The Cartel Affair Read online

  “Ok, I have to find out more about Baker's kids before I can figure out who was at the lake cabin at Big Bear. I’m leaning toward the son, but the daughter may be a daddy’s girl. First, I have my meeting, and then get an intel update about the kids.”

  Travis ran all the possible scenarios in his head for the next two nights while driving. He pulled into Mclean, Virginia at 02:30 of the third day. He found a motel and checked in.

  Travis awakes to the sounds of the phone ringing. He answers and it’s his wake-up call. He looks at the clock and its 12:00. His meeting is in two hours. Travis gets cleaned up and heads out to get something to eat. He’s hoping things will go swiftly after the meeting.

  At 13:55, Travis was sitting on the bench in the northeast corner of the Memorial Garden at 1000 Colonial Farm Road in Mclean, Virginia. At 14:02 he was joined by Director Turner of the CIA.

  “Thank you for seeing me, Director.”

  “My pleasure, Sergeant Bones. How are you holding up?”

  “Actually, I’m doing fine, thank you for asking. I have some very interesting things to show you, Sir.”

  Travis hands him a package with documents from the senator's home office at Big Bear Lake.

  “Where did these items come from?”

  “Senator Baker's desk at Big Bear Lake. One of the drawers had a false bottom. Sir, have they found your secretary yet?”

  “Not yet, but we’re still searching.”

  “I hate to say it, but I don’t believe they’ll find her alive.”

  “What makes you say that, Travis?”

  “Williamson, Sir. Whenever he’s involved, bodies turn up.”

  “You have a very valid point. So, what are the items you found?”

  Travis waits for Turner to look over and digest what he’s just seen.

  “So, Baker was directly involved in all this?”

  “He was definitely involved, but to what degree I'm not sure yet.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The intel said he and his family were in DC when the deposits were done. So that means that someone in his family is either trying to protect him or was sent to do his dirty work. I need to get some intel on his kids.”

  “Travis, I heard what happened at Pendleton and I want to tell you I’m sorry. It’s a shame that they would put you out after everything you gave them. I want you to know I admire and respect what you’ve done for this country and the professional restraint you’ve shown through all of this. I would love to have you work for me anytime, anyplace.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way, Sir. If you would allow me, I’d like to make you a proposal.”

  “I’m all ears, Travis.”

  “Thank you, Sir. First, I know that you have President Carpenter’s ear. I’m ok with a general discharge as long as I’m allowed to play this out. I want no charges brought against me for anything that happens in the conclusion of all this. Second, I’m allowed to play this out with the full resources of the CIA to whatever the outcome may be. If I can bring them in to face true justice, I’ll be happy with that. If not, justice will be dealt my way. Third, I want my team hired to work with me. Nothing personal Sir, but I don't know your people. I can trust my life to these guys. To be effective in this and for you Sir, that’s what we need, both you and I. Fourth, Williamson will receive my brand of justice, not the courts. I’ll deal personally with him my way. It will not be pretty, that I guarantee. Fifth, my team and I become your go to team for black ops.”

  “Personally Travis, I have no problem with anything you’ve proposed. Let's get you inside and I’ll introduce you to agent Walbach. You and Walbach can get started on gathering intel and I’ll make a phone call. Are your boys on board with this whole thing?”

  “I don't know yet, Sir. I’ll call when we get inside and let you know.”

  “Shall we go inside?”

  “You can use this phone. It’s a secure line. I’ll be outside when you get done.” Travis dials the number for the ops room at Pendleton and Boomer answers. “Boomer, this is Bones. Are all the guys there?”

  “Yeah Skipper, we're all here. What's up?”

  “How would you guys like to work with me at the CIA?”

  “You’re serious, Skipper?”

  “As a heart attack.”

  “Not yes, but Hell yes!!”

  “Awesome, gear up and expect your travel papers within the hour. You’re no longer Marines; you’re now CIA black ops. See you soon. Guys, thank you.”

