by Thorpe, K.
“Yeah, sorry. You can wait in the professors’ lounge down the hall and around the corner. You can’t miss it. I’ll go get Amanda.” Josh gathers several of the shadings and papers and puts them back into his bag. He leaves out the page for the first symbol, sliding it into his top drawer. Josh puts his bag on top of a file cabinet in the corner of his office.
Natan lingers in the doorway. “Great, Professor. I’d really like to wrap this all up.” She gives Josh a look of disapproval. “Still haven’t figured those out yet, huh?”
Josh follows Natan out of the office as he defends himself. “It has a complex encryption, Agent Natan. Deciphering takes time.”
Natan toys with him. “I thought you said we didn’t have time.”
“Are you always this huffy in the morning?” he asks.
“It’s what happens when people interrupt my sleep,” she answers. Josh remains silent.
He leads Natan to a professors’ lounge where he instructs her to wait. Natan sits alone at the head of a large table with several chairs. She taps her fingers as she waits. A few moments later the door opens and Josh appears again with Amanda Clark, his twenty-eight-year-old spunky research assistant. Amanda’s youthful appearance conceals her true age, but it’s her vibrant energy, a sort of magnetism, that gathers the most attention upon introduction. Natan notices this immediately. I can see why he’d be protecting her.
Josh motions to Natan. “That’s her. She just has a few questions for you. I’ll be
in the lecture hall if you need me.”
“Will you set up the projector for me for my next class?” Amanda asks.
“Sure,” Josh replies.
Josh leaves as Amanda comes into the lounge, walking over to the table. She stands with her hands in her pockets as Natan finishes sizing her up. Amanda wears a t-shirt with a photo of Riana Ball, a famous soul singer from the fifties and sixties, on it. It reads “Riana ‘08.”
“Riana Ball?” Natan questions.
“She is the best,” Amanda coolly replies.
“Great enough to be the next president, huh? Natan points to a chair near her. “Would you like to sit down?”
“No thanks. I sit most of the day, unless I’m teaching, so it’s nice to stand. I’d love to chat about Riana all day long, but Josh said you have some questions for me,” Amanda gets to the point.
“Yes, I do.” Natan’s gun is revealed as she gets up from her chair.
Amanda’s cool melts quickly away. “Wait a minute. Is that a gun? Are you a cop? Is this…about me driving by my ex-girlfriend’s house a few months ago?” Natan’s intrigue keeps her silent. She’s a lesbian. Guess that rules out intimacy with the professor. Natan lets Amanda continue as she confides, “I mean it was only twice. I was in the neighborhood…and…I didn’t even stop.”
“I’m sorry?” Natan says.
“Did she see me and make a complaint or something?” Amanda asks with grave concern.
Natan’s had her fun. “What? Ms. Clark, I don’t know what impression you’ve gotten, but I am Special Agent Natan with the National Security Agency.” Natan pulls out her badge.
“Is drama with your ex a National Security issue now?” Amanda’s breathing becomes exceptionally shallow.
“Ms. Clark…”
Amanda interrupts Natan, her voice edging higher, “This has got to be just a big misunderstanding.”
“Ms. Clark, I’m investigating a package that was left in Professor Sails’ office.”
“You’re not here about Rebecca?”
“No. Not unless Rebecca left a package in Professor Sails’ locked office a few weeks ago.”
Amanda feels hopeful. “Well, I don’t know about any package.”
“Only Professor Sails, the maintenance department, and you have a key. Now, I’ve spoken with the maintenance department and they are not involved.” Natan waits, gauging Amanda’s response. There isn’t one so she continues, “I’d just like to ask you a few questions about this. I’d hoped that the professor would have explained some of this to you.”
Realizing what’s just occurred Amanda replies, “Uh. Oh. Well, Josh just said that you were a friend of his and had some questions for me. Let’s just forget about what I said about Rebecca and the fact that I just outed myself to the National Security Agency, shall we?”
“Being gay isn’t a National Security issue.”
