Bonner Incident (34 page)

“Sir, the population is actively resisting. If I can just make them neutral, it would make my job a lot easier and I can be done that much faster. I’ve provided a copy of the letter from Sheriff Harper in that report that explicitly states; if any agent ventures on private land without consent or a warrant to do so, they will be held accountable. Further, he states that if the owner of the land is forced, harmed or fired on and returns fire, his deputies will respond to assist the landowner. He concludes by saying they will figure out what went wrong as they stack up federal agents’ bodies.”

The Director glanced at the President, “We need to remove this man.”

“Director, I would highly advise against that right now,” Griffey said. “As Agent Moore pointed out to me, even if the sheriff had a genuine accident causing his death, we would be fighting the populace. We would have a thousand Mr. Andersons running around in the mountains.”

“I agree,” the Speaker said, reading the report. “You want two thousand federal agents to do this search?”

“Using Agent Moore’s recommendations, that would be the minimum to field ten man teams. Remember, a thousand alone would be used in support. We don’t have the local law enforcement that usually fills those roles.”

The President held up a sheet of paper. “Yes, the governor of Idaho had this hand delivered to me yesterday. He refuses to mobilize the National Guard and if I federalize them, he announced publicly that he would issue blanket pardons for any that refused to mobilize. The attorney general has confirmed he can do this and the soldiers can’t be prosecuted.”

“We need to change that,” the Speaker said, looking up from the report. “I’ll talk to the security council.”

“Sir, if I may,” Agent Griffey said clearing his throat and the President nodded. “I don’t want any local help that isn’t in a federal department. I understand Agent Moore’s thoughts on this, but they have shown time and time again to only hinder our progress. I suggest we take care of this from the top.”

The President looked at the Director. “What do you think?”

“I’m going to have to agree with Agent Griffey. I’ve read the daily reports from the supervisors and they all said just about the same thing that he just did.”

“Give him what he needs,” the President nodded, and Griffey felt all tingly inside.

“Hold on Mr. President,” the speaker said raising a hand and the tingles left. “Griffey, you had over fourteen hundred agents and from the latest reports, you’ve lost over forty percent and I have a feeling when the body count and wounded are tallied up, the two hundred and seventy some odd agents who are actively working now will be the extent of what’s left,” he said leaning back. “And you think that just increasing this by a few hundred more to start over will actually yield results?”

“Mr. Speaker, I know what this exercise costs and have the projected daily figures with the new request and I brought that into account as I made the report.”

“Yes, I saw, and you’re not getting what I told you earlier. Civil asset forfeiture nets us almost a sixty billion a year and is growing very fast, yet your projected cost is only two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a day to run this operation. You really think it’s not worth investing a little more to protect that revenue?”

“Sir, I’m an agent and have always been instructed to monitor Washington’s money, and I have done so to the best of my abilities.”

“Agent Griffey, think. With the money we get from civil asset forfeiture we could fund your search for Mr. Anderson for six million years with a daily cost of a quarter of a million dollars. Don’t you think we need to invest a little more in protecting this valuable revenue, so others don’t get the same idea and we end up spending that on ten search areas?”

The Director glanced over at the Speaker, “We can’t use troops on our own soil, even for a lone wolf, the backlash would escalate dramatically,” he said in a low voice.

“Director, we have more than a hundred and fifty thousand federal agents who are licensed to carry firearms and make arrests. That’s not including the State Department with their tremendous assets. You have double that in paper pushers that you could use to support those in the field.”

“I’m very aware of the numbers sir,” the Director said curtly.

“If we can’t solve this with those numbers alone, against one man, people with deep pockets will replace us with others who can,” the Speaker said and looked at the President, giving a slight nod.

Leaning over the table looking at Griffey, the President lowered his voice. “Agent Griffey, you will draw up a new proposal to accommodate four thousand personnel for this task force. I expect to see the rough draft in ten hours.”

“Mr. President!” Griffey gasped, feeling terrified and thrilled at the same time. “Just setting up the infrastructure to house, feed and support a task force that size will take a month. Homeland, the Justice Department, FBI and other agencies only have so many that can set up a command area. I would have to use most of the manpower just to carve out a place to set up.”

The President looked at the Speaker, who nodded and turned to Griffey. “When we get your report in ten hours outlining the operations area, the Corp of Engineers will move in and start setting it up tomorrow morning. I assure you, they will be done before your new agents arrive. They may operate in that function and will depart when they are done.”

“If I may take my leave sirs. I need to start immediately,” Griffey said gathering papers and looking up.

“We expect results,” the President said.

Griffey paused in gathering his papers. “With this, I can guarantee them.”

“Agent Griffey, do you know Homeland Senior Agent Benjamin Wagner?” the Speaker asked and the papers fell from Griffey’s hand.

“Yes sir,” he swallowed hard. “I’ve worked with Agent Wagner before.”

“Yes, he’s a snake, but he knows how to accomplish a task, much like yourself,” the Speaker chuckled.

The Director grinned. “I’m assigning him to replace Burrows. The FBI is furious, but we need someone who can play ball.”

“Sirs, why not move Agent Moore to second in command?” Griffey almost begged. Where he was a zealot in his job and duties, Wagner was beyond a fanatic.

“Agent Moore has his uses, but as I’m sure you’ve found out by now, he will hold back from worrying about consequences that could be handled later,” the Speaker said. “Don’t let that confuse you that he isn’t listened to around here. He’s captured more serial killers than any other law officer in the country, not to mention terrorists. Use his strengths, but don’t try to make him the fall guy for your failures.”

