Blackstar, p.31
BlackStar, page 31
He looked at her for what seemed like a lifetime and finally said, “I was not grilling you Ms. Beck. You will know when that happens, believe me. You may leave now.”
“General Devin, you have no idea how hard you make it for people to respect you when you treat everyone like dirt. You really should take a good look at yourself in the mirror some morning.”
He didn’t even acknowledge her presence. Instead he turned back to the monitors and began flipping through the various stations.
You prick, she said under her breath as she left. No one offered to drive her back but it wasn’t that far and it gave her time to think. Finally she had a plan of action.
~~
She was hiding something, he thought, as she walked out of the room. Did she put two and two together and realize the blood was from Eller? She was certainly not dumb. She was stupid for talking that way to him, but not dumb.
He couldn’t find any glaring problems with her answers, but something was bothering him, like a tickle in the back of his throat. Getting rid of her at this time may draw more attention to the base than he wanted. Another disappearance just wouldn’t help what he was doing. He would just have to order surveillance placed on her. Right now, he had more important matters to take care of. The second phase of the testing would take place at 0215 and he had a few details to take care of first. He got his vehicle and headed out to Beacon.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
- The White House -
Sarah was making her first trip to the Oval Office to meet with the President. She was excited and awed by the whole thing. She had been sitting in her office when the call from the White House came. She was almost speechless when informed that it was President Sampson on the other end of the line.
“Ms. Steal? The President would like a word with you,” the caller announced.
She almost dropped the phone. A few moments later he was on the line.
“Ms. Steal, This in President Sampson.”
“Mr. President. I’m honored. I didn’t expect to be talking to you,” she stammered.
He chuckled, “Believe me, I’m just the same as you. I’m not Superman or the Pope. I called because there is a matter I would like to discuss with you. I think it would be better if you could come over to the Oval Office,” he said.
“Yes sir. When would you like me to come?”
“Well, now would work nicely, if you have the time.”
“I’ll be right there. What do I need to do to get in and how do I find you?”
He chuckled again. “I’ll be the tall older gentlemen wandering around with nothing to do.”
He heard her laugh on the other end.
“Just kidding. All you have to do is show your credentials to the guards at the gate and someone will escort you to the Oval Office. They know you are coming and will have a person waiting for you,” he told her.
Now, here she was, being shown in to the office of the President of the United States. It was a little overwhelming.
“Ms. Steal, welcome,” he said, coming from around behind his desk and shaking her hand. He held it for a few seconds and said, “firm handshake, I like that.”
“Thank you sir.”
“Please, pick a spot and take a load off,” he replied, dropping down into one of the chairs.
Wow, she thought, he is different somehow. She had always pictured him as formal with little sense of humor.
“What can I get for you? We have all sorts of juices and colas,” he offered.
She had been warned about this so she asked for a Diet Coke.
After it was brought in he said, “I have asked you over here because I want you to hear this from me, not second hand information.”
“Yes sir,” she said, taking a big gulp of Diet Coke.
“Do you mind if I call you Sarah?”
“Please, Mr. President. That would be just fine with me,” she said.
“Sarah, I am about to tell you something that has not been released to anyone yet. In fact, you will be one of the very first to know. I’m afraid it isn’t good news, however. I don’t know any other way to say it so here it goes,” he said, taking a deep breath.
Oh God, I’m going to get fired. I screwed up at the congressional hearings and that’s it for me, she thought.
“Sarah, I am very, very sorry to have to tell you this,” he paused again.
She could see he was struggling with what he was about to say next. It wasn’t going to be good. She could almost see her career slipping away. She took a deep breath as well.
“Raymond is…dead,” he finally got out.
“What?” she gasp, shaking her head a moment. “I’m sorry, did you say dead? That can’t be,” she said putting her hands up to her mouth. “No. Mr. President it just can’t be,” she said trying to maintain control.
“I know. I know. I said the same thing. Raymond couldn’t possibly be dead. It had to be a mistake. A horrible mistake. I wish I could tell you that it isn’t true but we have positive proof now.”
“I don’t understand. How can that be? Not Raymond,” she said, fighting to keep from crying.
“I sorry Sarah. He was working on an assignment I sent him on. You can imagine how I feel. I am responsible for what happened to him,” the President said.
He was having a hard time maintaining his composure as well.
“How?” was all she could think to say.
“The details are not something you really want to know. It wouldn’t help any, believe me. He died in the line of duty for his country and for me,” he said, running his fingers across the bridge of his nose. “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this,” he said.
“I can’t believe it. Raymond. He was invincible. I looked up to him. He was a mentor to me. He gave me my first break,” she said, rambling.
“I understand how you feel. He was a good friend to me as well. We became friends when I was just a snot-nosed Senator. Not only was he important to this administration, but I personally grieve for his loss. I always enjoyed the time we spent together.”
