by JD Davis
CHAPTER 33
RENÉ
Lindsey climbed into the cab with René, and they both climbed out at Twigs, in the lobby of the Capital Hilton. The lunch fare was always good and it was more discreet than Café Milano or Charlie Palmers.
“I wanted to thank you, Lindsey, and show my appreciation. I owe you one.”
Lindsey was a senior staffer for a New York senator, one with oversight responsibilities for the CIA. While the CIA inevitably reports to the president, and Congress can exercise some authority over its purse strings, the Senate Intelligence Oversight Committee is about as close to accountability as the CIA ever encounters. It just so happened Lindsey worked for a senator on that same committee and Lindsey was crazy about René and would do anything to get his attention.
“Actually, René, it wasn’t that difficult. That investigation was dragging on with little to show for it and, as it turned out, my boss and Director Raphael Valenzuela have butted heads on more than one occasion. It was terribly unfortunate about all those poor dears from Nicaragua but sometimes it is best to move on, don’t you think, René?”
What René thought was how incredibly stupid and gullible Lindsey was.
“Actually, kitten, I think they were from Guatemala, but yes sometimes it’s best to move on. By the way, any word from the other side of the aisle regarding the new medical marijuana research exemption bill?”
Dr. John had been extremely busy knocking doors on Capitol Hill. He had paid especially close attention to the representatives from “good-ole-boy” states. He knew their greatest obstacles would come from the very red Bible belt. Both he and René also knew that playing the compassion card for the sick and suffering was their best chance to remove another nail from the door obstructing legalization in all fifty states.
“I think we may have picked up one more vote from West Virginia. Those poor folks over there are dropping like flies from lung cancer. Dr. John may have convinced the senator that federal-funded cannabis oil would be an affordable option for the struggling folks of his state.”
“That’s good to hear, Lindsey. We … I appreciate it very much.”
“I’m glad to know I’ve made you happy, René; maybe one day soon we can still take that cruise.”
“Of course, kitten.”
CHAPTER 34
THE PLAN
Piper had rented a month-to-month flat on the south end of Georgetown. It was a duplex, and since the place next door was empty, it became their base of operation. The colonel’s wife, Demi Pike, was used to her husband’s work as well as the absences, and was always happy to pitch in. In this case, she made a large platter of triple chocolate brownies, sent them with her husband, and told him she wouldn’t wait up.
The draft was good but it needed a few tweaks and the team would need a few breaks. After pizza, they rolled up their sleeves and ironed out the details.
“I told Demi,” began Pike, “if I’m being thrown over after nineteen years of stellar service, I was going out with a bang. She told me to make it a loud one, and just so everyone knows, I’m all in.”
“I guess this one’s off the record then,” said Piper. “Because at this juncture, I’m not sure who we can trust.”
All eyes shifted to Joe.
“Thanks, everyone. I believe we have a good plan and depending on how it goes in the next twenty-four hours, we’ll regroup and start phase two. Remember, they think Mel incidentally stumbled onto Crivelli, and they have no idea we’ve joined forces. We should have the upper hand.
“Everyone knows their role, but let’s go over it all again to make sure we’re not missing anything. With God’s help and the right bait, maybe we’ll land the big fish.”
CHAPTER 35
THE BAIT
There were several unanswered questions, but a big one was who would Bill Crivelli call if he got nervous. One of Mel’s responsibilities was to find out. Taking into consideration the time difference back in Oregon, Mel waited until she was certain Katie Sandburg was in her office.
“Good morning, Ms. Sandburg! How are you this fine day?”
“My goodness, don’t you sound chipper, Ms. Randle. What exactly may I do for you?”
“Actually, Katie, I’m in DC and I’m a day or two away from asking the FBI to open an investigation into the business practices of Bill Crivelli and his known associates.”
“You can’t be serious, Mel; you’re actually in DC, as in Washington DC, and you did say FBI, right?”
