by L. M. Vila
She was instantly filled with an array of questions. The first one being, “Where are you?”
“Kyoto. Following a lead on Ryoo Myung-Dae.”
Nicole went silent on the other for a brief moment.
“What have you found so far?”
“Used to run with Korean gangs peddling a drug called Longini.”
“Longini?” She was silent once more. “What does that even mean?”
Michael thought she would react that way. Thankfully, he had an expert on the field as a tagalong. Though the story itself is ripe with religious interpretation, Michael kept it short and sweet.
“It’s a play on the name of the Roman Soldier who stabbed Jesus Christ during his crucifixion.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Nicole added. “North Korea is an atheist country. They think of religion as a form of control. Why would they give it such a distinct name?”
“No idea.”
“Do you think it’s related to what we discussed earlier?”
“Don’t know,” Michael stated. “But it’s our only lead.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I need more info on Ryoo Myung-Dae’s activities prior to working with Charles Logan. Specifically any gang ties.”
“I’ll call Mark and let him know.”
Michael became suspicious at that answer. Nicole wouldn’t trust anyone else with that kind of information. Even if Mark was considered trustworthy, the more people in the loop, the more questions get asked.
“Is everything alright?”
His tone had changed slightly. More inquisitive with a slight hint of caring.
“I’m fine Michael. Everything’s fine.”
The FBI agent was still not convinced but he didn’t press the issue. Nicole had always been open and honest with him in the past. There’s no need to question that now especially given the current situation. The FBI may very declare him AWOL again and he may never even make it Washington without a pair of handcuffs chained to his wrists.
“Have you contacted Adrian yet?” Nicole asked breaking the brief silence.
“No,” he coldly replied. “I’ll deal with him later.”
“He emailed you the specifics on your assignment. I imagine he would be more upset over the matter but over the last two days he’s seemed distracted. Probably for the best but knowing him, I wouldn’t breathe easy just yet.”
A lucky break indeed. Michael was wondering what kind of story he’d have to cook up to explain everything. Even so, Commander Wells always has his back. Positive results meant more to her than protocol. In matters as sensitive as this, results were the only thing that mattered.
“Understood.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I hear back. Is this the best number to reach you?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” said Nicole with a sigh.
The phone was quiet on both ends for what seemed like minutes. Then, she spoke.
“Take care of yourself Michael.”
Those words were gentle and full of emotion. They weren’t the words of a superior officer or even a professional colleague. Michael knew exactly how she meant them but he couldn’t help but feel there was something more to it. That thought placated his attention for only a few seconds before reality settled back in. He replied with the one response he hoped would settle the matter and perhaps bring her back to her usual self.
“Yes Commander.”
The line went dead on her end. Michael stuffed the phone back into his coat pocket and focused on the road ahead. He had completely forgotten Davis was even in the car with him. Not that it mattered. His presence was hardly noticeable at most times which is just the way the FBI agent liked it. With the exception of his pension for asking questions, Michael was starting to enjoy this kind of partnership. For now, anyways.
“You have a special relationship with that woman, don’t you?” Davis asked trying not trying too hard to hide his smile.
So much for his previous sentiments. Michael was hoping not to dive into this area with Davis so he shot him a quick dart of his eyes and continued driving. Talking about his previous relationship with Shiori should have been sufficient. He hadn’t talked about that with anyone else. Not even with Meryl or Nicole.
“Do you trust her?”
It was a simple question that would hopefully stir up a new conversation. The young Paladin was not going to back down now.
“Yes.”
His response was quick and cold as always.
“Why do you put so much faith into that woman? Is it because of your history or do you actually have feelings for her?”
Michael knew what Davis was alluding to but it certainly wasn’t anywhere on the romantic spectrum. That part of Michael’s heart sat in a locked vault that he didn’t intend to find let alone open. In all of his years of observing and studying human relationships, they mostly always led to strife and disaster. Michael was a creature of logic; always has been.
“She saved my life.”
The young Paladin should have expected that answer and yet he still chuckled to himself. Michael Madison was certainly an elusive creature. Still, there was one more topic of interest that Davis was looking forward to discussing. This particular subject was of great interest to the young Paladin.
“And what about the other one? Miss Meryl Lewis? What is your relationship like with her?”
This man must have memorized the list of topics Michael did not want to talk about with anyone. Granted it is an extensive list but the FBI agent wasn’t going to give in that easily. Davis would have better luck changing the color of the sky than to get Michael to talk candidly about that subject. He’d made his peace with Meryl last year. They can leave it at that for now.
Kyoto was still many hours away. The FBI agent’s lack of comment only proved to increase Davis’ curiosity about the matter. He promised himself to take down the walls of Michael’s heart. Slowly but surely, the young Paladin would see the true depth of this potential antichrist’s soul. That may be the only thing that will save this beautiful world of theirs.
March 26th, 2013 7:57AM
Washington, D.C.
