The Road to Round Mountain: The Betrayal by (24 page)

“Evening Sir”, Agent Boling acknowledged. Doug was  unimpressed with the visitor and remarked, “Who is this  dried up old relic”. The man looked directly at Doug gave  him a warm smile and replied, “This dried up old relic, as you  so eloquently put it, holds your life in my hands. If I see that  your services are as valuable as Agent Boling has indicated,  than I may be so inclined to ignore your primitive comment  and not turn you over to the CIA”.

Doug stared him down, but to no avail, the man’s smile  remained the same which made him feel uneasy. “Doug, may  I introduce Mr. Gable, John Jacob Gable”. Dougs mouth  hung open like he lost all control of his jaw muscles.

“Dear boy, please close your mouth, it’s not a good look  for a professional like yourself”. The waitress came up to the  table and laid down a plate of roast beef French dip and steak  fries. “Thank you my dear”, the Director acknowledged.  Doug was now all sorts of confused, “The director of the FBI  is sitting right in front of me and you didn’t tell me he was  coming”? “He didn’t call me if that’s what you’re wondering”,  Agent Boling replied. The Director finished with a bite of  sandwich and added, “I take it, you made arrangements at

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that quaint Hotel next door”. Agent Boling handed him a  plastic key card from the Hotel. “Thank you, after we finish  here we shall meet in my room for a bit of strategic planning”, the Director concluded.

“You’re man looks a tad mystified”, The Director told  Agent Boling. “Let’s just say, that we are somewhat similar  to a married couple. We’ve been working together for over  twenty years so when we pass information back and forth,  we both know what the other is doing and where we are  going. So you see, it’s not a real mystery, our minds work  well together”.

That explanation didn’t make Doug feel any better, “This  is just creepy, it’s like you two can read each other’s minds”.  “Don’t be so naïve Doug, this is part of the experiment that  we have been involved in for the past 6 years. The Director  and I have been self-appointed Guinea Pigs for this part of  our program and as you can see we can communicate not  only by traditional means, but with our minds as well”, Agent  Boling explained.

Doug was now beginning to understand, perhaps not totally and he wasn’t sure he wanted to, but the message was  becoming clear. “So that’s why this kid is so important to  you. If this experiment works on him, then he will become an  extremely dangerous weapon”. “A weapon which cannot be  destroyed”, The Director corrected in a firm manner. “The  other part of the experiment is to make it possible for him to  maintain that high level of electricity in his body, which will  leave him, well immortal for lack of a better word. He will  feel no pain, a bullet will not be able to penetrate through  the electric shield. He will become, the ultimate fighting

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machine”, As the Director smiled knowing that his project  will make history, and make him rich as well.

They finished their dinner and followed the Director  to his room. The amenities in this Hotel were few but was

not required for the work they had to accomplish didn’t  need any modern conveniences. Each of their rooms were  actually separate cabins. They had the rustic look of real  log cabins, only with the modern addition of electricity and  running water.

The trio could tell the room had not seen a lot of action,  as the musty smell of the room forced them to open the windows and prop open the door. They pulled the small wooden  table from against the wall and set it underneath the lighting  by the little kitchenette area.

After forty-five minutes of going over different scenarios,  the Director seemed satisfied with the plans that were set out.  “So everyone is clear about our intentions, let me repeat, the  only one we are concerned about is Mr. Speer, all others are  expendable, and I do mean all”. The Director handed some  paperwork to Doug, “What’s all this”, Doug asked. This first  packet has the directions and passwords needed to deliver  our project. The second is what will be needed to access your  funds after the work has been completed to my satisfaction.  I’m sure that you will find the amount more than adequate  my dear boy. Future projects which will require your services  are contingent on the success of this one, and of course a  healthy raise on your fees”. Doug smiled a greedy smile that  pleased the Director.

Doug started to open the packages before being stopped  by Agent Boling, “Don’t be rude, you can check out the details

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later. Speaking of which, why don’t you go ahead and call it a  night, the Director and I have a few more local details to sort  through and I need you rested to be able to focus on the task  at hand tomorrow”. Doug nodded an acknowledgement and  left for his cabin, paperwork in hand.

