The Killing Grounds

by Jack Ford

  ‘Come on, then, let’s get on with this,’ said Beau. ‘We need to make sure we get back to the hospital by eleven. Though when John spoke to them this morning they assured him they wouldn’t start to wake Jackson up until you get there.’

  ‘Beau!’

  A rotund woman, dyed blonde hair and large blue eyes, wearing too much make-up and an expensive dress a size too small, came running up to the car.

  Although her eyes were youthful, Cooper guessed she was around sixty, and had treated herself to a hell of a lot of cosmetic surgery… A hell of a lot. She had a warm demeanour. Clearly happy to see Beau.

  ‘Lucy, how are you? It’s good to see you. This is my nephew, Thomas. Thomas this is Bill’s wife, Lucy.’

  She waved at Cooper across the roof of the sedan as he got out. Her Northern Virginian accent was velvety in tone. ‘Nice to meet you, Thomas. Though I think I’ve met you before. Don’t you remember, Beau, when we had that summer party outside? Years ago it was. But the whole thing was a disaster. The caterers didn’t show up. The lobster was off. And then it rained buckets. We all thought Bill was going to pass out with rage. But I remember you had Thomas with you. I think you must’ve been about eight at the time. You were a sad little thing. Think it must have been just after your momma died. But look at you now. My, my, how you’ve grown.’

  A glint came into Lucy’s eyes as she licked her overglossed lips and fluttered her thick, extended eyelashes at Cooper. ‘If you’re ever looking for a job, Thomas, there’s always one here. Never a shortage of work for a big, tall, handsome, strong man like you. Haven’t seen muscles like that for a long time.’

  Lucy’s trill laughter made Cooper look away. Could feel himself flush with embarrassment. As usual, he felt uncomfortable with any attention on him.

  ‘Well I appreciate that, ma’am, thank you.’

  Beau, who seemed to be amused at Cooper’s, discomfort offered a suggestion. ‘Perhaps you could invite Cooper to the party next month, Lucy. I’m sure he’d love to come.’

  Lucy patted her coiffed hair. Pouted her lips provocatively, and actually purred.

  ‘What a good idea, Beau. I most certainly will. Thomas, I’ll let your uncle have all the details nearer the time… Now, if you two handsome gentlemen will excuse me, I’ve got an appointment to keep. And Thomas, I look forward to seeing you soon, it’ll be nice to get a bit more… acquainted.’

  Blowing a kiss, Lucy walked away, wiggling her hips in an exaggerated manner. Then as an afterthought she called back, ‘Oh, sorry, I forgot to say, Bill’s in the far field, by the large vineyard. But mind, he’s in a foul mood.’

  *

  By the time Beau and Cooper had got to the far field, the sound of gunfire was loud and apparent.

  ‘He’ll be practising on his shooting range,’ said Beau. ‘The man loves his guns.’

  ‘You’ve known him for a long time I take it.’

  Beau smiled. ‘Yeah, we go back years. Before you were born. I did my basic training with him and although we stayed friends, professionally we went our separate ways. He joined the CIA and went on to have a real successful career, and as you know…’ Beau stopped to look at Cooper to say the rest. A regretful look in his eye. ‘And as you know all too well Coop, I stayed in the Navy… How come you’re not smoking by the way? You quit?’

  Cooper pulled up the sleeve of his sweater, revealing a large nicotine patch. ‘I got this.’

  ‘You got one on the other arm?’

  ‘Yup, and on both my thighs.’

  ‘And what about the pills? There’s no patch for them.’

  Cooper shook his head and tried not to let the agitation show in his voice. ‘You been talking to John?’

  ‘I don’t need to. I can see it. Just like the last time.’

  ‘Drop it, okay?’

  ‘Beau! Beau! Goddamn it man, have you gone deaf?’

  Bill Travis stood at the fence post of the far field, waving to Cooper and Beau. Like his wife, Lucy, Bill was small and rotund. But unlike his wife, the warmth was absent.

  Beau picked up his pace slightly, talking as he walked. ‘Bill, this is my nephew, Thomas, I was telling you about on the phone this morning.’

  Travis sniffed, breaking open the barrel of the shotgun he was holding. He pushed back his surprisingly thick brown hair from his face.