Griffey’s eyes grew wide staring at the Speaker, and the Speaker smiled. “I see you understand now,” the Speaker said. “He’s untouchable while you and the others aren’t. Unless you’re an idiot, you’ll see that Moore is excellent in finding, capturing and sometimes, eliminating violent suspects. He’s too well known, liked and intelligent to be caught up taking the fall for a mistake. As third in command, he is far enough away from the top to not be hurt if it goes bad, but close enough to the top to receive praise as a key element when this ends in a job well done.”

Slowly closing his eyes as he nodded, “I understand Mr. Speaker,” Griffey said.

“Any other questions Agent Griffey?” the Director asked, scooping up the papers in front of him.

“Yes sir. Has Agent Wagner been notified that I’m in charge and no actions are to be taken without my approval?”

The Director laid his papers down and looked at Griffey. “Yes, he’s been informed that if he attempts another stunt like Miami, he will be shot in a dark room and buried in the desert. I informed him personally.”

Letting out a huge sigh of relief, Griffey gathered his papers. “Then we are good, sir. I’ll have my preliminary report outlined and in your hands in ten hours. The completed report, I’m requesting another ten hours to go over the details with my team.”

“You have twenty,” the President said. “When will you be able to resume full operations?”

“Sir, I would like to bring the personnel in as groups that can be trained before putting them in the field. Space and instructors will be an issue, but with a hundred field agents arriving every three days when the command area is ready, we can be up to full operation in thirty days.”

“It’s unavoidable, but I see no other choice,” the Director said, looking at the President and Speaker. “Agent Griffey, make sure you keep a tight lid on leaks. We don’t need the public finding out anything that we don’t want them to know.”

“Yes sir,” Griffey said, stuffing papers and folders in his briefcase.

“Agent Griffey, I would like you to give a message to Agent Moore from me,” the Speaker said staring at him with a grave expression. Griffey nodded with a smile. “Tell Agent Moore to quit writing letters asking to pull back and not escalate any further. Tell him he’s invaluable but not irreplaceable, so stop avoiding his chain of command. We will not show weakness here!” he finished by slapping the table.

Standing up straight, “I will relay your message Mr. Speaker,” Griffey said obediently. The three sat quietly as Griffey picked up his briefcase and with a nod, left.

“So, how long till you think he can get this wrapped up?” the President asked looking at the Director.

“He should start getting results a few weeks after getting up to full strength.”

“You will be keeping a close watch on this, won’t you?” the President asked getting up. “Unlike taxes, we can spend the seized assets as we wish.”

“I get briefings twice a day Mr. President. Would you like me to update you daily?”

“No, weekly is fine unless there are problems,” he said waving his arm. “I’m off for another briefing,” he grinned and headed for the door.

When he was gone, the Speaker stood up. “You make sure Wagner is under control. I’m not in the mood for another Miami. We need his passion and loyalty, but tell him his anger is going to get him killed, and I’m not talking about in the field.”

“I had a two-hour conversation with him yesterday, Mr. Speaker. I informed him that if he loses control, I’ll be the one pulling the trigger while he is bent over.”

Nodding as he grabbed his papers, “Hands on, I like it,” the Speaker grinned. “I would like daily briefings. I’ll tell my staff to arrange a time.”

“Very good, sir,” the Director said.

“This got out of hand too fast. Those first agents pushed too hard and didn’t have the balls to pull the trigger. You tell your people, that won’t be tolerated in the future. I’ll pass a resolution that will withhold all death benefits for improper action in the field.”

The Director nodded and followed him out. “I’ve already done that, sir. People have slowly learned not to fight us because it’s useless and they will fail. Now, it’s time to show them to just bow when we show up.”

Chapter Twenty

It was 0300 the next morning when Joshua walked past the main entrance of the building he was going to use. Not seeing any security inside, he made the block and pulled out his lock picks. After practicing yesterday on several other buildings, he was much faster. When he’d left yesterday, he’d noticed that the front doors didn’t have an alarm. Concerned about that, he’d waited around till the building had closed and saw it had two security guards.

Staying on the street, he saw they locked the door and moved out of the lobby to a small office in the back. Both were young kids and weren’t even armed. Joshua had been in business long enough to know they were hired to lower the insurance premium. 

Adjusting the wig on his head and the other on his face, Joshua walked back by the door and still didn’t see them. Pulling out his lock picks, holding them like he would keys, he stuck them in the lock. Fighting the urge to look up into the lobby to see if he had been discovered, Joshua concentrated on the lock and sighed when he felt it turn. In less than one minute, he was inside and closing the door behind him, turning the bolt back to lock it.

Moving on to the back of the lobby, he pulled out his 1911 with his suppressor on. He knew that even if the kids pulled a gun he wouldn’t shoot, but he wanted to make sure they were indisposed. Easing up to the door he’d seen them walk in, he found it cracked and music was playing inside rather loudly.

Peeking around the door, he saw one in a chair with monitors in front of him, showing different camera views around the building. The kid’s head was laid back as he snored. Barely moving the door, Joshua peeked in further to see the other sprawled out on a couch, sound asleep with an alarm clock on the floor beside him.

Looking back at the monitors, Joshua saw the only one he had to worry about was the one in the lobby. Slowly stepping back and leaving the door cracked, Joshua headed for the stairs. Taking the stairs two at a time, he had to stop on the fifth floor to catch his breath. “Not a race, I have time,” he muttered and slowly walked up the rest of the stairs till he reached the roof.