“No. In Baltimore. Which is another reason to start with overcoats.”

Mark nodded. “I’ll call the lab and make the suggestion.” He leaned over to write a note on a wall sheet.

Alex decided to ask the question. “Can someone tell me why we didn’t hear this in the meeting this morning?”

The agents all looked at each other. Steve shrugged. “We kind of came to the conclusion, during your presentation, that Bishop didn’t give a shit. We just wanted to get the reports done, so we could get to the real stuff in here.”

Alex shook her head. “I didn’t think he was listening either. Kind of makes me wonder why he wanted to be there anyway.”

There was a grumble in the room, and Cliff let it be for a moment. Then he stood up. “All right, enough. Who cares what Bishop wanted. I want suspects. I want leads. Bill, anything from California?”

“Actually, yes. I got a call from a detective in LA. He said he had a kid dead to rights on being the driver on two different drive-bys. The kid wanted to plead, and offered him the name of the shooter in the killing of some, quote, important spic, end quote. They’re pretty sure he’s talking about Arturo. Vic and I are gonna take the red-eye tonight, and see if this is for real or not.”

“Finally, maybe a break.” Cliff ran his hand through his hair. “Check with the JD, but I don’t think they’ll deny him a deal on any federal charges, as long as he gives up the shooter.”

David nodded. “Let’s hope the shooter’s still alive. And I’d get this guy under cover as quick as possible. We already know that these people aren’t afraid to take out their own killers.”

Bill just stared at him for a minute. “Shit, you’re right. Hey, Cliff, think we can get a couple Marshalls to sit on this guy till I get there?”

“Good idea. I’ll give a call as soon as we’re finished. They had the guy in solitary, didn’t they?”

“Yeah. They didn’t think word was out yet, but they had him stashed just in case.”

“Good. All right, anything else we need to go over?”

No one said anything.

“Okay. I’ll go call California. You guys can brainstorm, or follow up anything you might have. At this point, hunches are allowable.I want answers people. That’s all.”

Cliff took a final look at his team, then left. The silence lasted nearly a full minute, then Steve pulled his chair closer to David.

“So, Dave, what was this about a diaper bag theory?”

Alex groaned, putting her hand over her eyes. Fortunately, she was spared further embarrassment. A secretary told her she had a phone call from Philly.

*******************************************************

“Agent Reis.”

“Alex, it’s Ken. There should be a fax coming through for you. When you get it, you’re gonna wanna sit down before you read it.”

“Why, what’s up, Ken?”

“It’s the report on the background of Mr. Kyle Brogan. And I gotta tell you, David’s idea may not be as far fetched as it sounds.”

“What?”

“You’ll get the full report in the fax, but to cut things short, let me just tell you two things. Number one, David was right, Brogan carried the diaper bag into the bank, I saw the surveillance tape. Two, Kyle Brogan’s cousin is Mallory Gerlach..”

Alex was stunned. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Brogan keeps his distance from the guy nowadays, but there was a time when he was being groomed to take one of the top spots in the organization. However, he decided to move from Idaho to the east coast for college. But he didn’t leave his family behind. His younger cousin, Derek came east with him. He changed his name, though.”

“To what?”

“White.”

Alex felt her knees give way, and she dropped into the chair beside her desk. “You mean Kyle Brogan is related to Mallory Gerlach, and Derek White?”

“You got it. Everything else is in the report. I think you should read it as soon as you can.”

“Thanks, Ken. I’ll see if it’s in yet, and then I’ll go rescue David.”

“What’s wrong with Dave?”

“The guys found out about his theory. They were razzing him when I left to take your call.”

“Well, they might want to close their mouths. It wouldn’t surprise me if Dave was right on this time.”

“God, that’s a scary thought, isn’t it?”

*******************************************************

She was walking slowly and reading the report when she heard the laughter coming from the task force workroom.

“Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me that you suspect this guy because there wasn’t a diaper bag in the car?” Alex wasn’t yet through the door, but could see David’s nod in her mind.

“Shit, Dave, I’d be more suspicious if there was a diaper bag.” There was general laughter in the room.

Alex stopped in the doorway, noticing that Cliff had rejoined the men.

David wasn’t happy, she could tell. “Look, I didn’t say I had proof, but …”

“But what, Dave? I know I wouldn’t carry a damn diaper bag.”

“You don’t have kids, Steve.”

“So?”

“All right, stop it.” Cliff interrupted. “It’s an interesting theory, Dave, and with you being the only man on the team with a young kid, it’s an idea none of us would have had. Problem is, there’s nothing to back up your suspicion.”

Alex caught David’s eye and gave him a wink. You owe me, she mouthed at him. “Cliff, that may not be completely true.”

Everyone turned their attention on her. Cliff turned to meet her eyes.

“What are you talking about, Alex?”

“You know, Ken didn’t like this guy either, even before Dave had his … idea. So, he ordered a background check, and told Research to be thorough. And they were.”

Steve grinned at her. “What did they find, Alex? Was he a babysitter when he was a teenager?”

“I don’t know, Steve. But I doubt his cousin was.”

“His cousin?”

“Yeah, Mallory Gerlach. You know, the leader of the Aryan Resistance League?”

Nobody said anything. Then Cliff cleared his throat.

“What exactly are you talking about?”

“Research came through. I just got the report. Kyle Brogan, our friend in Philly, is the cousin of Mallory Gerlach. And not a distant cousin, either. When Gerlach’s father Thomas was at the height of his career in Idaho’s Nazi ranks, his second in command was his Mallory, but his third was Brogan.”

There was still silence in the room, so Alex continued.

“When he was fifteen, Brogan took part in the beating of a young Jewish man outside of Boise. He pleaded no contest, and was sentenced to six months probation.That was the only time he was convicted, but not the last time he was suspected. When he was eighteen he and three others were arrested for the murder of a rabbi in Oregon. There wasn’t enough evidence to take it to trial, and all four of them, including Gerlach, were released.Two months later, Brogan was on the podium when his uncle passed the reins of the group to Mallory. The next day there was a rally, which became a riot. Witnesses accused Brogan of wielding a baseball bat in the middle of the fight. No charges were brought.”

She looked around the room at the stunned faces. Steve’s mouth was hanging open, and his eyes were blinking rapidly. Mark’s pen, which he’d been twirling, had dropped to the floor. Cliff was just sitting, very very still.

It was actually David who broke the silence. “Okay, so how did Brogan get out to Pennsylvania?”

“He left to go to college. He went to Penn State, where he majored in Communications. After graduation in 1992, he got a job with a RyeTech, a brand new telecommunications company. He went back to Idaho for his cousin’s marriage in ‘94, but hasn’t been back since.”

That got Cliff out of his silence. “So, if he hasn’t been in touch with his family, maybe he’s no longer involved, and this was just a coincidence.”

Alex frowned. “It could be a coincidence, sir, but I never said Brogan wasn’t in touch with his family. He keeps in very close contact with his younger cousin, who moved to Alabama.”