Chapter1
The beating of the blades of a Blackhawk helicopter thundered as it passed low overhead the remote cabin nestled in the foothills along the eastern slope of the Rockies in Wolf Creek, Montana. Bert Rizzo knew the sound all too well from more than three decades in the Central Intelligence Agency. He made his way to the small window over his kitchen sink and watched as the helicopter began a slow turn and found a landing spot in the gravel of Willamette road at the end of his drive. The dust swirled as the engine slowed and the door swung open. The blue FBI jacket came into view as a female agent emerged and headed up the driveway toward the cabin. Bert mumbled, “Oh shit,” as he wondered just what the hell this was going to beabout.
Bert hurried over to the stove to remove the pan with an omelet that was nearly finished. Turning off the burner, he moved the pan to the rear, hoping that he could get back to breakfast quickly. He watched as the young agent made her way onto his small porch. He had enough time to grab the bottle of Canadian Club and poured a glass before he heard the knock. A few months retired from the CIA; Bert figured that this visit wasn’t going to be goodnews.
Before answering the door, Bert took a long swallow of his whiskey and then opened the door partway. “Awful early for the FBI to be visiting out this way in the middle of nowhere,” hegrowled.
“You are Bert Rizzo?” the female agent asked, thrusting her identification as Special Agent Angelica Dougherty through the slimopening.
“If you flew all the way out here in that Blackhawk and I’m not Bert Rizzo, that would be unnerving. So yes. What can I do for you, Agent Dougherty?” Bert didn’t open the door any further as he looked over the agent on his doorstep. Angelica Dougherty stood about 5’10” with long dark hair and deep green eyes. Bert guessed she was in her earlythirties.
“I’m sorry for the early morning intrusion,” Dougherty offered. “I need a few minutes to ask a couple of questions on an urgent matter. Can I come in?” She paused, waiting for a response. When there was none, she stepped closer and stared intensely at Rizzo. “Please!” she askedsternly.
Rizzo nodded and opened the door. He guided her into the kitchen ar