Silenced Justice: A Josh Williams Novel (24 page)

"Do you think they're just nervous because it's Collucci or is there more to it?" Josh asked.

"I don't know. We had a ton of discussions about this. We knew there would be political pressure, but no one ever said we wouldn't run with it. We already had the station lawyers sign off on it. I don't know what to think," Candace said.

"Alright, see what else you can find out. If you can't find the station manager, we will. I'll call you later," Josh looked as Hawk reached for the phone. "Hang on; your husband has some more words of wisdom." Hawk took the phone off speaker.

"Hey, listen. This is just a delay. If they don't run it, I will find someone who will. When you find your wimp of a station manager, tell him what I said." Hawk listened for a moment. "I know, I know. Let them stay with you for now. It'll make them feel better," Hawk laughed. "Okay, but don't let them touch it, bye."

Josh looked at him, his brow furrowed. "Don't let who touch what?" he asked.

"Your friends, the state police. When they got there and explained their purpose, Candace told them she didn't need them. She showed them the Glock 30-S .45 caliber she carries and the Saiga shotgun in her car. It's Russian made, semi-automatic. I got her a customized thirty round drum magazine for it. I rigged a mount for it behind the passenger seat. Concealed of course, with a thumbprint encoded lock release."

"I thought you said it was a bad idea to arm your wife?"

"No, I said it was a bad idea to arm your wife, mine is sane."

"Good point," Josh said.

"Where do you get a thirty round mag for a Saiga shotgun, in this country? Legally, I mean," Kennedy asked.

Hawk shook his head, glancing at Josh. "See, the Feds just can't help being anal. Well, Agent Kennedy, my wife and I both have Federal Firearm Licenses." Hawk's stare did not betray affection for the question. "If you'd like to make an issue about it, feel free."

Kennedy turned up his hands, "Oh, hell no. I have no problem with it. I meant I wanted to know so I could get one for my Saiga."

Hawk laughed. "A Fed with a personality and sense of humor. Will wonders never cease?" Hawk reached into his desk drawer, withdrew something, and flipped it to Kennedy. "Compliments of a friend in Special Forces. All perfectly legit."

'Ah, thanks," Kennedy said, turning to Josh. "You were right about this guy, definite legend material."

Josh rose from the seat, shook Hawk's hand, and shepherded Kennedy towards to door. "Let's get out of here before he shows us the Claymore mines he's planning on deploying around his house."

As he got to the door, Kennedy turned back to look at Hawk who was shaking his head. First, side to side denying the statement, then up and down with a grin growing wider and wider.

Chapter 32

Josh and Zach walked back to the car on South Main Street. On the way by, they stopped in to check on things at Alpha Babes Investigations.

Chris was entertaining Keira and the troopers with war stories. Vera and Maggie were out picking up some takeout. Loren was captivated listening to Chris, amazed at how little she knew about the police. The stories Chris told unveiled a never-before-imagined world.

Josh and Zach came in. Josh kissed his wife, and then introduced her to Zach Kennedy.   

"Nice to meet you, Keira," Zach said. "Your husband is quite the guy."

"Is that a nice way of saying he's crazy?" Keira smiled. "You must be a little crazy yourself; Josh hasn't had the best of experiences with some of your FBI colleagues."

Zach chuckled, "I know, I heard. But we're not all like that."

Keira nodded, "Well, I hope you can help them figure this out quickly. As much as I love Chris, I hate having a babysitter."

Josh filled them in on the conversation with Hawk and the station pulling the story.

"We're not going to just let it happen, are we?" Chris said.

"What do you think? Josh replied. "Zach and I are on the way to deal with it. I'll call you later; go tell `em more made up stories."

Kissing his wife one more time, Josh and Zach left the office.

Back in the car, Zach asked, "Okay, now what?"

"We go find the station manager and have a little chat. I have an idea where he'll be," Josh answered. Pulling a quick turn across South Main Street, driving between the buildings, he headed to the highway on-ramp.

"And where do you suspect we'll find this station manager?" Zack asked, as they drove across the Washington Bridge.

"Just before my trial, a couple of the reporters from the same station Candace works for decided to follow me around. I spotted them right away. With the help of a couple of my brethren, we had some meaningful dialog with the reporters," Josh replied. "They filed a complaint about it."

"Yeah? And I should tell you I don't want to know any more than that," Zach said, "but I won't."

