Queen Zaria Trilogy

by Danny Dunn

  She says that it could be a laser parabolic microphone in which case they can listen to any room in our hotel and suggest that maybe they want to get another hotel. David smiles and asks her to have a couple of our team go over to the other hotel to snoop around and to rent 4 rooms in our hotel in the four corners of the hotel and to start looking for who is in the other hotel.

  Linda is on it and using infra-red binoculars, she locates two rooms in the adjacent hotel. They have a large parabolic mic set up in one room and a receiver in the other room. On the same floor, 10 rooms away. They are bouncing a laser off our window and receiving the waves created by the voices in the other room.

  Great job, Linda, David says. It is a funny thing, the easiest people to spy on, are the people who are spying on someone else. They never seem to be paying attention. Put tails on them, rent rooms next door to each room, and start feeding the audio to us. Make sure they don’t see our people going in and out, so they don’t catch that they have neighbors. And use different members anytime one has to leave just in case they are monitoring the hallways.

  David reports to Zaria that they have identified a party in the hotel across the street that is using a laser parabolic mic to monitor any room in our hotel. Zaria laughs and says, well, that is great. She asks David how they found it, and David explains. David adds. But here is the great part. They don’t know we know they are listening. And I know you are going to love this, we now have rooms rented next door to their two rooms, and we will have audio of them streaming to us and you in just a few minutes.

  Zaria, oh that is so fun, let’s mess with them, David laughs and says his thoughts exactly.

  David sits down with Tom and Zaria at the Pong pound, and David updates the two of them. From the audio stream, David’s team is receiving from the spies, they have learned that the spies are independent contractors, and we should know who they are working for soon.

  David says, “So just for now, let's assume they are working for one of the parties you are debating. I want to just throw out that we could set up quite a trap for whoever is listening. We can come up with something Tom is hiding, a plant of some evidence supporting what he did and wait for someone to use it. We should save it until just before the debate, so they have time to find the backup but not enough time to find that it isn’t true.

  Tom smiles and tells David that he is one evil guy David, wow. I love it.

  David says that he has three in mind.

  The first is that you bribed some politicians to get you something back in your computer company transaction.

  Second is that you had some big payment that you hid, so you didn’t have to pay taxes on it.

  The third is that you had someone killed or blackmailed them.

  What is important is that the story holds up with some fast research but that we can prove wrong.

  Best case scenario is that leak it just before the debate, they fall for it and use it in the debate, and we pounce on them. I would say that it is likely we will know who the contractors are working for before tomorrow, which would give us time to tailor our trap.

  Zaria says Tom, you have a very devious streak in you. I love all of them.

  David, it should be something pretty far back so as not to confuse anyone and should not include the Zarias in any way. Also, we don’t know who else might be in on this, so we cannot notify the agencies of this yet. Hell, it could be their contractors in the hotel, we just don’t know yet.

  Tom shakes his head and says, you know, they just can’t help themselves, can they?

  Zaria and Tom go back to prepping. While David and his team work with the 3 ideas.

  David is working with his team. Alex says that while it would be great if they use it in the debate but what if they turn it over to the feds and then use it. David smiles and says Alex very good point, how do we discourage that?

  Alby says what if we hide a box somewhere in the NM, and that box has in it the incriminating items. Tom enters the hotel room and, while alone, calls someone on the phone. Tom tells that person that he is freaking out that someone might find it and tells that person to dig it up and destroy the evidence. Tom doesn’t say what it is and gives the GPS coordinates to the person. The person on the phone says they can be there by tomorrow night and will take care of it. We survey the site and will be able to see who it is. That box might have physical evidence in it, or it might just have links or a key to another box like a safe deposit box but has in it enough to make someone believe that what they see is true.

  David, I like it. So, what can this be? Let’s hear your ideas.

  The group starts throwing out ideas.

  Killed someone that doesn’t exist

  Blackmailed a politician

  Didn’t report a large transaction to the IRS

  Stole something very valuable

  David says that he likes killing someone that didn’t exist. If it happens before the internet, then digging up information will be impossible, and we can plant just enough to make them believe it. And we create some confusion by matching it up with someone with the same name that was killed at that exact time.

  David asks Adam and the Pongettes to find a murder right after the internet started publishing murders and preferably where the murder weapon is missing. A hit and run might work too. We might be able to match up information for a circumstantial conviction.

  The Pongettes comeback with 10 unsolved murders over two years. There are 4 stabbings, 3 shootings, strangulation, and several hit and runs.

  Joe says, “The problem with murder is that if we supply enough evidence, the police may take Tom before or during the debate.

  “How about tax evasion where Tom cuts a deal with someone, and the money is deposited into a Swiss bank account. We provide a fake swiss account statement. We show Tom’s taxes, where he clearly does not declare the money. He will not be arrested, and it establishes him as a liar and a cheater. We can put a thumb drive in the plastic box that allows us to track them, and I bet Adam and the Pongettes can put some other stuff in so that we can monitor their computer to tie them to other players.

