Chapter 30
30
Sisco sat in the compound and reviewed the latest intel from their FBI liaison. Since Everett Tomey had interviewed Lenore after her kidnapping and was working on the case, he communicated often. Sisco didn’t realize at the time that Everett had been a friend of Landon's from when they met when both were working for the FBI years earlier.
Initially, Everett resisted sharing information, but with Landon's encouragement, the agent admitted they worked best together and certainly weren't adversaries.
“You all know that I’m flying solo now. Sheila has been pulled back to our state headquarters to finish her career. She’s slated to retire in a month, so they are sending me a new partner soon. I’ll give you what I have and hope like hell you all will keep sharing,” Everett said from his office using secure video conferencing. With nods from the Keepers, he looked down at the file in front of him.
“So, you confirmed Raul is in Mexico, and considering he lost the massive cocaine shipment when the police discovered the haul in his vehicle, he probably won't be making any more trips to the US anytime soon,” Everett said. “And Freddy is just a known local who's disappeared into the hills, maybe over the border into Canada to lay low. And your Mexican contact says Raul's brother, Enzo, is set to take over Raul's route.”
“That’s what we’ve got. But I want to know who the other man was who held a gun on us,” Sisco growled. “And what about inside the hospital? Why hasn't anything been found about that?”
“No evidence we've uncovered implicates anyone in the hospital. No one was seen communicating with Raul, Freddy, or the other gunman. They would have used a burner phone if there were communication with someone else.”
“I just keep feeling like we're missing something,” Sisco grumbled, noting the sympathetic expressions from the other Keepers.
“Because of the fire alarm going off, there was no way to see who might have left the building from a back exit or who might not have reported back to work,” Everett added. “But I know this is all the information you already know. I'm as frustrated as you, but I have nothing new.”
“The hospital administrator, Porter Johnson, confirms that his brother set off an alarm based on a fire in a trashcan outside the cafeteria. There are various levels of alarms, but the whole hospital alarm isn't used unless the fire isn't easily contained,” Everett said. “I've had my office check Porter out, and I know you all did, too. He's near retirement. Worked for hospitals his whole career. Never a hint of suspicious behavior, and there's been no exchange of money that we can trace to him. His brother, Samuel, who’s in charge of hospital food management, has checked out, as well. Nothing on him, either.”
“So, who the fuck set the fire? How did they manage to keep their face away from the cameras if they didn't know where the cameras were?” Sisco argued. “I thought we'd find something eventually… something that led us to who was orchestrating this on the outside with Raul on the inside. There's something we're missing, and I want to know what the fuck it is!”
They finished the call with Everett, and Sisco pushed his chair back, saying, “Sorry. I need a minute.”
Chin lifts greeted his statement, and he offered one in return. Once outside, he walked across the hard-packed dirt yard between the compound and the barn. He stopped and stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the nearby mountains and the light tower near the top.
He heard the approaching footsteps of two people, so he wasn't surprised when Logan and Devil came up beside him. The trio had shared many missions together as SEALs. They could still read each other’s behaviors, minds, and moods. No one spoke for several minutes, giving Sisco a chance to think.
Logan finally sighed heavily. “All the missions I assisted with while providing intel before taking on LSIMT were so easy compared to this.” He scoffed. “When Mace and Carson came to talk to me about starting a new Lighthouse Security, I initially resisted the idea. I didn't want to be the boss of others. I didn't want to get involved in the lives of those working with me. It seemed… messy.”
Devil chortled. “Messy? That's how you'd describe this shit?”
Logan chuckled, and Sisco felt his lips curve slightly.
“Yeah. After being a SEAL, I craved a solitary life. I wanted to fly helicopter rescues, then come home, have a beer, and occasionally provide information on a mission no one knew about.”
“Anonymity,” Sisco said, turning to look at Logan.
“Yeah. I guess that's all I wanted.”
“And now?” Devil pressed. “You don't have any.”
“No. But this is better. Vivian has taught me that it's okay to be responsible for others. To be relied upon and to be accountable.”
“Where's this coming from?” Sisco wondered aloud. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m good. Got a handle on myself.”
Logan shook his head, scoffing as he turned to face Sisco. “I had one of my men taken hostage, and we can't find out how it happened and be able to say that the woman and child you're involved with are completely safe.”
“You're making this sound like it's your fault,” Sisco said.
“No, but I don't mind telling you I talked to Carson last night. I had to ask him what he did when they got stuck on a case, especially one that concerned his own people, and they couldn't find what they needed.”
“Did he have any words of advice?” Devil asked.
Snorting, Logan grinned. “First of all, the fucker told me that lighthouses weren't able to save everyone. I was about ready to tell him to fuck off when he gave me real information about the case he was on when he met his wife, Jeannie. He said the intel didn't come in very fast, and she was put in danger more than once.” Logan turned to Sisco. “I know that doesn't give you peace, but I want you to know I'm committed. We're going to keep searching until we find out who the fuck is responsible. And until we're sure that Lenore and Evie are safe, we will keep an eye on them.”
