Corps Justice Boxed Set: Books 1-3: Back to War, Council of Patriots, Prime Asset (64 page)

“That man is a lunatic! When I get out of
here…”

“Shhh,” Higgins ordered with a finger to his
lips. “You might want to watch what you say. Mr. Dunn is still
listening.” He pointed to the one-way window.

“But I haven’t done anything wrong!”

Higgins shook his head as if
disappointed.

“We both know that’s not true,
Terrence.”

“You don’t know…”

“Oh but I will, Terrence,” Higgins replied
with an almost embarrassed shrug. “Do you know what I do at SSI,
Terrence?”

“You…uh…you’re a shrink or something.”

“That’s partially true. While my job does
require me to attend to the mental well-being of SSI employees, my
background is actually in interrogation.”

Zheng strained to look back at the
doctor.

“Oh, I’m sorry. How rude of me.” Dr. Higgins
moved to the side of the gurney and reached underneath. Something
clicked and Zheng flinched as he heard the electric hum. The
stretcher slowly tilted forward so that he was no longer lying
flat.

“Is that better?” Higgins asked.

Zheng nodded through fear-filled eyes.

“So, as I was saying, my background is in
interrogation. I rather hate the word but it is quite accurate.”
Dr. Higgins adjusted his glasses as he walked over to one of the IV
stands.

“You see, I spent the first part of my
career with the Central Intelligence Agency. When they wanted
someone to talk, they flew me in. You can’t imagine how many
countries I’ve been too. Now, I only tell you this so that we might
save time.”

“What…what do you mean?”

“One way or another you will tell us what we
want to know. Most people think they can resist divulging the
truth. I think it’s because they watch too many movies. Well,
that’s simply not true. Everyone talks. It’s just a matter of
when.”

Zheng couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
He’d seen the chubby doctor around the campus on many occasions.
Higgins looked more like a jolly uncle than what he’d just
described. He was always chatting with SSI employees and telling
the latest jokes he’d heard. Zheng just couldn’t get it through his
head that there could be any other reality.

“Doctor, I really don’t know what I’m doing
here. I work on the computer systems and that’s it. I’m not
even…”

He realized Higgins wasn’t listening.
Instead, he was preparing the various IVs and instruments, and
moving them closer to the gurney. Dr. Higgins finally turned back
to Zheng.

“I’ve been working on a very special recipe.
I haven’t had a chance to try it out on a human subject, so this
will be perfect timing.”

Zheng’s eyes went wide as Higgins swabbed
his arm and inserted the IV needle. “Now, this won’t hurt as long
as you don’t struggle. Allow the drugs to work their way into your
system.” He turned the dial on the IV, and Zheng felt the cold flow
of liquid entering his blood stream.

“I’ll let that run for a few minutes, and
then I’ll be back in to talk to you.”

“Don’t leave me in here!” Zheng screamed in
panic.

Higgins ignored the outburst and left the
room to consult with Dunn. He was sure they’d have their answers
soon.

+++

“Have you found anything on his phone?” Dr.
Higgins asked Dunn.

“No. I’ve got one of the other computer guys
taking a look at it now. Looks like Mr. Zheng might have loaded it
with some extra security features.”

Higgins had expected as much. This new breed
of youth was comfortable manipulating technology. Besides, he
wasn’t sure they’d get any more out of the phone than through the
interrogation.

“I’ll give him ten minutes and the solution
should be fully in his system. Is there anything else you’d like me
to ask?”

“Just what we discussed before. I need to
get Cal as much intel as I can. There’s a big snowstorm about to
blow into Wyoming, so we need to work fast.”

“I always do, my boy.”

“We do need to figure out what to do with
the kid once we’re done questioning him.”

SSI had never had to put away any of its own
employees before. It wasn’t possible to just dump him on the local
police department. Zheng knew too much. Dunn also didn’t want to
kill the guy. They weren’t murderers.

“Let me see if I can make a call to some of
my old friends at the Agency. I’m sure they can find a space for
our friend in one of their maximum security cells.”

Dunn liked the idea. If they could pull a
few strings, Zheng would never see the light of day again. It’s
what he deserved for selling out Neil and the company.

