Chapter Nineteen
The meeting place…
Ten minutes later...
Charlie and Ian felt uneasy as they approached the meeting area, as they had no idea if they were walking into a trap or if this guy was for real and really wanted to give them information.
'This must be how Don felt when he used to meet with informants before becoming Agent in Charge.' Charlie thought to himself
They waited a couple minutes before Brian drove up the parking lot and warily approached them, clearly as nervous as they were.
"You guys alone?" Brian asked
"Are you?" Ian asked, not answering the question immediately
"Yes I am, I assure you." Brian said, "And I would guess you two are?"
"Yes we are, only because we didn't want to pull other agents from the investigation." Ian said, which was true but also so their time wasn't wasted.
"Fair enough." Brian said, "First here is the folder that contains the information that I promised to give to you, Dr. Eppes." He gave Charlie the folder.
"What else do you want?" Ian asked
"Right, what I am about to tell you will be hard to believe and that folder will prove that I am telling you the truth."
"What is it?" Ian demanded
"As I am sure that you are well aware by now, Penfield had a lot of help with gassing the FBI building and I know who is involved with what happened."
"Who is involved?" Ian asked
"There are a few agents from both the DEA, the ATF, and the FBI who are involved, all being either bought off or being blackmailed by the director of the NSA."
This shocked Charlie, as he just couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You mean, Robert Thompkins is behind the kidnapping of my brother and father?" He asked, after finally being able to find his voice.
"Yes, and also the deaths of the two agents and Mark Walaker, as they were getting too close to finding out the truth about him."
"And that would be?" Ian asked
"That he has been selling information to several high profile individuals in several different countries for money, which he claimed was mostly minor intel that wouldn't raise any alarm bells and that it wouldn't cause any harm to anyone."
"Why would he do this?" Charlie demanded, "In the entire time I have known him and been with him, he never had mentioned anything about money or anything like that."
"It's because he owes money to the Russian mob, as he was tricked into playing a dangerous game with them and now he is trying to use your father and brother as a way of paying off that debt." Brian said
"How?" Ian asked
"Because he is testing a poison on your brother right now that could prove it's effectiveness to them." Before adding, "I know, because I overheard him a couple times on the phone with one of his associates."
This shocked Charlie and Ian because, if this man is telling them the truth, Don's time is rapidly running out and they need to act fast.
"Where are they then?" Charlie demanded
"And who in the FBI has been helping you and Thompkins, did he or she have a choice in the matter?" Ian asked
"No, he didn't and he can help you with finding the information you need. And your brother and father are in the old warehouse district by Chinatown, here are the directions to the place." He said, handing them over
"And one of the agents involved, why is he doing this?" Ian asked
"Because Thompkins has his family being held hostage back in Sedona, has been for several months and he hasn't been able to see them since."
"Who is it then?" Ian asked before he and Charlie went to the car to race to the location and get backup for the retrieval.
"Matt Li and he wants you to know that he is very sorry that he has gotten you all involved with this and will turn himself in once he knows that his family is safe."