Cabal

by Mark Goodwin

  “Yes, ma’am, but the man was known to law enforcement as being violent and erratic. He was in the room with his girlfriend’s five-year-old little girl and a gun. The mother was trying to leave, and he was threatening to kill the daughter. In my professional opinion, we didn’t have time for SWAT and hostage negotiators.”

  “But that’s not Tampa PD’s protocol, storming in like the Lone Ranger, is it?” She looked back down at the file.

  “No, ma’am. But the little girl came through unharmed.”

  “Lucky her. You were given a commendation, lauded as a hero…” She sighed to show her displeasure while she looked over the files. “I suppose it would have been a media nightmare for the Tampa PD to reprimand you for your failure to comply with standard operational procedure.” She looked up once more. “Of course, if the little girl had been shot, I think we both know your career in law enforcement would have come to a screeching halt.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I was well aware of that before I entered the room.”

  “Well, Agent Stone, you came out smelling like a rose that time. But, here at the Bureau, our operations are, by necessity, much less transparent. If you pull a stunt like that with me you won’t have news cameras and reporters to hide behind. We do things by the book.”

  “Yes, ma’am. And I’ve always prided myself on following the rules.”

  “Except for that incident.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Have you ever worked undercover?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “What about experience with domestic threats?”

  “The Tampa field office focused primarily on illegal immigration, document fraud, and gangs from Central and South America looking to operate along the Gulf Coast. We occasionally turned up leads for drugs and terrorism, but those were typically handed over to DEA or the local JTTF for further investigation. But the short answer is, yes, I would consider all of those things to be domestic threats.”

  She nodded. “That’s good, but not what I had in mind. I was referring to domestic terrorism, radical nationalists, that sort of thing.”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Well, I suppose you’ll have to learn on the job. DC wants us to ratchet up operations on these groups. It’s in keeping with the new global mandate.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that.”

  “Yeah, I guess everything is changing by the hour. We go into public service thinking we’ll never have a complete overhaul of management. But this thing is starting to look more and more like a corporate buyout. You never know who will still have a job once the smoke clears. Anyway, we still have jobs for now, so I guess we need to look valuable when the new management runs their efficiency analysis.”

  “I was under the impression that the US would remain a sovereign nation.”

  “Technically, yes. But the GU is still adding agreements they feel are necessary to make this thing all stick together. I suppose it’s something like trying to take several failed states, mashing them all into the same lump of clay, and molding it into one cohesive object.

  “Anyway, that doesn’t affect our immediate directive which is coming from Washington for the time being. Did they mention that we’ll have to adjust our firearms legislation going forward?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good. That’s going to be a real problem, especially in this part of the country. We’ve been monitoring groups from a distance who have sworn that they’ll take up arms against any entity trying to relieve them of their guns. I’m sure most of them are just full of hot air, but inevitably, we’ll have a few of these groups actually try to act on their threats.

  “The Socialist People’s Law Center is one of the watchdog groups who keeps tabs on domestic terror organizations. Are you familiar with their work?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Look them up when you get home. It will be a good primer to get you up to speed. Also watch PBS Frontline’s American Patriot: Inside the Armed Uprising Against the Federal Government. These groups are on a hair-trigger. This is going to bring them out of the woodwork. Not to mention what we’ll be in for when the right-wing preachers start referring to the new currency system as the mark of the beast.

  “We’re woefully understaffed for what’s coming. Agents like you are really all we have standing between civility and abject chaos. I’m happy to have your help.”

  “I’m honored to be of service,” Josh said.

  She passed him another folder. “This is everything we have on a local group calling themselves Patriot Pride. Other than location, they’re almost indiscernible from the other groups listed on the SPLC’s watch list and those you’ll learn about in the PBS documentary.

  “What we need you to do is monitor the group. Let us know what they’re thinking as new developments on the GU unfold. You’re not to take any measures to disrupt, entrap, or bring down the group. Just monitor and report back.”

  “Okay.” Josh took the folder. “Any tips on infiltrating?”

  “Follow them on Facebook. Find out where they’ll be protesting and go present yourself to be a like-minded believer. Trust me, once the news comes out about the GU, they’ll be holding protests. We think their center of operations is in Midway, Kentucky. They’ve done their share of protesting in Frankfort at the State Capitol as well as in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

  “Your cover will be as one of these conspiracy theory types who thinks this was all a planned event. You saw it coming and hightailed it to the heartland from Florida before it came unglued.”

  “Not much of a conspiracy theory these days, is it?” he asked.

  Her smile was one of toleration rather than amusement. “Don’t get into character too early, Agent Stone.”

  “I’m just saying, if any conspiracy theory nuts saw this coming, they were proven right in spades.”

  She pressed her lips together. “Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”

  Josh opened the folder and leafed through the pages inside. “Do we know if they have explosives? Have they made any threats? Are they involved in other criminal activity?”