“I am, I did, and I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a hurry, so if you would be a darling, I need you to pull up some land purchase records for me. I could go through the courthouse but I’m trying to keep this confidential, and I figured, as one attorney to another, you were my safest bet. So, pull anything in the last five years with either Crivelli’s name or a corporation called North of Here, Inc. Did you get that?”
“Yeah, I got it, I wrote it down.”
“It would be a great favor, Katie, and remember, please keep this quiet. I believe you know my admin, Sarah, so give her a buzz when you have them and she’ll stop by and pick everything up. Okay, Katie, I gotta run, but I do owe you one.”
Mel hung up, called her office, and Sarah answered. She told her to expect a call from Katie and explained how to handle it. Sarah couldn’t stand the city attorney and welcomed the opportunity to play along.
The pretty lieutenant who left her cell number on Joe’s arm had a name, and now it was Lieutenant Commander Alexandra Coleman.
“Hi, this is Alex. If you’re not afraid, leave your number and I’ll consider calling you back.”
Joe laughed and thought what a perfect recording for the “pretty lieutenant” and the only message he left was his name. In thirty seconds, his cell rang.
“Well, well, well, who said prayers aren’t answered. Joseph Chandler, please tell me you’re not married with three children.”
“Hello, Alex. I see you haven’t changed.”
She laughed out loud. “Are you in town?”
“Alex, I need a favor; it’s a big one … and it’s for Gabby.”
“I see. Well, damn, what am I supposed to say to that? I can meet you at Greenberry’s Coffee on Redmond Drive. How about 11:30?”
“You’re a sweetheart, Alex. Thank you.”
“Don’t say it if you don’t mean it, Joe. And besides, maybe you’re fat and bald now and I won’t mind saying no to you.”
“Eleven thirty then.”
A phone on a desk inside a small office at the Central Intelligence Agency rang, and a strong, confident voice said, “Agent Briggs.”
“Lucile, please come back where you belong,
I’ve been good to you baby, please don’t leave me alone.”
“That is one fine song, Piper, and you may be the only white man I know who can give it the swag it deserves. What do I owe the pleasure, my very good friend?”
“First of all, I need one of those double shot café macchiato from Lucile’s.”
“Oh, boy, here it comes. Why do I feel like I need to hang up on your sorry ass right now?”
“It’s for Gabby, bro.”
“I’m off at 1500 hours, I’ll meet you there.”
Almost no one paid attention to the lieutenant colonel who was simply bidding his time before being nudged out the door. Occasionally a menial task was required, but the word was the once hotshot mission leader was poison, so keep your distance. That was perfectly fine with Lt. Col. Pike who was happy to be ignored, so he could do his own bidding. For the last several hours he had researched and pored through file after file, looking for a connection between Lonnie Rudman and someone with much larger cojones. As close as he’d gotten was an employer disclosure request sent to Mr. Rudman from the IRS. Chasing the lead into the following year, he struck gold when he found a copy of the reply. The stated employer was an international business corporation—North of Here, Inc.
CHAPTER 36
THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN
The espresso cafe was half-filled and Lt. Commander Alexandra Coleman was waiting at a back table with two coffees.
“My goodness, Joe, so much for fat and bald; I see civilian life is treating you very well. You are still looking your same amazing self.”
“Hello, Alex. You haven’t changed one bit. Still the most beautiful girl at the Agency I suppose?”
“Well, I certainly think so; however, there is a new Marine JAG officer who was Miss Something-or-the-Other of the Month. She’s turning a few heads, but I’m not worried.
“Okay, Joe, enough of your shallow compliments; I know when I’m being rejected, which usually doesn’t happen, all right? But regardless, what kind of a favor?”
“Alex, I’m going to give you a list of names and I desperately need to know how they’re connected.”
Joe slipped the paper across the table.
“Recognize anyone?”
