by Andrew Watts
The Major gave him a strange look, like that wasn’t as important.
“Right,” he said.
Brooke shuffled the deck like she was a Vegas dealer. When Henry found out that Norman Shepherd had a deck of cards, he invited him into the group. It was 10:30 p.m. and they were all sitting on the ugly carpet of her room. Last night Brooke had been playing alone with Henry, door open. She had been forced to listen to him talk the entire time about his collection of sports cars and ex-wives. She liked him just fine. He was funny. And while he was entertaining, and a decent poker player, she was happy to get a larger group involved.
Glickstein had recruited David, Natesh, and Norman. The evening meeting had just gotten out. They had agreed to play for one hour before they called it a night. With no Internet, no TV, and no phones, this was the best entertainment around. They were here for three weeks. At the pace they were going, everyone needed a little break.
Norman had used several rolls of scotch tape, paper, and black marker to create makeshift chips. You couldn’t shuffle them like Brooke liked to do when she went to the poker room just north of Fort Meade, but they served their purpose. She had a stack of the highest value chips in front of her. The rest of the group had not been so lucky.
Norman said, “Hey, Brooke, you should think about quitting the NSA and playing professional poker.”
She smiled. “Nah. The NSA keeps me happy.”
Glickstein said, “Yeah, happy reading my emails.”
Norman asked, “Okay, since everyone here has a security clearance, I’ve always wanted to know. Do you guys really read everyone’s emails? Do you really listen in on everyone’s phone calls?”
She rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t be silly. We don’t read everyone’s emails. Only Glickstein’s.”
Henry smirked knowingly. “I knew it.”
Brooke was happy to notice that even David was relaxing, if only a little. He’d smiled more in the past ten minutes than he had all day in their team’s meetings. She got the impression that he seriously didn’t want to be here on the island. And something told her that it wasn’t just because he missed his family. She was pretty good at reading people. He had made that one odd comment to her the other day, and then they’d never finished their conversation. What had he said? Something about not trusting the reason they were there. She took a mental note to ask him about that later.
Henry threw in two crumpled paper chips and said, “Raise twenty dollah.”
“Fold.”
“Fold.”
“Call,” said Natesh.
Brooke said, “Call,” and threw in two chips.
The three players showed their cards. Natesh had them both beat with another full house. The group let out a mix of exclamations, swears, and laughter. It was good to let loose.
As Brooke shuffled, Henry said, “So Natesh, have you been using your Internet access here to play online poker?”
Natesh said, “Ha-ha. No, my friend. The Major and I are all business in there, I’m afraid.”
Henry said, “So how’s the Major? That guy seems like a real asshole if you ask me. Pardon my French. I probably shouldn’t talk bad about him. I don’t really know him. But he never talks to anyone. And he always acts like he’s above the rest of us. And why’s he always carrying that gun around? What’s he gonna do, shoot us if we get outta line?”
Norman said, “He’s Air Force. I think he’d be more liable to brush your hair than shoot you.”
Henry scoffed. He said, “But really—Natesh, what’s his deal?”
Natesh shrugged. He said, “His deal? I don’t know. He works with Lena pretty closely. I think she just wanted someone to act as security. Just in case.”
Henry said, “Humph.”
Brooke watched the exchange. She was used to having a lot of armed security where she worked. She wasn’t too concerned. David’s face was grey again. What was bothering him so much?
Norman said, “You guys hear about the Psychological Operations Team’s strategy to start a war with Iran? They looked at 9/11 and decided that the quickest way to get us to go to war with Iran would be to stage a terrorist attack on the United States that was so gruesome and emotionally charged that the public would demand retribution.”
David said, “What was the plan?”
Norman just shook his head. “That one guy. Dr. Creighton. They’re calling him Dr. Evil. The guy’s kind of a freak. I’m not sure where they found him. So he came up with this idea involving a massive traffic jam on the beltway around DC.”
