Razing Beijing: A Thriller by Sidney Elston III Read Free Book Online Page A

residents and convene in the parking lot. Ericks, get your
sniffing gear and help Mueller. Everybody else get out of the building. No,
moving the bodies is the last goddamn thing I want!”
    McBurney gripped Kosmalski by the arm. “I’d think twice
before pulling the electrical breaker.”
    “I think we know how to handle bombs.”
    AFTER CONFIRMING the
presence of plastique explosive, it had taken over two hours for the bomb squad
to arrive and safely remove the device. The torrent of rain had become a
morning mist and most of the building’s residents stood around the parking lot
in coats thrown over their bathrobes; the FBI had abandoned their effort to
keep members of the press at bay. Special Agent Kosmalski gave word they were
allowed to re-enter the building.
    Back inside the lobby, Kosmalski explained to McBurney that
the explosive device had been fitted with a remotely controlled trigger. The
squad had determined that the trigger could be armed to set a booby trap, which
would detonate if electrical power to the heater was cut off.
    McBurney asked Kosmalski, “Was it armed?”
    “No. I was concerned that the perp lured us into the
bathroom with that scenario in mind, although that much plastique would’ve
probably taken out the whole corner of the building. We suspect Ahmadi
controlled the remote.”
    McBurney frowned in thought while Kosmalski gave permission
for the ambulance crew to bag and remove the corpses. Besides the grisly
murders, of everything he had learned this morning, that someone like Ahmadi
might believe threatening a powerful senator had any chance of gaining traction
struck him as the most bizarre. Once they were alone again he simply had to ask
Kosmalski, “What’s the senator’s version of this discussion he had with
Ahmadi?”
    “That’s not relevant.”
    “Their discussion reflects directly on the satellite
evidence.”
    Kosmalski considered the question. “What is it you want to
know?”
    “Ahmadi was burned, and he had at least been attempting to
commit espionage. Milner seems a good place to start looking for answers.”
    Kosmalski regarded him with a tight jaw. “What makes you so
sure the subject was burned?”
    “You’re kidding me, right? Did Senator Milner think the man
appeared to be rational? Did Ahmadi explain exactly what it was he wanted, or
provide any related information?”
    McBurney sensed a flicker of hesitation pass over Kosmalski’s
face. “The senator refuses to discuss anything specific about their exchange.”
    McBurney looked at Kosmalski and became further confused. He
was unsure whether the FBI agent was holding something back or merely
embarrassed for having nearly botched the morning’s operation. On the other
hand, that a U.S. senator would try to conceal the basis for an alleged blackmail
attempt was credible enough. “Either you or the Secret Service had Ahmadi under
surveillance when he met with the senator, correct?”
    Kosmalski looked away and said nothing.
    McBurney cracked a smile. “I’m sending someone over for a
transcript of Senator Milner’s meeting with Ahmadi.”
    “Go ahead and send him. In case you haven’t figured out,
I’ve got several crimes to solve. With allegations of high-level influence
peddling I cannot have relevant evidence floating around Washington. We are
talking about homicide.”
    “And protecting the poll numbers of a senator?”
    Kosmalski’s facial muscles appeared to tighten around his
skull. “Credible threats to policy makers are difficult to ignore. In this town
such things demand a certain level of confidentiality. I may have a mandate to
coordinate with you, but don’t push your luck.”
    “I intend to speak with Senator Milner about the exchange
between him and Ahmadi.”
    Kosmalski laughed. “I guess you’re welcome to try.”
    “And I intend to have a copy of Ahmadi’s surveillance report.”
    “Mr. McBurney, you are the only one who said
anything about a surveillance report.”