The Helium-3 Conspiracy

by Colin Setterfield

  "Mr. Klein? My name is Jake Dobrowski and I am a private investigator. We had a mutual friend in Jeremy Gibson."

  Klein sounded surprised, "Yes, Jake. I remember you from that incident involving a Senator some years back. So, you knew Jeremy?"

  Jake proceeded to tell Klein how he had met Jeremy and that he believed the Senator to be involved in Jeremy's death. Jake also mentioned that he was in possession of video directly implicating Jackson in the murder of Kevin Dodd.

  Klein uttered a curse at the sound of Kevin's name and sounded grieved. He agreed that Jake should get the video to someone higher up the chain. He shared that he had employed Dodd, part-time on a contract basis, and together they had been working on suspicions that Jackson had murdered Tony Underwood and might be involved in some sort of conspiracy. He warned Jake to be cautious because Jackson had powerful connections. He also shared that his own divisional head, Rodriguez might somehow be involved with Jackson, thus placing his own position in jeopardy.

  Jake remembered the badge that Jeremy had left with him. "There is also a question of an FBI badge which Jeremy found. The number on the badge is 998, and I think it might belong to Underwood. I think Underwood's death was the reason why Jeremy was snooping on Jackson."

  Klein became quite animated. "That makes all the sense in the world. That is one of the very early badges in the FBI's history—we don't get them with numbers anymore. I never knew Underwood personally but everyone had a great respect for him. Can you let me have the badge? It may have Jackson's fingerprints on it."

  Jake answered, "I am going to deliver the video and documents to Williamson this afternoon. His secretary will meet me at the East Wing at 3:15 p.m. She is hopeful that the Chief of Staff will be available for a short meeting. Meet me in the East Wing parking area at about 3:00 p.m. and I will give you the badge. Perhaps you could join us?"

  "That may be a good idea. I have met the Chief of Staff through a security assignment a few years ago. I'll be there," said Klein firmly, ending the call.

  Jake went to his battered briefcase to remove a white envelope and pen, before sitting down at the small desk in the corner of the sitting room. After a moment's thought he addressed the envelope to Colleen at the Daily Mail and placed the memory stick inside. The envelope carried his business logo with return address so she would know who it was from.

  There were three stamps left in the inner pocket of the briefcase, a minor miracle considering that he seldom ever sent out any mail, even from the office.

  He pocketed the other memory stick along with the plastic bag containing the badge and walked out to the van. Before starting the motor he placed a quick call to Colleen to let her know what was happening.

  "I'll be meeting with Lucy and her boss this afternoon."

  Colleen was apprehensive. "Okay, Jake, but call me the moment you get back. I want to know that you are safe."

  Jake assured her he would make the call on his return. The plastic bag containing all the evidence had been hastily thrown onto the passenger seat, when Jake had jumped up into the driver's seat. Suddenly, on impulse, he grabbed the bag and stuffed it, with Colleen's envelope, into the side pocket of the van's door.

  Finally, he spoke to the van's computer, giving the instruction, "The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C." The computer asked in a polite female voice where the van should be parked.

  "Park in the East Wing parking area, off East Executive Street."

  The computer politely thanked him and repeated the instruction.

  **

  Special Agent in Charge Rubin Klein

  Saturday, July 18, 2026

  2:25 p.m.

  Rubin Klein placed his cell phone on the desk and, for a minute, sat staring out of the window. He gazed out at the traffic surging down Ninth Street and contemplated his next move. There was a knock on the office door and Martin Rodriguez walked in. He threw a brown file onto Klein's desk and said, "Get your ass onto this Jamieson case! We need to investigate his bank accounts and clarify where the money is coming from!"

  Klein continued to gaze out of the window. "I'm on it. I just have a quick errand to do."

  Rodriguez narrowed his eyelids and looked directly at Klein, "What exactly are you working on at the moment?"

