by Ron Walden
“No, there isn’t anyone shooting at me if that’s what you are worried about. I love you, honey. I promise to be careful. It’s just an investigation. But I don’t know who is involved, so if anyone calls about me, all you know is that I am at work.”
“I worry so much about you getting hurt again. Please be careful. I love you.” In spite of what Dan said, she was getting an uneasy feeling.
“I promise. I love you, too. I have to go now, but I’ll call you as soon as I can. Roger’ll know where I am if you need me. Say ‘hi’ to the boys. Bye.” Dan had not wanted to worry her, but he knew she would worry even more if she didn’t know where he was.
The bathroom door opened.
“Your turn.”
“Thanks, are you getting hungry? I’ll get a quick shower, and we can go down for a bite to eat. I called my friend with the FBI, and he will be here in the morning. If it’s any comfort to you, we’re not alone any more.” He smiled at her and disappeared into the steamy bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, the two walked the hall back to the lobby and the dining room. They put their names on the list for a table and sat down at the bar.
“You are going to like my friend Roger. He’s a real character. Did I tell you he saved my life once?” He sipped his drink.
“No, you didn’t. How did that happen.” She drank lite beer.
“It was when I was a deputy sheriff and he was with DEA. We were making a raid on a marijuana farm and there was a big shootout. I stopped a car from escaping and jumped out of my vehicle to arrest the passengers. The driver got out of the car, and it was one of our deputies. I was so dumbfounded, I let him get the drop on me. He shot me, that’s this scar under my left ear, and would have killed me but for Roger. Roger got the guy before he could finish me. That was over 20 years ago. As they say, time goes by fast when you’re having fun.” Dan had not told this story to anyone on the pipeline before, and he didn’t understand why now.
They finished with dinner and returned to the room. The food and drinks had made him very sleepy. Dan sat on the edge of the bed and unbuttoned his shirt. Gwen went into the bathroom and returned in a couple of minutes with a large bath towel wrapped around her. She slid under the blankets of the other bed then tossed out the towel.
“Good night.” The light was barely off and the two were asleep.
Dan awakened at 6 to hear her moving around. She went into the bathroom and he slipped his pants on—then turned on the Today Show on television.
“…according to military sources. Again, repeating the news bulletin form news central. An armed force with sophisticated military equipment attacked the Saudi palace in Riyadh and captured the Saudi Royal Family. Simultaneously, another force attacked Kuwait City and captured the Prince and the Royal family. The attacking force had the markings of the, now defunct, USSR. Sources close to the military say the military doesn’t know who the attackers are. The State Department has told us they will issue a statement at noon, Eastern Standard Time. That’s about 45 minutes from now. There have been no reports on casualties or what the attackers intend to do with the members of the two royal families. We will bring you more information when it is available. We return you now to our regularly scheduled programming.”
The bathroom door opened and Gwen appeared. “Good morning. Rested?” She asked, smiling.
“You bet. I really slept. I’ll go clean up and we can get some breakfast. We have to pick up Roger at 9:30. Have you heard the news? Sounds like another war starting in the middle east,” He informed her as he walked into the other room.
After breakfast of coffee, juice two sunny eggs, and toast, they stopped at the desk and told the clerk they’d need the room for another night. On the drive to the airport, they discussed what they knew and reviewed the possibilities. There was nothing new they could add to the information they would give to Roger.
Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage was on time, and Roger Dorfmann walked down the ramp carrying a small athletic bag. He smiled when he saw Dan. They shook hands and slapped each other’s backs. Roger kept in shape by going to the gym every morning to exercise for an hour. There were flecks of gray in his blond hair, but the look of youth had not left him. Neither had the impish gleam in his eyes.
“Dan, old friend. I use the term loosely. What’s going on? You okay?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Atlas of the North. Have you had breakfast?” Dan asked, playfully.
“Yes, they served it on the plane.” Roger chuckled.