"A couple of days later, Chris and I were on a stakeout at Village Green Apartments. Lo and behold, here comes the station manager. He pulled into the parking spot right next to the surveillance van. Moments later, one of the female evening news anchors arrived. She greeted the station manager with great enthusiasm. We thought her tongue was going for the record in his throat," Josh smiled.

"Needless to say, compromising pictures and video ensued as they went inside. A short time later, something we pointed out to him in a later discussion, they left the apartment. We shot some more pictures. A bit of research found the apartment listed to station manager's brother. He happened to be on deployment with the United States Air Force," Josh said.

"Let me guess, they dropped the complaint?" Zach said, chuckling.

"I believe they decided it was just a misunderstanding," Josh said. "But here's the best part, he still uses the apartment. I bet he's hiding there."

Several minutes later, they arrived at the entrance to Village Green Apartments. The complex is just off Pawtucket Avenue, near Bay View Academy. Josh drove down to the last driveway and pulled in.

He and Zach got out of the car; Kennedy glanced around, checking cars and windows. They went to the door.

"Now what?" Zach said, "I don't think he'll buzz us in."

"Probably not," Josh answered. "Watch this. Joe McDaniel showed me this trick.” Josh took out his keys, holding them in his left hand. With his right hand and shoulder, he pushed against the panel with the buttons for the various units, forcing it up. As the bottom of the panel cleared the frame, he stuck the key under and pried it up, revealing the wiring underneath. Taking the key, he placed it against two of the adjoining wires and the door lock buzzed.   

"Grab the door," Josh said.

Zach shook his head and opened the door as Josh replaced the panel.

"Piece of cake,” Josh smiled, walking inside. "Stick with me, I'll teach you all sorts of tricks."

"My first burglary, Deputy Attorney General Lachance will be so proud," Zach said, as he followed Josh inside.

"Don't worry, Hawk will get us off with an insanity defense," Josh snickered.

Walking up the stairs, he pointed to the last unit.   

Zach looked at Josh, “We're not breaking in the door are we?"

"Nah, I'll just knock. He'll think it's one of his neighbors," Josh said, banging on the door and holding his hand over the peephole.

There was the sound of movement inside, then a male voice. "Yes, what is it?"

"Hi, I think I backed into your car. Black BMW with Rhode Island plates?" Josh answered.

The door swung open.

"Hi there, Jim," Josh said, pushing past the man. "We need to talk."

* * *

Josh dropped down onto one of the living room chairs, feet dangling over the arm. "Jim, we have a problem. More to the point, we have a problem with you."

Jim Collins held the station manager's position for the past eight years. He was articulate, experienced, and not one subject to intimidation. Collins kept looking from Josh to Zach and back.

"Who's this?" he asked, pointing at Kennedy.

"Unimportant at the moment," Josh answered. He could see the tension level in Kennedy's face decrease, a bit. "Tell me why you killed the story."

"On the advice of counsel, but I didn't kill the story; they wanted more corroboration. That's all," Collins answered, glancing at Kennedy.

"Bullshit," Josh said. "Now I want the truth about this. Otherwise, I will be corroborating your use of this little hideaway with Mrs. Collins. How is she and the, what is it, five or six little Collins children? You'd have to get a second or third job for that child support payment."

Collins face blanched, he began pacing the room. "It can't come from me. I need this job. Come on, Josh. We've always been helpful with you guys. I know, I know we had that little misunderstanding--"

"See," Josh interrupted him, looking at Kennedy. "I told you it was just a misunderstanding."

Kennedy rolled his eyes and pretended to look out the window.

"That's all very nice, Jim. Look, I want to know who killed it and why. We never had this conversation. After this, we're even," Josh said.

Collins looked back and forth between Kennedy and Josh. "Okay, it came from our headquarters in Atlanta. The main corporation that owns us, along with several hundred other stations. They are in merger discussions with another media conglomerate; negotiations which are not yet public."

"So why would they care about this story?" Josh asked.

"Because this other conglomerate is ZMI Media, right?" Kennedy asked.

Collins eyes grew wide, "How would you know?"

"You might find yourself surprised by the things I know, Mr. Collins," Kennedy said. "We have what we need, Josh. Let's go."

"We do?" Josh asked, looking confused.

"Yes," Kennedy said, eyes widening, "we do," stretching out the words.

"Okay then, we got what we need," Josh said. "Thanks, Jim. Say hi to Natalie and all the little Collinses."

"We're even now, right?" Collins asked.

