Operation Hell Gate - Marc Cerasini [74]
Even more interesting, with some electronic digging Jamey also discovered that Wexler Business Storage — the company that owned the SUV that had served as Dante Arete's deathtrap — had only two clients renting space in their Houston Street storage facility. One was Green Dragon Computers of Forest Hills, the other firm was Prolix Security of Manhattan.
Jamey grinned as she added the intelligence to her electronic data log.
Let's see Nina Myers accuse me of "sloppy performance" now!
* * *
10:59:56 A.M. EDT
Montague Street, Brooklyn
Following the homing technology embedded inside his digital watch, Jack located the narrow-band beacon signal constantly broadcast by his CTU-issue Personal Digital Assistant. There was a lot of interference, and sometimes he stumbled into blind spots and lost the signal, but Jack knew that Caitlin must be close or he would not be receiving the signal at all.
Along a trendy, upscale commercial area on tree-lined Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, the signal became very strong. As Jack wove his way through throngs of late morning shoppers, the watch began to emit tiny beeps — a warning that he was within fifty yards of his PDA.
Jack scanned the busy street, noticed a small cafe tucked between a bakery shop and an antiques store. A few tables, shaded by umbrellas, were on the sidewalk in front of the cafe. Jack spied Caitlin sitting at one of them, a cup of coffee untouched at her arm. Her head was down, her eyes red from crying, her skinny arms wrapped around her.
Jack crossed the street, moved among the tables. Caitlin looked up just then, blinked in disbelief, then launched herself out of the chair and clasped him tightly.
"Jack! Oh, Jack! Mother of God, you scared me. I thought you were dead, sure!"
Jack held her close, felt the young woman tremble in his arms.
"Did you see my brother? Did you see Liam?" she asked, frantic.
"Don't worry. I know Liam never made it to Kahlil's store, they told me so. I'm sure he's safe, Caitlin. We just have to find him before anyone else does..."
15
THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11 A.M. AND 12 P.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME
11:09:56 A.M. EDT
CTU Headquarters, Los Angeles
Nina Myers jerked, snapped back to reality by the insistent three-tone ring. She looked away from the computer monitor, punched the button for the speakerphone. "What is it Jamey?"
"I have Jack on the line."
Nina snatched the receiver. "Jack. My god. It's been close to six hours since..." She took a breath. "After the reports coming out of Brooklyn, Ryan was ready to write you off. Did you make contact with Taj Ali Kahlil?"
"Only his brother, Khan. He's dead now. So is everyone else, thanks to that FBI raid. I've hit a wall."
Jack was reaching for a lifeline and Nina tossed him one. There was a tiny pause in which he could almost feel Nina's smile over the phone. They had worked so closely and so intensely, Jack sometimes felt he knew what Nina was thinking.
"Listen, Jack. We're not out of leads yet. Jamey's dug up some new intelligence; so have Tony and Captain Schneider."
"Who?"
"Never mind, just listen." Nina told Jack everything they'd learned about Felix Tanner, his connection to Prolix Security, and that company's connection to the Lynch brothers through their Green Dragon store in Queens. Then she briefed him about Wexler Storage and the company's connection to both Prolix Security and the Lynch brothers' computer store.
"Have you found out anything more about Special Agent Frank Hensley?"
"Sorry, Jack. Only what's public knowledge — and by public I mean in the newspapers. The FBI has effectively cut us off from their database. Some of the other agencies are starting to get nervous, too. The walls are getting higher."
"Because of Hensley's accusations about me?"
Nina said nothing. They both knew the answer.
"Listen, Nina... I have a problem. It's Caitlin, she's done her part but she's a civilian. I can't drag her all over town, put her in jeopardy again. And I can't leave her on her