Convergence

by Brian W Claspell

  We both hope that somehow you understand that we did this because we love you.

  With all our love,

  Mom and Dad

  The number on the back of the letter matched what Yuri found on the bronze plate. There was a little nominal cash in the box. Yuri memorized the name of her father and returned all of the items to the box except a handful of cash. She walked back out with her new family and drove to the shopping center to return her borrowed family to the real mother and wife. Yuri slyly slid $2000 cash in between the seat and the center console before getting out.

  She now had about a day to get to Chicago and plan her encounter with the Captain. It was a stark realization that she had killed the wrong people all those years ago. Now, however, she felt that the Captain might be one of the people that deserved to die. But she was going to be sure this time and she was going to find out who else was involved.

  Chapter 78 – My HomeTown

  Jim waited to tell Jenny the likely connection between Yuri (aka Stephanie Baker) and his real father until after breakfast and after they dropped Roy back at the house. So Yuri and Jim (Jacob) shared the same father. This man was more than likely a CIA agent who played the role of Jim Conrad.

  The scheme was becoming clearer to Jenny and Jim. Whoever was doing this was trying to get Jim Conrad’s money which was likely seed money from an earlier CIA operation that had grown. Although the growth in funds was unprecedented and there were still deposits into the account on occasion. Regardless of how the money got there, the current Jim Conrad was needed to access it because his name and identity were associated with the account. So why not use Yuri, if she was Agent Baker’s daughter (aka Jim Conrad senior)?

  They knew that Heidi was part of the plot and so was someone from within the CIA. And the CIA agent had to have influence on Jenny’s current operation. On top of that, the bank account information was on the back of an ancient bronze plate that came out of Russia. And for some reason there was a reference to Iowa. The answer was with Iowa, Heidi, and Yuri. They would need Frank to come through with information on the mole and Jenny was sure that they could solve this thing.

  They decided to take the day to think through a clear action plan. They had hoped the bank would send an email of someone tracking them. Other than an email note that indicated someone called from Interpol asking about their visit, there had been no correspondence. Jenny figured it was Heidi and there might be no other correspondence from the bank. She figured a day break from the whirlwind they had been on would be great.

  It might not be the safest place. Jim had assured her that he had no direct relatives living in the town except his great uncle and a few very distant cousins. Sure, there were lots of old high school friends that he had not talked to in years or even taken the time to connect with on any social sites on the internet.

  Jim took her on a brief tour of his small town. He showed her the former site of the Pekin mall, one of the first indoor malls in Illinois. It was long gone, but he had hung out there a lot as a youth. He took her downtown and they walked around pointing out where he used to ride his bike as a little kid and where some of the stores that were once there were now something different or just vacant. It was still a quaint little town.

  Jim tried to explain the Marigold festival, but Jenny could not get the concept of a festival centered on a flower. “You will just have to come sometime.” Jim finally told her.

  They also walked the trails at the Mineral Springs Park and went into the pavilion. They topped it off by going to dinner at a local bar. It was a place that Jim had frequented often when in town after high school until he quit drinking. “However,” he told Jenny, “they have the best wings I have ever tasted.”

  Chapter 79 – The Best Wings

  They were seated just off of the edge of the bar at a table near the pay phone and hall to the restrooms. There was an old juke box on the other side of the hall. The table was in the way of anyone who had to come out from behind the bar to the seating area. Jim and Jenny didn’t mind. They ordered and waited for the wings to arrive. The waitress was visibly a little annoyed that each only ordered water to drink. Jim knew that they would tip well enough that she would forget that by the end of the night.

  Jim’s back was to the door so he didn’t see her walk in the door with three of her friends. He didn’t even notice her until she came to the juke box. But even with her side view as she selected a song on the juke box he knew it was Tammy. Jenny noticed his change in demeanor and sudden speaking quietly. “Who is she, an old girl friend?”

  Jim pointed at Jenny and quietly said. “Bingo.”