  Rubin guessed that Rodriguez might be fishing for information on the Jackson case. "I'm still working on the bombing at the US Embassy in Israel last week. The money appears to have come from Iran through a major bank here in D.C. Our new accounting expert is digging into the paper trail as we speak."

  Rodriguez stared at him for longer than was necessary but Klein held his gaze. Finally Rodriguez nodded, turned and left.

  Klein had already decided what his next course of action was. He closed the laptop and left the office through the E Street exit and headed for the White House.

  ∞∞

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Arriving at the White House

  Saturday, July 18, 2026

  3:00 p.m.

  The traffic on Cal Ripken Way was heavy with most commuters heading for home at the end of their work day. The traffic tended to move slowly with most vehicles on auto-drive, allowing the occupants time to relax, have a smoke, or talk on their phones. Some even read the afternoon editions of the various newspapers, glancing around, every now and then just to make sure the general traffic was behaving.

  Jake was deep in thought and had not noticed a black SUV, about three cars back, keeping steady pace with the van. Every time the van changed lanes the SUV would follow, keeping the same distance at all times. They turned onto Route 95 for a brief period, then onto the Baltimore Washington Parkway, which eventually became New York Avenue.

  It was about a one-hour drive to the White House and as the van exited New York Avenue onto 15th Street, Jake started looking out for Pennsylvania Avenue. He trusted that the GPS system would get it right because East Executive was a one-way street and needed an approach from the right direction.

  The van approached Pennsylvania and turned right toward the intersection of East Executive, finally turning right again and then into the parking area in front of the East Wing. Relieved that he would not have to switch to manual to make the maneuvers, Jake allowed the vehicle to park and then opened the door to disembark.

  At that precise moment, the black SUV that had followed all the way from Baltimore, pulled up right next to the van and two men jumped out. Jake froze because he recognized them immediately—Jackson's goons! Jake thought of running but these two were younger men and would run him down with ease. There was little he could do under the circumstances so he stood his ground as they made their approach.

  Charley Baines sneered at him, flashing his CIA identification, both men taking offensive positions to cut off Jake's escape. Jake immediately understood that these two were not only Jackson's goons but also worked for the Deputy Director, Mia Anderson.

  Realizing that there was now no way he could escape a show down with his nemesis, Arthur Jackson, he closed the van's door and faced them, leaving the letter with the memory stick, in the side pocket of the door. Jake hoped they would not search the vehicle. At the moment the only evidence they had was his presence at the Moravia Road house and nothing more. Perhaps he could talk his way out of trouble.

  Unfortunately for Jake this was not to be. Baines and Gladstone frisked him down, checked his pockets, and found the memory stick that had been destined for Cassie Williamson.

  Baines leered at him. "Making a trip to the White House are we? Going to take one of the tours?"

  Jake answered in the affirmative, "Yes, in fact, that's exactly what I was going to do."

  Gladstone laughed like a drain. "You missed the last tour of the day by an hour!"

  Baines held up the memory stick. "Now what would this be?"

  "Nothing of importance, just some investigative work I've been doing," answered Jake, as casually as he could. Then he asked the question, "What's this all about? Why would t
he CIA want to talk to me?"

  Gladstone returned to the SUV and pulled out a laptop. Jake's heart sank when he realized they were going to check the memory stick. He thought of trying to grab it out of Baines' fingers and make a run for it.

  Charley Baines, anticipating Jake's move, pocketed the stick and produced a pair of cuffs, indicating that Jake put his hands out for cuffing.

  "Are you arresting me?" asked Jake loudly so that passersby would take notice. "What charge are you arresting me on?"

  Gladstone passed the laptop to Baines and grabbed Jake, roughly bundling him into the back of the SUV.

  "We don't need a reason but I'm sure we'll find one soon enough," said Baines, as he inserted the stick into one of the laptop's USB ports, the computer now perched on the front seat of the SUV. Jake was silent. He knew the two men were about to see the evidence that would implicate them and their superiors in a murder. This was not good and all he could hope for was that they did not search the van. If they found the letter addressed to Colleen there would be no way anyone would ever see the video and it would place her in danger. His only hope was that Klein should be somewhere close enough to see what was happening.

