Daniel Ganninger - Icarus Investigations 01 - Flapjack

by Daniel Ganninger

“Ed, I want in on this. Don’t leave me hanging out to dry here. I’ll offer more than what Chase is giving you. How about an off shore account with, let’s say, eight million, will that do it? I can make it worth your while.” Placer had changed tactics, but the Senator continued to choose his words carefully.

  “I’m not involved with Chase, and I haven’t spoken to him.” Eastman was guarding his golden ticket well, and wouldn’t reveal his connection.

  “Sixteen million. Eight now and eight after we start getting orders. You can’t beat that. It would be untraceable. I have it sitting in Brazil right now.”

  “You don’t have access to that kind of money from Black Bear,” Eastman countered.

  “I do in my personal account. I’m going to make that back four times over after this thing breaks. I’ll transfer eight million right after the presentation to your off shore account. Simple as that.”

  “And what do you want in return?” Eastman asked.

  “I want you to get Chase off my back. I know you can get the Feds involved in his life. Just keep him away from us. You’ll get your usual payment that we agreed to before. How much did we agree to again?” Placer asked, setting Eastman up nicely.

  “You know what we agreed, ten percent of the profits,” Eastman answered and unknowingly implicated himself. I watched him on the monitor, and I could sense the greed bubbling to the top.

  “So if I get Chase out of the picture for whatever he is up to, and like I told you, I haven’t spoke to him, then we’ll agree on these amounts,” Eastman announced, almost licking his chops. He had no intention of stopping Chase. His payback from that operation was too great, but he could be eight million dollars richer in the process. His greed had just proven to be his downfall.

  “Agreed Senator, there will be eight million in your account after the presentation,” Placer told him.

  Agent Avery looked at me, and nodded his head.

  “He just made a bad mistake,” he announced to the other men who continued to monitor the conversation.

  In one simple conversation, the Senator had implicated himself. He was using his position to gain profit, and on top of that, he was breaking a host of other Federal laws. We were still missing an implication of Chase’s involvement, however, and that’s what we desperately needed. Placer had done an excellent job, but the Senator knew there was no reason to talk about Chase further. It was our hope that once he realized that this wasn’t an Ecomax event, and that the press was there in droves, he would sing like a canary about Chase to the FBI. That was our hope, at least.

  “I think that’s all we’re going to get,” Special Agent Avery told me. “Get the ladies to take them in the convention hall.”

  I jumped at the instruction, and went out into the hallway. I found Jane and Elizabeth sitting on chairs outside the room. I motioned for them to start phase two. The ladies knocked on the door and opened it, telling the men that they were ready for them to enter the presentation.

  They lead the men out of the room and walked them toward the front entrance of the large hall. Elizabeth stopped the men before they entered.

  “I’m sorry Senator, but there is a lot of media at this event. Do you need to use the bathroom first, maybe to freshen up?” She asked nicely, knowing the substance she had placed in the Senator’s drink earlier would increase his urge to use the bathroom.

  “How old do you think I am, honey? I don’t need to use the john. I didn’t drink that much,” Eastman said smirking, but feeling that he did, in fact, need to urinate quickly.

  “I insist Senator, you have a few hairs out of place and I want you to look as good as you usually do. Plus, I don’t want to be the reason you had to leave a function with the press unexpectedly,” she said batting her eyes at him.

  “Alright darlin’. If you insist.” He clearly thought she was trying to get him alone.

  “The bathroom is right over there, around the corner,” she said pointing in its general direction. He disappointedly followed her instruction but hurried to the bathroom.

  I had managed to walk behind them unnoticed in my fashionable blue repairman coveralls, and entered the bathroom before Eastman arrived. I picked up a bucket filled with water I had left there earlier, put it down beside the urinal, and proceeded to tinker around with the chrome flushing mechanism. The Senator entered the bathroom and saw me standing in front of them.

  “I’m sorry Sir,” I began to say, “these are out of order, you’ll have to use one of the stalls.”

