The Assassin's Trail by J.C. Fields Page B

conference call ended, the wall monitor went blank. Dollar cleared his throat loudly and said, “Thank you, everyone, good work today. Let’s get back to it. Everyone is dismissed.”
    The sound of chairs scooting on carpet, shuffled papers and the clamor of multiple conversations was interrupted by Dollar saying, “Agent Kruger, don’t leave yet. I need to discuss something with you.”
    Kruger sat back down, waited until the room was clear and the door closed. He stared at Dollar and said, “What?”
    “First, your appearance and attire is inappropriate for this office.”
    Kruger shook his head, but said nothing.
    “Also, how did you manage to avoid reporting to me? Did you call and whine about having to work under my supervision?”
    Kruger smiled, but maintained his silence.
    “Don’t think I’m not aware of the report you filed against me after Utah. You delayed my career advancement by several years. I didn’t appreciate the accusations, which were unfounded and misleading.”
    Kruger knew that if he stayed any longer, the situation would become volatile. So he stood, placed his computer back into his backpack and lifted it onto his shoulders. He walked to the conference room door, opened it, and before leaving, turned, and said, “I really don't care if you believe it or not. I had nothing to do with the decision. I came here in the spirit of cooperation, hoping you’d changed. But after this little conversation, and the fact you reported Guevara’s name to the director without verification, confirms my original perception of you.”
    Dollar's face turned red and he stood. “And what the hell does that mean?”
    “That you're still an idiot.”

Chapter 14
     
    Germantown, TN
    Tuesday
     
    Media coverage of the Kansas City explosion continued nonstop on both cable and broadcast news networks. The talking heads continued to speculate on motive and which group was behind this latest terrorist attack. One network went so far as to blame the current president of relaxing the nation’s vigilance and willingness to defend itself. Several senators were even calling for his impeachment. Norman Ortega laughed when he heard this. Politicians would use any excuse to further their media presence.
    He was impressed when one financial correspondent mentioned the two murders in Washington, D.C., and a possible link. Finally, his team was getting the attention it needed to further its cause. 
    But, the stupidity of seemingly intelligent men and women sitting around tables and putting forth theories on something they knew nothing about, disgusted him. Shaking his head he continued to be amazed that people actually watched this banality on TV.
    Ortega was ex-Army. Everyone on his team was ex-Army. He had personally recruited them from soldiers he had served with during his four tours in Iraq. These were men disaffected by a civilian world dominated by rich and apathetic business owners. The very individuals whose freedom to build their businesses was guaranteed by the sacrifices of men like Ortega and his fellow soldiers. Yet, they remained hesitant to interview returning veterans.
    He snapped out of his funk and got back to business. Once again he was connected to the internet in a public place, this time a McDonald's in Germantown. It was time to start planning the team’s next target, a job that would finally make it clear to the politicians and public what his team was doing.
    Ortega contemplated the skill sets needed for the next target. Spreading the assignments around was essential. It would keep his team from getting careless and making mistakes. Mistakes led to getting caught. For now his team had not made any obvious ones. At least, he didn’t think they had.
    He was not delusional. He knew one or more of his team would be caught eventually. But with its current structure, the trail would end there. He'd been careful. Their communication methods would be hard to trace, and no one knew who the other team