Brooke said, “Uh…sorry guys, but I hate to tell you. The beltway is a traffic jam.”
Norman said, “He basically designed a terrorist attack. His idea is to create a massive traffic jam and have several teams of terrorists with handguns just walk along the stopped traffic and shoot people in their cars. If you timed it well enough, he thought the casualties would get pretty high. And in the DC area, you’re bound to get some high-profile targets, or their families, or co-workers of the decision makers. Dr. Evil also mentioned attacking schools.”
Henry said, “Schools? What kind of sick plan is that?”
“Yeah. Schools. But not just any schools. Christian schools. The idea was that it would look like a religious thing. They said if you’d planned the beltway attacks at the same times as the school attacks, you’d have virtually guaranteed a large-scale military response, just because of the national anger you would create. People would demand retribution, and look to the politicians to deliver.”
Brooke said, “That’s disgusting. I’m a little embarrassed that one of our groups even proposed that. I thought this was supposed to be about how China could attack us. Isn’t that why we’re here? Aren’t we supposed to be focusing on military conflicts with the Chinese? How did one of the groups get to planning a school attack?”
Norman said, “Well, technically, this is what we were asked to do. They wanted us to come up with a way to get a lot of American assets out of the way, so to speak, so that China would have the least resistance possible.”
Brooke looked at David. He had family in that area. He was glancing around at everyone nervously. He kept opening his mouth like he was going to speak, and then would stop and look down at the floor.
Finally, David said, “Guys…”
Natesh said, “Brooke, I know what you mean. But the task was how to create China’s most effective and efficient plan. They were looking for a way to remove American military obstacles.”
David said, “Guys.”
Brooke said, “Still, that’s disgusting. I don’t know if I want to be part of talks like that.”
Henry said, “Yeah, Bill was lucky he got to go home.”
David said, “Guys, I need to say something important.”
Brooke and the others looked at David. He was looking at the floor. He was struggling with getting the words out.
Brooke said, “David, what is it?”
David looked up at her and said, “I don’t think that Bill made it home.”
Brooke frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw something. The other night. When Bill left.”
She could see that he was disturbed. This was the same troubled look he’d worn all day.
Norman said, “David, what’s up? What did you see?”
He stayed silent. He turned and looked at the door. It was open just a crack. He got up and closed it, then returned to his spot on the floor. The others watched him with growing interest.
Natesh put his hand on David’s shoulder and said, “David, you’re among friends. Whatever is bothering you, you can trust us.”
David said, “Sorry, I need to get this out, but I don’t want anyone outside this room to hear.”
Henry said, “No problem. We’re in the trust tree here. Spill it. What’s wrong?”
“It was when the helicopter came. The night Bill left. It was late. Middle of the night. I couldn’t sleep. Jet lag or something. I don’t know wh
y I did it, but I decided to take a little walk outside. I guess I was still thinking about my family and needed to clear my head. I thought the walk would help…”
Brooke said, “And what did you see?”
“I saw Lena take Bill to the helicopter. It was dark, and I was still a little freaked out about the way they kidnapped me and threw me on the plane to take me here. I guess I was having trust issues anyway. So I guess that’s why, when I heard the door to the Comms building open—I was standing nearby—I ducked into the bushes. I was hidden pretty well, I guess. Nobody saw me. Like I said, it was dark…”
Norman said, “You hid from her?”
David said, “Like I said, they kidnapped me twenty-four hours earlier. It was the middle of the night, and I had heard helicopter rotors in the distance. Something just didn’t feel right. Anyway, while I was hiding I saw her drag Bill out. He wasn’t conscious.”
“What!” Brooke put her hand over her mouth.
Henry held his hands out. “Shh. Let him finish.”
David said, “I don’t know if he was dead or what. But he wasn’t walking under his own power. Lena met up with a guy from the helicopter and then took him up into her building…”
Norman got louder and used a stern voice. “Wait. Hold up. You’re saying he was unconscious? What the—? Why didn’t you say anything about this before?”
