Once they were in the car, Banyon explained about the Effort’s plan, telling him all he knew about the hit squad. “So, we are going to have to protect each other for a few days. When we get to the office, I’ll get both of us guns.”
“And you’re sure the girls are safe?” Eric asked.
“They are safe, Wolf will watch over them, as well.” Banyon told him.
“I’m kind of glad to be away from them for a few days, but I want them back,” Eric suddenly said.
“Why do you say that?” Banyon cautiously asked.
“I told you,” Eric replied. “They have a different concept of open marriage. They like to share, especially me. I just need a little time to recover,” he remarked. “Loni has no idea what she is in for,” he added.
“What does that mean?” Banyon said with a little panic in his voice.
“Well, you know, they are going to be prancing around, on a private yacht, naked in the soothing, hot sun. They’ll also be sleeping in only two bunk beds on the rolling sea. I know you have seen them naked Colt. Sex oozes from their bodies. Loni is also beautiful and sexy. The Patel sisters will find her hard to resist.”
“There are only two bunk beds on the boat?” Banyon repeated in shock.
“Two small bunk beds,” Eric responded.
Banyon suddenly had a vision of oiled up, naked bodies, withering in the sunshine, and teasing each other. What will Loni do? He wondered. She was always impulsive and she certainly loved sex. Was it too farfetched for her to get involved? he wondered.
“I’d just like to watch,” Eric noted.
Banyon thought he would too, but didn’t say it. He decided to change the subject. “Eric, the employees of the Law firm are a bit unusual, so be prepared.”
“How so?”
“None of them are who they appear to be. They each have more than one talent. In fact, I’m going to have you interview several of them to find us some bodyguards. We are going to take them to Las Vegas with us for protection. How does that sound?”
“I just hope they all aren’t muscle bound and dumb.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
At precisely 8:00 A.M. central time, a car bomb exploded at the largest of the Laredo checkpoints. Thirty people were immediately killed, with several hundred more injured. Cars and trucks were thrown everywhere. The main office of the Border Patrol was completely flattened and six Border Patrol officers simply disappeared. The remaining officers were so shocked no one knew what to do. Finally, the remaining agents on duty closed all the remaining gates and moved vehicles to block where the gates had been destroyed. A call for help and a recall to all off-duty agents quickly ensued.
The bridge looked like it had been hit with a nuclear bomb. It appeared very unstable, causing thousands of pedestrians and drivers to begin running from the site, shouting and screaming as they fled. It was complete chaos. Emergency services vehicles couldn’t get near the bomb area, but the news helicopters found the scene in minutes. Werner Klotz roared with laughter as the station he was watching broke in with a news flash.
He had just been watching the President of the United States reassuring the American public that the events of yesterday were unrelated and about to be solved. Timing is everything, he chuckled to himself. This disaster made the President look like an idiot; just as Werner had planned it.
Shortly, a limousine pulled up to his door and he left for the private airport feeling like he was the master of the world.
Part Three
Coping
Chapter Twenty-Five
As Banyon and Eric entered the reception area at Dewey & Beatem, Banyon immediately knew something had changed. Mandy was not running back and forth in the large reception area. Instead, she was standing behind the counter and she looked very different to him. As he ambled to the desk he realized she was still dressed in light blue, but her attire was not a speedo swim suit.
“Good morning Colt,” she sweetly greeted him. “And who is this handsome young man with you,” she added as she pointed her slim arm and now painted fingernails at Eric. She gave him her broadest smile, but didn’t show her braces.
“Good morning Mandy,” Banyon replied sincerely. “This is Eric. He is a good friend of mine and will be visiting with me for the entire day. I hope the firm doesn’t have any rules against that?” he asked.
“Not for you Colt, you are an Alpha. You can do whatever you like to all of us,” she replied in a sexy voice as she spread her arms wide. She is tempting me, Banyon thought.
“Thanks for reminding me,” he laughed, as he remembered his first day in the office. It was only yesterday.
“Okay, I hope I get to spend some time with both of you today?” Mandy pleaded in a more confident voice then yesterday.
“I don’t know, we will be very busy,” Banyon answered her as he signed in to the log book allowing Eric to visit.
“Colt, what do you think of my new image?” Mandy asked as she raised her arms and slowly rotated on the platform where she stood. Eric was nearly panting and moved closer to the counter. She wiggled her taunt body as she turned.
Banyon was concerned over her change in image and he thought he knew why. She had been pretty worked up yesterday and he had rejected her. When he left the office, Mandy and Heather were headed for the showers. Heather had clearly given Mandy some training and instructions.
Today, she was dressed in a tiny mini-skirt. The tank-top was just like the one Heather had worn yesterday. She had on very high, stiletto-heeled, shoes. Large oval hoops hung from her ears. She looked very sexy and could easily pass for the ripe old age of seventeen.
“Eric, don’t go near her. She is a world-class pickpocket. She is also lightning fast at everything.” Banyon quickly turned to Eric and told him.
