Justice and Revenge

by Holly Fox Vellekoop

  Allen made a questioning face and was given an ‘ok’ sign.

  Wands were run up and down their clothing, front to back, side to side. The man frisked both of them and, satisfied with finding nothing of concern, walked away and out of sight.

  Vince and Allen sat down opposite each other.

  Vince wiped his bald pate and face with a handkerchief, being careful to avoid the scar over his nose.

  “What was that?” Allen asked, motioning toward the area where the man who had frisked them had gone.

  “Precautions. I told you we’d be checked for bugging devices before we started. We wanted to make sure no one had slipped a device onto either of us. That’s important for everyone concerned.”

  “Oh,” Allen said, relieved that nothing was found.“It’s good seeing you again, Daddy,” Allen said. “You’ve changed since we last met.” He motioned to the bald top, with gray hair circling his skull at the base. “You used to have a full head of dark hair. And where did that scar come from?” he asked. “I don’t remember that.”

  “I told you that being an agent was a tough job,” Daddy said with a grin. “I’ve gained a few pounds, too.” He patted the uncomfortable padding on his enlarged girth. “Too many phone conferences and not enough exercise.”

  “You must be feeling pretty good about the success of Bobby’s Play,” Allen said. He pulled a visor down over a full head of prematurely graying hair to shield his dark eyes. Moisture from the falls glistened on his skin. He wiped his arms and face with a monogrammed handkerchief.

  “It was one of our best so far. In that Scene, we were able to satisfy more than one case. The Screenwriters, Cast Members, everyone involved, were superb. I’m proud of them all.”

  “Not to mention the cost effectiveness of the effort,” Allen said. “The Group must have been able to accomplish many of its goals very inexpensively. I didn’t get the details of what happened. Can you fill me in on where it was held and who was there?”

  “Later, Allen. When I have more time. But you’re right. We save a lot of money doing Plays that way. Thanks to the Script and members of the Theater Group giving us the use of their resources, we slashed the bottom line. But, again, that is only one piece of it. Our primary focus remains the provision of justice for our members and their loved ones. We can never forget that, Allen. That is what drives the success of the Theater Group. Loyalty and support is fleeting in other operations, whether it be temporal or ecclesiastical and regardless of purpose or inherent nobility. The Theater Group seeks one thing and one thing only - justice. An Agent must never forget that.”

  “I understand,” Allen said. “After what happened to Barbara, a day hasn’t gone by that I don’t think about the impact evil has on all of us. She was a talented and beautiful ballerina and now can barely walk. The suffering she has endured has been difficult for all of us who love her.” He looked at some tourists walking nearby and stopped speaking. He seemed to be considering weighty matters.

  “Are you sure you’re ready to take on the responsibilities of being an Agent? I have no doubt you’re qualified. I just want to be sure you’re prepared emotionally for the load from all you’ve been through. The pay will be better as an Agent. I know you’ve incurred a lot of medical bills with Barbara’s rehab and can probably use the money.”

  “I’m ready,” Allen said. “As a minority, I can bring another perspective to the operations. Injustice is our daily lot.”

  “Injustice is everyone’s daily lot. It cares not for color or creed,” Vince said. “Yet sometimes it is borne of color or creed mostly as an excuse. Globally, it manifests itself when the opportunity permits and when weakness is perceived by those who crave power. Even some minorities may crave power over others. That is a part of life that we must acknowledge. But we don’t have to accept injustice as the victor.”

  Vince changed the subject. “I’ve brought some more information for you to review. Did you get the files sent to you after we last talked?”

  “Yes, I did,” Allen said. “That was some heavy reading, but I got through it.” He shifted his medium frame to get another view of the falls.

  “In the packet I brought for you today, I’ve outlined the duties that will be yours as the Agent for the West Coast and will discuss them in depth with you,” Vince said. “I will remain the Agent for the East Coast. Taking into account population density and land mass, the line of demarcation will be as follows: everything west of and including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas will be part of the West Coast Theater Group. I’ve included Hawaii in your Group and Alaska will stay in the East Coast Group. Once we get you up and running, I’m hoping our recruiters will provide candidates, one each to take over the Alaska and Hawaii Plays. You and I will train them.”

  Allen listened closely to the presentation, impressed with the depth and scale of the organization. He expressed his admiration for the capabilities of those involved.

  “As Solicitor, you reported to me,” Vince said. “As the Agent, you will get to know the names and backgrounds of almost all of the members of your Theater Group. Very few of them know any of the other members, though. Once in awhile some of their paths cross if they are in the role of Cast Member. And sometimes they must rehearse and study the Script with others. However, in private life, no acknowledgement is ever given they have seen the other person before. The Theater Group is compartmentalized from their daily life. It is expected of all members. The Scene at the last Play was the largest gathering of Cast Members in one place that we’ve ever used. Some of them may have recognized others, but they were strict in interacting only with those at their table or booth, unless the Play dictated otherwise. Some of our Patrons who donate money to our cause never participate in any other way with the Group. Occasionally, when needed, one of them will donate their home for use as a Safe House or will assist in another way, but generally, they simply hand over American dollars to the Dollar Dreamers.”

