Purge on the Potomac

by Roberts, David Thomas;

  Lofton leaned forward in his seat. “What, are they going to try to kill us all? I say bring it!”

  “This administration is too smart for that. They want to cut the head off the snake. They can control the masses from there,” said another guy.

  “Okay, hang on now,” said Zach, motioning with his hands to lower voices. “We all know we are targets and have been for some time. They have also targeted state legislators, and even the governor and Pops Younger were served with IRS summonses. We are not alone.”

  “They ain’t going to stop this from going to referendum. If we find out they had anything to do with killing Brahman, there will be hell to pay!” said Lofton loudly.

  “Hank, I agree. We just have to wait and see what we turn up,” Zach stated. “Okay, we need to move on. I have more information to share.” Zach glanced over to Beard and Will, standing back in the far corner. Neither of them knew what Zach was about to divulge.

  “Let me reiterate that the information I am about to share is considered top secret in this organization. I don’t have to tell anyone here that any leaks of any kind can damage all of us, damage our mission, and put lives in jeopardy,” Zach said.

  “Hear, hear!” yelled a few in the room, with most everyone nodding agreement.

  “First, let me tell you that information has come to us, credible information, that the death of Chief Justice Noyner was likely not an accident.”

  “Goddamn it! I knew it!” Lofton yelped as he stood and turned to others sitting behind him. “Why in the hell didn’t they do an autopsy? Who did it, Zach?” Lofton turned back to face Zach.

  Beard and Will winced noticeably. They knew once Zach put evidence out to the group, there was no turning back.

  “I’m not prepared to make that call yet. All I can tell you at this point is we have a Russian operative involved, a Swede, and some very highly placed officials in the federal government. I will have more on this to you as we confirm it.”

  Lofton slammed his hand on the back of the chair in front of him “Bullshit, Zach! You know more than you’re telling us!”

  “Of course I do,” said Zach, surprising everyone. “But what I have hasn’t been fully vetted.”

  Lofton turned to look back at Beard and Will for any hint of dishonesty. Beard felt his stare, and continued to look straight ahead at Zach to avoid eye contact.

  “Now, we can all look at the motives behind something so bold that the entire face of the Supreme Court has changed in a matter of months!”

  “Yeah, we got a damned lesbian on the Supreme Court now!” shouted another from the group.

  “Worse than that, we have an unapologetic, anti-2nd Amendment chief justice,” shot back someone in the back of the room.

  “Next, we have information that ties some of the players in the Noyner case to our federal election systems,” Zach added.

  “What the hell does that mean, Zach? Come on. How are they tied?” demanded Lofton.

  Zach couldn’t figure out how, gracefully, to get out of being boxed into this corner by Lofton.

  “One of the operatives on the boat has ties to CIS. In fact, Justice Noyner flew down to Florida on their corporate jet and their main D.C. lobbyist was on the boat, too.”

  “Holy shit, you can’t be serious,” Lofton remarked, still standing. Lofton turned again to those sitting behind him and said, “I told you CIS stunk to high heaven. Why in the hell would the U.S. government outsource our elections systems?” Again he turned back to Zach.

  “We haven’t nailed down all the connections yet. We can tell you, however, that there are definite links between CIS and a Russian operative. We have identified this operative as Vasily Volkov.”

  “I know this man. He’s KGB, but even too hardcore for them. He won the Hero of the Soviet Union medal, which is akin to our Congressional Medal of Honor, for his military heroics in the Chechen War, but the KGB quietly expelled him. He’s ruthless. He’s cunning. He is one of the most dangerous operatives we ever dealt with. He’s meticulous. He has a scorched-earth approach to everything and everyone. He will eliminate anyone in his way, and will not take any chances that someone can tie him to an operation. He will murder women and children if he thinks there’s a chance he is compromised,” offered one of Zach’s ex-CIA operatives.

  “How the hell is this guy tied to CIS?” asked Lofton.

  “He’s for hire, and he commands big bucks,” answered Beard out of nowhere.

