Third Time Is a Charm Read online

  I hope these were really bad guys or I was in big trouble.

  As my man hit the floor Dad opened the door and charged into the room. This was followed by four or five quick gun shots. My first thought was my parents!

  Dad stepped out of the room to help me. Mum stood in the door way with her back to us. She was keeping an eye on someone or something in the room.

  Using the man’s belt and tie we got him under control. That is when I was able to look in the room. There were two bodies on the floor and a third person tied up in the corner.

  Mum keeping her gun out stood guard while Dad kicked the guns on the floor aside and untied the third man. I recognized him as one of the CIA trainees from the tailing exercises. He was one those whose cover was blown so couldn’t do field work.

  As he was loosened he told us what he knew from listening to them. They had kidnapped him outside of the local CIA field office. Their intention was to kill us and him and make it look like a CIA operation gone bad. This would create division between MI6 and CIA.

  He only knew this because he spoke Russian. They didn’t realize he understood them.

  Dad went downstairs to bring Forester up with us, after that he was going for help. He brought Forester back but there was blood all over him. Forester had spit out the handkerchief and tried to commit suicide by biting his tongue off. It was a mess but he failed.

  The CIA man expressed the thought that now he knew for certain that he didn’t want to do fieldwork. I tend to agree with him.

  Dad came back in half an hour and the police and FBI arrived fifteen minutes later. I thought the FBI would have a hard time being convinced that Forester was a traitor but it turned out he was suspected as a mole for the Russians.

  While we waited for Dad I asked Mum what we were going to do to the Russians.

  “Nothing Rick, this is in the hands of the FBI, CIA and MI6. Even if we thought of something too many people will be watching.”

  That made sense but it wasn’t a nice feeling to have a target on my back.

  “I thought you said the Russians had lost most of their people and we would be safe for a while.”

  “I was wrong.”

  We had to go down to police headquarters and be interviewed, separately of course. I didn’t feel like I was being accused of anything but it was still an uncomfortable experience. After two hours I thought we were done, and we were, with the LA Police.

  We were then taken to FBI headquarters for another round of questioning. These were more direct than the police. They were most interested in what tipped me off in the first place.

  The lead agent asking questions expressed disbelief that a kid would pick up on such a small clue. The other agent filling out the form 302, I peeked at the form number, finally toned him down.

  Watching the agent fill out the form made me realize that the only record of this interview was what he was writing down.

  “I think I need my parents in here as witnesses, you do remember I’m a minor.”

  “What are you trying to hide?”

  “I’m done here.”

  “You’re done when I say you are done.”

  “Am I under arrest?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Then I’m here as a voluntary citizen and I’m now done.”

  About that time the door opened and Mum and Dad walked in with his lawyer. Sam Wingate may be a corporate attorney but he knew his way around criminal law.

  “Tear up that 302 or face felony charges for holding a minor against his parents will.”

  The recording agent never hesitated as he tore it.

  “I knew this was a bad idea.”

  “Forester is one of ours!”

  “Was he, looks like he was on the Russians team or whoever could afford him.”

  We didn’t hang around for the rest of the conversation but got out of there.

  It was a late quiet dinner that night and I turned in early with a million thoughts going through my mind.

  The number one thought was, there is a target on my back.

  Chapter 29

  The next morning after a good night’s sleep, the sun was out and the world looked better. My morning physical exercise helped clear my mind. I think I may have set a pull up record, but I lost count.

  I ended up spending more time than usual and almost missed breakfast. Even then I had to show up before showering. I think Mary spoke for the family when she said, “Pee Eww!”

  I was allowed to eat but promised to head to the shower immediately after eating.

  Actually it was a relief to get some normal grief rather than someone trying to kill me.

  Mum, Dad, and I met in the library after I cleaned up.

  “Have you learned anything about yesterday?”

  “No, Rick it is yet early days in the investigation. It will take a while. There will be an interrogation of the prisoners. The guy you knocked out is a low level KGB agent so he won’t be able to tell us much.”

  “The FBI agent was real and a turncoat for money. He will know more on his control. What we don’t know is it the department that his control is working for that wanted this hit or some other group within the KGB. It could even be the GRU trying to cause trouble for the KGB.”

  “I have read about the Russian Military Intelligence group but didn’t know they would try to sabotage the KGB.”

  “There is no love lost between the two groups, they are like the FBI and CIA but unlike ours they will try to physically harm each other. Thankfully the American groups haven’t descended to that level.”

