"I'm a painting contractor. I've a job across the border."
"We'll need to see what's in the back please. Purely routine."
Eric, not being stupid, realized he was in deep trouble. However, he said, "Sure can officer. Let me pull up a little to shorten the line."
Before Agent Jones could respond, the yellow truck leaped forward towards the boarder hoping to cross before they could respond. Eric had his foot on the floor of the accelerator. One car was just crossing the border as he pulled out to pass the string of cars. The half track driver saw what was happening. The black smoke poured out of the exhaust as the large half track began slowly, but quickly picked up speed.
Eric thought he was going to make it and then out of the corner of his eye, he saw a camouflage Army half track coming from his right. It was now or never as Eric, pedal to the metal, prayed to God to let him through the border. The last thing Eric saw was a smile on the half track driver face as he plowed into the back part of the half track at around 40 miles per hour. Eric went flying through the windshield breaking his neck on the hard steel of the half track.
Agent Jones and Wendy were running toward the crash scene. Both came to a stop when the saw Eric Weber lying between the two vehicles dead. Agent Jones said, "Case closed."
Wendy told the FBI Special Agent in charge, that she would sign for two bars of gold. The FBI man said, "Thanks madam."
Chapter Six
A big Chinook helicopter brought in the SEALs. Twenty guys climbed out and quickly set up camp in Devils Kitchen. Devils Kitchen was an enclave running parallel to the ocean. It was a favorite place of locals to set up a camp fire and have a picnic within the rock wall for wind protection. A second Chinook came in loaded with equipment and weapons.
Soon the place looked like a beach head. Brad stood on top of the cliff overlooking the Kitchen and the Pacific Ocean. He was quietly proud to be part of a team of anti-terrorist military personnel. While standing there Rocky gave off a woof and Brad turned to see Mike striding across the sea grass with a big smile on his face. They shook hands and Mike gave Rocky a head rub. Coming up the Kitchen side of the cliff walked the SEAL commander, Lieutenant Jeremy Blake. His nickname was Blaze. He also was the SEAL team leader in North Korea. He shook hands with both Brad and Mike.
"We're at your disposal Colonel. What are your orders? My boys love a good fight," said Blaze.
"I'm damn glad to see you Blaze, but let's cut the formality and call me Brad. Let me show you my hidden tunnels and then we can make a plan to stop the invaders," Brad said.
An hour later the three men sat down for tea. Blaze said, "I think we need some concrete bunkers for starters. Then we need some mortar emplacements that are well camo'd. I'll take some men and we'll scout the area and come up with a good plan. Meanwhile, I'd best get back and make sure we're set up for the night."
After he left Mike and Brad had a long discussion. Mike told him the story of the missing train full of gold. Brad told him he'd just got word from Wendy and Agent Jones they caught the guy with the gold on the Texas/Mexican border. He was killed crashing his truck into a half track blocking his way to Mexico.
"Mike, you been gone a long time. Why don't you go home and take a day of rest with Julie and the kids. Wade will be here tomorrow and we can go over our plan then."
"Good idea Brad. I'll take your van if you don't mind. I'll be back up tomorrow morning."
Sujin and her sister were cooking a big pot of clam chowder for the SEALs. She'd also ordered many loaves of garlic bread from the local bakery.
Park had cleverly made a BBQ out of an old oil drum cut in half. He'd been to town and had some rebar made into a grill. Then he bought out the briquettes at the supermarket. Off to find some meat, he negotiated with the butcher in the supermarket for a hindquarter of beef. The beef had been on the grill for six hours. Park made a turning spit or rotisserie for the hind quarter. He was quite proud of his ingenuity.
What Park didn't know was the Master had been watching him all morning long. Also what no one saw was a small smile on the weathered old face. The day was cool but no rain. The Master went for a walk on the beach and dunes. He was scouting out the best place to ambush a few terrorists. After that he would hurry back to the house to protect his pupils.
While the Master was running up and down the sand dunes, without leaving hardly a sign, Brad went to the airport to pickup Steve. It was going to be a little crowded soon. Also coming were Wendy and Agent Jones but Brad wasn't sure when they would arrive. Also he wasn't sure where everyone would sleep.
