Brad’s mother was happy to see him but had a fit when he didn’t bring her grandson for a visit. She went out playing that she was angry and called the travel agent of a flight to North Bend to see her grandson for a few days. After making reservations she calls Sujin and told her she was coming. Sujin was happy to hear her mother in law coming and told her the weather was nice this time of year on the beach.
The three of them were sitting in Phillips study, Brad was listening to his father talk about the military suicides in Washington. His father knew he was responsible, but didn’t know the details and Brad had softly told him he didn’t want to know. Now his father said, “I finally hit some pay dirt about rogue military officers in support of the two generals.” Brad ears perked up and now he was on full alert to what his father was saying as he continued, “Yes, their aids are in it up their eye balls. Apparently this goes deeper than we realized. We found two one star’s and a couple of colonels with god knows how many more there might be. Seems like the Middle East has turned these guys with the deaths of so many American soldiers; it would seem the days of soldiers following blindly into battle is over. We have professional soldiers now and they think for themselves. They think fighting street to street with suicide bombers who don’t play by the conventional rules of war is not wise. Anyway, I throw this into your lap my son.”
Brad and Steve both felt like being in a thunderstorm with the black clouds about to rain doom over the States. Now once again they were fighting a war on two fronts: assassinations and revolt by the military. How to stop it would haunt Brad in the days to come while in Florida a massive manhunt was about to take place gave little hope for the future.
Steve said, while drinking some fresh coffee, “We need to make a plan and put down this insurrection once and for all. Phillip do you have any suggestions?”
“I wish I did Steve, it appears that this is way bigger than we thought. Maybe a complete overhaul of the Joint Chiefs and their aids; clean house as it were.”
Brad spoke up saying, “My god would that solve the problem? Maybe there is another way,” as both his father and Steve looked at him for what he was about to say. “Maybe a change in the government with appointed people needs the replacement to satisfy the PAE group and the military.” A war I can fight, but ideals are out of my league.” He let the hang in the air while they thought about it. Strange Brad thought. Here we are in a house in Palm Springs trying to make policy for our government. This is all wrong and maybe it is time for me to visit the president and tell him so. What would be the results of such a meeting he wondered? Maybe, there is another way and that is a show of force by Eddie and Frank Spade the Secretary of the Navy. After a show of force, on national TV with mandatory watching by all military personnel, then a speech by the president addressing the intended issue of revolt would nail the coffin shut on the insurrection. At the same time, at least four people of the PAE group are confronted with slander and shame. Disinformation and talk shows might be in order. Then he came out of his thinking with father asking him a question. “Sorry I was thinking how we might come at this problem from another direction.”
“Tell us son what you are thinking.” So Brad told them about what he’d been thinking with the show of force and speech; and the PAE idea of pressure. He went on to say Billy could wreck havoc on their personal lives making it very difficult to do any business whether personal or otherwise. Silence settled over the room and then it was interrupted by his mother announcing lunch was ready next to the pool.
Steve finally took off his Burberry as even he was warm on an unusually warm spring day in Palm Springs. Half way through lunch he said, “Phillip what do you think of Brad’s idea?”
“I like it and let’s make it so. The president must have the final decision in this matter. We need a good plan and for example, a showing of Navy Seals and their commander telling the insurgents if this is the type of guys you want to deal with when you are considering a revolution? Something like that.”
Rocky was trying to ignore Greta, but Greta was having no part of being ignored by her father. Finally Rocky gave off a loud growl and bit Greta on the side of her body. No harm was done, but the not yet fully grown Greta went off yelping. Everyone laughed and they finished their lunch feeling a little better than when they first arrived. Steve and Brad made plans for a trip to Washington to meet the president.
In Miami the assassin from France rested in her motel room after her surgery. Not a lot was done just her long European nose was shortened and her eyes made to look wider and sexier. Her lips once thin were now full. The doctor told her to keep out of the sun and change bandages regularly. In two weeks he told her she could remove the bandages, but stay out of the sun. Now she sat in her room reading many travel brochures for the Caribbean. Her first choice was Belize. Why she didn’t know, but she liked the name and location on the mainland next to the sea. She’d purchased a laptop and spent her time surfing the internet and watching the news, both local and national. Also she made the decision, at least for the moment a cruise ship would be a nice way to travel. The TV was on and her ears perked up with the news about the FBI on a manhunt for the assassin who murdered Lee Horwitz the Foreign Affairs Advisor. The announcer went on to say that the FBI had news that the assassin was in Florida and they were concentrating their efforts on major cities.
This is not good she thought. Relax girl, you have a new look and ID just waiting for a picture for an American passport and local Miami driver’s license. Her new name was Rosie Blankenship. The next thing she did was look in the yellow pages for planes and small boats that would take her out of the country without too many questions asked when she flashed the all mighty green back.