  “Also, we should have Tom tell the person on the other side of the call that he needs to hurry before Zaria arrives because she will drop him like a rock if she finds out about this. They will probably try to blackmail him.

  One of the Pongettes is listening to the audio from the spy hotel rooms and turns it up.

  “yes sir, we are getting good audio. We can monitor any room on the floor just fine and reports that Tom’s detail ran sweeps and reported by phone that all was good. They have no clue we are here. Tell Kingfish we should have some good stuff for her soon. They arrive the day after tomorrow.

  David, Kingfish is the code name for the president. And he referred to them as her let's go with two, tax evasion and hit and run 1 year longer than the SOL worst possible charge. Just make sure Tom was somewhere else that day. Then we need to prepare for blackmail and how to capture that. My guess their position is to get Tom to drop out, or they will disclose. We get Tom to agree but show up anyway, then they will start the debate off with what they know.

  The Pongettes find sample Swiss account statements and fabricate statements for Tom. They write some letters from Tom to family members of the person he killed in the hit and run where he explains it was an accident and that he was drunk. He tells them how sorry he is, and he hopes that the money will help.

  The typed letters are double spaced, and the Pongettes type a second message into each letter between the double-spaced lines. The second message explains that they were being bugged by one of their opponents, and they set all this up to expose them. In case they bring a photocopy of the letter, they provide Tom with a page with a lot of holes punched on the page. They lay the page over the photocopy, and when you line the letters up with the decoder page with the holes in it, the same message shows through the holes.

  The Pongettes then come up with a great idea. They record a statement explain
ing that Tom is saying what he is saying because he is being spied on by one of the two candidates. Then the speed it up times one hundred and play it backward and insert gaps. Then they set up their own laser parabolic mic and emulate the hotel setting and play their recording and a tape of Tom taking and record that with the parabolic laser mic. They sit down with tom and play it for the group. When they play the tape, their recording is just static noise.

  David asks what that noise is. The Pongettes giggle, and they show them slowing it down by 100 times, and it is someone talking backward, then they click on the Reverse direction button, and it is Tom say surprise it is me, and we got you scum-sucking pigs. The Pongettes giggle.

  The group cracks up, and they all love it.

  Pong makes a thick plastic box for them with the 3D printer and imbeds an RFID with an antenna that runs through the box. They put the box into a dryer and fill the dryer with dirt and rocks and run it for several hours. When they take it out, it is a bit of a wreck.

  Pong runs checks, and the antenna extends the signal to about 1000 feet.

  The teams at the hotel have secured the IDs of the contractors, they are regulars of some re-elect the president group. David’s team got them getting into their car, and it is rented to a George Watson. He is Ex-CIA, is a fixer, and works closely with the Republican party. The other is ex-military intelligence. In the other room are two of George’s buddies he likes to work with according to their conversations.

  David’s team lays out all the evidence and how they make sure everything can be disproved at the debate and after. Tom and Zaria a good with the plan, and it is agreed that when they check-in, Tom is alone in his room when someone does a final sweep and leaves. Tom makes his call from a burner phone to a burner phone and has a conversation with a Pongette at the office. Telling the Pongette all the stuff the spies need to act on.

  Zaria tells Tom, she thinks we should agree to back out of the race but then message her that she doesn’t have the balls to do this at the debate. Our dream come true is that she adds it to her opening statement, which I say the odds of that happening are very good.

  Tom says that all that sounds good, and he is in their capable hands.

  David sends a team out to the burial site; they take the GPS reading and send it to David. The team sets up a couple of video cameras, and they bury the box and put some stuff over it and make sure it looks like it has been there a while. They write David suggesting that Tom add that he checked on the box not too long ago just in case it doesn’t look like it has been there long enough.

  David writes back, “roger that.”

  They run checks on everything, GPS, Audio, Video Satellite view. Infrared cameras. All look good. They walk away from the hiding spot with slippers on their shoes, so there are no prints.

  The next day the hotel team runs through all their usual routines. The next day all the candidates arrive at their hotels. Tom is the only candidate to stay at his hotel.

  End Chapter 42

  Chapter 43 - I have Just Concluded My Opening Statement

  When Tom arrives, there is a pro-Tom crowd out front and no opposition crowd. The clear Tom for President sign is mounted atop the vehicle he is in, and he gets out and pauses just outside the car giving a gunman a stationary target for two seconds. Then he and the group walk through the lobby and into the open elevator waiting for him.

  They reach their floor, and there are more agents there as well as at the turn to the hallway and in his room. Zaria enters her room next door, and Tom enters his room and lays on the bed while the team does their sweep. Tom tells them he has a personal call to make, and could they make sure they don’t miss anything. At David’s control room, they have the audio volume increased in Tom’s room and the two spy rooms.

  The team finishes their sweep and reports that all is clear to David on the radio, and then they tell Tom that we are all good, sir. Tom tells them thanks, and they leave. Tom gets up and locks the door and places his call.

