George’s intuition told him the FBI was a potential threat, but that the threat was being dealt with. He concluded that if they were an immediate threat, they’d have arrested him instead of trying to talk.

With 5 people, everything was packed quickly. George insisted on taking everyone to dinner, so they agreed to meet at a Denny’s nearby. He hated restaurants without a buffet, but he needed a place for a meeting and expected that talking would fill any time they’d normally have spent waiting.

George asked for a booth for a meeting and even though it was busy, they were given a table cordoned off with rope. Handing Ivan a briefcase, he asked if they’d count the weekends’ take while he dealt with the Feds. Checking to make sure steaks were okay for everyone, George said he’d order so they could count without interruption.

As soon as the FBI agents entered, George moved to intercept them. Directing them to a table near the door, he chose a seat from which he could watch the door and their booth. It was a surprise when the waitress appeared with cokes for the agents even before they were seated. He explained that he’d be ordering for the others and took some time to do it.

That done, he attacked, “Okay give it your best shot. Start with why you think I need you? You don’t have a warrant or you’d arrest me. Just don’t expect answers until you give me a reason to trust you.”

“You trust Dansie, so why wouldn’t you trust us?” Agent Thomas asked.

“Now you’re just being stupid. Dansie earned my trust. If you convince me you're worthy of it like he did, I might even answer your questions. The only edge I have is the information you want. You obviously believe you can get it by intimidation and that means someone at the FBI is involved in the crime. If you want my information, tell me who the mole is, and how you found him.”

The hair on the back of his neck prickled when the other agent answered, “I am and until now, no one knew.”

“What the hell …”

“Shut up!” George interrupted Agent Thomas. When he instantly went and stayed silent, the pieces suddenly fell into place forming a picture in his mind.

“I thought it'd be safer if we had them under control,” said a voice behind him. “That stuff Courtney was taking is pretty heavy, huh?” Startled, George turned to find Cary.

    “Is that what happened to Courtney this morning?” he asked, knowing it was.

    “I had to test it,” Cary whined.

    “What, you were thinking of using it on yourself?”

    “I’m not going to wait 8 years!” she answered heatedly. “Besides, I dreamed last night and they told me you have to take it for months before it’s permanent.

    “We really shouldn’t be talking in front of them. Did you think it through enough to have any idea what to do after we had control?”

    Cary’s face registered surprise at the “we” and then metamorphosed into a smirk. “They won’t remember anything. They got a full dose of the stuff you’re taking. Courtney says it wipes out everything between sleeps. I’m not going to let anybody send me home, so I needed to be sure they aren’t looking for me.”

    Turning to Agent Thomas, he asked, “Do you know who she is?”

    “No.”

    “When did you get my cell number and what happened in Lincoln County?”

    “This morning. You left a huge mess. The sheriff was scared stiff we were going to start shooting people and had deputies with guns drawn watching us every second. It took two whole days to calm him down. After Dr. Van Berg was arrested, two carloads of goons were intercepted, but he’s keeping them isolated himself. The highway patrol arrested the doctor, so he’s in our lockup here in the city. The whole town is still expecting the sky to fall.”

    “Was this your idea or did The Engineers put you up to it?” he asked Cary.

    “Who are The Engineers?” she asked, obviously puzzled.

    “The ones in your dreams. It’s what I call them.”

    “Oh. You’ll have to explain that to me sometime. Actually, I’m not sure. Ever since you started giving me that stuff, I keep seeing dreamlike pictures in my head even while I’m awake. It’s getting hard to tell what’s my idea or theirs.”

    “Welcome to the club, they’ve been doing that to me my whole life. Are you even sure running away was your idea?”

    “How can I tell? I mean, it was my ideas, but I can’t say for sure whether I thought of it because of something they told me.”

    “I’ve never caught them in a lie,” George explained, “so if you ask them a direct question, they’ll admit to it if they were leading you. We should talk about this later. Right now, we need to deal with these assholes.”