The Director and Agent Boling waited a few minutes  before resuming their talk. “Bogus bank account for him to  access”, Boling inquired? “No, a legitimate account, not that  it will improve his situation……..when he’s dead”. “Do you  think he bought the whole experimental drug thing about  reading minds”? “It matters not Agent Boling, just needed  to make him feel needed and a part of things. Trust, it is a  bitch”, the director said with a hearty laugh.

“Will you be wanting me to take care of Doug sir”? “Oh  heavens no, Doug will be used to deliver our project and  once his safe arrival is confirmed, then he will be disposed  of on-site”, the Director replied in a matter of fact tone.  “We have the story set up for any and all casualties’ sir”?  “But of course, an investigation will be started by me with  my local channels of influence and I shall delegate and demand a full report within 24 hrs. Of course by then I shall  be well over three thousand miles from this place, with a  report that my plane went down over the Pacific Ocean,  never to be seen again. I shall miss paying those alimony  checks, whatever will I do with all that extra money”, as  they both started laughing out loud.

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37

gordon And I
 
were exhausted after a grueling 6 hours  of poker. We went through playing most of the night only to  be interrupted by the occasional Subway sandwich, of which  I had two. I’m not sure what kind they were but I’m sure that  I could have eaten a third; they were that good. Gordon only  managed one sandwich, but I think part of that was he was  getting frustrated that I was winning all night. It wasn’t my  fault, he won the first four hands and I started getting frustrated, so I started wishing that I could see what his cards  were, knowing that it would be impossible, but one can always hope. Then I discovered a new twist to my gift. When  Gordon dealt the fifth hand, I noticed that if I focused hard  enough that I could almost see through the cards, as if they

were transparent.

I was having way too much fun at the time to let Gordon  in on my deceptive winning ways. After all it’s not every  night you win 212 million dollars. Not literally of course,  we just changed the value of the chips to please our greedy  tastes. We had one final smoke before calling it a night. We  did get some sleep, maybe three hours, but that was more  than was needed since I slept through Wednesday. Playing  poker was the most enjoyable activity I’ve been through lately. It felt relaxing to have a good night and now I was ready  for a good day; I think I’m entitled to that with all that I’ve  been through.

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Gordon and I had been up for a couple of hours, just long enough to grab a quick shower, a quick sandwich from the fridge, and outside to light up our dessert. Gordon gave me a glare of disapproval as I filled him in on my strategy for last night’s winnings, as the Sheriff drove in to his parking spot.  He didn’t quite make it all the way into the parking spot, but he quickly shut off the engine, got out of the car looked at us and said in a very serious manner, “Get inside, now; to my office, I’ll be in there in a second”.

Gordon and I gave a mutual shrug of the shoulders, field stripped our smokes and headed inside. We sat down on the two chairs closest to the Sheriff’s desk. “Wonder

what set a fire in his britches”, Gordon said. “Where in the  hell did you here that one”, I replied to his hillbilly reference. “Some show I saw, but that’s what it looked like”. I  couldn’t argue with him on that, the Sheriff did look to be  in one big ass hurry.

The Sheriff came storming into his office and slammed  shut the door. It was quite the slam, remind me not to piss  him off. “I just filled in the Deputies and well, Billy, there’s no  easy way to say this, but there’s been a kidnapping”. I looked  over at Gordon and he was sporting the same confused look  as I was. “What are you talking about, what kidnapping”, I  asked? The Sheriff hung his head for a moment, then slowly  back up at me, “They took Jennifer”.

I don’t remember how I reacted to that, only to find that  there was a pit in my stomach, and anger was beginning to  grow. I didn’t have to ask about the “They” part, I know who  took her. My mind raced with horrid thoughts of things I  would do to agent Boling; things that would be so sick and

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graphic in nature, that it would be considered too violent

even for Criminal Minds to air.

