John Depp Special Agent. Book I: Deadly Pride

Chapter 14: Rangers vs Feds

Andy looked at John. John looked him back. "Do you need privacy, Special Agent?""Ben. Please call the governor from here. As I always say: I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. Here in my contacts is the Governor's office number." John handed Ben his mobile phone.Ben made the video call. John got in front of the camera, "Hello, Governor Bridges." John smiled maliciously, "Let me introduce you to the FBI Director, Special Agent Andres García, and the Deputy Director, Special Agent Alexander Baldwin. Gentlemen, would you care to say Hello to Governor Bridges?""Sorry to interrupt you, John. Once you meet a fibbie you meet them all. I don't have time for formalities. This is urgent!"Andy looked at Alec with annoyance on his face, Alec shrugged."Oh, come on, Governor...""Call me Beau, kiddo.""Beau, let's not make such a big thing out of Robert and Very, Extremely Special Needs Agent Eastwood."All the agents looked at each other in disbelief, they couldn't believe the disrespectful way John referred to Agent Eastwood."Robert's press conference must have pissed that old guy off.""No. I will always back up the Rangers. That's out of the question. My grandpop and pops were Rangers, and so were my brother and I. Besides, Robert told me you almost cracked that case. I need a group of people you can trust. Special Task Forces. Wasn't that firefighter friend of yours, the son of the Troopers' old chief, a Green Beret like you and Robert's son?""Jeffrey, yes. Why would you need a team like that?""We have a potential Wako in our hands. General Miller recommended you for the job. I want you to send someone to gather intel, I already have the ranch's plans, but we need to know if they made modifications or any tunnel to connect the buildings. As soon as we confirm what I think we have, I want you to get an assault team, go in, and tear the place apart before those moronic fibbies put the place under siege and 86 people or more end up dead."It was indescribable the faces of Andy and the retired agents had when they heard the word fibbies. Everyone was stunned when they heard how John and the Governor of Texas talked about the FBI with such disdain."There are lots of women and children. I will send you all the info I have through our safe line. Give me an assessment of the situation. I also got infrared satellite images so you can see their movements. I don't want the fibbies and the FTA creating chaos all over the state again.""OK, Beau don't worry. I will check that and send you a preliminary report tomorrow morning. I will get in touch with General Miller. Then I will keep some surveillance on them to corroborate my first impression or discard it. Also to see if we find some familiar faces around. In the meantime, I'll gather the team to take action as soon as possible, if necessary.""Good, thanks Kiddo. About the serial killer... when is he supposed to strike again?""If I am not wrong, he has already selected the next four women. He is studying their routines now. In two weeks, he will kill the first one.""OMG. See if we can catch that psycho before that happens. He's already killed 12 women. Honestly, I want that obnoxious Agent Eastwood off my back. He thinks I have nothing better to do than be available for him to complain about our Rangers. Chief Redford is right, if they took half the time they keep complaining, they did old school police work, they would solve the cases before our Rangers kicked their asses.""Beau, here is the Director of the fibbies maybe you can take the opportunity and tell him to order his guard dog to stop barking at you and biting your legs.""No, thanks. One fibbie at a time is more than enough. Here is my little brother, he wants to talk to you, too.""Howdy, Johnny boy!""Mr. Mayor.""Since when have you become a formal snob? Those fibbies and their stupid formalities. Cut the bullshit, son!""Your mom is driving me crazy. God knows what a great baker she is. If it weren't for the pies and cakes she brings when she comes to my office, I would have a restraining order issued against her. She needs something to do. She has too much time on her hands. She reports every lamp that doesn't work, every crack in the road, every traffic sign covered with trees. Help me.""You know how she is. If you want to keep her off your back, give her a job.""A job? She is a retired woman!" Jeff spat."Jeff. This is an election year. Get her a job in your voting committee, make her visit neighbors, and talk to them about their problems. She could write a report, or do some statistics of which are the topics people are concerned about. Then you can address those topics when you speak in public.""That could work. Tell me, when are you resigning there? We need you here. The Rangers' Old Director is retiring this year. Chief Redford is the best candidate. Beau has spoken to the chiefs of the other 6 companies and they all agreed that Robert is the best for that job. His position as Chief of Austin's Division will be vacant. We know what Robert thinks, and when we consulted the other chiefs they all agreed you are the best option."Beau interrupted, "Come on John, think about it. Robert will need someone he trusts as Chief, your best friends are the chief of the