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“It could be a distraction,” Carter suggested, his voice slightly muffled.
“We need more boots on the ground,” Wright added, “but this is the CIA’s turf. Thought I’d mention it. Homeland Security is reporting more activity along the border-crossing areas. Higher rates of traffic than usual. The Pentagon is also intercepting comms from the Mexican army. Things are heating up fast.”
That wasn’t a good sign. Something told Roth that was precisely why it was being shared with him—the director was revealing the urgency of the situation to him, showing him how badly help was needed.
“Understood. We’re going to get my sons.”
“I know. Godspeed. See you in Quantico,” Wright said, and then Carter ended the call.
They exited the SUV as another one pulled up behind them, and four more special agents got out.
“Agents Benson and Sullivan,” Monica said, introducing the first two. “Agents Donaldson and Stoker. We’re getting your family out.”
There was no sign of trouble. They walked directly to the doors and entered. Monica flashed her badge to the security guard, and they bypassed the metal detector.
“Welcome to the Smithsonian,” the guard said with a courteous nod.
After passing that station, they entered the vast rotunda. Roth gazed up at the huge room, which sectioned several floors above the one where they stood. There were forty or fifty other people milling about, including classroom students on field trips. It was noisy. A huge elephant statue on a pedestal seemed to oversee the chaos.
Roth withdrew his phone and called Jordan again.
“You here?” Jordan asked breathlessly.
“Yup. Where are you guys?” Roth asked, looking around.
“Hall of Fossils, west side of the building,” Jordan said.
“Meet you there,” Roth said. He motioned for Monica to follow and headed toward the Hall of Fossils, which had a spiral decoration on the entrance that said “Journey through Deep Time.” They passed a bench with a bronze statue of Darwin sitting on it. Two of the agents waited at the opening. Another two went inside with them and fanned out immediately.
It took him a frantic moment to find Jordan and the twins, but he finally spotted them by a display of the extinction meteor that had killed off the dinosaurs. The boys were wearing hats instead of their usual hoodies, and he’d hardly recognized them. Relief flooded his chest, even though the danger was far from over. When he got to them, he hugged them both tightly.
“It’s okay, Dad!” Lucas said. “Jordan’s a pro. He kept us safe.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Roth said urgently. Monica nodded in stern agreement. They all started walking together back to the entrance of the exhibit.
“We’re heading your way,” Monica said through her communications device.
“Do I get to come to Quantico too?” Jordan asked hopefully.
She nodded. “I know army guys aren’t as tough as marines, but you’ll play nice, right?”
“Oh, I’ll play nice,” Jordan said, jutting out his chin.
Roth put his arms around his boys. “Let’s get to the SUV . . .”
There was a man standing at the entrance to the exhibit. He was six and half feet tall, dark haired, dark complexioned, and thick with muscle. The two agents who’d stayed at the entrance both lay on the ground, incapacitated or worse.
The last time Roth had seen this man, he’d been racing after their Uber.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
WASHINGTON, DC
January 10
Monica tapped her comms. “Backup, engage now! Hostile, repeat, hostile!”