“Yeah, but do you think that there is any kind of imminent danger?”
“We are unable to give you a quantified answer at this time.”
“Bullshit. Yes or no, are we expecting to be attacked today, here in Tyler, or not?”
“Sheriff Parker, we just don’t know.” Doug explained.
“Terrific.” Sheriff Parker said, with a frown.
He turned to leave Doug’s office, opening the door again.
“We’ll alert you the minute we know something, one way or the other.” Doug called out to him, as he left the room.
Sheriff Parker did not respond. He walked out of the room leaving the door wide open.
I went over and closed it.
Chapter 45.
Ranger Captain O’Brian, hadn’t left with the Sheriff, and I was wondering why he had stayed in the room.
He seemed to sense my thought.”
“The Sheriff was pretty upset to learn his department is being investigated by the Rangers because at least one of his deputies is a white supremacist. He would like to personally pistol whip that guy. Now this thing in Longview…He’s mad as hell.” He said.
Doug nodded his understanding.
“Doug, I have my associate trying to get in touch with Gary. I don’t want to call him, in case someone else answers his phone…” I started.
Gary called me as I was in mid-explanation.
“Hello, this is John. How may I direct your call?” I answered.
“Hey, John, it’s me, Gary. Christine said I should call you. What’s up?”
“Where are you, right now?”
“I’m here in Bullard, on the demo job.”
“Gary, there’s been an attack on the Gregg County courthouse in Longview. The District Attorney was killed and the Sheriff is badly wounded.”
“No shit? Oh man, that’s awful.”
“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t involved.”
“What, why would I….Oh, you think the RAGs did it?”
“Seems likely, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know anything about it. This is the first I’ve heard.”
“Good, I just wanted to make sure you’re OK.”
“Yeah, about that…Watkins told me I’m supposed to meet with the other members and leaders this evening.”
“When and where?”
“I don’t know where. I’m supposed to meet somebody at the place where I buried the body of that black guy, at six o’clock this evening. You know what a remote spot that is. I guess they’ll take me to the meeting from there.”
“How long have you known about the meeting?”
“…Maybe ten minutes, I’d just gotten off the phone with Watkins, when Christine called me.”
“Gary, call me back in a few minutes. I need to discuss this with someone.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty worried about it now.”
“Don’t worry; we’ve got your back.”
“OK, bye,” He said, and hung up.
The three men were waiting to hear what I had to say.
“Gary is at the job site in Bullard. He hadn’t even heard about the attack in Longview.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Now we need to know if Watkins had anything to do with it,” Doug observed.
“We may be in luck on that score.”
“…How?” Jack asked.
“Gary is supposed to be taken to a meeting of the RAGs radicals, tonight.”
“When and where?” Doug asked, picking up his phone.
“Hold on, this is an opportunity for him to get further inside the group.” Jack said.
“No, we can’t afford to wait and see. We’ll raid the event and grab up everybody. I need to make an arrest in this attack.” Doug responded.
I looked at Jack, who seemed to be thinking the same thing I was.
“Doug, we’ve just been cleared to have phone taps and surveillance on those guys Gary met out on that logging site. I’m pretty confident we’ll gather some useful intel from the intercepted communications, but having Gary inside a meeting could be vital. I think we can tell the press that we are pursuing a number of leads at this point.” Jack said.
“I don’t care about the press. We’ve got to stop these guys before they do more harm.”
“I think the best way to do that, and be able to make the charges stick, is to gather more intel. We don’t have any real evidence that the RAGs even did this. We have to find out who was involved. Gary is in the best position to do that,” Jack prompted.
Doug put down the phone.
“Right, I see that. I guess I just got a little bit wound up.”
“This is enough to get anybody wound up. I can tell you Gary is plenty wound up himself.” I said. “We’ve got to figure out the best way to manage this situation.”
“Well then, I repeat, when and where is Gary supposed to meet these people?”
“This evening, someone is going to meet him in the same place where he buried that body. He thinks they’ll take him to the meeting from there.”
I was thinking Gary had to be wondering if he might be the next body to be left in a shallow grave out in the sticks.
“OK, we’ll set up surveillance just like we did the first time. We’ll put a wire on him this time though…” Doug started.
“No, no wire, it’s too dangerous” I said.
“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do. This is a Federal operation and a matter of national security. I would remind you that you have no official standing, and you’re involvement can be terminated at any time.” Doug snarled.
“Fine, I’ll give Gary a call and tell him to bail out. Good luck with your investigation.”
Just then, an agent knocked on the door and stepped in.
“Sir, we think we’ve figured out why the pipe bombs failed.”
Doug took a deep breath.
“Well spit it out, man.” He snapped.
“Yes sir, it was the phones.”
“What phones? Doug asked.
