Sandy’s apartment would not be a viable option, for countless reasons Zach decided not to pursue. Zach’s hotel was also out. Sandy was concerned about the possibility of an agent still at the hotel’s bar. The only option left was a local hotel, neither wanted some dirty dive, and the question became what decent hotel would register guests this late in the evening. Sandy volunteered to call around, retrieved her cell phone and saw she had an unread message.
When she read the text, her heart sank. What it said told her there was no reason to find a hotel. She reread the contents to confirm what she had just read. Like a tumbleweed disappearing in the wind, Zach witnessed all the sensuality Sandy had shown whipped away in an instant. She sat stoically, with her lips formed into a pout. Sandy, in a soft voice, said, “Zach I’m afraid I need to excuse myself.”
Shocked, and in a defensive tone Zach said, “What did I do wrong?”
“It’s not you,” Sandy stood and walked out of the lounge.
Stumped, Zach sat there and replayed their conversation in his head. It made no sense. Their mutual attraction seemed obvious. Dejected, Zach headed for the exit. As he walked out of the restaurant, the town-car arrived as if the driver knew he would be ready to return to the hotel. The driver opened Zach’s door and inquired politely, “Did you enjoy your evening?”
“Not really,” is all Zach had to say as he slid into the seat, all he wanted right now was to return to the solitude of his room.
When Zach entered the hotel, the same two men he had seen earlier and were not there when he left, were seated at the bar and motioned for Zach to join them. Torn between his desire for solitude, and curious about the friendly gesture, he chose the latter and walked over to the bar. One of the men shook Zach’s hand, and said, “Sorry about the cold shoulder earlier, we are RRT agents, and had to wait until after your dinner with Jake. If you have any questions, we can let you know the real story from an agent’s perspective.”
Zach said, “That sounds great.” That jolt of reality brought him out of his stupor, and he started to think again about the decision he had to make.
The three men wandered over to a table, Zach realized he only had one question to ask them. He decided to use Jake’s vernacular, and asked, “How many men have you had to neutralize?”
They both shook their heads and in unison replied, “None.”
One spoke up and added, “If you have to neutralize someone you did a poor job planning the mission and that meant you put your own life in undue danger.”
What the agent said made a lot of sense and with that question answered Zach excused himself and retired to his room. In bed, Zach thought about everything Jake had said and the answer he heard from the agents. The weight of his decision pressed down on his shoulders. In an epiphany, the hundred pounds of pressure was thrown from his shoulders. He drifted off to sleep, still with thoughts of Sandy and her abrupt departure in his mind.
Awake at zero six hundred hours, too early to call Jake, he wanted some coffee and breakfast. Zach called down to the clerk and asked about any local coffee houses that might be nearby. The clerk suggested the bar since it served breakfast and lunch. After a quick shower, Zach dressed and headed down to the bar. Famished, he ordered three eggs over easy, six slices of bacon, biscuits with gravy, and a large bowl of fruit. Zach sipped the hot coffee, appreciating how strong it was made. He inhaled the meal upon its arrival. It was time to call Jake.
Back in his room, he dug through his suit pockets for the piece of paper Jake had given him. Zach called the number. Jake answered the phone on the second ring. “Jake, it’s Zach I have my answer for you, I’ll join the agency.”
“That’s great. I thought you would. A town-car will be there in half an hour to take you to the airport. There you can pick up your tickets for both your trip home and your flight to the training facility in three days. Good luck Zach, and welcome aboard.”
“Thank you. I hope I can live up to expectations.”
“Zach, I can tell by your tone of voice, that something is bothering you, what’s up?”
“It’s nothing. I just have something I’m trying to sort out.”
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with the way your evening ended last night, would it?”
“Well, now that you mention it, yes. I was trying to figure out what happened with Sandy. I don’t know what I did wrong.”
“Let me stop you right there. You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, from what I was told, it sounded like you were doing everything right.”
Zach was agitated, and it came across that way when he said, “What are you talking about, who told you what?”
“Look you need to calm down. It’s time you realize that for now there is nothing you do or say that I am not aware of. I had no problem when I learned you and Sandy were meeting for a nightcap. In fact, I was hoping it might help persuade you to join the agency. But when your shadow let me know it was looking like more than just a drink, I had to step in.”
“My shadow? I’m so confused.”
“As is the case with all new agents, you were under constant surveillance last night. That person is your shadow. When they informed me the two of you were searching for a hotel room, I had to step in and put a stop to it.”
“Why the hell would you do that?”
“Because, if I were a betting man, I would have bet on you deciding to join the agency, and it looks like I would have won that bet. The problem for you is that I have an unwritten rule that office staff and field agents don’t get romantically involved.”
“You could have told me at our dinner to cancel my date with Sandy.”
“As I said, I thought it was just going to be an innocent drink. I had no idea you two were so infatuated with each other, and you would move at lightning speed. In all fairness to me, I did give Sandy the option of quitting.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“I sent her a message reminding her of the relationship policy, and that if she wanted to pursue the evening with you, I would regretfully accept her resignation.”