  “Roger that, Skipper.”

  “We’re good to go Sir. The boys are gearing up and waiting for travel orders.”

  “Outstanding! I’ll go make my call and get the paperwork going. If all goes well, they’ll be here by 19:30. Agent Bones, this is Agent Walbach, Agent Walbach, this is Agent Bones. You’re to assist him in any way he needs, and clearance is not a problem. I’ll join you gentlemen shortly.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Agent Walbach, I need to find out everything I can about Senator Baker's family. His wife, daughter and son. Who lives at the DC residence and who doesn’t - where they live and what they’ve been doing for the last month. I’m looking for any red flags - anything that’s not their normal routine.”

  “Agent Bones, here are your credentials and weapon, and the President is on board with everything you’ve proposed. The travel orders have been sent and the boys should be getting on a plane right about now. You have the same security clearance as I do so you won’t have any problems getting what you need. Once your men are here, get me a list of gear that you need, and I’ll make it happen within two hours. I have three alias ID’s for you with history you need to learn. I’ll have the same for each member of your team when they arrive. In the package you just received, is an emergency alias and $100,000 cash. If this ID is activated, it will mean you’ve been compromised and we’ll implement the evac plan in your package. Is all this clear, Travis?”

  “Perfectly, Sir. The info will be learned and destroyed by the time the men arrive, Sir.”

  “Very good, Travis. Glad to see you’ve not forgotten your training.”

  Travis spends the next four hours learning his new alias and destroying the evidence. He also spends that time putting together a list of items he and the team will need to get started as a unit for this particular mission. Travis was soon to learn that the government has things the military can only dream of.

  “Agent Bones, the Director wanted me to let you know that your team has just arrived and for me to take you to them.”

  “Thank you, Walbach. Let's go greet the boys.”

  Travis was led down a series of corridors and into an elevator. They dropped for a good 90 seconds before the elevator came to a stop. He was then led down a hallway and into a room where the team was waiting with Director Turner.

  “Ok Travis, the men are here. We need to get them up to speed and on board with the plans you and I have made. This gentlemen, is your new ops center. Your ID’s will get you into the rooms. Only myself and the team members will have access and knowledge of these rooms. Gentlemen, you’re six stories under the CIA headquarters building. These rooms are fully self-contained and have separate backup systems from the rest of the facility. This is home when you’re running missions and non-existent when you’re not. Travis, I’ll leave it up to you to explain things to the team.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “I’ll leave you to it, men.”

  “It's good to see you guys again. Gentlemen, on the table in front of you is a package with your name on it. Stand in front of your package. In these packages are your ID’s, as well as three other identities with histories. You’ll need to know these and destroy them as soon as you learn them. They consist of driver’s license, credit cards and passports. You will also find a separate and fourth ID. This ID is to be your emergency ID. Each of you has $100,000 in cash. We’ll each deposit this in a Swiss safety deposit box along with your alias ID’s. If you’re in trouble or co
ver is blown, you get to the safety deposit box and activate your emergency ID and start your extraction plan. This will alert them at Langley, and they’ll come for you according to plan. In the next four hours, you will learn your ID’s and histories and make a list of what you’ll need individually. This room is the Ops Center. The room to your left is the Com Center. The room to your right is the computer room. The rooms behind you are living quarters and bathrooms. This is home when we’re on missions. Let's get started, men.”

  Travis gets on the phone with Walbach and has him send all the info on Baker's family to their new computer system. Travis spends the next four hours going through all the data.

