Government Men by Gary J. Davies
CHAPTER 23
ARIZONA REUNION
There are no illegitimate children - only illegitimate parents.
- Judge Leon R. Yankwich
Peter Lund, Head of the National Police, paced restlessly in the Phoenix Hilton Lobby. He wasn't used to waiting for people in Hotel lobbies anymore. In fact, he hadn't done field work of any kind in several years, but the man he was there to meet promised to pay him very well.
The lobby door opened, and his employer of the moment finally arrived. Frank Melberg, immaculately dressed as always in a black suit, strode past him and motioned him to follow. Only when the elevator doors shut did they speak.
"This better be important Melberg, all hell is breaking loose in Washington and I've got to get back there pronto. Further, since I'm supposed to be hunting you down, this meeting probably isn't a very good idea. How can I keep my own NP operatives from finding you if you travel all over the country this way? You said that you'd be in Washington!”
Melberg wasn't about to be talked to that way by a human, especially one that he employed. He placed both hands on Lund's coat lapels and casually lifted him off the floor. "I'll tell YOU what's important Lund! I'll talk and you'll listen!” he hissed menacingly. Then he dropped Lund onto his butt in a corner, pulled a thick wad of thousand dollar bills from his pocket, and dropped it in Lund's lap.
Even after several years of dealings with Melberg, Lund was taken by surprise. Melberg was a skinny scientist. A ruthless shit head, certainly, but he had never been violent before. That he could easily lift a man twice his size was a revelation. It was also an indication that he was really worked up over something! Still, first things first. Lund pocketed the cash and stood up.
"Sure, Melberg. I hear you. Haven't I always come through? But this is the big time. There's heavy pressure, right from the very top. They aren't saying the real reason why, but they want your hide, and they want it bad."
Melberg could read between the lines. He dug a second thick wad of cash out of his pocket and flipped it into Lund's waiting hands.
Lund stopped complaining. "Exactly what do you want?" he asked.
"Did you bring agents with you that you can trust?"
"Sure," replied Lund, flipping through the second stack of thousands. "As long as you keep supplying this."
"How many operatives?" Melberg asked.
"Thirty-three, plus myself.”
A small army, thought Melberg. Still, Arizona was a big state, with thousands of square kilometers of camping spots where Bates might be headed to meet Garb. This would take more than just a few Earth-bound agents. "What about equipment?" he asked.
"My operatives raided an old Marine camp in New Mexico. I've got two F-39 Fighter aircraft, and two H-99 jet attack 'copters, with air and ground radar and infrared detection gear."
"Armed?" asked Melberg.
"To the teeth! Air to air missiles and air to ground anti-tank stuff too, just like you asked for.”
"Excellent!” responded Melberg! ”And you know what and who you are looking for?”
"Sure," replied Lund. "We have videos from Washington and Enterprise City of the Bus, Bates, and Barns, plus the other suspected conspirators. I have men at Dr. Garb's home now, looking for clues."
Melberg took yet another thick roll of bills from his pocket and handed it to Lund. "I want them all dead, Lund!”
"Certainly. We'll get them, don't worry."
The elevator opened and Lund left the Hotel. Smiling, Melberg went up to his room to report to the Mother Ship. He enjoyed paying Earthmen to destroy their only hope for salvation, using paper that would be worthless if not ashes in less than a week! For the Ra it wasn't just the ends that were important; the means counted too. This had been a very satisfying evening.
ARIZONA REUNION
There are no illegitimate children - only illegitimate parents.
- Judge Leon R. Yankwich
Peter Lund, Head of the National Police, paced restlessly in the Phoenix Hilton Lobby. He wasn't used to waiting for people in Hotel lobbies anymore. In fact, he hadn't done field work of any kind in several years, but the man he was there to meet promised to pay him very well.
The lobby door opened, and his employer of the moment finally arrived. Frank Melberg, immaculately dressed as always in a black suit, strode past him and motioned him to follow. Only when the elevator doors shut did they speak.
"This better be important Melberg, all hell is breaking loose in Washington and I've got to get back there pronto. Further, since I'm supposed to be hunting you down, this meeting probably isn't a very good idea. How can I keep my own NP operatives from finding you if you travel all over the country this way? You said that you'd be in Washington!”
Melberg wasn't about to be talked to that way by a human, especially one that he employed. He placed both hands on Lund's coat lapels and casually lifted him off the floor. "I'll tell YOU what's important Lund! I'll talk and you'll listen!” he hissed menacingly. Then he dropped Lund onto his butt in a corner, pulled a thick wad of thousand dollar bills from his pocket, and dropped it in Lund's lap.
Even after several years of dealings with Melberg, Lund was taken by surprise. Melberg was a skinny scientist. A ruthless shit head, certainly, but he had never been violent before. That he could easily lift a man twice his size was a revelation. It was also an indication that he was really worked up over something! Still, first things first. Lund pocketed the cash and stood up.
"Sure, Melberg. I hear you. Haven't I always come through? But this is the big time. There's heavy pressure, right from the very top. They aren't saying the real reason why, but they want your hide, and they want it bad."
Melberg could read between the lines. He dug a second thick wad of cash out of his pocket and flipped it into Lund's waiting hands.
Lund stopped complaining. "Exactly what do you want?" he asked.
"Did you bring agents with you that you can trust?"
"Sure," replied Lund, flipping through the second stack of thousands. "As long as you keep supplying this."
"How many operatives?" Melberg asked.
"Thirty-three, plus myself.”
A small army, thought Melberg. Still, Arizona was a big state, with thousands of square kilometers of camping spots where Bates might be headed to meet Garb. This would take more than just a few Earth-bound agents. "What about equipment?" he asked.
"My operatives raided an old Marine camp in New Mexico. I've got two F-39 Fighter aircraft, and two H-99 jet attack 'copters, with air and ground radar and infrared detection gear."
"Armed?" asked Melberg.
"To the teeth! Air to air missiles and air to ground anti-tank stuff too, just like you asked for.”
"Excellent!” responded Melberg! ”And you know what and who you are looking for?”
"Sure," replied Lund. "We have videos from Washington and Enterprise City of the Bus, Bates, and Barns, plus the other suspected conspirators. I have men at Dr. Garb's home now, looking for clues."
Melberg took yet another thick roll of bills from his pocket and handed it to Lund. "I want them all dead, Lund!”
"Certainly. We'll get them, don't worry."
The elevator opened and Lund left the Hotel. Smiling, Melberg went up to his room to report to the Mother Ship. He enjoyed paying Earthmen to destroy their only hope for salvation, using paper that would be worthless if not ashes in less than a week! For the Ra it wasn't just the ends that were important; the means counted too. This had been a very satisfying evening.