American Mutant

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Thank you for the restraint you showed Thomas,” Quenton said. “My superiors believe the program to be extremely viable now with you actually entering the field. I am afraid they will be coming up with some scenarios of their own soon. Will you be able to handle a bit more work?”

  “I do not mind being busy in a just cause,” Connor answered. “I can take a mission they want done a certain way, and change it to fit within our own parameters. Missions do not get done perfectly. I well know that from my days with the CIA. We had more foul ups than we did success, thanks to our own government selling us out and under funding us.”

  “Well you’ve made some people happy upstairs today Thomas,” Quenton said.

  “I will get started on setting up in here, and then pay Pierre’s overseas accounts a visit in the night. You will be looking at a millionaire many times over by tomorrow morning,” Connor informed him. “I plan to go to France afterwards, and Dr. Blakely has consented to go with me, if you can spare her.”

  “Certainly Thomas,” Quenton replied with surprise showing plainly on his face. “I will let you get to it then. You still have a lot of hours left in the day to work on your project. Goodbye for now.”

  After Quenton left, Connor closed the door and gathered Karen into his arms. He kissed her tenderly and she responded. Connor pulled back gently.

  “I will see you tonight, if you would like to have dinner with me. I thought maybe we could go out to dinner together if you’d like,” Connor said.

  “Going out to dinner sounds fine to me, but are you just going to kiss me off, while you play with your toys?” Karen asked gesturing to the boxes.

  “If I did any more, I would ruin our new found friendship,” Connor answered. “Also, you would never be able to look at another man for all time.”

  Karen laughed, and clapped her hands in response. “I will not even dignify that with a reaction. I will see you around five o’clock, and check on how you are doing.”

  “By then I will be able to buy you a meal at the best place in town.”

  Karen walked out still laughing and waved her goodbye.

  Chapter 7 Employees and Business

  Connor looked around and sighed. He began assembling his new computer center. Not long later, Connor began his own Swiss Bank account by funneling five million dollars from Pierre’s accounts into his own. He then began his own local account by transferring a hundred thousand dollars on-line into a local branch, which had its own web page.

  Connor closed up his station, and traveled down to the bank branch in which he had started his new local account. Forty-five minutes later, he knew all of the managers, and had withdrawn ten thousand dollars. He drove to a shopping mall and bought a complete wardrobe, including shoes and underwear.

  Before he reached his car, Connor felt he had acquired a following. As he reached the car, six black youths ranging from fourteen to nineteen spread out around the back of his car. He shoved in the boxes from his shopping spree, and turned smiling to face them.

  “Hello boys, I really don’t need any help loading up the car, but thanks anyway.”

  “Give us the keys mother fucka’,” the oldest looking youth said, as he stuck the barrel of a Glock 9mm pistol into his face.

  “Did you know that weapon is illegal in this city?” Connor observed amiably. “If you leave now, I promise not to tell anyone.”

  “Maybe you want a pistol whippin’ first before I take yo’ keys.”

  “Did you ever see the movie Billy Jack?” Thomas took the pistol off of the youth before he could blink. In a split second, the youth stood staring down the barrel of his own gun. “No one has to die here today, if you listen closely, and no one makes any stupid moves. Now, did you see the movie?”

  The youth shook his head no. The others just stared at what transpired before their eyes. No one moved. They had seen the unimpressive white man move, and now the only one in their group with a gun had lost it.

  “In the movie, the hero Billy Jack faces up to this bad guy, and points at each one of the man’s ears; and says, ‘I am going to kick you in the head on this side, and then swing my leg all the way around, and kick you in the other side of the head.”

  “So what?”

  Connor walked up nose to nose with the youth, swung his right foot up, and kicked the youth in the side of the head. Before the young man could fall to Connor’s right, Connor swung the same leg all the way around, and kicked him in the other side of his head. The youth dropped to the ground as if struck by a lightning bolt. Connor looked around at the startled gang.

  “If you young men would be interested in making some honest money, we may be able to do some business. I wish to start a limousine service and comic book store. How would you all like to work for me? Of course if any of you do not know how to read, you will need to learn. I can help tutor you in between your work, and your regular schooling.

  “How much will it pay,” the youngest looking one asked.

  “Minimum wage until you start making me money, and then I will cut you in on the profits. A limousine must be at my disposal, along with a driver, at all times. You will all have cell phones I can reach you at all times with. If you all are interested, meet me back here tomorrow with details on already established limousine services for sale with building. I want the real estate too. Anyone interested?”

  “Are you for real or are you just crazy,” one of the others asked.

  Connor took out a wad of hundred dollar bills and gave each of them two hundred dollars. He gestured at the youth still on the ground, and gave the youngest boy another two hundred dollars. “Ask your friend, when he wakes up, if he wants in on this, and no hard feelings.”

  One of the young men laughed and said, “what makes you think we won’t just split with the money chump?”

