Rogue Asset (Book 3 of the Wade Hanna Series) (5 page)

“Have you ever accepted money from a foreign country for providing services of any kind?”

“No.”

“Have you ever been asked by anyone to work against the interests of the United States or its government?”

“No.”

“If asked would you ever knowingly work against the interests of the United States government?”

“No.”

“If asked by your superior or the United States government would you ever risk your life for the interests of the United States government?”

“I don’t know.”

“If asked or ordered by your superiors in command would you knowingly take the life of another person?”

“I don’t know.”

“If asked or ordered by your superiors in command would you take your life for the interests of the United States government?”

“I don’t know.”

“If asked or ordered by your superiors in command would you knowingly send others under your command to their death in the interest of the United States government?”

“I don’t know.”

This line of questioning continued for what seemed like an hour before the topics of questions suddenly changed.

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Milton Yanovich?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of James Lockhart?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Megan Winslow?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever had sex with Megan Winslow?”

“No.”

Wade remained in his zone but was ready to strangle Kolb with the wires next to him for asking that question. He went back to his visual humming trying not to think about the next questions Kolb had coming.

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Captain or Dr. Harold Jarvis?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever been to Vietnam?”

“No.”

“Have you ever served on a submarine that goes by the name of USS Prowfish?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Captain Hodges?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Uri Vockovich?”

“No.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Mi Lin Lee?”

“No.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Master Sargent Backus?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Michael Stares?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Catherine Miller?”

“No.”

“Have you ever had a homosexual experience?”

“No.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Ivan Litnacoft?”

“No.”

“Other than for a doctor’s prescription have you ever taken a banned drug or substance?”

“No.”

“Have you ever received payment of any kind for performing a violent act against another person?”

“No.”

“Have you ever stolen anything in your life that was not yours?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever publically objected to the policies or activities of the United States government?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anyone who goes by the name of David Mashburn?”

“No.”

“It looks like that’s all the questions I have. Are you ready to be unhooked now?”

“I sure am.”

Wade was more than ready to leave Kolb’s presence and couldn’t wait to get all the wires removed. The exam lasted over two hours, and he was now facing afternoon D.C. traffic.

Driving to his hotel Wade thought about the strange questions wondering where they came from and how they were going to be used. What worried him most were all the names he didn’t know and how much the Agency knew about the Lockhart incident. How did Megan fit into this picture?
Is there another side to her cute personality I don’t know anything about?

The longer Wade drove, the more upset he became with the whole line of questioning not to mention the pain he felt in his stomach from humming for two hours. He was not going to jump to conclusions but wondered what he might be facing with the Agency. What was also bothering him was the itching all over his body from where the electronic probes had been attached.

He squirmed in his seat behind the wheel. An allergic reaction to the adhesive tape used to attach the probes began crawling up his body. The itching felt like red fire ants had begun marching across his skin. He knew better but couldn’t stop scratching.

Sighting the drug store two blocks from his hotel was a welcome relief. He would stop and pick up rubbing alcohol and ointment. First he had to make it to the drug store. The traffic was getting worse, and so was his itching.

The traffic congestion helped Wade remember parts of the route Megan took from the restaurant last evening. He couldn’t be late for the reception. The next exit looked familiar. He had to take the chance.

The stop was brief, and Wade barely got to his room before he was stripping off his clothes. He jumped into the cold shower and scrubbed the red welts all over his body. The shower was followed by generous rubbings of alcohol and ointment until he felt some relief.

He sat at the desk in his room with a towel around his waist thinking about what else he could do to make the itching stop. He quickly pushed the button on the phone asking for an outside line. Wade dialed Yari’s secure line. No one answered so he left a message to call him back.

The itching started to subside. He had to get himself calmed down from the polygraph test. His presence at the reception wasn’t going to give him any new information, and he didn’t want to project concern. The thought suddenly crossed his mind his hotel room might be bugged. He didn’t leave the hotel’s main number or his room number feeling Yari could figure all that out.