  Baines and Gladstone watched the edited video footage with great interest and made no comments until it was finished.

  Then Baines spoke, "I see you've been busy, Jake. I believe we have found the reason for your arrest— contravention of the Privacy Act! Want to tell me who here at the White House was going to receive this piece of illegal information?"

  Jake lied, "I was going to see if I could get an appointment with someone in White House Security."

  "It really wouldn't have helped much," declared Baines, extracting the stick from the laptop and pocketing it. "This video would not be admissible in a court of law."

  Jake acted ignorant. "I didn't know that but at least I could have told them what was going on. You guys are murderers!"

  Gladstone rubbed his balding forehead, "Mr. Jackson is going to want to talk to you, so best shut up for now. For your information, we killed Dodd in the interests of National Security."

  Baines went over to the van to check out the glove compartment and found Jake's gun. He pocketed it and after casting a quick glance in the back, closed the door, leaving the keys in the ignition. Baines backed the SUV out of the parking and turned into East Executive Avenue. Jake's one positive thought was that Baines had not seen the plastic bag in the door's side pocket. If Klein was not around, then Mitch would eventually find the van through the GPS system, but would it be in time to do anything for Jake? Unlikely! His future did not look very bright.

  **

  Meeting of Conspirators

  Saturday, July 18, 2026

  3:00 p.m.

  The cool breeze gently moved the leaves of the Sawtooth Oak tree under which a group of people were sitting on a bench, just off the main walkway through Lafayette Square. One of them, a young man, dressed in blue jeans and a loose-fitting, short-sleeved shirt, sat on his haunches facing his three companions on the bench, all of whom wore business suits.

  Mia Anderson, Deputy Director of the CIA; Senator Arthur Jackson, and Martin Rodriguez, Divisional Head of Counterterrorism for the FBI—all listened intently as the younger man, Sammy Binks, explained the details of his meeting in Argentina, with Malcolm Ensley. He told them that Valkyrie was a go, that all the equipment to control the Cerberus satellite system was in place and the staff sergeant from Patterson Air Force Base was standing by. All he needed were the cipher codes and coordinates.

  Jackson leaned back when Binks had finished and said, "Well done, Sam. Ensley will know exactly how to handle the arming of the weapon as they practice it at least once every month at Peterson. I am concerned, though, that he may have second thoughts at the last minute."

  Sammy smiled reassuringly. "I will be there to take care of any loose ends."

  Mia Anderson shifted position on the bench to make herself more comfortable. "Does Ensley suspect anything? Does he have any inkling that he will never receive the rest of his payout?"

  "I haven't seen any sign of it. He was a little hesitant when I told him we intended to actually use the SWANC system. However, the temptation of the cash quickly turned him." Binks stood up to stretch his legs. "I told him that the target would be out in the country, and there wouldn't be a mass annihilation of people."

  "Not quite true, but we have little option if we want to achieve our greatest advantage," said Rodriguez. "You don't think he'll balk when he finds out what the real target is?"

  Jackson replied, although the question had been directed at Binks. "The total population of the Virgin Islands is only about 120,000 people. Our actual target area will affect about 70,000 people living in the area, but the actual collateral damage will not be that high."

  "The transition period, established by the Energy Participation Agreement, will affect billions of people when the world economy collapses. We knew there would always be collateral damage," added Mia coldly.

  Wolf leaned forward to make better eye contact with the group. "So, Condor has deliberately set this up to make the White House think the OLF is bluffing?"

  Jackson smiled thinly, "Yes he has. He deliberately did not send any proof of having access to SWANC or of the codes and iris scans required to arm the weapon. I know Richard Baker! He will call the bluff!"

  Rodriguez continued. "But, are you saying that it is better to go through with Valkyrie than force them to change the Participation Agreement?"

