Collateral Damage - Marc Cerasini [75]
Henderson tensed. He hadn't expected to discuss that particular matter on this call, and he didn't appreciate Bauer's bluntness. But he was careful to answer with smoothness and control.
"We think so, Jack. Rachel Delgado, New York's deputy head of Security, has been cross-identified as a former member of Newark's Thirteen Gang. I haven't interrogated Peter Randall yet, but..."
"Randall?" Jack frowned. "I thought Layla Abernathy..."
"She's been cleared," Henderson broke in. "Randall set her up, even planted incriminating information in Agent Abernathy's personal computer, knowing we'd find it. Thanks to O'Brian, we know the truth now. Agent Abernathy is innocent. She's recovering in the infirmary..."
"Release her," Jack demanded. "I need her in the field..."
"Listen, Jack..." Henderson paused. "She's had a rough time. A very rough time..."
"This isn't a request, Christopher. I need Agent Abernathy to successfully complete this mission."
Henderson fell silent. He didn't like the idea of putting the woman back on line, but he could hear the steel in Jack's voice, and bickering with Bauer in front of the other men would sound childish at best.
What the hell, if Bauer wants her...
"All right," he finally relented. "She'll be ready for action by the time you get back."
"Listen," Jack continued, "I've been looking over the contents of Erno Tobias's computer. The Albino has been tracking currency futures. Foreign banks, financial institutions in Europe, the Middle East, Asia — they're all lining up to dump U.S. currency. Billions of dollars."
"Agent Bauer is correct," said Hershel Berkovic. Close to sixty and bald, with close-set eyes and a slight facial twitch, the man spoke on the screen out of CIA's headquarters in Langley, Virginia. "The EWD has analyzed the data coming in, including the contents of Mr. Tobias's computer, and the threat you described is very real — and very dangerous..."
"Excuse me?" Jack interrupted. "Would the man speaking please identify himself."
"This is Hershel Berkovic, Agent Bauer. I'm the director of CTU's Economic Warfare Division, and there is no reason for these monetary speculators to dump the dollar. Inflation is low, productivity high. Our American economy is sound, the stock market stable..."
"What about the terror attacks?" Richard Walsh interrupted from Los Angeles. "Don't you think they'll put a dent in our stock market come morning?"
"Yes, you are correct, Director Walsh," Berkovic replied, except for one thing. Only the attack in Atlantic City has been reported as a terrorist incident, and the press and public believe it was an isolated event. Thanks to damage control from several government agencies, the Carlisle attack, the wreck outside the Lincoln Tunnel, even the blast in Rutland are perceived to be tragic accidents. The truth might eventually come out, but it hasn't. Not yet."
Henderson grabbed up his pen, impatiently tapped the table. "Your point?"
"The people poised to sell dollars must have inside information," said Berkovic. "They know about the terrorist threat to our country and are set to trade accordingly."
"There's another possibility," said Jack. "An endgame."
At CTU New York, Henderson and Guilling glanced at each other across the table. In Los Angles, Walsh leaned closer to the camera. "Go on," he commanded.
Jack nodded. "These currency trades appear to be coming from many sources, but Tobias's secure files indicate that the bulk of the trades are coming through one financial institution — Ungar, Geneva, LLC."
"My analysts detected that pattern, too, Agent Bauer, but..." Hershel Berkovic shook his head dismissively...
"you must remember: Ungar, Geneva, is one of the largest currency trading businesses in Europe..."
"No," Richard Walsh interrupted. "I think Jack's on to something. There could me more going on here than some fanatical religious assault. Someone could have an ulterior motive. Someone could be pulling the strings."
"We need to look at Soren