“Nice,” was all Eric said.
“And close your mouth,” Banyon added.
“Heather has been giving me some more lessons. She is a quite a genius. She is very good at making me feel better,” Mandy said as she batted her now long lashes at Banyon. “She is not as frustrating as you are.”
“How fast are you?” Eric blurted out.
“Well, Eric, I can’t tell you, but I will gladly show you,” she offered. Banyon could see she was preparing to leap over the counter like she had yesterday.
“Not now Mandy,” Banyon said as an order. “There are a couple of situations we have to deal with right now.”
“Maybe later then?” she replied as her posture slumped. She placed a dagger like stare at him, just like someone else he knew.
“We are headed up to my office right now. Please call Bart and tell him I need to see him immediately.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Ogre.” She pouted, but winked at Eric. Banyon missed her flirt as he was already headed for the door to the offices. Eric winked back and followed.
In the hallway, Eric asked Banyon a question. “You seem to know her a little too intimately for working here only one day?”
“She was the contract employee from yesterday. We spend most of the day together. I believe she is still a virgin,” he added to get him off track.
Soon, they were in Banyon’s office and he inserted his Bluetooth. He quickly understood that something had happened; there was too much chatter in the phone line. He picked up the remote to the TV on the far wall and pressed it. The screen filled with pictures of the devastation from the bomb in Laredo. Eric took a seat on the modern couch; he was glued to the reporting. Banyon quickly whispered. “Wolf, what’s happened?”
“Our friends have exploded a car bomb at the largest checkpoint on the Mexico and U.S. border. Many people died.”
“You’re sure they are responsible?”
“Werner Klotz made the contract on Slezeck’s orders,” Wolf replied. “Colt, you need to stop these people quickly. They are planning even more devastating disasters.”
“I’m putting together my plan as we speak.” Banyon then sat down and fired up his computer.
The screen had just come online, when Bart blew into the office. Today, he looked like an old college professor with a tweet jacket, complete with patches on the sleeves and a frizz of hair that was totally unkempt. He looked at Eric for a few seconds and then proceeded to the front of Banyon’s desk.
“A client, I hope,” he opened as he thumbed towards Eric.
“He is one of my team,” Banyon replied.
“The President is looking for you,” Bart quickly said. “The White House has already called. I have been told to offer you any and all of our services,” Bart rubbed his hands together thinking of the huge billings he would soon receive.
“Well, we are certainly going to need some.” Banyon told the managing partner. “First, I’m going to need two guns. One for me and one for Eric over there,” Banyon started without preamble.
Bart stepped forward and shook his hands at the desk. There was a puff of smoked and two .45 magnums appeared on the desk. A second puff of smoke followed and a box of ammunition joined the guns.
“Will these do?”
Unimpressed by the trick, Banyon continued. “Next, I need two of your best surveillance people. They will need to record and get audio of a meeting. It needs to be done clandestinely. There can be no screw-ups. They will have a second, more dangerous mission when they finish. It needs to be done this morning.”
“A surveillance team will be in your office within the hour,” he calmly replied.
“I’m also going to need two bodyguards. They will need to travel. They will be gone with me and Eric for several days. Their assignment will be dangerous. They will need to be armed for protection.”
“I have several for you to choose from,” he answered.
“Eric will do the interviews,” Banyon noted.
“I will set them up at half-hour intervals, starting in at eight-thirty.”
“I also need Timmy to do some hacking and eavesdropping. It may not be strictly legal as well,” Banyon said as he looked him straight in the eye.
Bart pressed his Bluetooth and spoke quickly. “Timmy, get your scrawny ass to Colt’s office. You have five minutes before I check the showers.”
Banyon gave him a questioning look, “What?”
“Heather has already had her first appointment today. Timmy likes to go and watch her shower. She constantly flirts with him and then slams the door.” Bart said as an explanation and then shrugged.
Banyon felt a little sorry for Timmy, he was clearly overmatched. “Finally, I have an assignment for you Bart. But I warn you…it could be very dangerous.”
“What do I have to do?”
“I want you to impersonate someone.”
“Tell me who. I can be ready by eleven o’clock.”
“You’ll need to be ready by nine o’clock. And also be ready to travel locally.”
“I’ll be here by nine,” Bart agreed. “So, who am I impersonating?”
Then Banyon told him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Meanwhile, Paul Slezeck entered his office and began setting the next stage of his plan in motion. He couldn’t use Werner Klotz for this part because Klotz was going to be the victim. He opened the folder he had carried into the President’s office and began extracting pictures of Marlene Moore and Werner Klotz together. Slezeck had several people take the photos over several months. They, of course, knew each other as he was a lobbyist and she was part of the administration. Several photos showed her, along with Klotz, whispering into each other’s ear at parties and socials. The most damaging photos were of her and Klotz, sitting on a bench in a park. The series of photos showed her passing a folder to him.