“You sure about that…in these times?”
“Last time I checked people are people. Sounds like you’re the one having the issue here.”
“It’s my parents who have the issue, not me. Hey, I thought this was about a package.” The disconnect between Amanda’s mouth and her brain continue to reveal more than she wants.
“It is. So you didn’t leave a package with a photo and letter in it on Professor Sails’ desk in the last few weeks?”
“I already told you no,” Amanda replies, becoming annoyed at this entire conversation.
“I’m just clarifying some things. As I said, you are the only other person who has a key to his office.”
“I have a key, but haven’t used it in eons.”
“Okay, well, has anyone else had access to your key? Like say a significant other…it sounds like we can rule this Rebecca person out, right, Ms. Clark?”
“Look, N.S.A. lady, I’m getting my Ph.D. My life is school. I consider Josh my stand-in girlfriend right now and he’s also my closest friend. My life is a cornucopia of excitement, can’t you tell? Are you sure that it wasn’t just delivered when the office was open? Have you asked him about this?” Amanda retorts.
“I have. That’s why I’m talking to you now. One last question. Have you seen anything suspicious or strange around his office in the last week or so?”
“Besides Josh’s clutter? Nothing more than usual.”
Natan sizes Amanda up one last time. “Okay then, looks like we’re through. Thanks for your help.”
Amanda tries to smooth things over with the government. “Again, I’m sorry about…the confusion.”
“Don’t worry about it, Ms. Clark.” Natan sees Amanda’s discomfort. “And…give your parents time. They’ll come around.”
“There’s a better chance that Riana Ball will actually become president.” Amanda heads toward the door.
Natan smiles, “And…Ms. Clark.”
Amanda turns. “Yeah?”
Natan winks at Amanda. “You may want to rethink the whole stalking thing.”
Amanda attempts to hide her embarrassment as she calls over her shoulder while leaving, “I was just passing by.” Amanda can’t leave the lounge quickly enough. Natan smiles and shakes her head.
Josh runs into Amanda outside the lounge. “The projector’s all set.”
“Thanks,” she retorts sarcastically.
An oblivious Josh walks back into the room.
“Looks like you were right, Professor. She’s not involved, though she is a very interesting individual,” Natan says.
“I told you that she had nothing to do with this. She doesn’t have it in her to lie,” he asserts.
“We all have it in us to lie, Professor…under the right circumstances. Though it didn’t appear that she was.”
“I arranged the meeting for you, Agent Natan…now, have you had a chance to review any of the information?”
“Some.”
“So, what do you think?”
“There may be something to this, Professor. I need a bit more time.”
Josh appears relieved. “I’m so glad that you’re evaluating this from an unbiased perspective. Thank you for giving me…uh…this…a chance.”
Amanda pokes her head back inside the door of the lounge, catching the tail end of the conversation. “Not to interrupt your intricate mating banter…but, Ms.…N.S.A. lady. You wanted to know if I’d seen anything strange lately?”
“Yeah?” Natan replies.
“Well, there’s a strange looking fellow standing outside of Josh’s office right n
ow. I haven’t seen him here before,” Amanda answers.
“Right now?” Natan asks.
“Yeah, at least he was there a second ago.”
Wasting no time, Natan and Josh both bolt for the doorway and venture into the hallway. Josh breaks into a sprint, hollering over his shoulder, “Where was he, Amanda?”
Amanda shouts to Josh as he runs away from her, “Just outside your office.”
Natan and Amanda run after Josh, maneuvering down a hallway and around a corner.
On the other end of the corridor a man dressed in professional attire stands at the exit sign just yards from Josh’s office. He faces away from Josh and the others. He has a gun, which Natan spots, so she addresses him. “Sir. I’m a federal agent. I need to speak with you. Wait there.”
Still facing away from them, the man takes off. Natan yells after him, “Federal agent! Stop!” The man runs, approaching and throwing open the door of a nearby stairwell. He disappears through the door, rushing down the stairwell. Natan pulls her gun and rushes after him in hot pursuit. Josh and Amanda stand back in awe.