    “Why haven’t you asked them what they want?” Cary wondered.

    “I’ve already figured it out. Agent Thomas is okay, it’s his partner that’s a bad egg. I already knew it, but it surprised the heck out of me when he admitted it. Agent Thomas, you can talk now.”

    “I understand our unexpected appearance set you off, but I can’t see how you concluded Jim was bad. Why would being tracked cause you to be suspicious?” the agent asked cluelessly.

“Come on, you’re supposed to be a professional. Would you track your wife to talk? Or your partner? Who would you track? Only someone you expected wouldn’t talk. Dansie assured you I’d cooperate, so why did Jim assume I wouldn’t?” George asked. Being rhetorical, he didn’t wait for answers. “Hey, Jimmy boy, tell us who you’ve reported to and what you told them.”

    “I haven’t had a chance to report yet.”

    “Who’d you ask to track my cell phone?”

    “We have staff at the office for that.”

    “Hmm, so it’s in the logs. Well, I knew it was compromised. Did you give them my name?”

    “No, just the number. They’d have your name from your account.”

    “That’s assuming the account is in my name. So, maybe I can remain anonymous.” George smirked. Just then, the waitress brought a tray of drinks. “You two stay put. Cary, watch them.” He picked up the tray and carried it to the back. “Ivan, I’m sorry to leave you hanging, but things are a bit involved. How much longer do you need?”

“We’re done. Would you believe, we took in almost $30 G’s. And don’t apologize. You’ve earned the right to take all the time you need. Has the threat been neutralized?”

    “Yeah, everything’s cool for now. I’ll send the steaks back as soon as they’re ready. If anything goes wrong, do your best to get the girls out safe and don’t take any chances with the cash. Lisa, do you remember where we put that big copper box with the video cameras in it? Can you find it and bring it in?”

    “Sure thing,” she answered heading for the door.

    Returning to the front, George directed a question at Agent Thomas. “So what do you think you needed me for?”

“The bottom line is that we have nothing but what you’ve handed us. Every piece of information, every person in custody and every action was your idea. Our normal procedures have failed. We concluded that the conspiracy anticipated our actions so successfully that we’ve no chance of cracking the case. The Agent in charge decided that your unconventional methods are our only hope. Jim convinced me you had access to someone in the conspiracy. He said it was the only way you could know so much.”

“And what kind of help did you think I need?”

    “New identities under the witness protection program, consulting fees, communications screening, and consideration for things we believe you want but can’t even guess at,” the agent answered.

    “You guys have an expense account?”

    “Of course,” Agent Thomas answered.

    “Good, you can start by paying for dinner. Jim, you have any other traitors working with you at the FBI?”

    “Yes. There’s two more agents waiting in case I needed backup.”

    “Call them and tell ‘em you need it. Have them call you and wait in the parking lot when they get here.” he ordered. Just then, Lisa came in with the box. Setting it on the table, George opened it and put his cell phone in. “Okay, guys, put all your gear and hardware except your official phones in here. We’re not going to be tracked again. Lisa, does Ivan have a cell I can borrow?”

    “Sure George, I’ll get it for you.”

    “Cary, can you get some cups of your special coffee for Jim’s friends?”

    When she scurried away without a word, George asked, “Agent Thomas, are you an honest man? Are you taking any bribes or owe anyone any favors?”

    Wincing, he answered, “No! We’re not all corrupt.”

    “Under the circumstances, you can’t blame me for checking. You do understand how big this thing is, don’t you?”

    “Yeah, I can see it’s bad. I’m actually afraid it’s bigger than I can handle."

    “I’d be willing to help and I’m pretty sure I can keep you alive, but I need to be certain you can’t betray me. Are you willing to stay on the drugs until we can break up this racket?”

    “Not just no, hell no!” the agent swore.

