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Definitely a dedicated crew. Again, the criminals had tactical training, which was evident to everyone. And the police had already brought Panther Force up to date on that car. It was a fast turnaround because it was an M.O. that the D.C.P.D. had been chasing all over the capital city and was now spreading to Northern Virginia.
Were all the ambush criminals ex-military? Ex-law enforcement?
Impossible to say with their video alone.
It could very well be a street gang that someone trained up.
“We go away to help out Strike Force for one night—one night—and this is what you get yourself up to?” Thorn chided.
“I got bored without you and went looking for a little excitement,” Nutsbe said, checking his phone. “Hard to blame a guy.” It was security calling in.
Nutsbe had interacted with the police on three occasions in less than twenty-four hours, and it didn’t surprise him in the least when the front gate was on the line asking permission to allow Special Agents Kennedy and Finley to head up for a meeting.
They hadn’t even bothered to send a text to see if he was in the building.
Commander Titus Kane tipped his gaze to Thorn. “Automotive brought a new vehicle around to visitor parking, now that Nutsbe made a mess of the last one.” He sent Nutsbe a grin before focusing back on Thorn. “Olivia was going to drive the new vehicle home. Do you want to walk her down?”
“Will do.” Thorn stood and faced Olivia. “Ma’am, it’s been a trying day. I can either get you the keys, or I’d be happy to drive you.”
Sending Thorn a tired smile, Olivia said, “I think my nerves have settled. I won’t inconvenience you. But thank you.” As she followed along behind Thorn, she caught Nutsbe’s gaze. “You’re still able to help me with my car? How about I order takeout for two?”
Olivia had handled everything since he’d met her with an interesting combination of compassion and ice in her veins. Nerves of steel, the kind of woman who would talk about issues without opening teary floodgates, rational and even. It was crazy that she’d been on the other side of his fence for years, and he’d not known it. All that time …
Nutsbe had just watched something similar happen in Estonia where not just the right people lined up, but also the right place right time. It made Nutsbe wonder. Maybe he was just meeting Olivia now because her marriage was about to end. It was a thought that brushed through his mind and vanished.
Right now, both his heart and his head appreciated Olivia Gladstone’s sudden appearance in his life, even with the volatility. “I can’t guarantee what time I can get there.” He waggled his phone. “I’m not sure what my friends are on the way up to talk to me about.”
“Okay then, I’ll see you when I see you.” Olivia looked like there was more she wanted to say, but she rolled her lips in, gave a nod, acknowledged Kennedy and Finley, and followed Thorn into the hall.
Nutsbe stood back as the special agents made their way into the war room.
“That was Olivia Gladstone. She’s a U.S. prosecutor,” Finley said. His focus moved toward the board, scanning down the storyline. “Hell of a day you two had.”
“One for the books,” Nutsbe moved back to his chair. The special agents were familiar enough with the room that they didn’t need special manners.
“Really interesting that she’s been involved in all this.” Deep in thought, Kennedy pulled his brow together as he took his chair.
“You know her, Kennedy?” Titus asked. “You’re Eastern Europe. Why are you finding her presence interesting?”
“Nothing classified.” He sat and considered those words. “Nothing that I’ve been read into anyway. But I’m just back from Germany, and her name came up in passing. I looked her up just last week.”
“In Germany?” Nutsbe asked.
“And interestingly,” Kennedy pulled his ankle over his knee as he settled in, “there was a motorcycle component to why I was invited to that meeting.”
Titus leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. “For clarity, her name was spoken in conjunction with motorcycles?”
“Her name was mentioned—and knowing your clearance levels and professionalism, I’m going to share this with you. I think I might have heard something I wasn’t supposed to know.”
“It stays in this room,” Titus said.
“All right.” Kennedy swiped his fingers down either side of his nose. “Eastern Virginia sat a secret grand jury looking at a possible assassin functioning within the U.S. The DOJ has already been scraping up associates, several of whom have been working as unregistered foreign agents. The extremist organization will be pissed if the prosecutors get the true bill to press formal federal charges. The concern is that once charged, the man will turn State’s evidence and share the terrorist organization’s internal secrets. We know that group is actively trying to thwart that outcome.”
“Olivia said she has a grand jury seated, and she’s unable to talk about it,” Nutsbe said, his arms folded over his chest, his gaze intent. “That information may be accurate and current. How would anyone in Europe have figured it out?”
“Hard to say,” Kennedy drummed his fingers on his knee. “I heard rumors, and I’m repeating the rumors back to you.”
“What has that got to do with motorcycles?” Titus asked.