with her, but all she said was, “Joe has been working hard on this
Murphy guy.”
“He’s done well, and I’m sure Agent Jones will want
Joe’s help to close the case, but we could genuinely use his help
with this one.” She picked up the photo of the blind girl. “Please, ask Joe if he thinks he can get a picture of the boys who raped and blinded her; he could make all the difference in this case.” Burrows stood, grabbed her briefcase and headed out of the
kitchen.
“Yeah … okay.” Alice followed Burrows to the door.
~
Alice knew John would be over the moon with her new job. Burrows had said John could help out; the three of them could work as a team as long as John kept their work with Joe a secret from his friends, not telling them how Alice got her inside information. Alice was happy, and she couldn’t help thinking it wouldn’t be the end of the world if Joe took her back to meet Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs again; they had some unfinished business. Plus, Robin Hood and Little John never did get to rescue her from the two soldiers.
What hunks they were! I wonder how that would have turned out. I’m sure I wouldn’t have been disappointed with Robin, Little John, or Friar Tuck.
F
Chapter20
Frank Brubaker was the head of Homeland Security in Washington D.C. At six feet, two inches tall, with broad shoulders, he was a powerful looking man. He was
married, with two girls, and three young grandchildren. At 52 years old, he had reached where he wanted to be in Homeland, and now he was in charge of finding the Magic Man, and eliminating him. The Secretary of Defense had told Brubaker to take over from the FBI and the CIA in finding the Magic Man. Those departments desired to keep him alive and use him–– Homeland Security wanted the Magic Man dead, just in case he did possess the powers it was rumored he had.
All agencies were to help Brubaker if he asked. He had set up a task force to follow up on old leads on the Magic Man, as well as anything new. The new leads were coming from Special Agent Burrows because she was in contact with Mrs. Timberlake, the latest victim––and, Agent Jones, who was asking the Magic Man for his help through Mrs. Timberlake. Brubaker had decided to keep Agents Burrows and Jones out of the loop for now.
After reading Agent Jones’ report, he made Jones his main objective. Jones’ team was working with the Magic Man, and if Brubaker’s men kept out of sight when the Magic Man showed up, his men could take Joe out without anyone knowing who shot him. They could make it look like a drug deal gone wrong. This was the closest they had ever been to finding out who the Magic Man was, and Frank Brubaker was going to make the most of it. He knew every request and move Agent Jones made, and had a copy of Jones’ report on his desk minutes after Jones handed it in.
Brubaker sent a surveillance team to watch Gerald Lomas, to stake out his coffee shop, and his home. The coffee shop was a front for Lomas’ betting operation. Brubaker’s men had to stay out of the way of Special Agent Jones’ team. The strategy was if the narcotics team found out who the Magic Man was, they were to take him out before he disappeared again. It was thought that this could easily happen if the Magic Man were willing to help with the Gerald Lomas case. When the Magic Man met Lomas, to get into his mind, Brubaker’s team would move in and complete their assignment. He was to be eliminated at all costs, even if it meant blowing Agents Jones’ case wide open.
Not only did Frank Brubaker have immediate access to Agents Jones and Burrows’ reports, he also had two men looking through old cases that might have been the Magic Man’s work. He hoped to find a clue the FBI might have missed. One of the reports his team had looked into, which might have involved the Magic Man, said a young girl had confessed to her priest that a man came to her in her sleep and made her play with his penis. The girl, who was only nine at the time, was sure he was a pop star she had seen on television. She swore he told her to get out of bed and come to the bathroom, where she played with his penis over the hand basin. The girl’s uncle had stayed over on the night in question and had been the main suspect. Nothing was proven against the uncle, though, and it never happened again, so they closed the case. But the fact the girl walked in her sleep, and did what she did, piqued the interest of the FBI.
It was Agent Sam Davidson’s job to read the reports, and many had nothing to do with the Magic Man. But, when he read about a girl going to the priest with her story, instead of her mother or the police, he wondered how many others would rather do the same. He took his thoughts to Brubaker.