Smiling, George observed, “I can tell you’ve never negotiated. I’d guess you don’t even compromise with your wife in bed. Do me a favor and think it over carefully. You know three of your fellow agents would have killed you in a heartbeat if you’d got in their way, so is there anyone you can trust. Is your boss in it too? Even if he isn’t, he could be used by someone he trusts. How many traitors are there that Jim doesn’t know. I might just order you to do it. I don’t really need your permission, I would just prefer to have it.”

“The scope of an enterprise that can train sex slaves for 18 years before getting a payoff makes the Mafia look like delinquents. Without my help, I’d bet your chances of surviving are less than 10%.”

“I’ll wait back there until you make up your mind.” Picking up his salad, he ambled to the booth. “Did I tell you that your meal is courtesy of the FEDS?” he smirked. “It was the least they could do for keeping me from enjoying your company.”

They were nearly finished before Agent Thomas approached shaking his head. “George, you’re a dangerous man. I can’t afford not to accept your terms. Jim’s backup is here, how should we handle them?”

Cary handed him two cups of coffee while George explained. “Take them some coffee and tell them to follow Ivan’s truck when it leaves. Lisa, when you’re finished, I need you to go to Wal-Mart and get six prepaid cell phones. Make them load 180 minutes on each of them while you’re watching. Take your time so we can keep Jim’s friends out of our hair.”

When Agent Thomas returned, George laid out a plan. “We need to find out how much the FBI’s management knows and if they’re involved. To find out, I’m going to make some demands.”

“First, I need access to Van Berg under whatever conditions I decide are prudent. I want the agreement in writing. I need a guarantee my name won’t appear anywhere. Not in the case files. Not in the court papers. Not in the news. I don’t want it used even in your cell phones. And if I find someone who uses it against orders or keeps a record of it, they are to be fired.

“Second, I want absolute, irrevocable control over the disposition of any girls rescued. That means no Courts, no Social Workers and no CPS. I don’t care how it’s done, but even if you have to appoint me as a Judge, I need a guarantee they can’t break when they don’t need me anymore.”

“Third, you’ll have to give me the power to decide if any girl who has already been sold will be rescued.” George couldn’t help adding that last condition with his best Sylvester-the-cat-swallowing-sweetie-pie smile.

“I’ll tell them what you want, but there isn’t a chance in hell they’ll even consider it. Hell, they can’t agree to it. They can’t give you authority they don’t have. You’re one hell of a gutsy guy, but this is the real world, there are limits.”

“This isn’t about negoitiating an agreement. Their reaction to the my demands will tell us what they know and how badly they want my information. Just make sure you don’t mention my name. Tell them they’ll never find me if they don’t agree. Imply that I’ll feed them what I know through the news media.”

    A few minutes later, Agent Thomas conceded, “I don’t know what it means, but they didn’t even argue. We’ll have signed copies in an hour.”

    “It means they’re scared. And some of them are traitors.” Suddenly, George’s mind was flying like a balloon propelled by escaping air. “Do you have a search warrant for the psychiatrist office and home yet?”

“The search has already been done. We found nothing,” the agent answered.

“I’ll need access to everything he had on him when he was arrested. Do a body cavity search, photos of every square inch of his skin and full body x-ray. It’s urgent we get readouts of his cell phone and GPS tracker.”

“Contact the state police and find who quit or disappeared since Friday noon and find them. Find out where the county attorney moved to Lincoln County from and check his previous associates. He was probably recruited by one of them.”

The balloon ran out as George’s mind fitted new pieces into the puzzle. There had to be a key. Someone was pulling the puppet’s strings to make the players dance. Finally, a crucial piece fell into place.

“We need Van Berg. Where is he and how long will it take to get there?”

“He’s being held at the Courthouse Downtown 20 minutes from here”

“Okay, I think we have enough to pull it off. It’s time for the hard part. There’s a chance the men bringing the paperwork have been ordered to arrest or kill us. The best way to prevent that is for me to not be here. So I’m going to drive the pickup back to the swap meet and Jim will bring me back in your car. Agent Thomas, I need you to wait and check the paperwork. Then tell the messengers that unless they follow your instructions, I’ll disappear and they’ll be held to blame. Take their weapons and phones and make sure they’re secured in their car. I’ll be back when I see it’s safe.”