"Of course, I didn't have anything anyway. I was just guessing," Josh smiled. "Of course, now I do. Funny how that works. Let me ask you something, Jim. If we come to you with more corroboration, will you run the story or you gonna run scared over this?"

Collins thought for a moment. "I went along with pulling it because I knew there'd be a shit storm over it. Some of the information sources are a bit questionable?" looking at Kennedy. "Get me something confirming those wire transfers and I'll run it no matter what."

"We'll go one better than that, Mr. Collins," Kennedy said. "Give us a few days,” Kennedy’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Collins, “then I will hold you to your end of the bargain. Understood?"

Collins swallowed hard. Josh tried to contain his surprise.

Kennedy opened the door and walked out, Josh followed.

"That went well, didn't it?" Josh asked, as they drove out of the parking lot. "You gonna tell me what we learned? Because I have no idea."

"First of all, let me thank you for my first successful experience with breaking and entering with extortion thrown in as a bonus. I am sure it will add some sparkle to my bureau resume," Kennedy said.

"Not to worry," Josh replied. "By the time this is over, you'll be the director of the FBI."

"I'll be happy if I am not in prison and still have a job," Kennedy said. "This has been quite the ride."

Josh chuckled, “You seemed to have a natural talent for the implied threat from what I saw back there."

"I am learning from the master," Kennedy said, bowing his head.

Josh laughed, "Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment. Are you going to tell me what we learned anytime soon? Because this half of we still has no idea."

"As soon as we get back to your office, I have some work to do. Then, I'll show you," Kennedy said. "I need to bring up some intelligence files to explain the story."

Chapter 33

Zach Kennedy spent the next few days working away on his laptop. When he wasn't on-line, he was reaching out to contacts within the intelligence community.

Wednesday morning, Josh walked into the office with Donahue and Moreira. Kennedy was already there.

"Thank you, Director. I appreciate your understanding," Kennedy said, hanging up his cell phone.   

"Who was that?" Josh asked.

"Director of National Intelligence," Kennedy answered. "I needed his permission to talk to you guys about this."

Josh exchanged looks with the rest of the group. "Talk to us about what?" he asked. "Are you finally going to tell me what we learned from Collins?"

Zach leaned back, putting his hands behind his head. "Okay, boys, you cops are pretty smart. Of course, then there's Detective Moore, the proof of an exception to every rule," laughing as Tommy flipped him off. "I'm serious, if you were the Russian mob, what would offer you influence over the highest levels of government?"

"A judge?" Donahue offered.

"The Attorney General?" Joe Moreira suggested.

Josh just sat shaking his head, "No idea."

"Gotta think bigger, boys. Tommy," Zack asked, “your thoughts, if there are any?"

Moore studied his pen for a moment, and then the light came on. "The media, of course. The goddamn media. Whoever controls the press controls the news. Publicity drives politics. Reporters have access to everyone. Good press, lots of votes, bad press, lots of votes for the other guy. If you control the stories which are broadcast, you can manipulate public opinion; blind the public to the truth."

"Gentlemen, Tommy here has figured out the rest of the story," Kennedy said, turning the laptop for them to see. "The part we've been missing. The banking legislation, land grabs, money-laundering organization, front businesses is one part. Controlling what would be the largest media outlet in the United States is the other. Control the news and you contain any bad press."

"So how are they going to do that?" Josh asked.

Tapping his laptop screen, Kennedy said, "This is an intel report we got several years ago. It is from a source in the Syrian intelligence agency. He told us the Russians were infiltrating Al Jazeera, trying to take control of the media service. Nobody put much credibility in it."

He clicked through a couple more screens. "A year or so later, we got another report, this one from the French. They had information about a Russian mogul purchasing a majority ownership of a large French media outlet. Using a series of front companies, they were trying to exert control over the media. Two senior executives of a French newspaper turned up dead days after they ran a story about the Russian involvement. We started to pay attention." Kennedy punched a few keys, and a picture came up on the screen.

"Who's he?" Tommy asked.

"Shashenka Dmitriev," Kennedy answered.

"Oh, of course," Tommy added, looking at Josh. "Why couldn't you piss off the Irish mob, LT? It would be much easier if Danny Morrison wanted to kill you," Tommy paused a moment, studying the image. "Wait a minute, isn't he the guy I found who--"

"Yes it is," Kennedy interrupted. "Our computer research genius found Dmitriev listed as a PAC board member. He also linked him to Harriet Lane Enterprises. Turns out the French intelligence report was on the money about the guy being Russian, they just didn't have the whole story. The guy was born in Russia, but he is now a naturalized American. Shashenka Dmitriev is the money behind the media merger. His organization owns the French media company and controls ZMI Media. I bet he shut the story down."

