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Extreme Heat Warning: A Shallow End Gals Trilogy, Book Two

Page 25

by Graybosch, Vicki


  Todd asked, “So you sing huh?”

  Mathew Core walked into his living room to find three huge boxes filled with vibrant colored clothes. He looked at Lisa smiling, “You guys aren’t movin’ out on me are you?”

  Lisa chuckled, “Tonight is Jamie’s play, remember? We’re taking costumes over to the school so the prop people can get them ready.” She placed her hands on Mathew’s cheeks and gave him a big kiss. “You didn’t forget about tonight did you?” Mathew shook his head.

  Jamie walked in the room and ran over to hug Mathew’s waist. “Just in time Daddy. We need help moving these boxes.”

  Mathew smiled at Jamie and said, “You get the door, I’ll move ‘em now.” Jamie skipped to the door and held it open. Lisa told him they would be back within the hour.

  Pablo had his binoculars up, “Got a woman and a kid getting into an SUV, and Core loading boxes in the back. Core is waving goodbye to them. He’s back inside the house. Shut the door. Now what?”

  Todd said, “We have GPS on him. Let’s follow the woman and tag her car too if we can. This might be a girlfriend or something.”

  Thor had Albert drop him off at the Star Ship. He was good on his word and paid Albert a bonus for his trouble. When he was leaving the cab, Albert said, “I’m sorry I messed with you guys. Nawlens needs all the help we can get.”

  Thor nodded, “I appreciate the apology. We haven’t left town yet, so I might be seein’ you again.” With that he walked up to the door and entered his pass code. The air conditioning felt great, and he could hear Ray, Simon, and Jeanne talking in the basement. Thor grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and walked down.

  Thor sat in a chair near Ray and asked, “Anyone know where Roger and Paul are?”

  Simon answered without looking at him, “They are somewhere meeting with the Director. John Barry, too.”

  Thor asked, “Director of what?”

  Simon gave Thor a sideways glance, “FBI Director. I think they are at some hospital.” Just then Simon’s phone rang; he checked the caller ID and looked at Ray, “Here we go…this is CIA geek king. I’m going to pass this to you.” Thor’s eyes opened wide, and he pushed his chair back.

  Ray said, “Just put it on speaker. They are going to be screaming at all of us.”

  Simon answered and told the caller he was on speaker. Thor could tell from everything being said they were in the middle of some kind of huge geek emergency. The caller was getting instructions from Ray about some cloud hole, and Jeanne was typing so fast Thor couldn’t believe it. Simon was shouting for someone else to call on the second line because he had to explain what they had found so far. When that line rang, Thor heard Simon explaining Ray had stored all of the hard drives from the bombed computer lab in a data cloud, just before the bombing. Simon told the caller Ray had re-entered the data cloud to find someone making changes to CIA programming.

  The caller yelled from the speaker, “How did you make this pass through hole?” Ray screamed back that he had no idea. Maybe something happened electronically when the bomb went off.

  Based on the facial expressions of everyone, and the phrases being yelled from the phone, Thor felt like he was watching some kind of computer geek horror film. At one point Thor heard the caller exclaim, “Jesus! If this gets restored to the super-frame, we have no more security! WHO IS THIS ASSHOLE?”

  Tourey sat in the front seat with the driver. Bernard Jacobs sat in the back seat reading the daily news from the Picayune. Tourey knew better than to engage in conversation and tried instead to memorize the trip. After half an hour, the car pulled into a drive that twisted and turned for at least five minutes, exposing a beautiful brick mansion.

  The driver pulled up to the front stairs and turned the car off. He looked to the back seat and handed Bernard some keys. “You will find a car in the back garage and the house has been stocked for your needs. The Senator requested you be available for his call to you later this afternoon. He also said to remind you that your company will be arriving at eight.”

  Bernard said thank you and opened his car door. The driver removed Bernard’s bags from the trunk and asked Tourey, “Are you staying here or am I taking you back?”

  Tourey looked at Bernard, “I am expected back in the city for now.”

  Bernard nodded his head and said, “I think I am perfectly safe for the time being. Am I supposed to pay you or what? I don’t know how this works.”