  ‘And that’s what I don’t understand. Why the hell you were telling me about him, when I already know all about him, already met him? We spoke last week about him, and the week before, and no doubt the week before that. Your uncle seems to be rather proud of you, Thomas, bores me senseless with all the stories. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. That monastery isn’t good for you, Beau. Not as sharp as you used to be because you’ve got nothing else to think about except Thomas and God. I bet the Goddamn place doesn’t even have a shooting range. A man has to let his frustrations out somehow.’

  Beau shook his head, amused. ‘That’s what prayers are for, Bill. You’ve never heard of the power of prayer?’

  ‘Hogwash, Beau. What will prayer do for you when there’s a group of armed fanatics trying to gun down your front door?’

  ‘That happens a lot here in Middleburg, Northern Virginia, does it?’

  Bill peered at Beau from underneath his overgrown eyebrows. ‘You being funny with me, Beau? I just don’t see the point in this country having a constitution which says we have the right to bear arms but nobody owns a goddamn gun anymore.’

  Beau laughed. ‘Try telling that to the gun control groups.’

  ‘And that’s exactly my point… You own any guns, Thomas?’

  Cooper nodded. ‘I do sir. Thirty-six in total. Mainly high powered precision weapons. To name but a few I’ve got four or five auto-loading centerfire rifles, a couple of pump action shotguns – the Remington 870 wingmaster being my favorite. I’ve also got the Remington 1911 handgun, which I’m fond of as well. I’ve got a couple of Knight muzzle loaders, then there’s the Colt M203 Grenade Launcher which is a lightweight, single-shot, breech-loaded 40mm weapon, and of course the Colt 9mm Submachine Gun, which every household should have.’

  A silence fell until Bill Travis simply said, ‘Right.’

  *

  They followed Bill down to the field where a couple of rifles and several rounds of ammunition sat on a small table.

  Bill, picking up a Colt action rifle, passed it to Cooper.

  He said, ‘Let’s see what you’ve got, Thomas.’

  And without saying anything, Cooper took the safety glasses and ear protectors from the table. He put them on.

  Glanced at the round red steel target around 300 yards away.

  Looked round and saw the wind agitating the leaves on the tree.

  Estimated the wind speed would be anywhere between 5 and 8 mph.

  Took into account the wind direction.

  Saw it was coming from twelve o’clock.

  Knew he wouldn’t have to compensate for any drift coming from the left or right.

  And adjusting the safety glasses slightly he looked down the spotting scope.

  Waited for the right moment.

  Pulled the trigger…

  … Hit and blew out the center of the target with a single bullet.

  He placed the rifle along with the protectors and glasses back on the table. He looked at Bill. ‘So, will you help me?’

  Pulling out from his pocket the photo he’d printed from Google Images, Cooper passed it to Travis. ‘Can you tell me if this is Simon Ballard?’

  With only a hint of a pause, Bill said, ‘That’s him alright.’

  ‘What do you know about him?’

  ‘I guess Beau’s told you that I worked in the CIA’s counter-terrorism division for several years, mainly here in the states. Monitoring terror cells, making sure we were ready to act if need be. Before I retired we were watching a terror cell group who were in contact with, and helped to fund, a group in Nigeria which went on to officially become the Boko Haram in
2002. Anyhow, we suspected this cell group we were watching was being run by Simon Ballard, who was wanted for murder, as well as conspiracy to murder US nationals and US military personnel. Conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and providing material support to terrorist organizations. But believe me, Thomas, the list goes on. Ballard went underground for a while but then we got some HI on where Ballard was hiding out, and if I remember rightly, it was somewhere in Kentucky. Anyway, we were all set up to go, everything was ready down to the smallest detail. Everyone in our unit was eager to get Ballard. The stuff he did, which I can’t go into, well the truth is, it was clear he enjoyed it. The man was a sadist. Nasty piece of work. Anyhow, right at the last minute, the raid was called off.’

  ‘When was this?’

  ‘September 11, 2001.’

  Cooper nodded respectfully, not interrupting Bill.

  ‘So because of the 9/11 attacks, we naturally concentrated on what was happening right there and then, and focused on searching out who was behind the atrocities. But when we did go back to monitor Ballard, we’d lost track of him. The only bit of information we had came from another division of intelligence, who told us he’d left the country. And there’s been nothing more since. Not that I knew of anyway. But when Beau said you were driving up this morning, I did make a few calls to the guys I know who are still working in CT, and they said the same. No sign. No word. Nothing since 2001. Sorry if I couldn’t be of any more help.’