Gwen had moved closer,
“Roger, I want you to meet Gwen Stevens. She’s the one who brought this situation to my attention. She’s a technician for Trans Alaska Pipeline Service Company.”
“Pleased to meet you, Gwen” Roger said as he turned again to speak to Dan. “Do you have a place we can talk?”
“Yes, we have a room at the Captain Barratt. Any other baggage?” “Nope. I’m ready if you are.”
The three drove the few minutes back to the motel. Roger spent the time getting acquainted with Gwen. When they entered the lobby, Dan stopped at the desk and asked to have two pots of coffee sent to the room. Once in the room Roger asked,
“Okay, what’s this all about? I know you wouldn’t have called me unless it was important?”
Dan looked at Gwen, “Go ahead, lay it out for him.”
“Are you familiar with pipeline pig operations?” Gwen sat in one of the chairs and reached for her bag. She took out the sketches and diagrams she carried.
“I know they are used for cleaning and inspection of the inside the pipeline, but I have no technical knowledge,” Roger replied.
“You know what a pig is?” She asked again, handing him a diagram.
“Generally speaking, yes.”
“As Dan told you, I am a technician with TAPS. My training is in electrical engineering. When I came to work this week, they were preparing the Smart Pig for the scheduled run down the pipe. I was curious about the new pig and found electronic circuits inside I could not account for. I made these drawings and spent time studying them.”
Gwen spread the paper work on the coffee table. “I was once married to a nuclear engineer, and I worked with him on nuclear projects. I began to recognize the circuitry in the pig as similar to that from a nuclear warhead. Later, I remembered where I had seen some of this wiring.” She pointed to a schematic of what appeared to be an electrical box. “It came from a Soviet low yield tactical weapons warhead. When Dan came on duty I told him about it and here we are.” She watched to see if Roger was taking this seriously. Roger gave out a low whistle.
Dan spoke.
“That’s a somewhat Readers Digest version, but that’s the story. I had my suspicions confirmed when we were looking at the pig. The head technician for TMC found us and made some threats. He was not happy with us for looking inside the pig. This has to be big, Roger, for anyone to fit an atomic warhead into a five million dollar pipeline pig. We didn’t know who to trust, so I called you. I think we’re onto something that’s bigger than us both, so I called you. Maybe the three of us can surround it.”
“I assumed neither of you have lost your marbles and that you’re both dead serious, excuse the pun. When is this pig scheduled to start down the pipeline?” Roger asked.
“It was supposed to be put into the pig launch chamber yesterday at 1430. It should arrive at Pump Station Four sometime this evening. They’ll take it from the pipe, clean it up, recharge the batteries, replace the recording tapes, and put it back into the pipe in the morning.” Gwen volunteered.
“If it goes all the way to Valdez, it should be there next Tuesday.” Dan said, thinking for a moment, then turning to Gwen to ask, “What about the Pig Box and all the equipment and tools we saw at the warehouse. Won’t they have to truck that equipment down to support the pig operation?”
“You’re right, they will.” Gwen said.
Several hours passed while information and suppositions were evaluated and weighed by the
trio. Roger didn’t understand nuclear physics, but he knew someone who did.
Roger picked up the phone and dialed his office.
“Hello, Miss Dill. This is Roger Dorfmann. Look in your file and give me the number for Sam DeGrosso at Elmendorf Air Force Base.” There was a pause- then Roger began to write the number. “Thank you Miss Dill. If you need me, you can call the Fairbanks office.”
He pressed the button in the cradle of the telephone and released it again. Then while dialing he said, “Sam is a civilian with the Air Force. He heads the nuclear division at Elmendorf. He also has ties with the CIA…Yes, this is Roger Dorfmann, May I speak with Sam DeGrosso. Tell him it’s urgent.”