“Wow, how magnanimous of you to force her to decide between her job and a guy she had just met.”
“Look, the rules are there for a reason, with time I’m sure you’ll understand that. For now, you have to accept the fact that as an agent your life will be different.”
“Congratulations on your technique to make that point.”
“It had to be done. Besides Sandy is a sweet kid, and I would hate to see her get hurt.”
“How do you know she didn’t want the same thing I did?”
Jake grew impatient and in a stern voice said, “I guess we will never know. I think it’s time we wrap up this conversation before I rescind the offer. I would hate to think I’m investing in someone that only thinks with their little head.”
“Okay, sorry if I got out of line.”
“Just prove to me I was right in recruiting you.”
“I will.”
“Goodbye, Zach.”
After he gathered his belongings, he headed down to wait for the car with only a single regret, Sandy, about joining the agency. In no time the car roared to a stop, a different driver than before, jumped from the driver’s seat, jogged around the front of the vehicle and opened Zach’s door. Zach settled back for the short drive to Reagan National Airport. With the same level of excitement he felt when a new adventure was on the horizon, Zach felt ready for this unique experience to get underway.
Chapter 7
Miami Florida – 2002 CE
Flying from Asheville to Miami, Zach thought, there are worse places for the training. He recognized a familiar face waiting at the gate when he departed the plane. It was one of the men from the bar at the hotel in Virginia. “In case you didn’t catch my name in Virginia I’m Joe, and I am one of your trainers. Please follow me.” They left the commercial terminal, hopped into the waiting golf cart and puttered over to a security gate. Joe flashed a badge in the direction o
f the guard, and the chain link gate rolled open. A featureless airplane-hanger with no signage displayed to identify the owner or purpose was their destination. Joe punched a set of numbers into the keypad mounted on the dash of the cart. The hanger doors rumbled to life noisily sliding over the rails embedded in the asphalt.
The light inside the hanger was subdued, but it didn’t take long for Zach to catch a glimpse of what was waiting for them inside. The drab gray jet towered over the ground crew, creating the illusion of miniature people, akin to pedestrians viewed from a tall building. Busily attending to the giant, the team appeared to be preparing the craft for flight. Zach looked around, as the cart pulled into the hanger, all thoughts of training in sunny Miami vanished. A group of eleven men were milling around in the corner of the building. Three men wore flight uniforms as if to announce their role. One man had a familiar face. The rest of the men wore questioning expressions. As the golf cart came to a stop in front of the men, Joe said, “I’m sure you recognize Tom, he was with me in Virginia and is your other trainer.”
The huddled team of men all seemed fixated on the jet. The massive plane was the cargo version of a Boeing 727, designated 727-200F Advanced. On paper there were only fifteen built, all for FedEx, this was an undocumented sixteenth. There were no windows, other than the cockpit, by all outward appearances this would not be a pleasant flight. As a way of introducing himself to the group, Zach said, “Maybe this is their way of preparing us for the unpleasant training experience.” A reserved laugh filled the air. Tom sensed the unease and decided to help alleviate their apprehensions.
“Gentlemen, things are not always as they appear. I think you will be more than pleased once you see the inside of the jet. This plane started life as a 727 cargo plane but has experienced a rebirth after extensive modifications were made to accommodate the specifications of the agency. First, the upgrades, that you may not care about; the engines have been replaced to increase efficiency and range with additional fuel storage also installed. The cockpit instrumentation now consists of the latest technology. Secondly, I’m sure the interior will be a pleasant surprise. From the back to the front here is what you will find; the rear section of the plane houses the command center, in front of the command center is a kitchen that offers more than standard airline food. Next, you will find a large lounge area and finally twelve private cabins to ensure in-flight comfort. Gentlemen, I believe it’s time for us to get on board. There will be a card with your name on it next to your cabin.”
The now exuberant procession approached the plane just as the roll away stairs moved into place. The crew climbed the stairs first and made their way to the cockpit, followed by Tom, the group of recruits and finally Joe. As the recruits entered the plane, Tom informed them to get settled and then find their way back to the lounge in half an hour. Zach located his cabin, opened the door and stood awestruck in utter amazement. Never in his life had he imagined accommodations with this level of comfort on a plane. Inside the confines of an airplane, the room looked relatively spacious. The room included: a bed, a small desk and chair, a large flat screen monitor where a window should be, and a reclining chair. The furnishings screamed of luxury and seemed more appropriate for an upscale hotel. Between what he had experienced in Virginia and the modifications the plane had undergone, this was an agency that didn’t suffer from inadequate funds.
Settled in, Zach walked in front of the large monitor, and it came to life with an image near and dear to his heart. He became fixated on the monitor. A stream was meandering down the mountainside. The sun glimmered off its surface. The wildflowers along the stream’s banks danced in the gentle breeze, wisps of clouds drifted overhead. To Zach, the scene transported him back home and made him question why he was even here. The tranquility and serenity are why he chose that area as his home, but here he was, inside a plane with no indication of when he might revel in the beauty he left behind. A voice came over the speaker system and interrupted his reflections of home.