The towel fell off when he jumped up to check the room for listening devices. Looking in all the usual places turned up nothing but he thought his naked body running around the room looking for the devices could make an interesting recording for some Agency nerd. Wade knew the hotel hosting the reception was owned by the agency.  He wondered if his hotel was also owned by them.. If the Agency owned the hotel, camera and listening devices would be buried in more obscured places. He started making a second more detailed search for hidden listening and camera devices when the phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Hi, it’s Yari. I’m calling you back from a secure line.”

“Good, but that’s only from your end.”

Yari immediately knew from Wade’s comment he was suspicious about his surroundings and waited to hear how Wade wanted to handle their conversation.

“I’m wondering if you had updates on our recent conversation.”

Yari knew that his voice would be encrypted but didn’t know if there were listening devices on Wade’s end. Yari was able to tell that there were no taps on the line they were using.

“I think the line is clear.”

“Not sure about my room.”

“Roger that.”

Most of the conversation had to be one way coming from Yari’s end. He kept their conversation general and brief until he could get to a pay phone later that evening.

Chapter 5

Washington, D. C.

Wade arrived on time for the reception at the Crestview Regency Hotel in downtown Washington. The 1930’s structure had been remodeled many times over the years. Its last extensive remodeling had taken place only two years ago.

Walls in the now contemporary lobby were lined with beautiful granite. The large glossy tile floors were covered in a new thick red carpet with a subtle gray pattern complemented by well-appointed modern chairs and sofas. There were large ferns, birds-of-paradise, and elephant ear plants in large complementary colored ceramic pots lining both sides of the hallway leading to the reception desk.

A beautiful reception desk of marble and wood was staffed with young, smiling faces eager to help guests register. Incoming guests with luggage were milling about or standing in the waiting line. Waitresses, concierges, and busboys were bustling around helping them get settled.

The high level of lobby activity almost obscured the large sign on the easel next to the reception desk, which read, “Association of International Travel Agents (AITA) meetings and reception in lower lobby - By Invitation Only.”

Wade looked around but concluded the right place for him was downstairs at the AITA meeting hall. He took in the high-end atmosphere as he proceeded down the wide marble split staircase, which made two half-circles. The black stone handrail offset the polished chrome ironwork under it. Ascending the large staircase made everyone feel important, and Wade was no exception.

The AITA registration sign led Wade to a smiling blonde receptionist behind a table who took down his name, checked him off a list, and handed him a badge. His name was preprinted under the AITA logo. He was then greeted by two large bald headed muscular men in tuxedos with radio receiver earpieces. They stood on each side of the double doors to the ballroom. Their black jackets bulged under their arms showing they were armed.

Wade watched as the two men carefully checked each visitor. He looked at his badge again and saw a small security code number on the bottom of the badge just under the word “International.” As he stood in line, he watched the eyes of the doormen go directly to that code on the badge.

Passing through the double entry door Wade gazed at the immense ballroom hall. Gold reflections bounced off the walls and the ceiling. Fine white tablecloths covered the more than a hundred large round tables. It was still early, and men and woman in formal dress mingled among the crowd with drinks in their hands. Only a few other guests had arrived and were milling around the long refreshment bar inside the great room. He tried to imagine what this hall would be like when it was filled later that evening. Wade saw a few men standing near a long table that served as a bar.

Wade saw Megan standing across the room at a table talking on the phone. He moved closer to catch her eye. Megan looked up and saw Wade. She immediately waved him over while still holding the phone to her ear. She was beautiful; all dressed up in a formal black cocktail dress and shiny burgundy heels.

They both made eye contact and smiled. Megan was still holding the phone so Wade closed the gap. It took him a while to cross the large room. As he approached, Megan ended the call and greeted Wade with a big smile and hug.

“So glad you could make it before the traffic got insane.”

Another woman standing next to Megan approached the couple, “This must be Wade. Hi, I’m Dorothy. I work at the Pentagon. Megan and I have been friends for a long time. How are you enjoying D.C.?”

Wade replied with a smile, “So far so good.”