  In an instant, Connor smacked the youth to the ground with his open hand. “Another thing, you speak to me and each other with respect. We will be conducting business, and I am not your mommy or your parole agent. You will address each other, and me, in complete sentences. If you wish to speak to me, you will address me as Mr. Connor or Sir. We conduct our business with class, dignity, and the English language.”

  Connor grabbed the young man he had slapped off of the ground as if he were a child. “In answer to your dishonorable question young man, you will meet me here tomorrow or give me back the money. If you do not, I will hunt you down.”

  Connor looked around at the stunned faces around him. He smiled brightly. “Any one want in on this, or a piece of me?”

  “I want in,” the youngest boy said, “Sir.”

  The oldest looking youth looked at his companions and then looked at Connor. “We will all take a shot at this Mr. Connor. What price range will we be looking for?”

  “The sky is the limit. I wish to know about all the places available with real estate. Keep in mind I wish to sell comic books and regular books out of an attached area in the building, with street access. I want a first class operation or one we can make into one. We also want a big enough place to do our own vehicle servicing. You all will learn how to maintain our fleet. I want you to also look into a local warehouse handling comic book sales to retail outlets.”

  “We will need to find a place without other comic stores around too,” one of the youths in the back added.

  “Good thinking,” Connor nodded. “Keep using your heads out there, and keep notes on whatever you have questions about.”

  “Why us ma.I mean Sir,” the oldest asked.

  “I believe in fate boys. I did not want to interview, and I wanted employees who have a stake in what they do for me, and something to lose if things go badly. If there are no other questions, I need to get back to work.” Connor got into his car, while his erstwhile employees dragged their friend out of the way. Connor looked into the rear view mirror as he sped off. The youths were still staring after him. He laughed, and made a mental note he would need to transfer some more money into his account
.

  The drive back to the base made it seem almost as if he still had a normal life. If his little business venture went well, he might truly have an interesting start to one. Connor smiled, thinking about what Quenton would do if he knew about this new enterprise. Back at the complex, Connor carried his new wardrobe inside, after the usual security checks. When he reached his room, he found Quenton waiting for him inside.

  “You’ve been shopping?”

  “Very observant Derek. No wonder you work here.”

  Quenton laughed in appreciation. “I guess I will have to stop being the straight man for all of your one liners. Did everything work out all right with the equipment?”

  “The equipment worked out very well. I am in the process of setting up a business cover on the outside, and I will be taking this equipment out of here soon. The additional expenses, I will handle from now on.”

  “How.never mind,” Quenton began. “You will stay in touch with me, right?”

  “I will let you know the name of the business and where I get it set up. I am going to put it on a web page, which will act as an advertisement, and also a drop, for any messages you need to reach me with.”

  “I would certainly like to see this operation once you get it up and running.”

  “No problem,” Connor agreed. “I will give you a personal tour if you wish to risk the connection and the exposure.”

  “I see what you mean. That would be unwise to say the least. You seem to be adapting well to the outside world. I have to admit to some surprise at how well you get along with Dr. Blakely.”

  “We have a dinner date tonight,” Connor informed him.

  “I am just glad you two got along,” Quenton replied.

  “You were worried I would kill her Derek. I can handle misguided people without murdering them. You have kids, don’t you Derek?”

  A shadow passed over Quenton’s face. “You know I do Thomas.”

  “Easy there big guy, no need to panic. Your oldest daughter Kim graduates next year, and your younger daughter two years after. Have they mentioned college to you yet?”

  “My oldest daughter told me last month she wants to go to Harvard.” Quenton smiled as he remembered. “She practically fainted when I explained how much Harvard costs, and dropped the subject.”

  “How good are her grades?” Connor asked.

  “She carries a 4.0 average, but she knows everyone applying to Harvard must be in that range,” Quenton told him proudly.

  “I think I can swing a scholarship for her.”

  Quenton shook his head, “no Thomas, I do not want anything to do with your personal business, and I do not want it coming down on my family. We had a deal.”

  “Harvard will accept her application, and her tuition will be taken care of by an anonymous donor,” Connor explained.

  “How in the world will you pull off something like that?”

  “The Red Chinese are about to donate ten million dollars to Harvard, anonymously of course, through me. Instructions will accompany the donation to the affect it will have to be spent on conservative studies, and that Kim attend Harvard.”

  Quenton laughed, “you might get them to give out the scholarship, but I think you can forget the conservative studies.”

  Connor sighed audibly, and shrugged his shoulders. “You may be right Derek. Their politics follow along the Red Chinese agenda quite closely. Well, I will sponsor their medical department in some way. In any case I will get it done.”

  “Why would you do this for my daughter?” Quenton asked.

  “Because you helped me here, and opened your mind to the possibilities of what we could accomplish here. Will you have Kim apply?” Connor asked in return.

  “Yes.” Quenton stuck out his hand, and Thomas gripped it warmly. “Thank you.”

  “No problem, we will find a few other things to get done quietly in both of our personal lives. If you will excuse me, I have to access some working capital.”

  Quenton laughed again, and walked to the door. “All before your dinner date?”