Troopers and the DA. You are on good terms with the Fire Department and the Texas PD. The FBI does not appreciate your hard work, son. Come back home. Confederates will never get along with the Yankees.""I promise I will think about it. Please send me all that so I can take a look and give you my assessment. I'll check some leads I have on the serial killer. Do you know if the uploading of the school's permanent records is finished? I will also need to check some murders that possibly happened in the eighties.""You're like a hound dog. Don't worry all that uploading is finished. Everything from 1970 up to now is uploaded. Now we have the State Courthouse doing the same. Only the Federal Courts are not in the project. As you requested, I asked every newspaper in the state to upload all the news they have, from felonies, misdemeanors, rapes, murders, alleged accidental deaths, cruelty against animals, etc. The big ones have most of that info already in their system, but the small ones do not have enough employees to do the job, so I offered to send people to their offices to do the job. Now, they will upload that info as soon as things happen.""Great, thanks. That will be very helpful. I will call you tomorrow morning."John signaled Ben to end the call.John noticed how the director and the retired agents looked at him. Alec and John's agents were amused. John pulled up his shirt's sleeves. Alec hid the smile on his face when he saw the look on the director's face when he saw John's tattoos. John rested on the desk behind him. He looked at the director inquisitively. As a sign of defiance, John rolled a cigarette and played with it in his hands.Director Garcia looked at John with a stern expression, "Fibbies, Yankees, Very, Extremely Special Needs Agent. Really?""What can I say? You are not appreciated in Texas. After what your guys did in Wako, people don't trust you. Your agents' snob attitude does not help. We are a big state with big towns but we behave as if we were from a small town. Everyone knows everyone.""Assistant Special Agent, Baldwin filed a complaint against you. I do not understand, you two have been partners for seven years and he designated you as the director of this department. Can you please, come to my office whenever you have some time? Cover all those tattoos you're a federal agent, not a mobster. And what is that about a dog in the office? Tattoos, cigarettes, and a dog in the workplace. Tell me how can you work like that, Agent?""Senior Special Agent. Director or Chief of the Cold Case Department, Sir! My tattoos do not alter my concentration. Neither do my cigarettes. My dog is a trained decorated dog from the USA Army. If the president let him in the Oval Office I can't see the problem with him coming here. If you don't mind Chief Executive Director of the FBI, Andres Arturo Garcia. Born in Havana Cuba, came to live in Florida during childhood with his family. Studied at Florida State University. Became a Miami PD homicide detective. Then you joined the FBI. You were the youngest Deputy Director, and Senior Special Agent Alexander Baldwin's partner for two decades. Married, four children. You smoke Cuban Cigars, Sir..." John smirked."Last time I checked they were illegal. Eliot Ness never drank alcohol while he chaced liquor smugglers, Sir." John stated with a cocky attitude. "Now regarding my former partner, I have nothing to say. If you want to know anything, talk to your former partner. I am here to work on cases not to gossip about my former partner, Sir. Anything else?""I do not like your attitude, Agent! Do you have a problem with authority?""It's Senior Special Agent. My problem is with abuse of authority and jumping to conclusions without having all the information. And that is exactly what you have just done. Since you concluded and think I am the problem, what is the point in me talking to you, Sir?""Am I? Haven't you evacuated the whole building because of that dog?"Alec cut them out, "Please, let's calm down. Partner, this is not what you think. You got it all wrong. John is an excellent agent, his work is impeccable. Duke detects drugs, explosives, and corpses. The box we received had one of those three in it. I was about to talk to you about him and my eternal problem.""Oh, I get it. Why don't you come home on Sunday with your family and we'll talk then? Andy suggested and Alec nodded."But I still want a detailed report on that possible new Wako on my desk on Monday first thing in the morning.""I am sorry, but that will not happen, Sir. If you want to see a copy of my report you must request it to the Governor's office.""If this is a case similar to Wako, it is a federal case!""All you do is fight about jurisdiction! Rangers are federal agents, too. Unless the governor or local authorities call for help it's a local case. I cannot go over the Governor's authority, Sir.""And what about my authority as Director of the FBI and your superior?" Andy questioned John. Alec wanted to say something but Andy signalled him to remain in silence."Your authority as Director of the FBI and my superior is not being questioned, Sir. If you want I can talk about any undercover op I was involved with and any other case I am related to here in the FBI. If you want to talk about the missions or cases related to the