Surrept (15 page)

The man examines his guest. "Collect me? That's an interesting choice of words."

"Please forgive me. That was the request, sir."

The man cuts his meat with his fork. "Have some lunch with me, Darren. The lamb is excellent."

His guest does not dare to refuse the invitation, even though he had eaten just a few hours ago. "Thank you. I will have whatever you are having, I am sure that will be fine."

He motions to the waiter standing at point to fulfill the man's needs. "Bring him the same and two martinis dry. So, they have sent you to collect me. Did they send any other message with you?"

"Only that I extend the invitation and return with you immediately without interruption or delay, sir."

The waiter returns and places the drinks in front of the men and the plate of lamb in front of the Englishman.

The man throws his martini down and returns his attention to the lamb. "So be it, we finish lunch, and I will meet you on the plane in about an hour."

His guest is relieved at his acceptance. "Thank you for your graciousness in accepting the invitation." He raises his glass and throws his martini down and begins to eat his lunch.

The man speaks without looking at his guest. "I have but one request, Darren. I would like you to arrange for a woman for me on this journey. I despise long flights."

The guest is relieved again. "I anticipated your needs, and there are two awaiting you on board, sir. They are for your choosing."

The man smiles devilishly. "Delightful, I choose both. It's a long flight."

Fifty-five minutes later a Citation 2 jet lifts off from the private Vancouver jet center, bound for Abu Dhabi.

***

At NSA headquarters in the global electronic monitoring division, a research analyst reviews an e-mail that matches relation to the others for investigation as possible enemy combatant correspondence.

He reads the short content and flags it for distribution to the NSA special investigation unit and the FBI domestic task force, the file contains the following:
[email protected] "When the children can laugh. Twelve turns of the glass."
The file is sent top priority to the office of NSA Director Jack Hayward as well.

***

At the Denver tech center law office, attorney Matt Cohen is sitting at his desk working on a stack of files when his phone interrupts him, he hits the button on his phone, and says, "This is Matt."

"Matthew, you have Investigator Ray Velazquez from the Denver District Attorney's office on line five."

Matt clicks the button on the phone and picks up the call he has been waiting for. "Hey Ray, how you doing man?"

"Matt, what's going on buddy, you called?"

"For two reasons. The first was to see how you were doing?"

His old investigator says, "Not too good with all this madness going on, it's been a real, unreal trip, Matt."

"I can only imagine, better you than me. Listen Ray, I need a favor. I need a complete background and splash on a female named Adriana Pucci, born February 26, 1982. Colorado native, college graduate Boulder, CDL N69290776. She is five-feet-nine, 118 pounds, brown and brown."

"Sounds like a real looker. That's not bad math on those stats. Is this another one that you're chasing, Matt?"

"This is a professional request for accommodation."

"I'll get it to you as soon as I can. Give me your fax or e-mail where you want it sent."

"Thanks Ray, send it to [email protected] Or (303) 555-2112."

His friend responds, "Give me a day or two, I'll get you everything I can."

Matt knew he could count on Ray. "Keep your head down when you're out there."

The phone goes dead and Matt returns to work.

In downtown Denver, an FBI employee is waiting for an emergency correspondence at the fax machine regarding warrants for suspected enemy combatants wanted for immediate detainment as a possible conspirator for treason and multiple murders of U.S. and British Citizens. The correspondence prints:

PRIORITY
ONE
STATUS
IMMEDIATE
APPREHENSION
/
SEARCH
/
SEIZURE
ALL
INCLUSIVE
SUSPECT
:
D
AVID
A
LLEN
B
LOOMFIELD
DOB
7/07/80
RACE
:
C
AUCASIAN/
SS
# 911-33-0971/
CDL
:
CO
6
O
4320
A
DESCRIPTION
:
HT
: 6'0"
WT
: 178
LBS
.
HR
:
BROWN
/
BLACK
EYES
:
BROWN
RESIDENCE
: 9735
SPEER
BLVD
SUITE
506
DENVER
C
0
LORADO
.