  Cooper breathed out heavily. Realized he’d been holding his breath throughout most of Bill’s conversation. ‘No, sir, you’ve been amazingly helpful. Thank you.’

  Travis nodded. ‘Well, I’m pleased I could’ve been of assistance… It’d be nice to see you up here again, Thomas. Anytime. I like a man who knows his guns. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a man hit the target like that… though perhaps you just got lucky.’ ’

  Cooper grinned. Modestly he said, ‘Maybe I did, sir.’

  Beau looked at his watch. ‘Bill, listen, I owe you, but we’ve got to get back to DC as soon as possible. I’ll call you later, fill you in.’

  Cooper shook Bill’s hand. Turned to go but stopped at the fence. ‘Can I ask you something, Bill?’

  Bill looked intrigued. ‘Sure.’

  ‘Do the CIA headquarters in Virginia have a moose in their reception?’

  Travis stared at Cooper and then he smiled and laughed. ‘I take it you’re friends with Rosedale.’

  85

  Sitting two blocks away from the hospital, Cooper hung his arm out the open window, drumming his fingers on the outside of the door. His phone rang. It was the call he’d been waiting for. He stepped out of the car quickly, flicking the green button on his cell. ‘Hey, Rosedale, what’s happening?’

  The line was bad and he found he had to put his finger in his ear to hear what was being said.

  ‘Thomas, listen, I’ve found the plane.’

  ‘That’s great! I can’t hear you real well, so save telling me everything until I see you. Look, if all goes well with Jackson I can get a flight out real soon. He managed to breathe on his own and now they’re going to bring him round properly today. They weren’t sure at first but all indications show it just might be alright.’

  There was a pause. ‘That’s great Thomas, but what about you, are you okay?’

  ‘The truth? I dunno.’

  ‘I guess from you, Thomas, that’s the best we can hope for… I spoke to Maddie, by the way, she said you’d been round.’

  Shame swept over him. ‘Yeah, though I think I’ve got a lot more work to do before I even come close to making it alright.’

  ‘Just be careful with her Thomas. Understand?’

  Too tired. Too high and with too many miles between them to bother getting into a fight, Cooper ignored the comment. ‘I hear you.’

  ‘Okay. And Thomas, keep me posted when you’re going to arrive… I’ve been fielding Granger’s calls by the way.’

  ‘Me too. I checked in with Levi quickly, all’s okay back at the office but apparently he’s steaming. Haven’t even bothered listening to the voicemails he left this afternoon. I’m surprised my cell isn’t in meltdown by now.’

  ‘I think he enjoys the drama of it all,’ said Rosedale. ‘Anyway, you’re breaking up. Have a good flight, and I’ll see you on the other side.’

  *

  After Cooper had put down the phone to Rosedale, he decided to dial the office of Bradadt Mining Inspection Company based in Woodstown, a borough in Salem County, New Jersey. He wanted to speak to the person who audited Condor Atlantic Mines and certified them conflict free.

  It took over twenty rings for the curt operator to answer the phone.

  ‘Bradadt Mining, can I help you?’

  ‘Hi, I was hoping you could put me through to Dr. Foster, or even to Dr. Foster’s office if he’s not about.’

  The curt operator said, ‘I’m sorry, sir, that won’t be possible.’

  ‘Has he left the company?’

  There was a second’s delay before she answered the question. ‘I’m sorry sir, Dr. Foster died last month.’

  86

  ‘Hey Jackson, it’s me… You gave me one hell of a fright back there. Stupid question, but how you feeling buddy?’ Cooper sat on the hard hospital bed of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, smiling at Jackson who slowly opened his eyes.

  Jackson glanced at Cooper. Moved his gaze to Beau and John, who stood by nervously. He brought his gaze back to Cooper and wiped his dry mouth sleepily, and even though the drugs inside his body still had a sedative effect, Jackson’s face beamed. He spoke with a croak in his voice and a sore throat from the tube he’d had down it.

  ‘Coop! Hey Coop, man, what you doing here?’

  ‘Coming to see you, and find out what’s going on.’