I jumped out of my chair and headed for the door, and without me realizing it, the office door swung open with such force that the hinges of the door splintered from the doorjamb; no I did not touch the door. I went racing past the rows of desks when I heard the Sheriff screaming, “Billy, get back here. Do you even know where you’re headed to”?  I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to face the Sheriff.  I could see fear in the Sheriff’s eye’s as he looked at me. He was right, as much as I wanted to go get Jennifer, I really didn’t know where to start. I had to settle down, my mind was racing a mile a minute. I wanted Boling and whoever she was with to fry for this and I know just how I wanted to do it. Calm down, calm down, you can’t think rationally like this. We will find her; I will find her.

I went back into the office following the Sheriff.  Gordon was still in his chair, a frightened look was appar-ent on his face, as he glanced over at the door when I came back in, “Shit dude, you beat the cream cheese out of that door”. I looked at Gordon and then over at what was left

of the door, then turned towards the Sheriff, “Sorry about  the door, I was just…..” “Don’t worry about the door Billy;  hey Gordon, how about getting a round of drinks for us”?  Gordon quickly got up and went out the newly remodeled  door and over to the fridge.

“I got a call from Astoria PD when Jennifer didn’t show  up for work and someone saw two people tossing someone in  the back of a van right before it left the Hospital parking lot”.  The Sheriff continued talking, but I couldn’t concentrate on

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a single word he said. My thoughts were focused on Jennifer,  how I was hoping she was okay, and how she better be okay,  or else. Not thinking far enough ahead to determine what  the “Or else”, consisted of, I was just trying to calm down  enough to think clearly.

“Billy, did you even hear what I said”, The Sheriff said  loudly to get my attention. “Sorry sir, my mind was elsewhere”. Gordon came back in and handed out soft drinks,  before sitting back down in the chair. “What I was saying  is that if they took her, they’re going to want something in  return”, The Sheriff stated. “Like a ransom or something”,  Gordon added. “More like, or something”, as the Sheriff  pointed at Billy.

“Crap, you mean they took Jennifer to get to me”. “I  think the key phrase is, that they want you”, the Sheriff corrected. I was trying to figure out why they would take her.  They were coming for me anyway, why put her life in danger,  unless. Agent Boling had to have seen what happened to the  truck she set out after us with her suicide driver and figured  that I wouldn’t go with her on a voluntary basis. I’m guessing her training that she had in mind for me on Wednesday  was to be taken to that place in Nevada. So to make sure  that I didn’t blow anything or anybody up, she went for a  kidnapping, a straight up one for one trade that I would go  peacefully with her. But how could she know that; I’m sure  that she had already thought of what I would do once they  release Jennifer, and what I was capable of. I doubt that they  would shoot me in order for me go peacefully; they kind of  need me alive. I need to stop, my headache is coming back,  and I’ll work out what she might have planned for me later.

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the sherIFF’s desk
 
phone rang. He picked it up before it rang a second time. “Sherif f Pasco”. “Good evening  Sheriff, are you ready to play Lets’ Make a Deal”, the caller  asked? “Well Agent, I see you were smart enough to call my  office line, but what makes you think you’re smart enough  to pull this off”? “Am I being invited to another one of your  pissing contests? As I remember the last one, you didn’t fare  so well”.

There was silence on the line for a few seconds. “Okay  I’ll bite, what’s the deal you have in mind”? “It’s quite simple,  Billy for the Girl”, Agent Boling replied. The Sheriff looked about the room even though it was just Gordon and myself.  He was getting red in the face, and definitely not one you want to get on your bad side. “That sounds easy enough, but how do I know that nobody’s going to get hurt and how do I know that hasn’t happened already to Jennifer”? “Trust  Sheriff, that’s all we have to offer, otherwise it could get a bit, and shall we say, messy”.

“I don’t respond well to threats missy, and if anything has happened to her so help me God”…… “Sheriff, if you will look closely to Gordon sitting in one of your chairs, and the little red light pointed right at his curly red hair”. The Sheriff looked up immediately at Gordon, and sure enough some-one had their laser scope pointed right at Gordon’s head.  “Gordon, get over by me, right now”, the Sheriff hollered.