Gambit, David Hagberg [most life changing books .TXT] 📗

“Both. It’s just that the powers that be are getting a little nervous—hell, more than a little—and they know that you and I have history. They asked if I could come down and have a friendly chat.”

“You already know that two attempts to take me out have been made by two different shooters.”

“Professionals.”

“Both of them former special ops people, one from Canada and the other South Africa. I talked to the COs of both units who claimed that once the guys left the service they disappeared.”

“Did you believe them?” Forest asked.

“I didn’t have any reason not to,” McGarvey said.

Pete came down with the Corona.

“Anyway, I’ve never had a beef with either of those countries.”

“Thanks,” Forest told Pete, and he took a drink. “I’ve been following you for the past couple of years through the resources I have access to,” he told McGarvey. “And from where I sit in the cheap seats, my guess would be that you’re pretty high on the shit lists of at least Russia and probably Pakistan. I assume you’ve talked to people at Langley. What’s their take?”

“No one thinks that it’s a government-sanctioned contract,” Pete said. “The political blowback for assassinating a former CIA director would be huge.”

“There are ways of covering up stuff like that.”

“It’d be harder than you think,” McGarvey said.

“Well, someone’s gunning for you and that takes money,” Forest said. “Have you noticed someone following you? Bugging your phones, stuff like that?”

“No,” McGarvey said, letting Forest try to work it out.

“Yet they evidently knew where you live and knew your routines. So someone was gathering intelligence on you.”

“We found that the first guy had tapped into a neighborhood surveillance camera with a good view of our apartment building.”

“What about the second one?”

“I was at a hospital in Georgetown.”

“All Saints?” Forest asked.

“Yes.”

“Have you found any connection between the two shooters?”

“No.”

Forest was frustrated. “Look, I’m trying to help you as best I can. But I need something to go on. It sounds to me like the guys were working for the same paymaster, someone who had access to a decent intelligence agency.”

“We’ve come to the same conclusion,” McGarvey said. “And we also understand you and the Tampa SAC are worried that there’ll be a third try right here.”

“On the way from Sarasota, Spader told me again that he had been ordered to offer the Bureau’s help, but if you didn’t accept it, he was to stand down. Which leaves just us to watch out, because it seems like just about every time you show up, trouble follows you.”

“Do you want us to pack up and leave?” Pete asked.

Forest looked at her. “In all honesty? It’s exactly what I want.” He turned back to McGarvey. “You have firearms here,” he said as a statement not as a question. “And you have state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, something Otto Rencke has set up for you. So you’ve come here where it’s easier to watch your three-sixty. You’ve been open about your movements, so in effect, you’re expecting to be attacked. But you don’t want any official help, which would keep the bad guy away, and you’ve bunkered in until it happens.”

“Something like that,” McGarvey admitted.

“Exactly like that,” Forest said, resigned. “Have you thought about collateral damage like what happened at the college? Because that’s sure as hell number one for me.”

“The Alperts next door are in Europe, and the house to the south has been empty for almost a year.”

“It’s in what I’ve been told is a nasty probate fight in Atlanta.”

“You’ve done your homework,” Pete said.

“Self-defense; I’ve learned the hard way,” Forest said. “But what about a car passing by out front or a pontoon boat filled with tourists coming down the ICW? If there’s a gun battle, people could get hurt. Have you considered that possibility?”

“We’re both excellent marksmen,” Pete said. “And it’s the off-season; only the locals here now. Even King is back in Maine.”

“You’ve done your homework, too.”

“Always do.”

“How about if I get four of my SWAT team guys here? They could show up in plain clothes in an unmarked civilian vehicle. Two upstairs front and back and the same downstairs.”

“You know why we’re here,” Pete said.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“If you know, then someone else in your department might know, too. And of course the Tampa SAC knows; in fact, the entire office is probably aware of what might go down. Can you guarantee that there are no leaks in your office or his?”

Forest started to object but then shook his head. “No. But my guess, if there is a leak somewhere, is that it would be in Tampa.”

“Those guys get paid more than yours do,” Pete said. “And your people are closer to the scene.”

“What the hell am I supposed to say to that?”

McGarvey decided not to tell the cop about the Pentagon or the White House; it would add an unnecessary complication. “Nothing. Just go ahead and let things unfold as they may. Or may not.”

“Trying to take you into custody wouldn’t work.”

“It didn’t for the Bureau, and before that the Company.”

“You don’t want my SWAT guys either. So how about I camp out here for a few days? An extra gun wouldn’t hurt.”

“No, thanks.”

“Not as a cop, just as a friend.”

“No.”

“Goddamnit, Mac.”

“Let me tell you something else. The first shooter they sent after me was pretty decent. But just that, not fantastic. His experience was more along the line of taking up a sniper position a long ways from his target and then biding his time before taking the shot. The second operator was better. Much better by a large factor.”

“But you managed to take both of them down.”

“The third one will be someone at the very top of the game. An international assassin who knows his business,” Mac said. “No offense, Jim, but you’d be way out of his league.”

“Such a guy would have left footprints. Otto should be able to find him.”

“We have some ideas, and we’re still looking. But whoever this shooter