“Logan, this isn't your mission to take responsibility for. This is a mission with no paycheck attached. If anyone should take responsibility, it's me,” Sisco insisted.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Devil growled. “Since when did we take on the sins of the criminals?” Sisco and Logan swung their heads around, but Devil wasn't finished.
“Sisco, I'm sorry as fuck that we haven't found the ones who helped Raul take Lenore, but we're still gonna work the case, and we're not giving up. And it's no one's fault but the assholes we're after.”
“We'll have a reprieve soon,” Sisco said. “The school's fall break is ready to start, and I've convinced them to stay at my place for a couple of days. Evie wants to come here and play with the kittens but also to be back in town for Halloween. It's more secure here, and we can relieve a duty person from keeping an eye on them. When they're in town, I'll be with them.”
“How long does fall break last?” Logan asked.
“I think she has the whole week. Then they go back for several weeks and then get a few days for Thanksgiving.”
“Well, I hope like hell we'll have this thing wrapped up before she goes back home.”
“I know there's got to be something we're missing. Something that is right under our noses, but I just can't figure out what it could be,” Sisco said.
Devil clapped him on the back. “We'll get there. And until then, we will all work to keep them safe.”
With another deep inhalation of fresh air, Sisco nodded and turned, all three walking back inside the main compound room. As soon as they entered, the air crackled with a different level of intensity than when he'd walked out. His gaze immediately shot to Landon.
Landon jumped in, not waiting to be asked what had been discovered. “Sam Johnson was seen walking past a man in the hall outside the cafeteria before the fire. It looks like the man who set the fire, and while the two don't speak to each other, it appeared Sam stared at the man when he passed—longer than just a glance before he went back inside his office.”
“It might be nothing,” Sadie reminded, “but it's worth talking to him.”
“Let's go,” Sisco said, and a few minutes later, he and Landon headed out.
“Mr. Johnson, we're just checking anyone who had access to the fire alarm system,” Landon said smoothly.
Sisco eyed the man sitting across from them. He hadn't interviewed the hospital administrator, Porter, but had seen his photograph downstairs in the main hallway. Sam looked about the same age, and if the men weren't seen side by side, he could imagine it would be easy for them to be mistaken for each other. Tucking away that observation, he tuned in to Sam's ever-so-slightly twitchy behavior at Landon's questions.
“I'm sure I was in my office when I was alerted that there was a fire in a cafeteria trash can,” Sam said, a pen dangling between his fingers.
His actions reminded Sisco of someone who wished the writing utensil was a cigarette instead. He also noticed the speech pattern of rhotacism, where the “r” sound is pronounced like a “w.” One of his nieces had difficulty pronouncing certain words when she was younger, which was the only reason he knew there was a word for the speech pattern. While Sam’s speech difficulty was subtle, it was noticeable.
“Yes, that's true,” Landon confirmed. “Although surveillance cameras have you walking in the hall numerous times that morning.”
Sam's complexion reddened. Sisco could only assume that the man hated that strong emotions would be written on his face.
“I might be in charge of the food services, but I assure you that I'm still a hospital administrator. I spend time on the floors daily.”
“I'm sure you do. We have surveillance of you passing the man who eventually set the fire in the trash can a few minutes later. Do you remember seeing anyone who caught your attention?”
Sam grimaced and shook his head. “I don't understand what you're asking. I see many people I recognize when I walk the halls. I know almost everyone who works here.”
“What about a visitor who caught your attention? In the video, you appear to stare at them for a few long seconds… more than a passing glance.”
“I might have… sometimes I think I recognize someone but realize I don't. We all do that.”
“This man wore a dark hoodie with the hood up in the back just enough to cover his neck. He also wore a PPE mask.”
“I can't recall seeing anyone like that, and certainly not someone I knew.”
“I see. Did you go out to see the fire when a cafeteria worker alerted you before you set the alarm?” Landon continued.
Sam's face reddened even more. “I don't like the insinuation?—”
“Sir, we just want to establish where people were and what they were doing.”
Sam sucked in a deep breath and shook his head. “No, I didn't. They said the fire had engulfed a trash can, so I hit the alarm.”
“The alarm to alert the staff to begin evacuation?”
“That was an error. The alarm should have been sent to floor admins only, but the system for alarm evacuation went out.” He quickly held up his hand. “And I was interviewed by the fire marshal and law enforcement. There was no malice or error on my part. There was an error with the alarm codes.”
“I see. And who works with those codes?”
Sam's lips pinched. “My brother, myself, and the fire marshal. It was determined that it must have malfunctioned. We had a fire alarm company come to make any repairs, and I've been assured it is fixed.” A trickle of sweat rolled down the side of Sam's face.
“Thank you,” Landon said with a polite smile. “We appreciate your cooperation.”
As Landon and Sisco walked out into the sunshine, they said nothing until they climbed into the SUV. Sisco stared out of the windshield at the hospital. “He's lying.”
Landon nodded as he started the engine. “Yeah… but to protect himself or someone else?”
Sisco pulled out his phone and hit the number for the compound. “Sadie? Start digging into Sam Johnson. And his brother, Porter. Dig deep.”