  “Of course, and with time to spare. I will see you tomorrow morning Derek, and then I will have to leave to set up my people on the outside.”

  “I have no real work for you tomorrow, but I have been working on some projects involving your out of body journeys. We could use a heads up on some meetings my superiors have coming up,” Quenton said.

  “You may be right Derek. We could fix a few problems before they even get started. I will be open to anything you come up with. See you tomorrow.”

  Quenton nodded and left. Connor sat down comfortably in a lotus position on the floor. He left his body as quickly as thought, and journeyed to take up the wisps of his investigation from the night before. He found Pierre’s empire in turmoil. Accountants working at computer screens, feverishly looking for the money Connor took, were doing inventories of every account. Connor slipped in to take the next step towards the Red Chinese.

  Checking each worker’s screen, he soon found the account holder acting as the middleman between Pierre’s holdings, and the Red Chinese. He left France, in mid-afternoon panic, and journeyed on to the address in China. Connor traveled to destinations by thought, so passage of time or area blurred by with the speed of his resolve. Although nearly 10 PM at the address in Beijing, Connor found the office, fronting for the Red Chinese Government, issuing answers to queries from Pierre’s panicked minions.

  Connor quickly located the account numbers of the Swiss Bank accounts the Red Chinese were using to fund this operation, and eventually Pierre’s. He stayed until he knew the password and particulars of the Swiss account, and then returned to his body. After writing all the information down quickly, Connor went back on line, and began the laborious job of bouncing signals off from one area to another, until he was confident enough to begin his acquisition.

  The Red Chinese unknowingly transferred twenty million dollars from their Swiss account into his Swiss account. Connor, in turn, transferred five million of it into his local bank account. He shut down his operations, and leaned back in his chair. Sighing contentedly, he wondered if the Red Chinese would blame Pierre for the disappearance of the twenty million dollars. If they did, it could make things easier to accomplish in France. Connor figured he would have to have his personal operation put together before he left though.

  Chapter 8 Relationships and Danger

  Connor put his suit coat back on, and went to have some lunch. Before he left the room, he made sure his name badge was on right. At the cafeteria, he picked out a salad, coffee, and a carton of milk. Ignoring the curious stares from his fellow diners, Connor took a seat away from the others.

  Ten minutes later, he sensed someone walking towards him. Keeping his eyes on his tray as he sipped his coffee, he figured the person to be around five foot six inches tall, and one hundred and eighteen pounds. A form blocked a little of the light on the right side of his face, and a soft, husky voice spoke from behind him.

  “Would you mind some company? I haven’t seen you around here before. Did you just transfer in?”

  Connor looked up into a woman’s light blue eyes, made all the more striking by the long, dark hair framing her angular face. She was dressed in what Connor would call a daring business dress. Although dark blue, and modestly cut slightly above the knee, the dress incorporated a slit up to mid thigh on the right side. The neckline closed around her slender neck, but opened in peek-a-boo style around her bosom. She generated a confidence, devoid of hesitancy of any kind, as if she had never experienced a negative response of any kind in her life.

  Connor put down his coffee cup, and stood up to face her. He smilingly looked into her piercing eyes with frank admiration, and took her tray from her. She released it to him. She sat down gracefully, and crossed her legs. Connor placed the tray in front of her, and sat down again.

  She smiled back into his intense gaze, a little disconcerted for the first time in a long while. She extended her hand, and
Connor grasped it firmly in his. The underlying current of raw power within Connor startled her for a moment.

  “I’m Kathy Sorrenson.”

  “Thomas Connor, and may I say without doubt, you are one fine looking woman.”

  His voice startled her again for a third time. His eyes never wavered, nor did he release her hand. The tenor of his voice was magnetic. It soothed and compelled at the same time. Connor released her hand, and sat back as he picked up his coffee cup.

  “I.I’m glad to meet you Thomas.”

  “In answer to your questions Kathy, I always enjoy the company of a woman. I have been here for a while, but out of sight. My work kept me away from the main complex.”

  “I work in administration, and I thought I knew everyone here. What kind of work do you do?”

  “You probably have worked here long enough to know better than to ask that kind of question.”

  “I have a top secret clearance,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.”

  “The question must remain unanswered Kathy,” Connor said, still smiling openly at her. “Even with a top secret clearance, you realize this joint works on a need to know basis.”

  “I really just wanted to make conversation.” She took a bite of her sandwich, and washed it down with her diet soda. “How about letting me know where you live then, or what you do for recreation.”

  Connor laughed, and took another sip of his coffee. “Why in the world would a beautiful young woman like you be interested in a grizzled old dog like me? You must have every man in this complex doing back-flips to get your attention. I am flattered, and thank you for your company. I live in the complex here for now. I hope to have my own place in another week.”

  Kathy reached over, and put her hand over his. She felt the current flow again. “I saw you walk in here. You stand out in a crowd Thomas, but I think you know that. I.”

  Dr. Blakely sat down on the other side of Connor, and made a bit more noise than necessary, as she placed her tray on the table in front of her. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”