Chasing Secrets

A loud slurp of coffee followed by the slight shivering made a wry smile appear on Ethan.

‘I don’t think that is going to happen.’ Oliver’s voice returned adamant.

‘That’s not what your hands are showing.’ Lily said noting the small ripples in the coffee mug.

‘But they would never do that. If I wanted, I could expose them all with proofs.’

‘That’s what we were planning to get from you.’ Jade said. ‘in order to give you protection from these people.’

The shivering stopped altogether as his shoulders slumped and he took a huge sip of the coffee.

‘So, this is the good cop bad cop game huh…’ he mentioned slightly relieved to have observed at the correct moment.

Ethan glanced at his phone which had not rung the while he was waiting for it.

I need to keep the conversation going. If he refuses to believe it, then he might as well lawyer up, which if he does is game over. I need to keep the conversation going…

Lily cut in his thought process.

‘Honestly, old man I don’t really care if you die or not. You are either going life or going dead. I personally believe that you should be dead. The brown soil of the graveyard suits you more than the orange of this getup.

But we need something and maybe’ she emphasised the word.

‘We are willing to let you out a little early for that. Now it is your choice to decide which one you want because trust me when I say this, the amount of evidence against you in court will only leave you to plead guilty.

That would be life, if the judge feels good and a fat check to your lawyer.’

The reality made a shiver go down his spine which allowed Ethan to ease up a little.

He shot a look of thanks to Lily to which she gave an inconspicuous smile.

At the same moment, the bell rang on the phone and Ethan picked it up with relief.

‘Well how is the situation?’

‘The van is coming up front.’ Liam spoke as the armored vehicle appeared.

‘How are they gonna kill someone in this?’ Liam asked confused.

‘I would say a high calibre bullet or maybe a bomb.’

The word ‘bomb’ in the high security facility made eyes turn warily towards Ethan which he enjoyed a little.

Liam stood there wondering what he and his sister had gotten himself into.

‘I just hope he can film it without wetting his pants.’ Liam asked looking at Kawahara.

Ethan laughed.

‘Don’t underestimate him kid. That man has seen more blood than a surgeon in his entire career.’

‘Wow, I feel like I’m the only normal one in this group.’ He thought aloud.

Ethan pulled up the live feed form Kawahara on his laptop and placed it facing the screen directly towards Oliver.

Oliver’s heart rate picked up as he remembered the conviction of senator James when he said his name will not come up in the list.

Was he actually planning to kill me?

The black van which looked safe enough crawled its way as if frustrated by the number of reporters standing in front of the prison.

The only people who knew it was a decoy was either sitting in the prison room or shooting the video footage.

There was an eerie silence which only some people felt as the truck slowed down.

* * *

Worry creased his forehead as he looked through the powerful scope of his 50 BMG.

Brad knew when something was wrong with the target, but the black bag on the head only left him a silhouette in the van.

I wonder if this really is the target. The height is wrong. Oliver is a bit shorter and the shoulders are too stiff. The van had slowed down as if to help with my shot.

He picked up and loaded the gun with the armor piercing black tip as the van approached 300 yards.

I don’t have the time to ring him up and ask. There is not enough window for me to do it.

The target was mostly a luck shot for even distinguished marksmen, but not for Brad even without slowing down. He had lived his life for that perfection.

It was either that or death. The smallest change in wind, the moisture of the air, the visibility, everything was his ally, or he made it so before placing the shot.

The bipod stand was doing its job of stabilizing the gun, but nevertheless he placed his gloved arm on top of the barrel caressing it ever so slightly, like a parent to its child. In a soft graceful motion, his fingers found their way to the belly of the gun.

His grip went from a soft touch to a powerful sure grip while the left hand crawled to the trigger.

He waited for the moment he knew as perfection while crosshair of the scope traced the head not wavering even a millimetre.

In an instant it came - the moment and the click itself.

It was beyond what movies showed. A beast baring its fangs, while the birds flew of the sound of it and for a moment the world stopped in wonder. A moment of utter admiration for the act just before the fear engulfed them. The screams did follow but occasionally as a rarity there was someone who stood there in the chaos, absolutely amazed by his skill. Another mind just like himself someone instinctively, primitively born to kill.

But there was none today. As was no blood.

I was right.

He thought to himself before grabbing the gun disassembling it within seconds, throwing it into the bag and putting on his diving gear before jumping into the cold waters of the Anacostia river.

The temperature of water was deadly to swim in this season, but the dissatisfaction of the shot far outweighed the comfortability of the swim.

A few yards away Liam fell down in shock hearing the thick glass of the vehicle left with a gaping hole and a loud boom that ensued a second later.

He swerved and ran behind a wall while the screams became fuel to his own fear.

He looked at Kawahara who stood there perfectly still videotaping the event.