Steve looked worn out as he stepped off the private government jet. The jet took off immediately after he disembarked. Rocky gave him a wag of the tail and a hand lick. Brad warmly shook his hand and they headed for the restaurant for something to eat.
Forty minutes later they sat down to a bowl of chowder. Brad waited patiently for Steve to open up a conversation. He was half way through a bowl of soup when he said, "Brad, the President is very concerned about a terrorist attack. Since 9/11 we've made a lot of people angry infringing on their personal rights due to that fateful event. If we're hit again, with the same magnitude of destruction, people are going to panic. The President wants you to pull out all the stops and anything you want is gladly provided."
"Are you saying Steve that he's giving me the total responsibility to prevent or reveal an attack by crazed terrorist. I hardly think that's fair, do you?"
Steve pushed his almost empty bowl away and said, "Brad, simply put you're the best we have. The other security agencies are infighting and not working together close enough to be effective. By placing you at the top, he eliminates the bureaucratic blunders that result from no one accepting responsibility. The best or latest example is the North Korea mission. He gave you the authority and the rest of the agencies followed what you ordered."
"Okay Steve. I guess this is a little different as they target is me and my family. Not to mention the entire Batt Team." Brad too pushed his bowl away and gave Rocky a bite of garlic bread. "Park has done a hell of a job around the house. I've not seen him in combat, but my hackles are up knowing what is coming."
Brad was taken back when Wendy and Agent Jones walked through the restaurant door. Rocky gave a wag of the tail greeting. Brad said, "Good to see you back safe and sound. Good job."
Wendy blushed and Jones beamed. Wendy said, "We brought the two bars you requested. The FBI never even blinked an eye; but I had to sign for the bars."
"A rough price is over three hundred thousand each bar. That should keep a guy out of trouble for a while," said Jones.
Brad smiled and said, "The Master is worth every cent of the total. He's at the Round House now. I fear not for my family. This might be hard to believe but he could single handily stop fifty terrorists without working up a sweat."
Wendy looked at Brad as if wondering if he went off the deep end. She cocked her neck and raised an eyebrow. Brad saw the look and grinned. He said, "Wendy, you are having trouble believing what I said about the Master?"
"Frankly speaking, yes I do." Her face was glowing red from embarrassment say her boss was a liar. Then she tried to recover saying, "However, you know him better than I do."
Steve said, "Wendy, we had to do a frame by frame of the Master in the White House saving the Secretary of Defense life. Why, because he moves so fast the eye has trouble seeing him."
Agent Jones seemed unfazed. He'd done some personal research and discovered an ancient sect in China that possessed some amazing attributes. He also recognized the close relationship Brad and his wife had with the Master.
Brad said, "Let's leave it at that. We need to focus on the supposedly upcoming events by the terrorist. God, I hope I'm wrong. And I hate the cliché: better safe than sorry."
Wade Jenkins had briefly stopped over in Maryland to see his mother. He was an only son and he so wanted his mother proud of him. He quickly told her the story of the gold and of course the new job he had working
for Brad Pratt and his Batt Team. His mother was beaming and so proud of her not yet thirty year old son.
Betty Jenkins asked, "Is this a dangerous job Wade?"
"I'll be honest mom, I really don't know yet. I'm well trained and to serve my country we must all take a risk now and then. Of course I'll be careful, but still I have to do my very best."
"Your father is so proud of you. I know he doesn't say much but down deep he couldn't be happier with his only son."
"I must go now mom. I have to fly to Oregon where the Batt Team lives and plans their missions." I'll be out of contact for awhile as I'm going to Egypt.
Wade had never been to Oregon before and he was a little excited seeing the Round House for the first time. He flew into Portland and then chartered a twin to North Bend Airport about two hours south of Portland.
Agent Jones met him at North Bend. The day was a little abnormal as little wind was blowing off the ocean. The sky was partly cloudy with no chance of rain. Jones told him he was lucky today that the weather was good.