  With great effort, Jackson squeezed Cooper’s hand. ‘You came the whole way back from the DRC to see me? You shouldn’t have done, but I’m glad you did. I missed you man.’

  Cooper stared at Jackson. Wished he could figure out what was going on in his mind. ‘I missed you too, but next time if you want to see me, maybe just ask rather than go to this extent.’

  Jackson laughed. Then coughed. ‘You know you’re not looking too good yourself, maybe it should be you instead of me who’s lying here.’

  ‘The way I feel right now, that doesn’t seem like a bad idea.’

  Jackson’s forehead furrowed. ‘Why, what’s going on…? Oh wait, sorry Coop… Hey Dad, hey Beau.’

  Jackson’s greeting to Beau and Woods acted like a starter gun for them. Previously not moving and acting like they were fastened to the floor, the words catapulted them both forward to embrace Jackson.

  Cooper watched Woods close his eyes as he held Jackson, looking like he was trying to steady himself from the overwhelming emotions he’d had to suppress over the past week or so.

  Quietly Woods said, ‘Jackson, if I’m doing something wrong, you gotta tell me. If I’m letting you down in anyway, let me know. If you need to spend more time with me, I can sort something out, shuffle things around. Hell, if you want me to walk away from my job, I will, if it means you staying with me. I can’t lose you, Jackson. I love you. You hear that? I love you.’

  Jackson gently pulled away from the embrace. ‘Dad, please. It’s not you and it’s certainly nothing you’ve done. It just happens. The black dog just appears; a cloud comes over me. You know that.’

  Woods’s words were full of emotional anger. ‘And I hate it. I hate that goddamn cloud which stops over your head. I just want it to keep on going, I don’t understand why it has to be you. You don’t deserve it.’

  ‘And neither do you.’

  ‘Is it so difficult to come and talk to me? Because even if you think I don’t understand, at least I can get you help before it happens.’

  ‘Dad it doesn’t work that way, it kind of… locks me in. Before I realize the cloud has descended it’s already there. And then even if I wan
ted to talk, I can’t. But I’ll try, Dad. Next time I promise I’ll try… Hi Beau. They let you out then?’

  Beau chuckled. ‘It’s a monastery, not a prison… Good to see a smile on your face, Jackson. I knew Cooper here would be your tonic.’

  Sleepily, Jackson smiled. ‘It’s good to see all of you… and I’m sorry, everyone.’

  A round mix of:

  You don’t have to be sorry.

  Don’t even say that.

  Sorry doesn’t even come into it.

  Cooper said, ‘Would anyone mind if I had a word with Jackson on my own?’

  John Woods pulled Beau’s arm, who was wanting to sit down on the recliner chair in the corner. ‘Come on, Beau, let’s go and have our own chat, put the world to rights.’

  ‘Not with your policies we won’t.’

  John rolled his eyes. A twitch of a smile on his lips. ‘That’s not funny, not even one little bit. But it was good… I like that.’

  *

  Cooper waited for Beau and John to leave before speaking to Jackson.

  ‘Now, buddy, now we’re on our own, I want to know if you’re really okay. I’m supposed to be flying back to the DRC, but I won’t if you need me.’

  ‘No, Coop, there’s no way you’re going to stay around for me. Go.’

  Cooper stretched across the bed, flicking through Jackson’s notes. ‘Why did you do it? What was it that made this time worse?’

  Jackson touched the thick raised scar on his forehead. ‘You don’t make it easy for me do you, Coop? I don’t want to sound like I’m feeling sorry for myself.’

  ‘I won’t think that. Say what you got to.’

  ‘Okay, if you’re sure. Mixed in with the depression… I don’t really have a place… ah, you see, even I can hear my own self-pity.’

  ‘Just go on, Jackson, I want to hear this.’

  ‘Before the accident, everything was planned, laid out, I knew what I wanted to do.’

  ‘An aerospace engineer. Even when you were a kid, I remembered you wanted to be that.’

  ‘Exactly, but after what happened in Kenya, that all was cut dead, and with the combination of the partial paralysis and the effect the injury has on my memory, it wasn’t even possible to get some sort of desk job at NASA. And that was a blow, I found it real tough. And with Dad going from strength to strength and then getting the number one job I felt even more displaced… and then of course there was you.’