“My God. Now what? I don’t even know what to say. This is surreal. I can’t...I can’t even fathom this,” she said.
“I understand. I felt the exact same way when I learned of it,” he assured her.
“When is the funeral? Has that been arranged?” she asked.
“I am having his mother notified today. I sent a personal currier to deliver a letter and convey my condolences. I will know more after we find out her wishes. She is quite old and her health is poor. I want to make sure we respect whatever she desires.”
“This is terrible. Poor Raymond. He was such a good person,” she lamented.
“He was indeed.”
She sat with a vacant look on her face, not saying a word. The President let her sit for a few minutes longer before interrupting her thoughts.
“Sarah, as unpleasant and callous as this may sound, I need to keep the government running. I may sound coldhearted but the Department of Homeland Security is critical to this administration and the whole country. I can’t have everything come to a screeching halt. As difficult as it is, the business of security for our nation must go on. Terrorist do not give us time off to grieve.”
“Yes sir. I understand. I will help whomever you appoint as the Director to make the transition as quickly and smoothly as possible. I give you my word,” she said.
“I knew I could count on you, that’s why I would like you to stay on as the Acting Director of Homeland Security. You have my full confidence in your ability to handle the job. I thought you did very well with Karney. You didn’t take any of his bluster and guff. That shows real courage for you to stand up to that windbag,” he said.
“I tried to hold my own without crossing the line,” she said. “Raymond told me…,” she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
“I know. It’s hard. Sarah I am depending on you to hold that department together. I know it will cause a horrible ripple in productivity, but it can’t remain that way for long. Our enemies won’t take a holiday,” he said.
“I agree. I appreciate your confidence in my leadership and I will work to the best of my ability,” she replied.
“That’s all I could ask and I know you will get the job done,” he said. “The announcement will be made after we release the news of Raymond’s death. It will become official at that time,” Sampson said.
“Yes sir. I will say nothing until I am told to do so.”
“Thank you Sarah. I am truly sorry for your loss as well as mine. He was a great friend to both of us.”
Somehow she had managed not to cry all the way back to her office, but once inside, she closed the door and the tears started to flow. She sobbed quietly until she could cry no more. Poor Raymond. He had been so excited about the new challenge he was facing and now he was dead. What a waste of talent and of a good person, she thought.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
- GROOM LAKE INFIRMARY -
Angie noticed that a security person was hovering around almost constantly. It was apparent that they were keeping an eye on her. It would have bothered her less if they had tried to be a little less obvious. It was like they were challenging her to do something so they could pounce on her. It was so strange. She had always gotten along with everyone. They had all been patients at one time or another. It was like she had suddenly become the enemy. What the hell was going on around here, she wondered? She realized that General Devin had gone over the deep end and was extremely dangerous.
A break in the treatment of patients and flu shots gave her a moment to put a plan into action. She called the S-4 facility and asked to speak with Dr. Yurris.
“Doctor Yurris.”
“Hi doctor. This is Angie from the infirmary.”
“Hi Angie. How are you?”
“The question is how are you? How are your fingers doing?”
“Sore as all get out but I’m taking the pain pills and they help a great deal. It’s only when I do something stupid that it really hurts. Like eating, sleeping, breathing. That kind of stuff,” she said, laughing.
“Well, I called because you need to come by if you want to save those nails. We need to drain the blood out from under them. If you don’t, not only will you lose them, but they will never grow back right,” she said, exaggerating the seriousness.
“Well, I don’t know. It is hard to find the time to get clear back to the main base,” Lynn said.
“It’s up to you but I think you are creating some potential long term problems, not to mention that it will take longer to heal. I just wanted to make the offer. It’s your call,” she said, trying not to sound like she was begging her to come.
“Maybe I should. How long are you there at the infirmary?”
“I usually leave around 6:00 p.m.,” Angie told her.
“I’ll tell you what. If we are at a breaking point before then, I’ll have someone run me over so you can drill a hole in them. If I don’t make it over, it’s because we were at a critical point and I just couldn’t get away,” Lynn said.
“Whatever. You know where I am. Just be darn careful, it wouldn’t take much too really cause you some serious long term damage,” she said nonchalantly.
Nothing was ever easy, Angie thought. She wasn’t sure if anyone was listening in, but considering the attention she was getting, she wasn’t about to take that chance.
The rest of the day seemed to drag by. Other than the security guard and an occasional person dropping in for a flu shot, it was as dull as it could possibly be. It was going on 5:45 p.m. and she decided that Dr. Yurris was not going to show up.
She started to close up shop and head home. She was headed toward the door when she saw a white Cherokee pull up out front. She could see Yurris in the front seat.
“Sorry, I hope I’m not keeping you,” Lynn said when she came in. The security guard was with her.
“No problem. I glad you decided to have me take a look at those.”
“Well, nails are important. I may be a scientist but like you said, I’m still a woman,” she said chuckling.