  “I’m going to miss my role as Solicitor,” Allen said. “It was immensely satisfying, finding ways of assisting the Group to negotiate the legal system.”

  “You were outstanding as a Solicitor,” Vince said. “Your position will be hard to fill. Recruiters have been working for awhile now and still haven’t found the right person for what has become a full time position. We have to be careful whom we move up into key spots. We have security concerns, you know, and don’t want anyone placing our group in danger.”

  “Thank you,” Allen said, shifting uncomfortably. “I will bring the same dedication to my new position as the Agent that I gave as your Solicitor. And you were right about something else that you said. I can use the extra money. Our insurance doesn’t cover everything needed for Barbara’s care and the bills are mounting. Rehabilitation is expensive.”

  “I understand. I have confidence you’ll do a great job. I have a list here of some new Plays that our Playwrights are working on that will now be your responsibility. The Searchers are doing the background on these and are weeks away from completing their part of the mission. I’ll hang onto this information until everything is ready. But, I wanted to discuss them a little with you. You’ll get your copies of the Plays when they are finished.

  “The first one I wanted to talk about is Lydia’s Play. This one is a bit unusual in that the sponsor of the play is not Lydia’s husband, family member, or even her boyfriend. He was her childhood sweetheart who still loves her and wants justice. Lydia contracted HIV from a college boyfriend, Phil, who failed to tell her he had tested positive for the disease. Unfortunately, Lydia’s immune system was already compromised by another health issue and she died from AIDS last year. Phil denied knowing he was HIV positive when confronted by Lydia, but our sponsor found out he did know it and just didn’t tell her. There were three documented witnesses who confirmed Phil knew he had HIV, and we have his medical records to prove it. Our Group requires a double witness so this qualifies for our action. Phil is the Anta
gonist in this Play. The Theater Group members will continue to report to me on the progress of this and other Plays on the west coast until your group is ready. Then, you will be responsible for putting together the Cast Members and seeing it through to its completion. I’ll tell you their real names and the Play’s location later.

  “The second play is Hazel’s Play. After a massive stroke, Hazel was taken off life support by her second husband who claimed that was what she had said she wanted. Her children did not believe him and after her death, found documentation refuting their stepfather’s claim. Also a couple of friends informed Hazel’s children of their surprise that had happened since Hazel told them she did not want to be taken off, regardless of her condition. Her children are sponsoring this Play.

  “The last Play I want you to work on is called September Play. It is sponsored by twenty families of victims of the September 11 attack on our country. Our Group has information on two Al- Qaeda members who had a small part in planning and financing that tragedy. As usual, our first action was to have one of our members try to get justice through the legal system. That is always our first choice of action - give the system a chance to work. Liberal judges and expensive lawyers thwarted the process and it got nowhere. Your Group is getting this Play because the Antagonists now live and work on a compound out west. The Play will be done there. Again, the real names and locations will be sent to you when we are closer to setting the productions in motion.”

  “The amount of justice needed for victims is staggering,” Allen said. “Practically every day, someone is harmed and the perpetrator goes unpunished.”

  “True. But we can only take on cases we know meet all our criteria, and we can only proceed with them when the stage is set. Our activities are much different from people who take the law into their own hands. That’s why we don’t consider ourselves vigilantes. Under no circumstance is the Antagonist murdered. No exceptions. We get them through hard work and perseverance. We pursue justice through the accepted channels like the court system when we can. When the system breaks down and the Antagonist gets away, we move on with the Play. The Searchers role in providing the knowledge base for the play is massive. They are the Group members who obtain background information from families and research about the victim and the guilty party. We do not make a move until everything is in place. That is why we are so successful. We never do half a job. Never. And I will expect the same of you and your Group.”

  “It’s amazing that some of the Antagonists fall for what is dangled in front of them,” Allen said.

  “There’s no end to the size of their egos. And our knowledge of them is the key. We promise the bad guys a lot of what they want and they go for it,” Vince said. “We promise their desires. We promise to give it to them now, give it to them cheaply and easily or even free, and tell them it is foolproof. In short, we beat them at their own game.”

  “Are there ever any problems due to lack of funds?” Allen asked. “I mean, will we always be able to bankroll the Plays we initiate?”

  “That’s a good question,” Vince said. “And the answer is no, there is never a lack of funds. And yes, we will always be able to bankroll what we take on. We have Patrons providing a steady stream of cash. Victims relish funding the justice they believe in for their loved ones. Especially when they know they are getting real value for the dollar. We are good stewards of their money, Allen. I’ll go over the records with you to show you.” Vince thought for a moment and then said. “There is something else you need to know about the financial end of the Theater Group. Besides Patrons, we have a Backer who is not officially a patron. He is known only to me. I call him the Backer when I speak about him. This Backer oversees our money, and when it gets below a certain point, will fund 100 per cent of what we need. He also plugs any holes we might get into, ensuring our Plays are a success. The Backer is powerful enough to handle anything our Group cannot, pulling strings for anything we need. Anything.”

