Read Online Retribution (9781429922593) by David Hagberg - Free Book Online

home. Your embassy has made the arrangements.”
    â€œThere’ll at least be a coroner’s inquest,” Pete said. “And Captain Weisse has told me that he is willing to share his file on the Schlueter woman.”
    â€œThe Black October Revolution and its aims are of no concern to this agency at this time.”
    â€œFor Christ’s sake, Marty, one of their people killed several U.S. citizens, including a decorated war hero—and we’re not interested?”
    â€œNaval intelligence has been notified, and they are on the case as well, though it’s my understanding that Barnes was no longer on active duty. Captain Weisse will be deposed at home, and that comes directly from his Colonel Mueller.”
    Pete suddenly realized that Bambridge was frightened. She almost called him out but thought better of it. Someone above him, either the DCI himself or Robert Bensen, the deputy director, had given the order to back off, and Marty was a team player to the end. He followed orders even if they stank.
    â€œOkay, Marty, you want us to drop it, we will.”
    Otto was clearly surprised.
    â€œThe situation is being handled,” Bambridge. “Is there anything else that I need to know at this time?”
    â€œNo,” Pete said, and they all got up.
    Bambridge shook hands with Weisse. “Give my regards to your colonel. I’m sorry for your agency’s sake that things didn’t work out as you might have hoped they would.”
    â€œThank you, sir,” Wolf said.
    *   *   *
    â€œWhat the hell was that all about?” Otto asked in the elevator on the way down to his office. “The silly bastard was lying out his ass.”
    â€œYou’re damned right he was,” Pete said. “Someone got to him, someone high enough up the food chain to scare him witless.”
    â€œSomeone from across the river? The White House?”
    â€œOr the Pentagon. Someone on the SecDef’s staff.”
    â€œShould I be hearing any of this?” Wolf said. “I’ll have to report it to my boss.”
    â€œYou might as well, because we’re not done with you and your investigation of the Schlueter woman and her group.”
    â€œIsn’t the man we just talked with your boss?”
    â€œYup, but Otto’s going to let his computer programs loose while I go talk to an old friend, who’ll probably contact you at some point.”
    â€œOff the grid?”
    Pete and Otto laughed. “Definitely off the grid.”
    â€œWho’s the old friend?”
    â€œKirk McGarvey. Can you delay going back? I think he’s going to want to talk to you?”
    â€œTwenty-four hours?”
    â€œPlenty of time.”
    â€œI’ll give you my encrypted cell phone number.”
    â€œI already have it,” Otto said.

 
    ELEVEN
    Kirk Cullough McGarvey, Mac to his friends, ran along the river in Georgetown’s Rock Creek Park just at sunrise. He was a man of about fifty, in superb physical condition from years of heavy workouts, long swims, weight training, and fencing at épée with the Annapolis navy team when he was in town. A little under six feet, a little under two hundred pounds, he could still move as gracefully as a ballet dancer if the need arose. Which it often had during a long career with the CIA.
    A few other joggers, some walkers, and other folks on bicycles used the park just about every decent morning, and several of them recognizing McGarvey waved or simply nodded, but he was otherwise occupied, thinking about his wife, Katy, and their daughter, Liz, who had been brutally murdered just a couple of years ago.
    He thought about them every day. But lately he was sometimes having trouble seeing Katy’s face, though her scent was still strong in his mind. And every day, just like this morning, he wanted to lash out, hit back at all the darkness in the world that thought taking lives was the right thing to