“By golly, if they are important to you, they are important to me. Let’s just see what we can do about saving them,” said.
Lynn sat down on a stool and Angie unwrapped them and took a look.
“Still darn sore I would imagine.”
“Only when I breathe.”
“Yes. I can sympathize with that.”
The guard had maneuvered to get a look at her fingers. Angie noticed it and assumed he was to report back if the injury was real. She would give the bastard something to report.
“They are healing, but darn slowly. The blood is building up under those nails. That’s why you feel that throbbing. We need to release the pressure under them or they are going to continue to hurt and you will eventually lose them. Once the pressure is off, they will heal better and a lot of the pain will subside,” Angie told her.
“I’m all for that. It’s hard to do much with them like they are.”
“Now, I want to be truthful up front. It will hurt when I press the blood out but once that’s done I promise it will feel a hundred times better.”
“Just give me a stick to bite on,” Lynn joked.
“You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Lynn said.
“I’m going to heat up this paper clip I’ve straightened out. Then I will touch it to the back part of your nail. It will poke a hole in the nail, and when I press on it, the blood will come out and the pain will subside considerably.”
“What about when it burns through the nail?”
“Hey, trust me, I’m a professional. Maybe not a rocket scientist like you, but I’ve done this a few hundred times. That part won’t bother you at all,” Angie assured her.
“Let’s do this before I chicken out.”
Angie held a flame to the bottom of the wire until it was red hot.
“Hey, why don’t you make yourself useful instead of just lurking around,” she said to the guard.
He shot her a dirty look.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to hold her hand steady. She can’t move when I place this wire on her fingernail. Most people want to jerk away,” she said.
He reluctantly placed his hands around Lynn’s wrist.
“Here we go. You can close your eyes.”
“Don’t worry, I intend to,” Lynn replied.
Angie briefly touched the hot wire to her nail and it quickly went through the layers and blood started to ooze out.
“Hold her,” she said to the guard as she said pressing down on her finger. Blood squirted out of the opening and sprayed on the guard’s uniform.
“Ouch. Damn. Ohhhh. Golly that hurts,” she said.
“Ah shit,” the guard said, “you got it all over my uniform.”
“Sorry. You never know how it’s going to come out. Sometimes it just sort of oozes and other times, well you saw what can happen.”
“Crap,” he said.
“Go put some cold water on it. If you don’t, it will set in and it will never come out. Use the sink over there, and don’t spare the cold water. Make sure it’s as cold as it gets,” Angie said.
When he walked over to the sink to try and get the blood off his shirt. Angie quickly showed Lynn the note wrapped around a badge. She slipped it into Lynn’s pocket and shook her head to say nothing. Lynn had a puzzled look but knew better than to say anything.
“Do you think you can handle the other one now?”
“I’m here, let’s do it.”
“Okay. Same routine but you cannot move. Understand?”
“I’ll do my best,” Lynn assured her.
“Do you want to hold her arm?” Angie asked the guard.
“I don’t think so,” he said in a sarcastic tone.
“Fine,” was all Angie said.
Angie heated the wire and poked a hole in the other nail. This time it was a bigger hole and the blood came out without her having to press on it. Angie gave her a little tap on the leg and mouthed the word, ouch.
“Ouch, daggone. Do you delight in hurting people?” Lynn said, loud enough for the guard to hear.
“Sorry. That’s the only way to be sure it is all out. Now tell the truth, aren’t they starting to feel better all ready?”
“Well, I hate to admit it, but yes, they really are.”
Angie wrapped her hand after replacing the finger protectors. The guard was still working on his shirt when Angie told him she was done.
“Great. Now I have to walk around in a wet shirt,” he grumbled.
“It won’t be wet long. Five minutes in that blast furnace outside and it will be dry. Thanks for your help,” Angie said cheerfully.
He didn’t bother to reply. She waved to Lynn as they drove off. Like Raymond had done before her, she had done all she could do at present. She had passed the ball to Lynn’s court.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
- S-4 BUILDING –
When Lynn got back to the S-4 facility she went straight to Bay-1 and immediately went back to work. She knew that whatever Angie had passed to her was important but it was probably dangerous to do anything out of the ordinary. Keeping to her normal routine seemed like the best thing she could do at this point.
After working for an hour she told her crew that she was going to the restroom. Once inside she went into one of the stalls and locked the door. It was a strange feeling, like she was doing something wrong, but she knew she wasn’t. She slipped the note and badge out of her pocket. The badge belonged to Raymond Eller and the note read:
I don’t know what’s going on but this man is being held in a Cell at the Beacon site* He is not dead like they would have us believe& At least he wasn’t when I saw him%. I was ordered to draw blood from him which they must have used to convince everyone he was Dead.( I am Being watched so I can’t do much at this point( You are probably being watched too. Be careful*#
