by Dan Kelly
“I’m Sean Haggerty. You have my name and number so you know who I am. I’m glad you stopped by. It’s always easier working with someone once you’ve met and talked with them beforehand.”
“That’s exactly why we’re here. Well, that and we thought we’d talk with the security people assigned to the boat, the other folks that have boats in the marina as well as the merchants in the area. You know, ask if they have noticed anything unusual around the marina lately, seen any faces that seemed out of place hanging around, that kind of thing. This is an exclusive marina, so it’s off limits to the average tourist. Anything out of place will quite readily stand out.”
I agree with you, but we’ve already canvassed the area and found nothing to be concerned about.”
Barbara joined in with, “With all due respect, Mr. Haggerty, you and your people stand out from the crowd yourselves and most likely have put the folks around here on alert. The average Joe doesn’t like to talk with authority figures. They make them nervous.”
Joel added, “Ms. Sheehan is the head of Intrepid Investigations, one of the biggest private investigation firms in the country, and knows how to blend in and get people to open up to her where they never would with someone like you.”
When Barbara had begun to speak, Haggerty’s face broke into such a smile that it rendered them speechless for a few seconds.
Barbara finally asked, “Did we say something funny, Mr. Haggerty?” She asked the question with a slight edge to the intonation that put Joel on alert and caused Haggerty to burst out laughing.
“No, you didn’t, but the way you said it with that flare of Irish temper was music to my ears. Where in Ireland are you from?”
Somewhat taken back by his manner she replied, “The village of Cashel in the County of Tipperary in the Province of Munster. Why?”
“Because that accent of yours makes me homesick. I’m from the village of Ballybricken in the County of Waterford which as you know is also in the Province of Munster. Why our families are practically neighbors. It is indeed a small world.”
“What happened to your brogue that my so called friends are forever kidding me about?”
“When I joined the secret service they made me lose it although when I have a need for it in the field it’s still there at my beckon call.”
With a smile on his face and a terrible imitation of an Irish accent Joel interrupted with, “Okay, lassie and laddie, shall we get back to the donnybrook we’re planning for this Malcolm bloke?”
Both Haggerty and Barbara laughed and then they all got back to business. Barbara was feeling a little better about things now that she knew someone like Haggerty was in charge and Joel noted it.
When Haggerty had to step away to take a call, Joel got her to ‘fess up. “You’re now thinking we’ve got a better than even chance of pulling this off aren’t you?”
Smiling she replied, “Okay, so maybe I’m a little prejudiced, but you’ve got to admit this guy knows the score and how the game is played. He is going to be a real surprise to this Malcolm skunk when they face off.”
“I’ll give you that, Barb. Let’s hope he gets the chance.”
Haggerty returned, they finished up on the logistics of the operation they were reviewing and then they started making the rounds of the other boat owners and merchants. Five hours later they had nothing for their trouble but sore feet and a couple of spottings of a white van with heavily tinted windows that had been parked on and off for a couple of days on a street that had a clear view of the VP’s yacht. It had the name of some electronics company on it but neither person who noticed the van could remember the name. All of the yachts in the marina had a ton of high tech gear on board and it was quite normal for electronics installers or repairmen to be in the neighborhood. The only reason this particular van was noticed was that it had been parked in the same place for quite a while for most of three days. Sometimes someone was in the van and other times it appeared to be unoccupied. Neither of the spotters was curious enough to check things out.
They returned to the Dover Rover and told Haggerty about the van and then headed for a seafood restaurant that was in sight of the yacht and sat by a window so they could keep an eye on it as they had something to eat and sipped some suds. After taking a few bites, Joel remarked that the tilapia swimming in some kind of bean sauce with a side of fried rice covered with some unknown spices was enough to make any red blooded American male swear off meat and potatoes for the rest of his life. It was that good.
Barbara loved most seafood, but Joel didn’t normally share her enthusiasm. He likes to catch them, but usually passes when it comes to eating them. His taking to the tilapia was a pleasant surprise. “Hey, hey. You mean there’s still a chance I can convert you to food that’s good for you instead of that artery clogging muck you stuff yourself with?”
“Oh don’t believe everything you read. I believe in what my granny used to say, ‘Eat everything in moderation and exercise regularly and you’ll live until a ripe old age’. She lived to be 91 years young.”
Before she could respond, they sensed some unusual stirring within the restaurant so they paused in their exchange of dietary barbs to see what was causing the commotion. It was about 5:30 in the evening and the VP would be arriving in a half hour or so. The reporters were already assembling around the slip where the Dover Rover was tied up and inside the restaurant there was a buzz of conversation and frequent glances out of the windows fronting the docking area all brought about by the patrons’ anticipation that they would actually have the chance to see and hear the man in person. Some were even speculating that he might come into the restaurant for something to eat before he pulled out of the marina. Joel whispered to Barbara. “Celebrity sure brings out some strange behavior in people doesn’t it?”