  “Who is this Backer?” Allen inquired. “And will I be working directly with him?” He’d have to be a billionaire. A well-connected billionaire. But which one? There are hundreds and hundreds of billionaires worldwide.

  Vince gave Allen a name. “This name is never to be spoken to anyone else or written down for any reason. The secrecy of his identity is critical to the Group, and we want to make sure we never compromise this man. Understand?”

  “Yes,” Allen said. “Totally. You can trust me.”

  “Good. I’m counting on you. Before we take a break, I want to talk to you about one of our Theater Group associates. This man is an intelligent, loyal Group member. He has not forgotten his own personal tragedy that brought him to our Group.” Vince said. “This man functions as the permanent driver for each Play. During Charlotte’s Play, he was the driver but also one of his jobs was to assure the safety of the Cast. While Charlotte’s Play was enacted, he was ready twenty-four/seven to do his part. In his professional life, he had been trained as an Israeli soldier. A member of their elite services, the Shayetet 13. He is valuable for his fidelity and his honor. He understands what it is to fight for survival and knows what it takes to succeed. We have more members of the Group just like him. If anything should ever go wrong with the Play, they are capable of handling it without compromising the ideals and integrity of the Theater Group. Our enemies would not want to be up against these loyal Theater Group members.”

  Vince stopped talking briefly so Allen would get his point.

  “Now, this driver’s training is important in taking Cast Members when and where they need to be. And to get them out of a jam, should one arise. He knows what it takes to make things happen and is one of our key associates. I have already alerted the recruiters that we need to find someone with skills equivalent to his, to work with your group. Like the Agent position, this is another critical placement within the Group, and no decision will be made until the right person is found. You can see why it might take awhile to get everything ready for a west coast Group.”

  “Yes, I see that. Thank you, Daddy,” Allen said.

  The story of the driver was causing Allen to rethink some things. “I’ll wait to hear from the Recruiters about whom they recommend.” His countenance was dark as if he suspected a storm was on the cusp.

  “Are you ok?”

  “Sure. Just tired, that’s all,” Allen answered, brightening up. “I was just thinking of my wife.”

  Allen was ruminating over the personal consequences he would suffer if any of those loyal Theater Group members should discover his treachery.

  “Speaking of Recruiters, I’ll be reassigning two of our own Recruiters to work with you,” Vince said. “They will be there to get you up and running and will stay with you for awhile, even after other Recruiters are brought into your Group.”

  “Great,” Allen said, glancing over at the falls again. He needed time to think.

  Sensing Allen’s need for that break, Vince said, “Let’s go take a closer look at the water, have some dinner, and then we’ll talk again.”

  Vince, too, was getting tired from the pressure and long days. His upcoming vacation was looking sweeter and sweeter. “Before we go, is there anything else you want to ask me right now?”

  “I’ve never heard your real name, Daddy. You know mine, but I don’t know yours. Will you tell me what it is?” Allen asked.

  “I’ll reveal that to you when the time is right. I need you to trust me on this one, too.” He hoped that everything he had said had made an impact.

  “Sure,” Allen said.

  Together, Allen and the man he knew only as Daddy went back to the railing and watched the plunging waters with the crowd. They exclaimed about the power of the falls, discussed where they were to eat dinner, and in general, looked like two ordinary tourists out having a good time at the great Niagara Falls.

  Neither of the men seemed to notice the family snapping photographs of their children who rushed over to stand at the same railing the Agents w
ere leaning against. One snapshot after another was taken, with the subjects of the lenses including, and sometimes exclusively being, Allen and Vince.

  Observing the photographic activity were two men wearing sunglasses, with binoculars slung around their necks, partially hidden within a copse of trees.

  After Vince retired to his hotel room in the evening, he made some telephone calls.

  “Hi, Baby,” Vince said. He was feeling burdened by the actions he was forced to take.

  “Hi, Vince,” Marla said. “You sound tired. How’s it going?”

  “Good,” Vince said. “I was thinking about you and wanted to hear your voice.”

  “I was thinking about you, too. Is everything okay?” She wished they were together.

  “It’s going fine. The new Agent is intelligent which helps a lot. There’s a steep learning curve to understanding how we operate, but he’s doing well. He had a lot of questions about the financial piece which I had to go over with him. I never realized how complicated the Theater Group really is until I had to teach it to him.”

  “Don’t the Dollar Dreamers handle most of the finances?” Marla asked.

  “Yes, but I review the records monthly to keep everything secure. That is why anyone who donates to the Group must telephone me and tell me how much they gave.”

  “No wonder you’re tied up all the time,” Marla said. “Your job is exhausting.”

  “Well, there’s one aspect of the financial end which I want to share with only you. The Theater Group has a Backer. He also watches the finances, and if we ever need any money at all, the Backer gives it to us out of his personal account.”

  “Wow,” Marla said. “That’s wonderful. It must provide you with a great sense of security knowing that.”

  “Yes, it does,” Vince said. Before he hung up the phone, he gave her a name for the Backer.

  The next person Vince called was Benjamin. He gave him the same story that he gave Marla and Allen about someone financing the Group whenever needed. Benny was also given a name for the person who was the Theater Group’s Backer.