“Hello, Sam.” Roger was using his official voice. “Roger Dorfmann with the FBI …, Fine …, I have something here, some sketches, I want you to take a look at. I need your opinion as soon as possible. Do you have a fax number where I can send them to you?” He listened a moment, then wrote a number on the pad. “About 15 minutes. I’ll have to drive to the office, here to send them. Do you have that number? Thanks Sam.”
At the Fairbanks Field Office of the FBI, Roger asked for access to the secure fax machine. Roger was supervisor for operations in Alaska and the office began to secretly buzz with, “I-didn’t-know-the-boss-was-coming?” whispers. Roger ignored it and went about his business. A surprise visit by the boss from time to time would keep the office on its toes.
The second sheet of copy was just sent and the third was beginning when the phone rang. It was DeGrosso.
“Roger, this is Sam. Hold the rest of those drawings. I want to see the originals. I will be there in less than 2 hours, if I can get the base ops King Air. Can you meet me at Eielson?”
“Sure. Can I assume that these drawings contain what we suspected?” Roger wanted preliminary confirmation.
“Yes, and there are some things you may not know. I don’t want to discuss it on the phone…the secretary just told me I have the King Air. See you in less than 2 hours.”
The two strangers were introduced to the staff in the office. Current case load was discussed with Roger. There was a meeting in the conference room to discuss technical points in a missing person investigation. Roger tended his official business for over an hour while Gwen and Dan waited. The two were becoming impatient, checking watches, and pacing the floor when an office door opened and Roger emerged.
“Okay. We can go now.” Roger said as he walked past Dan.
Visitor passes were issued to the three at the gate to Eielson Air Force Base. Roger directed Dan to the base operations terminal as he drove through the base streets. They could see a Beechcraft King Air with U.S. Air Force markings, designated the C21A, taxiing to the terminal. Dan parked in the loading zone in front of the terminal. They all went inside to await the scientist/CIA man.
Sam DeGrosso was a short, solidly built man, with a quick gait, wearing gray slacks and a tan London Fog jacket. His black hair was graying. He stopped at the operations desk and spoke to the clerk. He finished his business at the desk, turned, and recognized Roger immediately. His expression remained stern as he approached.
“Hello Roger, good to see you again. Let’s go down the hall. There’s an empty office we can use.” He turned and began to walk ahead of them.
They passed an open door. Sam spoke to the airman inside and was given directions to a vacant office. The four entered and closed the door. Sam was about to speak when there was a knock on the door. Sam opened the door to see the airman he had spoken with earlier.
“Can I get you any coffee or juice, sir?” he said.
“No, thank you. I would appreciate it though if you would ensure our privacy. We do not want to be disturbed. If we need anything, we’ll call.” Sam then closed the door. He turned back to the small group again and apologized, “Sorry to be so abrupt, but what you have here may have international significance.”
Roger spoke,
“Sam, this is Dan Webster. He’s with Pipeline Security.” The two men shook hands.
“And this is Gwen Stevens. She’s a technician with Trans Alaska Pipeline Service Company, and who made the sketches I sent you.”
“Pleased to meet you both,” Sam said, “I’ve heard Roger speak of you before, Dan.” He turned to Gwen. “Are you really the one that did these drawings? They are very good and, I might add, very accurate. Where did you see this?”
She related her story about her curiosity of the new micro circuitry inside the ultrasonic pig. She told how she had recognized the wiring leading from the front bulkhead of the pig as that of a nuclear device. She told how she had enlisted Dan to help her get word to someone about what she had found.
Dan volunteered his supposition about the device inside the pig having a destination of Valdez and the Marine Terminal. He gave a thumbnail sketch of the operation of the Operations Control Center (OCC). After telling how this destruction would disrupt the flow of oil without devastation of the pipeline or the main terminal, he said, “But we still don’t have a clue about who is responsible.”