  Travis learned that Baker’s son is 23 and lives at home. He was accounted for the time period that the deposits were made. The daughter is 27 and married to a federal prosecutor named Clarence Sears, who works for the District of Columbia. They live in the Georgetown area and his time is accounted for the time of the deposits. Baker’s daughter, however, was at home and her whereabouts were unknown for the time frame of the deposits. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!! Looks like Travis might be right about her being a daddy’s girl. Travis needs to have the signatures on the deposit slips compared to her handwriting to be sure. Travis has Walbach compare the writings and signature and gets confirmation of what he suspected. Her name is Teresa Sears and she’s the first link in the chain. Travis needs to confirm her location and plan a snatch and grab for her and her husband. Travis doesn't know if her husband is involved or not, but he needs to find out. Time to get with the boys and plan operation “Fly Trap”.

  SIXTEEN

  Washington, DC

  “OK GENTLEMEN, THIS will be operation Fly Trap. The objective is to snatch Clarence and Teresa Sears. No faces and no names. He’s a Federal Prosecutor with the District of Columbia, and I don't know if he’s involved in the actual events or if he’s being played. In any event, we know she’s involved, and we need to assess how much and how deeply she has knowledge. Daddy may have played her, or she may be as deeply involved as he is.”

  “They’ll be dining at the Old Ebbitt Grill around 19:30 tonight. We’ll wait till they head for their car and take them and the car then. We’ll take them to The Barn and interrogate them there, separately. I don't want them together. The Barn is a CIA farm just outside of DC we can access when we need it. I want him questioned first and then I’ll come in and talk to him. Is everyone clear on this?”

  “Roger that, Skipper.”

  “Does everyone have their equipment list ready for the Director?”

  “Here you go, Skipper.”

  “Awesome. Now I’ll present our list to the Director and see how fast we can get the items. Get some rest till I get back, gentlemen. It may be a long few days. Squeaker, get these boys hooked with home. It might be awhile before they have a chance to again.”

  “Roger, Skipper.”

  “Director Turner, I have the equipment list that we need. How quickly do you think we can get these items, Sir?”

  “Let's see, ok, ok, it looks like we should have all of these items on site. You should have them within the hour.”

  “Sir, for plausible deniability, I’m not going to brief you on the mission that we’ll be undertaking tonight. I don't think you would want to know anyway. We’ll probably be unavailable for a few days.”

  “I understand and appreciate your candor, Travis. Carry on.”

  “Alright men, we should have the equipment shortly. When we get it, I want ready packs made up and staged. I want gear double and triple checked and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Are we clear on that?”

  “Roger that, Skipper.”

  “I hope everyone got hooked up with home. Let's get rested up and ready for the next few days.”

  “Rise and shine gentlemen. We are two hours away from go time. It's time to gear up and stand ready. Genius, you wait at The Barn. Falcon and Squeaker, you make sure we’re clear on the ground and the air. Guardian, clear all locals from the area. Trojan, be ready if we need you. Merlin, Spider and Boomer, you’re at The Barn. Brutus and Beaver are with me on snatch detail. Brutus takes the husband and Beaver will take the wife. I’ll be overwatch in case we have a problem. Everyone clear?”

  “Clear, Skipper.”

  “Mount up and let's roll!!!”

  “Com check.”

  “Falcon and Squeaker”

  “Clear.”

  “Guardian and Trojan.”

  “Clear.”

  “Brutus and Beaver.”

  “Clear.”

  “Overwatch is clear. On my command, gentlemen.”

  “Standby. Here they come. Caps on.”

  “GO!! GO!! GO!! Van is ready.”

  “Targets acquired. Coming Home.”

  “Trojan, Take the car. Let's roll.”

  “Gentlemen, get The Barn ready.”

  SEVENTEEN

  The Barn

  “CLARENCE SEARS, FEDERAL Prosecutor for the District of Columbia, married to Teresa Sears, no children. We have some questions for you, and it would be best for you to answer truthfully and quickly. The longer it takes to get the answers, the rougher it’ll be for you and your wife.”

  “Where’s my wife?”

  “She’s safe for now. That's all you need to know.”

  “What’s this all about?”

  “We ask the questions genius; you give the answers. Or do we need to drive the point home?”

  “Ok!! OK!!”