  “At least MI5 and MI6 aren’t like either of them.”

  She managed to say that with a straight face.

  “Well until then I will try to keep myself out of trouble.”

  “Just be careful of your surroundings and any new contacts.”

  “I will, in the meantime I think I will go play some golf today. All those spies that are following me need a day of relaxation.”

  “That’s the spirit Rick watch out for your fellow man.”

  “Yeah right, anyway I will be home in time for dinner.”

  Leaving the house I made certain the gate guards knew where I was heading. They told me they heard we had some excitement yesterday. I confirmed it without going into the details.

  I noticed the gun racks on the wall behind the front desk which were normally empty had shotguns and rifles in them now.

  I felt safer at the country club than most places. I kidded about spies following me around. Any strangers on the course would stick out like a sore thumb.

  John Jacobs was my caddy for today. I had not called ahead but he was available. My agreement with him was that if I called one day ahead he would be my caddy. If I didn’t call then he could get in the queue for the day. He would keep any tips made that way. It was accounted for in the deal. He was making out pretty good the last two weeks.

  Today he was mine. We agreed that I would play the course for score today to see how much the practice and scoping out the course helped.

  It helped a lot. I came in three under par. Not a course record but it would have me in strong contention. Shaving two more strokes would give me an almost certain lock on being in the US Open.

  When we made the turn at the ninth we grabbed a bite to eat. Three different women told me their daughters were going to bid on me Friday night. If they looked like their mothers I couldn’t lose.

  More importantly I now didn’t have to worry about my nightmare. No bids.

  I saw Mr. Johnathon Whitestone III after the eighteenth but I made a point of ducking out of his line of sight. I wanted nothing to do with that man.

  On the way home I happened to look over at an automobile dealership and saw the perfect car. Not for me, for Mum. Dad had told me he was trying to find her a surprise present.

  The small dealership had in its display window a sports car that looked perfect. It looked so good I pulled into their parking lot and went inside. Of course a sales
man was with me immediately.

  He was polite in his approach so I wasn’t put off. I asked about the car. He proceeded to wax eloquent on the 1959 Morgan Plus4. It was a two door Roadster with a four cylinder 1991 cc/90 hp 2x1 bbl SU. This one was painted British racing green.

  Mum would love it. It would remind her of the little sports cars she loved in the 30’s and 40’s. Yet it would have a more modern power train.

  I thought it was neat that the body was framed ash wood. There wasn’t much weather protection but that wasn’t a concern here in California.

  I called Dad from the dealership. His reaction was, “Yes!”

  As a matter of fact he told me to wait right there he was on his way. When Dad burst through the door with a smile on his face I knew the salesman’s day was made. He had Dad over a barrel and would get full asking price.

  The car was factory new so after a test drive Dad told the salesman to write the deal up. Dad hadn’t even asked the price. I watched carefully as the details were taken from the window sticker. The guy could have added ten thousand dollars and Dad wouldn’t have noticed. He was buying his girl a car.

  He arranged for the car to be delivered to the house tomorrow morning. They showed us something I had never seen or heard of before. They had a giant ribbon which would be on top of the car.

  The car would be trucked to Jackson House and then the bow would be placed on top. They tried to haul it once with the bow already on and had to chase it down the freeway. That must have been a sight.

  I asked but we didn’t get to keep the ribbon, we were only renting it. That was a shame I had already thought of several uses.

  Dad was all smiles at dinner but kept his mouth shut.

  Denny was the one with news today. He had entered several of his pictures in a photo contest held at a local gallery. Mum worked with the gallery on charity events so knew about and encouraged him to submit his work. It was accepted.

  Denny’s pictures were really considered good and he won the grand prize blue ribbon.

  Besides the ribbon he was to do a small photo shoot down on the beach tomorrow morning for some group. I figured it was some sort of a team outing. We were all excited for him and wished him well on his shoot.

  After dinner Mum asked Dad and me to join her in the library. She updated us on the incident from the other day.

  “The American government, namely the State Department does not want to make an issue of this so they have already exchanged the live Russian and returned the bodies. The FBI guy is going to secret court and will probably never see the light of day again. So this is all over as far as they are concerned.”

  “The Russians are going to get away with this?”

  “The American’s feel that the British, Chinese, and the Russians are playing games on their turf and don’t feel any responsibility for what anyone of us does.”

