Ancient Birthright (17 page)

“You did this to us because of something those two village idiots told you?” whimpered Cindy from her position on the ground.

The wail of an approaching siren signaled the arrival of the medical personnel.

“What’s your name?” Striker asked Cindy.

“Cindy Dumas and this is my husband Beldon Dumas. His parents work for you, Duane and Linda Dumas.”

The ambulance slid to a stop, and two EMTs jogged over carrying equipment in both hands.

“Holy…, what happened? Did they fall through a window? Where are their clothes?” the first EMT asked. He searched the front of the building for a missing window. “Better call for another team. We need to stop this bleeding and transport ASAP.”

The second EMT keyed his microphone and requested additional help.

“Sergeant, escort these...agents to a holding until I can find out by what authority they attacked two unarmed naked people and destroyed their house. Keep them separated and take their statements on this morning’s raid. Send someone to get Duane and Linda Dumas over here pronto. Better bring along Larry Wilkins. I believe the Danny Wilkins, Agent Hooker mentioned, is his son. You better send a detail into Socorro to find William Breathsword III and Danny Wilkins, ask them to accompany you to a meeting in the executive conference room.”

A second ambulance arrived and disgorged EMTs from the front seat and a triage nurse from the side door.

“Hooker, you’re with me. Sergeant, station a couple of your men in the executive conference room on the fifth floor. I have a feeling we may need them when Dumas finds out what’s happened to his son and daughter-in-law,” Striker said.

“I can’t get an IV started. Her veins are starting to collapse from blood loss,” called an EMT.

“Let me give it a try,” the triage nurse said as she applied pressure and tapped the vein. It took two attempts. “I got it started, but I don’t know how long it will hold.”

Cindy’s hand came up and weakly grasped the nurse’s fingers. “Please save my bab…” she slurred before passing out.

“Colonel, I think she just asked me to save her baby? Was there a child in the house?” the nurse asked.

Striker looked at Hooker. “Well, was there an infant?”

“They don’t have any kids. They’ve only been married three months,” Hooker answered belligerently.

“Then she must have meant she’s pregnant. Start oxygen and transport immediately. Call ahead and let them know we have an early stage pregnancy with probable fetal distress. If we don’t get her blood pressure and oxygen levels up, she could lose the baby,” the nurse said.

Striker nodded to the MP Sergeant. “Show Agent Hooker to the conference room.”

Fifteen minutes later, Striker was pacing the confines of the conference room questioning Hooker. “I still don’t understand the alien tag? Where did you get the idea those two young people were aliens?”

“Mr. Breathsword stated that Dumas wasn’t from around here, and he knew he had ties to one of the Middle Eastern countries. He just couldn’t remember which one,” stated Hooker.

“What proof did he give?”

“He told me that Beldon Dumas constantly tried to get him in trouble at school because of who his father was. Mr. Breathsword stated that more than once Dumas filed false accusations of harassment and bullying against him.”

“I still don’t see the alien connection.”

“It’s the name, sir. Dumas is one of those Middle Eastern names.”

Striker stopped and stared at Hooker. “The name?”

Could this guy really be that stupid?

“Agent Hooker, I have full background investigations on every person working on this installation. The name Dumas is French. Duane Dumas and his son Beldon can trace their ancestry in this country back to a soldier who came to America with General Lafayette during the American Revolution. The Dumas family have been citizens of the United States from the day it became a country. They are
not
aliens.”

“That’s right Colonel, my family’s been citizens of this country for two hundred plus years,” Duane said as he followed his wife into the room. “What’s going on? The MP that brought us here wouldn’t explain why you wanted to see us.”

“Duane, Linda, come in and take a seat. Agent Hooker of Homeland Security has made accusations against your son and daughter-in-law. He claims they are alien terrorists setting up a terrorist training camp near the Cibola National Forest.” Striker pointed out Hooker.

Duane was speechless. Linda looked like a deer staring into headlights.

“I know you have questions and so do I. Several other people will be joining us shortly. Homeland Security Forces injured Beldon and Cindy during a raid this morning. They are undergoing treatment at the installation infirmary. I have not received word on their condition, but will let you know as soon as I hear.”

