“Bucky will help. He must.” Dragos said as he started down the mountain.
It was raining as he came down through the mountains from Brasov. A usually scenic and pleasant drive was muddled with the early morning darkness, rain, and the events of the evening before.
Chapter 11 – The Debrief
Jenny laughed as they walked into their room “’My Jenny’–that is so precious.” Frank, who was already in the room, was not impressed. Frank was a serious man who was always focused on the task in front of him. It was his biggest weakness, so focused on delivering results that he didn’t enjoy life enough. Not many years from retirement, he knew that would change.
He would be even less impressed as he learned that Jim had pulled the gun on Ric. “You did what?”
Jenny gave another condescending laugh. It was one of those laughs that indicates that she was enjoying his frustration–a laugh that somehow also made her aloof from any real attachments. She used it only around her circle of friends, never in her under cover role. It served its effect of annoying the likes of Frank and other agents. She liked Frank, but this allowed her to avoid getting to close to him. She even used it on Jim. However, Jim found it strangely appealing. He saw it for what it was–a defense mechanism.
Jenny didn’t really want to debrief in front of Jim. However, this room was the only one that they could be sure was ‘safe’ and couldn’t be listened to by any outside party. They were certainly not going to let Jim out at this point–could be dangerous. It would also seem rude to shove him into the other part of the suite. So they let him just listen to the debrief.
Jim found this intriguing. He had found a new world he only read about or seen at the movies. Some things played right into the stereo-types and others were just routine procedures that would have made any novel a very boring read. He enjoyed it even though he knew that in the morning the whole thing would be just a memory.
Frank interrupted, “You have him looking for a piece of furniture? We specifically agreed to a manuscript of some type– something unique.”
“We will get to that.” Jenny said with her little laugh.
“He can find furniture on eBay. You could find furniture at Ikea. I can get an ancient desk from my mother’s den.” Out of the corner of Jim’s eyes he could see one of the two other agents in the room hold in a chuckle. It almost made Jim laugh but he held his cool. He was enjoying this and did not want to give them any reason to remove him from the room.
Jenny said in a completely straight face. “I told him we would consider a unique manuscript.”
“And he is going to look for that too?” Frank asked.
“Oh, he wants our business. The furniture he knows he can find. If he gets an ancient manuscript or old book that we want he knows he will have our business for a long while.” Jenny was smug, but did not use her laugh. She knew she had played it right with Ric and had kept enough suspense in the retelling of the events to capture Frank’s attention.
“I guess that may be nearly brilliant. He will look for something unique.” Frank leaned back now looking more content.
“And the more unique, the more likely we will get connected to some real criminals. We might be able to snag the French guy or we could get Mr. Patel or Steve and maybe even Yuri.” Jenny followed his lead and leaned back in her chair. Jim was still obviously leaning forward in his chair intently listening to every word.
“Yes, that too–maybe even Yuri.” Frank seemed much more satisfied. “And when was the gun pulled?”
Jenny thought for a moment, “My tone of voice implied that we would only consider an artifact if he could find the right thing. That made his son mad.”
“Ricardo Junior, I assume.” Frank interjected.
“Junior, of course it was him. So he pulled a gun on me. Jim just reacted and pulled one on Ric.” Jenny paused for a minute, just for effect and looked in Jim’s direction saying “and Jim said ‘don’t pull a gun onmyJenny’.” She gave her little laugh.
Trevor, the other senior agent in the room spoke up, “How endearing.” This caused a little laugh from Frank. Frank and Trevor had worked near each other for years, but hadn’t been on the same team or assignment until this one. It was a clear stepping stone for Trevor, he would replace Frank when Frank retired which might occur at the end of this multi–year assignment.
Frank volunteered for this assignment hoping to make it his last. Trevor quickly joined his friend hoping to be able to step up the ladder in the process. In fact, Frank had a lot of input into what this operation was going to be.
Trevor’s interjection was appropriate, but he knew enough not to take the lead on the conversation. That was Frank’s job and he was masterful and getting what he needed from people, even his agents. That is probably why Jenny played him the way she did. It was almost a game between the two of them. Frank actually liked the challenge as long as it didn’t really challenge his authority. Frank continued on behalf of Trevor, “Endearing, but an unloaded gun wouldn’t have done much good if you had decided to use it anyway.
“What!!!” Jim only thought it. He had put himself in character and didn’t even react. Jenny was real impressed that Jim held his cool. Trevor had to ask even if his fellow agents ignored the obvious, “Jim, no reaction. Aren’t you the least bit annoyed?”
He was, but he wouldn’t give Frank the satisfaction for Jenny’s sake. He also wouldn’t give Jenny the satisfaction, “I haven’t shot a gun since I was a teenager. And that was a rifle of some type. I probably would have missed at point blank range. In fact, I still had the safety on. I was just hoping Ric wouldn’t notice.”
Frank pulled the gun from the table and looked at the safety. “Sure is. Safety on and an unloaded gun. Ric was certainly safe from gunshots tonight.”