Henry’s voice was soft. “Let him finish.”
David said, “Sorry. I’m sorry for not letting you know sooner. But I’m afraid of what we’re into here. I saw Lena walk down to the helicopter, then walk back up with a guy wearing a helmet and uniform—”
Norman said, “What color uniform?”
“I couldn’t see. It was dark. But the two of them went into the building and then came out with Bill. Each of them had one of Bill’s arms wrapped around their shoulders. They carried him like that—dragged him, really—down to the helicopter. Then Lena came back and the helo flew off. I waited a while before I moved. I didn’t want to be seen. I wasn’t sure what to think after witnessing that. I watched her go back into the Comms building. I waited ten minutes. I didn’t want to take any chance and get seen. When I thought that the coast was clear, I walked as quickly as I could back up to my room. But she saw me…”
Brooke said, “What? What did she do?”
“She came into the barracks as I was opening the door to my room. She asked if I had gone outside and I said no. But I think she knew I was lying. She…she wiped some of the sand off my shirt and then left.”
Henry covered his mouth with his fist, pressing his lips to his thumb. He looked lost in thought.
Brooke leaned forward, mouth open. She kept saying, “Why would she do that to Bill? Why would she do that to Bill?”
Natesh was the calmest of the group. He said, “David, are you sure there is not a reasonable explanation for any of this?”
The others looked at Natesh and then back at David.
David said, “I saw her again this morning. I was out running. On the runway.”
Norman said, “You went running? Like—for exercise? After what you saw her do to Bill?”
David said, “Well, first off, I didn’t actually see her do anything to Bill. But I’ve been going crazy keeping this to myself. And this may sound weird, but I’m kind of a workout nut. I needed to get my fix. I was like a stressed smoker who needed a cigarette.”
Norman rolled his eyes and said, “Yeah, I knew guys like that in the Marines. Whatever, man. Just—Jesus, you know? This is a big deal. One—watch your back. And two—you should have told us. So what the hell happened when you saw her this morning?”
David said, “Nothing at first. She just ran right by me going the other direction. But then she came over to me when I was finished and stretching. It was a weird conversation. She told me to do my job and not—how did she put it? She told me not to make waves or something. She basically was telling me to shut up and keep quiet. Guys, I don’t trust her at all. I was trying to think of a good reason for why I saw what I saw, but I can’t think of one. I needed to tell someone. I’m starting to think…”
Brooke said, “Think what?”
Henry said, “You’re starting to think that this operation isn’t legit. Right?”
David nodded, “Right. I couldn’t see that helicopter very well. But I come from a big Navy family. My sister’s actually a helicopter pilot in the Navy. And I swear that thing didn’t look or sound like one of ours.”
Natesh said, “There has to be some reasonable explanation for all of this.”
They were whispering now. Brooke heard a few voices in the hallway outside her door. People walking back to their rooms.
Brooke said, “Okay, let’s think about this logically. What are the facts?”
Henry said, “Well, Bill’s gone. That’s one fact.”
David said, “Natesh, how long have you known Lena?”
Natesh said, “A week. Maybe ten days.”
“Can you be sure that she is who she claims to be?”
The others studied Natesh. Maybe they were wondering if he wasn’t in on it. Brooke thought that was highly unlikely. The guy was in his twenties. An entrepreneur. A business consultant. It wasn’t the profile. Right?
Natesh said, “If we’re going by the facts, then the answer is no. She approached me about ten days ago. First via phone. Then a onetime meeting at a rented office in the Bay Area.”
Norman looked at David as he said, “So David—you’re saying you don’t think she’s really CIA?”