Megan wanted Wade to herself and politely gave his arm a little tug away from the table and out of earshot of people standing around, “There are a couple of other people I want you to meet. Let’s move over here.” Repositioned, Megan continued, “I want to know how your day went with the polygraph.”

“It was an interesting experience. I’m still itching.”

“Itching?”

“I was allergic to the tape they used.”

Megan found his response a little humorous, “Maybe that was part of the test?”

“Ha, very funny.”

Megan was looking for a more serious answer, “I want to hear more about the poly when there aren’t so many people around. You have to meet Shaw. He stepped out for a short meeting with one of the agents. I’ll grab you when he gets back. Would you like something to drink?”

“You seem like you have a lot of things going on. I’ll get the drinks. What would you like?”

“Just get me a 7-Up. Thanks.”

Wade walked over to the bar and ordered a 7-Up for Megan and a plain soda water with lime for himself. As the bartender handed Wade the glasses Wade slipped his hand under the two napkins and folded them around the glasses so his fingers didn’t rest against the glass, thinking to himself,
I’ve got to get rid of this napkin obsession.

Megan returned to the organizing table with her drink as Wade looked at the increasing crowds of people coming through the entrance doors. Instead of two they now had four gorilla looking security guards manning the doors. The large black tuxedoes could hardly contain their body masses.

Soon Megan waved at Wade pointing to a man that had just come into the room. Wade could tell she was making the word “Shaw” with her mouth as she moved closer to where Wade was standing.

“Let’s go meet Shaw.”

Megan guided Wade’s arm over to two men in conversation. They stood for a while until one of the men left before introducing Wade and Shaw. After the two men had exchanged greetings, she excused herself and went back to the organizing table leaving Wade alone with Shaw.

Wade spoke first by saying, “I want to thank you, Mr. Shaw, for the wonderful dinner Megan and I had at Cappito’s last evening.”

“You’re welcome but just call me Shaw. We’re not formal around my department and ‘Mr. Shaw’ or ‘Sir’ just doesn’t fit.”

“Okay.”

Shaw briefly turned away from Wade to wave at an agent coming through the large reception doors. He turned back to Wade.

“Be sure to get around the room this evening and meet some of these people. This is one of our few get-togethers.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.”

Shaw was stoic and not a big talker. Wade felt his shyness creeping in. Not wanting to say anything wrong, Wade wasn’t sure of his next words. While Wade was working on his next words to speak, Shaw broke the awkward silence. Wade wasn’t prepared for Shaw’s question.

“What were you thinking about in making the decision to move forward on that sniper at Fort Benning?”

Off guard and stunned by the directness of the question Wade responded automatically without composing his thoughts, “We had a dark overcast night on our side and were surrounded by a dense cover. I had a large stand of trees between our position and the sniper. My experience has been that if a sniper doesn’t have a clear line of visibility and can’t get a shot on the target sooner or later they will break position. If we had remained stationery or tried to run, we would have gotten picked off one by one.”

Wade continued in part because of nerves. He wanted to give a complete response. “Remaining stationary was our worst option. The sniper had all of us in one group. He could pick his targets. It would just be a matter of time before he got all of us.” Wade had no more to say and surprised himself at the answer he just gave.

Shaw was stunned by the answer but didn’t change the expression on his face, “Good decision, given your circumstances. How was your surveillance session today?”

“It went fine, a lot of new surveillance technology coming out.”

“I agree. I should probably take a refresher course with so many of the new electronic changes.”

Still bothered by the polygraph experience Wade thought it might be a good time to prepare Shaw for some uncertain results, “I also took the polygraph exam today but couldn’t tell how I did.”

“You passed. I received a call late this afternoon. If you hadn’t passed, you wouldn’t have been allowed in tonight.”

“Oh!” Wade couldn’t think of another reply. He stood frozen in silence.

“Excuse me, Wade. I’ve got to go over and greet some of our Canadian agents who just came in.”

They shook hands and Shaw walked away across the reception hall to a group of agents on the other side of the room.

