The Last Patriot - Brad Thor [66]
Rasmussen’s specialty was operating in the field, not an interrogation room, and Ozbek let the remark go unchallenged. Reaching into his jacket he removed a new digital camera and powered it up. “The last time we were in here you asked about your dog,” he said as he handed the device to him. “I thought you’d want to see these.”
Salam’s face softened as he scrolled through the pictures. “So the police did take care of him.”
“Not really,” said Ozbek. “They were a lot more concerned with ripping your house apart. They were going to put him in the pound, but I got it all sorted out. He’s with one of your neighbors now.”
“Which one?” Salam asked apprehensively.
“The older guy across the street.”
“Who? The veteran with the P.O.W. flag?”
“Yep,” said Ozbek. “Any problem with that?”
“No,” replied Salam. “He’s a good guy. He did a couple of tours in Vietnam. I don’t think he cared for me much when I moved in, but he came around and has always been polite. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Now—”
“What’s your thing with dogs anyway?”
“I’ve got a black lab.”
“Nice dog,” said Salam. “Smart.”
“Yes, they are,” replied Ozbek. “Listen, Andrew, you need to know that the FBI have uncovered e-mails between you and Nura Khalifa as well as some other pieces of evidence that suggest you two were having a relationship.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“The evidence suggests that Nura had met with you to tell you that the relationship was over.”
“But there was no relationship,” insisted Salam. “It was strictly professional.”
Ozbek shrugged. “I’m just telling you what I’ve heard.”
“What other pieces of evidence do they have?”
“Whatever they are, it seems to point to an if I can’t have her no one can motive for murder.”
“But I didn’t kill her. We were attacked. I told you that. I’m not an idiot. If, and the key word here is if, I was going to kill somebody, do you think I’d be dumb enough to choose a location where I’d have to disarm Park Police security cameras? I couldn’t even do that if I had wanted to.
“You have to believe me. Nura and I were both targets. They wanted us dead and when I survived they planted all of that BS information to make it look like we had a relationship and that I wanted to kill her because she was going to leave me.”
“That’s a lot of work,” said Ozbek.
“So is knocking out surveillance cameras at the Jefferson Memorial.”
Ozbek couldn’t argue with that.
“These people aren’t the turban-wearing morons most of our politicians think they are,” continued Salam. “They’re extremely sophisticated, and have resources you can’t even begin to imagine. If you knew the places their operatives had wormed their way into, you wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. They have armies of sympathizers, legions of apologists, and one of the best crafted public relations and media strategies ever created. These people make the Nazis look like amateurs.
“This is the most dangerous threat this nation has ever faced, and yet I’m going to hang for trying to do my duty as an American to take them down. This isn’t justice, it’s bullshit.”
Ozbek looked at him. “You’re right. It is bullshit.”
“So you believe me, then?”
Ozbek nodded. “But I have to be honest with you. There is a limit to how much we can do for you. This investigation belongs to the FBI and D.C. Metro. The CIA has no official role in it whatsoever.”
“What about Dodd? Capturing him would change things, wouldn’t it?”
“Probably,” replied Ozbek, “but he could turn around and cut a deal with the CIA to give them something of greater value.”
Salam shook his head. “And I’d still be screwed.”
“It happens. I just want you to be aware of that.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“Andrew, you’re in a tough position. Based on how the deck is stacked against you, nobody would blame you at this point for clamming up and waiting for a lawyer.”
“Why are you telling me all of this? If I go to the press about Dodd, it could be very embarrassing for the CIA.”
“They’re big boys and girls,” said Ozbek. “They’ve got people who know how to handle spin.”
“But still,” replied Salam, pressing