“Sure; I remember seeing Lonnie Rudman’s name from a FISA request I filled out, but look, this is some serious stuff, Joe. They shut this thing down quickly, and everything to do with that investigation was sealed ‘CONFIDENTIAL,’ and all interested parties were told, rather abruptly I might add, to butt out.”
“I understand, Alex, but one of these people either killed Gabby or they work for whoever did.”
Alex looked at the list one more time. “Is René a man or woman?”
“I’d really like to know the answer to that, Alex. Please see what you can find and, if it gets weird, bail out and there will be no hard feeling from me.”
Alex raised her eyebrows and exhaled long and slow. “If this was any weirder, Joe, it would be a new episode of The X-Files. Let me see what I can do. Gabby and I didn’t always see eye to eye, but she damn sure didn’t deserve what happened.”
Joe grabbed her arm and, with an ink pen, wrote something on her wrist. When he stood he leaned over and kissed her cheek, then turned and walked away.
She watched him then yelled, “That drink’s still on me!”
Without turning around he raised his hand and walked through the door. She looked at her wrist again. Joe had written Prov. 31:10. She furrowed her brow, grabbed her iPhone, Googled “Prov. 31:10,” and found it was a quote from the Old Testament of the Bible:
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”
Her eyes misted ever so slightly and she whispered, “Damn you, Joseph Chandler.”
Piper and Agent Oscar Briggs ordered coffee at Lucile’s Espresso. Piper skipped the names and a few details but brought Oscar up to speed and the possibility of what may be coming down.
“Sometimes these things take an unexpected twist and we would really appreciate the backup, Oscar.”
“Piper, I knew you were going to eventually get my ass fired or killed.”
“Hey, I get it, pal; if you can’t do it, I completely understand.”
“Homie, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Besides, I could always marry Lucile and learn to make a mean macchiato—count me in.”
By the time Joe got back to Piper’s townhouse, Mel was pretty animated. Her face was buried in her laptop and she was burning up the keyboard.
“What’s going on, partner? You look like a cat about to pounce on a cornered mouse.”
“Pike called about an hour ago, and guess where Lonnie Rudman gets his paycheck? North of Here, Inc. That’s good news for me because there was no way I was getting through the firewall of this corporation, but at least now we know where the money’s coming from. This connects two of our suspects—Rudman and Crivelli—to the same payer. What we need next is the articles of incorporation naming the officers.”
“Wow, how fortunate. Nice work, Mel.”
“Maybe it’s fortunate, Joe, but I like to think of it as providence.”
They were enjoying the moment until Mel’s cell phone rang.
“Hello, Ms. Randle, I haven’t heard from you for a while and I must confess my curiosity has been getting the better of me. I was wondering how your investigation was coming along.”
“Professor Trudeau, what a surprise! I was just thinking of you as well.”
“Ms. Randle, to be thought of by one of the most gifted students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching, I am honored. I have so many questions about your plans for the future and perhaps, while I’m in the DC area, we can get together. I may have an offer that would entice you.”
Joe, who was listening at Mel’s ear, had to prompt her to continue. She was wide eyed and frozen, knowing there had been no mention of Washington DC in the conversation.
“I’m honored you would take the time, Professor Trudeau.”
“Oh, that’s enough of the professor nonsense; besides, we may be colleagues soon—please call me Louie.”
“Well, I’m honored, sir, and that may take a while, but please call me Mel; all my friends do. And I must say, Professor, now it’s my curiosity that’s aroused: when do you expect to arrive?”
“I’m actually flying in tomorrow at the request of an old friend who needs a bit of legal counsel. I guess he’s been a naughty boy, but I suppose all that money and power can tempt even the best of people. You know, Mel, in Washington they don’t even speak in terms of millions any longer, and I must admit when they start talking billions, it can make the best of us pay attention. Don’t you agree, Mel?”
“Goodness, Professor Trudeau, now you really have my attention. Shall I meet you somewhere?”