  Tourey said, “Give me your phone number, and I will contact you regarding further services and payment. What’s happening tonight? Do you want me here?”

  Bernard checked a piece of paper from his wallet and copied a number to the back of a business card he handed Tourey. “I just got this number, so I don’t know it yet. There you go. Thank you. Tonight? No, tonight should be fine. Just a club meeting, you know, bunch of guys watching videos. Nothing dangerous.” If Tourey hadn’t known what slime Bernard was, he would have thought he was one of the most perfect gentlemen he had ever met.

  Tourey thanked Bernard for the number and told the driver to take him back to the city. On the ride back Tourey thought about George. He should be right on time for their meeting.

  Dusty walked into Mickey’s bar, took a stool at the far end, and smiled at Scotty who walked down to him. Scotty pulled the bar rag from his shoulder and wiped the area in front of Dusty. “Thought I’d seen the last of you today. Loved that move of yours, divin’ under the table when the shootin’ started.” Scotty was laughing so hard he nearly lost his balance.

  Dusty shook his head, “You know how I got messed up with them? After boozin’ with you half the night, I got a call from the FBI wanting me to use my brother’s boat and take two FBI agents to see Mambo, of all things!”

  Scotty straightened up, “Mambo? What the hell?”

  Dusty said, “No shit! And guess what Mambo had? Some woman had been left in the swamp to die! Then we found two more!”

  Scotty asked, “Two more what?”

  “Women!”

  “Is that why they shot that dude in here?”

  Dusty nodded, “Yeah, I think so. Damn. You wouldn’t believe all the shootin’ when we were at Mambo’s. Huge snakes everywhere tryin’ to get in the boats. It was hell man.” Dusty took a swig of his beer. “Those guys can shoot though. And you should see that FBI chick throw a knife! Cut a snake clean in half right next to this dude’s foot.”

  Scotty’s eyes were wide open, “She’s the one shot that guy in here right between the eyes, and he was moving. I’m thinkin’ best not mess with that broad. You know she slammed Tourey’s head flat on the bar yesterday? Fact, after she left Tourey went over to the juke box there and played “What kind of Woman is This,” Buddy Guy. Cracked me up. He even said he bet Buddy Guy met that broad before he sang that song! Tourey laughed but I think he was pissed when it happened.”

  Dusty was hoping the conversation would move to Tourey or Mathew Core. “Tourey Waknem?” Scotty nodded. Dusty continued, “What the hell would she be pissed at Tourey for? He don’t ever bother nobody.”

  Scotty leaned in closer and said, “I heard her ask him what he was doin’ sittin’ on the sidewalk for so long.”

  Dusty chuckled, “He’s studies people ya know? Told me he’s gonna write a book someday. Bet that pissed him off.”

  “Yeah, I heard him tell one of my regulars she pissed him off good. Fact, that guy paid me a hundred bucks to tell him what I know about Tourey. Poor Tourey, seems he’s drawin’ all kinds of attention he don’t need.”

  Dusty took a swig of his beer, “I don’t get it. What could you possibly say about Tourey that’s worth a hundred bucks?”

  Scotty laughed, “This dude is paranoid man. He’s owns this building, one across the street, probably a bunch more. Always nosin’ around. Hell, I don’t care. I’ll take his money. I told him Tourey is plenty smart but ain’t no cop. Some retired egghead that’s just flippin’ off society.”

  Dusty laughed, “That’s a
good description of Tourey. Just flippin’ it all off.”

  Roger decided the Director needed at least a brief outline of the events of the last two days for the computer problem to even make sense. Roger explained how Mathew Core had selected the doubles to take the place of Devon and Patterson and the associated murders resulting from that plan. He also showed the mind reading pages to the Director where Jason and Mathew kept referring to a Carl as their contact. The location and subsequent bombing of the computer lab, Ray’s memory of someone removing the flash drives from his car, and Jason Sims subsequent release from custody all pointed to some very powerful inside strings being pulled.