The drive down the coastal highway was a mix of evergreen trees and grass covered sand dunes. Leaving Highway 101 and taking the Beach Loop Road, Wade could see the giant sea stacks and the sprawling Pacific Ocean to the west. Wade thought this was quite lovely and wished his mother could see this nice view.
Jones slowed and pulled off onto a mix of rock and sand road that led to the Round House. A short drive through some small pine trees they came to a cable crossing. Wade saw the Round House and three German shepherds staring at the van.
Wade kept starring at the house and grounds that in lay on. Off to his left giant sand dunes ran what looked like for miles to the south. Look to the west he could see the Pacific Ocean and the roar of sound that went with it. He took a deep breath of salt air and let it out slowly. Next to the north side of the property a garden was being worked on by Park the North Korean defector who had helped Brad escape from North Korea on their last mission.
A small Asian came out to greet him. It was Brad's wife Sujin. He knew she was a South Korean, but never realized she was so tiny. She was holding a pale skinned baby. He'd forgotten the little boy's name, but she reminded him his name was Brian. She asked him in for some refreshments.
Wade quickly took in the inside wondering how it would be furnished. He discovered it was simply decorated with furniture made out of drift wood. A wood stove and a large floor table sat on a piece of carpet. The kitchen was simply done. A stairway led to the basement area where he knew the heart and soul of the Batt team was located. On the walls were a mixture of photographs and seascapes. Very simple and nice he thought. He never gave it a thought where he might sleep, but he was relegated to the secret tunnels with small rooms with bunks. A community shower was just down the hall way. Wade was quite comfortable.
Wade heard voices coming from downstairs and Sujin noticed he was looking that way a lot. She said, "Come with me Mr. Jenkins and I'll show you the basement." He followed her downstairs to a carpeted room with sofas facing each other. A glass topped table sat in the middle with two arm chairs on either end. The walls were full of photographs. In one arm chair sat Brad and in the other was Steve Lewis.
Brad stood up and shook his hand. He was introduced to the SEAL commander then took a seat. Brad said, "We'd like to hear you report when you went to the grandmother's house to inform her that her son died."
Wade looked around at the faces which stared at him. He said, "I don't mean this to sound crass or without some remorse, but when I knocked on the door, the housekeeper let me in. The grandmother was huddled up around the stove smoking as usual. She looked at me and snarled, 'What do you want sonny.'"
"I said, "I'm sorry to report that your grandson is dead. He was killed trying to cross the border with the gold in the back. He hit a bigger truck and was killed instantly."
"I was watching her and she slowly raised her hand with the cigarette to her mouth taking a big drag. Then with her other hand she grabbed her chest and let out a big sigh. The cigarette fell to the floor and the last air that came out was blue smoke. Kind of morbid. She obviously had a major heart attack. I left after calling 911. I wonder what goes through a person's mind when they know just a short ways away, millions in gold, lies there for the taking. More than a half century of that eating at your brain would literally drive me crazy."
"A job well down Wade. After you've settled in you and Mike and I need a short meeting. Meanwhile, scout around the area with Agent Jones, or someone and familiarize yourself with the layout. I've sent for Billy to come and I'll pick him up later today. Okay," as Brad looked around the room, "I think we have everything we need for the present time. Let's go back to work. Steve, how about a short walk on the beach with your new dog," asked Brad.
"Sounds good to me. Does she have a name yet?"
Brad laughed and said, "Yes, she does. You're going to love this. Her name is Lucy."
"Oh my god, that was the name of my former secretary. I hope she never hears about this slight to her name. She's in Arizona dressed like a Native American making jewelry and painting her heart out. Okay, let me change into something more fitting than my old Burberry."
They walked down the side hill to the beach. The trail went by Devils Kitchen. Some SEALS were busy and gave a wave. Brad and Steve turned right or north and walked towards Fish rock. Fish rock, a large sea stack, sat at an angle to the beach that at low tide was accessible for a few hours. It had a natural ledge, just above high tide, to walk around to the point where fishermen could catch mostly perch. Additionally, along the ledge crab pots could be set for the tasty Dungeness crab.