  “And CIS has plenty of big bucks, but what the hell does a software company need Volkov for?” asked Lofton.

  “There’s obviously a bigger plan here, Zach. Do you know what it is?” asked someone else from the group.

  “We do not. We have intercepted communications that refer to an operation known as Madison, but we have yet to put any details to that operation. We don’t know the date, plan, or mission of Madison. I would say that is among our highest priorities for intel at the moment.”

  “Madison? Like James Madison, Madison, Wisconsin? What the hell could that mean?” asked Lofton.

  “There’s nothing we can link it to yet,” answered Beard.

  “Well, we’ve got a murdered chief justice and the IRS has declared war on us. I say it’s time to shoot back!” yelled Lofton, getting a smattering of applause.

  “Hank, we all feel exactly the same as you. But what action do you recommend we take at this time? We need to know what Madison is,” said Zach calmly.

  “Well, damn, Zach, I don’t need any explanation on what the IRS is doing to this team. I say we need to put the fear of God into them in the meantime. It won’t jeopardize whatever the hell is going on with this Russian and CIS,” shot back Lofton.

  “Hank, we don’t know if there is a connection.”

  “Do we just sit back and continue to take this crap from the administration? You know there’s no way these turkeys are doing this without orders from on high. We are enemies of the state, and we all know it.”

  “As hard as that might seem, that is exactly what we need to do until we know what Madison is,” Zach stated firmly.

  The atmosphere in the room got uneasy. Zach’s group always knew the potential existed for Lofton to challenge Zach for leadership of the group.

  “You may not know until it’s already happened, whatever it is. Hell, for all we know, it could be a dirty bomb,” challenged Lofton.

  The body language of the entire group in the room became uncomfortable. Nobody had ever openly challenged Zach.

  “Our focus needs to be on finding Volkov and determining what Madison is,” said Zach adamantly.

  “Yeah, Zach. I agree with that, except the IRS is hitting us on our flank. This is simply harassment. I can’t see how this is connected to CIS or this Russian. I’m tired of my team being a target,” Lofton argued.

  “I’m open to suggestions from anyone on the team, but anything we do to counter the IRS other than what we are doing with tax attorneys, FOIA requests and pressure from our friends in Congress and elsewhere will bring undue attention while we try to find Volkov and determine what Madison is,” insisted Zach, looking to his left as he watched Will leave the room with one of his security staff.

  “Unless you can produce some evidence that ties them together, Zach, we are going to respond,” said Lofton.

  “Hank, the wrong response could get us all killed. You know that.”

  “It’s not in my nature, nor is it for many others in here to get attacked and not respond,” answered Lofton.

  “You’re not getting shot at, Hank,” Zach countered. “It’s a huge problem, I agree. But we have a larger mission here. A mission you took an oath on to be part of the group. I’m asking you not to react yet. The time will come when the IRS will pay for this.”

  “I appreciate that, Zach. It’s just not in my nature to sit back and let the enemy constantly nip at my heels. We will respond appropriately. I’ll give you two weeks to come up with a link between this Russian and the IRS harassment. Absent
that, the IRS is going to get a response,” Lofton said defiantly. He got up and motioned with his head to some others sitting with him.

  “That’s unfortunate, Hank. If you take any action outside of this group, you put us all in potential danger,” said Zach flatly, glancing around the room at those who stayed.

  Eight others got up with Lofton to leave the meeting. This was the first time ever that the group was split on a major decision, or where Zach’s leadership was questioned openly.

  In a tense moment, the group made room for Lofton and his allies to leave the room.

  Will came back into the room and handed Zach a note.

  The note said, “Aircraft mechanic who worked on Governor One was found dead in his apartment with his wife and son. There was a suicide note, apologizing for the crash.”

  “Who’s this from?” Zach asked Will.

  “A reliable source in the Austin police department,” Will answered.

  “Is it public yet?” asked Zach.

  “No, but Pops is aware,” Will added.