“Excuse me, sir,” Agent Davidson tapped on the open door and walked into Brubaker’s office, “has anyone thought of asking the help of the church? Some girls would rather tell a priest than their own mothers about having sexual dreams.”
“If they have, it would be in those files you’ve got on your desk.” Frank held his hand out for the report Davidson had just read about the girl’s dreams. “What have you got there, Sam, that has you so excited?” He read the short report. “You may have something; however, the problem here is that the church doesn’t give out information from confessions.”
“But if we don’t ask for the girls’ names, just what happened, and where and when, we might be able to work out some kind of routine he used.”
“You may get lucky, and it pays to follow up all leads,” Brubaker nodded and handed the report back. “Have Tara assist you.”
For the next two days, Agents Tara Jimson and Sam Davidson phoned just about every church, gospel hall, and chapel in California. Most said straight out that they wouldn’t help. Others said they’d get back to them. A few said yes, they had taken confessions of disturbed dreams and sleepwalking, and were willing to help. Sam and Tara went to investigate them, hoping it would help build their case of who the Magic Man was. They were hoping for something as simple as a woman saying a man had visited her in a few dreams, made love to her in a sexual fantasy that seemed real, and then left without a word. That could have been the Magic Man’s work. And, when the dreams stopped, if one of the local men had left town the next day, then they could link a woman’s dreams to his sudden leaving if they had that man’s name. Incidents like that would be worth exploring. Any old case, with such threads, could be the Magic Man’s downfall. It was a long shot but worth a try.
Chapter21
Alice had been waiting patiently for John to come home from work. She couldn’t wait to tell him that she was now the official secretary for Joe, who was an adviser for
the FBI. She would have a monthly wage, and had been approved to be a freelance journalist––with the FBI’s inside scoop on any cases she and Joe should work on. Plus, John could help out, when needed.
Joe had paid Alice his daily visit, and was disappointed he had missed Burrows. Alice quickly brought him up to date on what had occurred. Joe was as excited as Alice about the wages offered, and the new assignment pleased him, as well. Alice sensed the thrill in Joe’s thoughts as he looked at the four photos of the young women laid out on the table. His only comment was, “They’re all young and attractive. I can see why they were picked.”
Alice felt his excitement drop when she asked about his religion, and he changed the subject. He told her he had a lot to think about and he’d be back later. She was sure the religion question made him cut his visit short.
It had been a strange, yet exciting day for Alice. She was at the window waiting for John, and as soon as his car came into sight, she opened the garage doors for him.
“Hi honey!” John could see by her beaming smile that she was happy about something. “What’s up?”
“Burrows was here, and you are not going to believe what happened!” She spoke quickly, without taking a breath. “First, she made me take the same oath the FBI and CIA take—I officially work for the FBI, now. Then, she gave Joe and me a new assignment. Joe has to find four guys who raped a girl and poked her eyes out!”
“Hold on!” John closed the garage
doors and ushered her into the house. “You are not making sense. Cool down and start at the beginning. Who poked a girl’s eyes out, and what did you say about a new assignment?”
“I don’t know how much I can tell you about this new case…” Alice shook her head but ended up telling John everything, twice over.
“Alice, love, with this extra money from the Bureau, and what the papers will pay you for an exclusive,” his grin widened, “we could start thinking about having kids.”
“Let’s pay a few bills first, before we plan a family!” Alice’s mind was on her new career.
“Yeah, I suppose so––but we don’t want to wait too much longer.”
“If Joe decides not to continue helping the FBI and moves on, then we’ll be back to square one again.” Burrows’ words came back to Alice. “He might move on to greener pastures.”
“True, but I can see you and Joe working together for a long time, sorting out case after case for the Feds.” John was nodding in agreement with his thoughts, the ones Joe had planted in his subconscious. “I can see you like that woman in the TV series ... what’s it called? You know the one, she sees the dead and talks to them, and she helps the police to solve the crime.”