Discreetly pointing Barbara said, “Check out that lady over there in the green dress. She’s checked her makeup at least three times in the past five minutes, each time dabbing on a little more. If she puts on any more, her face is going to fall off.”
Joel cracked up. “Stop it, Joel, people are looking at us like we’ve imbibed one too many of these ales we’ve been sipping.” She tried hard to say this with a straight face, but failed miserably as she too burst out laughing.
A minute later they got real serious. They spotted a white van with heavily tinted windows moving slowly down the street as though looking for a place to park. There were still a few open spaces, but the van passed them by. On the side of the van was the name, Seaworthy Systems Electronics. The van continued on down the street and out of sight. Joel called Sean Haggerty to let him know what they had just seen and Sean told him that his people had also seen it and he had someone tailing it.
A few minutes later Sean called him back to tell him the tail had lost sight of the van. There were loads of places the van could have pulled into unnoticed, too many to check out in a timely manner.
Barbara said, “Well, if Malcolm is driving that van we at least know he’s sniffing at the bait.”
Joel said, “If it is him, knowing he’s sniffing around doesn’t help us much though. I don’t think he’ll try a direct frontal assault. That would be too risky. There are too many people to get in the way, to block his view or escape after the deed is done, but knowing the shark is circling gives us some warning so we won’t be caught with our pants down.”
At twenty minutes after six, the VP and his security entourage arrived and the restaurant emptied out like it had caught on fire. People started coming from every direction and his audience quickly grew by leaps and bounds. The man certainly could draw a crowd. His silver tongue got the President and himself out of more tight spots than grease on a stick and the people gulped down whatever he offered them. He could make pabulum look like filet mignon and that was his main value to the administration. Joel thought that the VP enjoyed the power of persuasion he had over the people and it was probably why he became a politician.
Barbara is astounded at how q
uickly the crowd is growing. She’s never been at the scene of something like this before. “It’s no wonder he’s a target for assassination. He’s really liked by the American people. Can you imagine the impact his death would have on them?”
Joel is nodding his head as he says, “Yes I can and that’s why Black Widow must be successful. Our country has had enough. It can’t take much more without falling apart. While the VP is doing his thing with the press, let’s sneak back onboard the yacht and wait for him to finish up. I want to make sure he follows the plan to the letter and doesn’t expose himself to any unnecessary risk like not wearing the protective clothing he’s been provided or not doing anything else any of the Black Widow folks tell him to do. He’s got to realize that his life is in their hands and it’s no time for giving any of them any static. He sometimes likes to use the power of his office to get his way. If he tries that before the seals can whisk him away to safety, he may relinquish that power permanently.”
An hour later the Vice President was relaxing in his stateroom, a little weary from the day’s activities and glad that it was almost over. The reporters’ questions were answered to the general public’s liking, judging from the applause and cheers that his comments got. The crowds had been disbursed and, except for a few journalists hanging around outside hoping to pick up a bit of news their competitors didn’t have, the pier was kind of quiet.
Joel addressed the Vice President with as much concern in his voice as he could muster. “Mr. Vice President, it is imperative for your safety that you do everything the Secret Service and the military personnel tell you without hesitation as your very life depends on it. Distraught would not begin to describe how the American people would feel about losing you. America can’t take much more emotional upheaval. Are you getting the message sir?”
“I see my reputation for at times being recalcitrant has preceded me.” Sighing he added, “Don’t worry. I’ll do as I’m told. Now if you’ll excuse me I’d like to give the captain orders to get underway and I’d like to try to get some sleep before I have to jump ship. I’ve always taken my cruises on top of the water. This will be my first and I hope my last under it.”
Joel and Barbara headed back to their hotel, but sleep was going to be very hard to get. They have both been wired tight as a drum since they saw that van slowly cruising by the Dover Rover.
Chapter 53
-Pacific Ocean-
Somewhere off the coast of southern California, about two nautical miles from Solana Beach, the Dover Rover is sitting dead in the water. It’s approaching midnight and it is pitch black outside except for the yacht’s running lights casting their glow on the calm sea. The stars overhead are hidden by a bank of clouds that has materialized over the past several hours and there’s only a quarter moon peeking through every now and then.
Below on the ocean floor, hidden amongst the seaweed and other marine growth and debris, is a team of four navy seals waiting for someone to show up that shouldn’t be there. This team and subsequent teams will be periodically relieved by other teams to give them a break from the tension of constantly being on the alert. Oxygen is not a problem as they are using rebreathers and moving quickly and quietly from one location to another is made effortless by the top of the line underwater scooters they’re using. These teams are coming from a navy destroyer close by which won’t arouse any suspicion in the assassin’s mind if he sees it because of its proximity to the navy base in San Diego. There are always navy ships in the area.
