“That I honestly cannot say but considering what almost happened to James York that is a strong possibility.”
I have a feeling I know where my brother’s line of question and thought process is going. “Walter we need to get you out of here and to Los Angeles where we, as a family, can protect you while you continues to give us the details leading up to and after November 22, 1963.” I insisted .
CHAPTER SEVEN
After a few seconds and my brother didn’t say anything, I decided to take the initiative. What we had learned from Walter and what more he could tell us was valuable intelligence.
“Walter, go pack a bag for a few days. Thomas, call the airport, file a flight plan back to LA and have the plane fueled and ready to go in an hour. Ladies, go back to the motel, check us out. We’ll meet you at the plane.”
“Brother, I’ve never seen or heard you being so forceful in my life.”
“I agree with my husband. Let’s go, Nancy.”
The only one who hasn’t spoken or moved was Walter. I glared at him.
“Your life is in danger. We can protect you better back home than here. You have to trust me.”
Walter stood and headed upstairs at the same time the wives pulled out of the driveway. He was back in a few minutes with a suitcase and put the box in then closed the luggage. I grabbed the note pad and recorder and put them in my bag then the three of us headed out to Thomas’ rental.
During the drive to the airport I wondered if I had done the right thing? Insisting Walter flee his home of the last eighteen years had to be a hard thing to do.
“Richard, do you mind if we continue discussing the assassination but more specifically the event after we separated at the airport?”
I took out the recorder, set the machine to record then handed the equipment to him.
“Before we went our separate ways at the airport, we all agreed that every year in the November 15 edition of The New York Times we would put an ad in the personal section. The message would say, in my case ‘Walter call home’. This year James and I were the only ads left except his said, ‘James cannot call home’. When I saw that I knew he was in trouble, so I wrote to Miss Dean in England. The next day I sent the evidence to you, Richard.”
“Which brought us here. Did you expect us to come?”
“I wasn’t sure. To be honest, other than you, I didn’t know who else I could trust.”
“That was risk on your part but I’m glad you did,” I said.
“On to a more important point, Junior, smart move on your part having Walter come back with us now and not later.”
“Richard, can you explain to me why Thomas and June call you Junior?”
“Our father, Thomas, and I share the same birthdate. I was born first, so I got our father’s first name. And that’s why they call me Junior.”
“That makes sense, I guess. I have a favor. When we get to the airport I need to call the sheriff and let him know I will be out of town for a few days.”
“That could be a grave mistake. If the people after you go speak with Sheriff, they could get directions to your house but not finding you they might go after the man. When we get to the plane, I’ll have my wife call her brother and have him send a couple of agents to keep an eye on your place. Anyone who shows up without a valid reason they can arrest them.”
“How can you do that?”
“Her brother is FBI Special Agent John Wentworth. He’s in the Los Angeles office.”
“Do you think he will help?”
“Yes. We have helped the bureau out many times and they’ve assisted us on occasion as well. Our association with them goes back to 1940,” Thomas explained.
“Then I will trust your judgment.”
During the rest of the drive to the airport none of us spoke. I was thinking about what Walter still had to tell us.
There are several parts that I’m extremely interested in. How did the rifle Walter use get into the building? Oswald was seen carrying a long paper bag which he claimed were curtain rods. The bureau and Dallas Police had found evidence the rifle had been in the bag and he even said so during questioning.
How did they get Oswald out of the building and where did they take him? According to the Warren Report he had been seen exiting the board house where he stayed. He then shot and killed Officer Tibbetts before going to the movie theater where he was taken into custody. Did Oswald know he was going to be the fall guy for the assassination of the president? How did Walter get into the depository without being spotted? From there to were Oswald lived Walter was seen by several people, all who testified to that fact.
The more I think about this the more I’m convinced the people behind the murder are not only well funded but had some of the best intelligence in the country, if not the world.
At the airport we drove over to the hanger and were met by one of the car rental people. After getting our bags out I returned the keys to him then followed Thomas with Walter beside me to the plane. My wife and June came over.
“Everything is all set. Full tanks, food and the flight plan filed,” June said.
“Good.”
“Nancy, before we take off can you call your brother. Ask him to send a couple of agents to Walter’s house in case unknown people show up?”
“Way ahead of you. They will be coming out of the Billings, Montana satellite office. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t pass them on the way here.”
“Thank you. I have no idea how I’m ever going to be able to repay all of you,” Walter said.
“Just keep answering our questions. Now, did either of you ladies think to call Edward to tell him we’re coming home with a guest?” Thomas inquired.
“I did, you big oaf. Let’s get in the air before we’re found out having spirited Walter away.”
Thirty minutes later, from Thomas, I learned we were at our cruising altitude.
“Flying time will be closer to three hours because we have to go around a storm.”
“Thanks,” I replied.
Thomas returned to the cockpit.