  “You will notice that you’re in a soundproof room with no windows and only one door. You’ll also notice that you’re strapped to a chair. Take a good look at the chair and you’ll notice it has wires running to it. These wires are connected to 110 volts of power. Every time I deem that you give me a wrong answer, you’ll receive a shock. It will start with a two second dose and go up two seconds every time you give me a wrong answer. Do you understand what’s at risk here?”

  “Yes, Sir I do, but you can't be serious about this. This is illegal!! I’m a Federal Prosecutor. Do you know how much trouble you’re already in? If you let us go now, I’ll make sure nothing happens and we’ll forget this whole ordeal.”

  “Shut up. Let me make myself clear here. You have no rights as of this moment. I can and will do whatever it takes to get the answers I want. You have no idea where you are, or who I am. I can and will hold you for as long as I want to and do whatever I want to you. You’re part of a group accused of crimes against your country, asshole, and if you keep talking, I’ll flip the switch and walk away until you start smoking from the voltage!!!!” “Where was your wife for the last couple of weeks?”

  “She was at home.”

  “Wrong answer. Light him up.” Sounds of electricity.

  “Wait, she went on a trip to Oakville Winery in Napa a couple of weeks ago. Her father’s a partner in the winery. What's this about?”

  “Do I need to smack you to remember who asks and who answers the questions?”

  “No.”

  “Ok. What did she go to the winery for?”

  “Her dad asked her to go check on something to do with the winery. Said he couldn't get away right now.”

  “Does he have her do that often?”

  “No. This was the first time, come to think about it.”

  “Did you know anything about your father-in-law having a meeting with the drug cartels in Columbia?”

  “What the Hell are you talking about?”

  “Was he out of the country a few weeks ago?”

  “Yeah, something about a good will visit.”

  “His good will visit got a Marine's family killed and his life is in danger because he identified this Marine to them.”

  “I don't believe you.”

  “Then let me introduce you to the Marine in question and see if he can convince you, asshole.”

  “Did you know that while your wife was at the winery, she was really at his place in Big Bear making deposits for her father to pay for the hit t
eams?”

  “What the Hell are you telling me?”

  “I'm telling you your wife is directly responsible for the deaths of at least five people and possibly more to come because of her actions for her father.”

  “I knew they were a secretive family, but I never imagined anything like this. What proof do you have to confirm this?”

  “Your father-in-law was confirmed and identified by Marines on the ground having meetings with cartel members. Your wife’s handwriting has been confirmed to be the handwriting on the deposit slips making the deposits for the kill teams that killed the Marine’s family and tried to kill him and his team. Shall I continue or is that enough to know that you and your wife are screwed?”

  “Wait, I had nothing to do with any of this.”

  “If we find that to be true, you’ll be set free. Your wife on the other hand will face justice. It’s her choice as to what kind of justice she faces.”

  “Are you really going to let this asshole go, Skipper? You don't really believe him, do you?”

  “Put him in isolation and let him think about what his wife and her family have done to him. To answer your questions, I think he was played by them and Hell no, he’s not going free. Her answers will decide how and when they have their accident.”

  The look of utter fear on Clarence’s face causes Travis to smile.

  “Just giving him false hope is all I’m doing.”

  EIGHTTEEN

  “TERESA SEARS - MARRIED to Clarence Sears. No children. Daughter of Senator William Baker. I have some questions for you and depending on your attitude and answers, I can make this easy or as hard as it needs to be. Believe me when I say you want the easy way.”

  “What in the Hell is this about?”

  “Your father being a treasonous bastard and selling his soul to the devil himself. My wife and son dying for something they knew nothing about. You following in your father’s footsteps and selling your soul to the devil like he did. That's what this is about. You think the devil is bad, he runs and hides when he sees me coming. I’ll do any and everything I need to do to get the answers. You just disappeared and whether you ever show back up depends on those answers. Are we clear now about why you’re here?”