Once Upon a Life - Short Listed on ONC2023

Chapter 5

"Okay, Martin, your question has been answered." Agent Phillip Stone addressed his assistant in the manner of a reprimand. "What could she have told him, you asked? Apparently enough to have him calling US Marshals, the phone company and now, the DMV with a picture of our van!"

Agent Martin Glover stood silently, knowing the storm would pass quickly. He had weathered many in the past. The woman proved to be a little sharper than he expected, not only in getting a photo, but when the reports came back about her phone calls and computer searches, she was considered a sure candidate for their watch list.

Stone was still ranting, having moved on to the aforementioned reports.

"I'm bringing in a special investigator to handle the policeman. I can't take any chances with those bumpkins that spooked the woman. You will be responsible for her. I want 24/7 eyes on her, and if she reaches a point - snooping - termination."

"I trust I have discretion in that event."

"Of course. The same will apply to the policeman. We can't have ordinary citizens blowing us up."

Martin pointed to the reports on Stone's desk. "She used a lot of savvy in finding out as much as she did. Guess her occupation doing research paid off."

"Not only that," Stone huffed. "Those neighbour interviews were a damned clever idea - she should be working for us, instead of those morons--"

"You've railed on them enough, Phil. Give it a rest, they aren't operating the van anymore."

"Christ, I hope not. Between the two of them they don't have a cord long enough to reach an outlet."

"Ouch!" But Martin still laughed.

******

I had our resident computer guy enhance the photo as much as possible and he was able to get four of the six numbers on the plate from the van. From those I managed to learn the van was purchased from a government auction of fleet vehicles in Georgia. End of road for info there, but a bidding number is required and a record is kept, so if I got that number, I figured I might find the buyer.

All these bits and pieces could be better investigated with reopening the case, and with that in mind, I girded myself to brace the Captain with a request. Gathering everything I had, I rehearsed my speech as I headed to his office.

"Come in, Detective. There's someone here would like to talk to you."

"Sir?"

"This is Detective Standing. Standing, Agent Passmore."

"Agent?"

"FBI, Detective. I'd like to have a chat - somewhere private, Captain?"

"Use one of the interrogation viewing rooms. They are secure and private."

"Can I ask what this is about? I had something I wanted to discuss, Captain."

"I think our Federal cousin has first call, Detective."

Settled in the viewing room, I waited for the Agent to begin, and just as he started, I butted in.

"He called you cousin, am I to assume you are some kind of spy?"

Passmore laughed. "No, he just meant we are all on the same side. I am not in any spy agency."

"So what does the FBI want with me?"

"We received information that you had been making inquiries to the Marshal's office, the telephone company, and as recently as this morning, the Georgia state government auction site - all having to do with a missing family."

"I can explain all--"

"That information all coincided with some computer searches made by a Miss Howard into the same subject."

I must have looked stunned, because he started to chuckle. "I know what you're thinking, and yes Detective, there is a big brother."

"So it seems. And why does my looking into this bother the FBI?"

Passmore leaned his arms on his thighs and looked at me carefully. "You have somehow blundered into something that could seriously affect our national security."

"The Crawfords, are they in WITSEC?"

"You see, still blundering. I'm here, Detective, to see that you cease and desist with any and all interest in the Crawford family."

"Now wait--"

"And - to turn over everything you have regarding the case. Everything, detective."

"I want to discuss this with my Captain first. This was all based on a phone call Miss Howard received, which I didn't think a whole lot of at first, but together we found some valid reasons to look into it."

"Unauthorized, and with a civilian."

"I was coming in today to get that authorization."

Passmore smiled. "Then I guess I'm just in time, aren't I? I spoke to your Captain already, and there won't be any further action on this case."

His tone had become harder and the smile was now just a token. I looked at the folder in my hand - everything I was prepared to argue my case with - and I handed it over.

"Did big brother order the van and surveillance on Miss Howard?"

"Surveillance?"

"It's in my file there."

He looked at it, and back at me. "When was this- this surveillance?"

"Two days ago. Haven't you spoken to her?"

"I was trying to keep this in the family."

"Well you better look at her as a member of that family, because she is not just some civilian woman you can bulldoze over."

His face looked pained, and he slapped the file in his hand a few times before standing up.

"Better safe than sorry, eh, Detective. Let's go."

"You want me there?"

"You made her sound scary, I might need backup."

******

Kristen admitted us to her home, and we all settled in the living room after a brief introduction to Agent Passmore. I explained to her just what had happened and how we were forbidden to do any more probing into the Crawford family.

"Am I to understand the FBI is telling me just what I can or cannot do as a private citizen?|

"As was explained, Miss Howard, this concerns national security."

"Then I would think the nation would be grateful to know that we found a crack in that security, and not threaten us with your Federal authority." Passmore glanced at me and I shrugged, restraining a smile.

"And what about my safety?" She continued before he could respond. "That van that was obviously watching my house."

"Was it? I mean it could have been--"

"Why then did it drive off as soon as it saw me at the window?" She turned to me with a 'well, have you nothing to add' look.

"I traced the van, Kri- Miss Howard - it's in the file I gave him."

"Agent Passmore?"

"I have to admit, that puzzles me as much as it does you. We certainly had no physical surveillance on you."

"Physical." Kristen stared at me.

Another half hour was spent revealing 'big brother's' activities with respect to the two of us, as well as some biting objections from Kristen. In the end, Passmore had to admit that there could possibly be another player in the game, one that suggested a relative of big brother might be involved.

Word count to this point - 5381