Zach listened, as the pilot said, “Welcome aboard. Please take a seat in your recliner, and strap in for takeoff. You will find the seat belt conveniently located in the arms of your recliner. We will be in the air in less than five minutes, so make sure you get seated immediately.”
Zach settled into the recliner, the image on the monitor changed to the airport. He watched the shadow of the plane against the runway as the aircraft accelerated down its length. The jet rose into the air, the ground vanished beneath him, and he realized this was a live feed, not some canned film clip. Was the earlier scene of his little part of the world also live? Did it matter? Musing about the question, he realized it did matter to him because it was a statement about the technology aboard the plane.
Once the plane leveled off, the image returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains, slight changes in the scene reaffirmed his presumption he was looking at a live video feed. Someone had gone to great lengths to set up equipment that would feed him images that would suppress any anxiety he may be feeling. Impressed by the scope of the agency’s capabilities, Zach assumed the rest of the passengers were also enjoying images of their favorite place. Again, his thoughts were interrupted by a voice coming over the speaker, this time it was Joe’s voice, “Five minutes, you have five minutes to assemble in the lounge.”
Zach was in the first cabin and made a mental note of each name and their associated hometown on his way to the lounge. He would marry the names to faces once time permitted. There was: Barry Bowers from Long Beach, Ray Abbott from Memphis, Shawn Jordan from Tulsa, Philip Dawson from Wichita, Clay Mann from Corpus Christi, Chris Page from Birmingham, and Justin Valdez from Denver.
By the time Zach reached the lounge, everyone else had already arrived. The fact his cabin was the furthest away was his rationalization. Zach decided to play a cognitive game with himself. He was curious to see how many men could be identified based solely on their hometown, appearance, and accent.
Joe said, “Welcome gentlemen, why don’t you take the next hour and get to know each other. Your survival may depend on the man standing next to you. Tom and I will be back in an hour to fill you in on what to expect over the next year.” The two of them went into the command center, closing the door behind them.
Zach turned to the man standing next to him and guessed Clay. The accent sounded like a Texas drawl. “Nope, I’m Chris,” was the curt response. Based on his mental game, he registered this as one in the wrong column, not a good start, Zach thought. Zach struggled to understand why this man was even here and felt guilty for the quick label he placed on him, but there was no getting around the fact Chris looked like a ‘nerd.’ Having a slight build, only five foot six, and wearing thick glasses that magnified his eyes to the point they looked like the infamous eyes from an alien rendering. Chris’ eyes appeared twice as big as what his face should accommodate. Although not extremely talkative, Zach learned Chris was a computer whiz notorious for his hacking acumen.
After milling around for a moment, he heard what also sounded like a southern twang. Approaching the man Zach said, “Let me guess, you must be Clay.”
“Yes sir that’s me. How’d y’all know my name?”
“Educated guess, the accent helped.”
Clay was a large black man with arms as thick as tree trunks, a head as smooth as a bowling ball and a definite southern drawl. A soft-spoken man with a gentle disposition, the adage gentle giant, came to mind. After a brief conversation, Zach found out Clay had been a field operations planner for the DOD. There was something about this man that told Zach he would be able to rely on him under any circumstances. As well as liking Clay, this was one in the correct column in his cognition game.
Zach approached another man of average build, this one with unkempt hair. Based on the sun-baked complexion, the sun-bleached scraggly long hair, and a laid-back attitude Zach thought this man looked like the surfer type, which meant Long Beach would be his hometown. So he was sure this would be Barry, wrong again, making two
in the wrong column. From Denver, Justin was an avid skier spending all his free time on the slopes, traveling where ever he had to go to find snow.
What Zach then realized was a skier and surfer had similar levels of exposure to the sun which affects outward appearances. Again, Zach questioned why this man was here until he spoke. Justin’s elocution oozed with intellect. When he wasn’t skiing, he was the most sought-after logistics expert in the rock concert world. Being a little braggadocio and resorting to a bit of name dropping; Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, and other big name multi-band concerts was his forte. Despite the bragging, this was another man Zach felt he could rely on.
With each guess, the number of unidentified men dropped, and Zach’s odds of being correct went up. He thought the next man should be Barry. A second guess in the right column. From Zach’s perspective this man took a great deal of pride in his appearance, he worked out on a regular basis and had the toned muscles to prove it. Almost six feet tall and sporting a crew cut Zach did not have the same level of confidence in Barry he had with Justin and Clay.
The fact he came across as egocentric could easily be what was influencing Zach’s impression. At no point did he show any listening skills, everything was about him. An inability to listen did not bode well with Zach and made Barry come across as less than a reliable companion in a critical situation. For now, Zach would give him the benefit of the doubt and reserve judgment as best he could, recognizing there had to be some redeeming qualities for him to be here.
Walking over to the next man Zach said confidently, “Philip.”
Beyond Top Secret: A Zach Taylor Adventure Page 6