The Lion

I said, "You're not going to find those with him." In fact, unless Asad Khalil had gotten very stupid in the last three years, he had pla

He replied, "He's already tried to kill an FBI agent-your wife. So we know that." He added, "I remember the Khalil case. About three years ago. This is the guy who arrived at JFK under armed escort and killed his escorts and some people on the ground." He recalled, "That was the same day as the arrival of that airliner with the toxic fumes that killed everyone on board."

"Right." It was, in reality, the very same flight. Asad Khalil had personally arranged for the "toxic fumes" that killed everyone on board, except himself. But that case had been so tightly wrapped in national security and government disinformation that very few people knew what really happened. I was one of the few who did, but I didn't need to share much of that with Investigator Miller. I had to give him only enough information to do his job, and I said to him, "The suspect was at that time thought to be working for Libyan Intelligence." I added, "He's a professional assassin."

Investigator Miller, like most cops, was not overly impressed. The word "assassin" didn't appear in his mental dictionary. The suspect was simply a killer. Works for him, and works for me.

Investigator Miller got down to specifics and informed me, "Investigator Harris tells me that you've spoken to him and that he's also spoken to your office, and he's given me some details about what happened." He assured me, "We've stationed uniformed and plainclothes troopers in the lobby and on this floor. One outside the OR. We've also received from your office two e-mailed photos of the alleged perpetrator, which we are electronically circulating to all state highway patrol vehicles and local police in this county and surrounding counties."

"Good."

"Your office also e-mailed a wanted poster, and I see there is a Justice Department reward for this individual of one million dollars."

"That's correct."

"He is a fugitive from Federal justice and wanted for the murder of Federal law enforcement agents." He said, "I assume that would be his armed escorts on that flight."

"That's right." Plus three more on the ground.

"But there were no specific details of his… escape and what he did subsequent to those murders." He looked at me for more information.

I replied, "Well, I hate to use the words 'national security,' but that's the bottom line on that." I further informed him, "With that in mind, I and my office would very much like your troopers here to keep the news media out of this hospital, and I'd like you to inform your headquarters and this hospital that there are to be no medical reports issued-no names, and no details of the attack. No nothing."

"Your office has made that clear." Investigator Miller was probably wondering how this had landed in his lap on a quiet Sunday afternoon up in God's country.

He didn't pursue the national security issue, and asked me, "Are you positive that this individual you saw during your skydive is the same individual on the wanted poster? Asad Khalil?"

"I am." He would have taken me at my word, but I added, "I-and my wife-worked the case that involved the murders referred to on the wanted poster."

He thought about that, then said, "So… this guy attacked your wife because… she worked that case?"

"Apparently."

He asked, "Did you or your wife ever have personal contact with him? Interrogate him? Piss him off?"

Well, Kate and I had a few cell phone conversations with him, and I'd definitely pissed him off. But if I'd had personal contact with him, there would have been no interrogation, and one of us would now be dead. I replied, "I can't give you any details, but I will tell you that this is his second attempt on our lives."

His eyebrows rose and he made a note of that, then asked, "And the first attempt was three years ago?"

"Correct."

"So you and your wife were working together on that case?"

Investigator Miller had to ask the standard questions, but they weren't relevant to this investigation, or to apprehending the assailant, and as I was trying to tell him, this was classified information. But I did respond and said, "Yes, we were working together." To change the subject and to interject a personal touch into our interview, I said, "She actually wasn't my wife then." I explained, "We met on that case."

And now, he was thinking, she may have been murdered on this case, by the same guy.

I said to him, and to myself, "She'll be okay."

He looked at me, wondering, I'm sure, why I thought that. This wasn't what the nurses had told him, and he'd already figured this was probably a homicide. I've been in his position too many times, not knowing if the victim is going to make it-so you don't know what verb tense to use.

Investigator Miller asked me, "Do you think this guy had any accomplices?"

"He's a loner." I added, "Last time he was in the U.S., he had a few unwitting and unwilling accomplices, but he killed them. So you may get a body or two turning up in the area."

He made a note of that, took a sip of coffee, then asked a few more standard questions, which I answered.

I wanted to be cooperative in helping the State Police apprehend Asad Khalil, but they weren't going to do that using standard detective work. If they did catch him, it would be the result of a lucky car stop by State Troopers, or because some local citizen had reported a strange-looking guy in the 7-Eleven asking for a camel burger.

Also, there was a possibility that Khalil was actually in this hospital right now.

I said to him, "We're dealing with a professional, highly trained killer who doesn't make the usual mistakes that we count on when we're looking for the stupid killers. Asad Khalil has no fear the way we understand fear, but neither is he suicidal. He is very goal-oriented, and his goal today was to kill my wife and let me live to see it. He failed in that goal… which he may or may not know. So I'm requesting that you maintain around-the-clock police protection in the hospital and outside her room until I can get my wife moved back to the city."

He nodded and said, "Done," then asked me, "Do you want protection as well?"

"I can protect myself."

I'm sure he thought, Famous last words, but again, he was polite and professionally courteous, and he said, "All right." He asked me, "You carrying?"

"I am."

"Good." He then asked, "Where is your wife's weapon?"

I replied, "It was not in her jumpsuit." I added, "The perpetrator may have it, or it may have fallen out over the drop zone. It's a.40 caliber Glock 22, FBI issue."

Investigator Miller made a note of that and said, "We'll get a citizens' search team out to the drop zone."

I suggested, "The paramedics can pinpoint the exact area where we landed." I added for his incident report, "The crime took place about eight thousand feet above there."

He nodded to himself and said, "Incredible."

"Indeed." I advised him, "This skydiving club had a video camera on the ground so maybe this incident was captured on film."

He noted that and inquired about the skydiving club.

I replied, "It's a loose organization, and I'm sure that Asad Khalil is not a regular dues-paying member." I suggested, "Get hold of a guy named Craig Hauser. He can fill you in." I wondered if the club made their next two jumps. I said to Investigator Miller, "They may still be at the airport." I also informed him, "The skydiving club are all staying at the High Top Motel in Monticello."