by Randy Dutton
He relaxed at the sight of sparring match on a makeshift outdoor gym shaded by the tree.
Anna had just blocked Pete’s left thrust and spun behind him. This enabled her hands to force his head backward and down. Pete grunted when his back impacted the mat. Anna feigned a finishing blow to his throat then sprung sideways. Her bare feet weaved and bobbed toward and away from Pete’s legs, then suddenly stopped near an open Nike gym bag.
The lawyer walked forward. “Anna, what’s that move called?”
“Hi, Jim.... It’s a ghost technique,” Anna’s eyes shifted from Jim’s sudden appearance to her opponent. Her legs resumed the dance.
“It’s been a week since you two married. Now you’re beating up each other?” Jim jested. His head shook. “Just like some other couples I’ve had to represent when I was a first-year associate. Who’s winning?”
“Depends.” Pete was panting and very sweaty. He was back on his feet and motioned his wife to stop swinging.
Anna continued bobbing, weaving side to side, playfully laughing while taunting Pete with fake jabs. After ten seconds, she bowed then started removing protective padding.
“On what?” Jim’s brow lifted.
“On whether I get my arms around her. If we’re wrestling, I usually win. If we’re kickboxing, she always wins.” He then tapped the knee of his titanium right leg. “Not so good for kicking high, even with the new upgrades. I tell you, my girl’s limber and fast.”
“Give her about five months, and she won’t be either!” Jim joked. “How about when you spar with your hands?”
Pete toweled off his heavy perspiration. “Must be her Naha-Te martial arts training. She gets in twice as many hits. But then, I’m 75 pounds heavier and can take twice the impact.”
He smiled at his grinning wife then cupped his hand to his mouth as if to tell Jim a secret. “But I pull my punches because of the baby, even with her wearing padding,”
“You do not!” Anna challenged Pete, then turned to the attorney. “He really doesn’t.”
She chuckled, showing little sign of exertion. “We didn’t expect to see you today.” She started removing the padding. A black cross-over top with a T-style back now exposed a taut midriff while Lycra crops rode her hips and ended just below the knee. Her exposed skin glistened from the workout.
Jim privately admired just how fit she was – it would be another month before her pregnancy showed.
She threw a towel over her shoulder. “Have any news for us?”
“In fact, I do...all good!”
The couple’s eyes lit up.
Anna led their guest to the back porch “Come sit down. I’ll pour some lemonade.” She put the gym bag next to her feet.
Pete brushed moss particles off the table. “Sorry. Every day this stuff gets thicker.... Okay, what do you have?”
“A few things.” Jim took a sip. “You can get a marriage license now, with Anna’s maiden name sealed by court order.”
“That’s fantastic!” Pete winked at Anna. “Honey, I can make an honest woman of you!”
Her eyes narrowed at the joke and her fist gently jabbed his shoulder. “I think the minister took care of that...unless you think a government’s say-so is essential for...legitimacy.”
Pete’s hand reached out for hers but she pulled back in mock rejection.
She turned towards Jim. “That really is good. How did you pull it off?”
“A judge owes me a favor. Said it’s done sometimes for people in witness protection. But don’t worry; he doesn’t know who my clients are.” Jim unlatched his briefcase, pulled out a manila envelope and extracted a marriage license application. He slid it to Pete. “You fill it out, and I’ll personally get it processed.”
“Let me think about that—” Pete started teasingly.
Anna’s brow arched. “See what I have to put up with?” She turned back to Pete. He was filling out the forms.
“Must be tough,” Jim chuckled. “By the way, I can use the judge to get you a passport, new social security number, and other documents requiring a maiden name.”
“Great. We appreciate your help,” she said.
Jim chuckled. “Well, we like to generate more billable hours by going that extra step.”
“Well, you’ve earned it.” She cocked her head. “You said there’s something else?”
