by Bob Blanton
“Hi, guys. Brea and Alex you both look wonderful,” Tyler said as he got into the limo.
“Onward, James,” Jason called out to the chauffeur. “We’re off to get our queen.”
“If you make him mad, you’re walking,” Tyler said.
“Not to worry, my man. James and I have an understanding,” Jason said. “I’ve informed him that I’m responsible for the generous tip at the end of the night.”
◆ ◆ ◆
When they reached the Stevenson estate, Tyler gave the limo driver the guest access code he’d gotten from Emily. The gate opened, and they drove up the sweeping driveway to the front door. Tyler got out, followed by the other four.
“Get ready for a long photo shoot,” Tyler said.
“I’ve been through three already,” Matthew said. “Four if you count Hanna’s; so I’m toughened up.”
“At least you’ll get to sit down during this one.”
“Lead on, oh mighty king,” Jason said. “Your queen awaits.”
Tyler shook his head at Jason, and went to the door.
“Hello, gentlemen and ladies,” Mrs. Stevenson said, as she answered the door. “Come right in.”
“Hello, Elizabeth,” everyone said.
“Brea and Alex, your dresses are stunning.”
“Thank you.”
“Emily is just freshening up. She’ll be out momentarily. You four are welcome to sit in the drawing room.”
“We will as soon as we get to see Emily in her dress,” Alex said.
“Here she is,” Brianna said. “Oh, you’re stunning.”
“Hey that’s my line,” Tyler said. “And, wow, you are stunning!”
Emily was wearing a royal blue, sleeveless gown with a smooth silk off-the-shoulder bodice and a wide A-line skirt. The skirt was a semitransparent silk outer dress over a dark, royal blue inner dress and a butterfly sweep train. She had sapphire earrings and matching necklace.
“Yes, you are stunning,” Matthew agreed. “You look just like Cinderella. Now how are you going to dance with that train?”
“Matt, do you have a romantic bone in your body?” Alex asked.
“I just have this practical side that can’t help but wonder,” Matthew defended himself.
“It has snaps on the inside that let me pull it up,” Emily said. “I’ll need some help from my lady’s maid, but I’ll have no problem dancing.”
“Good,” Tyler said.
“Oh, I love the tiara,” Alex said.
“It’s costume,” Emily replied. “But it’s so much better than those paper crowns they provide you to wear.”
“Come on, Matt, let’s go in here while Elizabeth takes pictures,” Brianna said, pulling Matthew behind her.
◆ ◆ ◆
After a quiet dinner overlooking the beach, the four couples arrived at the prom fashionably late as befitted the prom king and queen and their court. The room applauded when they entered.
“I hope we can find a good table,” Emily said.
“You needn’t worry about that,” Tyler said. “Our table has been reserved for us.”
“All of us?”
“Of course,” Tyler said, as he led the group to a prominent table right next to the dance floor. The four football players who had been saving the table got up and surrendered it to Tyler and his friends.
“It’s must be nice to be king,” Jason quipped.
“Matt.”
“I know, request a Vienna Waltz,” Matthew said. “Right away, my lady.”
“Hello, Mrs. Jefferies,” Matthew said, as he met up with his teacher on the way back to the table. “So you’re one of the chaperones.”
“Yes I am. I love watching these events,” Mrs. Jefferies said.
“Well, you know everyone here,” Matthew said indicating the table where his friends were still getting situated.
“Of course, and Alex, may I say that I find this outfit much more suitable than the one you wore to the winter ball,” Mrs. Jefferies said. “Although, maybe I’m just jealous that I don’t have the figure or the guts to pull off that tuxedo outfit you wore then.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Jefferies.”
“Well I’ll be going, but I must say that you gentlemen have raised the bar with such dashing outfits.”
◆ ◆ ◆
After a Vienna Waltz, a rock dance and a swing dance, Matthew and Brianna needed a rest.