  He only grunted in reply and proceeded to the nearest toilet stall. I peeked under the door as he closed it, and saw that he had placed the brown attaché bag on the floor. Immediately I flushed both urinals, kicked over the bucket, and sent a torrent of water flowing over the floor and under the stall.

  “Shit!” was all I heard from Eastman when the water splashed over the bag and his feet.

  “I’m sorry, Sir. This leak is getting worse. Just hold on a second. I’ll clean that up for you.”

  I grabbed a bunch of paper towels and knocked on the stall door. He opened it up and looked at me with fury, as the water had splashed up his pant leg. “I’m sorry about that. Here,” I said handing him the towels, “and let me get your bag dried off.” I reached for the attaché and pulled it out of the stall as he began dabbing at his pant leg.

  “Get out and let me piss,” he scowled at me.

  “Yes sir, sorry, just let me get this dried up,” I tried to say to him. He only grunted again in return.

  “I can’t believe this,” I said continuously, letting the sound hide what I was doing. I quickly opened the case and peered inside as I dabbed at it with the towels. Inside were a bunch of papers and a blue binder. I scanned them quickly and found they were mostly messages and pending legislation, nothing of interest to us. I then pulled out the blue binder and looked at the first page. It read, “United States Energy Revitalization and Alternative Energy Act”. “This seems promising”, I thought. I pulled out the entire binder and stuffed it deep into the trashcan, underneath a pile of used paper towels. I closed the case and slid it under the door on top of a fresh pile of paper towels.

  “Here you go, Sir. Good as new,” I announced. The door swung open, and Eastman grabbed the case and stormed out of the bathroom, grabbing another wad of towels as he left.

  “You idiot,” he said as he left, “your manager will hear about this.” I laughed at the statement. If you only knew, you clod, I thought.

  Back in the hallway, the Senator was still fuming, but once he caught sight of Elizabeth and Jane his demeanor changed back to charming.

  “Some joker spilled water on me in there. Damn idiot,” he announced to them.

  “That’s too bad,” Jane lied. “You look great. Shall we go in?” She continued, stroking his ego. Eastman nodded and went to the door, straightened his suit, and walked in. He would be even more surprised and angry at what was to happen inside.

  When I saw that they had left the vicinity of the bathroom, I dug the blue binder out of the trash and walked back to the room where the FBI agents were stationed.

  “I found something in the bathroom, Agent Avery,” I said handing him the binder. “I don’t know whose it is.” I smiled as I said this. Avery smiled back.

  “What a good, friendly maintenance worker you are! Thanks, I’ll see if I can locate the rightful owner to this.” He walked back in the room and placed it in front of the other agents who immediately opened it and began to pour over the contents. From the looks on their faces, I must have done well.

  I excused myself and raced to the convention hall. I was supposed to stay out of sight, but I had to see this.

  -Chapter 71-

  Galveston, Alex, and Dr. Sloan had all been waiting in the convention hall, putting the finishing touches on the upcoming presentation while trying to keep the media from getting restless. The turnout was better than we could have imagined. Every major news source was present, for the most part. They had been intrigued
by the message Alex had sent and wanted to see what the hubbub was about.

  Dr. Sloan had already started a slide show on the benefits of his battery and was just nearing the last slide. Galveston saw the Senator come in the door with Elizabeth and Jane and motioned to Alex who whispered to Dr. Sloan on the podium. Now the fun began.

  “I’ll now show you this battery’s unlimited capabilities,” he stated as he moved to the vast array of objects sitting on the tables. The three cars were first in line and he walked to the first one. A wire exuded from its open hood and the engine was exposed.

  “There are no batteries in these cars, or in any other object you see before you,” the professor announced.

  From the car, the wire was connected to a rectangular box sitting in the middle of all the other objects. All the other devices on the tables connected to it as well, and from there, on top of a small table, stood the Flapjack. It was about the size of a deck of playing cards and a single wire connected the rectangular box to it.