“Wait here,” Natan instructs sternly to Josh and Amanda.
Amanda looks at Josh, “I’d do what she says.”
Natan vanishes through the exit door, rushing down the steps with no sign of the man in sight. She reaches the bottom floor and finds nothing. Natan opens the door that leads outside, emerging in the middle of a bustling campus. She tucks her gun away as she sees several student passersby. Natan looks all around. The man isn’t anywhere to be found. Dammit!
Chapter Eleven
Natan returns to Josh’s office to find Josh and Amanda talking. Flipping through items on his desk, Josh inquires about the situation, “Did you catch him?”
Natan shakes her head. “He must have gotten lost in the crowd of students outside.”
Josh suddenly looks around the room frantically. “My bag’s gone!”
“What bag?” Natan asks.
“The bag with the shadings.”
Amanda chimes in, “Who was that guy? What shadings? What’re you guys talking about?”
Natan looks at Josh, then at Amanda, “This is a government matter, Ms. Clark. I need to speak with Professor Sails alone. If you see anything again, please call me on my cell.” Natan pulls a business card from her pocket and hands it to Amanda. “Don’t call my office. I’m never there. My cell is best.”
Amanda takes the card and replies, “Okay.” Then under her breath says, “Why do I always get a cute woman’s number for all the wrong reasons?” Amanda leaves the office.
Natan closes in on Josh. “You have copies, right?”
“Of course not.” Josh runs his hand over his forehead. “I haven’t even had time to review them all, let alone copy them.” His eyes reveal stress as he looks around the office again. “Who would even know what I had in there?”
“Looks like someone knows a lot more than we do,” Natan says.
“Let’s focus on the most important issue here…the symbol shadings,” he replies.
“We’ll find them,” she tries to reassure him.
It doesn’t help. “They may be as important to this as you are. Did you catch up with him or find any clues, at least?” he asks.
“Clues? Who am I? Cagney or Lacey?” Natan retorts.
“You know what I mean,” Josh looks away.
“He was carrying a gun…government issue.”
“So?”
Natan continues, “The guy was carrying a gun reserved for certain branches of the federal government, like the F.B.I., C.I.A., D.E.A., N.S.A., among others.” Josh raises his shoulders with a vacant look.
Natan shakes her head, “I can understand how you were arrested in Mexico.
It means someone from the government is interested in you.”
“Who?”
Natan replies, “That is the question. And, if we can answer that, we’ll be able to get the symbols back and piece together the rest of the pieces of this photo puzzle.”
“So what do we do now?” Josh is devastated by the loss.
“We wait,” she says, “And I’ll have the lab check for any forensic evidence on the package in the meantime. I’ll be in touch.” Natan leaves the office. Just as the door closes there is a knock.
Amanda pops her head back in and addresses Josh, “Do you have a moment? I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
“Just one,” he replies, “I’m on my way out.”
Amanda enters the office. “How do you know that N.S.A. woman, Josh?”
“Amanda, I need you to keep your meeting today with Agent Natan confidential.”
“Why?”
Josh replies, “Could you just do this for me? It’s important.”
“Josh, what’s going on?”
Josh doesn’t answer.
Amanda continues, “Okay. I’ve been incredibly patient here. I mean, first you get me to loan you my brother’s G.P.S. with no explanation…which you bring back all dented and scratched…”
Josh interrupts her, “I told you I was sorry about that.”
“Yeah,” she continues, “but you wouldn’t tell me how it happened.”
“I told you I dropped it when I was hiking.”
“Hiking where? Mexico?” she probes.
“How did you know that I went to Mexico?”
“You left a copy of your itinerary in the lounge. I slipped it under your door last week. Didn’t you see it on the floor?”
Josh looks around, “No. I don’t remember seeing it.”
“And, you know that Ryan is going to come back from Iraq and kill me himself because his equipment is jacked. I was never supposed to loan it to anyone.”
