The young man, a cum laude accounting graduate, applied for a position in the General Accountability Office, or GAO, in New York and was hired right out of college. He took the CPA exam and was assigned to a position in one of the many field offices around the country. After ten years in the field, he was rewarded by being brought in to a senior position in Washington DC. Five years later, he was still in DC, had a pleasant home in Northern Virginia, and was quite content with his lot in life.
He was also now involved at senior levels in a wide variety of important federal projects, most of which had been assigned to him by even more senior levels of management. Then, unexpectedly, his superiors asked if there were any projects he was interested in monitoring, consistent with his education, training, and experience. This would be the first assignment he chose for his audit portfolio, and management would be watching what he chose and how he performed. It was the key to his upward mobility and advancement to senior management.
That was six months ago, and he was given one year evaluate his options and make his choice.
When it filtered down to him that the Collective had been having difficulty discovering anything of any use about the DataLab Project, he contacted Paulo again, and informed him of the opportunity laid at his feet and offered his services. Once again, Paulo was slow to pick up the meaning of the opportunity but once again a friend within the Collective was able to explain it to him.
Charles Hanley, an old friend and confidant of Paulo Fortizi as well as the Operations Manager of the Lab in Princeton, had been asked by Paulo to evaluate the opportunity presented by the young man. Did his idea have any utility?
“This is the break you’ve been waiting for Paulo,” he said. “You need to get him engaged on this project immediately.”
Paulo said, “Really? He’s an accountant. How does that help us at all?”
“Ever heard the phrase ‘follow the money’?”
“Sure.”
“Then follow the money, Paulo. People can hide. Names can be changed, but real people must be paid, must travel and that has to be recorded. If you want to know anything secret about people or projects hidden in business or government, it’s all in the financial records. It’s the only thing that’s ever fully disclosed somewhere. This young man will be able to find something somewhere. Get Demitri involved with him and start chipping away at the façade. If the Human really is a part of the DataLab Project, this kid will find him. Or someone close to him. We just need a little toehold, an anomaly somewhere that takes us somewhere else that leads to the Human. Then we’ve got him or leverage over him.”
“If you say so. Get in touch with him and give him the assignment. And send a little bonus his way as a reward for his impressive long-term thinking.”
***
Hanley got in touch with Demitri and asked to meet the young man at the GAO to see what he thought they should do and how to proceed. Hanley, though an operations guy, wasn’t an accounting or financial guy. He wanted to see what the kid had to say, and to make sure that Demitri, who wasn’t exactly nuanced in manner and thinking, was up to speed on what the kid was going to do and how he might support the effort. Mostly he wanted to caution Demitri, who could be the bludgeon to Paulo’s scalpel, to go easy on the kid and let him do his job. In no event was Demitri to threaten or intimidate the kid.
***
“We should get in touch with Chip Evans in the Inspector General’s Office at Treasury. He’s one of us, and I can request him for field work.”
“Why can’t you go?”
“Not my job and this is government. Besides why would I, as a senior official in the GAO, suddenly go out on a field assignment? The more this looks normal, the less attention we will attract.”
“Does anyone care? Does anyone even notice?”
“Sure. We all care and we’re all watching. And being watched. Leave this to me. I’ll find out what’s findable. Tell Paulo that I’m appreciative of his confidence in me. I hope this proves my value and the value of my original undertaking.”
“I’ll let him know. Contact us at this number if you get anything actionable.”
Chapter 44
Chip Evans was an excellent investigator and was privy to all the tricks of the trade locating people, and transactions other people thought were well hidden, and beyond discovery. His probe into any irregularities in the DataLab Project, however, had not been fruitful in direct terms; money and projects were accounted for properly, there appeared to no egregious errors or problems on the surface. But if his quarry was clever, he too was equally so.
Evans decided to visit all ten locations of the DataLab Project processing locations, including Tucson, ostensibly looking for unusual activity as a part of a “criminal” investigation into the improper diversion of data acquired by field offices. He decided that, in addition to talking to various managers, he would have a chat with some of the loading dock and warehouse crews. After all they would see everything coming in and be aware of scuttlebutt around the office. The coming and goings would be well within their purview. He wasn’t looking for official activity rather he was interested in unusual unofficial activity.
When he arrived in Portland, an after-interviewing Tony Adamson, he thought this location was a bust too. Then he spoke to the processing manager who informed him that a big shipment of paper records had arrived at the facility from Tucson, but was subsequently rerouted to a warehouse in Vancouver, Washington across the river. It never came back.
“Anything else?”
“Nope.”
Chip thanked the man and started to walk away.
“Maybe one thing, but I doubt it’s important. A woman came down here from Seattle, an anthropologist, and worked out of the office on the fourth floor for a few months. She met a lady, a friend of Bitsie Tolan who works upstairs, then one day she was just gone. So was her friend. Never saw them again and I hear they left town.”
“Where to?”
“No idea. Above my pay grade, but Tony Adamson, our administrator, can probably tell you.”