“Whew, I’m warm,” Brianna said. “That ceiling fan isn’t helping much.” Brianna took a small fan from her purse and waved it to cool herself.
“Hmm, no it isn’t,” Matthew mused.
“These outfits are warm,” Jason complained. “Too many layers.”
“Oh, don’t be a baby,” Alex said. “You can’t imagine all the layers I have under this thing. Ah, a cool breeze.”
“It is nice. Let me sit here for a few minutes to cool off before I go get us some punch,” Jason said.
“Whew,” Emily said. “Oh, nice breeze. Tyler is getting punch for everyone.”
“Good man, our king,” Jason said.
“How come it’s so cool?” Emily whispered to Matthew.
“One end is at the bottom of Lake Shasta,” Matthew whispered back.
“Oh a jitterbug,” Brianna cried. “Matt, let’s go.”
“Come on, Jason,” Alex said, dragging Jason along behind her.
◆ ◆ ◆
“The DJ promises four swing dances in a row after this one,” Brianna said, as she sat down at the table.
“Great,” Alex said. “Jason, are you ready to take off?”
“Revved up and ready,” Jason replied.
“We’re not leaving yet?” Matthew asked.
“No, silly. Swing dancing with aerials,” Brianna said. “Just wait.”
“How is she going to manage that with that dress?” Matthew whispered to Brianna.
“Oh ye of little faith,” Brianna replied. “Come on, they’re starting.”
Brianna pulled Matthew to the floor right behind Alex and Jason. Then she motioned for Matthew to just stand and wait. Brianna went over to Alex and they whispered to each other.
“By popular request, a set of swing dances. They’ll be fast and furious, perfect for flying!” the DJ announced.
Jason reached out and placed his hand on Alex’s waist. Alex did a slow 360; her outer skirt unzipped and she deftly stepped out of it and the bustle she was wearing to reveal a poodle skirt that matched the floor length one she had been wearing. Brianna scooped up the skirt and bustle and carried them off the floor with Matthew following behind, still confused. A round of applause went up as the DJ started the music.
Alex and Jason performed four different swing dances with Alex flipping over Jason’s back and being thrown into the air.
“Those two always have to put on a show,” Matthew laughed. “I’m always afraid I’ll find myself in a play without knowing my lines.”
“Jason’s always been a clown,” Brianna said. “He always finds a way to bring more life into the party, it makes it worth putting up with him. He and Alex are a perfect pair.”
By midnight everyone was tired and ready to go home. They decided they would drive to Moonlight Beach and watch the moonset. After thirty minutes of walking on the beach they ran up against Brianna’s curfew had to call it quits.
◆ ◆ ◆
“Hi, guys,” Brianna said, as she sat down for lunch.
“Hi, Brea,” Matthew said. “You’re early. Did someone give you cuts?”
“Yes, Aneesa felt sorry for me, and apparently forgave me for pounding her yesterday in tennis.”
“Very big of her.”
“Can you believe there are just two weeks left of school,” Alex cried out, as she sat down.
“Yes I can, but unfortunately there are finals before that,” Emily said.
“Oh pssht, you always cry about tests then you get an A-plus,” Alex said.
“That’s because I study,” Emily retorted.
> “I study, I almost always get an A,” Alex defended herself.
“Guys, the National Open Hard Court Championships are at the Balboa Tennis Club this week. Daddy says he can get us tickets for Sunday’s women’s final,” Brianna said. Do you guys want to go?”
“Yes,” Emily said.
“I can’t; that’s the same day as the school chess tournament,” Matthew said.
“Oh, I forgot,” Brianna said. “I should come watch you play.”
“Please don’t,” Matthew said. “You don’t do bored well, and it’s not very interesting unless you play.”
“Are you sure?” Brianna asked.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, so who besides Emily wants to go?”
“I do,” Alex said, giving Jason a look.
“I would love to go,” Jason said. “Someone has to protect you ladies and fetch your refreshments.”
“Good man,” Matthew said.