“It was the cell phones sir; they were using cell phones as the detonators.”
Doug made a gesture with both hands.
“And…?”
“…And, this is weird…but it looks like they dialed the wrong number.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?” Jack asked.
“The phone records, sir. I’ll tell you this, it’s a damn good thing that the deputy who found the bombs, pulled the wires away from those phones when he did.”
“Slow down, Agent Rogers…” Jack said. “Tell us how you figured this out.”
“Yes sir, when we learned that the detonator was a cell phone, we had all the cell towers in and around Gregg County shut down. It was too late of course. It was more than twenty minutes after the bombs were found before we got all the cell service shut down, but then we accessed all of the carrier’s call records, from five minutes before, and about five minutes after the shooting, sent to us. We found that there were three calls at about the same time as the shooting, to one specific number that didn’t get answered. That would have been at the time that the deputy found the bombs. Those three calls were followed by a fourth call, all four from the same number. That fourth call only had one digit different from the first three calls. It was the number for the detonator phone. If the deputy hadn’t pulled those wires when he did, those bombs would have detonated.” The agent concluded.
Jack nodded. “Amateurs,” he said.
“Yes sir. The deputy told us that immediately after he pulled the wires from that phone, the phone vibrated in his hand.”
“I’ll bet that they had punched the wrong number into the speed dial. When they finally figured it out, they dialed it one number at a time, but by then it was too late.” Jack speculated.
“Thank God,” I said.
“Humph! There was no “god” involved. It was just blind luck and their stupidity.” Doug responded.
“That was a mighty brave depu
ty. For all he knew, pulling those wires could have triggered the explosion. Unfortunately he also contaminated the evidence.” Jack observed.
“Yes sir, but apparently he has some experience with electronics and explosives. He recognized the threat and was pretty confident when he pulled those wires. I figure he saved a bunch of lives in the process. He didn’t handle the pipe bombs, so we may be able to lift some prints.” The agent observed.
“Thank you Agent Rogers. Now try to determine who owns the phone that made those outgoing calls” Jack directed the agent.
“We’re already on that sir. That number was a prepaid throwaway we believe was sold for cash at a truck stop near Dallas, same as the detonator phone.”
When the agent had closed the door, Jack spoke to Doug.
“These guys may be rank amateurs, but we can’t hope to get “lucky” again. I also say no to a wire being put on Gary. He’s still brand new to the group and they won’t take chances with him. They were pretty thorough when they searched him the first time. The important thing is that we follow them to the meeting. That means setting up a perimeter and staging our tracking vehicles.”
Doug shrugged, conceding the point.
“We can track his truck, using his transponder for the GPS and emergency services that come standard with the vehicle.” He said.
“Sure, if his truck goes to the meeting. Otherwise, we’ll have to do it the old fashioned way, with surveillance vehicles. Weather permitting, we’ll arrange for a chopper to maintain visual contact as well.” Jack said.
His statement gave me an idea.
“That clear cut area is nearly a mile down a logging road from the nearest county road. We won’t be able to stage many vehicles anywhere near that area, without them being spotted.” I observed.
“Leave it to us, John. We know what we’re doing.” Doug said.
“I know you do, but you’re used to operating in more urban environments. Around here, any time someone sees a helicopter, they check it out. About the only helicopters we see are air ambulances.”
“Good point,” Jack observed. “We’ll use one of those.”
“Ok, I’ll get the ball rolling,” Doug stated.
My phone rang.
It was Gary.
Chapter 46.
I put Gary on speaker mode.
“Gary, I’m here with Doug and a couple of other guys. I have you on speaker so everyone can participate in the call. We want you to go ahead with the meeting this evening.”
“I don’t know….this just keeps getting worse.”
“Gary, Doug here. We’ll have you covered just like we did when you had that first meeting. You go on with them, and we’ll have you under surveillance at all times. What we need you to do is try to remember everyone you meet. Learn as much as you can about recent events, and who might have been involved. Don’t ask any questions that don’t feel right to you, under the circumstances. Do what they tell you to do, and we’ll get with you later, to de-brief you. OK?”
“I don’t like the idea that they are going to meet me out in the middle of nowhere, and are supposed to carry me to some other location. What if they just kill me instead?”
Everyone in the room exchanged glances.
“Why would they do that, Gary?” I asked.
“I don’t know…but what if they do?”
“Gary, listen to me. You are afraid of something that there is no evidence for. It isn’t a real threat; it’s just your imagination running away with you. We’ll all be there to cover you, just like before. If they had some reason to kill you, you would already be dead. Wouldn’t you?” I asked him.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“That’s right! And we’ll follow you to wherever they take you. We won’t take our eyes off of you.” Doug promised.
“Well, how are you going to do that?”