  Only a moment later, Tammy turned to see Jim sitting at a chair. Jim could tell that she had not lost much of her beauty over the years. Her figure was pretty much like it was when they dated in high school. Her face was a little worn, but still very attractive.

  “Oh My,” she stated clearly loud enough for the others to hear in the bar. “Jacob has returned to our small little town.”

  “Hello Tammy, how have you been?” Jim said trying to be polite and short.

  “Let me buy you a drink.” Tammy said waiving the waitress over.

  Jim looked at Tammy and said. “Thanks, but I don’t drink anymore.”

  “And who is this prissy little thing you are with, some hooker. Is your wife not giving you enough?” Tammy said, again in a loud voice intended to provoke a response from Jim.

  Jim responded calmly. “This is Jenny. My wife died in a car accident over a year ago.”

  “Well I am sorry about that, but you are still a prick.” Tammy said and then returned back to her table with her friends.

  “You dated her?” Jenny asked. “I hope your tastes have improved over the years.”

  “My wife was wonderful. Then I have been out with a secret agent and a world renowned arms dealer. So you can judge if my judgment has improved. Tammy was a long time ago in high school. Then it kind of just ended when we went to different colleges.” Jim explained.

  “Why is she so bitter then?” Jenny asked.

  Jim smiled. “I guess it is me and women in hotel rooms. It must be my charm.”

  “What do you mean?” Jenny pressed.

  “When I got engaged I came back so everyone could meet Carol. I came about a week before Carol. She couldn’t get out of work so she had to come later than me. I came here for wings and drinks with some friends. Tammy was here the first night and we talked. On the second night we drank a lot and talked. Then we headed for a hotel room. She had brought a slinky nightgown and went into the bathroom to change. I had enough sense about me to leave, even though I was pretty sloshed.”

  “You left her there?” Jenny laughed.

  “Go figure. Best decision I ever made. It was one of the things that convinced me not to drink. I left her there with no ride and with the bill. I got a few nasty letters from her for the next year or so. Carol got a few also. It is one of the reasons we didn’t come to visit my home town too often. It was good when my parents finally moved.” Jim concluded.

  Jenny agreed that the wings were absolutely fabulous. They were nearly half way through their meal when Tammy came back to the table. This time her three friends were standing near her. “Jacob, I just thought I would let you know that I married Bobby Swenson.”

  Jenny looked at Tammy. “So who is Bobby Swenson?” Jim knew that the Swenson’s were a very well to do family with numerous businesses in town. They were also known as the local bullies.

  “Bobby was the star quarterback when we were in high school and may be the richest man in town.” Tammy continued, “I called him and told him how you came on to me tonight. I told him you were with some bimbo and still came on to me. My friends all saw it too.”

  “Tammy, you are a treat.” Jim said. “Come on Jenny, let’s go.”

  “That is great advice. I am sure his brother and a few friends will be here any minute. If you are still here it will not be pretty.” Tammy said laughing. Then s
he flashed a gun from inside her purse. “And just in case he doesn’t show up I might need to do something.”

  Jim had left his gun at Uncle Roy’s house but was sure that Jenny had hers. She didn’t go many places without at least one. Jenny picked up a wing. “These are delicious. I think we should order more.” Jim knew the look. It was the same type of rebellious look she gave Frank when she was about to disobey what he said.

  Tammy looked at Jenny. “I don’t think you understand. Do you think he won’t hit some two bit tramp?”

  The response would have been too easy, something about how Tammy might have experience in that department. But Jenny held her tongue. Instead she said. “You should call him and tell him the truth.”

  Tammy looked at him. “Honey, you will get what is coming to you and so will Jacob.”

  Jenny motioned to the waitress and then ordered another set of wings. Tammy went back to her table cursing the entire way back and then she sat down. The bar tensed up pretty quickly anticipating a fight. The waitress warned that there would be no police intervention on account of Bobby owning the bar now. She suggested it was best if Jim and Jenny just left.