Army, Troopers, or Rangers, I will need their permission to disclose any information. For other missions, you will need clearance from the White House, Sir.""Along with my FBI file, Deputy Director Baldwin can also give you a copy of my army, Green Beret, Trooper, and Rangers's files."Andy looked at Alec.Alec looked at Andy back and explained, "I wanted to know who was in charge of this department, I only knew he had been my brother's partner until recently.""Bring everything you have!" Andy turned around to leave.John called his attention, "Director Garcia, aren't you going to congratulate my team for solving two open cases? This storage room hasn't solved a case in over a decade. I can tolerate the fact that you do not respect me and my work but I won't take it lightly if you ignore my agents' hard work."John's agents looked at him with renewed respect. They were not used to being recognized by their superiors. Even the retired agents who found John annoying started to look at him in a new light.Andy turned to face John, "Do you want me to congratulate your agents for doing their job? Don't you want a medal for you, too?"John smirked and shook his head, in a low voice, he said "asshole", and coughed "This storage room as you called it earlier hasn't closed any case in a decade, I guess my agents work before I was in charge was to dust the boxes and keep them tidily stored on the shelves, Sir. That is their job according to the way you called this department, so closing cases is doing something that is not included in their job description. Regarding a medal for me... I have plenty... I was awarded the Medal of Honor, two Purple Hearts, a Distinguished Service Cross, a Gold Star, a Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars for my service. I was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times over 10 months and was awarded one. The Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor "V" device and six oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars, War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, War on Terrorism Service Medal. The Congressional Medal of Honor was handed to me by the President at the White House. I hope I haven't forgotten to mention any other. Those are just with the Green Berets, do you want me to go on with the army, army's intelligence, Troopers, and Rangers? Can your medals top those, Sir?... By the way, I also have some commendations from the FBI.""Don't push it, Agent!" Director Garcia said and left.Alec looked at John, "John, we are not the enemy. I'll talk to him."James asked John, "Can I see your medals, John? It's awesome!... Sorry, I need confirmation of your lab. When do you think Morgan will have the results, so I can start with the paperwork to prosecute the inmate?""I will ask Morgan. I call you. Maybe we can get together so he can explain the results to you on Monday. By the end of next week, I will have 2 or 3 more cases solved, and by the end of the month 3 more.""You are telling me that in less than two weeks you had the time to go through several of these dusty boxes and you will close them within a month? How?""I need to focus on something else when working on a case. Instead of uploading cases I read some files, took notes, made calls, and talked to the local police, some of them sent me their original files. It wasn't that hard! It was all in there. When I finish this Texan case I will be able to solve some more.""OK we'll talk later," They said goodbye and James left.John turned to the retired agents and said, "I am sorry we couldn't talk a little more. Why don't you think about this and say if we can count on your help?" Then he turned to his agents, "Good work guys. Any question?"Willem asked, "How did you persuade the local police to send you the original files?"John smiled innocently and said, "I told them I was a Ranger," then he looked at Ellen, "Ellen, I would like to talk about one of your open cases. Come to my office tomorrow so we can discuss it. See you all tomorrow." John whistled and Duke ran out of his office.Everyone left the office. All the agents talked about what had happened in the office. Some retired agents asked the ones in service how it was working with John likeIreland called her father and asked if she should wait for him or go home. He told her he was on his way. In the car, Ireland told him everything that happened after he left. Alec couldn't believe John would solve five or six cases by the end of the month. Ireland asked him if John would resign to go back to the Rangers. What they offered John was more tempting than staying with the FBI, where nobody respected or acknowledged his work.Alec agreed but at the same time, he wanted to keep John. An agent like him that could solve cases that way, do undercover work, had his arrests with a conviction record could change the public perception of the FBI. Having someone like him would help him on his way to the Oval Office. He needed to have a serious conversation with Andy. He needed to talk about what William had done, the money, and the commendations William received.Ireland asked Alec about his meeting with Director Garcia. Alec said he took all the files he asked for. Alec knew it was no use talking to him while he was angry. They were going to meet on the weekend anyway.