“Richard, do you want to continue to ask me questions? I don’t mind.”
“Sure. Let’s pick up where we left off in the car. You were talking about the training and watching the movies of Oswald. Let’s move a head a little bit to when you found out who the target was. How did you feel when you were told you were going to assassinate the president?”
“I did not like the idea of murdering one of the most powerful and well-liked men in the world. If I did not continue with the mission I would have been killed and these people who hired us would have find another shooter.”
“Were you threatened at all to continue?” Nancy asked.
“Not exactly. I was simply reminded about the Phoenix Program and my participation.”
“Wait a second. I was lecturing my students about them the other day. Between 1965 and 1972 the people in the program neutralized over eighty-one thousand suspected Viet Cong, informants and supporters. You served there in 1963, two years before they started,” I told him and Nancy.
“You’re correct but there was a similar program which started before that year and I saw the results. As a matter of fact, the day your brother rescued me Victor Charlie thought we had slaughtered an entire village up the valley from where they found us. We had seen the carnage and were heading back to our base when they attacked. My commanding officer was planning to report what had happened. Later, I learned my squad had been murdered either on the streets of Danang or in their beds. The people who hired me and the others reminded me of that. So yes, I was threatened.”
“I know this was discussed earlier but now I understand why you continued with the mission. Do you regret killing the president?”
“I do. This country might be a great deal better off he had lived. Because of what I did I have a pang of guilt.”
“Junior, put everything away. We have a major problem and I can’t risk things flying around the cabin.”<
br />
“Richard, what’s wrong?” Nancy looked at me with fear in her eyes.
“I have no idea but let’s do what my brother says. I’m going up front to find out.”
“Could those people have found me?”
I didn’t want to tell him that he is right, but I’ll bet he is. Making my way to the cockpit I heard my brother talking to someone over the radio.
“Colorado Springs informed me they are tracking a plane on the same flight path as us, and approaching us fast.”
“What can they do to help us?”
“Wait, brother. Go ahead, Colorado Springs.”
“Roger that, we’ll be on the lookout for them,” my brother said into the mike, then he turned to me. “A flight of fighters out of Edwards are on an intercept course with us to deal with the approaching plane. Turns out Special Agent Wentworth is monitoring our flight and had the planes sent to help. I’m guessing he didn’t say who we are carrying.”
“Thanks. I’ll go back and tell Nancy and Walter.”
Not waiting for a reply, I went back to my seat and fastened the seatbelt.
“I am almost a hundred percent sure you are right, Walter. They’ve found us. If we don’t get help and fast, we are probably going to be shot down.”
“Hang on back there, we’re about to go for a really rough ride,” my brother called back to us.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth then our plane went into a steep dive. Looking out the window I saw we were closing in on the ground very quickly. What I thought might have been gunfire told me the other plane was firing on us. At least I didn’t hear anything hitting the plane. That was good. I saw fear in Nancy’s eyes, which I didn’t blame her for one bit.
“Are we going to die?”
“No. At least I hope not. Thomas knows what he’s doing,” I replied. “Or at least I hope so. I know he flew fighter jets in Vietnam in nineteen seventy-two and three but this isn’t one of them but I guess a plane is a plane so he should know what to do.”
I glanced out the window when our Learjet leveled off. We were skimming over the land just above the trees. Coming towards us and at a very fast rate of speed were two jet fighters which belonged to the US Air Force. The good guys. They went past us to chase off the one that had attacked us.
After what seemed an eternity our plane started to climb again then June came back.
“We’re out of danger.”
“What about the one that tried to shoot us down?” I asked.
“Those were F-16s. They damaged the plane and are forcing the pilot to fly to Edwards Air Force Base. He will be turned over to the military for interrogation. We will get a copy of the report.”
I had always suspected that the agency had connection in the military and this kind of proved my theory. If the pilot talks which I guessed was doubtful, or at least tells the truth we aren’t going to learn anything such as who hired him. Whoever these people are, their pull and reach are really starting to annoy the hell out of me.
“Richard, I guess an apology is in order. Thank you and your family for saving my life. I will do everything in my power to identify the people or at least the person who hired me. Who knows what other treasonous act they have performed since 1963?”
“Walter you’re correct and I think I might have figured out how you, we, can identify the people who hired you. Not including the men who trained you, the chefs, and the tailor, how many other people did you meet from when you were in England until Dallas on the 24th?” Nancy asked.
“Maybe five or six but don’t forget they always wore a mask.”
“Right but what kind? Like the Lone Ranger or Zorro or what a bandit would wear?”
“The first.”
Suddenly, I realized where Nancy was going with her questioning. These people, whoever they are, are narcissists. Not only that but most likely closet psychopaths who wanted to see their work through to the end. In this case the president as he laid in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Maybe even at the Requiem Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral, before being taken by caisson to Arlington National Cemetery where he was laid to eternal rest.