  Roger looked at the Director and said, “I believe Ellen protected the information Ray had stored in the data cloud by creating what we are calling a hole for Ray to re-enter. I also believe Jason Sims has resumed his activity in those programs since his release from custody. All of the data and the programs at Jason’s computer lab had direct access to our highest technology and security programs. The time stamp of the CIA super-frame being shut down and the new activity in the cloud are exactly the same. To the second. I am being told whatever changes are being made right now if restored to the mainframe will undoubtedly contain program alterations.”

  The Director was standing now. Roger put out his hand to help steady him, and the Director shooed him away. “I’m fine…just a little druggy…. what the hell! Are you saying that someone, maybe Sims, has shut down CIA super-frame in order to download changes? What are we doing about this?”

  John answered, “I have called the CIA and OSI and notified them of the hole Ray has been using and what we believe is happening. The CIA super techs are working with your tech team now to take this over and follow through. Nobody knows what kind of time frame we are on. All Jason has to do is finish and program a new restore.”

  The Director was pacing. Roger knew he needed a minute to think it through, so he refrained from adding more. The Director looked at Roger, “We don’t know who this Carl is for sure. Do we know where this Jason Sims is?”

  Roger shook his head, “We just found out someone let him go. His release was happening about the same time you got sick a couple of hours ago, sir.”

  The Director scowled, “Let’s call it what it is shall we? You mean when that bastard poisoned me. The CIA tech guys will do whatever needs to be done. John, can you assign OSI people to help locate Sims in case we have a CIA problem person getting in our way? I will call the Director of OSI and have everything available put on Thornton.” The Director looked at Roger, “How do you know who you can trust?”

  Roger answered, “Ellen. Just ask her. Director, can we discuss another matter quickly before we move on to the weapons?”

  The Director frowned and sat on the edge of the bed, “There’s more?”

  Roger began, “We believe we have identified a man in New Orleans, using the name of Bernard Jacobs, as William Patterson. We have evidence he has joined a pedophile club with branches around the United States. This club masquerades as a philanthropy group to support the arts and holds contests for children. We have been able, through an agent of John’s, to link this group to ten missing children and three child murders. I think John should bring you up to date with his most recent information.”

  John straightened his shoulders and said, “Other members of the New Orleans branch of this club include retired Senator Rolland Kenny, and a federal judge, Harold Williams. My man is posing as a security agent for Patterson and is actually riding with him now to what we believe to be his hiding spot in the countryside. There is going to be a meeting of this group tonight at this country house. We believe there will be planned abductions of more children shortly.”

  Everyone stopped talking and waited for the Director to indicate he was ready for more. The Director wiped his brow and looked at Paul, “I don’t hear you saying much. What are you thinking?”

  Paul pushed his chin forward in his nervous twitch and said, “I’m thinking you haven’t heard the worst of it yet and neither have we. Mathew Core believes he is untouchable. That worries me. Both Core and the Deputy Director want Roger off this case and out of New Orleans. That worries me. A sophisticated, well-funded pedophile group with national reach worries me. Your safety worries me. Ellen is giving us a lot of information in a short period of time, which worries me.” The Director nodded slowly.

  Roger stated, “At the risk of moving through all of this too fast, I want you to review the notes SSA Frank Mass of the New Orleans field office prepared on this weapons case. SSA Spelling, out of the Virginia office, was told by Deputy Director Thornton to warn Mathew Core we were going to arrest him. Core has been identified as the FBI’s broker in this weapons sting. Thornton told Mass I was not in the loop on the weapons case, and was getting in the way.”

  The Director’s eyebrows went up, “You didn’t know about the weapons case, did you? Hell, I didn’t know about it!” The Director put his reading glasses on and reviewed the notes. He shook his head and said, “Dear Lord what is going on? Have our guys even prepared for this sting to go bad? Why hasn’t Thornton called ATF or at least arranged for more of our guys to be there?”

  Just then Ellen was back sitting next to the Director on his bed. “Hi guys. Sorry to rush everyone, but we have some more videos.”