As soon as he got in after dropping off his truck, he called Sheriff Dansie. “Sheriff, its George Marshal. … Yeah, it worked out well, but we still have a sleeper in the upper management we need to neutralize. I need some people I can trust. Do you know of anyone here in the city? Preferably involved in law enforcement. … Ideally, 10, but whatever we can get. … If you can get them, send them to Denny’s north of the swap meet. … We’re planning to move at midnight. … Yeah, I’ll call when it’s over. … I’m being careful, but there isn’t any way to be absolutely safe when you take on the Establishment. … Thanks, I can use all I can get. Bye

“You are one crazy SOB,” Jim hissed.

“You might be right, but you have to admit that I’m not so crazy that I trust an FBI with three traitors or an agent who thinks I’m crazy, not to interfere while I do the unexpected. I guarantee, when it’s over, if I’m not dead, you’ll think I’m James Bond times ten. At least you would if you were to remember any of this.”

    George ordered Jim to drive back, but to stop where they could watch without being noticed. “Watch and you’ll see how easily they’re manipulated. It’s virtually impossible to defend against unknown traitors.”

    As they watched, two FBI agents, who arrived in an unmarked car, were met at the door. After reading the Agreement, Agent Thomas talked briefly before they voluntarily gave up their weapons and phones. A moment later they got in the back seat, which was a cage used for transporting prisoners.

    Just as Jim pulled into the parking lot next to the other agents, Lisa and Jim’s confederates were pulling in behind them. When everyone was gathered back in the restaurant, George asked Ilya to stand by the front door to ask each man entering if they’d been sent by Sheriff Dansie.

    When everyone was seated, George began. “To understand an enemy, you start with all the information you can gather, fill in the pieces you lack by deduction and then you extend your observations to predict the future.

“So let’s consider some facts. Agent Thomas, what would happen if the document we just received were leaked to the media?”

With a bleak face, he acknowledged, “The careers of anyone involved would be over.”

“Who signed it?”

“The regional director for the western states.”

“What are the possible reasons why he would take such a risk?”

Everyone watched as the agent reached the conclusion George was leading him to, “They didn’t expect to let you have it. Or, they were using it as bait to get you to come to an ambush. Or the director was ordered or blackmailed.”

“Now see, that’s the kind of professional analysis I knew you were capable of. Can you take it forward a step? We know the State Administrative Director is safe since he told Danzie about substituting Jim. That means that the traitor has limited information and personnel available locally. What types of information would be available to the regional or national director?” George nudged.

“Cell phones, limited satellite surveillance, GPS tracking on vehicles, and reports from spies.

“What conclusions would a traitor draw from the demands I made?”

With a startled look, he answered thoughtfully, “That you wanted the girls?”

“How do we know there are any other girls?”

This time the agent winced, "The number of people and the cost make the conspiracy too big for one girl."

“We know that now, but when did you, or more importantly, when did Jim first learn that there were other girls?”

“It was one of the first things that the sheriff told us after we arrived.”

“Okay, now here is the important question. How would the traitor think that the sheriff found out about the other girls?” George coaxed.

With another revelation dawning in his face, the agent concluded, “He had to believe there was a turncoat. That would explain why Jim was adamant about tracking you with the cell phone.”

“How much did you know about me before we met,” George pushed.

“The only thing the sheriff would tell us is that you knew more about the conspiracy than everyone else put together and your phone number. He did say that the way you uncovered the facts made it impossible for you to have been involved in the crime, but Jim didn’t believe it.”

“So they probably don’t know who I am or what I look like. They don’t know if I’m the turncoat or whether I’m getting inside information from him. If it were you, what actions would you be taking?” George prompted.

