The Fugitive's Trail (18 page)

“Who is he?”

“His name is Adam Weber.  We believe he was hired to find you.”

JR was silent as he stared at the parking lot.

After a few moments, Knoll said, “We need to get you two out of here and set up surveillance.”

JR shook his head. “No, I’m done running. It’s time to make a stand.”

Sandy looked at JR and smiled. “Good, let’s call Joseph.”

Later that night, as JR lay on his back in bed staring at the ceiling, he felt Mia stir. She was sleeping restlessly, but at least she was sleeping. Joseph had arranged for a security company he had worked with in the past to do surveillance on his building and the surrounding area. Knoll had told him it was temporary. He would have his own team in place by morning.

The lights from the parking lot normally didn’t bother him. But tonight, they did. The shadows cast on the walls of his bedroom morphed into images of his last day in New York City. For the first time since escaping, he was scared—not for himself, but for Mia. The digital clock on the nightstand displayed three minutes after one when he finally slipped out of bed and headed to his computer room. Once seated at his desk, he stared at the hard drive from Plymel’s laptop. He picked it up, smiled and turned it over in his hand. “Let’s see what secrets you hold.”

After attaching it to a cable connected to a custom-made laptop computer, he typed in several commands. Using a program he had designed several years earlier, he accessed the data on the hard drive. Like a surgeon, he discovered and reconstructed deleted segments one after the other. A little over an hour later, he found what he was looking for. He saved all of the discoveries to a flash drive and transferred them to a powerful desktop computer. It took two hours, but when he was done, he found the last of Plymel’s funds.

Once found, he transferred the money through various offshore accounts until they were untraceable. He smiled as a thought occurred to him. Hacking into the American Express website, he located and canceled Plymel’s Black Card account. When he had completed his night’s work, it was fifteen minutes after six in the morning. Abel Plymel was now essentially broke. The man’s last remaining funds were beyond his grasp, and his credit cards were useless. All it would take to finalize the long night’s work was to press a key on the computer. Weary from the lack of sleep over the last forty-eight hours, JR sat back in the desk chair and swept his hair back with his left hand. His fingers hovered over the keyboard. As he pressed the enter key, a faint smile came to his lips and he whispered, “Showtime.”

Kansas City, MO

The Mustang was parked in the same long-term parking lot he always used when flying out of Kansas City International Airport. Kruger walked back to the car’s trunk, opened it, and stared at his travel and computer bags for several seconds.
Here we go again
, he thought as he lifted them out of the trunk. After setting them on the pavement, he was about to use his key fob to lock the Mustang when his cell phone rang.

The caller ID displayed only a number, but it was a New York area code. Frowning, he accepted the call and said, “Kruger.”

An excited female voice on the other end said, “How did you know the hairs we found would be from an ex-US Marshal?”

“Who is this?” he said.

“It’s Beverly Castro from the crime lab. We got a hit on that DNA we submitted.”

He stood in silence watching a shuttle bus leave the waiting area closest to his parking space. Finally he caught up with the conversation. “Do you have a name?”

“Yes, his name is Adam Weber, left the US Marshal’s office several years ago. The individual I spoke to wouldn’t go into detail, but apparently his departure was not voluntary. He started his own private security company right after he left. Someone said he was named head of security at P&G Global a few days ago. Do you know him?”

Kruger was silent again. Finally he said, “I’ve heard of him. Are you sure?”

“Yes, the thirteen-loci DNA profiles match exactly. It doesn’t get much better, Sean.”

“I need a picture. Do you have one?”

“Yes, we have a copy of his personnel file from the US Marshal’s office.”

“Scan the file and send it to my email address. Thanks, Beverly. You did good work on this.”

“Thanks, Sean.”

He ended the call and stood silently. The sun was starting to break through the thinning clouds, and a gentle breeze stirred the crisp fall air. Was this the guy Joseph had called him about last night. The one that broke into Joseph’s office two nights ago and then was seen taking a picture of JR’s car?

He glanced at his watch. It was twenty minutes to eight, and his plane left at eight-thirty. The importance of being on the flight quickly faded. Returning his luggage to the trunk of the Mustang, he took out his cell phone after sitting down in the driver’s seat. As he backed out of the parking slot, he made a call.