The FBI Director paced around his thoughts for a few brief seconds before opening his mouth and beginning his initial line of questioning.
“So let me get this straight, you two were eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant.”
“Actually,” Agent Yuan interrupted, “It was Korean sir.”
Their superior shot her a look so hard it could shatter diamonds. He didn’t need to say anything else about the matter and Shelly didn’t dare bring it up again.
“And then you decide to get involved in a spat between family members. The wife of the owner purchased a piece of fake jewelry and her brother was trying to return it back to the vendor that sold him that crap.”
The Director paused for a moment to take a deep breath. His gazed hardened.
“Then Agent Lewis chases him out of the restaurant, tackles him in a dog park all in front of the prying eyes and cameras of the general public?”
The Director’s eyes locked onto Meryl’s.
“Did I hear everything correctly? Is that what happened?”
Meryl couldn’t keep her head up as much as she tried not to look intimidated but continued to fail. “Yes sir,” she sheepishly replied. This wasn’t like her at all.
“My father always had a saying. Any time you think of a plan of action, from something as innocent as going out drinking with your buddies on a work night, always say what it is you’re going to do out loud and add your honor to the end of it. If you don’t feel like it’s something that sounds good in front of a judge then perhaps it isn’t something you want to be doing in the first place. I really liked that saying. It always helped keep me out of trouble growing up.”
The Director’s father was a powerful and successful man in his own right. Famous attorney for over thirty years in the state of Texas and grew up t
o be Senator of that state for six long and successful years before retirement. Howard was looking forward to that day where he too could look back at his career with great pride as he’s sitting on his father’s ranch back home telling stories to his grandkids one day. This would not be one of those stories.
“Damn it Agent Lewis!” Shouted the Director.
The windows in his office seemed to shake with the force of an earthquake.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You could have compromised the entire operation. Three months of planning flushed entirely down the drain over a misunderstanding? Are you nuts?”
His pitched increased in both volume and menace.
“Sir, if I may,” Shelly cut in. “This is entirely my fault. It was just a harmless joke, I never – “
“Don’t think I’m not equally pissed at you Agent Yuan. That’s why you’re sitting in that seat right next to her.”
Shelly kept her mouth shut. She didn’t dare raise the ire of her already angered superior.
“Have you even thought about the backlash of your actions?” He spat. “You’re going undercover Agent Lewis, sitting side by side with the President of the United States in what may very well be the most historically significant peace talks in the history of this earth. No one is supposed to know that you’re undercover. I can’t have your face going viral this close to the deadline. It’s unacceptable Agent Lewis!”
His words stung but still painfully accurate. Meryl couldn’t raise a single voice of opposition unlike the many times she had found herself in similar situations. That was a long time ago. She had to remind herself things worked differently here. Though Meryl had hoped this was the end of it, the Director seemed like he still had plenty of steam in the exhaust.
“Don’t think I haven’t read your history at least ten times before putting you on this assignment Lewis. I know you used to have a pension for this shit back in the L.A.P.D. but that attitude needed to die in the past with them. We don’t work on impulse here Agent Lewis. We are an organization built on logic and control. If I wanted my agents to chase down purse snatchers and jaywalkers I’d change the sign outside of the building to read Washington Police Department. I shouldn’t be dealing with shit like this from one of my best agents let alone two of them!”
The vehemence that had filled in the room had almost turned the air visibly red. Director Miller was far from pleased and at this point, may never find it again.
“Thank God for the Patriot Act though. You’re just damned lucky most of those civilians stuck around long enough to confiscate all of that digital evidence. Could you imagine the looks on those diplomat’s faces when they see the Internet’s newest celebrity chatting amongst them? They’d think it was a joke if you hadn’t already been made as a government agent. Which is probably much worse in their eyes. This is supposed to be a meeting to build trust so we’re trying our damnedest not to get caught when sneaking shit in.”
The Director’s tone seemed to calm down just a little bit. His voice was sharp and uncannily professionally but still filled with noticeable rage.
“Have I made my case or do you need further evidence?”
Both agents nodded. They didn’t even have the resolve to say another word in their defense.
“Just to be safe we’ll be altering the operation slightly. You’ll be wearing a wig plus additional makeup and effects. It should suffice to get through the initial proceedings. After that we’ll be shipping you back to Los Angeles the moment this operation is complete. I better not hear another word about this or anything similar for the remainder of this operation. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir,” they both mustered sounding completely defeated.
“Good,” the Director stated.
His focus shifted towards the stack of work continually piling up on his computer.
“Now get back to work.”
They both stood up and left the Director’s office without saying a single word. When the Director’s office was a respectable distance away, Shelly broke her silence.
“Jesus Christ Meryl I am so sorry,” she pleaded with the utmost level of sincerity she could muster. “I just wanted to play a joke on you and –”
“It’s okay Shelly,” Meryl interrupted. “It was my fault for reacting like that.”
“But,” Agent Yuan pleaded.