  Even though Bobby was a year ahead of him in school he remembered that Bobby was taller and built fairly big. As he walked through the door he noticed that Bobby was indeed about a half foot taller than he was and had improved in stature since high school. Three more people walked in behind him. Each had a shot gun in his hand. Bobby had a hand gun shoved in the front of his pants. Jim and Jenny were now standing facing the entourage that had just entered.

  After a brief quiet interaction between Bobby and Tammy, Bobby and Tammy both walked up to Jim. Bobby spoke. “You mess with my wife you mess with me. This is going to be very painful.”

  Jim looked at him and said, “Do you think I would be interested in your wife when I am with this lovely woman. Sure Tammy looks good, but there is really no comparison.” Jenny was smiling at the accolades. “Besides, I assure you that Jenny handles a gun far better than Tammy.”

  “I know you used to date Tammy. You must have some twisted fantasy for an old girlfriend. She wouldn’t lie to me.” Bobby said while his hand was nervously on his gun. He was deciding whether to pull it or just beat the crap out of Jim.

  Jim didn’t like either prospect.

  Jenny had already assessed the situation. Two of the three men holding shotguns had shots at Jenny or Jim. The third was largely obstructed by Tammy. She moved slightly to position herself where she wanted. In a single motion Jenny pulled her gun and shot one of the men in the knee cap and the hit the other’s gun knocking it out of his hand. Before Bobby could react she had her gun pointing at the forehead of Tammy. Strategically it would have been better to be pointing at Bobby’s head but logistically Tammy was closer. It also gave Jenny more satisfaction to have the gun at her head.

  Jenny said. “I would suggest that you dispose of your gun carefully and your friend do the same.” Jenny physically reached into Tammy’s purse and got the gun out.

  She looked at Jim and then at Bobby. Jenny then said. “Bobby, from when I say ‘go’ you have three minutes and not a second more to have a fair fight with Jim, if you still want to defend your wife’s lies.”

  Bobby did not wait for go, he threw a punch at Jim that caught him in the jaw, nearly knocking him to the ground. It hurt but Jim remembered one of the moves that Jenny had taught him a few days earlier and was able to turn the next punch into a defensive move that twisted Bobby’s arm into a very painful position.

  Bobby recovered and tried to lunge at Jim. Jim went low sending Bobby to the ground. Bobby grabbed Jim’s ankle and pulled Jim halfway to the ground. Jim grabbed the gun from the table and put it to Bobby’s head. Bobby said, “I thought this was going to be a fair fight?”

  Jim looked and said. “As I see it the gun was about equal distance from each of us. I just got to it first. He paused a moment and said. “Jenny, let me know when the three minutes is up.”

  Jim gave Bobby a final kick and told him to “take your cronies and that fine example of a lady you call your wife out of the bar and get lost”. As he gathered himself and his friends, Bobby explained how he would personally use his vast wealth to sue and then destroy Jim.

  Chapter 80 – Frank

  Frank continued to have his frustration with Jenny. She hadn’t checked in all day. He knew her phone was off and that worried him. He was thrilled when late in the evening she finally called her on the phone. Jenny had stepped out from the house once they had gotten back to Uncle Roy’s house.

  “Are you okay?” Frank asked.

  “I am fine. We have just been laying low. Have you been able to find anything out about the mole?” Jenny explained. Jenny thought that perhaps if laying low was defined as a bar room fight that involved guns, she was telling the truth.

  “No luck so far. Tom seems anxious that we find you. But you know Tom; I wouldn’t think he would be involved. I am still looking.” Frank said.

  Jenny continued, “You have to work that angle and keep track of Heidi. We are going to try to meet with Yuri, get her to come to the states. Yuri and Heidi are both involved in this in some way.”