“Actually, anticipating our good fortune, we are looking to lease an entire floor of a vacant office building and I’m dying to see it. Perhaps you could join us and we’ll have a late dinner afterwards—my treat, of course.”
“I look forward to seeing you again, sir. Please call me when you arrive and we’ll confirm the time.”
“By the way, Mel, as one prosecutor to another, do you think you have enough evidence to present a good case to the authorities?”
“Oh, I’m very close, Professor, very close. I’ll fill you in when we have a chance to discuss things in person. Have a good flight, sir, and I’ll see you soon.”
As soon as she ended the call, they both collapsed into chairs.
“OH MY GOD! Did that really just happen?” screamed Mel.
By 6:00 PM, all the chickens came home to roost. Piper walked in with six hot meatball sub sandwiches, a huge Caesar salad, a twelve-pack of Amstel, and a large black man named Oscar.
“Hello, Oscar. Good to see you again.”
“You too, Joe. I’m sure sorry about Gabby.”
“I know, Oscar, we all are. Thanks for coming.”
They passed out sandwiches and beer, ate salad out of paper bowls, and recapped the day.
The men were stuffing meatballs into their mouths, so Mel began.
“Nice work on Lonnie Rudman today, Colonel.”
“You know I’m going to be a civilian soon and if you all don’t mind, for the duration of this group, let’s make it Nate instead of ‘Colonel.’ Is that all right?”
Everyone looked at him, shrugged their shoulders with their mouths full, and nodded in the affirmative. However, no one in the room could imagine for one second calling him Nate.
“All right then, we need to keep chipping away at that corporation and see if we can break through the layers of that sucker. I will say whoever designed it did a masterful job.”
Joe wiped his face, took a slug of Amstel, and jumped in.
“I met with an old friend from the Agency today and she is really taking a risk but has agreed to see if she can find a common denominator between the names on our list, as well as the corporation. We should hear back by tomorrow. However, I may have something else.
“On my way back here, I suddenly remembered something and, for whatever reason, I missed it the first time. It was actually from you, Piper, when you came to Monterey to tell me about Gabby. You said she had just returned from Oregon where she had discovered something big. Apparently, whatever that was may have gott
en her killed. Piper, I need you to think back and see if there was anything else anything to do with Oregon.”
“Boy, I don’t know, guys. Honestly, I was in shock and my mind just went numb. Right after her murder, I did hear some office scuttlebutt that she’d finally connected some dots, and it all had to do with Oregon. That clicked because a month earlier, I had flown her up there. The Agency had sprung for a Learjet because Gabby had insisted she was being followed and didn’t want to fly commercial. Let me think about it for a second.
“She was … she was talking to me on the flight home and she said … she said, what a … what a con job. Yeah, that was it. She was talking about a politician, I think, who had pulled off some big scam and left office with a bunch of money. Yeah, that was it. She was absolutely giddy about it. I’m sorry, guys, I should have figured that out before tonight. Do you think it’s important?”
Piper had been reminiscing with his eyes closed and his hands covering his face. When he lowered them, the others were all gathered behind Mel’s laptop.
“All I did was type in ‘Oregon, political con job’ and I got fifty hits. And guess what, forty-nine of them are about a disgraced congressman who resigned and supposedly left town with … wait a minute, can this be right…
‘left town with his partner, and over one hundred million dollars.’”
“Holy guacamole, that’s a lot of dinero.”
“Yeah, I remember this,” said Pike. “It was the whole Obama Care Exchange thing. It happened in several states, and if I recall, I think there was almost a billion dollars that went missing.”
“Keep reading, Mel, what was this guy’s name?”
“Here we go, The Oregonian Newspaper, let’s see, three years ago…
“‘After the collapse of the Affordable Health Care State Exchange, and an investigation into corruption, State Congressman Dr. John Grossman has resigned. While Dr. John denied any wrongdoing by himself or his longtime domestic partner…’
“Oh my God, BINGO!