Bloodline (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Bloodline - Intro

A nondescript letter awaited in Myles' Amish lighthouse mailbox. Name only. Special Agent Philip Myles Leland III. No one called him Philip, not even his father. No address. No stamp. No return address.

Curiosity heightened, Myles entered the house and walked directly into the kitchen. Using a sword like paper opener, he cleanly sliced one end of the envelope. A note fell on the table. The handwriting, which he didn't recognize, was small, stylish and light blue.

I can give you Mico Alvarez and his entire organisation, but you must play by my rules.

Rule #1: Be very careful who you trust with this information. Alvarez reached further, deeper and higher than an octopus.

There had been rumours that Alvarez had infiltrated the Bureau, but Myles had never given much credence to the existence of a mole in their midst.

In good faith, I'll give you a free tip. A shipment of explosive in provenance from Mexico will cross the Sasabe, Arizona – Altar, Sonora border between 2 - 3 am on Nov 2nd. The explosive will be hidden inside an extra fuel tank attached underneath a white pickup. The border agent on duty, John Blackburn, is on Alvarez's payroll. He'll turn a blind eye on the truck.

If the note was to be believed, the shipment was due to cross the border tomorrow night.

If you have no intention of intercepting the shipment, stop reading here. However, if you want more tips on Alvarez, send analyst Sue Thomas on vacation to Pinecrest Resort in Cammal, Pennsylvania, on Nov 5th. A remote cabin will be waiting for her. You have my word of honour that no harm will come to her. Once she spends a week there, ALONE, I'll contact you again.

Honour? The word choked Myles. Jack would never agree to those demands, but knowing Thomas, she might volunteer for the assignment.

After checking into her cabin, Thomas isn't allowed to interact in person or over her blackberry with any living soul, not even the resort employees, but she can call one member of your team, ONE MEMBER ONLY, and as often as she wishes.

Rule #2: If anyone sees or talks to Thomas, no matter the circumstances, the deal is off.

Myles' suspicion hit the roof. The word TRAP was written all over this note.

If you have any question, that's too bad. Don't try to contact me or track me down, that'd be a waste of your time, which I'm sure you can put to better use. Don't bother checking the envelope or the note for fingerprints, saliva or epidermis, I'm nothing but careful. And don't spend your money installing a camera around your house, I'll use a different medium to contact you next time.

Rule #3: No second chance. If you want to catch Alvarez, this is it.

Time is of the essence. This note will self-destruct by 8pm.

"Self-destruct? Right."

This wasn't Mission Impossible. He reached for his phone and dialled his team leader's number.

"Jack, we may have a problem."