  They all nodded. Ellen froze everyone outside of the room and screens appeared on the wall. Ellen narrated as they watched, “Roger, Kim’s mom and her friends have cameras they are taking these shots with, so if you want to see something closer, just ask me. I am going to divide this screen into four sections, one for each angel camera. You will see them opening box lids, so you can see inside. You can stop this at any time.” Just then the bottom quarter of the screen showed a view of the camera running into a wall and sliding down past a light switch. Ellen cleared her throat, “Uh, that was Kim’s mom. She’s still having a few flying issues.” Paul and John glanced at each other. Roger let out a short chuckle. The Director was looking at Ellen with a questioning expression. Ellen said, “Angels have to learn how to fly.”

  They watched as they were shown an aerial view of the docks with close ups on the surrounding buildings and the ship in question. Then they started seeing views of weapons and ammunition. Ellen stopped the screen and said, “I will furnish you copies of these videos and a full manifest of items. I believe you will find thirty tons of weapons on the ship and sixty tons of weapons being moved to the building on the dock.”

  Ellen continued, “You will find these items on your manifests. Kytusha rockets, medium range 107 millimeter rockets, artillery shells, grenades, mortars. M4 Carbine with grenade launcher, Beta C-mag double drum magazines, A3 Tactical Carbines, 20 and 30 round magazines. Fully automatic and semi-automatic assault rifles, AR 15’s, M16’s, AK47’s, all new and boxed. You have tonnage of high capacity magazines and a variety of ammunition. In total, you are looking at slightly over ninety tons.”

  The room was deadly silent. The Director flipped through Frank Mass’s notes on the weapons. “I show that we expect there to be thirty tons, total. Which is huge.”

  Ellen said, “Ninety.”

  The Director was pointing to the paper, “It says thirty.”

  Ellen exhaled, “Ninety.” Roger cleared his throat. The Director looked at him and realized he was arguing with an angel.

  The Director asked Ellen, “How did they manage to get ninety tons of weapons into a harbor with the Coast Guard, Port Authority, and Navy located at the same port?”

  Ellen answered, “The entire operation has been an FBI protected mission, as far as anyone else with authority has been told. The weapons are being divided between the ship and the shore. Two deals will be happening, Mathew Core is involved in both. One is Friday, thirty tons of weapons in that deal. One is sooner. The Friday buyer is a representative of a Mexican drug cartel, trading cocaine for guns, and the other deal I don’t have any information on yet. I have to go now, but I will stay in touch. Direct
or, you may prepare a list of names for me so I can assist you in determining who you can trust. Whenever you need me, just ask.” Ellen smiled at them all, “Bye for now.”

  Just that fast she was gone, the screens were gone, and the people outside the window were moving naturally. Roger stood, stretched his back, and rolled his neck. He couldn’t stop thinking that any one of these problems would be considered urgent. He knew they had to deal with them all. Paul was tapping his pen on his knee. John was staring at the Director who had started pacing across the room again.

  The Director moved to the edge of the bed, and a nurse stuck her head in the door, “Sir, I am very sorry to interrupt you. I need to get a blood sample, these are being timed. You also have another visitor waiting, a Mr. Thornton?”

  The Director stuck his arm out. “Do it now, fast. Please tell Mr. Thornton I will see him in about fifteen minutes.”

  The nurse quickly drew the vile of blood, pressed a cotton ball to the Director’s wound, and left. They were all silent. No one wanted to rush the Director’s thinking. Finally the Director looked at John and said, “How much of this does OSI know?”

  John answered, “Nothing. My supervisor knows I hooked up with Roger’s team yesterday, to locate Devon. I have actually been otherwise assigned. I will tell you I believe my current OSI assignment and this case would have eventually merged.”

  The Director nodded and looked at Roger, “I plan to contact the Director of OSI and have them investigate and monitor Thornton. I think we need him to believe he is free to continue his manipulations if we are going to nail him.” Roger nodded. The Director looked at John, “Can we borrow your guy to help Roger and Paul with this club of pedophiles? He seems to already be in the loop, but this is more FBI than CIA or OSI.” John nodded his agreement. Then the Director looked at Roger, “You are the Behavioral Specialist here. What am I facing with Thornton?”

 

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