  “So far, they’ve only announced their intentions to be a problem when the government comes for their guns. But in all likelihood, they’re modifying weapons, conspiring amongst themselves, and committing any number of felonies we just don’t know about yet.”

  She passed him a zippered pouch. “This is a packet with an employee access badge for Vital Statistics, which is your alias job while you’re here. My thinking is that your employment there might be seen as a bonus to the leadership inside Patriot Pride. If you can provide birth certificates and false IDs, it could earn you favor with the group.”

  Josh unzipped the pouch and removed the lanyard holding a swipe card with his picture on it. He read the alias on the front. “Joshua Carter. This says contractor.”

  “I know. It’s the best I could do on short notice. Don’t let any of your militia buddies close enough to see it. Your story when you’re actually at Vital Statistics is that you’re from the Census Bureau performing an audit. I’ve already alerted the administrator. They’ve set up a temporary office for you. Don’t expect a window view or anything, but you have top-level clearance for the system.”

  “If Patriot Pride asks for ID information, I’m supposed to just hand it over? I could be causing some random citizen a lot of headaches.”

  “I appreciate your concern. Inside your packet, you have a link to a tutorial on how to utilize the Vital Statistics mainframe computer. Once inside you’ll be able to query recent updates. You’ll be able to see everything from when people changed their address with the DMV to people who have been declared dead. With your level of clearance, you’ll be able to edit death dates and utilize the information of the deceased. Provided they’re not on Social Security, the damage done by marking someone as alive who is actually dead will be minimal.”

  “So this system is linked with DMV?”

 
“Yes. So you can actually pull a photo from the FBI database, download it onto your Vital Statistics work station and mail a copy of the person’s driver’s license to the address on the license. Just make sure you print out hard copies of all the edits you make and bring them to me on our bi-weekly debrief. We’ll meet every other Thursday here at my office. We can make it a standing appointment at 1:00 PM since I know you have a long drive to get here. Where did you land?”

  “We bought a little house right outside of Frankfort.” Josh found a credit card with the name Joshua Carter on the front. “May I ask how much is on here?”

  “Ten thousand dollars. You’ll need to get a vehicle and an apartment in Joshua Carter’s name. You don’t want these guys following you back to your family if they get nosy. Do you still have your vehicle from the DHS motor pool?”

  “Yes, ma’am. A Dodge Charger.”

  “I’m assuming it has government plates. Park it a few blocks from your apartment and walk to it when you go home to your family. You should be able to recognize a tail by the time you reach your DHS vehicle. If you so much as suspect you’re being followed, keep walking.

  “You’ve got my email on the back. Just send me the receipts for your purchases when the card gets low, and we’ll issue a payment.”

  Next, he removed a driver’s license with his picture and Joshua Carter’s name. “I won’t be able to rent an apartment with a credit card.”

  “Oh, right.” She huffed and scratched through her desk for a checkbook. “Let me know when you spend this.” She signed a check and passed it to Josh. “You come with the highest recommendations. If I can’t trust you with a blank check then I’ve got bigger problems than this.”

  Josh examined the check. It had an account number but no information about who the check was from. “How much should I spend on an apartment?”

  “You’ll probably want something furnished in case you actually have to have people inside. And you’ll probably want something with a back door so you can slip out at night to go see your family. Try to keep it under a thousand a month but absolutely no more than fifteen hundred.

  “Just tell the landlord it’s a starter check if he asks why there’s no name on the front. Use the card to get whatever you need to make the place look lived in. Update your own address from your work computer once you get the apartment. The address on it now is a PO Box.”

  “Okay.” Josh placed the access card, credit card, and driver’s license back inside the pouch and zipped it up.

  “I’m sure you’ll have questions. Unless it’s urgent, email me. If there’s nothing more, I’ll see you two weeks from today.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She stood to see him out of the office. “And I’ll expect a report, even if you haven’t made contact with the group by then. Don’t be too pushy. The number one mistake new undercover agents make is that they try to rush it. All you have to do is be there. Don’t try to make things happen.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Thank you for the advice. I’ll remember that.”

  “And be safe,” she added. “We’ve already had two shootings at Louisville grocery stores today. Folks are on edge. It’s only going to get worse.”

  “Yea, ma’am. I will.”

  Josh waved and made his way out the door. His head was spinning from thinking about his new assignment. Once out of the building and in the parking lot, Josh looked at his pouch. “If Josh Carter is supposed to be a crazy prepper, I guess he’d be buying the things he needs to survive what’s coming.”

  Josh was completely preoccupied thinking about what he was going to purchase with his new credit card when he heard someone call his name.

  “Who here could possibly know me?” He looked around the parking lot to see Emilio towering above the cars between them. Josh waved and headed toward his friend. “You made it.”

  Emilio wore jeans and a green polo. “Yeah. I had to use the fuel in the cans you told me to buy. Filling stations were either out or had half-mile-long lines. The entire trip through Florida was like that. People are getting restless. I saw a couple of guys slugging it out at a gas station. Probably over who was next in line.”