A two man submersible is approaching the yacht to bring the VP to the destroyer waiting just over the horizon. He will be replaced with an impersonator that looks remarkably like him. So far, no intruders have been detected on, above or beneath the water. The yacht has been searched numerous times for explosive devices that could be triggered remotely and nothing has been found. It would be nigh unto impossible for anyone to slip onboard and plant anything, but Sean Haggerty isn’t taking any chances. Even the pier has been swept for bombs and will be kept under close scrutiny while the Dover Rover is gadding about at sea.
The swap is made without a hitch and Haggerty breathes a little easier now that the VP is out of danger. The rest of the night goes by without incident and when the sun comes up all on board prepare for a day of fishing and they’re all hoping that’s not all they’ll catch. Haggerty’s wondering how the assassin is planning to kill the VP.
“I’ve got to try to think like him. This guy has got to be close by, looking for an opening he can use to make his move. He’s a professional and knows that security is going to be extremely difficult to circumvent. He’s got to use the element of surprise, perhaps create a diversion to generate an opening he can use. The only thing close by is that group of civilian vessels off our starboard bow. There are always recreational sailors and yachtsmen trying to get a closer look at the VP or even hoping to engage him in some conversation. They are just your normal, harmless, but curious lovers of the open sea. This guy knows that these groups of admirers are always following the VP when he goes out to sea. He also knows that it would be a great place to melt into the crowd. Yeah. If this bugger is around, that’s where he is, but what vessel is he on. That’s the big money question. I wish we knew what he looks like. That would make it a hell of a lot harder for him to blend in. Damn!
After a couple of minutes of deep thought, he instructs two of the navy seals below via a special communicator that he and the seals have to move to a position about a hundred yards behind the cluster of boats and between them and the beach. He tells them to be on the lookout for a scuba diver coming their way, probably also equipped with an under water scooter.
“If I’m right and he tries something from that group of boats, he’s got to have a plan to get away fast. He knows that cluster of boats is the first place the authorities are going to look. Even though he knows we don’t have a description of him, I’m sure he won’t want to be questioned by anybody and have his anonymity exposed. An underwater escape is the only way out for him.”
A couple of hours pass with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Onboard the Dover Rover there’s the usual kind of activity associated with fishing and a couple of people actually catch some fish, but the shark they are hoping to lure isn’t taking the bait. The secret service agent posing as the VP is doing everything possible to make himself a tempting target, but Malcolm isn’t biting. Haggerty is beginning to think that they might have done something to tip this guy off that all is not as it seems.
This thought barely enters his mind when there is an explosion on one of the bigger boats in the group and a large fire breaks out on its deck. The other ships in the group head off helter skelter to avoid the burning debris that has been flung into the air in all directions. One of the smaller yachts is heading straight for the Dover Rover and it is picking up speed. For a second, Haggerty thinks it is just trying to get out of harm’s way, but when it continues on course with its speed continuing to increase he just knows. “The son-of-a-bitch has taken the bait.”
He alerts everyone and the next instant he orders one of his men to pull something out of one of the lockers on deck. “I’ve got a surprise for you dick head.”
It’s an M79 grenade launcher loaded with a grenade whose innards would make C4 look like bubble gum. The man who had it on his shoulder is an ex-Ranger who never misses what he’s aiming at. Haggerty is hoping he doesn’t spoil his record now.
When the boat is about 60 yards away and he is sure there is no one at the helm, the man keeps his record intact. He hits it just above the water line and the boat blows apart. The boat must have been loaded with explosives because there isn’t much left of it when the smoke clears.
Haggerty is on his communicator talking with the seals he has repositioned before the smoke has settled. “You should be seeing our man coming your way shortly. He’s just tried to blow up the VP’s yacht. Remember, we want him alive. He’s no damn good to us dead.”
Sure enough, a short time l
ater the seals see something in the murky water coming their way. As it gets closer, they can see it’s a man in scuba gear behind an underwater scooter. He’s moving along at a pretty good clip. They are well hidden in a large bed of kelp and plan to let him pass and then take him from behind.
He passes within 20 feet of them so they get a good look at him. This guy is going to give them some trouble as he’s a six footer, heavily muscled and even through his face mask his mug looks as mean as an angry pit bull’s. The plan is to disable his rebreather which should take a lot of the fight out of him and then secure his hands behind his back and bring him to the surface where they will be picked up by the yacht. That’s the plan. The way it went down nobody could have anticipated.