“Yes. I went through an intermediary in dealing with the feds. The FBI has rounded up most of the hackers your system tracked. Their tech guys were amazed you embedded a GPS tracking device inside a Krugerrand and tricked over 300 hackers to keep the coins nearby. The FBI has a committee that comes up with clever ideas. Though using hollow coins is old-school spycraft, engraving a unique code on each coin that the hacker could use to get financial or legal help was pure genius. The Bureau not only stopped the hackers’ current misdeeds, they’re getting information that’s solving other financial crimes and numerous cold cases.... And we were able to strike a deal.”
“What kind of deal?” Her head cocked at the grinning lawyer.
“FBI Director Greene has essentially promised you a ‘Get Out of Jail Free Card.’”
“What would that do?”
“Provide amnesty for all crimes you and your associate may have committed in the US, short of any capital crimes. They considered this bust bigger than rounding up all five New York mafia families decades ago. Arresting the hackers was such a big deal for the FBI, they were salivating at the opportunity to publicly praise you. We told them that wouldn’t happen.”
The lawyer opened up his briefcase and pulled out a second manila envelope. From it, he handed a document to each. Their smiles grew as they read the serialized amnesty documents signed by the president, but with the recipient’s name left blank – to be filled in.
Jim pulled out a third manila envelope. “And here’s the Get Out of Jail Free Card.” He slid a document to Anna that provided instructions. “Just follow the directions and you’ll be put personally in touch with Greene. Depending upon the request, he may or may not be able to accede to whatever you need, but he will try his best. He still feels he owes you.”
Her brow lifted. “Is there another reason?”
“I think he wants to cultivate you as a consultant on white collar crime. And there’s a passdown folder for successive FBI directors, which will include a note about the deal, requesting it be respected by anyone appointed later.”
Anna got up, her eyes appreciative, walked over and gave Jim a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Jim, thank you so very much!”
Jim blushed slightly. “You’re more than welcome.... Pete, you mentioned upgrades?”
“Yes. Ever since I was blown up in Iraq, I’ve been a guinea pig.” He leaned back and glanced at the curtain of moss waving slightly from the oak. “I’ve been testing newer versions of prosthetics that clamp onto the titanium sleeve.”
Jim leaned forward. “Really? What have they come up with?”
Pete lifted up his right pant leg and brushed the artificial skin with his hand. “Integration of touch sensors, dual axis ankle, better feedback to the servos. Scientists at the VA’s Advanced Platform Technology Center have installed BioTacs into the fake skin covering—”
“BioTacs?”
Anna jumped in. “Each sensor detects texture, pressure, temperature, and vibration. Pete wants his leg as usable as possible.”
The corners of her mouth turned up and her cheeks raised. “He thinks he’s doing it for me.” She leaned forward. “The bottom of his foot’s ticklish now!” She leaned back, chuckling.
Pete added, “Well, that was one effect I didn’t expect! Mostly the tactile improvements increase my mobility...and martial arts abilities. Now when something hard hits my fake leg...it hurts!”
“Do you have to look at your leg to see what position it’s in?” Jim asked.
“Frequently, though with recent advances in proprioception—”
Anna winced, put her hand on Pete’s hand. “Sorry Ji
m, when Pete’s gets excited about technology he goes academic. He’s talking about our sixth sense—the ability to know where our body parts are positioned and oriented.”
“It’s still rudimentary, but every year I’ve gone to John Hopkins and been upgraded,” Pete continued. “Someday I hope to not be able to tell the difference between the legs.”
“Sounds fascinating. I look forward to hearing about the progress. By the way Anna, just heard this on the radio, did you hear President Fernandez gave your former boss the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier today?”
Her eyes rolled. “Must not have made the early morning news.”
The lawyer nodded. “He got it for meritorious contribution to the security and national interests of the US, and promoting world peace through environmental innovation.”
“After releasing invasive species onto the world?” Pete asked incredulously.