Duane was already out of his chair going for Hooker. “You hurt Beldon and Cindy?”

The two MP’s stationed in the room had Duane by the arms and forced him back into his chair. Linda covered her face and sobbed.

“That man’s out of control. I want him locked up. He can’t threaten a Homeland Security Agent like that and not expect consequences,” yelled Hooker.

“Agent Hooker, to this point the only out of control people I’ve seen have been you and your goon squad. Now I suggest you shut your mouth and take a seat,” Striker said.

Larry Wilkins came through the door. “I see you’re causing more trouble, Dumas.”

“Mr. Wilkins, do you have a son by the name of Danny Wilkins?” Striker asked.

“Yeah, Danny’s my boy. What’s this about?”

“We’ll get to that later. Do you know a William Breathsword III?” Striker said.

“The Senator’s boy. Sure we golf together sometimes.”

“What kind of relationship do Danny, Billy, and Beldon Dumas have?”

“They don’t anymore. Oh, back in high school they had their differences. Dumas was a scrawny little kid and got pushed around some.”

“By Danny?”

“Well, maybe a few times, but mostly by Billy Breathsword. Even then, Billy was big for his age and liked to let people know who the boss was. Once Dumas grew a little and developed some muscle, the boys pretty much left him alone,” answered Wilkins.

“Do you know why Danny might have called Beldon an alien?”

“Sure. Danny told me how Beldon was always reading science fiction books about aliens. When he developed that computer program to teach English to people who didn’t know it, Danny said he developed it to teach the aliens, so he probably was one. I know it didn’t sit well with Danny that kids like Beldon and Cindy made all that money from selling that program, and he couldn’t even get a job. Hell, he was the star high school quarterback. Businesses in town should have been lined up to hire my boy.”

Striker walked around the table, planted his fists and leaned across the table to stare at Hooker.

“So Beldon and Cindy made the money to buy the property and cabin from the sale of a computer program they developed. Danny accused Beldon of being an alien from outer space. Not an illegal alien terrorist plotting to overthrow our government.”

Wilkins stammered, “He never accused Beldon of being anything. He told me this whack job Homeland Security guy was asking questions the other day, and he played along with the nuts conspiracy delusions and agreed Beldon had to be an alien. He didn’t accuse anyone of anything, just played along with the guy to get rid of him. He gave him Billy Breathsword’s name as another possible source of information.”

The conference room door opened, and MP’s escorted Danny Wilkins and Billy Breathsword III into the room.

“Grab a seat, gentlemen,” Striker ordered.

Danny soon verified everything his father had told them, so Striker concentrated on Billy.

“Mr. Breathsword, I understand you spoke with Agent Hooker of Homeland Security,” Striker said.

“It’s William Breathsword III, and yes I did. We had a very enlightening chat just yesterday.”

“Okay, Billy...what did you chat about?” asked Striker, intentionally not letting Billy get away with putting on airs.

“Oh, you know the usual things Homeland Security Agents and their informants talk about. Troublemakers in the area. Who is spending money they shouldn’t have. People that keep to themselves and don’t fit in socially. That kind of stuff.”

“What did you tell him about Beldon and Cindy Dumas?”

“Just what everyone knows. He’s a troublemaker. Has been since high school. We had a deal that he’d do my math homework, and I would offer him protection from gett’n beaten up. Then he told me he’d given the homework to my teacher and all I had to do was stop in and sign it. When I went to the school to sign the pages, I found out he hadn’t done it. I had to attend summer school that whole summer, and it was his fault.”

“What did you tell the Agent about anti-government statements that Beldon Dumas had made?” Striker asked.

“Oh that,” Billy laughed. “I heard him in the hall at school one day. He was complaining to Cindy about how NRAO and its management had tried to use his Dad as a scapegoat for some dumb accident. If that wasn’t anti-government, I don’t know what is. But, it turned out okay. My Dad got my Uncle appointed as the new Director when they fired the other guy.”

“What other anti-government statements did you overhear?”