“Go ahead and do that. In the meantime,
we’ll hold him here until this whole thing with Neil gets
resolved.”

Higgins agreed and left the
room to make the phone call. Dunn looked into Zheng’s holding
room.
We better get some answers
soon.

+++

Dr. Higgins strolled back into Zheng’s room,
this time with the face shield down. You never knew when someone
might like to spit in your face.

“How are you feeling, Terrence?”

Zheng couldn’t respond for a moment. He’d
been surprised to find that no pain accompanied the IV’s injection.
In fact, instead of feeling worse, he almost felt euphoric.

“I’m feeling pretty damn good, Doctor!”

Higgins smiled warmly. He never knew why
some interrogators insisted on administering pain to make suspects
talk. Through the miracle of modern medicine, there were now easier
ways. Over the years, Higgins had learned to manipulate men with
the use of a variety of intoxicating tools. He’d learned to vary
his doses based on not only the physical characteristics of the
subject, but also their temperament. Like an expert anesthesia
practitioner, Higgins knew exactly how to manipulate the body to
get a desired effect. He felt it was better to have a compliant and
happy subject, and mixed his drugs accordingly. Let them gnash and
scream later. His job was to find the answer in the quickest and
most humane way possible.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better, Terrence.
Now, are you ready to answer some of my questions?”

A small part of Zheng screamed alarm, but
the thought was swiftly pushed aside by the swirl of the potent
drug. “I’m happy to help in any way I can,” he answered.

“Good. Let’s start with some easy questions,
shall we?”

Zheng nodded eagerly. For some reason he had
an overwhelming urge to help. He wanted to tell the truth. The real
story of his life felt like it was going to burst out of his lungs.
Why had he been so defensive earlier? Dr. Higgins only wanted to
help him, right?

“First, your name is Terrence Zheng,
correct?”

“Yes, but my friends call me Z.”

“Ah. You don’t mind if I still call your
Terrence, do you?”

“Nope.”

“How long have you worked for SSI,
Terrence?”

“I think for about a year.”

“And what is it you do at SSI?”

“I help maintain the company’s network
security.”

“Do you do any work for our clients?”

“I’ve done some consulting with the
Department of Defense.”

“And what was the nature of the
consulting?”

“They’re trying to beef up their new Cyber
Command. If you ask me, they’re way behind the power curve.”

“What do you mean, Terrence?”

Zheng laughed out loud. “I could out-hack
any of those guys.”

“So you’re a hacker, Terrence?”

“Yeah, I’ve been breaking into stuff since I
was a kid.”

“I assume it always came easy for you?”

“Yeah. I think the first time I hacked into
someone’s computer was when I was, like, eight years old. My dad
wouldn’t let me play games on his PC, so I learned how to break
in.”

“How would you rate your skills as compared
to your peers?”

Zheng thought about his answer. He wanted to
be as precise as he could for the kind doctor. “I’m not saying I’m
the best in the world. The best guys spend all their time hacking.
I’m more of a part-timer.”

Higgins had a hunch he wanted to work out.
“How would you say your skills compare to say…Neil Patel?”

Zheng’s face scrunched up, and then he
smiled proudly. “I’m better.”

Higgins wasn’t so sure. He’d heard from
numerous friends that Patel could possibly be one of the world’s
elite computer geniuses. He hadn’t heard of a single system Neil
couldn’t break into. Higgins was starting to feel that Zheng had a
highly inflated opinion of himself. Was that a possible motive?
He’d be testing the potency of his drug mixture, but Higgins was
all about experimentation.

“Why do you feel you’re better than
Neil?”

“I’m younger and I know the newest ways to
get around things,” Zheng stated.

“So you feel that you could do Neil’s job
better than he does?”

Warning bells once again sounded in the
recesses of Zheng’s mind. Was he supposed to answer that question?
As before, the drugs swept away any doubt.

“I definitely think I can do the job
better.”

It was time to ask the most damning
question. Higgins was now sure that the young man would answer
truthfully. Although he wanted the answer, he still dreaded it.

“Is that why you helped Nick Ponder kidnap
Neil?”

Zheng answered without hesitating.
“Yes.”