◆ ◆ ◆
“How was the tennis tournament?” Matthew asked as he walked down the stairs to see Brianna and Jason.
“It was terrific,” Brianna said. “They had to play a tiebreaker in all three sets.”
“Sounds exciting,” Matthew said.
“How did you do in the chess tournament?”
“I came in 4th,” Matthew said.
“You didn’t win?”
“I didn’t expect to win,” Matthew replied. “Byron really trounced me. Of course he went on to win the tournament. Then Yinon edged me out for 3rd place.”
“Last week of school coming up,” Jason said. “Three half-days for finals, then we get our yearbooks and have to sit through the awards ceremony and finally the last day.”
“Come to dinner,” Mrs. Winthrop called out.
◆ ◆ ◆
Matthew’s phone alarm sounded the ring tone he’d set up for when Sayid accessed the offshore numbered account. The time was 5:30 a.m., and Matthew was just getting into the swing of his workout after listening in on Caruthers’ briefing. “I hope he’s not just admiring the balance again,” Matthew thought, as he stopped his workout.
Sayid was just setting up a transfer for forty thousand dollars. Matthew grabbed a pad and pencil and got ready to track the money. He got the account password when Sayid entered it to confirm the transfer. He watched as Sayid moved the money to another numbered account in a different bank, and then Sayid split it into four separate ten thousand dollar transfers. Each of those went to a different offshore bank before being transferred to a different U.S. bank. From those banks, Sayid transferred nine thousand five hundred dollars to another U.S. bank. Sayid then closed down his phone and went into his study, calling for his valet to bring him some coffee.
The final transfer would not take effect until the bank opened at 9:00, so there should be time for Caruthers’ team to respond. Matthew immediately texted the numbers of the final accounts to Caruthers.
“Giacomo,” Agent Caruthers yelled. “Ranger Zero says we have money moving. Numbers are in your email.”
“I’m on it,” Agent Giacomo replied, as she rushed back to her desk. She quickly entered the tracking numbers that Matthew had texted and identified the banks. “Four banks, two in Arlington and two in Bethesda.”
“Get eyes on those banks now,” Agent Caruthers shouted. “I want to know who picks the money up.”
Matthew took a quick shower while he kept track of events. As he was getting dressed, new info started flowing in.
“We had two pick-ups, both white males,” Agent Castro called out. “Both arrived at and then left the bank on foot. On leaving the banks, they each traveled several blocks making evasive maneuvers before being picked up by a car. We were able to get the license number of both cars and are now tracking one of them via CCTV. We’ve lost the other one, but have a BOLO out on it.”
“Get me that other car,” Agent Caruthers shouted. “What about the other two banks?”
“Nothing, the money is just sitting there, no activity,” Agent Giacomo said.
Matthew called Emily, “Can you give me a ride to school today?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Something’s happening with Caruthers and I want to keep tabs on it. I can’t do that riding my bike.”
“I’ll be there at seven-thirty,” Emily said. “Anything else I can do?”
“Not now.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Anything new?” Emily asked, as Matthew got into her car.
“Not yet,” Matthew said with a sigh. “This is exhausting.”
“What?”
“Having to keep tabs on everything. I have to keep my portal up, which is tiring, then not only do I need to try and get a handle on the bad guys, I have to track the good guys to figure out what’s going on.”
“Can’t you just use Caruthers’ briefings to keep up with the good guys?”
“That only helps a little. What if something happens after the briefing, like today? If I wait until tomorrow to check in, I might not be there to help when something big goes down.”
“I thought we were just trying to figure out what Sayid’s target is? It has to be planned for July given the timing of the options.”
“True, but I’m worried about another incident like D.C. I’m starting to think that was definitely a diversion,” Matthew said. “So what other nasty diversion might Sayid have planned?”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Updates people,” Agent Caruthers demanded, as her morning briefing started.
