“The U.S. government building,” added Stone. “Someone had access to that, and I don’t believe it was John Kravitz.”
The director nodded thoughtfully. “And Special Agent Gross actually told you that he feared his own people were spying on him?”
“Yes sir.”
Chapman nodded in agreement.
Stone added, “An agent from the ATF told us the same thing.”
The director said, “Garchik.”
“Yes. Have they found out what this mysterious component to the bomb is yet?”
“Not to my knowledge, no.”
Stone’s mouth opened slightly and he sat forward. “To your knowledge, sir?”
The director looked nervous for the first time since they’d arrived in the room. He glanced at the ADIC and nodded to the door. The man did not seem pleased by this unspoken directive, and then looked positively put out when the director stopped Ashburn from joining him. After the door had closed behind the ADIC, the director leaned forward. “Something is going on here that is unprecedented in my experience.”
“There’s a traitor in the ranks,” Stone said.
“More than that, I’m afraid. Worse than that.”
Stone started to ask how anything could be worse than having a traitor in your midst, but then he remembered what McElroy had told him.
Things can always be worse.
The director cleared his throat. “There is something going on inside our government that… that does not mesh very well with the
way we do things.”
“Meaning what exactly, sir?” asked Stone.
The director rubbed his hands together.
“Some of us appear to be working at cross-purposes.”
“Some of us?” asked Chapman blankly.
“Agent Garchik is missing.”
“What?” Stone said sharply.
“And the mysterious debris component that he found at the park has also gone missing.”
“How is that possible?” asked Chapman.
“I’m not sure. It was outside our chain of command.”
“But the Bureau is the lead agency,” pointed out Stone.
“But ATF was taking the lead on the bomb forensics.”
“But an agent and evidence going missing is very unusual,” said Stone.
“Yes, of course it is,” the director said sharply.
“Any leads?” asked Chapman.
“No, we just found out about it, actually. We have teams going over the scene.”
“Where was he taken from?”
“Not exactly sure. He’s divorced, lives alone. His car is missing.”
“Signs of a struggle?”
“Not definitive.”
“No communications?”
“Neither from Garchik nor from whoever might have taken him.”
“Might have?” asked Chapman.
“We can’t rule out that he left voluntarily.”
“Who reported him missing?”
“His supervisor.”
Stone said, “Who reported the evidence missing?”
“His supervisor as well. When Garchik didn’t make his routine check-in, he became worried. One of the things he did was examine the evidence locker.”
“Garchik told us that NASA was being called in to try and ID the debris.”
“I wasn’t aware of that.”
Stone sat back as Ashburn said, “This is all really stunning.”
“The media can’t get wind of any of this,” said the director firmly. “All statements will go through my office. Is that understood?”
“I don’t talk to reporters,” said Stone, as Chapman nodded in agreement.
The director motioned to Ashburn. “Agent Ashburn will be taking over the lead on the investigation. You will work directly with her.”
Ashburn and Stone exchanged a glance. Stone thought he saw the woman attempt a smile.
“That’s fine,” said Stone. “I look forward to it.”
“The fact that your director seemed very much out of the loop.”
“And I’m wondering why.”
“What do you think happened to Garchik and that evidence?”
“I don’t know, but I think where we’ll find one we’ll find the other.”
“You think he’s a bad cop?”