few seconds apart. Odd for a bomb planted on the boat, but there you go. The fireball was hot enough that we can assume synthetics and a big payload. But it will take some time to analyze the residue and debris.” He indicated a small boat pulling out nearby. “We’re still relocating the bodies, the remains. It will take some time to identify them all. In some cases DNA matching might be the only way—there isn’t much left to go on. NYPD and several university labs with the required equipment are pitching in. Avram threw a big party.”
Savas shook his head. “Grim work.”
Cohen shuddered and rubbed her hands together in the morning chill. “You said multiple blasts. Could it have been explosives delivered externally?”
Rideout nodded. “Drone idea again? I think it’s likely. Missiles are out, as crazy as it is to even say something like that. Avram had a pretty sophisticated radar system that not only detected incoming birds but automatically would send the data out encrypted on military and police frequencies. I guess he had some issues, but the fact is that the boat didn’t squeak last night. But I don’t think it could pick up fliers as small as many drones. They’d be invisible to the radar.”
“I guess he didn’t modernize his paranoia,” said Cohen. “Who would have thought to protect their assets from drone strikes?”
“Why aren’t there more agents here?” asked Savas, glancing around the dock.
“It’s a bit chaotic,” said Rideout, “and you’ve been in transit for the last two days. Commands from on high have all agencies scrambling to put bodies on people and places. The Bureau is like a ghost ship, if you’ll excuse the juxtaposition.”
Cohen turned to Savas. “It’s all been in the last twelve hours. The kidnappings and killings have a lot of powerful people very frightened. Pressure is being put on all governmental and state agencies to secure them. Favors are being called in. People are starting to panic.”
Savas nodded. “Should have seen it coming. You’ll have to excuse me—I’m running on about negative three hours of sleep. Hopefully I can get some shuteye soon, that is if nothing else goes FUBAR in the next few hours.”
His cell rang.
Rideout and Cohen stared at him. He just sighed. “Here we go.” He tapped the screen and placed the phone to his ear. “Hi, Angel. What blew up now?”
BEFORE:
THE ANONYMOUS EVENT COMMISSION
DEPOSITION IN THE MATTER OF:
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES SPECIAL TRIBUNAL, Plaintiff,
versus
JOHN SAVAS, Defendant
Case No. M120039E-007X
Continued DEPOSITION OF:
Jean Paul Rideout
M R. RIDEOUT : John had just flown back. He and Rebecca met me at the dock and we got our first look at the boat. What remained of it.
[ R EDACTED ]: Is this when Agent Lightfoote became involved in the investigation?
MR. RIDEOUT: Angel? No.
[REDACTED]: Statements from other members of your division state that she was.
MR. RIDEOUT: Why would she be involved in the bombing case? She was cybercrimes.
C BD : But she called at the dock? We have cell phone records and the testimony of Agent Cohen.
MR. RIDEOUT: Yeah, she called. So what? The virus was completely unknown to us at that point. Angel didn't know why they were calling. She took the call and passed the message on to John.
C BD : Is that normal?
MR. RIDEOUT: NSA called. She's cybercrimes. What's the mystery?
C BD : But Savas took her along with him to the meeting?
MR.
“JP,” said Savas. “What do we have?”
Rideout squinted in the light of the rising sun. “Well, this is big league forensics. Half the evidence is at the bottom of the harbor. But from what we’ve found and working with witnesses on shore and in other boats who saw the explosion, we’re talking about multiple detonations spaced a few seconds apart. Odd for a bomb planted on the boat, but there you go. The fireball was hot enough that we can assume synthetics and a big payload. But it will take some time to analyze the residue and debris.” He indicated a small boat pulling out nearby. “We’re still relocating the bodies, the remains. It will take some time to identify them all. In some cases DNA matching might be the only way—there isn’t much left to go on. NYPD and several university labs with the required equipment are pitching in. Avram threw a big party.”
Savas shook his head. “Grim work.”
Cohen shuddered and rubbed her hands together in the morning chill. “You said multiple blasts. Could it have been explosives delivered externally?”
Rideout nodded. “Drone idea again? I think it’s likely. Missiles are out, as crazy as it is to even say something like that. Avram had a pretty sophisticated radar system that not only detected incoming birds but automatically would send the data out encrypted on military and police frequencies. I guess he had some issues, but the fact is that the boat didn’t squeak last night. But I don’t think it could pick up fliers as small as many drones. They’d be invisible to the radar.”
“I guess he didn’t modernize his paranoia,” said Cohen. “Who would have thought to protect their assets from drone strikes?”
“Why aren’t there more agents here?” asked Savas, glancing around the dock.
“It’s a bit chaotic,” said Rideout, “and you’ve been in transit for the last two days. Commands from on high have all agencies scrambling to put bodies on people and places. The Bureau is like a ghost ship, if you’ll excuse the juxtaposition.”
Cohen turned to Savas. “It’s all been in the last twelve hours. The kidnappings and killings have a lot of powerful people very frightened. Pressure is being put on all governmental and state agencies to secure them. Favors are being called in. People are starting to panic.”
Savas nodded. “Should have seen it coming. You’ll have to excuse me—I’m running on about negative three hours of sleep. Hopefully I can get some shuteye soon, that is if nothing else goes FUBAR in the next few hours.”
His cell rang.
Rideout and Cohen stared at him. He just sighed. “Here we go.” He tapped the screen and placed the phone to his ear. “Hi, Angel. What blew up now?”
BEFORE:
THE ANONYMOUS EVENT COMMISSION
DEPOSITION IN THE MATTER OF:
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES SPECIAL TRIBUNAL, Plaintiff,
versus
JOHN SAVAS, Defendant
Case No. M120039E-007X
Continued DEPOSITION OF:
Jean Paul Rideout
M R. RIDEOUT : John had just flown back. He and Rebecca met me at the dock and we got our first look at the boat. What remained of it.
[ R EDACTED ]: Is this when Agent Lightfoote became involved in the investigation?
MR. RIDEOUT: Angel? No.
[REDACTED]: Statements from other members of your division state that she was.
MR. RIDEOUT: Why would she be involved in the bombing case? She was cybercrimes.
C BD : But she called at the dock? We have cell phone records and the testimony of Agent Cohen.
MR. RIDEOUT: Yeah, she called. So what? The virus was completely unknown to us at that point. Angel didn't know why they were calling. She took the call and passed the message on to John.
C BD : Is that normal?
MR. RIDEOUT: NSA called. She's cybercrimes. What's the mystery?
C BD : But Savas took her along with him to the meeting?
MR.
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