Joseph answered on the third ring. “Good morning. Thought you were flying to DC?”

“New plan. I’ll be there in three hours. We got a hit on the DNA found in Sharon’s room.”

“Anyone we know?”

“Yeah, how sure are you about your nocturnal visitor?”

“Depends on how much you trust JR’s facial recognition software.”

“Do you trust it?”

“Yes.”

“A hair sample found on Sharon was matched to Adam Weber, ex-US Marshal.”

Joseph was silent for several moments. “Then we have a bigger problem than we originally thought.”

“Yeah, I’d say so. Do you know where he is?”

“No, we didn’t have any assets available to follow him after he showed up in JR’s parking lot last night.” He paused briefly. “We screwed up. Our Mr. Weber knew we were watching him. Damn.”

“It happens.”

“It won’t happen again.”

“Good, I should be there before eleven.” He ended the call as he pulled up to the exit gates for the parking lots.

***

Mary Lawson’s cell phone vibrated as she was walking back to her office from a meeting. She glanced at the caller ID, smiled, and accepted the call. “I’ve spoken more to you in this past week than I have for a year. How are you this morning, my love?”

“I’m well, but missing you.”

“How sweet. I hope this isn’t a business call and you’re going to talk dirty to me.”

“Regrettably, it is a business call,” Joseph said, with a note of sadness.

She chuckled. “Is it time for me to pay for the wonderful evening we had earlier this week?”

“No, you already settled that account. Remember our conversation about Adam Weber?”

She was silent for several moments. “Yes, why do you ask?”

“Kruger just called; he’s the prime suspect in Sharon Crawford’s murder. Plus he was photographed by a security camera last night here in Springfield.”

“Oh, dear.”

“Yeah, oh dear.”

“Joseph, what’s going on? Weber was named head of security at P&G Global by Alton Crigler the same day Abel Plymel was arrested.”

Now it was Joseph’s turn to be silent.

“Joseph, are you there?”

“Yes, just thinking.”

“Joseph, the man left the US Marshal under suspicious circumstances. During his time there, he had numerous complaints filed against him for unnecessary force. He also had several prisoners die while in his custody. However, no charges were ever filed.”

“How do you know so much about him?”

“After you returned to Springfield, I called a friend at the Justice Department. Charges of sexual harassment and assault were being prepared. After he left the service, the charges were dropped. I’m sure it was an arranged departure.”

“Wonderful, now he’s the prime suspect in Sharon Crawford’s murder.”

“He’s a dangerous man, Joseph.” She paused for a few moments. “I did a little more digging into Abel Plymel’s background like you asked.”

“And…”

“Sean was correct. He has a few gaps in his past.”

“What do you mean by a few gaps?”

“Well, you would think someone like that would have a solid resume. I called the university where he claims to have a degree. There’s no record of him ever attending. He also doesn’t appear to have held a job for several years after he claims to have graduated. In addition to all of this, I contacted the Social Security Administration. There are no records of his contributing prior to 1981.”

“What do you think, Mary?”

“I don’t think he’s who he says he is.”

“How would you prove it?”

“I know someone over at Homeland Security. They can do a more thorough investigation into his background.” She paused for a few moments. “That is, if you want me to.”

She couldn’t see it, but Joseph was nodding, deep in thought. “Mary my dear, you always have the proper resources. By all means, have your contact find out all they can about this man. It’s time someone did.”

***

During his drive south, Kruger received a call from Joseph suggesting they meet at a restaurant before going to JR’s apartment building. Walking into the café, he saw Joseph and a large man sitting at a table with a view of the parking lot. Joseph smiled and stood to shake his old friend’s hand. “Sean, I’d like for you to meet a colleague of mine. This is Sandy Knoll.”

As the two men shook hands, Kruger did a quick assessment of the big man. His first impression was career military, but he kept the thought to himself. He sat next to Joseph at the table and kept his eyes on the big man. “Nice to meet you, Sandy. Joseph mentioned on the phone you’re in charge of JR’s security. Bring me up to speed and then I’ll tell you what I’ve learned.”