It was actually a list of restaurants from her home state that Klotz had requested, but it looked like sensitive material in the photos. Slezeck then attached a phone list of the calls between them. Most of the calls were from Klotz, as Slezeck had requested little bits of information from her through him. Klotz had no idea that Slezeck was using him to create his own demise. But to anyone studying the material, it looked like he and Marlene were planning something.
When he had gone to the Presidents’ office earlier in the day, he realized the President would not sign the executive order. He wasn’t under enough stress yet. But Slezeck thought he would be ready when he found out that the person behind the disasters was Klotz and he was working with Marlene Moore. Having Marlene in the room was unexpected bad luck. Slezeck had expected the President to sign the receipt for the pictures in front of him. Now he had to set the trap in a different way.
Slezeck deluded himself into thinking Marlene Moore was his most powerful enemy. The FBI she controlled had a hand in the takedown of several Homeland Security people. They were all Effort members. He wanted to take revenge. He also wanted to send the FBI into chaos. He could then step in to rescue the agency. He wanted the FBI to be another agency under his control. He felt he could force the President to make the decision.
He had turned the corner mentally; he believed that it was Homeland Security versus the world. He believed the employees of Homeland Security were his private army and he could fight anybody for control of America. He had lost his sanity, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.
He included the damaging evidence for Werner Klotz, as well as Marlene’s evidence, into a top secret, President’s eyes only envelope. He added one more thing.
He had personally written a letter to the President about his “findings”. He pointed out that he could not discuss his findings with him at the morning meeting since Marlene was in the room. He added that Homeland Security could handle the takedown of Klotz and Marlene Moore — if the President desired. He also wrote that he would come by at 2:00 P.M. to discuss the plan after it was signed. He requested a signature at the bottom of the memo, to confirm receipt of the documents. He suggested the President return the signed receipt, to his assistant, who would personally delivery the packet. He would wait for the receipt.
It was, however, a ruse. The paper had been specially treated with a chemical compound which had been invented in a clandestine lab of Homeland Security. The special compound hid two addition sentences written, just above where the President would place his signature. The two sentences were:
Although I find it repugnant to terminate the lives of Americans, we at Homeland Security serve the President. Your signature will activate the process of eliminating Werner Klotz and Marlene Moore.
The President would not see the sentences, but five minutes after he activated the chemical compound, by signing the receipt with his pen, the words would appear on the paper. The compound would then dissipate into the air without a trace. The letter would be an executive termination order from the President of the United States. It would be in Slezeck’s hands, minutes later, thus giving him the leverage he needed.
Slezeck knew no forensics science had yet been invented to detect any trace of the compound. To anyone examining the paper, it would appear to be genuine. The document would give him what he needed.
Slezeck would immediately have Marlene and Werner terminated. He had people watching them already. He knew where they were at all times. He would then attend the afternoon meeting with the President. By that time, the last of Klotz’s disasters would be completed and one of the President’s biggest supporters would be dead. His stress level would be high enough for the President to be manipulated — especially when Slezeck showed him the signed termination letter.
It would be pure blackmail, to be sure, but Slezeck would get the President to sign the Homeland Security executive order in exchange for his destroying the letter. Nothing could stop Slezeck then.
Slezeck dreamed Homeland Security would become the true protector of the American people, as it was designed to be. Slezeck would close the borders, send forays into Mexico, and other countries to cut off the head of many cartel snakes. Illegal immigrants would be rounded up and the road to the original plan of the Third Reich would be paved. So what if there was a little collateral damage. W
ith strength came some suffering, he thought. In addition, he would never destroy the executive order signed by the President. He believed he might need it again someday.
He then thought about Colton Banyon. Slezeck knew Banyon had been instrument in the demise of many of his colleagues at the Effort. He didn’t know how, but Banyon always seemed to have information about them. Slezeck had decided some time ago, Banyon too, must go. The chaos Slezeck was creating was a perfect vehicle.
He had Werner Klotz hire a six-man hit team from Mexico. They would land in Chicago and eliminate Banyon’s entire team today. Hopefully they would do it before his meeting with the President. Banyon himself was under surveillance. Slezeck knew he was currently at the Law Firm of Dewey & Beatem.
Slezeck called in one of his best assistants. The young man appeared before his desk within minutes.
“Take this ultra-secret package to the President immediately,” Slezeck ordered.
“Yes, sir,” the eager man said.
“And stand at his desk until he signs the receipt in the envelope. Bring it back to me immediately. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” the man replied.
“You can’t leave the office until he signs the receipt. When he does sign it, immediately put it in this additional envelope and seal it. Bring it back to me as quickly as possible,” Slezeck demanded.
“Doesn’t that break protocol?” the assistant pointed out. It was not the way things were done at the White House.
“Let’s put it this way,” Slezeck leered. “Either get him to sign it, or don’t bother to come back here.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Bart had just left the office when Timmy came jogging in. He didn’t even look at Eric and proceeded to the front of Banyon’s desk. “You called, oh great one,” he then bowed with his arms extended out.
A Dubious Position (A Colton Banyon Mystery Book 7) Page 10