Sam had been taking notes. He thumbed through them and finally looked up and said, “I can’t think of anything else I need from you two. I want to assure you that action will be taken as soon as I get back to my office. You two have done a remarkable job of keeping this a secret. I’m flying back to Anchorage to get started on this. Roger, would you handle the company and start the ball rolling to get this thing into our possession before it can be armed?”
“Sure. I’ll be available through the Fairbanks office if you need anything more tonight.” Roger said. “If there’s nothing more here tonight, we’ll leave and start on this the first thing in the morning.”
Sam looked at the pile of papers in front of him for a moment before responding, “Nothing I can think of right now; I’ll be talking with you in the morning, thanks Roger.”
The three picked up their jackets and were about to open the door when Sam spoke again.
“I want you to know that what you have discovered is of vital national importance. I’ll try to get clearance tonight to allow you to know the whole story. Meanwhile, I want you two to know that, though you may never get a medal for it, you are heroes.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The best idea was Roger’s. The three would fly back to Anchorage with Sam in the Air Force King Air. Dan would stay with Roger, and Gwen could stay at her place. In the morning, there would be a meeting with TAPS company brass to discuss a course of action. Roger would have one of his local agents pick up the rental car and return it to the airport.
They stopped for a late supper at the Cattle Company enroute from Elmendorf Air Force Base. While at the restaurant, Roger called a private number to make an appointment for an early meeting the next morning.
It was almost midnight when Roger and Dan sipped a cup of tea at Roger’s house. Both men were tired and had little to say. Roger led Dan to his room and told him where to find clean towels.
“See you in the morning,” Roger said.
It seemed to Dan that he had only just closed his eyes when Roger yanked at his covers. “Sun shining, bud. Lift that sleepy head.” Dan showered while Roger found him a change of clothing. By the time he was dressed, coffee was hot
“Good morning.” Roger looked up from the table and smiled.
“Well, you’re half right.” Dan ran his fingers through his damp hair. “A couple of hours sleep would’ve felt better. Have you heard from Gwen?”
“I called her a few minutes ago. We’ll go by her place and pick her up as soon as you finish your coffee. George Lords wants to see us at eight. I called Sam and he’ll meet us there.”
A very tall blond in a blue dress met the four and showed them to a conference room. A tray of pastries and fresh coffee was on a small table. There were large photographs of the pipeline covering the walls. Behind the conference table, the wall had eight by ten framed pictures of company executives. It was exactly eight o’clock when George arrived; with him
was Bill Scott, Director of Operations for Pipeline Security Corporation.
George was a man well respected in the law enforcement community. He had been the director of the Department of Public Safety for the State of Alaska. He had been an Alaska State Trooper and was generally known throughout the state as a good cop. He was now the head of the TAPS security and aviation divisions.
TAPS had suffered through a period of scandal caused by leaks of sensitive information. An investigation had been authorized by the president of the company to find the source of the leaks. The Trans Alaska Pipeline Service Company president had given George the authority to hire Metzgar Security, a private security company, to do the investigation.
Metzgar Security set up a dummy company and attempted to obtain confidential information and learn the sources from which it had been routed. The investigation found a powerful entrepreneur, a senator and several TAPS company employees the culprits.
Once the investigation was made public, the mudslinging began in earnest. A congressional investigation was called to determine the propriety of the investigation by Tran Alaska Pipeline Service Company. George gave a calm and professional testimony. He gave the company position and explained its directives regarding the investigation. Although TAPS was embarrassed by the publicity, George was able to convince the investigating committee that his company’s roll had been undertaken with honorable intentions. It was decided the investigation had been intended to stop leaks of confidential information and had not been intended to defame public officials.
Bill Scott, like George Lords, was a retired Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner. He had also worked his way up from the bottom. He came to the troopers from the small town of Cordova, Alaska. He too was considered a good, respected cop. His present position was General Operations Manager for Pipeline Security Company.
George sat at the head of the table, a yellow legal pad positioned in front of him. He looked up and surveyed the group in front of him.
“Good morning. Do we all know everyone here?”
