by David Carner
“Sir, I meant no disrespect. I just thought they had given up on their careers.” Trip nodded and the anger left his face. “I guess the bad part is, if this is high profile, and if they were to have solved it, it would do more good for their careers than some random case they may get in the coming days.”
Trip still looking slightly angry nodded. “You’re exactly right. I mean they have little chance of solving it, but if they did . . . well, it doesn’t matter now. I mean if you don’t solve it, no one would hold it against you as cold as the case is.”
Bruce saw his opportunity and sprang. “You know sir,” he said trying to be sly. Trip was back to digging through files and looking away from Bruce. It was a good thing Trip wasn’t looking at Bruce because it was all Trip could do to hold in his laughter. “The right thing to do would be to give them this chance.” Trip looked up sharply.
“Are you telling me you want me to tell Washington you’re passing on a case!?” Trip exclaimed.
“I don’t want to go against my superiors, but there are times we should do what is best for the agency.” Bruce was trying not to be too pleased with himself; that he may have just tied the knot in the noose around Jessica and Chet’s neck.
“I guess I could tell them that you weren’t comfortable taking a case away from agents that had made some progress and you have a full plate already.” Trip pretended to dig around and pulled up three files that needed to be assigned. He offered them to Bruce. Bruce pressed his lips together and sighed. He knew Trip was right. He took the files and thanked Trip. Bruce turned and started out the door.
“Agent Cosby,” Trip said. Bruce turned expecting to be praised for his good deed. He tried to keep the smile to himself, but failed miserably. “Shut the door on your way out.” Bruce was dumbstruck. He nodded and shut the door. As he walked down the hall he looked at the three files in his hand and realized he was about to be very busy. He chuckled to himself. Why it was almost like it was busywork to keep him out of . . . no. He stopped in the hall and turned back toward Trip’s door. As he reached the door he heard Trip on the phone saying that Bruce had turned down the assignment. He heard Trip say he thought it was in the best interest of the office and was proud of his agent for being a team player. Bruce started back down the hallway. He had almost embarrassed himself. To think he had almost accused his Director of something so underhanded. Bruce hurried back to his desk to start working on his new cases.
Chapter 27
Back in Trip’s office, Trip was listening very carefully for the footsteps away from his door. He had been speaking to no one on the phone. Well, that was wrong; he was talking to Chet down in the foxhole. Bruce was an incompetent agent, but every now and then he did figure things out. Trip calling Chet had been Chet’s idea. It seemed like a good idea, and he was very glad Chet had suggested it. Bruce would now stay out of John’s, Jessica’s, and Chet’s hair for a little while, but they had only bought a little time.
That’s what worried Trip the most. Someone somewhere had made some phone calls to arrange Bruce take this case. What worried Trip the most, if someone had done that; then they knew what kind of investigator Bruce was. Someone, very high up, was working on a cover-up. Trip shook his head. He would have to tread very carefully. This was something straight out of a conspiracy theory nut’s playbook. Trip checked his watch, and decided it was time to make a phone call of his own. Trip picked up the phone and called in a favor for one of the first times in his life.
“Senator Cosby?” Trip asked. “Director Trip, of the New York FBI.” He paused. “I’m doing well sir; I’m actually calling you about an old friend of yours, John Fowler.” Trip listened. “Well he is back with us in a consulting position, but I think he has stumbled on something that is out of his league.” Trip listened and grinned. “Yes sir, I believe he has stepped into a political landmine field, and I don’t know how he managed it. Is there any way you could meet with me in my office and the three of us discuss this?” Trip listened for a minute and broke out into a full smile. “Thank you sir. John should be here in a couple of hours. He’s in Vermont now. I’ll see you first thing in the morning and we’ll see if we can’t sort this thing out.” Trip listened. “Yes sir. I’ll see you in the morning. Good-bye.”
Trip hung up. He didn’t even have to beg, which made him wonder for the thousandth time about the relationship between John Fowler and Senator Cosby. Whatever it was, it might be the only chance John, Jessica and Chet had of solving this case. Trip turned his chair and stared out the window. What had these three stumbled onto?
Chapter 28
John had been back a couple of hours, but for some reason he hadn’t contacted anyone in the FBI. John realized he was following the old protocols of his team. If there was any doubt of any compromise, do not contact other team members over the phone, only face to face. He wasn’t for sure why he was enacting this protocol other than his gut feeling.
This case was really starting to get to him. Five people were dead, and it appeared his home state had something to do with it. That bothered John. He had wonderful memories of Kentucky. He had grown up in western Kentucky and then went to school at Eastern Kentucky University. That was where he met the beautiful Graduate Student Samantha Moore. Sam was working on a Masters in Speech Pathology. Her goal was to work with children. Sam was born and raised in Virginia. Her parents, Arthur and Madeline Moore, were very, very well off. John shook his head thinking about the luxurious home they owned.
The Moore’s ran in a very elite circle. It should have been no surprise to John that he would meet a one-day US senator there. Jeremiah Cosby was running for the Senate seat when John first met him. It struck him as strange that Arthur had no problems about Madeline being around Jeremiah when he first met him. Apparently Jeremiah and Madeline had just ended their relationship when Madeline met Arthur. Madeline and Arthur were together for a little over two months before they became engaged.