Brad, after they were starting to walk north, caught a flash out of his right eye. He instantly recognized it as the Master, leaping off a 50 foot cliff behind the Round House, sped across the soft sand to the hard sand of the surf. Then he scurried up the side of Fish rock that for any normal person would be impossible. Brad smiled and Steve never saw him as he had his head down paying attention to Lucy on a leash.
However, Lucy saw him, but never barked or growled. Her instinct recognized he was not an enemy. Brad noticed and was happy with her training.
Steve said, "Brad, have you any thoughts on where another submarine might strike?"
Brad stopped at a smaller sea stack that rose up out of the sand about 20 feet square. He leaned against the leeward side as the wind was a little brisk. Brad looked down the beach towards his house and said, "Steve, their history is New York City and Washington DC. New York has a great many ships in and out on a regular basis. I sometimes think our punctuality hands the enemy an advantage. Be that as it may, we can use that to our advantage if we can discover the plan. My first guess is New York City again. If we look at it from an event that causes the most deaths at one time, like the World Trade Center, then we can narrow it down somewhat."
"Let's assume that the sub is there to drop off suicide bombers. What would be their target or targets?"
"When Billy gets here we'll have him do a search on that very topic. He has friends that will help him. Also, let's assume they get past our defenses and use their torpedoes. What would be their targets? Or maybe they would do both. One thing is clear, to pass our land security nowadays, is not easy if you're packing weapons or explosives. Hence the drop off would have to be very near the target. Subways, train station, museums, Empire State Building, and the list goes on."
Steve said, while tossing a stick for Lucy to fetch, "That's why we pay you the big bucks Brad." Both cracked up on that remark. Steve knew the Batt Team would be hard at work very soon.
Chapter Seven
While Wade and Mike were flying to Egypt, with a stopover in Israel, Brad was on the phone to his father. He said, "Father, I want the Mossad involved in the Intel in Egypt. We can't have too much information. Get back to me on that request. Thanks Dad. Oh, Mike and Wade are in flight now to Egypt."
"Consider it done. However, right now we are not on the best of terms with Israel.
But we can nudge them a little. I'll be back to very soon. Mother says call her when you can."
"I will," he fibbed. Brad was too busy to chat with his mother right now. "Tell her I'm a little overwhelmed at the present time, but will call when I can."
Before Wade and Mike left, a meeting was held downstairs. Brad said, "Guys, this is serious stuff here. Two men sent in to discover what was what, never came back out again. Their bodies were never found. Somewhere in Alexandria, in the port area is a large warehouse being used as a training site for submarine sailors. The target is probably a close secret available to only the top commanders. Frankly speaking I'm at a loss as to how to seek Intel out of what they're doing. There's one thing I do know and we need to place a GPS tracking device on their submarines. Assuming there're more than one."
"You'll be flown to Israel and from there transported to Egypt. The Mossad will be working with you. Also they'll provide the underwater gear and GPS devices. I can't stress enough that his is a highly dangerous thing you're doing. Mike you're the old pro here. Make sure our newbie team member comes back safe and sound."
"When Billy gets here he'll research the old submarine pens the Allies used during the war. We'll try to give you an exact location, but in the meantime, you're on your own."
Mike and Wade were picked up at the airport by Mossad agents and taken to a safe house. They were not taking any chances on someone seeing two Americans with Israelis. They were quickly introduced to the agents that had American nicknames. Wade chuckled when he heard their names were Dick and Tom. A half hour later they were tucked into a small house with the only entrance from an alley. By then the two men were a bit jet lagged. The Israelis left them to sleep it off.
With Egypt time nine hours ahead of West Coast USA time, Mike woke up just as the sun was thinking about going down in Israel at 5 pm. Tom and Dick were waiting for them with a takeout box of pizza. Tom said, "We have transportation waiting and all the necessary equipment loaded onto a bus. We'll have clear passage to a small warehouse we use in Alexandria. I'd be real careful if I were you two guys. If you get into trouble, here is a phone number to memorize. The message is simple. 'help' and be at the warehouse. A dark colored car will come by, wait a few minutes and then leave."
Under Water Secret Page 5