He was thinking about the Leka-Ardian killings as he had done pretty much continuously since hearing Phil’s forensic revel ations. The main problem that Hobart was having was his inability to decide where to begin searching for clues to the identity of those behind the murders. Phil had given him a list of probable users of the explosive material, with NSA organisations at the top – an enormous investigative task on its own. Then there were the CIA, the DIA, several other intel ligence groups that had anti-terrorist units, and half a dozen or so special forces groups that also used the stuff. Add to that the red tape he would have to wade through just to talk to any of those highly confidential, secret and top-secret organisations and the task became painful even to contemplate: Hobart would not be able to delegate much of the liaison work to his assistant due to the seriousness of the matter. And then, of course, whoever the guilty party was could hogtie any investigation with an arsenal of delaying devices, pleading national security and the like.