Back in Washington DC sitting once again in the Oval Office Brad outlined his plan to the president and Frank Spade with Eddie Blaze rounded out the members of the meeting. Of course Mr. X and Steve were in attendance. After Brad’s fifteen minute ideas and plan the president sat back and digested what he’d heard as well the others. Only Steve and Mr. X had heard the same plan before. Now the president leaned forward and looked around the room at each one and finally settled on Brad. He said, “Brad I need to give this some serious thought. I’ll make a decision in a day or so. Meanwhile draw up a detailed plan with times and places for consideration. Now by the way do we have an idea if another assassination attempt is coming off what is left of my cabinet,” he said grimly, “all want to quit.”
“Mr. President we have no idea at this time, but when the secretary of state returns we need to confront her with what happened to the gold for one thing and what role did she play for another thing.” Is she a double agent turned back, or is she our continuing source of information; or, maybe she is the next target?” That last statement rocked the room. Now it was evident that if the secretary were a double agent, what better way to rid her role than an assassination. The president hung his head and then stood up to leave the statement hanging in the air like a hot summer day in DC.
Brad and the meeting members retired to the FBI office where they could do two things: one to discuss the ideas of the meeting with the president and the other to get the latest on the Florida operation. Mr. X stayed with the president and to their surprise he showed up at the FBI office with something to report. What he had to report was simple, a meeting at CIA Langley was scheduled for seven pm that night and don’t be late was what all members heard and then he left puffing as he came. No one said a word and continued by discussing with Eddie the show of air power. He said leaning on the table, eyes full of fire and voice to match, “It will take a ground force to take over the capital. That’s a given. One of my ideas is to transfer all Army helicopters and planes out of the Washington area. Send an order down the line that all this equipment is headed for the Middle East. Next we ship out all the ammunition stashed in the area for tanks and cannon etc. In other words we disarm the Army. The Marines, well they are part of the Navy and I’m not sure about them. Maybe Mr. Secr
etary you could take a stab at this one?”
“Of course I can. As most of you know the Marines are in either in the Middle East or in Afghanistan. We strip it down and move the training to California. No one will be the wiser. Next we put in place our own people from orders of the Secretary of Defense to replace all Air Force and Naval bases with new commanders. Time for a change anyway; can you think if I left anything out?”
The table was quiet as only the forced air heating system was keeping the room cool on a warm day for March. Brad ran what the secretary said and what Eddie offered he concluded it was as good as anything he could think of and left it at that: silence. Brad looked at his watch and saw it was about time for Nancy to arrive from Florida. While small detail talks between Eddie and Frank was going on. Steve and Brad were talking about what the PAE group might be planning when a knock at the door produced Nancy. She looked disheveled and tired, but a smile for Brad and Steve telling them she was fine and hard at it. It was after lunch time and Brad suggested some sandwiches might be the ticket for some fuel for the afternoon session. Nancy responded by picking up the table phone and twenty minutes later, small talk out of the way lunch arrived.
After lunch she gave her report essentially telling them the FBI and other agencies had locked down the Miami area. With Billy on the computer tracing plastic surgeons both legal and illegal from street sources over the internet a search was on for a French/European accented woman with a recent facelift. After that the secretary and Eddie left to meet up with some other military men telling them see you at Langley. Brad told Nancy of the meeting with the president and that he wanted an outside observer on the secretary of state until she landed back from her trip. She was due back in two days time and Brad’s voice rose as he told them he personally was going to have a little talk with her.
At five Nancy left for Florida. At about the same time Brad’s cell rang and it was Mike reporting in. Brad listens and when the conversation was over he told Steve that nothing new to report, but Mike had put out a reward for information to the air services and small charter boat companies that were so ubiquitous in south Florida. He told Steve Mike was confident she was there as access out of the state was convenient and easy to secure passage. Steve suggested some dinner on their way to Langley and Brad agreed, so did Rocky with a little wolf.
A surprise awaited the participants for the seven o’clock meeting. The president and his usual Chief of Staff sat around the table with Mr. X and the CIA Director. Eddie and Frank were only seconds behind them as they took their places sitting at the large metal table in the secure room where no listening devices could penetrate. The president sitting at the head of the table looked around the room at each person and said, “Men I have something to tell you. I’ve been with my defense secretary and he would be here tonight, but I’ve sent him on an errand to England. I’ll tell you more about that later, but first things first. By tomorrow morning there will be no Joint Chiefs of Staff. I’m forming a new department and it will be my job to push it through the congress and the senate. As you all know the Secretary of the Navy is a civilian position and we’ll keep it that way. We haven’t worked out all the details yet, but a new form of the Joint Chiefs is in order. Eddie you will be second only to the Secretary of Defense in military tradition. You will hold the temporary rank of four stars until the senate confirms you and other generals whom you will have a say forming a new department.”
Brad looked at Eddie and you could have knocked him over with the proverbial feather. His mouth was literally hanging open. Brad suspected his father and Frank had a hand in the selection, but be that as it may, Brad liked it. Eddie was a stalwart and a true patriot.
