Page 36 of Code Name: Harbor

Royce agrees and nods toward the screen where Voronin’s face smiles out at us. “In reality, we suspect he runs the largest maritime trafficking pipeline on the West Coast.”

She closes the laptop with a sigh. “How about you tell me what you’ve been able to glean since our last meeting?”

Malik takes control of the flat screen with his laptop, running through the last six weeks of work. He runs through BOB’s pattern analysis on vessel traffic in the Salish Sea as well as financial analysis of the shell companies adjacent to Voronin’s operation.

“We’ve identified two probable secondary cargo hubs, and we’ll be getting eyes on them in rotating shifts,” he says, nodding at the two new agents. “Wright and Fanasick will each lead their own teams.”

Malik gets to my contribution and nods my way. “As I told you in a written report a few days ago, Ms. McAdams had a run-in with Voronin’s men.”

“Yes,” Royce says, eyes glinting with anticipation. “This is what I really want to hear about.”

I clear my throat, feeling a little nervous under the spotlight. “I ran an analytical track that turned me on to a potential off-load sight on Fidalgo.”

“Which is the exact reason we wanted Jameson on this case,” Royce says, her eyes landing steady on me. “But I would like you to walk us through what you observed on Fidalgo Island on Thursday night. I’ve read the debrief by Mr. Mercer, but I’d like to hear every detail you can recall.”

I’m ready for this request. I expected she’d want to hear it and I spent a lot of time rehearsing last night after Malik let me know I’d be in on this meeting. I went over Cole’s debrief report, and I tried to figure out any angle that Royce might come at me for additional details that could put attention on Finn.

I start to recount the tale. The bluff above the dock, the photographs I took, the deer trail I hadn’t scouted, the arm around my throat from behind. I tell her about being marched down onto the dock, the handcuffed women, and the man who was apparently in charge by the name of Mikhail.

Royce holds up a hand and I stop, looking at her in question. The agent she brought along pulls a photograph from a folder and gives it to Royce who slides it to me. “Is this the man?”

It’s a surveillance photo, mid-resolution, taken from elevation. I look up at her. “That’s him.”

Royce nods slowly. “His name is Mikhail Sokolov. He has been on our watch list and we can connect him to Voronin’s legitimate business enterprises. We have him at Voronin’s residence on a dozen occasions and even as his plus-one at industry events. We can prove he works for Voronin in every way that matters except the one that would put him in prison.” She pauses, and I’m not sure it’s for dramatic effect when she says, “Until you.”

I nod in understanding because I know the minute I escaped with my life I became an integral part of the case against Voronin.

I am now a key witness.

“Do you understand the importance of that?” she asks me.

“I do.”

“Do you understand what that means for your personal exposure?”

“Yes.”

“We’ve lost two informants and we’re confident that Voronin killed them. While he doesn’t know if you survived, I’m sure he’s going to be looking for you, as well as the boat that pulled you out of the water.”

My stomach cramps at the thought. While I get that my life is going to be in continual danger, I don’t want Finn and his crew to be hurt. “I understand.”

“I want you to be fully aware, Josie.” The use of my first name, a rarity for her, doesn’t go unnoticed. It means she’s worried.

I meet her eyes. “I’m personally aware, Agent Royce.”

“Good.” Her gaze slides to Malik. “Let’s talk new operational options.”

Conversation opens to all sitting at the table and in the end, it’s clear there are two paths.

The slower one is to continue building direct against Voronin. It will be circumstantial because Voronin will never be directly involved. Blocks of financial data and relationships will be key. We’ll lean heavy on surveillance and it will take a long time to continue to build the case. We’ll keep searching for new informants and hope we get a lucky break.

The other option is to focus in on Mikhail Sokolov now that I’ve linked him to a clear moment of trafficking. We would focus our attention on this man, ideally trying to catch him in the act again. Make an arrest and get him to flip on Voronin.

My eyewitness testimony would be greatly bolstered.

Neither of these paths are exclusive and will continue in tandem, but it’s agreed that our focus will be on Mikhail.

Which is completely ironic seeing as how if Royce is correct, Mikhail’s probably going to be focusing his attention on me. Chances are, when two people are so focused on each other, their paths will intersect.