The Gravity of Anti-Gravity (17 page)

“Lofty goals Dr. Morton,” said Buckholder. “And to answer your question, the Government is like a colander, a leaky boat if you please. Water, or in this case information enters in large quantities at the top and is dispersed in a bunch of small quantities at the bottom. We catch what we can and it’s usually all we need. And let me address your other concerns.”

“I am the chosen leader of a consortium of companies in addition to my own who together will be best able to develop your creation and provide the most common good.”

“And make a few bucks along the way,” I added.”

“Of course, Mr. Burton, Making money for our stockholders is our ultimate goal. But if your device delivers as advertised, it will cause huge shifts in the marketplace. These shifts must be managed to avoid economic turmoil. We can do that. The government can’t. My partners, like me are industrialists. We make money by producing products and services that people want. We don’t make money by moving it around like the banks and we don’t make money by overtaxing and over regulating people like the government. I admit we are far from perfect, but the group I have assembled will be able to manage the transition as smoothly as is humanly possible. And we will keep you safe while we do it.”

“Mr. Buckholder we’ve got to run,” Stella said. “It sounds like you are aware that our meeting with the Feds is in about an hour. Based on what you’ve told us, we need time to reconsider our position.
Forest, you have a reputation for being a tough yet fair businessman. I hope we can trust you.”

“Dr. Morton, you don’t know me but I am a man of my word. The people you are about to meet with however cannot be trusted and we feel they have already put you in grave danger.”

“We are fully aware of that fact,” Mr. Buckholder,” said Stella. Please give us your number and we will respond to you as soon as we make a decision.”

“Oh boy,” I griped, “Just what we need, another complication.”

“Bill, unless you object, I’m going to have Rolf come over right now to fill him in on what just happened.” Stella said. “I don’t think we can trust the phones right now. We need to discuss this face to face.”

When Rolf arrived, we filled him in on the new developments.

Rolf said in his usual concise way. “Don’t sign anything on behalf of the government yet. Use the fact that you found the new spy equipment in the barn to buy more time. I have a new listening device that’s smaller. Try to position it in one of the screw holes in the foot of Cushing’s brief case. He won’t find it there. Insist on substantial and immediate security for yourselves and your loved ones even though you have no written agreement. This situation has gotten out of control; Cushing knows it and he will gladly provide security. He can’t afford to lose you two.”

Just as Rolf got into his car, Cushing and Waterman entered the parking lot in a chauffer driven limousine. Stella and I waited while they exited the back seat and we all went in together. Dr. Brooks met the four of us and we all went into the conference room.

Cushing remained standing and announced, “I’ve got some exciting news for you! The President himself wants to meet personally with the three of you. I was told he wants to congratulate you on your achievement and make sure that you are being well taken care of. He’s cleared his calendar for Wednesday afternoon from three to four PM and will provide a Government plane for your transport to
Washington. He wants me to accompany you on the flight.”

“And what if we don’t want to go?” said Stella.

“I’m not quite sure Dr. Morton,” stammered Cushing. “Why wouldn’t you want to meet the President?”

I stood up, winked at Stella when no one was looking and said, “Come on Dr. Morton, this is the President of the
United States. How could you turn down an invitation like that?”

“Mr. Burton,” Stella said firmly. “We are not even sure we are going to work with the Government. The spy tactics they have used has made it difficult for me to trust them. In all honesty, how do we know they will follow through on their promises?”

An excited Cushing stood up and raised his voice considerably. “We have apologized for our tactics over and over. What else do you want from us?”

Stella, realizing that she had pushed Cushing to his limit said, “OK let’s look at your proposal.”

Cushing pulled some documents out of his brief case and laid them on the table and slid them toward Stella and me.

“Mr. Cushing, Mr. Waterman sirs, could we have a moment in private to look these over?” I asked.

“Sure,” Waterman and I will go out to the parking lot and have a cigarette. Call me when you are ready,” Said Cushing

After Cushing and Waterman exited the room, Stella pulled the bug finder out of her purse and discovered a device attached behind the buckle of Cushing’s brief case. Then she pressed Rolf’s device into the screw hole that holds the brief case’s foot in place. Stella’s phone rang and it was Rolf.

“OK, I understand, OK, are you sure?” And then she sneezed loudly. “OK I’ve got it. I’ll talk to you later.”

I said, “So let’s look at these papers.” Stella was busy writing on a pad. She agreed that we should study the documents out loud while she showed us the pad.”

“Fed bug on case. Our bug there too & working. Feds listening to us now!”

Last night we had practiced what we would say in this exact instance.

“As I read through this it looks like the Feds are offering everything we asked for.” I said out loud. “The autonomy, the power over the personnel, the security, the commission structure; it all looks correct. It’s even got our salaries listed based on some Government study. We will all receive $123,320.00 annually and it will start Monday. They have even minimized the fine print. Nice job I think.”

“OK let’s bring them in and discuss the changes we’d like to make.”

“Changes, what changes?” Dr. Brooks asked.

As I called Cushing’s phone to have them come back in, Stella scribbled another note and showed it to Dr. Brooks. It read, “Just follow along; we know where we are going!”

When Cushing and Waterman came back in, they had a renewed air of confidence in their gait. They thought they had closed the deal. Three signatures and they would be flying back to D.C. for a celebratory weekend.

“OK folks; are we ready to talk turkey?” Cushing said with a grin.