‘Dude get in here!!’ he shouted at the top of his lungs getting chills at seeing him stand in the open.

Kawahara turned around calmly getting the perfect shot and walked to him.

Liam gave him the death stare to which he smiled.

‘Do you think that wall can protect you?’ he asked and saw the color leaving Liam’s face.

‘Don’t worry there is not going to be another shot fired. The job was to kill the dude in the van and its done.’

Liam looked at Kawahara more confused than amazed at the calmness.

‘How did you…?’

‘Well by the sound of it and the clean entry hole, the bullet was a 50-calibre black tip armor piercing round. No incendiary considering the clean hit and shot from a 50 BMG. The skill is beyond what I have ever seen.’ He said with fascination.

Liam looked at him wide eyed waiting for an explanation.

‘Well, I have my own history you know.’ He left it at that while picking up Liam by the elbow. Kawahara let him walk himself occasionally glancing at him for any symptoms of shock.

‘Did you see it?’ Kawahara asked after getting the wireless headset from Liam.

‘That was a great shot.’ Ethan spoke from the other side.

Kawahara smiled while suppressing the excitement he hadn’t felt in ages.

That great of a shot from that distance…

* * *

The color left his face as Oliver saw the bulletproof glass left with the typcial spiderweb design.

‘What say now?’ Ethan asked.

He had already seen the interview and the proof.

‘What can you promise me?’ He asked, desperate more than reluctant now.

‘Nothing.’ Ethan laid it bluntly before Jade could open her mouth.

‘But you just said I could be brought in as a witness.’

‘Yes, you will and you will have your sentence reduced. But there are no promises.’

He gulped loudly while considering his options and then steeled his gaze.

Those backstabbers will have it coming.

‘Who shall I start with?’ he asked.

‘James.’ Lily said to which he gave her a fierce look.

‘Honestly, he was a mystery to me more than any other senators.’

‘Why is that so?’

‘You know when clients make purchases’ he said.

Lily gave him a steely glare on how he referred to girls, mostly minors as purchases.

‘The transaction is done on an overseas account usually unnamed, so it could not be traced. And there is always a forged ID. That is why the proofs of my clients were always pictures in compromising positions.’

Jade was surprised.

‘And they knew about this?’

‘Yes’ he said.

‘Considering the quality of goods, I delivered.’ He said meaning to razz Lily this time.

‘You know, these statements will be used against you in the court. If you want to avoid the death row, then you need to show that you regret all of this.’ Ethan said annoyed at his indifference.

‘Let’s start again.’ Jade offered.

‘They agreed to it mainly because I was trustworthy and careful. And the fact that the girls I procured were exactly to their expectations.’

‘But James didn’t allow me to do that for his clients.’

‘His clients?’ Lily asked.

‘Yes. He never brought anything for himself. He always took the girls to his retreat outside of the mainland. Most of the girls were afraid to be his client. I don’t know where he took them but none of them were fit for business when he returned them.’

Lily clenched her fists and looked at him with revulsion. She was rethinking the part of getting him any sentence less than death. He was a monster not needed in this world. Tears filled her eyes when she thought about the things she didn’t want to know.

Ethan looked at her and softly placed his hand on her shoulder.

‘So how did you get proof?’

‘His account statements.’ He spoke.

Ethan was surprised.

‘That was the weird behaviour from his side. The monetary transactions he made was from his own bank account in Switzerland under his own name.’

‘But that still is not enough.’

‘I know… for that I have pictures of the girls entering a car along with him.’

‘How do you know that he had other clients and was not using them for himself.’ Jade asked.

‘It’s what the girls tell among themselves. And since most of them are trafficked form the eastern hemisphere, their native tongues are not well known among police officers who are investigating. It makes it easier to know but not to spread.’

‘What kind of stories?’ Lily asked her voice soft and bleak, reluctant to the upcoming answers.

‘The worst thing you can think of a man doing to a woman would probably be the beginning.’

He started slowly explaining.

* * *

Julia was sitting outside feeling the warmth of the lobby.

Her life was well placed and unlike most in her field she enjoyed working for James. He was a brilliant mentor and a powerful personality to be around.

Considering the field she belonged to, being respected by the person who was sending out orders was once in a blue moon occurrence. She was respected and well cared for. So much so that she even developed some feelings for her boss – a man who was 14 years older to her.

But it was all quashed instantly yet politely when she expressed it. He had a loving wife and that was all the satisfaction he wished for.

What were those idiots thinking talking about HIS involvement in a prostitution racket of all?

Media literally does anything for a few extra viewers. They were new from the faces I remember, but the girl… I had seen her before somewhere.

I don’t remember…

In an urge to find out she booted up the desktop on front of her and typed a name.

Lily was it?

