CHAPTER 84
CHAPTER
FBI SPECIAL AGENT REED MORRIS strode down the long hallway, his heels clicking rhythmically on the cement floor. He turned left, then stopped at the cell door. The uniformed man next to the door nodded, unlocked the portal, and Morris went inside.
At the table Connor Lord was outfitted in a prison jumpsuit and shackled to a bolt in the floor.
Morris sat down, opened a file he was carrying, and noted the date, time, and people in the room into a recorder that sat on the tabletop.
Lord said, “I have already requested an attorney, so you can ask me nothing.” He could not have looked any more smug.
“I’m not here to ask questions, because I have no need to. You’ve been charged with murder.”
“I have no idea what you’re taking about,” said Lord. “I was in a warehouse when your agents burst in. We were taken there by Rhett Temple. Who, by the way, killed Walter Nash and Victoria Steers.”
“We’ve already talked to Temple. He’s agreed to a deal.”
“How was he able to make a deal?” said Lord. “He murdered Walter Nash right in front of us.”
Morris cleared his throat and looked grimly at him. “He’s going to prison for the rest of his life for that crime. And he’s cooperating with us to put you away for the rest of your life.”
“This is ridiculous. He killed Nash. And Steers.”
“Steers’s death is not something that will ever make me lose any sleep. But Walter Nash was a hero who ultimately sacrificed his life to do the right thing. And he was also my friend. I only wish we had arrived in time to save him. But you are going to pay for your crimes.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. What crimes? I was in a warehouse at the request of Mr. Temple. If there is something illicit going on there you must talk to him,” said Lord. “I know nothing whatsoever about it.”
“Before you bought her out, you had been working with the late Victoria Steers. But you weren’t alone in that. You had major backing from Beijing.”
“That is preposterous.”
“Actually the Chinese say the same. In fact, they have disclaimed any ties to you at all. Indeed, whatever property you owned in China has now been confiscated by their government, or so we’ve been told.
And the U.S. government has impounded all of your property and assets in this country.
The same for our global partners, including all your friends in the Middle East who are doing their best to forget who you are because they are about to be hit with severe sanctions.
And a certain prison in Myanmar? It’s been visited by Interpol agents, and its prisoner population was found to be, well, interesting, to say the least. It’s now been closed and a major investigation started.
So right now, you have zero assets. But rest assured, you will be provided with a public defender.
And Beijing will not escape this scot-free.
They will take a hit on the world’s stage, for sure. ”
Lord said, “But with Victoria Steers dead, how can you prove anything? Who will take the word of a murderer like Rhett Temple?”
“Steers previously recorded all her testimony against both of you. And Nash provided a treasure trove of evidence as well.”
“My lawyers will never allow that evidence in. And if Steers can’t testify in person, that’s too bad.”
“No, it will be admissible because we also have video of you shooting her.”
“That is absolutely impossible,” exclaimed Lord.
“Why, because you swept it for bugs and used jamming signals?” Morris smiled.
“That would work for most surveillance operations, but not the one we employed. DHS and NSA have some amazing backdoors to every tech manufacturer in the world, Mr. Lord. Trust me when I tell you that we have the goods. All through warrants, all legal and admissible. We have you dead to rights for the murder of Victoria Steers. That will allow her video testimony to come in.”
Morris looked down at his file. “Bail will never be granted, so you’ll be in prison for the duration before trial, which might be years away.
” He rose and closed his file. “FYI, we’ve already made dozens of arrests of your major coconspirators, closed down fourteen major distribution centers, confiscated five billion dollars’ worth of contraband, and shut off the financial pipelines for half of the world’s major drug suppliers.
And these folks are falling all over themselves to cut deals and testify against you and Masuyo Steers.
And Beijing is fully back on their heels and offering all sorts of goodies to us too. All in all, a nice day.”
“Then why did you want to meet if there is nothing you need from me?” demanded Lord.
Morris leaned down to stare at the man. “Because I wanted to tell you to your face that you are royally fucked.” He lifted his middle finger to the man. “And that’s for Walter Nash, who most definitely got the last laugh.”
He walked out.