you’re here earlier than usual.”
“I really need to see Burcks before he gets tied up,” Darren answered.
Just as Darren finished that statement, Burcks entered the office. He said, “You two seem to be in a good mood this morning.” Burcks put his hand on the doorjamb, turned back to Darren and said, “Let’s talk!”
“Of course, I’ve been waiting to catch you.” Darren grimaced, grabbing his coffee cup and following the general to his office. He whispered to Jo, “I hope he’s not in a bad mood!”
Burcks watched silently as Darren seated himself to the right of his desk. This morning Burcks seemed soft and extremely thoughtful. He almost whispered, and the usual hard look had disappeared. Darren had rarely seen him in such a relaxed mood. As Darren sat down, Burcks smiled slightly, and then said, “I went over that lengthy report you laid on my desk a few days ago. Seems like the crazies are up to something.”
“General, I have a chilling update. We have evidence that our super patriots are getting outside help.”
Burcks said, “How so?”
“A Thai friend called last night. Some of our domestic dissenters have had a meeting with Islamic fundamentalists in northern Thailand in early January. Maybe they only shared strategies. But they may be setting up arms purchases. Maybe even coordinating terrorist acts on a global scale.”
Burcks’ soft demeanor vanished. As he spoke, Darren noted the hard set jaw, the furrowed brow and narrowed eyelids. Burcks said, “That earlier report gave me heart burn.” He sighed, and in a more relaxed tone, said, “Okay, give me the whole story.”
Darren reported his conversation with Vasin and the U.S. immigration report that twelve key super patriots left the country on January second and third. Reading from the email his friend in Immigration sent, Darren said, “They departed L.A. International en route to Hong Kong in teams of two over a two-day period. They spent one night at the Holiday Inn Harbor View in Kowloon. Then they vanished. I have yet to trace their travel from Hong Kong to Chiang Mai.” Darren shifted in his chair, looked up to make sure he had Burcks’ full attention. He continued, “They show back up in Hong Kong on January eleventh. This time they checked into the Holiday Inn. Again, they split into pairs and returned via Los Angeles airport on different flights.”
“Let’s not waste time worrying about how these misfits got from Hong Kong to Chiang Mai,” the General said. “We need to know the results of the meeting. Let’s see if any of the other agencies have anything. We must be very, very careful how we proceed. Although this is certainly a national security issue, it has now taken an international tinge. As you know, these extremists have friends in high places. While not all are disloyal Americans, too many harbor hatreds and heretical religious views that often lead to a host of unnecessary deaths. There’ll probably be more federal building bombings. More day-care centers and churches blown up. God help us.”
“Yeah,” Darren echoed.
General Burcks continued, “We can’t gather up everyone we define as troublemakers, nuts and wackos, and put them in prison. Everyone’s waiting for us to make the slightest mistake. We look like a bunch of gutless, whimpering dummies right now. But we’ve got to follow the law to the letter.”
“Yes, sir. It’s a difficult situation.”
“What I wouldn’t give for an old fashion foreign conflict. Those were easier to deal with, at least in hindsight. See if you can find out the details of that meeting in Thailand?” softly asked the General.
“Yes sir.”
“And, by the way, you need to be sitting in on sessions of the new interagency domestic counter-terrorism task force run by F.B.I. Agents Wade and Carlson. We’ll share some of our data, but not all until we see how trustworthy the group is.”
“Yes sir.”
After a few moments Burcks softly asked, “How about that reporter friend of yours in Austin? He seems to have an interest in these crazies. Is he any help?”
“He seems to keep up with a lot of these people, but I’ve promised him anonymity.”
“That’s not a problem. Don’t forget to use the special phone number I gave you months ago to call me. It’s totally secure. A news media leak is the last thing we need.”
“Yes sir.”
“Uh, Darren, I think you ought to know that your friend Ann Jones is missing.”
A knot developed in the pit of Darren’s stomach as Burcks’ words sank in. “What do you mean?”
“I got a call from the Thailand CIA Station Chief last night. He informed me that they’ve lost touch with her. They’re concerned that she is not communicating through agreed upon channels. They know of your relationship and wanted to know if you’ve heard from her lately?”
“Yes. She left a message on my answering machine last night.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she missed me, but couldn’t be in touch with me for an indeterminate time. She said some strange things were happening and she hoped my work was challenging.”
Burcks said, “She didn’t say where she was calling from?”
“No sir.”
“How long has she been with Army intelligence?” Burcks asked.
“About ten years.”
“Can you tell me about the relationship?” Burcks asked.
“Of course. We’ve seen each other as work permitted over the last five years. I guess if I had to get married right now it would be to Ann.” Then, as an after thought he smiled and added, “If she’d have me.”
Burcks cracked a brief smile, and then said, “Well, the problem is probably not as bad as it may seem. Let’s give her time to surface. Let me know when you hear from her again. Okay?”
“Yes sir.”
Darren left Burcks’ office that cold wintry day feeling like he had been hit with a sledgehammer. Before he shut the General’s office door, he glanced back to see Burcks rubbing his forehead with both hands, eyes closed. Darren went to his office, feeling guilty for not telling Burcks of his relationship with Ann. But he had only taken a few steps when Burcks’ voice stopped him dead in his tracks.
“Darren!”
Darren turned and walked back to the door of Burcks’ office. Yes sir?”
“I almost forgot. There’s one of those super patriots meetings out in Bellingham next Monday night. The Bureau is sending an agent to the meeting, but I’d like you to be there.”
“Yes sir.” At that, Burcks returned to his desk, and Darren shut the door and headed back to his office to prepare for the Bellingham meeting. Ann was still on his mind.
3
BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON
Monday,