  “Yeah. About half of the banks I drove by this morning were closed. Several had big handwritten signs which said No Cash.” Josh looked at the faded loafers on Emilio’s feet. “Are you meeting the SAC dressed like that? Kind of casual, don’t you think?”

  Emilio eyed Josh’s suit and tie. “No. I’m meeting the tactical coordinator. If I show up dressed like you, he’ll think I’m gunning for his job.”

  “When do you start?”

  “Monday. That gives me a couple of days to get settled. Hey, I’ve got those guns for you. Good thing you wanted .40 cals. Those were the only Glocks available, but I had to get two 23s. No one had a 27. I had to go to five different stores to find two ARs in stock.”

  “Thank you for that. Did you find a place?”

  “I’m in a hotel for now. I’ve got a few places lined up to look at this afternoon.”

  “Drive out to Frankfort and see our new house if you have the energy when you’re done. Although I’ll warn you, it’s pretty dated compared to where we lived in Tampa. Bring those guns, and I’ll settle up with you. I’ve got your cash in the safe at home.”

  “I don’t know about tonight. I’m still recovering from the drive yesterday. But we’ll catch up.”

  Emilio looked at the time on his phone. “I better get in there. Even though I’m just a hammer, I don’t want to be late.”

  “Okay, knock ‘em dead.” Josh waved and continued toward his car.

  CHAPTER 9

  The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

  Genesis 6:11-12

  Thursday evening, Josh assisted his son with bringing in the furniture from the moving truck. He lifted one side of a couch while Micah lifted the other. “Nice stuff that you and Mom found. Did you have to drive around a lot to get it?”

  “No. It was like you said. People need cash.” Micah lowered the sofa in the garage as the living room had not yet been painted.

  Stephanie walked out to where the two of them were working. “A package arrived for you in the mail this morning.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s heavy. I’m guessing it’s your gold.”

  “Our gold,” he corrected.

  “Well, you made the decision to buy it on your own.”

  “But I did it for us.”

  “I don’t want to argue. Anyway, the mattresses came today, also. I put together the frames for ours and Micah’s. Plus, I opened the mattresses. We’re supposed to let them air out, so I didn’t put sheets on them yet.”

  “That’s okay,” said Josh. “We’ve already paid for another night at the hotel.”

  “I’m going to need another gallon of paint for the dining room. Can we stop by Home Depot on the way back to the hotel?”

  Josh shook his head. “It’s been a long day. Let’s head back to the hotel and order a pizza. I’ll get an early start tomorrow. I’ve got a list of things I need to get from there.”

  “You don’t have to twist my arm on that one,” she replied.

  ***

  Later that night, Josh lay on the bed watching the latest developments in the ongoing crisis. Reports told of a resurgence in the Occupy Wall Street movement in all major cities around the country. Droves of people were camping out in New York City’s Zuccotti Park as well as the financial districts of other major metropolitan areas.

  Besides the mostly-peaceful Occupy demonstrators, Antifa protestors marched on the more-liberal population centers, inciting violent riots and vandalism which had broken out after dark on the evening prior.

  WNN’s Lillian Lopez hosted her nightly news show. “My guest this evening is Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Jones. Chairman Jones, welcome.”

  �
��Thank you for having me,” said the chairman.

  “It’s an honor to have you. Especially at a time when the entire world is looking to you for answers.”

  “I wish central planners such as myself had more tools at our disposal to address this issue, Lillian. Unfortunately, we’re in uncharted waters here. We’ve never had a global currency crisis before. Certainly, we’ve had regime changes, like when the Bretton Woods agreement made the US dollar the world reserve currency, effectively replacing the pound sterling. It was an orderly transition for the most part. But even if it had been more disruptive, we were on the heels of World War II and globalization wasn’t part of the vernacular of the day.”

  Lopez smiled. “US markets are no strangers to turmoil. We’ve survived the dot-com bubble, the housing bubble, multiple flash crashes triggered by algorithmic trading programs, surely we have systems in place to deal with this crisis.”

  Jones’ brows knitted together forming a singular heavy lump of flesh above his eyes. “The methods used to mitigate the events you’ve just mentioned would likely be ineffective in dealing with this situation. That’s the best-case scenario. But they could, quite possibly, serve to make matters worse.

  “Nixon instituted price controls during the oil crisis in the 70s. It may have bought him some time, but in the end, it only created more market disruption. If sellers and producers can’t make a profit, they’ll close their doors. Then we all do without. Any attempt at freezing prices this time around would likely create instant gridlock in consumables, particularly now that we depend on the rest of the world for the majority of our goods.

  “The interest rate mechanism isn’t available to us. Taking interest rates into negative territory would incentivize depositors to withdraw more cash from dangerously undercapitalized banks. Even with the $5,000 per-day cap on withdrawals, banks are unable to keep up with demands for paper currency. The US simply doesn’t keep that much physical paper money on hand. In the past few decades, we’ve moved to perhaps not a cashless society, but certainly to a less-cash society.”