  "They will never change the agreement on a mere threat. Condor says that the heads of state will not negotiate with terrorist groups, no matter what the threat," answered Jackson resolutely.

  Rodriguez was curious. "So, you're saying that Condor has no intention of negotiating with the members of the Agreement and he had intended to use SWANC all along?"

  Jackson nodded. "The fear that the Cerberus system will evoke in all the participating countries can only become effective by actual demonstration. After Valkyrie, the OLF will be able to ask for anything!"

  Mia's phone started chiming the "Westminster Quarters" clock tune, interrupting the conversation. She reached into her black leather purse, lifted the phone to her left ear, and placed her other hand over the right ear before answering. When the caller had finished, her eyes took on an angry glare and she glanced up at Jackson. "That was Baines. You had better get home and deal with an issue that has just raised its ugly head!"

  Jackson frowned deeply and asked, "What's happened?"

  Mia replaced her cell phone into the purse and grated, "You have obviously slipped up again, Arthur. Baines and Gladstone have just intercepted an extremely revealing video of you, some of our conversations, and Kevin Dodd. It appears Dobrowski was monitoring your office through spyware! Baines has him in your wine cellar."

  Jackson was quite deflated by Anderson's accusation of "slipping up again." He stood and said, "I'll take care of it," and without another word he hastened off in the direction of his car.

  Mia shouted after him, "Make sure there are no copies!" Jackson just nodded and left the Square.

  Mia was not finished. She turned to Martin Rodriguez. "You had better look into the affairs of your Agent in Charge, Rubin Klein. Apparently he met with Kevin Dodd in Patterson Park. We don't want any interference with our plan."

  "I am looking into it," said Rodriguez "I have him working on a money-laundering case. I spoke to him just before the meeting and he didn't mention anything about meeting with Kevin Dodd."

  She continued to explain that Dodd was an intelligence contractor, sometimes contracting to the FBI and in earlier years had worked in Baghdad, during the Iraq War.

  "We think that Dodd purposely targeted Jackson's wife in collaboration with your Special Agent in Charge, hoping to get information on the deaths of Underwood and Gibson."

  Rodriguez changed the subject. "What has Condor told Arthur regarding the plan to initiate the second phase of Valkyrie? When will we rec
eive that briefing?"

  Mia shifted her position again and answered, "We will all receive an encrypted e-mail regarding what our responsibilities will be, given the immediate success of the first phase."

  Rodriguez and Binks both nodded in approval and stood to leave.

  Mia concluded with, "Until then, gentlemen! Only two more days—let's be on the alert. I will let you know what Arthur comes up with." They all walked off in different directions.

  ∞∞

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Deciding a Course of Action

  Saturday, July 18, 2026

  4:30 p.m.

  Colleen had worked a few minutes later than usual and was closing down her computer when the security desk downstairs called to say there was someone waiting to see her. Could he come up to her office?

  "Who is it?" she asked, a little miffed at receiving a caller without an appointment.

  There was a hesitation as the building's security officer asked the visitor's name and business. "He says his name is Rubin Klein and he is from the FBI."

  Colleen was startled for an instant. After a few seconds she regained her composure and gave permission for Klein to be directed up to the office. A minute later Klein entered the main office from the stairs and made his way past the rows of desks to Colleen's office. A sensation of fear began to creep its way through her usual calm demeanor. Was this about Jake? She immediately began building scenarios in her mind.

  "Mrs. Dobrowski?" Klein asked politely. She nodded and felt her knees going weak.

  "Is this about my husband, Jake?" She asked nervously.

  Klein responded, "Yes, it is, and I'm afraid he might be in a spot of trouble. May I speak with you? It's very urgent."

  "Please call me Colleen, Mr. Klein...and yes, please sit down."

  Klein sat opposite her and began sharing what was on his mind.

  "I'm Rubin, by the way. I'm a special agent, working for the FBI, in the Counterterrorism Department."