Meryl immediately waved off her appeal.
“I’m not mad. Well, at least not at you. Normally my impulses always lead me in the right direction,” she laughed. “Besides, I’m already used to getting chewed out. Don’t beat yourself up for it.”
“I can’t… It’s just that, we were really hitting it off back there and,” Shelly’s voice wavered for a moment, “I thought we were becoming good friends, you know? It’s hard enough being a woman if a predominately male world let alone finding another you actually get along with.”
“I know how you feel Shelly,” Meryl said placing a caring arm on your shoulder.
“God that was such a stupid joke,” Shelly sighed to herself.
It would take a hole one mile deep to effectively bury herself from this embarrassment.
“I’m such an idiot.”
“It’s okay Shelly, really!” Defended Meryl. “What’s done is done. We can’t change the past. No use dwelling on it now. We’ll just move past this and pull off one hell of an operation and make the Director completely forget about what happened.”
Meryl was really strong. If Shelly had any doubts about her before they were instantly quelled after today. Not too many people can walk away from a beating like that with their head held high. It’s no wonder why the Director chose her for this operation.
“Are we, I mean, are you… Okay?” She asked. “With everything? And me?”
“Absolutely,” Meryl smiled. “I won’t hold this against you. Especially since you’ll be paying for the next dinner.”
“Really?” Laughed Shelly.
Her companion’s humor was both uplifting and welcomed.
“No Korean this time?”
“Actually, I’m thinking Italian,” Meryl replied.
“I know just the place,” Shelly said,
“Oh no. Knowing my luck it will be filled with mobsters. I’m going with Yelp this time around.”
Agent Yuan couldn’t hold back her laughter even if she tried. Meryl’s reputation may not be as legendary as her partner in Los Angeles but her own story was certainly starting to grow here.
Shelly checked her watch.
“Well, it looks like it’s time to start our lessons. We’ll go over the basics again but if there’s anything else you’d like to know –”
“How do you say Stop thief!?”
“You’re pushing your luck,” smiled Shelly.
Meryl winked.
“It’s just my nature.”
March 26th, 2013 8:35AM
Los Angeles, CA
In all of his years of experience, Adrian Fischer had never met a teenager quite as tough as the kid sitting in the interrogation room. On the ride over he was completely silent. Not a single word of anger, despair, or fear passed through his mouth. It was like he didn’t even care that he could spend years and jail for what he pulled. At least, it didn’t appear that way. He may just be one damned good liar to boot.
The boy sat in the room in front of a large metal table. A closed laptop was lying dormant on top while a thick stack of papers stood idle in the unused chair nearby. The S.A.C. stood in silence for a few moments just as he was taught in training. Give the suspect a few moments to go through the hundreds, possibly thousands of scenarios in his head and they’ll drive themselves mad. Make them become their own worst enemy and they’ll say and do whatever it takes to stop it from continuing.
“Roberto Simmons was it?” Adrian asked going over the kid’s file in his hands.
Straight A student, top of his class, considered a genius among his peers. Too bad he was stuck in a poor school district or else the bo
y may have a chance of actually making something positive with himself. Bumming around the illegal territory of the Internet was not going to earn him favor with colleges but maybe, just maybe it could earn him a few points today.
“Yea puerco?” Roberto replied leaning back in the chair with both arms folded without a care in the world.
The humor in his tone notwithstanding, Adrian had been called a pig in seven languages already. This kid was not being cute or original.
“You’re in very big trouble young man, do you know how serious this is?”
The S.A.C. decided to play the fatherly card on this one. With the kid’s dad gone for over 10 years, it may strike enough of a nerve to get a decent reaction out of him
“Quit trying to act like my father bitch,” he insulted. “You ain’t got shit on me puerco.”
“Oh no?” Adrian said trying not to act too surprised.
He tapped the button on the conference receiver.
“Mark?”
“Yea boss?”
The analyst’s voice cam in loud and clear though he was sitting comfortably at his desk on the other side of the building.
“What have you found so far on our friend here?”
“According to my initial findings, he’s pretty transparent once you get to know him. Even easier since he keeps all of the details on his personal drives. Created his first virus when he was twelve, compromised a bunch of ATMs for Bank of America. Lot of similar things for the next year or so, then he moved onto bigger things like coordinated DDoS attacks from multiple infected machines just to slow down servers to get concert tickets. Oh, and it looks like he’s an avid gamer too. Hey, would you look at that. I thought I recognized your handle. You play on the Kato Clan server. I think totally shoved an RPG right up your –”
“That’s fine Mark,” cutting off the analyst before he dives into unnecessary territory. “Tell me something he wouldn’t think we’d know.”
“You mean that he can’t swim and that he fears other people will find out he can’t. Or that he has a certain, borderline stalking, infatuation with a Ms. Rebecca Montecito? Age seventeen, blonde, athletic, second team on the cheerleading squad, sits two seats ahead of him in English –”