“You mean, Medium?”
“That’s the one. You and Joe will sort it out, and I can help out now and again, like I did giving you back up when you went to find that young druggy.” He gave her a big smile. “The police can take all the glory, and you can write your story.” He smiled at his little rhyme.
“Wow––that would be something, yeah!” Alice threw her hands in the air and did a little dance. “But it’s all top secret stuff. We can never tell the public we know the Magic Man.”
“This oath you took,” John asked, “did the Feds make you a deputy or something?”
“I swore on the Bible to serve and protect this country.”
“Honey, I think you’ve got to do that in front of a judge or someone higher up.”
“Do you think it matters?”
“I guess if Burrows swore you in, and said it was legit, then that’s all right with me. As long as the Bureau pays you, I’ll keep it a secret!” He screwed his face up and then grinned again. “Money before fame, that’s what I say.”
“Yes, it’s going to be hard work keeping it a secret, especially after you’ve had a few beers, you’ll want to tell our bowling friends all about it,” Alice said jovially.
“No I won’t, I can keep a secret as good as you can.” He shook his head. “But it does seem wrong, with all we’ve gone through lately we should be telling Burrows to stuff her job––and telling Joe to leave us alone.”
Alice’s smile vanished, she knew he was right. She was acting like a kid with a new toy. The opportunity to become a legitimate journalist––her lifelong dream––excited her even more than the money. “I guess you are right; who in their right mind would want to work with the Magic Man? But, you know how much I want to be a reporter, and if I’m working with Joe and the FBI, then I’m going to get scoop after scoop––it’s a chance any journalist would willingly jump at.” She had gone from being jovial to sad. “You do understand, don’t you? It’s the break I’ve been waiting for.”
“I know, honey, and I do understand.” John looked uncertain, though. “But Joe coming to you every night, and talking to you in your dreams––well, sometimes it freaks me out.”
“I know, babe, but when he comes to me in my dreams, we are sitting at the kitchen table, just like me and you are now.” Alice tried to make it sound like no big deal.
“You’re okay with that?”
“I’d like to give it a try. If it gets to be too much to handle, we can pack it in.”
“If that’s what you want, we’ll give it a go.” They hugged and kissed, both uncertain of what would come of it.
~
Joe had a lot to think about. Could this new assignment be a trap? Why did they want to know if he was a Muslim? Why hadn’t Agent Jones come back and asked him to follow up on Gerald Lomas? There were so many questions going through his mind. Stay alert, he told himself. Joe knew he’d have to pay Burrows and Jones a visit that night and find out more. He liked the idea of working with the FBI, and if they’d leave him to work through Alice, then he’d help them. But his gut feeling was telling him to dump Alice and Burrows’ offer, and move on, hoping the Feds hadn’t picked up any clues to who he really was. The Feds think I’m rich, they more than likely think I’ve used my gift to steal money and make millions. Huh … if only they knew that I’m just your average American Joe.
Joe paced back and forth, trying to work out what his best moves would be. Moving on would be the safest. The religion question had spooked him. If they knew I was a Jew, would that be as bad to them as being a Muslim? His mother’s parents had come to America from Poland at the outbreak of the Second World War. His father’s family went back to the gold strike, when his great-grandfather had come over from England. I’m as much an American as anyone—religion shouldn’t come into it. All Joe had to do was keep one step ahead of the Feds. Besides, it was always best to keep your enemy close and feed them a pack of lies to put them off. Let them think my parents were chapel people.
Joe grinned conspiratorially.
Chapter22
Alice had been waiting for Joe to call back, but he didn’t that night. She went to bed, half expecting him to wake her, or enter her dreams. She fell asleep thinking about
what Burrows said about flirting with him to keep his interest in her. And again, the thought of Dopey wanting to mount her from behind came to mind. I could ask Joe to take me back to see Snow White. But Joe didn’t contact her.