“Based on CCTV, we traced one of the cars to Fairfax, Virginia. There the suspect was dropped off and made his way into a residential neighborhood. We canvased the area, and based on interviews determined that he purchased a five-year-old, white, Chevrolet panel van from an individual. They had advertised the van for sale in the local newspaper. He paid eighty-two hundred for the van. We then tracked the van into the area around Herndon, Virginia. Unfortunately there was not enough CCTV coverage in the area and we lost it. Again, we have a BOLO out on the van with special instructions to only report its location.”
“What about the other car?”
“We got reports back from our BOLO. We picked it up in Bethesda. Then we traced it on CCTV taking a route north from Bethesda to Frederick then down highway 15 to Sterling. We lost it just south of Sterling.”
“That is a very circuitous route from Bethesda to Sterling, why didn’t they just go down I-495?” asked agent Caruthers, as she went over to a map and traced the route. “And Sterling is just north of Herndon. What’s special about Herndon?”
“Not much besides being right next to Dulles International Airport,” Agent Castro said.
“Ma’am, I’ve been checking intel sheets for the area around Herndon,” Agent Giacomo said. “I found a report that a person on our watch list who owns a landscaping company has increased his purchase of fertilizer by one hundred percent over the last five months.”
“That’s interesting.”
“But get this, he’s an avowed white supremacist.”
“What?”
“Yes, he’s been suspected of several acts of violence against Black Baptist churches in Virginia.”
“What’s going on, is Al Qaeda subcontracting with a white supremacist? That’s sure a strange marriage.”
“More likely Sayid has contracted with him. How much extra fertilizer did he buy?”
“About two thousand pounds extra.”
“And that would be?”
“Just a moment,” Agent Castro said, as he Googled fertilizer weight. “It comes to about three hundred gallons, so six fifty-five gallon drums, if you’re thinking what I’m thinking.”
“Yes, a fertilizer bomb; six fifty-five gallon drums would fit nicely in the back of that van,” Agent Caruthers mused. “Have the landscaper brought in for questioning. Be discreet about the pick-up.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“It’s six o’clock folks, where’s that van
?” Agent Caruthers demanded. She had commandeered an office in the Herndon police station to set up a command post close to the action.
“Castro, how much diesel would they need to weaponize the fertilizer?”
“The tech guys say not much, about twenty gallons would do it.”
“That’s too easy to get, no chance to trace it. When does our landscaper get here?”
“He should be here in ten minutes.”
“Okay, let me know when he gets here. Agent Pardet!” Agent Caruthers yelled.
“Yes, Ma’am!”
“May I see your ID?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Agent Pardet pulled out his FBI ID.
“Agent Giacomo, may we see yours?”
“Of course, Ma’am.” Agent Giacomo pulled her ID out of her purse.
“Agent Pardet, do they look the same?” Agent Caruthers asked.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Agent Pardet replied. He looked at the other agents in the room with a confused look on his face.
“They do. So yours doesn’t identify any special powers or authorities that you have that the rest of us don’t.”
“No, Ma’am.”
“Then explain to me why you, of all the agents working for me, don’t think you need the help of the local police.”
“I don’t think that, Ma’am.”
“So you think that the way to get their help and support is to tell them to shut up and stay out of your way?”
“No, Ma’am,” Agent Pardet said, looking very worried.
“Neither do I,” Agent Caruthers yelled. “Now this is a joint operation; they’re letting us use their office and are assisting us in our searches. If I hear another word about the almighty FBI disrespecting the local LEOs, that FBI Agent will get to fetch and carry coffee, while the rest of us work with the local LEOs, spending our valuable time and theirs trying to solve this case. Do I make myself clear!”
“Yes, Ma’am!”
“Okay! Black, two sugars.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Okay, clock’s ticking,” Agent Caruthers yelled. “Our landscaper isn’t talking so we need to find other options.”
“Annika and I are going through all the paperwork from the landscaper’s files looking for any links,” said Agent Giacomo.
