by Alex Siegel
"The victim lived in segregated, on-base housing. Each apartment had two women in separate bedrooms. I moved into the bedroom that the victim had occupied, and I lived with the witness who had told us about the drinking. Her name was Emilee. She thought I was just another tech on the base.
"It didn't take long to figure out Emilee was a lesbian. She had pictures of old girlfriends hidden in the drop ceiling. This was years ago when being a lesbian in the Air Force could get you discharged, so it was important. I became very friendly with her and feigned sexual interest. We never actually had sex, but we did just about everything else."
Katie sipped her wine.
She continued, "After a few weeks, Emilee gave me diamond earrings as a gift. They were expensive, and I was suspicious. She couldn't afford them on her salary. Her bank account didn't show any activity though. I checked local jewelry stores until I found the place where she had bought them and discovered she had paid in cash. The next chance I had, I searched Emilee's purse and found two thousand dollars in crisp bills."
"Safety deposit box?" Marina said.
"Yes, ma'am," Katie said. "It wasn't easy, but I found her box and got a search warrant. It was packed full of cash. Special Investigations put a tail on Emilee, and I hid tracking devices on her clothes. Eventually, we photographed her selling technical manuals and specifications to a Russian agent. We arrested the agent but not Emilee. I wasn't done with her. My theory was that the victim had been killed because she had discovered what Emilee was doing.
"I was using the same bed as the victim. Late that night, I pretended to be possessed by the victim's angry spirit. I went into Emilee's bedroom and talked about the Russian agent. Emilee bought the whole act. She basically confessed to throwing her lover off the balcony, and I got it on tape. Emilee was convicted of murder and espionage."
Marina chuckled. "That's a great story. Thank you. Let's eat our soup before it gets cold."
Everybody finished their fish chowder. Then the waiters swept in and replaced the soup bowls with lamb chops in curry sauce. Fresh mint leaves added a little flare to the dish. There wasn't a lot of meat on the bones, but several more courses were coming.
Marina took a fork and a knife and started eating. The lamb was so tender, she almost didn't need a knife.
"Jia," she said around a mouthful of meat, "let's hear from you next."
Jia was wearing a red silk dress made in a traditional Chinese style. Embroidered, golden flowers decorated the fabric. The collar was almost high enough to touch her chin. Long pins held her black hair.
"I have a good story, ma'am," she said in a soft voice. "I grew up in Chinatown just a mile from this hotel. My parents own a traditional grocery store. They're immigrants, and they like to help new immigrants get settled in the States. My father fills out forms, and my mother acts as a translator. Somebody from China was always visiting the house. One day, a young man named Yang was there. He had smuggled himself out of China on a ship."
"Why?" Marina said.
"Yang had worked at a factory where used computer parts were recycled. He discovered that toxins leaking into the groundwater were causing birth defects in nearby villages. He tried to report the crime, but the manager of the factory had powerful friends in the government. Yang was arrested for stealing from the factory even though he never did anything wrong. He broke out of jail and fled the country."
Interesting guy, Marina thought.
Jia continued, "I was a pretty good hacker even when I was just a teenager. When I heard Yang's story, I decided to do something. I hacked into the factory computers and found evidence Yang was right. I gathered information from local hospitals. I discovered incriminating emails. I even had the ground water tested."
"You did all that from San Francisco?"
"Yes, ma'am. I put together a full report and posted it on websites all over China. The manager was arrested and shot."
Marina smiled. "Nicely done."
Jia blushed.
"Let's finish our lamb," Marina said. "Then we'll hear the next wonderful story."
The next course was a sushi-style roll made with cooked chicken instead of fish. The chicken was wrapped in seaweed and rice. The waiters placed the plates with so much pomp, she had to smirk. She tasted a piece and was delighted. The warm meat was spiced with wasabi, and the seaweed paper gave the dish an unusual texture.
"Imelda," Marina said, "you're up."
Imelda was wearing a traditional Mexican dress. Brightly colored, cloth flowers were sewn onto black fabric. The dress was cinched tight around her skinny waist, and it flattered her. Real flowers were woven into her long, black hair.
"Yes, ma'am," she said. "I grew up in San Jose. My mother owned a car repair shop, and my father was a mechanic there. I could rebuild a transmission by the time I was in high school. I liked to hang out with the boys and tune up cars after school. We built street racers. One day, a boy named Tony caught me alone and raped me."
Marina frowned. "I'm sorry. Did you report it?"
"I couldn't." Imelda shook her head. "My parents are very traditional Catholics. The shame would've killed them. They would've found a way to blame me for being raped. I had to keep it a secret, but I didn't forget. I got back at Tony."
"Ah, a young woman in search of revenge. A story after my own heart. What did you do?"
"He liked to upgrade cars in his family garage. One night, I snuck in and stole his hydraulic service jack. I worked on it in secret in my house. The next night, I put it back in Tony's garage exactly where I had found it."
"What did you do to it?" Marina said eagerly.
"I put solvent into the fluid," Imelda said. "The next time he used it, the seals failed, and the car dropped onto him. His legs were crushed, and he was trapped for hours before anybody heard his yelling. His feet were eventually amputated."