  “This is the Flapjack,” he said pointing to the device, “and it will be the only power source.”

  He walked back to the first car, got in, and started it. It immediately roared to life. He went to the second and third car and did the same. The members in the audience sat glued at what they were watching. Alex followed and cut off the engines behind him. Carbon monoxide in a closed room was usually not a good thing.

  “Now how many of you think the Flapjack can’t do anymore?” Dr. Sloan announced and asked the audience. The small crowd murmured while most raised their hands. There was a reason that car batteries were so huge, and to see this small device start them was amazing.

  Dr. Sloan walked to the lamps sitting on the table and began to switch them on. As the electrical current flowed, the lamps came on, one by one. He then began to switch on some cell phones. Each one came to life as he pushed the power button. Alex followed Dr. Sloan again and held up each phone to show they were indeed on and that there was no battery in them. It all had an air of a good magic trick. Dr. Sloan next flipped a switch on top of the table, and the Christmas lights illuminated the tables across the front of the room. Senator Eastman continued to stand at the back, confused at what he was witnessing. Next, Dr. Sloan clicked on each of the computers. Each one whirled to life in succession, and their monitors flickered with the new onset of power. Lastly, Dr. Sloan moved to the end table, the one with the coffee post, and switched it on. It began to percolate, sending fresh coffee into the pot, a whimsical end to an impressive display.

  “No other sources of electrical energy are present. All this is being done by the Flapjack. If you stay for over an hour, you’ll see that everything will still be on.” He walked back to the coffeepot. “Now who would like a fresh cup of coffee?”

  The crowd roared and clapped at the sight with many “oohs” and “ahhs” thrown in. Flashes went off one by one and Dr. Sloan basked in the flashing lights, smiling widely. Alex managed to scoot his way into the background to get his mug into the pictures.

  “I invite all of you up to examine the Flapjack,” Dr. Sloan told the crowd. “And I’ll answer any questions.”

  It began to sink in to the Senator what he was really watching. He saw the hand painted sign Alex had made with the Doctor’s name on it.

  “What the hell is going on here?” He demanded angrily to Placer and the ladies.

  Galveston noticed the Senator’s dismay at the back of the room and grabbed the microphone at the front of the hall.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, Senator Edward Eastman has graciously arrived to witness the release of this amazing device,” Galveston said pointing to the back of the room.

  The press corps immediately turned to the Senator whose anger turned to smiles as he had been trained when members of the press were present. The flashes grew intense toward the Senator who managed to wave at the cameras.

  “I wouldn’t try to go anywhere Senator,” Elizabeth said, stepping out of view from the cameras, and blocked any escape back out through the door.

  I had heard the ruckus and peeked in a side door. Galveston was just making his next play.

  “Senator, why don’t you come up and get a few pictures with the Flapjack.”

  Eastman looked very uncomfortable and managed a weak smile while he made his way through the press, even shaking hands as he went. The press followed him to the front, leaving the back of the room empty. I noticed the FBI agents in the room as they covered all the exit areas. Eastman mugged for the cameras with none other than Dr. Sloan. Eastman’s weak smile turned flat as he realized he was caught and his career was over. He looked like a scared rabbit, and for a moment, looked like he would try to escape when he noticed the various men standing by the exits. It was then that he knew he would be arrested by the FBI.

  “I wouldn’t think about leaving, Senator. I think you’re done,” Galveston yelled to him over the clamor of the crowd. The Senator stumbled down the step to the nearest exit. The agent waiting at the door spoke to him and led him into the hall followed by other agents. They whisked him out of the hotel through the service entrance and into an awaiting SUV. The Senator had been arrested.

  Back in the ballroom, the scene had subsided. The press didn’t have any idea of what had just taken place and stuck around to check out the Flapjack as it continued to keep everything working. The press Dr. Sloan fielded questions for over an hour as the Flapjack kept sending out an amazing torrent of power and many of cups of coffee.

