Page 21 of Wild Idol (Tyson Wild Thriller #82)

M uch to Jack’s dismay, we had to leave Vesper at the club. She was a cute girl, but I had no doubt they would reconnect at some point.

We met the sheriff at the port. Several patrol units were at the scene, as well as CBP, FBI, HSI, and Coast Guard personnel.

The place was a madhouse with flashing lights and emergency vehicles blocking entrances and exits.

Plenty of unmarked black sedans were parked haphazardly.

Officers guarded the gate, keeping reporters at bay.

Beyond them, rows of shipping containers, stacked high, dotted the facility.

Massive cargo ships loomed at the docks, thick mooring lines stretched taut.

The briny air drifted through the facility, and the stars flickered overhead.

Mercury vapor lights high above cast a dull amber glow, creating long shadows between containers.

Tango One circled above, its spotlight sweeping across the facility .

“I think this is the same group that was responsible for the bank robberies, the armored car robberies, and the jewelry store heist,” the sheriff said when we greeted him.

The FBI was handling the bank robberies and the armored car jobs.

We had been investigating the jewelry store, but it was all part of a joint task force with the FBI taking the lead.

Still, this case was personal. JD and I had witnessed one of the armored car robberies and exchanged gunfire with the assailants.

Until now, they had always worn futuristic cyberpunk masks, like characters out of a video game.

“Is there video footage?” I asked.

“A few frames before the cameras were disabled.”

“How?”

Daniels shrugged.

“What happened?”

“Apparently, a container had gotten flagged for inspection. It was put into the Customs Examination Area and held overnight for secondary inspection. Four thugs came in dressed as CBP officers, subdued the guards, raided the container, and took off with the contraband.”

“What was the contraband?”

“Based on the x-rays, it’s believed the container held illegal diamonds. There were only two CBP officers on shift.”

“I’d like to talk to them both.”

The sheriff’s face tightened. “I’m working on that. The feds want first crack.”

“What makes you think this was the same guys?” I asked .

“A hunch. From what I’m hearing, these guys were organized, didn’t waste time, and knew exactly what they were going for. This wasn’t random.”

“They had someone on the inside,” I suggested.

Daniels nodded. “How else would they know what was in that container?”

“There is another possibility,” I said.

“I’m all ears.”

“Someone was monitoring the container’s progress in transit. They saw that it was held up and decided to liberate the cargo. It’s not hard to GPS track contraband shipments,” I said.

“If I was shipping a boatload of illegal diamonds, I’d want to know where they were at all times,” Jack added.

The sheriff considered it.

He flagged down Special Agent Foster. “I’d like you to meet Deputies Wild and Donovan. Special Crimes. This case has similarities to another investigation. I’d like them to talk to the officers on duty at the time of the robbery.”

“Sheriff, this is a federal case, and I’ve got my hands full with HSI wanting access.”

Daniels gave her a look.

“If you don’t mind waiting, I can let you question them after we’re done.”

The sheriff forced a smile. “Much appreciated. ”

It took about an hour, but we finally got to talk to the two CBP officers who were on duty.

We spoke to them separately in an office.

First up was Officer Coleman. He was around 30, with short brown hair, light eyes, and an athletic frame.

He stood about 5’9” and looked frazzled.

“They came in wearing uniforms and those high-end silicone masks,” Coleman said.

“I didn’t realize what was going on until they had their weapons shoved in my face.

They must have hacked into our computer system somehow, because they had the container number and a bill of lading.

I had no choice but to lead them to the container. What was I going to do?”

“How do you think they got access to the system?” I asked.

Coleman shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Sounds like they may have had help from the inside.”

He frowned at me. “Or maybe they’re just really good with computers.”

“Did you hear any names?”

“No. They were in and out. They didn’t screw around. I took them to the container, they opened it up, grabbed what they were after, and took off.”

“How many people knew what was in the container?”

Coleman shrugged. “The automated system flagged it as suspicious. It was x-rayed, then referred to secondary physical inspection. It was brought to the CEA for holding. All the information was entered into the system. Anyone who had access to the database would know. Standard procedure. ”

“And you didn’t share this information with anyone?” I asked in a slightly accusatory tone.

Coleman’s face wrinkled. “No!”

“Didn’t talk about it with your girlfriend?”

“No. She doesn’t want to hear about my bullshit days at work, and I don’t want to hear about hers.”

“So, let me get this straight. They stormed in and forced you and officer Norton onto the floor. You were both flex-cuffed, then they forced you to take them to the container.”

“Yes.”

“Did they say anything to you besides commands?”

“We didn’t make small talk, if that’s what you’re asking?” He thought about it. “ Relax, it’s for a good cause .”

“What?”

“That’s what he said. Or some shit like that.” He scoffed. “Good cause, like lining his pockets.”

I asked him to describe the build of the assailants. He did, and they matched the basic physical description of the bank robbers. But that wasn’t much to go on. The FBI’s forensic team had dusted the area for prints, but Coleman told me they all wore gloves.

I asked Coleman a few more questions, then we interviewed Officer Norton. He had the same story, though he had less interaction with the assailants.

I took their contact information and told them we’d be in touch .

We managed to get a look at the surveillance video, but it went down just as the assailant’s van arrived. The vehicle stopped at the gate. The goons flooded out and stormed into the main office with shock and awe.

After that, the feed went blank.

JD and I left the CBP facility with the sheriff and headed back toward the parking lot.

“You think these are the same assholes?” the sheriff asked for confirmation.