"Nice!"
Corrie shook her head. "You people are sick," she muttered.
Marina turned to her. "In your opinion. After the next course, we'll hear your story."
A few minutes later, the waiters brought in the next set of dishes. She was served beef medallions with mushrooms and wine sauce. The meat looked so good, she started eating before everybody else was served. The savory flavor made her sigh happily.
"Now you may talk," she said.
Corrie was wearing a flowing, green dress with tassels on the cuffs. A pattern of turquoise beads was sown into the fabric. The design was a cross between modern and traditional Native American.
"My parents are very poor," she said. "They could barely afford to put food on the table. Sending me off to college was out of the question. As a child, I knew if I wanted to get off the Navajo reservation, I would have to do it on my own. I decided to be an inventor, and I focused on the problem of purifying water."
"Why?" Marina said.
"When you live in the desert, you think about water often. I tinkered with different concepts until I came up with a design similar to a slow sand filter, but mine worked better. It included wood chips and shredded, recycled plastic. My invention worked so well, it won the state science fair. I got a full scholarship for college. I even received some money from a company that wanted to commercialize the technology."
"Wonderful." Even though nobody was maimed or killed, the story still impressed Marina. "Let's finish this delicious steak before we continue."
The next course was sliced strawberries, oranges, and grapefruits in a plum sauce. The sharp citrus flavors cleansed her palate after the rich meat.
"Min Ho," Marina said, "your turn."
Min Ho straightened up. He was wearing a white tuxedo with a baby blue sash. A few military medals were pinned to the breast of his jacket. His black hair was teased out to form a fluffy cloud around his head.
"I served in the Republic of Korea Army," he said. "Military service is mandatory in South Korea for young men. After boot camp, I was assigned to the cyber warfare unit. My job was to stop North Korean hackers from harmin
g the South. I came up with a brilliant plan. I created a virtual bank."
"What do you mean?" Marina said.
"A financial institution that only existed on the internet. It had thousands of make-believe customers and billions of dollars in make-believe assets. North Korean hackers attacked it, and I was able to analyze their methods without any real money being lost. We called it 'Project Rat Trap.' It went on for years before the North Koreans finally figured it out. My project was responsible for hundreds of improvements in the security of real banks."
"That's great. It sounds like something Aaron would think of."
A short time later, dessert arrived. It was warm, gooey chocolate with nuts poured over frozen sherbet. The contrast of temperatures and textures created a remarkable sensory experience. Even though Marina was full, she gobbled up the treat.
"Hanley," she said, "you're last. Make it good."
Hanley cleared his throat. He was wearing a nice, black business suit with a white shirt and a blue tie. He had shaved and scrubbed until his skin was a little pink. His dark, curly hair had brown highlights in this lighting.
"It feels funny telling this story," he said. "It happened when I was a Navy Seal, and it's classified information. I guess that doesn't matter with this group."
"I didn't know you were a Seal," Ipo said.
Hanley nodded. "Seems like another life now. I was leading a team through the mountains of Afghanistan. We were hunting terrorists. That was our full-time job back then, and it sounds glorious, but it wasn't. It was a lot of long, brutal hikes and sleepless nights. We couldn't tell the friendlies from the hostiles, so we were suspicious of everybody. Some men couldn't handle the stress after a while."
He took a sip of wine. Marina could see old pain on his face. She felt bad for him, but she knew his life as a legionnaire would be even tougher at times.
He continued, "We spotted activity in a high cave. We couldn't call in an airstrike until we knew who was up there, so we waited until nightfall, and we went up the hill. It turned out a shepherd was camping in the cave. He had sheep wandering around, but I still thought it looked suspicious. Shepherds usually stuck to the valleys and streams. We had a translator with us, and he talked to the shepherd but couldn't get an explanation. There wasn't much else we could do, so we left.
"After a while, the shepherd came running after us. He told us the cave was a Taliban stronghold, and they were holding his daughter hostage. If he had told the truth earlier, the Taliban would've overheard.
"We debated what to do. Attempting to rescue the girl was extremely dangerous, and the life of one civilian didn't justify that level of risk. We didn't even know if the shepherd was telling the truth. The safe solution was simply calling for an airstrike and pretending we had never heard about the hostage. The Air Force had bombs that could kill anybody hiding in the cave.
"I was the team leader, so I made the decision. We would rescue the girl, but I had a plan for mitigating the risks. The next day, I asked the Marines to place a support unit in the valley below the cave, but I didn't tell them why. The Marines were bait. My Seal team took up positions above the cave. The next night, the Taliban came out to attack the Marines, and we ambushed the enemy from behind. After annihilating them, we entered the cave. We blasted our way through the remaining resistance and rescued the girl with only minor injuries on our side."
"Well done," Marina said.
"It didn't all end well," Hanley said. "The Marines were pissed about being used. I got a long lecture from my commander and a note on my record, but it was worth it."
Everybody finished their dessert.