John soon realized that things worked a bit differently in the Moore household. Arthur was all about his business and making as many shrewd business decisions as possible. John also found that Jeremiah was the one person he had misread. John thought Jeremiah longed for Madeline, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. As John got to know Jeremiah over the years, he found out that Senator Cosby really was as squeaky clean as he appeared on TV. It was no wonder his constituents loved him.
John chuckled to himself. He had always wondered how Sam came from Madeline and Arthur. Sam would do anything for those in need. Anything. She was nothing like Arthur; in fact, she was quite similar to Senator Cosby. Sam once told him she felt more of a kinship with Jeremiah than her own father. She respected Senator Cosby and truly tried to emulate him. John shook his head. Sam was more like a daughter to Senator Cosby than Bruce was a son. Sam’s blue eyes would always sparkle when she talked about Senator Cosby. John used to joke with her that he was worried about losing her to him. Sam would always respond, “eww he’s old enough to be my father.”
A knock on the door pulled John away from his thoughts. He walked to the door and looked through the peep hole. Jessica was standing in the hallway. John stepped away from the peep hole. He really didn’t understand what was going on inside of him. If he didn’t know better, he would think he was falling for her. John looked at the picture of Sam. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
Chapter 29
“Do you always go knocking on available guy’s doors late at night, Agent Hammerstein?” John asked. Jessica smiled. John felt his belly do a flip.
“Are you going to ask me in and find out, Private Investigator Fowler?” Jessica replied. John mocked a wince at the PI joke. Inside, his stomach was doing flips and flops. He stepped away from the door and gave a sweeping enter motion. Jessica smiled and walked through. John closed the door and turned around. Jessica had taken off her coat. John had always known she was attractive, but tonight for some reason she was stunning. She wasn’t wearing anything provoc
ative, or anything different than her usual FBI dress, it was like he was seeing her in a different light. John realized he hadn’t breathed and had just been staring.
“Sorry, Jess . . . ah Jessica. When I fly it does funny things to me.” John stammered.
“It’s fine John. Was everything all right with the car?” She asked.
John smiled a big smile, almost too big. Was he being creepy? What was wrong with him? It was like he never talked to a woman before! He had talked to Jessica thousands of times.
“I absolutely loved the satellite radio.” Jessica smiled but looked a little concerned. She stepped across to him and went to feel his head to see if he had a fever. John thought she was coming to kiss him. John couldn’t decide if that’s what he wanted or not. In what might be the most awkward moment in the history of man and woman, John pulled his head back while puckering his lips. John realized how foolish he looked. If he didn’t, the look on Jessica’s face should have told him. Jessica stood in front of him. She put her hands on her hips studying John. John was turning a funny color of red. She pointed to the couch and he obediently went and sat.
“John, I am going to speak, and I want you to shut your mouth and not say a word.” John nodded. “I went to feel your head because you were a funny color and your breathing seemed strange. Have you been drinking?” John shook his head no. Jessica sighed and sat down on the far end of the couch. She stared at John. She got up and sat down on the middle section beside John. She began to twirl her hair as she talked.
“John, have you been on a date since Sam died?” John looked down at the floor and shook his head no. Jessica stopped twirling her hair. She had a bemused smile on her face. She smacked his leg and John brought his head up in surprise. Jessica smiled at him.
“Let’s talk business,” she said. “I’m going to assume you didn’t call due to old habits, which is best.” John looked at her sharply. “Someone at Washington made a phone call today trying to get Bruce on the case and me and Chet off of it. Thanks to Trip, it failed.” John looked completely confused. Jessica held up her hand. “It’s a long story. The short of it is Senator Cosby is coming to meet with me, you, Chet, and Trip tomorrow to discuss this. For now, keep following old protocols. No calling in unless absolutely necessary.” John nodded. Jessica took both of John’s hands into hers. The look on her face softened. John spoke before she could.
“Jessica, I will solve this case. I’m not letting the two of you get fired, and as for that earlier . . . I’m. . .” Jessica interrupted him.
“John, I know you will. As for that other thing, you don’t fly well, you’re getting back out into the world for the first time in three years, and you’re experiencing emotions you haven’t felt during that time. You weren’t for sure what I was doing, and you weren’t for sure what you wanted me to do. It’s ok, I understand.” She smiled at him warmly, and John felt his stomach flip again. Then Jessica leaned in very slowly. Not to kiss him but John thought to whisper into his ear. John’s heart was racing. Jessica whispered in his ear.
“John, have no fear, if I was coming on to you, you would know it.” Jessica leaned back, smiled, and straightened the collar of his shirt. John swallowed. Jessica stood up and headed for the door.
“Don’t get up,” she said. “I’ll show myself out. I’ll see you in the morning.”
John watched the door shut and sat there for several minutes. He leaned back on the couch.
“Sam, I know you’re laughing at me right now.” John listened to the silence, not expecting an answer, but listening just the same. “I love you, Sam, but I’ve got to live my life. I hope you understand.” John leaned forward and put his head in his hands. He used to sit this way at home when a case would bother him, and Sam would put her arms around his shoulders. He swore he could feel them around him right now.