Knoll proceeded to summarize the events of the previous night. After he was finished, Joseph said, “We had a team arrive early this morning from Fort Benning. They’ve taken over security and surveillance as of seven hundred hours.”

Kruger smiled and raised his eyebrows. “Joseph, am I to assume you’re still working for the CIA?”

Knoll laughed.

Joseph, frowned and shook his head. “I’ll explain later.”

Kruger returned his attention to Knoll. “DNA analyses of hairs found in Sharon’s hotel were matched to Adam Weber. He’s now our prime suspect in her murder. A federal warrant will be issued for his arrest by noon our time.” Knoll nodded. Kruger thought for a second and added, “Out of curiosity, what is the status of your team? Are they military police?”

Knoll shook his head. “No sir. They’re better than MPs.”

Kruger stared at Knoll for a few moments and then realized what the man was saying. “Okay, I won’t ask.”

Joseph said, “Probably a good idea.”

A slight smile came to Kruger’s lips. “I take it your team has been trained for infiltration and detention?”

A big grin was Knoll’s immediate response. “Plus a few other specialties.”

“I want to emphasize, I need Weber alive.” Kruger paused for a few seconds. “If possible.”

Both Knoll and Joseph nodded.

Kruger changed the subject. “Where’s JR and Mia?”

Knoll answered, “JR’s still asleep and Mia is in the apartment telecommuting.”

“I need to know what’s on that hard drive as soon as possible.”

Joseph nodded. “He worked on it last night.” Pausing briefly, he looked at Kruger. “We’ve discovered more information about Plymel.”

Kruger half smiled. “Mary?”

Joseph nodded. “Your suspicions about his past were correct. His degree is fictitious and he made no contributions to Social Security until six years after he claims to have graduated.”

“I’m getting all kinds of goodies to stick up Crigler’s ass. What else?”

“Mary is talking to a contact at Homeland Security. We might know more about Plymel later today.”

“Good, let’s go wake up JR.”

***

JR stood in the kitchen, hair disheveled, eyes red, drinking coffee, and listening to Kruger summarize the situation. After he was finished, JR nodded. “Plymel’s broke. I canceled his American Express Black Card last night and found the rest of his money. He’ll be desperate when he finds out. My guess is he’ll lash out at Crigler.”

Kruger said, “How much did he have left?”

JR shrugged. “There’s now a scholarship fund in my mom’s name where I went to college. Full rides for a couple of gifted computer nerds each year. I also set up a trust fund for Mia in case something happens to me.” He smiled ever so slightly.

Kruger laughed. “I’m going to enjoy working with you, JR. But nothing’s going to happen to you.”

JR shrugged again. “Hope not. We’ll see.”

Mia walked into the kitchen. “JR, I have to go to the office. I forgot about a quality control test I have to do today. There’s no way I can do it from here.”

JR shook his head. “Not today, Mia.”

She crossed her arm against her chest. “Yes, JR, today. I’ll be fine.”

Knoll stood, pulled a cell phone out of his pants’ pocket, and walked out of the room. Thirty seconds later, he walked back to the kitchen where JR and Mia were arguing. He said, “I can have someone drive you. Will that work?”

Mia stared at Knoll, then at JR, then nodded. “I need to leave in five minutes.”

As she walked out of the room, JR said, “Call me as soon as you’re there.”

JR watched from one of the living area windows as Mia got into the passenger seat of her red Ford Fusion. Knoll stood on the opposite side of the car next to a tall man dressed in jeans, sweatshirt, and running shoes. His hair was cropped short, and he wore wraparound sunglasses on an oval face. The man nodded several times. They shook hands and he sat down in the Fusion’s driver seat. Knoll closed the door, walked around to Mia’s side, leaned in, and said something to her. He laughed and stepped back as the car backed out of the parking space. Two minutes later, he was back in the apartment. “Mike will call me when she’s at the office. He’ll stay with her car until she’s done.”

Kruger stood. “I’m going to find a hotel and call Alan. I’ll be back before three.” As he walked down the stairs to the parking lot, Kruger wondered what Weber’s next move would be.