The president continued saying, “The news will report, because of the two assassinations of the generals, I’m protecting the other members of the Joint Chiefs by dissolving the mostly ceremonial positions they hold. Time for them to retire anyway; I want the defense secretary to shake up the whole military and Eddie and Frank will be instrumental in that new formation. Next item is the Secretary of State and what we should consider what her future role in the cabinet is and will be, if any. I would like to hear from Brad what he thinks and then anyone else that can contribute worthwhile feedback.”
Brad once again reiterated that he wanted to speak to her personally and then he would report his finding at the time. The president accepted that and asked again if anyone had something to say. The table was quiet and he stood up to leave. Before he walked out the door he gave Brad a long look saying I’m counting on you to take care of this mess soonest. The drive back to Washington was a quiet affair as both Steve and Brad held their thoughts until another time.
* * *
Professional assassin Rosie was not so relaxed as before. She had a phone call from her doctor telling her some FBI agents were in and it was clear to him they were looking for her. Now she felt glad she’d given him an extra twenty large to keep his mouth shut. However, what the doctor or she didn’t know was a nurse picked up by the FBI being there and put two and two together. The next day at lunch time she called the local FBI office to report what she thought the FBI was interested in with all the news these days about the assassin being in the area. Nancy was informed and by two pm the day after the meeting in Washington with Brad and his agency she, along with some beefy agents took the doctor and her downtown for a little talk. She’d also called Mike and he met her at her office.
Two hours later the doctor told them all he knew and no one doubted his duplicity, but was happy to give an artist's drawing of her new appearance. The doctor and nurse got every detail right as that was their jobs. The doctor was so shook up he gave them her cell number, but had no idea where she was. He added she still needed bandages on her face, but make up would probably cover most of the scars and redness. However a close examination would see through any heavy make up as blue is hard to cover with makeup.
Now Nancy and her special agents with Mike sat and kicked around what to do next. Mike suggested they splash her picture on TV and posters throughout Florida and all points of exits including his line of small transportation services. Hot lines needed to set up along with websites for the privacy of information of the sender, or so they thought as Billy could trace anyone on the net.
Rosie now was more than nervous. The eleven o’clock news had her very likeness staring back at her saying how she was armed and dangerous and anyone having information leading……………….. And she flipped the TV off, sitting there wondering what the hell to do next. The manhunt was closing in on her. Road blocks were everywhere and lines of cars and trucks back up for miles on the freeways. She had about fifty large in her bag and maybe money could buy her way out of Florida as she flipped through the yellow pages looking for a small air service to fly her the hell out of here.
She was lucky, she thought she had bought a ton of make up to cover her face, but hard to cover the bruises that made her look like a woman after a drunken husband caught her with his best friend in bed. Her finger stopped at a flight service that offered a twin aircraft service for flights to Cuba and other locations. She ripped out the page and went to bed for a good night’s sleep if possible.
At eight sharp the next morning with her heart in her throat she made the call getting a secretary on the line who made her wait a long time while the one she needed to talk to was in the shop working on a plane. While waiting she looked at her chewed to the nubbin fingernails from nerves. Finally a deep voice asking could he help her came on the line. After receiving a quote and other details they booked a flight for two in the afternoon. She felt a little better as she hung up the phone and then called a local fast food joint for breakfast.
Mike and Nancy were in the office when a call came in from a flight service with a message of importance. Nancy called the number back and talked to Wayne the owner of Wayne’s Flight Service. He told her a woman’s voice with an accent which sounded European to him was stationed in Germany some years back requesting a fli
ght to Cuba. Nancy thanked him and said some agents would be right out to talk to him and set up a visual on his customer. She promised not to make a scene and her agents would be dressed as mechanics or something like that. He said no problem and hung up.
Nancy turned to Mike and told him the story. Mike had a smile on his face thinking maybe he had his murderer in his sights. Mike wanted to take her out, but knew she had more valuable information, but if she blinked the wrong way, he would make good his promise she would die a rich woman. After that he called Brad and relayed the information then made ready with Nancy to wait for the customer to show up at Wayne’s hanger.
Nancy at her request had a van with block letters advertising Wayne’s Flight Service prepared for the afternoon equipped with communication gear and swat agents. Other agents were dressed as mechanics and the office girl was replaced by a special agent. Mike looked around the hanger and saw one agent working on the engine of a small two place plane and his eyes drifted around to the back of the hanger seeing the usual red tool boxes. Outside Wayne had the twin parked with the ladder to board his passenger with a reflector shield over the windows to keep the hot Florida sun from heating the inside of the plane. Then Mike walked to the side door of the office and looked through the small door window seeing the special agent pretending to be busy smiling at him. Mike grabbed a long handle broom and swept his way to the raised hanger door checking the outside seeing the plain van with block letters denoting Wayne’s Flying service on the side.
By one pm all was in place and anxious agents including Mike the mechanic was set to go. Mike double checked his eighteen shot Glock and tucked into his overall pocket with a greasy rag sticking out. He had a baseball hat on that Wayne had given him and put greasy marks on his face to disguise at least her first glance giving him the advantage. Nancy had agreed to make his point man as he had a lot of time invested in her.
Systematic Attrition Page 17