After the plates were cleared, Marina said, "Those stories were great. I'm glad everybody shared. Now we come to the most important part of the meal: the oath of membership. Hanley, did you ever swear the oath?"
Hanley raised his eyebrows. "What oath?"
"I'll take that as a 'no.' I want Corrie and Hanley to both respond." She checked the door to make sure the waiters were out of the room. "I must remind everybody that violating the oath is a grave offence, and the penalty is always death. Once the oath is sworn, it can never be retracted. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Corrie and Hanley said in unison.
"Do you swear to fight the enemies of God with all the strength in your body and mind?"
"Yes."
Marina smiled. "If necessary, will you sacrifice your life and all you hold dear for that cause?"
"Yes," Corrie and Hanley responded.
"God demands we remain covert. Do you swear to conceal the Gray Spear Society at all times and in all ways? Will you take our secrets to the grave rather than reveal them?"
"Yes."
"Finally, will you obey the orders of your commander and trust her judgment in all matters of importance?"
Delivering that line felt strange to Marina because she was the commander now. They would be obeying her, not Ethel or Aaron. That obligation weighed heavily on Marina. If her people got killed, she would be responsible.
"Yes," Corrie and Hanley said.
"Stand up. I hereby award you the ranks of legionnaire and caculas with all the attendant rights, privileges, and responsibilities. Welcome to our ancient Society!"
The two new members stood, and everybody else gave them a hearty applause. Hanley smiled proudly while Corrie looked a little bewildered.
"Hanley and I have to get back to headquarters and start preparing for tonight's assignment," Marina said with a grin. "It's going to be a lot of fun."
Hanley frowned and looked uncomfortable.
Chapter Six
The Mission District was located in east-central San Francisco. The majority of the Latino population of the city lived there, and that group included Oscar Quintero.
Marina was driving the blue van up Capp Street. It was midnight, but there was still some traffic on the streets. San Francisco had a vibrant night life. This neighborhood consisted of two and three-story buildings jammed as close together as possible. Many homes shared a wall with a neighbor. Most of the construction was wood, but there were some decorative bricks here and there. Cheerful pastel colors were the rule.
She stopped in front of a green, two-story home. It occupied a narrow slot between a parking lot and a church. Elegant, Victorian architecture made the home look like an antique. Embellishments around the doors and windows were painted orange. There was no front yard or even an alley.
"This is it," Marina said.
"What's the plan, ma'am?" Hanley said.
She turned to him. Both of them were wearing black tights and ninja shoes.
"We'll make some noise to draw the guy out into the open. When he shows his face, we abduct him, throw him in the van, and drive off. If somebody shoots at us, shoot back."
"I was hoping for more sophisticated tactics," he said.
Marina shrugged. "Quick and simple is usually the best approach."
"This sounds more like quick and messy. Innocents could get caught in the crossfire."
"Are you criticizing me?"
"Sorry, ma'am." Hanley looked down.
Marina drove into the empty parking lot of the church next door. She parked the van but left the engine running.
She squeezed past seats to reach the back of the van where her combat gear was stored in black duffle bags. She put on green camouflage body armor and a helmet. The colors weren't ideal for a night operation, but the arms dealer hadn't had anything else. She armed herself with two pistols and a SCAR-H assault rifle. All the guns had suppressors. She considered grabbing a grenade but then decided it wouldn't be useful this time.
She got out of the way so Hanley could get ready. As he moved in the darkness, she admired his strong, flexible body. He still needed several months of intense training, but she expected him to become a fine legionnaire. He equipped himself the same way as her.
Marina climbed out of the van and quickly looked around. A wooden fence separated the parking lot from the tiny back
yard of the home where Quintero lived. The plan was immediately obvious. She used her rifle to shoot some outdoor lights and create complete darkness in the backyard. The suppressor kept the noise from the single shots down to a hiss and a pop.
Hanley joined her. "You're a very good shot," he murmured.
"Thanks. Wait here."
She got back into the driver's seat of the van. She maneuvered it around until the rear doors were aimed at the wooden fence. She threw the van into reverse, gunned the engine, and crashed into the fence. She quickly jumped out but left the engine running. The van was half-way through the fence. Perfect, she thought.
She ran through the gap and into the backyard. She crouched down behind a rose bush and became very still.
Hanley entered the yard a moment later. He looked around but obviously didn't see her. She decided to let him wonder where she was hiding. Maybe next time, he would do a better job of sticking with her. He found a hiding spot under a wooden deck.
Marina judged his ninja technique and concluded he wasn't keeping still enough. A good ninja could freeze like a statue for hours if necessary. I have a lot of work to do with him, she thought.
Lights were turning on in houses all around. The crash had made a lot of noise. She saw faces in the windows of the green house, but she didn't budge. It was just a matter of time until Quintero came out to investigate. Min Ho had triangulated his cell phone signal to confirm the target was home.
A couple of minutes later, the back door of the house opened, and light spilled into the yard. Three Hispanic men came out. They were armed with pistols, but they were holding the weapons close to their bodies. Marina was glad to see Quintero in the group. He was cursing violently in Spanish at the van as if it could feel insulted.