“In spite of that,” added Anna. “The President must be preparing Swanson for something.”
“Well, my Dear, your political insights are vastly superior to my own.” Jim glanced at his watch.
Anna cleared her throat. “By the way, Jim, I need legal help to get around the federal healthcare law.”
“For what?” The lawyer cocked his head.
Pete’s eyes narrowed and his lips tightened. One hand clenched the other in anticipation.
“Medical treatment for my Type-2 diabetes,” she confided in a lowered voice. “The law requires me to reveal past history. I’ve been able to keep it a secret from everyone over the years, but that was in Europe.”
Jim tensed and his eyes widened. “I’m sorry...I didn’t know!”
Anna leaned closer. “It’s a secret between you and us. We never told Tom and Irma. Let’s keep it that way.”
“As you wish...so, what are your plans?”
“We’re looking at taking our honeymoon to...well, I can’t really tell you now, can I?” Pete said facetiously. His smile had returned.
“Reckon not, but knowing your interests, I’ve got an idea it won’t have quite the amenities you’ve got here.” His eyes met Anna’s. “And certainly not the comforts you’re used to, my dear. I hope someday your fugitive status resolves itself in your favor.”
Pete nodded. “So do we.”
Anna slid a gift-wrapped shoebox-sized box across the table. “One more thing.”
Jim’s brow arched. “A present?”
She leaned forward and covered his hand with hers. “Not quite. It’s a quantum encryption device that’ll keep us in touch. Instructions are inside.”
“Why not just call on Skype? It’s non-traceable.”
“Used to be...before the ‘Lawful Intercept’ patents allowed government to monitor calls made through VoIP service providers.”
“So what do you use?”
“Usually Meshnet,” she said.
“Never heard of it.”
“Think of a separate Internet that’s faster, more stable, and more anonymous.”
Jim’s brow furrowed. “Hmmmm. That’s good to know.”
“Still, that alone isn’t enough.”
“You needn’t worry. My firm uses cloud-based encryption for sensitive matters.”
Her head shook gently. “The NSA can intercept communications before or after encryption, and in any case, they’ve broken most encryption systems.”
“Really?”
“Uh huh. NSA funded some of the government’s encryption algorithms, and forced a few others to be weaker.”
“Thus your devices. I understand.”
She slowly withdrew her hand. “Use the encryption when...Kate calls.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll keep it in my office safe.” Jim picked up the completed paperwork and stood. “I should have the license back to you in a couple days.”
Jim clasped Pete’s hands in a heartfelt handshake, hugged Anna, and departed.
Pete watched him round the corner then turned and took Anna’s hand. “Is it really necessary to create this ruse? I mean, we can trust Jim with our lives!”
Her steely eyes met his. “Honey, do you trust me?”
“Of course!”
“Then accept my instincts. I’ve been setting ‘canary traps’ for years. What Jim reveals to people may be out of his control...if he says anything.”
“But telling him you’ve got diabetes is—” He sought the right term.
Her brow lifted. “Mean?”
“Well, yes!”
“We’re not asking him to do anything for us because of it. And I do want to avoid providing past medical history, conditions like gunshot wounds, broken bones, ripped flesh. But what if Jim gets compromised? He may not realize it. We need to identify where a leak originates. Every disease I’ve told people is different.”
He exhaled deeply and his jaw unclenched. “Well, would you at least make a list of all the illnesses you’ve claimed and who you’ve told so I can keep them straight?”
“Oh, and I’ve created some real doozies, too!” She lifted her bag, brushed off more moss strands, and set it on the table.
“What does Gabriel think?”
“That I’m psychotic.” She opened the bag and unfolded a towel inside it. “I’m going to take a shower.” She gave him the come hither. “Join me?”
He nodded with a grin. “So you told him the truth?”
She punched him gently in the shoulder. “I didn’t tell him anything! He had a damn psychiatrist secretly evaluate me...though he doesn’t know I know.”