“I heard him say my Uncle was bleeding NRAO of every cent he could squeeze from it. Uncle Theo never had to squeeze nobody. He was so smart, he figured out how to write checks to a company he set up. He helped NRAO spend its budget so they could get the same amount or ask for even more the next year.”

“What was the name of the company he set up?”

“I don’t remember the whole name. Could have been, like, ‘Specialty Parts Limited.’ It was a pretty small company. He only hired one woman to answer phones and deposit the checks when they came in. The best part was, he was paying her in cash, so she didn’t have to pay all those withholding taxes and stuff.”

“Do you remember her name?”

“Sure, Ms. Lotilla Bonce. Uncle Theo called her Lotta Bounce, he said the name fit her perfectly, he even asked me if I wanted to join them at a staff meeting with her sometime. Then something happened and he closed down the business and destroyed all the paperwork. He said he had to move his money, too. Somewhere out in the water by Cuba, the Grand Canary or something like that. He and Ms. Bounce are going out there next week to check on his money.”

“Sergeant, call our GAO buddies and have someone check that out.”

“Already on it, sir,” the MP Sergeant said as he held his cell phone to his ear and left the room.

“Okay Billy, did you tell Agent Hooker anything else about Beldon and Cindy?”

“Just that they were spending money they shouldn’t have had. I know they sold that program to some publisher. But I can go in the store and buy it for forty bucks. There’s no way they could a bought that plot of land and cabin on forty bucks. Besides no one buys something like that program and sells it for the same price. I bet they didn’t get more than thirty for it from that publisher. I can’t believe they sold many of them anyway. Everyone I know already speaks English, so who would buy it?”

Oh Lord, this kid is so dumb he makes Hooker look like a genius.

Striker’s phone rang. “Striker.”

“Yes Doctor, what’s their condition?”

He listened for several minutes. “Thank you Doctor, and call me if anything changes.”

“Duane, Linda, go with the MP, and he will drive you to the infirmary. My prayers go with you.”

After they had gone. “What was that all about?” asked Larry Wilkins.

“Earlier today Homeland Security Agent Hooker and his team acted on the intel given to him by Danny and William Thadford Breathsword III and raided the new home of Beldon and Cindy Dumas. They used explosives to blow in the bedroom window and smashed the unlocked master bedroom door. They then handcuffed the naked pair who were in bed and dragged them through the broken glass.”

“Wish I’d been there to see that. I always thought Cindy was kind of hot,” Billy smirked.

Striker gave him a look that had him shrinking in his seat. “The team then proceeded to destroy the house and all its contents looking for weapons and terrorist training documents. It seems Agent Hooker had come to the conclusion that Beldon and Cindy were aliens who bought the property with money from the Middle East to set up a terrorist training camp. They found no weapons or training materials.”

Striker turned to glare at Hooker. “Agent Hooker and his team then brought the Dumas couple here after knocking Beldon unconscious when he asked his wife if she was hurt. The Doctor just reported that they have Beldon stabilized, but he’s still unconscious from the severe concussion inflicted by the rifle butt. Cindy has gone into shock from blood loss. They are fighting to save her, but they think it may already be too late to save their baby. If Cindy and or the baby die, I will be talking to the US Attorney General about charging Agent Hooker and his team with murder and attempted murder. If that happens, Danny and Billy may be charged as accessories to the crimes. If they all live, Agent Hooker and his team will be charged with illegal search and seizure, destruction of private property and at a minimum, terminal stupidity.”

#

“Beldon? Bel can you hear me? Come on Bel wake up.”

Just shut up and go away. The pain, make the pain stop. I don’t want to be here with this pain. Ahhh… Bliss...

“How’s he doing?”

“He’s starting to come around more often but the damage to his brain and pressure from the blood clot is causing him a lot of pain…”

“Beldon, I want you to wake up. Wake up. Do you hear me?”

“Mom, just five more minutes, and then I’ll get up.”

“Nurse, nurse! He spoke, he muttered ‘just five more minutes, then I’ll get up.’”

“I’ll get the Doctor.”

What’s all the excitement? So I overslept again. Have to start going to bed before three in the morning…

“It’s been weeks, and he’s so pale.”

“Mom, who are you talking to?” Beldon slurred.