The debrief lasted for a little while longer. They had told Ric they were off to Paris early in the morning and then off to their Château on the beach. He could call Jenny with any updates.
Jim assumed he could probably head home when they all left for the airport. He could then resume his life as Jacob. He would go back to his mundane job as an accountant with a renewed respect for those that defended his freedoms.
Frank, Trevor and the other agent left discretely.
After they were gone, Jenny asked if Jim had fun. “It is a night I will never forget.”
“You have been a lot of fun too.” Walking towards the bathroom, she dropped her dress and undergarments. It was a quick action. Jim saw her silky smooth dark skin glisten in the semi-lighted room. He could see part of her breast before he averted his eyes and sheepishly went to the dresser for some pajamas. He changed while she showered.
Jenny came out of the bathroom wearing only a t-shirt that just barely covered her rear end. It was evident that she did not have a bra on. She gave her little laugh as she saw Jim curled up on the couch. “You know, if you are interested, we could make love.”
Jim had anticipated something like this–although he wasn’t sure how it might be said. He knew that Jenny had little inhibitions but wasn’t sure how straight forward she might be. He was flattered. He hadn’t been with a woman since his wife and that was nearly a year ago. “Interested isn’t really the question. Not that you are not beautiful and very tempting, but my religious belief prohibits me . . .”
“Your religion doesn’t let you have sex?”
“No, I mean, my pastor teaches that sex outside of marriage is wrong. And well, we aren’t even married in our roles. And I choose this; choose to follow this that is.” It was clumsier than he wanted, but it at least didn’t put the blame on her as a person. And it shouldn’t have. If ever there was a reason to break his vow, it was with a woman like this.
“Well next time I will have to make sure we set up the undercover arrangements differently.” Jenny wanted to tell him that she didn’t sleep with just every guy she met, but she did really think he was different. She also figured that she might not ever see him again so she thought toni
ght would be the night. She didn’t show it, but she was genuinely disappointed. Instead, she said the most polite thing she could, “Jim, you can share the bed with me. I won’t try anything I promise. I respect your beliefs.”
Jim had not really expected that and had not prepared a response. So he said the only thing he could, the truth. He turned to face her to say it. She looked really good and he almost relented in what he was going to say. “Jenny, I believe you. But I would not make it all night next to you without giving in. I better stay here.”
Jenny saw that he was sincere. She simply said “okay.” She turned the light off and lay down in bed. She faced away from where Jim was and a tear came to her eye as she thought about her childhood and the dreams she had then. She had some of things that she always wanted, but the cost to some of the other dreams she had still bothered her a little, but never enough to change.
Chapter 12 – Messages and Phone Calls
Before going to sleep, Ric would make a few calls personally and then send key emails to a few other people. He knew where he would get the furniture. He had already promised it to a collector in New Orleans–but would find a suitable replacement for him. He knew that party’s needs and already had a plan to replace the desk.
Ric knew that the desk would impress Jim. He also wanted a unique book for Jim. This he had no leads on. He knew of several items that were great, but he wanted something really special. Most of his phone calls were about trying to find this item. He was hoping to have at least one recommendation by the end of the next day. He called Mr. Raju Patel. Raju had connections to many nefarious folks from the Far East. Raju had him call his daughter Seema who actually dealt in antiquities from China, India and the surrounding areas for museums on the United States east coast. He also tried “Steve”, no last name known. Steve seemed to be into a little of everything and had a knack for never getting into any trouble. There were several others that Ric was familiar with that he reached out to using phone calls, text messages and a few cryptic emails.
His backup plan was to at least offer Jim an original Gutenberg Bible. He knew of one down at Indiana University. It was not complete, but had a fascinating history. His daughter had gone to that school and he had seen it on a visit there. He was even tempted to steal it himself–but thought that it would be better to give one of his associates a “hint” and let them perform the act.
Ricardo’s intention was to give Jim the desk and find a unique manuscript to sell him before he would consider any other contact. Ric wanted to be his sole provider of these unique items. His son Ricky challenged the logic of this whole scheme.
Ricardo answered his son. “This is the infamous James Conrad– if we get his business we will be connected to one of the most elusive billionaires in the world. The additional connections we would make would be worth it even if we didn’t make a penny on Mr. Conrad. And I intend to make more than a penny from him.”
His son felt they could still make considerable money and build a relationship.
Ric was unaware that James Conrad was actually “Uncle Sam” and had been allocated a yearly budget of less than a million dollars, a few properties and a Swiss bank account that looked much larger than it was. This is what it took to build the character over the years and use him sporadically. This sting would take some additional funding, but not anywhere close to even 10% of the first billion. Most of this money would revert back to Uncle Sam proper once the sting had run its few years and netted what it could in capturing arms dealers. Ric also did not know that Frank’s boss had selected Ricardo Martinez to be the last victim of the scheme.
