The Choices of Staff Members of Hydra

22

UNDERSTANDING A LESSON

On March 1st, 1965, two days before Dan and Jill's wedding, Dan was called by Asset 1 to assist in a mission. Dan used the excuse of a quick trip for his job with Grumman, and no one, including Jill, was suspicious. He was suspicious, however. The timing made him wonder if he was somehow in trouble, though he had not been called upon often enough in recent months to have done anything to be in trouble for. He barely slept the night before the mission, imagining scenarios from the plausible to the outright absurd and all of them horrible in some way. Most ended with his death, for whatever reasons he could think up with his unrelenting fears.

He flew to Las Vegas, with Asset 1 in his guise as Jack Alwin, and both checked into the same hotel. During the day they played tourist and attended a meeting with another defense contractor, and everything seemed to be showing Dan that it was only a work trip for Grumman, which was intensely confusing. In his job, even as a manager, he did not need to go anywhere and certainly not with anyone like Jack Alwin. He wanted to ask Asset 1 if they were really on a mission for Hydra, but he knew better and remained confused until they went to dinner in an expensive steak house on the strip. Asset 1 was so completely in character Dan almost forgot who he really was. Alwin was good company, friendly, joking and acting as if he was just on a trip for work with a friend. Toward the end of the meal, Asset 1 subtly called Dan's attention to a group of men at a nearby table.

"Any ideas as to who they are?" Asset 1 asked quietly.

Dan focused on the table, all the men were very well dressed, and judging by the amount of money they were spending on the alcohol alone, were very wealthy. He studied them for a few minutes and said just as quietly to Asset 1: "Mafia? Politicians?"

"No, they're businessmen. In fact, one of them is the CEO of Grumman."

Dan looked again, trying to be subtle but he was startled. He finally had to admit he wasn't sure what the CEO of Grumman looked like, and also that all of the men at the table resembled each other. All were older than fifty, all wore the same style of tuxedo, and all had similar mannerisms. He looked back at Asset 1 who was watching Dan's reaction. "Is he the...?" Dan didn't complete the sentence; he couldn't be sure they would not be overheard.

"Yes. He's been reluctant to assist our organization lately, so for that alone he's a liability, but it's the fact that he's been openly attempting to contact certain government agencies that has brought us here."

Dan looked back at the men at the table but had only the need to be done with the mission as quickly as possible. "I am getting married in two days. Will we be back in time?"

"You'll be home tomorrow, don't worry," Jack Alwin said soothingly, his voice raised slightly as if he was feeling the effects of the cocktails he had imbibed. He laughed, which caused Dan to flinch in spite of himself, though there was nothing in the laughter that was particularly disturbing in and of itself.

Dan decided to play along with more enthusiasm. "You keep saying that, but how do I know you mean it?"

"Because I'm your friend, Dan. I mean it. No way I'd let you miss your own wedding; Jill would kill me." Alwin actually had a slur in his voice, so well-done Dan had a hard time not believing it himself.

Asset 1 stood up, slightly unsteadily after placing a stack of twenty-dollar bills on the table. The waiter bowed to him, a stunned look on his face. "Let's go hit the slots, whaddya say?"

"Sure, and if you win, you get to buy breakfast," Dan also put a sway into his steps as they walked out of the restaurant. No one paid them the slightest attention.