The room was filling up with people. Wade wasn’t sure what to do next. He meandered over to a group of young agents and introduced himself. They were polite and conversed for a while. Wade felt they were more “social types” and didn’t feel he fit in. The conversation centered on old Hollywood film producers and directors. Each member recounted specific scenes of a film that distinguished a particular director. Wade wasn’t able to contribute to that conversation, and he gradually distanced himself from the group.

He looked back to see Megan on the phone again, then wandered over to the bar to refill his glass of club soda with a twist of lime. The meeting hall was getting louder as more people entered and became engaged in conversation. Wade wandered around smiling at different people and groups who acknowledged his presence with a nod. He was clearly feeling a little uncomfortable in the crowded room until he spotted a man standing alone next to a piano in the far corner of the hall.

No one was playing the piano in favor of piped-in hotel music. The middle-aged man stood alone with his drink resting on the piano. What caught Wade’s attention was the fact that his glass was wrapped with the napkin just like Wade’s wrap.

Wade guessed the piano man was in his late forties with graying temples and sideburns. His napkin wrapped drink rested on a coaster on top of the piano. The man seemed comfortable in his space alone among groups nearby seemingly ignoring his presence. Wade labeled the person as “Piano Man” and moved closer.

He didn’t know why he was attracted to his presence. If nothing else, it was curiosity about how they both wrapped their glasses. That was enough of a topic for Wade to make an introduction.

“Hello, my name is Wade Hanna. I’m in my final year of intelligence officer training and will be graduating in the next couple of months.”

The man shook his hand and replied, “You can call me Leo. I’ve been in the business for 24-years.”

“May I ask, do you work out of the D.C. office?”

“You already asked two questions, but the answer is no, I work all over. It’s rare I’m in the States and even rarer that I’m in D.C.”

“Do you come to this event every year?”

“No, I haven’t been to this event in over five years. It’s not something I have time for.”

A silent pause lasted for a while. Wade wasn’t sure what to say next.

“When do you finish your training?”

“Technically, I finished this week. Today was my final surveillance class and polygraph exam. I’m not sure if they want me to take any other classes. As far as I know I’m done.”

“There’s always some class to take with the company. In fact, sometimes I think we’re nothing but an educational institution. I guess that’s how they justify their federal budget each year.”

The Piano Man was rough and not a social type. Wade was curious about what he did for the Agency. There was something about his style that gave him grit - a feature Wade hadn’t seen much of since coming to Washington. For some reason, he wanted to know more about Leo and decided he would continue the conversation.

“I’m trying to decide which direction to go with my career at this point.”

“How long did you sign up for?”

“I’ve been in since I started college and think I have two years left.”

Leo just nodded with an expression that said “typical recruit.” Wade wanted to know more. “What part of the service do you work in?”

“Well let’s just say my work with the company is unconventional. I’m what they refer to as a ‘Sweeper’. I don’t work for the Agency directly. For the most part, I work alone and contract out associates.”

Wade had a surprised look on his face. The Agency hadn’t covered that position in the training classes. Before he could ask the next question, Leo continued the conversation.

“I’m never in the same place for very long and not affiliated with any federal office or department. I’m also referred to in the business as a ‘Ghost’ as far as intelligence work goes.”

Wade was intrigued. At the risk of sounding dumb he asked, “What does a ‘Sweeper’ or ‘Ghost’ do?”

“I deal with messy things the company needs to be cleaned up. I’m like a magician. I make people or things disappear depending on what the company needs.”

“Isn’t that part of what most agents do at the company?”

Leo’s brow narrowed. He looked at Wade as being very naïve, “No. All these other agents, except one I’ve seen here tonight, are part of large departments. They work in office buildings and serve on administrative committees. They push papers, grin and meet the public, sit in meetings, prepare memos, fill out forms, make presentations and speeches, and meet the press. Most of these guys don’t even know I exist.”

Wade raised his eyebrows at Leo’s directness. He didn’t know what to say next. Leo jumped in to further explain, “You noticed no one except you came over to speak to me. Most don’t even know me and I like it that way. The ones that know me just keep silent and ignore me like a ghost who isn’t here.”