Chapter 30
John arrived at 9:00 the next morning at the NY FBI Building. As John entered the foxhole, he chuckled at the irony. If Bruce knew who was down here he would quite possibly explode. John looked across the room and saw Jessica leaning against the desk along the far wall. From her vantage point she could see who was entering. John could see the amusement on her face. For some reason John pictured a cat playing with a mouse before the cat killed the mouse. John was pretty sure he was the mouse in that scenario.
He tore his eyes off of Jessica and looked around the room. There was Chet, Trip, and of course the US senator himself, Jeremiah Cosby. Trip saw John and motioned him over. Trip gave an account of what had happened the day before with Bruce and Washington so John would be up to speed.
“senator, do you have any clue what is going on here?” John asked after Trip had finished.
“John, I have no idea what is going on, but I can tell you one thing. You’ve stepped in it. I’m not for sure what it is, but it stinks high to heaven.” Senator Cosby replied.
John loved talking with Senator Cosby. He had the look of a distinguished Virginian and he spoke with an accent that just made John feel at home. Senator Cosby also told it like it was. It was refreshing to talk to him about anything. John felt dirty to even have to ask the following question.
John started to speak, “Uh, senator, I have to ask . . .”
Senator Cosby interrupted. “My Boy, you wouldn’t be who you are if you didn’t ask, but let me assure you I would rather chew my own leg off than call and ask a favor for that good-for-nothing son of mine. No, John. I have nothing to do with this mess you’ve stumbled into.” The senator smiled warmly at John.
“I apologize for even having to ask it, sir,” said John.
“Think nothing of it, My Boy. I would say you’re on the right thinking track. It would take someone with my standing or higher to pull those strings. I shudder to think how far up the chain you might have to pull, if you get my drift.”
John did get his drift. There would be no paper trail to follow this one on either. This was put in play with backroom nudges and handshakes on golf courses stuff . . . the kind of stuff that John was terrible at. Someone with an awful lot of stroke had something to do with this.
“John,” the senator said. “I’m going to have my most trusted people keep their ear on the ground. I doubt they’ll hear anything worth telling, but who knows what someone, somewhere might say. I hate to dash, but I do have some meetings I need to attend, and I would like to have a private word with you if that’s all right?” John nodded and they walked out of the foxhole.
Chapter 31
Outside of the foxhole, Senator Cosby looked John up and down, as if trying to decide what to say.
“Sen . . . Jeremiah, we’ve known each other too long. Say what you have to say. Chances are I deserve it,” said John.
“All right then, My Boy,” began the senator. “First, I’m glad to see you back on your feet. You’re too good of an agent to be one of those private investigators.” John braced himself. If Jeremiah was going to butter him up, then there was a doozy of a criticism coming.
Jeremiah looked John right in the eye. “Boy, you’ve got some nerve with some of the things you said to Arthur and Madeline!”
John couldn’t help himself, “Would that be the part where I said to them the only reason both of your eyes are brown is that you’re both full of crap?”
Jeremiah nearly exploded. “Tarnation son!!! Now I’ll admit Arthur is about the biggest curmudgeon the world has ever seen, but that is no way to treat Madeline!! Furthermore! Why haven’t you opened up the case file on Sam!?!”
John looked down, ashamed. He looked back up with tears in his eyes, and Jeremiah’s face softened. Jeremiah spoke, his voice much softer.
“Now, now son, you have to ignore this old fool sometimes. I know why you haven’t opened the case . . . you’re not ready are you?” John nodded. Jeremiah looked at him with a slow smile coming to his face. “I guess I’m maddest at you for telling off Arthur and me not seeing it.”
John had a choked laugh. Jeremiah went on. “I bet he dr
ew up like a big ole bull; his nostrils flaring in and out.” Jeremiah chuckled and continued. “That good- for-nothing pompous windbag.” Now John was having a full-on laughing fit. Jeremiah joined in. After a second they stopped, and Jeremiah hugged John. Jeremiah stepped back and stuck his finger in John’s chest.
“Boy, it’s alright to miss her, but you have to live. You and I both know Sam wouldn’t want you carrying on like this. Now, what about that Jessica in there? I think she’s got it bad for you.” John smiled and so did Jeremiah.
“I’m sorry, Jeremiah. I should have called you, but you reminded me of Sam too much.” Jeremiah nodded. “Jeremiah, she thought of you as a father, you know that right?” Jeremiah’s eyes were moist with forming tears.
“I thought of her as a daughter, but more importantly I think of you as the son I never had,” Jeremiah stated. John roared with laughter, and Jeremiah joined in. “Now do me a favor, come upstairs and shake my hand in the hallway in front of his office so he’ll be mad for the next several days. That should buy you some more time.” John laughed, and clapped Jeremiah on the back as they headed to the elevator.
Chapter 32
Bruce watched out of the glass window to his office as his father and John shook hands. Bruce drank his coffee and chuckled to himself. He didn’t know which man he hated worse, John for trying to replace him as his father‘s son, or his father for trying to replace his son. The old man had no idea what all Bruce had done for him.