  “Yuri is in the states, we have tracked her to Chicago.” Frank said. “But wait to contact her. Heidi has also come to the states and is involved. I want to make sure it is safe for you. I will call tomorrow when I know more.” Frank continued. “So keep your phone on,” he emphasized. Then he concluded by asking them to “make your way to Chicago. I think we are close to solving this thing. Frank told Jenny that they had removed the APB on them and that they were not wanted fugitives in the states at least. It had frustrated Heidi but she understood the politics of having an agent getting

  that kind of scrutiny in the states when there was no evidence they had any extended contact with the fugitive Professor Borden. This was reassuring to Jenny.

  Jenny agreed to move towards Chicago and that they were close to solving this thing. What she didn’t tell him is that they were only about three hours from the city and that the next morning they would be going to a bank in Des Moines Iowa as a detour before going to Chicago.

  Chapter 81 – Yuri on the internet

  Yuri purchased a new laptop and two walking GPS devices to prepare for her encounter on the next day. She also met up with a contact in the states that provided the fake key to a fake Swiss safe deposit box and a few other supplies she might need.

  She spent the next few hours preparing and then she spent some time researching a “Jacob Caldwell”. According to recent newspaper reports he had just been in an accident and was in a coma. Yuri figured that this was not a coincidence. She found out about his families accident about a year ago and about his workplace, through LinkedIn. She also found a recent photograph online that looked an awful lot like Jim Conrad.

  Jim’s involvement became clearer. Although, she was not sure how much he understood yet. Perhaps he understood everything and was just playing her. After her meeting, she would call Jim and see if they could meet again.

  Chapter 82 – A Surprise Visitor

  Jenny walked back into the house while Jim and Roy were watching an Illinois game. “You could have called from here; I wouldn’t have known what you were sayin anyhow.” Roy said without getting up.

  Jim looked over his shoulder. “Did we find out anything new?”

  Jenny looked disappointed. “No. I think we are set though with what we should do. Who is winning?”

  Roy continued to look at the TV. “Illinois is up by 4. It is just after half time.”

  Jenny looked at the TV. “I will take that beer now.”

  “It’s in the fridge.” Roy responded.

  Jenny went and grabbed a cold one and sat on the couch next to Jim. The game was close and exciting. When there was about 3 minutes left there was a knock on the door. Roy just ignored it. Jim asked if he wanted him to get it. “Don’t matter to me much. At least until the game is over.”


  Jim got up and walked to the door. He opened it. Standing in front of him was Ricardo and his two sons Ricky and Victor. “You want to have us in?” Ricardo asked.

  Jenny instinctively pulled her gun but kept it hidden next to the chair. Walking into the room, Ricardo looked at Roy. “Why don’t you find someplace else to go for a while?”

  Roy looked at the three men and then at Jenny and Jim. Jim said, “These are friends and we probably have some business to discuss.”

  “Can we wait for the end of the game?” Roy asked, still not moving from his chair. His eyes had returned to the game.

  Ricardo looked at the game and the time left that was displayed. “As long as it doesn’t go into overtime.” Jim got Victor and Ricky a beer. Ricardo declined. Illinois won on a last second shot.

  Once the game had finished, Ricky lifted his jacket revealing his gun to Roy. “Now it is time to go for a walk.”

  Roy just said, “I guess I will just go for a walk. It’s not that I need the exercise or anything.” He continued to talk to himself as he walked out the door.

  Ricardo didn’t say anything. It was clear that he was waiting for an explanation from Jim. Jim spoke, “So how did you find me.”

  “My daughter.” Ricardo responded.

  “Your daughter? How did she know where I was?” Jim was perplexed.

  “I always snap a picture when I meet someone new. It inadvertently ended up on an electronic photo album in my house. My daughter, Mary Frazer saw the picture.” Ricardo said.

  “Oh,” Jim said with a surprise look on his face. “Your daughter is Mary. What are the odds?”

  “It is, as they say, a small world.” Ricardo responded.

  Jenny asked, “You know Mary?”