As planned, Stella took over. “Everything looks fine. The only change we need to make is in security. I don’t know if you heard but I was accosted last night. I wasn’t hurt but the perpetrator was murdered in his hospital bed. There are obviously some pretty nasty people around trying to cut themselves in on the action. We want two trained security personnel placed outside my apartment, two outside Bill’s residence and two outside his girlfriends house at all times starting now. We want an Army Lieutenant we know and trust reassigned to head up our security detail. Here’s his name and serial number. He will hand select others in his company to carry out our protection.”

“The Army doesn’t do security work like this. It’s against the Constitution. We need FBI people on this job,” Said Cushing.

“Alright, you assign the highest ranking FBI man in the area to head up our security team,” said Stella. “Put the Army personnel on some kind of temporary leave of absence from the military. They will report to your man and he, in turn, will train them as required. We will meet with the FBI person on Monday. If we don’t feel comfortable with him, you will get us another. If everything is satisfactory and after we meet with the President, we will sign your agreement.”

Again Stella had Cushing stammering. “But, but I thought we had a deal. Why the sudden change?”

“Cushing” Stella dropped the mister on purpose, “you can’t be trusted! Would you like me to elaborate on that comment?”

“Absolutely, Yes, I can’t imagine why you are saying that.”

“Well, we can’t imagine why your techs removed the surveillance equipment from Bill’s barn and then planted a different more complex one. This one was so poorly concealed that Bill’s Grandfather accidentally found it during a routine cleaning. It looks like imagination is missing all around,” Stella said with some hostility in her voice. “Trusting you is not an option for us anymore.”

”Mr. Waterman, did you authorize this? I had no knowledge of it!” roared Cushing.”

“Cut the crap Cushing.” Stella declared sounding disgusted “If you are innocent and Waterman is responsible for everything, why is he still sitting here?”

“I promise I will correct these injustices,” said Cushing.

“Sure you will,” an incredulous Stella commented. “To recap our agenda; we will get FBI security starting tonight. They will remain on the job until the Army personnel, in conjunction with the FBI takes over. Monday we will meet with your FBI guy. Wednesday we will fly to meet with the President - without you. If everything we hear to that point is satisfactory, we will sign the agreement.”

Stella handed Cushing a zip drive and said.” In a good faith effort to show that we are still interested in a deal, this drive contains an outline of our device and how it will work. This is just the beginning of our full cooperation.”

“What will you tell the President?” Cushing asked.

“Nothing unless our proposals are not met to the letter,” Stella said with the firm resolve I’d gotten used to seeing in her recently.

“Gentlemen, it’s time for you to leave. Mr. Burton and I have a police report to give in an hour.” Stella added.

Cushing and Waterman hurriedly packed up and scurried out. Stella again pulled out her bug finder and scanned the room. It was clean. She asked Dr. Brooks if she and I could meet alone to go over our statement to the Police.

As he was leaving Dr. Brooks told Stella, “Nice performance young lady. Cushing is either going to put out a hit on you right away or he’ll come back and do it himself. If you two weren’t in danger before, you are now.”

“You were a little heavy handed on Cushing,” I commented.

“Remember Bill it was all for show. Our goal was to get them pissed off enough at us to reveal who their people are. Rolf is monitoring and recording their conversation now. He’ll call if there is any news.”

“If that was a show, you’re in the running for an academy award,” I said.

“Do you think I could make it as an actress?” Stella mused.

“No question, you would be one of the best,” I answered.

-24-

At 3 PM sharp, three Officers from the Pasadena Police Department came into our office. The highest ranking person was a Detective Oliver. He told us that the brown van was found burning on the side of a desolate road in Chino.

“So far, no useful information has been recovered,” said Oliver. “The man who accosted Dr. Morton was a Mexican National named Juan Sanchez. He died from a yet to be determined poison administered through his IV tube.”

They asked the usual questions about what and when, we knew anything. “Dr. Morton, I don’t think this was a rape attempt.” Oliver said. “Based on what has happened, it looks like an attempted kidnapping. Do you know why anyone would want to kidnap you?”

This was a question we had anticipated so I jumped in.

“Detective Oliver, we have recently begun research on a highly classified project. If successful, it is a monumental discovery. Unfortunately, some people in our government, for reasons of their own, have deliberately leaked our research. This has aroused significant interest from organizations big and small, honest and dishonest. We would like to give you their names but first you must promise not to divulge this information to anyone at this time. We want you to have it in the event that something happens to one or both of us. I hope we can trust you Detective.”

“Of course you can,” Oliver replied. “Do you have proof of these allegations?”

“We do, but for now we would prefer to keep that information in our possession. If you need it, rest assured it will come to you.” I answered.

We then gave the names of Cushing and Waterman and their positions in the Government to Oliver. He listened intently and bellowed “My god, this could be a conspiracy at the highest levels of our Government! What are you people working on?”

“Sir that’s classified, but if you find out anything more about the dead Mr. Sanchez and who he was connected to, please let us know. One more thing; the FBI will be providing security around my house, Dr. Morton’s house and my girl friend’s house. Here are the addresses. If you hear of any incidents at any one of these addresses, please get there quickly.”

The officers left and I turned to Stella and asked, “Do you think we can trust those cops?”

“Bill, we’re getting in pretty deep right now so planting a few lifelines here and there could be our salvation down the line,” she answered. “Let’s go to my place and see if Rolf has overheard anything useful from our esteemed public servants.”

When we got to the apartment and went in, Rolf was sitting there with a broad grin. “If your plan was to make two men furious, you two definitely succeeded. I’ve never heard so much foul language in my life.”

“Any useable information?” Stella asked Rolf.

“Only one thing, but I’m not sure what it means. Cushing got a phone call and unless I miss my guess, he spoke to someone in Russian so I don’t know what was said. We’ll have to round up someone who can translate for us,” said Rolf.