David said, “The way I see it, there could be two reasons why Bill would be taken away like that. One: Lena and this whole operation are legit. She’s CIA but because of the level of secrecy of this operation, they kept Bill heavily sedated during transport. It was like putting a bag over his head so he wouldn’t see anything. Two: Lena and this whole operation are not legitimate. In which case, all bets are off. And these plans that we’re making got a whole lot scarier.”
Norman said, “Holy shit. Holy shit…” He started looking around the room like he wanted to punch something.
Henry remained composed. It was a stark contrast to his normally humorous tone. He said, “I agree with your reasoning. I don’t see too many possibilities beyond that. But let’s go with scenario number two. Let’s say Lena and this island are a big sham. What’s the angle?”
Brooke was thinking. Her eyes went back and forth looking at the ceiling. She said, “Okay, look, I’ve been working on related operations for weeks. Fact: Jinshan and the Chinese invasion plot are real. David, you’ve worked on the cyberweapon that they supposedly have access to. ARES, right? We know that capability is real. Why would anyone bring us to this island if not to help plan the defense against a Chinese attack?”
David said, “But we’re not planning the defense. We’re planning the attack.”
Brooke said, “So…Lena actually works for…”
Henry nodded. “Say it.”
Brooke said, “…China.”
Everyone was quiet.
Brooke said, “This has all been staged by China? But then we can’t trust anything Lena has told us. So is ARES really in countdown?”
Henry said, “The question to ask is - are the Chinese really making plans to attack? If the answer to that is yes, what is this Red Cell all about? A way to gather extra information before the attack?”
Natesh said, “I’m not ready to conclude any of that yet…but I think it is prudent to evaluate all possibilities.”
Henry said, “Look, I don’t want to be racist or anything, but Lena is Asian. Probably Chinese ancestry. Maybe that’s a little too obvious to make that connection, and I know we aren’t supposed to profile anymore, but…I mean that’s almost too obvious. All of the stewards are Asian, too. There’s a highly freaking likely possibility that we’re in the freaking Pacific, for God’s sake. I mean, if we think of it like that, I start feeling like an idiot. They practically took us to the Sheraton in Beijing and as
ked us to fill out a Q&A on where America’s weaknesses lay.”
Natesh said, “Okay, let’s calm down. Lena is one person. If no one else will, I will play devil’s advocate. I highly doubt that it is within the realm of possibility that the Chinese government would place all of us here with one person from their intelligence service.”
David said, “I agree. But that doesn’t mean that this hasn’t been staged by the Chinese. To me, that just suggests that we need to watch our backs. They wouldn’t try to do something like this and leave her alone with all of us on an island. Right? Just like you are suggesting, that sounds too risky. So—who else is helping her?”
They each looked at each other.
“The Major? That guy’s weird as hell,” said Norman.
Brooke nodded. “And he’s been here from the start. I could see that. And he carries a gun. He’s also got access to the Communications building.”
“So do I,” said Natesh.
The others went quiet.
David broke the awkward silence and said, “Sorry, Natesh. It’s just—”
Natesh said, “It’s alright. Go ahead and be suspicious. Ask me anything. I would, if I was in your shoes. Again, it is only prudent. However, I can guarantee that I am most definitely not a Chinese spy. I am not a traitor.”
He was telling the truth. David could see it in his eyes. David said, “No one is accusing you of being a traitor. But—what do you think about the Major?”
Natesh grimaced. He said, “I…I can’t back anything up with facts…”
Brooke said, “Can’t back what up with facts?”
He said, “I just get this feeling. Like he is enjoying this too much. He almost enjoys being on a team that is outsmarting the US.”
Brooke said, “That’s what they said about Robert Hanssen. The FBI agent who spied for the Russians. He didn’t do it for the money. He did it because he loved the ego boost. You think Combs is like that?”
Norman said, “He’s pretty old to be just a Major. Maybe he was prior-enlisted or something. But if he wasn’t, that means he was probably passed over for promotion a lot. A guy like that would probably get disgruntled and jaded after a while. But that doesn’t mean he is a traitor.”