“The first priority would be to find out who you are and then eliminate the turncoat. It’d be imperative because they wouldn’t know how much of their organization has been compromised or to whom you might leak it. If you had information on wealthy buyers who’d bought in the past, the least of their worries would be their careers. That would explain why they agreed to your demands,” the agent explained as the puzzle fit together.

“So, assuming that they believe my offer to help was real, what would they believe I’d do next?”

“The only thing they know about you is that you want the girls. They’ll assume you know how to find them and because it was urgent you question Van Berg, that you think he is the key. They’ll expect you to question him.”

“So how would they take me when I come to visit?”

“They don't know you've neutralized Jim and his friends. We know there isn’t another traitor like Jim and If they have anyone else, it would probably be staff leaking information. We can’t be sure, so there is still a possibility of an assault. The most probable action would be an order from a source above the state director to loyal agents that you be arrested. If I were pulling the strings, I’d have used a ploy to get the state director out of town.”

“Okay, assuming there is someone at headquarters who has received orders like that, how would you sort and neutralize them?”

“We can’t attack them together, but we could take them one at a time.”

“You aren’t using your most potent weapon. We know something they don’t, so how would you use that knowledge?”

With a smile, the agent arrived at the place George was leading him to, “I’ll call them one by one and tell them I was set up, that you have Jim and the other four agents that were sent. I’ll tell them you have spies and they can’t trust anyone else. Then I’ll tell them I know where you’ll be and ask them to help arrest you. We might even be able to tell who has orders to arrest you.”

“Thank you, Agent Thomas, since the plan was your idea, you have now absolved me of all responsibility.” George laughed. “There are a few more things we need to be safe. We need untracked transportation and we’ve got to find out who’s on duty. Is there someone inside you can pump for information?”

Everyone looked up as two men in military uniforms approached the meeting. “Is one of you George Marshal?” the nearest asked.

“That would be me,” George said, extending his hand. “I suspect you’re friends of Sheriff Dansie?”

“You got it. I’m Jake Townsend and this is John Elroy. Dansie says you’re in a bind, that you have evidence of a traitor in the FBI chain of command.”

George handed him the Agreement and watched his eyes widen. “They’d prefer that never see the light of day and they’re planning to double cross me when I go in to question the witness. Are you active military?”

“Yes, but we can’t use any military resources,” Jake answered.

“Do you know any of the FBI personnel?”

“Not personally, we’ve both met a couple of them briefly.”

“Would it be out of character if one of you called up to ask for an agent to assist in an investigation? Do you have a cell phone?”

“No, that's happened a time or two.” Jake answered taking out a phone.

“Okay, Agent Thomas, who can we use for information? Can you put it on speaker so we can all hear?” The agent wrote a name and number on a napkin and handed it to Jake. George added, “Don’t take no for an answer. Demand to know who is in the building. Tell him you’ll have his job. Threaten to bring a platoon if he doesn’t cooperate. You can’t go too far, because there isn’t any way they can connect you with us. We’re 99% certain that Arnold James, the State Director, has been called out of town, so demand to talk to him.”

Shaking his head, he mumbled about the sheriff being dead on before dialing. “Jerry, this is Jake Townsend at Nellis. We’ve got a crisis out here. We think we’ve got a line on a home grown terrorist and need some backup to sort things out. Who can you send in the next hour? … <I’m sorry, but we have a crisis too and there isn’t anybody left.> … Don’t tell me that Jerry. If a bomb goes off and a thousand people die, you don’t want to be responsible. … <If there isn’t anyone left, I can’t hire someone. I can’t do the impossible.> … If I don’t get some cooperation Jerry, I will personally fuck over the rest of your life. Who is in the building? …<There aren’t any agents. We’re down to the dispatcher and the guards.> … If you don’t tell me who is on duty right now, including the dispatcher, the janitor and the pet whore under your desk, I swear I’ll bring a platoon of my goons over and you’ll be the pet under someone’s desk for the next 20 years. Now who’s in the damn fucking building, you fucking piece of shit! …. <Okay, I’ll tell you everything.> … Okay, the security guard in the lobby? What’s his name and number? …<Tim Jenkins, ext. 1243> … How many guards in lock up? … <Three> … What are their names. ... < Alan Toby, Todd Jones, and Steve Hancock> … Who is on dispatch? … <Theresa Cero> … Where is the Director? … <He was called to Washington; his plane took off an hour ago.> … Who’s in the security station? … <It’s empty. They called him out on an emergency.> … Don’t fucking lie to me. You have a cell phone Jerry? What’s the number… 702-344-3455 …