Alice woke at 8:30 a.m.; John had already gone to work. She tried to recall if Joe had come to her last night while she slept. No, she couldn’t remember even dreaming, and was a little disappointed. She went to the washroom, and then brushed her teeth. She was looking in the mirror, still half asleep, when Joe spoke.
“Good morning, Alice.”
Startled, Alice spat half the toothpaste on the mirror. “Good morning, Joe.”
“I’ve got to speak with you before you see Burrows.” “Now is not a good time, I’ve just got…”
Joe interrupted her. “Sorry, I’ll be back in fifteen
minutes.”
“It’s going to take me that long to clean this mirror. Joe,
are you there?” No answer. Quickly, Alice dressed, and was in
the kitchen making toast when Joe popped back into her mind. “Alice, can we talk now?”
“I thought we were going to talk last night,” Alice
commented as she continued with her breakfast. “I stayed awake
until late, waiting for you.”
“I’ve been busy. I paid Burrows and Mike a visit last
night to see if they were planning to trap me.”
“Oh, I see.” Alice took that to be his apology. She was
about to say he was taking a risk getting into their dreams, but
Joe didn’t give her a chance. He rambled on.
“Mike doesn’t like working with us, but he doesn’t know of any plan to catch us. As far as he thinks, I’m off the FBI’s most wanted list and on hold with the Murphy case.”
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?”
“Burrows is genuine when she says she wants us to help her. But when I asked her if the Bureau was still hoping to apprehend me, she said there were still those in the Pentagon and the Bureau that saw me as a threat. Also, if it was up to the Homeland Security, they’d have me assassinated.”
“Oh my God, can they do that?”
“We don’t know half of what goes on in the name of the country’s defense. But never mind about that. I’ve decided to try to get into that girl’s dream to see if I can help find the guys who raped and blinded her.”
“The four rapists … oh, that’s fantastic news.” Alice couldn’t hide her relief. “Wait until Burrows hears that.”
“Yes, well let’s try to keep an open mind about these assignments being a possible trap. First, I’ll tell you what I want you to tell Burrows. Then, after she’s gone, I want you to do me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Her first thought was of sex, and she quickly thought of something else before he read her thoughts. “I’ve scads of work to catch up on for the newspaper.” She could feel herself blushing as she remembered Burrows saying it would be a good idea to flirt with Joe, to keep him from moving on. “But I guess it can wait.” She gave a nervous cough. “So what’s this favor?” I bet he wants me to go and meet Robin Hood, she thought.
Joe smiled as he detected what she was thinking. “I’ll tell you later, first we’ve got some business to sort out.”
Alice was still going over the plans with Joe in her mind, in the kitchen, when Burrows arrived. Alice invited her in and made her a coffee. Alice knew Joe was still lurking in her mind, and watching every move Burrows made.
“Well, Mrs. Timberlake, did you have a chat with Joe?”
“Yes I did, but let’s cut out this Mrs. Timberlake … call me Alice.”
“It’s the Bureau’s rules,” she stated. “I’m always Special Agent Burrows, and we are to call you Mrs. Timberlake. I’m sorry, but those are the rules.”
“If we are going to be working together, then you better drop the rules and call me Alice,” she expressed. “Mrs. Timberlake is my mother-in-law.” She smirked mischievously. “Or, you could call me, Agent Timberlake?”
Burrows laughed. “Okay, you win, Alice it is, but you still have to call me Agent Burrows.” She opened her briefcase and pulled out her notepad. “Did Joe see the photos?” she asked.
“Yeah, but if you want him to get into that girl’s dreams, then you’ve got to play by his rules.” Alice held her hand up to stop Burrows from interrupting her. “It’s better if I say it as best as I can remember.”
Get Out Of My Dreams (Joe the Magic Man Series Book 1) Page 16
