Mitch saw Ellen’s number come up. He and Samantha were almost back in D.C. and a string of calls from Amy, John and Nick had delayed his conversation with Samantha.
“Ellie, are they there?” Mitch asked.
“Yep, two of them dead, single shot to the forehead. An elderly couple, the Villiers I’m guessing, but we’ll need to formally identify them.”
“Damn,” Mitch swore. “Where are you two now?”
“Back in our boat, just drifting next to it. I think you had better chat to Nick,” she said.
“Why?”
“He’s freaked out. Said he’s seen too many bodies this week and the older couple reminded him of his parents. He said it was his father’s dream to retire and get a boat.”
“Shit,” Mitch said. “Are you OK?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry.”
“I’ll call him back on his number. Hey thanks, Ellie. I’ll call John first so stay put. I’ll get him to organize the lock down and call you with instructions.”
Mitch rang John and updated him, handing the clean up over to him. He turned to Samantha beside him. “I know we’re almost home, but I just need to pull over and call Nick.”
“That’s fine, stop at a gas station and I’ll grab us a few Cokes,” she said.
Mitch drove another few miles and finding a gas station, he pulled in. He got out of the car, walked away to a park across the road and called Nick on his phone.
“Mitch, I’m OK,” he answered drily.
“Yeah, I know that.”
“So why are you calling if Ellen didn’t tip you off?”
“To check Ellie was all right,” Mitch stretched the truth.
“She seems fine. We’re back in our boat now. She’s just gone down below. John rang and is organizing the extraction.”
“I’m sorry I took you with me to open the container,” Mitch said. “I didn’t realize it would be, well, such a big week.”
“You know the couple dead on the boat, the old bloke looked a bit like Dad, he was probably living the dream …” Nick talked and Mitch let him get it out of his system.
Mitch returned to the car and the Samantha inquisition.
“Is he alright?” she asked.
“Yeah fine,” Mitch said.
“Are you going to live up to your side of this discussion?” she asked.
“Sorry Sam, but at the moment all the other stuff coming in takes priority,” he explained.
“I understand,” she said. “Mentally, emotionally, physically, let’s go.”
“Mentally, I’m good, but I can barely concentrate on this discussion; I’ve got so many scenarios going through my head. I’m also aware that you, Nick and Ellie all have your own goals you want to achieve but sometimes on a job, that goes to the back burner while we solve other problems.”
“Do you sleep?” Samantha asked.
“Does that fall into one of the categories?” he asked defensively.
“Let me reword it then, does all the mental activity keep you awake?”
“I’m used to the many mental tracks running in my head. When I sleep I usually crash. You learn to do that in the military.”
“Emotionally?” she asked.
Mitch stiffened. He shrugged. “I’m worried about Nick, he’s seen a lot of shit this week.”
“But you, Mitch!” Samantha said.
“I’m too busy to think about much but work. Physically …” he continued, not waiting to find out if she was satisfied with that answer or not, “this is the worst assignment I’ve had for a long time on my health. Not just because I’m black and blue, but that sea sickness, retching is such hard work.” He rubbed his chest.
“I know,” she agreed. “Yet we did it a lot when we were kids catching all the childhood illnesses that went around. It didn’t seem so bad then.” Samantha sighed.
“I know, or have we just forgotten?” Mitch mused.
“What’s going to happen now, Mitch?”
Mitch glanced at her and back at the road. “I’m guessing you want to know how I feel about you on the team.”
She turned to him and nodded. “Can I say first,” she said, “that I hear what you’re saying about earning my place in the team and abiding by my training, I can do it, I will improve, Mitch.”
Mitch swallowed. “Sam, I don’t think you’re ready to be an agent or part of a Criminal Investigative Division team yet. You haven’t got the discipline; you haven’t improved in the year you have been with me. You’ve made the same errors multiple times and I’m not just saying this because you nearly got me killed. I’m worried you’ll get yourself, Nick or Ellie killed and then I’ll have to live with the fact that I should have pulled you out a long time ago. You’re strong with digital media and equipment, so maybe you should think about computer forensics.”
Samantha leaned back on her seat as if she had been hit and turned to look out the window.
“I’m not saying you won’t make a great agent, but you haven’t got the discipline for it yet. There must be other sections that interest you more or can give you the challenges that you want?”
“Are you expelling me from the team?” she turned to ask him.
Mitch felt his anxiety levels rising. “I’ve already asked John to find you another position.”
Mitch’s phone rang. Samantha turned her face to the window again. Mitch answered, not recognizing the number.
“Mitchell Parker,” he said.
“Mitch, it’s Amy, I’m on a secure line. Can you talk?”
“Yep, Samantha’s with me and you’re on speaker phone. Go ahead.”
“Hi Sam, you both won’t believe what I have to tell you.”
“I reckon I might.” He sighed.
“Dylan Ting is a registered agent with us, passed all his checks and passed all his tests with flying colors. However, the university didn’t check him out very well as his student name was Rodney Lam. He was accepted on a false school certificate, disappeared as Rodney Lam and graduated as Dylan Ting,” Amy said.
“How does that happen?”
“I suspect it is easier than ever today with forging documents. But it gets better …”
“Go on, sock it to me,” Mitch said.
“Rodney Lam aka Dylan Ting is related to Lam Mei, or as we say in English putting the surname last, Mei Lam. Now that might not mean anything to you but Mei Lam is the maiden name of Mei Ying, William Ying’s wife.”
“What the hell?” Mitch exclaimed. He pulled over and grabbed the phone, exiting the car. “Sorry, I almost ran off the road. So you’re telling me that Dylan Ting is the nephew of William and Mei Ying.”
“Yes, Mei Ying has a deceased brother …”
“The gardener,” Mitch said.
“Sorry?”
“Nothing, just thinking aloud. So Dylan is Mei’s deceased brother’s son, her nephew?”
“Yes,” Amy confirmed.
“So chances are Rodney Lam/Dylan Ting has been working with Uncle William behind the scenes for some time,” Mitch said.
“Yes, that’s it so far. I’ll let you know if I unearth anything else.”
“Amy, you are brilliant,” he said.
“Why thank you,” she replied.
Mitch continued, “Jessica Wu is still my missing link. I can understand the death of Joseph Kinaird and now why Rodney Lam went missing—because he was reborn as Dylan Ting, but if you find anything to connect Jessica Wu, I’d love to wrap that up. And thanks.”
“Sure.” She hung up.
Mitch paced and noticing Samantha was still in the car, hurried over.
“Sorry I couldn’t drive and take it all in at once. I’ll update you as I update John, Nick and Ellie.” He rang John’s number and organized a conference line.