John pulled out his cell phone and dialed.

“Jerry, answer the fucking phone. … <Hello> … Okay Jerry, get the hell off your ass and go see who’s in the security room. … <It’s empty.> … Don’t fucking lie to me. Jerry, if you don’t tell me who’s there, I won’t just rip your fucking head off, I’ll take your wife, your mama and your kids and put them in my lockup with the perv’s. … <I’ll prove it. There isn’t anyone. I’ll send you a picture on my phone.>”

Jake muted both phones and looked up, “We may be in luck. You might have dealt with everyone they have. If that’s the case, we need to move fast.”

A picture of the empty security room appeared on the cell phone, so Jake picked up the diatribe as he moved toward the parking lot. “Okay, Jerry. I’ll tell you what we’re going to do. I’m bringing my people in to cover your ass. You’re going to sit there and send me a picture of the security monitors every seven seconds until I get there. Do you understand Jerry? … <Yes sir. I can’t tell you how happy I’ll be to have you take over.> … Okay, Jerry, start sending.”

When Jake muted the phone, George looked up to find 6 more men. “It sounds like we can waltz in and take over, but let’s be careful. Agent Thomas, take one of these backups. Go with Jake and John. Brief him on the threat. Leave Jake and John in the lobby with the security guard and verify Jerry’s report. Put Jerry in restraints and make sure he can’t sound the alarm. As soon as Jerry’s tied up, take out the guard in the lobby. When the lobby is secure, I’ll send two of the backups here to guard it.”

“As soon as we have control of the building, call the city police and tell them you have a hostage situation. Have them set up a perimeter with traffic control. If we pull this off, we’ll be sliding in under the wire. The enemy will be sending in muscle that could arrive at any time. Let’s move.”

Two of the extra security people were left with the captive FBI agents with instructions to bring them in when the headquarters building was secured. George and his girls rode with two more in a County Rescue RV. It took a few minutes to sort out cell phones and numbers, but they were still on their way by 9:45.

One of the most common complaints in history is known as “Murphy’s law”. No one, except the “A-Team”, expects a plan to work the way it was conceived. But there are rare individuals who act so quickly and aggressively, that no one can prepare a defense. There is no defense against random chance events.

George’s plan was based on an idea so far outside societal norms, that it couldn’t be distinguished from random chance. So there wasn’t any opposition. It ended without even a cross word. Agent Thomas was accepted as acting Director until Arnold James returned and all the local agents were ordered to ignore orders from outside the office. The city police arrested three agents from other jurisdictions when they attempted to enter the building.

At George’s urging, the Van Berg was moved to Nellis Air Base without anyone knowing where he went or who took him. Jake held him as a suspected terrorist and all trace of the affair in Lincoln County was erased or deleted from the FBI files in accordance with George’s Agreement.

Finally, George ordered Agent Thomas to write himself a report of all the things he'd need to know tomorrow, but wouldn't remember.

Even with all the excitement, George was home and ready for bed before midnight. With anticipation, first Courtney and then Cary undressed and waited by the bed for George’s help. All he could think was, “what a day. To bad we’re too tired for anything but sleep.”

As she drifted off, Courtney heard a song playing softly in her mind.

Chapter 16 Key Words

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