  The room settled back down as Lofton and the others left. That group was outside at their trucks. The rest were waiting to see how Zach would react.

  With the underlying knowledge of what CIS, Volkov and the administration had been up to at this point, Zach was determined not to let his group splinter.

  “They are still our brothers. I think they are making a mistake and I don’t agree with it. Let’s all work together to see if we can find a link or get them enough information to not put us all at another level of danger,” reasoned Zach.

  “We’re with you, Zach!” came the chorus from several in the room.

  “I’ll be back,” Zach told Will and Beard as he turned to walk out the door, taking his cell phone out of his pocket.

  Outside, he dialed the same number he used to reach Pops earlier in the day.

  “Dyson here.”

  “Commander, this is Zach Turner. Is Pops available at the moment?”

  “I doubt it, but I’ll find out,” replied Dyson, slightly irritated that someone not attached to law enforcement had such easy access to Pops.

  “Younger,” came the raspy voice a short time later.

  “Pops, we found out a little more about this Volkov dude. Turns out several of our operatives have dealt with him in the past. He is a calculating, smart and elusive former Russian Special Forces and KGB operative. Turns out he was even too hardcore for the KGB, if you can believe that. They kicked him out.”

  “Bad hombre?” asked Pops.

  “The worst. Listen, sir, I got word about the double-murder/suicide and the note.”

  “You’ve got some good sources, son,” Pops chuckled. “Where are they, in Austin PD?”

  “Yes, sir, among other places.”

  “So why are you asking about the note, son?”

  “Is it authentic? Did this mechanic purposely sabotage the aircraft?” asked Zach.

  “The note was an apology. Says he worked on the fuel system two days before the accident. Appears to be authentic, but we won’t know for a few days. You got some kinda hunch or info you need to share with me?"

  “What bothers me is Volkov. He is totally capable of putting that aircraft down.”

  “Nothin’ from the mechanic’s family indicated he was in a bad way. Doesn’t make sense to any of them. Checking all his financial records; maybe somethin’ will show up,” answered Pops.

  “I’ll keep you posted if we get any new news,” offered Zach. “But I’ve got to tell you, I’ve got a deep-down gut feeling Volkov is somehow involved.

  “Makes no sense taking out his kid and his wife, too, even if he did screw something up,” remarked Pops.

  “I know you were good friends with the governor,” said Zach. “He was a good man. I’m so sorry you lost another friend.”

  “Thank you, son. Smitty was a good man. If that son-of-a-bitch Volkov is responsible, I’ll hunt him down to the ends of the earth.”

  Chapter 39

  “We must learn that passively to accept an unjust system is to cooperate with that system, and thereby to become a participant in its evil.”

  - Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)

  Christian Pastor and Civil Rights Icon

  Ten hours after the crash that killed the governor and lieutenant governor, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Timothy Devlin stood in his black robe in the Texas State Senate chamber at the main podium, awaiting the arrival of Speaker of the House Jim Strasburg.

  The Senate chamber was packed to capacity, as was the gallery above it. News crews filled the back of the chamber, and the world was about to witness the order of succession.

  Under the Texas Constitution, the next in line to become acting governor was the president pro tempore of the Senate. Senator Jeffrey Milsap had been the president pro tempore but, when he was murdered under mysterious circumstances, Strasburg was next in line. It was doubtful that anyone in the media mentioned to the world that three people in higher office would need to die for Strasburg to ascend to the governorship.

  The time arrived, and Strasburg entered the chamber wearing a dark blue suit, red tie, his silver-gray hair longer than most of his House colleagues. At the prompting of Chief Justice Devlin, Strasburg pledged, with his left hand raised and his right hand on a Bible, “I solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and the Texas Constitution.”

  Normally, a swearing-in ceremony for a new Texas governor carries much pomp and circumstance. Today, the mood in the chamber was somber. Both the governor and the lieutenant governor had been popular, especially with those in the state legislature.