  “Hey, it’s Tom.

  Good, all is going well, I think all the nonsense if behind us. The numbers are good.

  Yes, thanks, me too.

  Hey, we have been friends for a long time. I need a big favor from you, and I need you to not ask any questions but to just trust me, and I will tell you later what this is about.

  Tom pauses, Ok great I appreciate it. I need you to drive up north about an hour and go to a location where I have buried a box with some things in it. I cannot afford the things that are in the box to get out. Can you do that for me?

  Pause. Great, you are one of the few on this planet I could trust to do this. The fact is that if this box got into the wrong hands, Zaria would drop me like a rock, and my presidential hopes would be over.

  Pause OK. Here are the GPS coordinates, I don’t want to message them or for you to repeat them. Just write them down on a piece of paper and then destroy the paper as soon as you have the box. I moved it not too long ago, but after this, I am going to destroy the contents before it destroys me.

  Do you have a pen and paper ready?

  Ok, here you go 35.106766, and the longitude is 106.629181.

  Bring a shovel and walking shoes. When can you get out there to do this?

  Pause There is no way you can get now?

  I see, and I understand. I didn’t know you were traveling, how is California?

  Pause Ok, tomorrow night will be fine. I really appreciate your help on this and for not questioning what it is about. I owe you big time. How about a night in the Lincoln room? Lol

  Tom ends the call.

  Zaria knocks on the connecting door, and Tom opens the connecting door, and they start talking about the debate.

  The receiving side of the spies running the deflector radios the other team and tells them they are not going to believe what they just found. You two come here, and Billy and I are going to fly to New Mexico and back tonight. All of this is playing throughout David’s operations room, and all are smiling.

  The two spies get on a plane and arrive in Albuquerque at 4:30 PM. They rent a car and drive to the GPS coordinates.

  David has one team rent a car with the same rental agency the two spies used in California and another at the rental counter at the terminal. The two spies go to the same agency and pick up their keys and head to the bus to the terminal. Adam and the Pongettes hack the rental site and pull the information on the renter, and message David and the team at the rental car pick up center which car it is. The team walks over to the car and get in. They plant a bug on the driver side of the rearview mirror and place a GPS under the seat and get out. One of the pair is a new guy. The new guy says, aren’t you afraid they will find it? Dan looks at him asks him if he has ever adjusted the mirror in any other way other than reaching for the right side of the mirror with your right hand. The new guy smiles. Nope.

  They drive to very near the coordinates and park the car. They talk about past jobs but not much about who they are working for now. They walk to the exact coordinates and start digging. They hit the box and start digging around it. One bends down and pulls out the box. It is wrapped in plastic. OK, let’s get out of here. They hustle back to the car, and while the buddy, the XX opens the box and starts running through it.

  The Pongettes have a drone flying directly over them about 500 feet up, and they are catching the bug with a cell phone attached to the drone, and the cell phone is streaming the audio to the control room As he is reading he keeps laughing and saying holy shit. He reads the letters from Tom to the family of the guy Tom killed. This is just too great, OMG. It looks like four more years for our president.

  We are going to help shape the world, my friend. This guy cheated on his taxes and killed a guy while he was drunk, he is finished.

  Zaria says, “I think they like it.” Everyone laughs.

  After the passenger reads everything, he takes pics and sends it to his boss. Adam picks up the number from a cell tower and sends it to David along with the tex
t.

  “We struck gold, Lewis. This guy is toast.”

  Lewis messages back, “you should not have sent my real number asshole.”

  George messages back, “relax, we are in the middle of nowhere, in Albuquerque, in the desert. We are fine.

  Lewis, “thanks. Are you on your way back to California?”

  George, “yes.”

  Lewis “ok, good work. Is what you have originals or copies.”

  George “most are originals.”

  Lewis “What an idiot this guy is.”

  David’s team all looks around and smiles. The Pongettes stand up and do a little dance. They get to work on hacking Lewis’s phone and have it. The Pongettes download all his contacts, messages, and then the pics.

  Adam puts his phone screen up on the wall.

  Lewis “Great news. Your problem is toast. See attached.”

  The message is to a 202-area code number. Adam and the Pongettes go after that number. And they pull all their information as well. That number contains nearly all-white house 202 numbers and is most likely someone a step or two away from the president. That contact sends a message, but the recipient of that message is a burner phone, and the trail ends there for the moment. Adam and the team continue working with the numbers they have.

  Lewis has his team research to confirm the intel he has on Tom is real. He finds everything David’s team has planted and messages to his boss that he has researched the information, and it all looks solid.

  David to Zaria, “they have the bait, we followed the phone trail 2 levels above our spies and ended for now at a burner 3 level up in the White House.

  Zaria writes back, ok, good work. It looks like it is up to us now.

  It is the night before the debate. Zaria is running through things with Tom. Tom’s phone rings.