Chapter 17

Camp Spartan, Arrington, TN

3:56am CST, September 28th

After almost an hour of questioning, Dunn
and Higgins felt like they had everything they needed. Zheng’s
motive had been power. He didn’t really need the money. Even though
Zheng was set to make a pretty penny from Ponder, it was the
possibility of taking down a man like Neil that had truly motivated
him. For him it was a challenge similar to breaking into his
father’s computer the first time.

Dunn cursed the young upstart for his
stupidity.

“How long will he be doped up like that,
Doc?” Dunn asked.

“He should be coming out of it soon. Do you
think what we learned will help get Neil back?”

“The biggest thing we needed was to confirm
that Ponder was behind it. That guy is a real piece of work. If the
FBI wasn’t coming tomorrow, I’d be going out there myself. As it
is, we won’t be able to send Cal any more help what with the storm
and the FBI audit.”

“Don’t you mean today?”

“What?”

“The FBI is coming TODAY, Todd.”

Dunn looked at his watch and groaned. “Shit.
I’ve gotta go. Can you take care of our young friend there?”

“Consider it handled. Please let me know if
there’s anything I can do to assist with the investigation.”

“You’ve already done more than you know,
Doc. Thanks again.”

Dunn left in a hurry. The first person he
had to call was Cal. He’d love to know that their target was
confirmed. Dunn placed the call as he rushed to the stairwell.

“Stokes.”

“Cal, we just confirmed the kidnapper’s
identity.”

“Is it who we thought?”

“Yes.”

“Good, thanks.”

“Hey, Cal?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s your next move?”

Dunn could hear the fierce determination in
the Marine’s voice. “I’m going to get Neil back.”

Chapter 18

Teton Village, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

3:13am, September 28th

Cal gathered his men in the living room.
Although most had just been awakened, he could feel the charged
energy in the air. It was almost time to move. They waited
expectantly for their young leader to speak.

“I just got confirmation from Dunn. The guy
behind the kidnapping is a former soldier named Nick Ponder.”

There were murmurs around the room.
Apparently some of the men knew who Ponder was, and by the sound of
the comments, their opinions were not favorable.

“According to Travis, this asshole is real
piece of work. He’s also downright deadly. Ponder has a habit of
being connected with the wrong crowd. The two guys we brought in
last night work for The Ponder Group. Unfortunately one of them got
away, but that shouldn’t matter.”

Cal paused and looked around the room at his
highly trained warriors. “Now, you know I’d never ask any one of
you to do something that I wouldn’t do myself…so I’ll tell it to
you straight. Once we find out where this Ponder guy lives, I’m
going in there and taking him out. From what I’ve heard of the
fucker, it probably should’ve been done a long time ago.”

He searched his men for any sense of unease,
but all he saw was seething anger. “So here’s your chance. If you
want out, tell me now. If you want in, pack your snow gear because
we’re headed into the mountains.”

No one made a sound. The silence lingered
until MSgt Trent spoke.

“Well, if Gaucho’s going, I’m going.”

“What are you talking about, Top?” asked
Gaucho, confused about being called out.

“Hombre, I’ve been waitin’ to see you freeze
your cojones off for years!” The men snickered at the comment. Once
again the large Marine succeeded in keeping the mood light. Cal
loved him for it.

“Fuck you, Top,” Gaucho replied with a
grin.

+++

Thirty minutes later they were putting the
finishing touches on their plan. The biggest problem was figuring
out what to do with their prisoner.

“Let’s bring him along,” suggested
Brian.

Cal didn’t like the idea. They’d have enough
to worry about. Babysitting the overgrown child wasn’t exactly what
he had in mind.

“I’ll take care of him, Cal.” Everyone
looked at Daniel in surprise. “I don’t think he’s a bad guy and I
don’t think he’ll give us any trouble.”

“I agree with Snake Eyes,” offered Gaucho.
“If we leave him here we’ll have to leave two of our guys back too.
Without any extra men coming from HQ, I think we need everybody
we’ve got.”

Cal wasn’t sure. It wasn’t that he didn’t
trust Daniel’s judgment or skills. He knew the sniper could handle
most men, but he would rather have the deadly warrior’s eyes
looking for coming threats.