  The FBI agents now had the Senator, but even with the mounting evidence against him for his improprieties, Eastman still wouldn’t implicate Chase under intense FBI interrogation. Eastman knew that if he fingered Chase, his crimes would become that much worse. He would then be an accessory to an act of terrorism on foreign soil, as well as murder. May was shocked at the news. He still didn’t have the necessary evidence to get Chase, yet.

  -Chapter 72-

  Agent Avery joined us in the large convention hall a few hours later after he finished examining the binder from Eastman’s bag and after the furor from the presentation had subsided. “Excuse me fellas, it’s May.” He said handing us his cell phone.

  “Tell David I want more pay,” Galveston yelled at him and laughed.

  Agent Avery handed the phone to Galveston and his face was serious.

  “Hello David,” Galveston said with noticeable fatigue in his voice.

  “Galveston, Chase is on the run and we need your help in finding him. He must have seen the online streaming of the presentation,” he announced, “and I’ve just received something that is going to blow this thing apart.”

  Galveston noticed the tone in his voice and stood up.

  “What’ve we got?” He asked hopefully.

  “You guys need to get here now,” May told him simply.

  “To Chicago?” Galveston exclaimed. “Are you crazy David? What have you been drinking?”

  “I’m serious. Get to the airport. We have a government jet standing by. I’ll tell you all about it when you get here. Actually, I’ll show you. This is huge.”

  “I don’t see why,” Galveston tried to get out of it.

  “Just get here, we’re running out of time. I insist. You two need to be here to help us find him,” May told him.

  “Okay David,” Galveston relented, “we’ll do it.” May gave him the instructions about where to meet Avery at the airport. Galveston then had the unscrupulous job of getting me to go along, an idea I was not fond of. Secretly I wanted to be there, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. Finally, I agreed to go.

  “I’ve got to tell Jane I’m leaving, I recommend you do the same with Elizabeth,” I told him.

  “Five minutes, no more,” he chided me, and I agreed to his request.

  I found Jane outside the hall sitting in a comfortable chair, relaxing. She looked lovely and I explained the situation to her. Somehow she understood.

  “I promise when I get back we’ll do all the things we planned,�
�� I told her.

  “You better,” she joked back.

  “Jane, I just want you to know that I,” and I stopped midsentence, chickening out again and became fearful of her reaction. “Have a good night and I will see you tomorrow, I hope.” I gave her a hug and a kiss on her soft lips and turned around, ready to meet Galveston. I just didn’t think she felt the same way about me.

  As I turned to walk down the hall, I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and Jane kissed me passionately, pulling me close to her.

  “I, I love you Roger, I do,” she said welling up with emotion and squeezing me hard. I pulled together my courage after hearing the words I longed to hear.

  “I love you too, Jane, so much, and I, I, just love you,” the words flowed easily and I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. In this short period of time I couldn’t deny it further. I did love her and I was no longer falling in love with her, I had truly fallen. I kissed her again and I could sense the emotion between us. I could do anything now.

  Jane looked in my eyes, the tears beginning to show slowly at the corners.

  “You better get going, you know how Galveston gets if you’re late for anything.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ll see you soon,” I said hugging her one more time. I turned and literally bounded down the hallway. Before I turned the corner, I gave her another wave and watched as she disappeared back into the hall.

  -Chapter 73-

  “What happened? Did you take some happy pills or something?” Galveston asked me as we met.

  “I took the happiest of pills,” was all I said.

  We flew out the hotel into Galveston’s car and raced for the airport. A Gulfstream jet was awaiting us at the airport and we raced to Chicago.

  May welcomed us to Chicago O’Hare, alone. He hurried us into a car and we raced toward the north outskirts of the city. Agents had already begun fanning out to Chase’s mansion in the North Shore. May had managed to get an arrest warrant to search and arrest Chase at his home. It was based on the new information May had obtained.