Chapter 25 — Walking into the Trap
Sam almost panicked when an unmarked police car pulled behind the truck and turned on its flashing lights. She started to instinctively reach for one of the guns next to her, but immediately realized that would be a bad idea. She had Tadros hide the guns under the seat instead. When she stopped on the shoulder of the road, she was greatly relieved to see it was Dan who got out of the car and walked towards her.
After Sam convinced Dan it was safe to let Tadros drive the truck, Dan left his car on the side of the road and the two of them climbed into the cargo box. They needed a place where they could talk freely. Plus, as Sam pointed out, there was only supposed to be one person in the truck cab when it got to its destination.
After ten minutes of give and take, Dan dialed Bob Kehm’s cell phone. This time it was answered on the second ring. “Hello, Dan. Give me a status update," said Kehm, not wasting time. Today was not a day for pleasantries.
“Bob, I have you on speakerphone. Sam and I are in the cargo area of the so-called terrorist truck. We have control of the vehicle. Based on the way we’re getting bounced around I’d say that we are just arriving at our destination, the Superior Solutions warehouse in Milford. Anyway, Sam has completely convinced me that there is no terrorist threat. This is all some sort of elaborate theater. The whole thing is being staged for our benefit.”
“What the hell, Dan? Why would someone go through all that trouble?”
“We don’t know. Sam suggests that we let it play out and see what happens. If you’ll make sure that there is no threat to us from law enforcement, we’ll make sure there is no threat to the public from this truck. We just need to wait and see who pops their head up.”
“Hold on a second, Dan. Something is happening here. Okay. Yeah. The snitch just called and told us to go to Superior Solutions and stop the truck from leaving at all costs. They said that the woods at the south-east end of the building would provide perfect cover.”
“You’ve got to admit that is awfully weird, right Bob? Isn’t this all a little too detailed, too convenient?”
There was a pause as Kehm thought about the situation. “Well, Dan, I would have thought so if Sam didn’t have basically the same MO. When she used to tip us off, she supplied all the details, right down to telling us what color underwear to have on.”
Sam shrugged her shoulders. “I wanted them all to wear lavender, so they’d feel pretty.”
A smile flittered across Dan’s face. “Bob, I promise, we’ll make sure this truck isn’t a threat. You’ve just got to call off the dogs, so we don’t get blown away. No shooting at Superior Solutions, period.”
“Okay, Dan. If you’re sure the truck will be neutralized, I’ll tell everyone in Milford to back off and we’ll see what happens. But if this charade lasts until the truck makes it back out to the freeway then all bets are off. Just document the hell out of everything you do and everything you see. And protect all the evidence with your life. A lot is riding on this.”
“Hey Bob," called Sam. “I haven’t tortured or killed anyone yet. I’m doing good, aren’t I?”
“Yes, Sam," he replied. “You’re doing good. In fact, you can consider this your first assignment for me as an independent contractor. I’ll see to it that you get paid for your work. I knew I was right to bet on you.”
Dan and Sam both momentarily lost their balance as the truck jerked to a stop, and a few moments later the truck cargo door slid up. The truck had been backed into a loading bay at Superior Solutions. Esam and Tadros stood in the warehouse, smiling at them.
“I am Esam. You are police and I should help police," said Esam.
“That’s right, Esam," said Sam. “You should help the police.”
Since he was the only one with a badge, Dan decided to step up and take control of the situation. “Sam, you get the guns and the laptop out of the truck cab. I don’t want anything in there that would indicate we’re the bad guys. We’ll need to put them someplace safe.”
Turning to the two civilians he said, “Esam, we need a box and shipping tape to store that crap.”
“Make sure you write your initials half on the tape and half on the box and photograph it," said Sam as she headed out to the truck cab. “That way we can see if it was tampered with after we sealed it.”
Dan held up his flip phone. “Do any of you know how to make this crappy phone of mine take pictures? We’re going to have to photograph everything.”
“I don’t know about that little phone of yours," said Tadros, “but I have a brand-new smartphone, and the camera on it is as good as the camera I used to have back home. This is the latest thing. It is a phone and a computer and a camera all in one device.”
Dan was curious about this well-educated Syrian refugee. “What kind of work do you do, Tadros?” asked Dan.
“I have a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Cal Tech. I did prosthetics and robotic design when I lived in Syria. Here in the US, I install cable TV.”
“Does your phone have a tape recorder in it?” asked Sam as she returned with the guns and laptop, nitrile gloves on her hands.
“Yes, it has a digital recorder," he responded.
“Okay," she said. While we’re waiting for Esam to show up with the box, I want you to record a statement explaining your involvement in this. Be brief for now. Try to keep it under five minutes. Both you and Esam will need to do that. Then the photos and the recordings have to be emailed someplace safe. We should send them to a couple of different accounts. I’ll give you the address of two accounts that I’ve used with the FBI before.”
Dan was almost having fun, but he recognized it was just the excitement of the moment. Deep down he knew that life sucks and then you die. “Okay, people. We need to hurry. It wouldn’t take very long to load the barrels. They’ll be expecting this truck to roll soon.”
“The barrels are there," said Esam, pointing to a dozen barrels in the warehouse loading area as he came back with the box and tape.
Dan nodded. “Okay, good. That’s where they are going to stay. Tadros, can you take a picture of those too? Be sure to get a close-up of the labels.”
Tadros and Esam were recording their statements and Sam was desperately searching for a water fountain when Dan motioned her over for a private talk while. “Sam, as soon as we’re ready I want you to loop through the woods looking for (shit, what did you call him?) the puppet master. I’ll give you a head start and then drive the truck slowly to give him a good chance to show himself.”
“That’s fine, Dan, but you’ve got it backward. I’ll drive the truck while you search the woods. You’re a Vietnam vet, so you’re experienced in sneaking through wooded areas.”
“No," he corrected. “You’ll do better incapacitating them once they’re flushed out. My hand-to-hand combat skills are a bit rusty.”
“No," she pushed back. “We are liable to run into law enforcement out there. They’d listen to you, and they’d shoot me.”
“Then you better work on your people skills, because I’m driving," Dan said in a tone of absolute finality.
“But Dan, there’s a chance Kehm didn’t get through to those idiots out there. There could be live fire coming your way.”
“Yes," said Dan. “I could get killed in the line of duty by friendly fire.”
“Oh, yeah, right. I forgot about your insurance," she said. “Well then, you better give me your gun. I’m unarmed right now.”
“I can’t do that," said Dan. “I’m sorry, but it isn’t allowed.”
“Well,” she said testily, “So I guess if you are going to die for my sins then I should die also, right?”
Dan closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “Tadros, bring the tape recorder here for a minute, will you?”
Tadros walked over, holding his phone before him. “Yes, sir. Esam and I were just finishing up anyway.”
“Push the record button, please," he said.
“Show me," said Sam. “I want to know how this fucking thing works.”
Tadros held the phone out and tapped the screen.
Dan took the phone and held it so it was midway between himself and Sam. “This is Dan Slater in the Superior Solutions warehouse in Milford Ohio. It is now approximately 7:30 in the evening. I am Milford Police Liaison for FBI Special Agent Bob Kehm. Samantha Packard, in what capacity are you here today, and what is your current task?”
She smiled at Dan. “I am an independent security contractor, currently under contract to Agent Kehm, assisting in resolving the terrorist threat against the Cincinnati Water Works. I am about to sweep the woods on the east side of the warehouse to flush out the unknown third part we believe is behind this threat. I am currently unarmed and am requesting that the Milford Police Liaison provide me with a handgun.”