  Pops Younger stood on the podium deck, feeling the moment was surreal. He had never been a fan of Strasburg, claiming he had the “spine of a jellyfish,” based on Strasburg’s penchant for taking conflicting stances on difficult issues. Pops also battled Strasburg, who had tried his best to technically defund the Texas Rangers through massive budget cuts, when he was a Democrat.

  Trust was not easily dispensed by Pops, and Strasburg had earned none from him.

  As the throng of elected officials and bureaucrats crowded around Strasburg to shake his hand and offer somewhat conciliatory congratulations, Pops couldn’t stomach the entire scene. He had just lost one of his dearest friends in Governor “Smitty” Brahman, and months before lost an even closer friend, Governor Brent Cooper. Although Strasburg would only be acting governor, the chance for him to become the incumbent governor in the next election was very strong.

  One could always tell when Pops was sizing someone up. He stood on the podium deck, eyes squinted and completely focused on Strasburg and how he was acting with others. As he watched Strasburg interact, he began to get a gut-wrenching sense that something was wrong with what he was watching, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

  Strasburg, who had his back to Pops, suddenly turned around and found himself face to face with Pops.

  “Well, hello, Mr. Younger,” said Strasburg.. He reached out to shake hands with Pops. Pops did not take the acting governor’s hand.

  “Am I supposed to call you governor now?” asked Pops.

  Several people around them stopped their conversations to watch this one proceed.

  “Sir, I realize you were close to the governor. You have my condolences.” Strasburg continued to hold his right hand out to Pops.

  “He was a good man, as solid as central Texas granite. Men like Smitty and Coop don’t grow on trees,” replied Pops. “How the hell are you going to fill their boots?”

  “Yes, they were indeed,” Strasburg said in a patronizing voice. “And, Mr. Younger, I know you still hold that budget issue from twenty years ago against me, but that was a long time ago and now we must work together for all of Texas, especially in this perilous environment.” Many others paused to take in the conversation.

  “It ain’t just that, Strasburg. You flip-flop on issues more than a beached Pecos perch,” said Pops with
a half-smile.

  “Legislating is a tough business, Mr. Younger. Sometimes you have to compromise to move issues and legislation forward. Part of governing is strategic compromise,” chuckled Strasburg.

  “I’ve never met a man of any substance who was just as good riding backward in his saddle as he was facing forward,” Pops retorted.

  “Well, sir, I’m not sure what that means, but I look forward to working with you.” Strasburg began to direct his attention elsewhere as his aides tried to remove him from this conversation by placing their hands on him, gently prodding him to leave the podium deck. As he was about to go, Pops grabbed his hand for a handshake, surprising Strasburg.

  Pops firmly pulled Strasburg closer to him, and Strasburg’s painted-on smile suddenly vanished. Pops looked him straight in the eyes and leaned toward his left ear.

  In a soft, but firm tone, Pops whispered, “Texas will be watching you closely, Strasburg, and so will I.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Younger. Thank you.” Strasburg let himself be steered away feebly to the next conversation by his staff, but he was visibly shaken.

  Chapter 40

  “A people armed and free forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition and is a bulwark for the nation against foreign invasion and domestic oppression.”

  - James Madison (1751-1836)

  Father of the Constitution, 4th US President

  Author of the 2nd Amendment

  Pops Younger, the Texas Rangers, National Transportation Safety Board, and the FBI were all in Austin the next day for their investigation into the plane crash.

  “Mr. Younger, we appreciate your help, but the NTSB will lead the investigation into the crash itself. The FBI will stand by as a matter of routine if anything turns up in the investigation that would further warrant our involvement,” announced lead regional FBI director Michael Jarvis.

  “Son, I appreciate y’all’s efforts in finding the cause of this crash, but my job here is different. You see, I’m treating this crash as if it was a criminal act unless you find overwhelming evidence that this here engine failed, or a sprocket broke, or some wingnut flew off,” said Pops with uncompromising authority. “Now, I know you boys and―excuse me, ladies―have a meeting set up to speak to this mechanic’s relatives. The Texas Rangers will be in those meetings, also.”