"ZMI Media is Russian?" Tommy asked. "How can they buy an American company?"

Kennedy turned the laptop around and clicked through some more pages. "Dmitriev is a naturalized American citizen. He can do anything he likes, within the law. ZMI is a shorten version of
Novyny Zasoby Masovoyi Informatsiy
, a Ukrainian expression for news media. ZMI Media is a multi-national company with holdings all over the world. We know Dmitriev has connections to Russian organized crime group Solntsevskaya Bratva. He made billions from oil and natural gas production. He also was a member of the KGB, with Vladimir Putin."

"How the hell does a former KGB agent, with ties to organized crime, become an American citizen?" Tim Donahue asked.

Kennedy just looked at him. "You have to ask?" hands held wide apart.

"Money, of course, it's always about the money," Donahue answered, shaking his head.

"To make a long story short," Kennedy explained, “once Dmitriev became a US citizen it limited our ability to track him. If he was a foreign national, we have great latitude under FISA-"

"Under what?" Tommy asked. "Too goddamn many acronyms working with you guys. What is FISA?"

"Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act," Josh answered. "It established a court, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. They review requests for electronic surveillance orders targeting terrorism and national security."

"Excellent, Lieutenant Williams," Kennedy said. "I am impressed."

Josh looked around the room, shrugging his shoulders. "I'd say we have enough to persuade our friend, Mr. Collins, to run the story now. Show him the link between the front companies we found, ZMI Media, and the money movement. What do you think, Zach?"

"I agree," pointing at Josh, "but when you say persuade, it sounds more like a threat rather than convincing him we have what he asked for. Makes me nervous," Kennedy chuckled.

"Must be from working with the FBI," Josh said. "You guys are a bad influence. Let's go talk to Brennan; I haven't brought him up to speed lately. Then we'll call Candace, fill her in, and arrange to meet with Collins as soon as we can."

"Before we do that," Tommy said. "Why don't we arrange for Jen and me to meet with Sorin one more time? Maybe get something useful on the phone or from the bug in his car. Tie in Collucci a little tighter."

"I don't know," Josh said. "What do you think, Zach?"

"Might be a good idea," Kennedy agreed. "Collucci has some plausible deniability here. If we can get him in a conversation with Sorin discussing these things, it may be enough to indict him."

Josh thought for a moment, "Okay, Tommy. Call Jennifer and set up a meeting. We'll hold off on talking to Collins until we see how it goes."

Tommy was already on the phone. "Jen, it's me. Yeah listen. I need you to do something. Use the phone in the office and call Anthony. Arrange another meeting. Tell him I asked to speak with him about our options with the property."

"What if he wants to know what the problem is?" Jen asked.

"Tell him you're not sure. Just say I called you to arrange the meeting and leave it at that. Hang on a minute."

Josh was waving at him, trying to get his attention.

Tommy put the phone down, "what's up, LT?"

"Line recorder is ready. Tell her to make the call," Josh said.

"Okay," Tommy answered, turning back to the phone conversation. "Jen, we're ready. Make the call. I'll head over there after it's over."

A moment later, the alert tone on the recording devices indicated an outgoing call. The digital display showed Sorin's cell phone.

After two rings, Sorin answered.

"Yes, Jennifer. What is it now?"

"Hello Anthony, I am well. Thanks for asking," Jennifer snapped. "I thought you'd like to have an update on the property situation here. Can we meet in the next day or so?"

"Isn't this something we can discuss over the phone? Why is a meeting necessary?" Sorin asked.

"If you like, but Tom asked me to call you and arrange a meeting. He said there are some options and wanted to discuss them with you. If you'd rather not, I'll tell him."

Sounds of muffled voices in the background came over the line. Sorin came back on. "The Senator and I will not be back in Rhode Island until next Thursday. We will meet Friday morning 9:00 AM your office. That's the best I can do.” The call ended.

Tommy looked at Josh, "Such a pleasant guy. When we do get to arrest him, I hope he puts up a fight. There is nothing I’d enjoy more than knocking out a pussy like him."

Josh chuckled, "Just make sure he throws the first punch."

"He can throw the first two or three. I'll throw the last one," Moore smiled, banging his fist into his hand.