Just as the page was loading a loud crash was heard from the senator’s room followed by the splintering of glassware.

Margaret who was wiping the floor signalled Julia to go and look what happened.

She stood up and dashed to the door.

‘Is everything okay sir?’ she asked just as she entered and saw the entire tea set in the floor broken.

Oh! That was an expensive gift.

The sugar and tea were soaking into the carpet when she turned around and called for Margaret.

‘Margaret could you please help and clean this up?’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry Julia but I need to get on the next flight to New Jersey.’ He spoke worried and fast.

‘Is it something urgent sir.’ She asked a bit puzzled.

‘Uh yes. It’s regarding a meeting there. I was about to get out in a hurry when I tipped it over.’ He lied with a straight face.

‘I’ll take care of this Julia. You go and help with the tickets.’ Margaret said, to which she nodded and walked out to her computer.

‘Sir do you want me to come as well?’ she asked.

James wondered for a moment and then replied in affirmative.

‘Book it on my laptop please.’ He mentioned to which she did so.

James walked out of the room visibly shaken.

THERE WAS NO LIST!! I walked right into the trap. But there is something more. Getting a good enough decoy there. They had to be working with some kind of branch in the government.

I need to get to New Jersey.

Suddenly his phone rang.

‘Yes Mark, I understand. We need to meet at the usual place.’

He disconnected the phone and walked to his car. It was a wonder that there was no media standing to grill him for explanations.

* * *

Ethan and Lily got in the car after saying goodbyes to Jade who had helped stage all of this.

‘The list is huge. No wonder this country is filled with filth.’ Lily said as Ethan drove to the highway.

‘That’s what I thought before looking at the bigger picture. Every person, place and object have their own demons to deal with. I learnt it the hard way.’ Ethan said remembering from experience.

‘I’m curious.’

‘A lot was hearsay and a lot I stared straight at it. Stories that are better to be left untold.’ He said remembering how she started to cry when Oliver was explaining.

She pouted. ‘So, you’re gonna leave me hanging with that…’

He smiled.

‘Well, we do have a story to chase now. And many more to come.’

‘Why do you think he made purchases with his own account number?’ she asked.

Ethan thought for a moment.

‘Probably to keep his client safe.’

‘But his client was plenty safe with almost no existent proofs.’ Lily said.

‘Call it a card which worked in his favour both ways.’

‘According to proofs, James is the one who was accountable for everything. But if for some reason Oliver says that James isn’t the one, then there is no proof to validate it and nowhere to look either. This makes Oliver’s claims questionable along with the name list he gave, including his own.’

‘But still there is definite proof that James was the one to make the transaction.’ Lily said.

‘That’s where the second favour comes in. He wants all the attention diverted. He wants people either questioning Oliver or James. That leaves the main culprit safe.’

Lily was visibly thinking.

‘In other words, you are saying that James was ready to take the fall just to keep this person safe.’

‘Exactly. But I’m thinking the same thing as you.’ Ethan looked at Lily and she met his gaze back wondering.

‘Who is this person?’ Lily asked.

‘Something worth more than his career.’ Ethan said.

‘No. From all the news bulletins I have seen his name mentioned, he is a right-wing nationalist. He doesn’t show it often and it’s hard to get at first, but his right-wing mentality is not for within the nation but for the nation itself.’ Lily explained.

‘That means that he wants to keep the authority of United States as prime amongst international security.’ Ethan added.

‘And this position is the best for him. With his personality and the way public moves to him, he would have stood for the president in the next elections.’ Lily explained further.

‘A position people like him would dream of. Absolute control over the same thing he wants to implement as powerful in the world.’ Ethan said.

‘What would he want more than that?’ Lily asked.

‘Something more.’ Ethan said thinking.

Lily looked at him confused then something clicked in her mind.

‘Something that can outlast him.’ She spoke.

‘Even his tenure as a President has a time limit. He wanted something more solid, something that would last long after he is gone. Even if it meant he would get sacrificed in the process.’

‘A shift in power and equally powerful shift in an idea.’ Ethan said.

‘What do you mean?’ Lily asked.

‘President Samuel Miller is a calm and peace-loving president. An exact opposite of James. And when someone comes into power, the followers of that person increase in numbers. The White House though balanced in terms of decisions, the number of people who enjoy his mindset have fairly increased.

He needs the mindset to shift. He wants the number of right-wing mentalists to increase. He needs something to firm up their belief in authority over peace.’

Lily understood.

‘And to decrease the number of people who would keep the current President’s mentality.’

‘And that client is the key to that ‘something’. A person who could make it happen.’

‘But who is capable of doing that?’ Lily asked.

‘We are going to find who it is?’ Ethan said with an uneasy smile.

Lily looked at him uncertain of his actions.