The Greatest of These by Greg Wendleton (booksvooks txt) 📕

is. Let’s keep this between us for now. I’ll call in some additional agents to provide more security.”

“Okay. You are the expert on this kind of stuff. I know that the backyard can’t be breached, but the front and side yards are another story.”

“Thankfully, you have the security system online. That makes our job quite a bit easier. But, I’ll take a look at the video Leilani captured and see what we can learn.”

The trio moved up the driveway and entered the home through the kitchen door. They found Chad, Jamie and me on the lanai, drinking coffee and soaking in the warmth and serenity of the morning. I saw them and stood, “Good morning everyone. Isn’t it a spectacular morning?”

Leilani forced a smile and said, “Absolutely. Another beautiful day in paradise.”

“I agree. I think today is going to be a remarkable day!”

Scott plastered a genuine smile on his face and nodded his head in agreement. “I believe you are right Garret. It is going to be remarkable.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Special Agent Presley had borrowed Leilani’s phone and closed himself inside his bedroom that also served as his work station. He captured images of the Hawaii license plate and a clear photo of the man’s face. He sent those images to the office in Kahului and asked them to be run through DMV records and facial recognition software. He also requested an additional agent come to the house to bulk up the security detail. Special Agent Joe Mears quickly responded that he was on the way.

The dark blue van was registered to Bojing “Bobby” Wang, of Kahului. Agents and local police were dispatched to his home to see if he was the man in the photo. If he was, he would be asked to come to the police station and answer some questions. If he was not the man in the picture, he would be asked to explain who that man was.

Bojing, was not at home, but some quick research discovered he worked as an emergency room nurse at Maui Health. The team of agents were met at the hospital by members of the Maui County Police Department, who escorted the agents into the hospital. They were directed to a small conference room and a few minutes later, Bojing “Bobby” Wang was escorted into the conference room by hospital security.

“Oh shit!” murmured Bobby.

“Mr. Wang, shall we call you Bojing or Bobby?”

“Bobby, please”, the young man said with a shaky voice. “What’s this about?”

“Please, take a seat. We have a few questions for you. Before you answer our questions one of these officers is going to read you your rights.”

The Special Agent did not answer his query until Bobby had been read his rights under the Miranda law. Once that formality was complete, the Agent said, “Who did you lend your van to, Bobby?”

“My van? Oh, I didn’t lend it to anyone. It was stolen.”

“Is that so? Stolen? When was it stolen?”

“Um, Wednesday or Thursday.”

“And you filed a stolen vehicle report…when?”

“Um, I haven’t filed one yet. I’ve been really busy.”

“Really? Doing what? According to your schedule, you took off at 2:00pm on Thursday and you were off yesterday.”

“I’ve been in bed, catching up on my sleep.”

“That’s a good one Bobby. Isn’t that a good one fellas?”

Nods and mumbles of concurrence were heard from the other three men in the room. The Special Agent asked, “Have you been catching up on your sleep alone,” he plopped down a photo of the mystery man, “or have you been sleeping with this guy?”

“No, what? I just met him!”

“So, who is he Bobby?”

“Oh shit, he’ll kill me!”

“Maybe so, but if you help us, we can protect you.”

“They will kill my family, all of my family. I want a lawyer.”

Facial recognition was having difficulty finding a match for their mystery man. He was either a ghost or had done a remarkable job of shielding his face in airports and other very public places. While the FBI and Maui County Police were spinning their wheels with Bobby Wang, The Red Assassin, was plotting his escape from Maui.

Jackie Ming parked the van in the most remote location he could find at the Kahului Airport and left the keys on the dashboard. He hurried into the main terminal and quickly located the American Airlines ticket counter. Pulling his face mask up over his mouth and nose and donning a ball cap, he stepped to the first available agent. He asked to purchase a one-way ticket to Dallas on the first available flight. There was a family emergency that he needed to get home for. The agent searched the computer data and pronounced that there was a flight leaving in just over an hour and she could book him on it. He quickly accepted the flight.

It would get him to LAX at 11:30pm and to DFW at 6:33am on Sunday, February 28. He withdrew his wallet and removed four, one-hundred-dollars bills and three, twenties to pay the airfare. He showed his Canadian passport and the agent did a double take. “Do you have family in Dallas?”

“Yes, my daughter and her husband live there. She just went into premature labor.”

“Oh, well goodness, let’s not waste time chatting. Here is you boarding pass, and luggage tag. Would you like me to staple them together?”

“No thanks, I’ll manage.”

“Well, enjoy your flight Mr. Ming.”

He hustled to the TSA security check point and took a deep breath. Thankful for the required face mask, he walked forward with his passport and ticket in hand. He cleared the cursory check of his documents and proceeded to the scanner. Jackie placed his backpack on the belt and waited for it to slide into the scanner. He then moved into the full-body scan and was cleared. One more hurdle, give me my backpack, thought Jackie. Hurry up!

“Sir, is this your backpack?”

“Yes, it is. Is there a problem?”

“Well, we observed a few oddities within you backpack and it appears there is a bottle of water inside it.”

“Oh, yes,