“We are preparing the plan right now. We’ll have surveillance vehicles staged on every road and highway. No matter what direction they take, we’ll be right there with you.” Doug replied.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Don’t even worry about it. We’ll have you covered.” Doug assured him.
We heard Gary take a deep breath.
“Yeah, OK. Please don’t screw this up.”
“Just handle it the way you handled that first meeting, and you’ll be fine.” I added.
When Gary hung up, I turned to Doug.
“He’s really scared.”
“Yes, I heard that. Like I told you, we know what we’re doing. Now, there is something that we need you to do.”
“Ok, what’s that?”
“Get the hell out of the way.” He said, through clenched teeth. “Like I said before, this is a federal investigation and you are not … It’s time for you to stand down. From now on, Gary will communicate directly with me and me only. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I waited a moment to compose myself.
“Yes, Agent Booker, I understand what you’re saying. Gary would not be in this position if it weren’t for me. You asked me to come down here. So, like I said before, if I’m out, he’s out. If he’s in, I’m in. I will not stand down and leave his life in your hands. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I’ll have you arrested for….”
“No, you will not.” Jack interjected. “John is right. He has been an essential part of this investigation from the beginning, and we still need him now. Our combined focus has to be on the matters at hand. Gary is the best lead we have at this time. What he learns tonight could be essential. Our job is to keep him safe and gather as much intel and evidence as we can in the process. Doug, I suggest that you start organizing the surveillance teams. I’ll arrange for eyes in the sky.”
“I would remind you that you are not in charge of this investigation Agent McCarthy. The FBI is the lead agency, not the DHS.”
Jack smiled at him, a cold smile that I had seen before. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“I would remind you, that in matters of national security, DHS is the coordinating agency. I have the Director of the FBI on speed dial. If I push that button Agent Booker, by six o’clock tonight, you will be on an airplane headed to Pocatello, Idaho, or some other stopping point, on the way to the end of your career. Try me and see.”
I thought for a moment that Doug would do just that.
“No, I know that DHS has overall responsibility for these things. I don’t mean to deny that, but…”
“Good, then we understand each other. John, will you come with me please?” Jack said, as he opened the door of Doug’s office.
Jack didn’t say a word as we left the Federal building.
Outside, he said, “Where’s your truck? I’ll drive you to it.”
I didn’t argue, the heat had hit us like a hammer when we left the building.
As we drove out of the lot, he spoke up.
“Doug is under a lot of pressure.”
I nodded. “So is Gary, we all are.”
“Yes, but this is Special Agent in Charge, Doug Booker’s, first high profile situation. He has never managed an investigation of this complexity or an emergency situation like this, separately, let alone all at the same time. Tyler is not exactly a primary assignment for a career minded guy like Doug. This is his big break, and he wants to shine.”
“I can’t afford to have him make a mistake, with Gary’s life on the line.”
“He may surprise you. He hasn’t made any mistakes so far. Sure, he’s a little frayed around the edges, and pretty intense, but he’s done everything by the book.”
We had come to a barricade, and a couple of uniformed officers were moving it aside to let us out.
“I’m not sure that he can handle it.” I stated.
Jack looked me in the eye.
“That is not something that you are in control of. Is it?”
And there it was. He was right. Nothing about this situation was mine to contr
ol. God alone knew what would happen, and only He could protect Gary.
As we pulled through the gap in the barricade, I sat in silence and contemplated those things.
“You’re right. I am not in control of what happens next. No wonder Doug finds me annoying.”
Jack smiled at that.
“That’s not the real reason he finds you annoying.”
“What is it then?”
“You are very open about your belief in God.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“You are aware the Righteous Army of God, is supposed to be a group of white Christians?’
“They are not Christians. They’re a hate group. There’s nothing remotely Christian about hating anyone. They hate people who are not like them, particularly people of color, and pretty much every religion, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, and whatever else. Since they aren’t any of those, they just figure the only thing left to claim is “Christian”. Christianity and the hatred of any person are mutually exclusive. Jesus said, “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen”. Christians are called to love, even their enemies.” I pointed out.
Jack shrugged in indifference.
“Hate is a funny thing. There’s usually a reason when someone has a hate problem. What you don’t know is that Doug’s father was a Pentecostal preacher. I don’t know the particulars of how he abused Doug, but he did abuse him, and he said that “God told him to do it.”
I closed my eyes.
How many people have a distorted view of God as “Our Father in heaven” because of the relationship (or lack of one) that they had with their earthly father?
“The authorities eventually got involved. Doug’s mom was a hopeless alcoholic, so Doug was placed in the foster care system. He has worked very hard to get where he is. He worked his way through college. Along the way, he was taught that the most horrific things that have happened in history were because of people’s religious beliefs. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice, with a JD. He passed the bar in 2000, and went to work for a prestigious law firm in New York City.”
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