CDL
-
PHOTO
-
SEE
ATTACHED
EMPLOYMENT
:
NATIONAL
AD
MEDIA
GROUP
LLP
1425
YOSEMITE
AVE
.
SUITE
1100
GREENWOOD
VILLAGE
COLORADO
80010.
INVESTIGATION
STATUS
:
S
USPECT
B
LOOMFIELD REFERRED TO THE
B
UREAU FOR>
TOP
PRIORITY
STATUS
.
NSA
>
REQUEST
"
OPERATION
POT
LUCK
":
EXECUTE
IMMEDIATE
.
BACKGROUND
AND
CONTACT
OUTLINE
INVESTIGATION
OBSERVATION
.

DOJ
ORDERED
>
SEARCH
:
SEIZURE
AND
CUSTODY
WARRANTS
ISSUED
(
EXECUTE
IMMEDIATELY
) 14:31
EST
. (
TODAY
) 08/21/11
SUSPECT
PRESENTLY
IN
FLIGHT
ORIGINATING
SEOUL
KOREA
ON
PRIVATE
AIRCRAFT
(
NTB
349
SB
)
EXPECTED
ARRIVAL
VANCOUVER
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
22:30
HOURS
ANTICIPATE
CUSTODY
U
.
S
.
MARSHALS
FIELD
TEAM
APPREHENSION
U
.
S
.
BORDER
/
CANADA
ETA
22:30
HOURS
04/21/10
WARRANT
DETAIL
/
FILE
TO
FOLLOW
/ –
END
CORRESPONDENCE
>.

The agent rushes the correspondence to her supervisor.

***

Dana sits down in the bathroom and Moose follows and sits at her feet. She pets her big dog and realizes how much she missed him since she moved in with David. Her cell phone rings and she fishes in the pocket of her sweat pants around her ankles and finds the phone but does not recognize the number. "This is Dana Underwood?"

David's voice erupts with background noise. "Hey Baby."

"David, where are you?"

"I am on a satellite phone on a private jet that Kiatsu provided because they postponed my deal due to all this mess. I'm on my way to Vancouver B.C., and I am going to drive in from there. Where are you?"

Dana smiles at the news. "I'm sitting on the toilet at my dad's house. David I'm so sorry about your deal, but thank God you're getting home. What's it like on the jet?"

"This is the only way to fly, I just finished a three course meal, and I can't wait to get a hold of you."

Dana answers excitedly, "Me too, David, be careful driving."

"I'll see you soon, I'll call you when I'm driving, and I love you."

Dana is giddy. "I love you. Be careful. Bye."

Dana sets the phone on the sink and grabs Moose by the head hugs the big dog, "Everything is going to be all right Moosey. Let's go tell daddy."

Moose licks her with delight at the attention and pushes out the bathroom as Dana flushes.

The NSA monitors Dana's call. The monitor attaches the audio file and finishes typing the conversation verbatim. And sends the following message in the file,

PRIORITY
SUSPECT
IMMEDIATE
ARREST
/
SEARCH
/
SEIZURE
ALL
/:
DANA
MARIE
UNDERWOOD
–
REF
:
I
NVESTIGATION:
DAVID
ALLEN
BLOOMFIELD
/
DENVER
FBI
FIELD
OFFICE
:
ARREST
AND
SEARCH
/
SEIZURE
WARRANTS
:
IMMEDIATE
ARREST
AND
DETAIN
.
OPERATION
POT
LUCK
POSSIBLE
CO
-
CONSPIRATOR
FOR
TREASON
,
TERRORISM
,
AND
MULTIPLE
COUNTS
OF
MURDER
OF
U
.
S
.
AND
BRITISH
CITIZENS
.
SUSPECT
/
POSSIBLE
ACCOMPLICE
-
DESCRIPTION
AS
FOLLOWS
:
FEMALE
DOB
: 2/27/83
HT
: 5'7"
WT
: 115
EYE
'
S
:
BLU
HAIR
:
BLND
KNOWN
ADDRESSES
: 23475
SOUTH
UNIVERSITY
BLVD
. 80235 (
FATHER
RICHARD
UNDERWOOD
) (
RELATED
SUSPECT
DAVID
BLOOMFIELD
RESIDENCE
)
SUSPECT
/
ACCOMPLICE
#-2 – 9735
SPEER
BLVD
SUITE
706
DENVER
COLORADO
80235
EMPLOYMENT
:
COLORADO
COMMERCIAL
REAL
ESTATE
BROKER
.