“Remember any names?”
“Not the anthropologist. That seemed to be some big ass secret. But I met the other lady and is someone I remember well. In fact, hard to forget.”
“Why?”
“A looker. I mean a real looker. Her name was Veronica or Brenda or something like that.”
“Think man, what was her name? Exactly.”
“Vena, Vela … Vera. That was it. Vera. Vera Capri.”
“Thanks, you’ve been a big help.”
***
Chip decided not to follow up with Tony Adamson; he would follow up with Vera Capri’s credit card, and banking transactions. He would find out who she was through government databases, including the IRS.
It didn’t take long; shortly, he had her social security number, and from there just about anything else he wanted to know. He discovered that she had indeed left Portland and her new credit card charges were now originating from London, England.
Chip’s internet search turned up some interesting information, including a couple of YouTube videos of an incident at a London Bakery.
He later discovered the identity of the anthropologist from friends of Vera Capri in Portland and confirmed it with airline manifests showing the woman was on the same BA flight and seated next to Vera Capri in First Class. It turned out to be a woman by the name of Hannah Andrews Parker, a relatively recent graduate of the University of Washington. She had been hired away from a research grant project by some bigshot somewhere. The University wasn’t very helpful, privacy concerns and all, and none of her colleagues knew anything other than her name and that she had left.
The inquiry did not go unnoticed, and a secretary who knew Hannah was suspicious. Of course, she knew exactly who had hired her away, and exactly where she was. But she wasn’t talking.
Betty Ferry had known Edward St. James for over twenty years. He had asked her t
o let him know if anyone came calling for Hannah. Particularly anyone official or suspicious. He hadn’t defined “suspicious”. Betty told the man, Chip Evans, that she would let him know if she heard anything else. She certainly wanted to help him with his investigation. Would he give her his card?
Betty scanned the card and sent it on to Edward. Then she forgot about the whole incident.
***
Hannah Andrews Parker was turning out to be a big blank as was Vera Marie Capri. There was little other than banking and credit card data that had come up and that data was months old. If they were still living in the UK, there was little evidence of that fact. The UK authorities claimed to have no record of the ladies past a certain date, and they were becoming less, and less cooperative as the inquiries mounted. At a certain point, neither Chip nor his friend at the GAO had any more luck in tracking the ladies down. The YouTube videos were the best connection and suggested that at least Vera Capri was still residing in the UK in London.
The whereabouts of the young anthropologist was of much greater concern to Chip, as she represented a tangible connection to the missing Library. He was sure this was the reason for the entire exercise. Chip was an educated Gens and stayed on top of the news among the Gens elite in the various Councils, at least the news that was widely disseminated. The loss of the Library, and the death of Tomas di Gensarii weren’t exactly state secrets.
Chip had spent enough time among the humans to have adopted new critical ways of thinking that were generally discouraged by the Councils at all levels. Gens in all stations of life were encouraged to accept the Code of Strictures and be observant in all aspects of their lives. Strict obedience to the Code and Gens cultural norms was expected. He accepted the primacy of the Councils and Gens hierarchy but refused to leave his intellect at the doorstep of authority. He was loyal, but not blind.
What he learned, he passed on to Demitri. What Demitri did with that information was of no concern to him. He doubted that the two women would draw breath much longer if left to Demitri, but perhaps he was wrong. He doubted that they were important cogs in this drama. He now knew one was a baker, the other a recent college graduate.
How important could they possibly be?
Chapter 45
Demitri Asinamayov was shown to Paulo’s office for his early morning appointment to discuss his recent findings. While Demitri hadn’t been able to identify the Human, he believed he had been able to add a few more critical pieces to the mosaic of the puzzle. This, Demitri believed, had advanced their journey to the eventual discovery of the Human’s identity, and the recovery of their Library. He was anxious to discuss the information with Paulo and receive new instructions on what to do next.
When he entered the office, he saw that Paulo wasn’t alone. A man he had seen before, but had never met was speaking to Paulo, and they were deep in conversation.
“Demitri, come in please. Have you met Charles?”
“Thank you, sir. And no, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. …?”
“Hanley,” Charles said. “My name is Charles Hanley. I am an old friend of Paulo’s and am currently the Operations Manager here in Princeton. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Demitri. I’ve heard nothing but positive reports of your most recent efforts, and a great deal about your past service. Exemplary, I understand.”
“You’re too kind, Charles. But if you will excuse us, I have an urgent matter to discuss with Paulo. I’m sure you understand.”
“I do. I’ll take my leave and give you your privacy.”
“No, Charles. Please stay. I’d like you to hear what Demitri has to say. And, I’d like your thoughts on the matter later anyway. Please have a seat.”
Demitri said, “Sir? This is a very delicate matter. Perhaps it would be best if we discuss this matter in private. Then you can decide who should have this information afterward.”