Some place there must be news film footage of all the events. If we can get our hands on them and with Walter watching, he might be able to identify the people we are looking for. That I will wait to mention when we are all safely at the Dean Compound.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Walter, earlier you said that you and Jim York changed your tickets for other destinations. What about the three remaining men? Did they switch their destinations as well?”
“That I do not know. I was originally going to Costa Rica but as you know I remained here. Steve had chosen France because that’s where his family was originally from. I think Lille. Joe selected Brazil because of the heat. He didn’t care where but hearing him talk I’d have to guess Rio because of Mardi Gras. He said he had wanted to compare that festival to his home city of New Orleans. The last guy, Sam, wanted to go to Canada. I think Edmonton.”
This information told me a great deal. Walter had been located right after arriving in California. I’ll bet John Wentworth can find out if there were any suspicious deaths in those cities around the time the three others got to then. If that happened, then there should be pattern which might help us identify the people who hired the final five. So now we have two possible ways. The murders and film footage.
“Do you know their last names? That will help find them, if they’re still alive,” Nancy asked.
“Yes, even though we always used first names. I have them written down on a piece of paper in my box.”
We waited until he came back with his bag, took the container out then searched for the list. After a few minutes he handed me the sheet. Steve Grant. Joe Easton. Sam McDonald. James York.
“Perfect. This will be a great help.” I passed the paper to Nancy.
“Want me to give these to Special Agent Wentworth?”
“Please, along with where they might have gone,” I added.
Nancy took a clean sheet of legal paper, wrote down the names then the city and country they were supposed to go live. She handed the original list back to Walter.
“Junior, if you don’t mind, I’ll wait until we get home. I may end up having to call him at his house unless this can wait until Friday. I don’t think the Federal Building is open on Thanksgiving except for minimal staff in the FBI and a few other departments.”
“The 25th will be fine. Chances are the three might already be dead. If not, then the FBI or Interpol will be able to find them.”
“Richard, what do you think the chances of that are? Them having been killed?”
As much as I didn’t want to answer him, I had to. “I’d say pretty good. If you hadn’t been worried about James York, then alerted my sister he would have died.”
“As witnessed by the attempt on you these people don’t care if they kill others to get what they want,” Nancy added.
“Hey guys, buckle up. We land in five minutes,” Thomas yelled from the cockpit.
The wheels touched down and we rolled over to the hanger where we had left from yesterday. After Thomas and June went through the shutdown procedure they came back and opened the hatch which let the stairs unfold.
With our bags in hand, we disembarked. From where the cars were parked, I saw flashing red and blue lights. Something was wrong.
“You three stay here. June and I will go find out what’s going on.”
None of us answered but in fear we watched as my brother and June went over to the cars. They barely got halfway to the lot when I saw Nancy’s brother walk toward them.
“Who is that?”
“My brother, FBI Special Agent John Wentworth.”
“I have no idea why he’s here but don’t say anything unless he does,” I instructed Walter.
“Alright.”
Thomas waved us over to them. I didn’t bother with introducing Walter to John which didn’t seem to bother either man.
<
br /> “We have, or rather had, a major problem. Whomever hired the pilot to shoot us down wasn’t taking any chances. Both of our cars had bombs connected to the ignition.”
“That’s impossible. The parking area has a security guard to keep unauthorized people out.”
“Junior, the guard was found dead in his booth. Bullet to the head. I already talked to Bill Hall about the shooting. We’re going to work together on this case. You three already have your hands full with yours. Whatever that is?”
“John, how and who found the bombs?”
“One of the aircraft mechanics saw a man hanging around one of your cars. Wisely, he waited until the person left then checked to see if anything was wrong. He saw a wire, which led to C4 and called the FBI. That’s when I learned whose cars were involved. With the LAPD bomb squad, we came out and defused both then checked the cars for more. There aren’t any. Another agent and I will be following you home to make sure you remain safe.”
First these people try to shoot us out of the sky then when that fails tried to blow us up. This is getting to be too much. I’m ever so glad the compound has such tight security but is that going to be enough? Could these people figure out a way to get to us or at least Walter? That was my biggest worry.
“Let’s get home.” I put the bags in the trunk of Nancy’s car.
I had her and Walter stand away from the vehicle while I turned the ignition over. The car started and nothing happened. I noticed Thomas had done the same thing with June. We followed my brother with the two FBI cars behind out of the airport and toward home. In the rear-view mirror, Our guest kept busy glancing from the scenery to John’s car.
“Nancy, why didn’t your brother ask who I am?”
“He knows who you are. Until we finish with our investigation and present him with the necessary evidence that you pulled the trigger, he’s not going to do anything.”
“That’s how closely we work with not only the FBI but the LAPD. We trust them and they trust us,” I added.
“Okay. I must say this is without a doubt the most unique working relationship I have ever heard of.”
A Conspiracy Uncovered Page 5