Chapter 13 – Receiving End
Dragos was down the mountain. The previously beautiful mountain sides had drifted into endless fields. The morning air had a slight stench of farmland, but was a welcomed addition to what Dragos had been through in the middle of the night in Brasov. The light of the day had just started to come up over the fields of corn. He was a little distance from Bucharest, but not far. He got a text message. “Dragos, I am looking for something unique. This is a great opportunity. Call me. RM.”
Dragos thought to himself “I don’t have time for this.”
Somewhere else, Yuri got a text message forwarded from a friend. Yuri was as elusive as Jim Conrad. Very few people had ever met her. In fact, most people didn’t even know that Yuri was a she. In her line of business, less exposure was better.
The text message read: “Yuri, not sure if you know of anything. My sources tell me this request originates from that man, you know who I mean. Look at the attached.” The attached read, “Steve, I am looking for something unique. This is a great opportunity. Call me. RM.”
Yuri figured this was probably the note she had been waiting for even if it wasn’t from the person she had expected it from. It might be her chance to finally meet James Conrad. She wondered if her friend, her “secret contact” in Russia, had come through for her. She hadn’t heard yet and that usually meant a problem. Yuri had learned to walk away from snags, the cost usually ended up high. But this was different, this was potentially very big.
Chapter 14 – Arthur’s Office
The sliding of the London Times under the door woke Sir Arthur Borden from his sleep. It took him a minute to focus and recall why he was in his office sleeping and why this was not just another ordinary day. His eyes slowly opened and he saw the thick old oak door. The gap at the bottom was large enough for the times to fit all the way under. He then glanced across at his desk. He was in a slightly larger office than most because of his tenure and his title–“Sir”. As his eyes continued to focus reality began to set in. He was alone, his wife was dead. He did not even know how to start a day like this.
There was a stack of papers still needing graded on the corner of his desk. He had a papyrus scroll on the wall in a frame. It was part of the Dead Sea scrolls find from many years ago. He was one of the foolish professors to purchase it from a local. This only caused them to tear the scrolls into more pieces so they had more to sell.
He, of course, allowed his personal piece to be photographed and logged – but he kept it on the wall to remind him to be more careful in his archaeological endeavors in the future. Caution seemed to be wasted on archeology, he thought to himself as he considered his wife’s fate and that of his friend.
He could not fathom a future at this point. Had it all been a dream? He didn’t think so. He instinctively went to look at the paper to see if there was a story. The front page did reference the festival in London. Nothing about a murder in the tube though. He flipped to the obit page and nothing there either. He knew it had happened, but he needed to see it in print to make it final, to assure that it was not just an illusion.
Then it hit him, the paper was probably printed too soon to get the story. It actually had happened in the early hours of the morning. “Maybe,” he thought, “the online version might have something.” He quickly brought his computer to life. It was slow to boot so he always left it on just so he could get right to work when he came in. For some reason it was off this morning. The secretary or cleaning lady must have shut it down, he thought. He turned it on and walked down to the break room to get a coffee. He had never really got the “British Tea” thing and didn’t really understand the whole European “special coffees”. He had adopted a lot of British traditions and mannerisms, including the accent over the years. However, his coffee was still made black. Over the years, the first person in the building always made a pot just for him. There was a little sign in front of it that said “Sir Coffee”, a play on his title.
“Darn it, no coffee. Maybe I am just the first person in.” Since he never had to, he did not even know how to make the coffee.
He just headed back to his office and shut the door. It took a few more minutes for the computer to boot up and then he went to the London Times website. He did not have to look far. The top headline read “Prominent Professor and Wife Killed in Tube.”
Can’t even get my wi
fe’s death right, he thought to himself. Then in his mind he figured he had probably died in the tube also. Not literally, but without his wife he was as good as dead. Maybe they got it right after all he thought.
His email was downloading from the university server. There were the usual bulletins and then a message from Professor Alto in Egypt. He received an email from Professor Blovaski the day before with pictures of an artifact that had intrigued him. But with his old college buddy in town he had just sent it to one of his colleagues and decided that he would get back to it later. He sent on the note to Professor Alto who was quick to respond.
Professor Alto was Egyptian by birth but schooled in France, Japan and the United States. He picked up a stray dog while in the US and named him “Tenor”. He originally went to school to sing and quickly saw patterns in ancient writings that mirrored patterns in music. It was a match for him that became his passion and the love of his life. He still sang, but became a renowned expert on ancient languages. In fact, Professor Alto and Sir Arthur Borden had attended a retreat together when they were younger. Professor Alto’s dog died over twenty years earlier. However, he still signed all of his correspondence “Alto and Tenor”. After school he moved back to Cairo to teach and settled there for good. He was one of the few people in the world who might be able to interpret the writings.
Not really having any other thing to do, he decided to check out what Professor Alto thought of what he sent. He opened the email:
Arthur at the round table,
It is good to hear from you old chap. No, I haven’t received my funding yet. But it is looking good I may know in the next few days. Thanks for asking.
I am intrigued at your assessment that these writings might be ancient Hebrew or Egyptian. I would love to see them, but you really must include the attachments before I can comment. Please resend with the attachments.
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