“I appreciate your caution, born as it is of many years keeping state secrets. But in this case, Charles is an old friend and confidant. We’ve been together since the beginning of my ascendency to power. He knows everything I know. Probably more. I would hold nothing back from his ears. Besides I wish to have his counsel; better to hear everything exactly as you tell it to me. Please Demitri, close the door and have a seat.”
“Of course, Paulo. As you wish.”
Demitri didn’t like this turn of events. He had long suspected a traitor inside the ranks of the Gens leadership. While his money had been on Enzo, he foreclosed no possibility. Certainly, not this man about whom he knew nothing.
Demitri’s suspicion centered around the Black Shirt movement and their young leader, Saldana Ri. While she was well known, she wasn’t well recognized. Neither he nor any member of the Great Councils nor any of the Captains, Trackers or military classes had ever identified her. What she looked like, where she lived and how she passed the time of day were unknowns.
Just like the Human.
And, just like the Human, the mythology around her was comprised of part fact and part fiction and part utter nonsense. What was known was that she was a Fundamentalist; what was unknown was exactly what that meant.
“So, Demitri, what have you? I understand you have had a minor breakthrough. What can you tell us today?”
Demitri hesitated, just for a few agonizing seconds, then began. “As you know, we engaged the services of our man at the GAO who in turn engaged a comrade by the name of Chip Evans, who is with the Inspector General’s office for Treasury. Has both civil, and criminal investigatory authority to inquire into all manner of cases.
“Evans decided to visit all ten of the DataLab Project processing centers including Tucson, looking for unusual activity, not of the official variety, but of the unofficial variety. Interviewed managers, but also interviewed office staff and warehouse personnel. Looked for interesting scuttlebutt and rumors. Didn’t find anything until he got to Portland, Oregon.
“There it turns out that six forty-foot containers on flatbeds showed up at the facility, were never unloaded and then were redirected to an offsite storage facility in Vancouver, Washington.”
“So?”
“Well, first, that’s the number of containers that left Tucson. Clue number one.”
“Seems thin.”
“Standing alone, I’d agree. But then a couple of bigwigs showed up, nameless, to have a looksee. Stayed a couple of days, then returned with a woman.”
“Again, so?”
“She was an anthropologist. Not a computer geek.”
“Not following. Is that important?”
“Think about it. If you had information on a new and heretofore undiscovered species, who would you ask to analyze that data?”
“Not sure.”
“Well you might ask a cultural anthropologist, physical anthropologist, linguistic anthropologist and archeologist. They could evaluate what you have and tell you whether any of it is authentic. That’s what I’d do.”
“I see.”
“Do you? This is tangible. She’s there for several months, makes friends with a woman from Portland, then the two of them just drop off the edge of the earth one day. I inquire about the pair and find that the friend, not the anthropologist, is a wealthy socialite named Vera Capri. I get her Social and make inquiries with the airlines. Seems that she flies to London. The woman in the seat next to her is an anthropologist by the name of Hannah Parker. They get to London, then disappear. Until some number of months later, when Vera Capri shows up on YouTube. She and a couple of local girls own a small chain of bakeries with a called 3 Birds.”
“Again, so what?”
“So, Vera Capri and her buddy Hannah Parker are in London, except in the official records they’re nowhere to be found. Ghosts; spooks. I’m telling you this isn’t a coincidence. Beside I don’t believe in coincidence. There’s a connection.”
“Go on.”
“I find out next that Hannah Parker is a recent college graduate
working on her Masters. Has a grant and is working away for peanuts in Seattle. Suddenly the grant evaporates, she’s hired away and turns up in Portland with what I believe is the Library. If so, this is our connection to the Human. I believe she knows who the Human is and is part of a team analyzing out history, language, and social and political structures. I further believe she’s trying to break our codes, and identify the locations of the Great Libraries, including the Great Library at the Grand Canyon. She’s connected to the Human somehow and is our best avenue in discovering his or her identity.”
“Could he be a she? Could she be the Human?”
“Don’t think so. But it’s possible. I think it’s a team and a well-funded team. Based on what we saw at the Grand Canyon, there is both brawn and brain and they’re coming after us systematically. We need to apply resources to finding her and the way we might do that is through this Vera Capri. I don’t think she’s involved in that project, but if we find her, we find Hannah Parker. Then we may find the Human.”
Paulo thought about this in dead silence. Demitri and Charles watched Paulo as he stood up, then began pacing back and forth.”
“OK. Suggestions. What is our first move and when do we take it?”
“First, we need to keep this quiet and within an incredibly small circle. Strictly need to know.”
“We shouldn’t share with the Councils?”
“Absolutely not. Nor with your brother.”
“Care to explain?”
“No. Other than to say I think there is a leak within our hierarchy and, until we know who it or they are, the circle needs to be small.”
“You think Enzo is a traitor?”
“No, I’m saying someone is sharing information with the Black Shirts, possibly others. We don’t know who that is. Until we do, the circle needs to be tight. Might be advertent or inadvertent or perhaps we have been hacked. This assignment needs to be within a small group and needs to be briefed in person, orally with no written record anywhere.”
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