His grin vanished. “How’d you find out?”
“When Gabriel entertained, I often went through his visitors’ possessions.” From a fold in the towel she lifted a Walther PPQ M2 semi-automatic with an attached short noise suppressor.
“Why?” His eyes shifted to the slim grip polymer pistol and back to her.
She scowled. “Because I don’t trust people...and I like leverage.”
“So what happened?”
She exhaled deeply. “Once, early in my training, I discovered a guest wasn’t who Gabriel claimed. I swiped a copy of the doc’s notes.”
He gently took the pistol out of her hand and laid it on the towel. With softer eyes, his hands covered hers. “Other than paranoia and psychosis, you don’t really have any incurable diseases...do you?”
“Yep!” She nodded affectionately, stood and pulled him up, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pulled him tight. “I’m madly in love with you!”
Chapter 16
August 13, 1000 hours
The Spider
Yoav rolled his chair over and pointed toward the wall-mounted screen. “Why are you comparing travel itineraries?”
Collette flicked her finger on a separate tablet. Two boxes flew up onto the left edge of the main screen to join two others on the right. “I thought I’d monitor communications of attendees Anna had singled out in the Maldives.”
“How do you know who she was watching?”
“I was able to decrypt some of the files on the damaged hard drive.”
“What’d you find?”
“One was a matrix file she had provided Swanson. During the UN Conference she recorded who sat with who.”
“Whom,” he corrected.
“Huh? Oh, right.... Anna was concerned anti-global warming industrialists might plan a countermove.”
“They’re the enemies of the UN Carbon Law, of course they’re likely to counter. What’s your instinct? Do you think they had something to do with her disappearance?”
“Each represents his industry, and they’ve got the money, motive, and a month of planning,” Collette said.
Yoav studied the four men. “I recognized Tom Heyward of Profit Oil Exploration and Art Middleton of United Global Mining. Those guys were implicated in Hassan’s murder. The others I haven’t seen. Who are they?”
“Top left is Ed Rutledge, president of an agricultural consortium called Global Food Alliance. The UN’s pressuring his industry to stop us
ing genetically modified organisms (GMO) and inorganic means to grow food.”
“By inorganic you mean?”
“Stop using fertilizer made from fossil fuels. Natural gas is a major ingredient.”
Yoav nodded. “So...big carbon footprint.... Okay, the next guy?”
“Sam Chase, CEO of Universal Power Utility. The UN demands they stop burning fossil fuels to generate electricity.”
“Bigger carbon footprint. So, where are you going with this? And why now?”
She flicked a folder onto the screen, which spilled out several receipts. “All four are meeting in Dallas.”
His eyes narrowed. “So you think they’re planning something?”
“Possibly. Or they’re meeting with others...maybe she’s with them. We’re accessing surveillance video feed links inside and outside the building.”
“Picard’s the last person to join them.”
“Unless she’s been turned,” Collette said.
He shook his head. “That’s a very slim hypothetical.”
Her eyes widened. “Could be they’re blackmailing her!”
Yoav shook his head again. “Too farfetched on both counts.”
“Why?” She pouted. “What do you know that I don’t?”
“Because Gabriel told me that there’s nothing in her background that Swanson doesn’t have on file. And there’s no vice he’d care whether she had.”
“And turning her?”
“To what end? To tell them how she helped Swanson promote his carbon capturing technologies?”
“Maybe how she eliminated people for Swanson—”
Shhhhhh! His finger touched her lips. Yoav’s expression turned stern as he looked around to ensure no one was near. His voice lowered. “Where’d you get the notion she’s killed people?”
Her eyes didn’t back down. “How about...I’m good at what I do?” A brow lifted. “And I read some of the recovered files and found some of her ‘eyes only’ mission reports to Swanson.”
“Well...” His head shook. “That doesn’t pan out. A lot of those...hits...” His grin went crooked.
“Yes?”