“I seriously doubt he’ll kill you,” Josh replies to the melodrama.
“Josh, this isn’t funny. You know he’s the only one in my family still speaking to me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m dealing with my own things right now,” he says.
Amanda continues, “And now you’re involved with this woman from the N.S.A. Are you in trouble or what? What was in your bag? Why is a man snooping around here?” Amanda touches Josh’s arm. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I’m not in any kind of trouble. I can’t go into detail right now. Just keep this under wraps for the time being, all right?”
“Josh, I need a better explanation than that,” she says.
Josh grabs Amanda by her arms. “I need you to trust me.”
A stunned Amanda relinquishes. “Okay, fine. But I’m just worried about you. You know that you can trust me, right?”
“Don’t worry. I do trust you, Amanda, and I appreciate your concern…”
Amanda jokes, “Just remember that next time you schedule me for back-to-back T.A. assignments.”
“Sure thing.” Josh gathers his keys and jacket, “Now, I’ve got to run. Lock up for me, will you?”
“If I do, that agent won’t be back to question me again, will she?”
Josh grabs the first symbol page from his desk drawer and as he’s leaving Josh says, “Only if you steal my test notes again.” Josh rushes from the office, leaving Amanda behind.
Amanda shouts after him, “I borrowed those, Mr. Hilarious.”
Chapter Twelve
Inside the N.S.A. Natan stands in front of Marsh as he sits at his desk. “You requested me, Sir?” she asks.
Marsh’s voice grumbles a bit. “So, you still want me to believe that you don’t know Professor Josh Sails?”
“Sir?”
“There’s evidence that you have been in contact with Professor Sails since your return from Mexico.”
“Sir?”
“Agent Natan, please take a seat.”
“I’ll stand, Sir.”
“Agent Natan, sit…please.” Natan sits in a chair in front of Marsh’s desk. Marsh leans in, speaking in a lowered voice, “I’m concerned for you, Agent Natan.”
“Concerned about what, Sir?”
“This is
just between you and me…” Marsh rings his hands together as he looks at Natan intently. “As you know, the N.S.A. has been involved in a blanketed domestic wiretapping program. What you don’t know is that all government department telecommunications received after the Boston incident have been included in that agenda. All calls have been recorded and logged in a separate database…”
Natan’s shock interrupts him. “What? I knew the civilian wire tapping and data mining was extensive, but now they’re monitoring their own? Is the N.S.A. still facilitating this?”
“We are…along with the C.I.A. They needed someone to monitor the monitorer. I guess they’re trying to find Al Queda cooperatives within the government. Things are unfolding within the government that are shocking, Agent Natan.”
Natan shakes her head. “It was only a matter of time.”
“It gets worse. I’ve been instructed to question you regarding your contact with Professor Sails…”
Natan replies, “Well, if my calls have been logged, Sir, you’d know that he contacted me here just after my return from Mexico.”
“The fact that he’s contacted this office on more than ten occasions has been brought to my attention,” he says.
“Sir, it may not be completely appropriate to have contact with an individual from a case after the case terminates, but it isn’t illegal or even directly recognized to be against agency protocol, particularly with this case, as strange as it was.”
Baxter looks at Natan directly. “You’re right about that…but conspiracy is recognized as such.”
Natan is appalled. “Conspiracy? Of what?”
“Do you recall your conversation, Agent Natan?”
“Yes. I haven’t engaged in any…”
Marsh interrupts Natan by playing a digital tape of the call, a filtered Natan’s voice emerging from the tape. “Professor, why are you calling me here?”
A filtered Josh’s voice answers her, “Agent Natan, I must finish our discussion from the plane…the Code…things have already been set in motion.”
“I can’t discuss this now, Professor.”
“There is little time, Agent Natan. Can you meet me at the university tonight?”
“It won’t look good for me to meet you. I can’t be involved in this, Professor. As an N.S.A. agent, I can’t be a part of this.”