Page 118 of Facing the Enemy

“Where is her Glock?” I said.

“How would I know? She left her purse here, and I placed it under my desk to keep it safe.”

“You are under arrest for the disappearance and possible assault of a federal agent.”

The officer disappeared into her office and returned with a Glock. “I found this in a drawer.”

“I can explain.” Wright’s flat tone showed she didn’t let the worst of scenarios rattle her.

“Begin by telling me the real story about Agent Jacobs.”

“I told you already.”

“No, I don’t think so. Ms. Wright, I’d like to see your security cam for the front of the building.”

“Do you have a warrant?”

I smiled, cuffed her, and recited her rights.

“There’s nothing on the video,” she said. “It’s broken.” She told me where to find the camera, and I left her with a police officer. The camera had been disconnected from the power source. How convenient.

The women housed at the home showed a mix of fear and curiosity. The female agent asked if they’d seen Risa today. Only a redheaded young woman by the name of Sara had spoken to her. Sara recapped Risa’s conversation and Wright’s interruption. Nothing said to incriminate anyone.

The SAC phoned me less than five minutes later. “Evacuate the maternity home immediately. There’s a bomb threat. Call me back when everyone is out. Bomb squad on the way.”

FBI agents and the police officers ushered the women and staff from the building amid questions, tears, and those who wanted to gather personal items from their rooms. Once everyone stood three hundred feet back from the building, the bomb squad arrived to check for a potential explosive device.

I called back SAC Dunkin and reported in. “Everyone’s out and the bomb squad is inside.”

“Risa and Florakis have been located at the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge,” the SAC said. “An accident. Risa said Florakis claimed to have planted a bomb inside the maternity home, triggered by his phone. The phone’s in police custody.”

“Is she okay?”

“Scraped up and a bullet grazed her shoulder. Two ambulances are enroute to Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital with Risa and Florakis. About a twenty-five-minute drive from the crash site.”

“What happened?” My pulse sped into overdrive at the mental image.

“I’ll just say it was one of her driving stunts. She’ll fill you in.”

I inwardly sighed relief. “Is Florakis alive?”

“He’s banged up and under arrest. Refuses to talk.”

“I have Anna Wright in custody.”

“Hold on, Gage. Call coming in about Florakis’s phone.”

How badly had Risa been hurt? Had the SAC told the truth? I waited what seemed like much too long until SAC Dunkin returned. “HPD has removed the phone’s trigger.”

That didn’t mean the bomb wouldn’t detonate. “I’ll get back once the search here is completed.”

Forty long minutes later, the bomb squad located the explosive in Wright’s office and defused the bomb with ten minutes to spare. Florakis had already triggered the activation before leaving the home with Risa.

Twenty more minutes passed before I could assure the residents and staff that it was safe to return. Inside the home, one of the bomb squad officers approached me. “We’ve found bugs in the office and one of the bedrooms. My guess the whole place is filled with them.”

I thanked the officer and relayed the update to the SAC.

“Good work.” He gave me the hospital’s number.