  “So again the Russians are going to get away with this?”

  “Yes with the Americans.”

  “Does that mean they aren’t going to get away with it with the British?”

  “Her Majesty’s government would never try to undertake an operation of that serious of a magnitude on American soil.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “You don’t have to, you will have no involvement.”

  “Then who will?”

  “Rick, you don’t need to know, but you need to listen better. I said Her Majesty’s government would take no action on American soil, I didn’t say, no action.”

  “Oh, I will watch the papers.”

  I should mention here that I never saw anything in the papers but several weeks later Mum mentioned that a message had been sent.

  Denny was all hyped up at breakfast. His photo shoot on the beach was to start at 9:00 am so he and Mum had to take off. He had already loaded his equipment in our surfing Woodie. It wouldn’t fit in any of the cars. I hadn’t realized that he owned so much stuff.

  When Mum went out to drive the Woodie there was the brand new Morgan with a bow on top waiting for her. She jumped around like a little kid hugging and kissing Dad. Way to go Dad.

  One of the security people was recruited to drive the Woodie while Mum followed in her new car. I bet it wouldn’t take her long to pass them and fly down the road. Hope she doesn’t meet my friends in CHIPS.

  I didn’t have anything to do for the day other than stop by my office for a business review. I asked if it would be okay if I stopped by later to see how the shoot was going. Mum said I could but I had to hang back out of the way. I was a well enough known actor that it could disrupt Denny’s big day.

  Dad asked to speak to me before I left for the office.

  Chapter 30

  “Rick, your business is your business and it seems to be under control. Mine is getting to be more demanding all the time so I can’t really afford to take the time out to attend these meetings. Mum and I have discussed it and we think it is time for you to become emancipated. “

  “What does that entail?”

  “You legally become an adult. You have to abide by the age related laws like drinking and driving but you will be able to sign legal documents.”

  “Do you really think I’m ready?”

  “We wouldn’t be suggesting it if we didn’t.”

  “Okay what do we have to do?”

  At that Dad brought out a stack of papers for me to sign. He asked Mrs. Hernandez to notarize my signature. It was really handy to have an in-house Public Notary.

  “These will have to be approved by a Judge after he interviews you. The interview is to make certain there is no coercion going on and that you appear to be mentally sound.”

  “Ouch, appear to be mentally sound?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Now that I have signed these when will I see this Judge?”

  “I will submit them to the Judges office and the Clerk will schedule an appointment. Ike tells me it will be expedited, so probably sometime next week.”

  “Why is the President involved?”

  “Ike is the one who really started this, he called very concerned about the Russians being after you. He wants you to be armed and able to carry legally.”

  “Even if I am legally an adult how can I do that in California?”

  “US Marshals can carry anywhere.”

  “What!”

  “Ike is using an old regulation in the Marshalls office. It goes back to the old west. A Marshall could deputize any adult to form a posse. It didn’t stipulate an age.”

  “He as President is appointing you as a full US Marshall as a one man posse.”

  “Who am I supposed to be tracking down?”

  “Judge Crater.”

  “He’s been missing before I was born!”

  “Around 1930 if I remember right.”

  “What am I supposed to do about it?”

  “Submit an updated report if you come across any new evidence.”

  “That’s not likely.”

  “We know, it is just an excuse for the legal record. Ike’s people came up with it as it can be a continuing appointment after he leaves office next year, it’s setup in a way that most future administrations will never notice it and then it would take an executive order of the president to cancel it.”

  “Those things get such scrutiny that it cause more trouble than its worth. As soon as you’re twenty-one it is all moot and by the system. By the way you will not be paid. Your salary will go to the Marshall’s orphans and widows fund.”

  “That seems fair, but Dad, I don’t know much about firearms. Only the little hunting with shotguns we did in Ohio and shooting I did with Elvis and John Wayne.”

  “You will be learning starting next week.”

  “Now you better get to your office.”

  I walked out of the house my mind reeling from all the new information. Now I was to be an adult and a US Marshall, talk about changes.”

  I arrived at my office and couldn’t remember driving t
here.

  Jim Williamson was ready and waiting. I told him that Dad wouldn’t be attending in the future and about my pending emancipation. I didn’t mention about becoming a US Marshall that seemed so unreal.

  The business was doing fine. The company was growing faster than expected and earnings were far beyond expectations. It only took fifteen minutes to go over everything and there were no major corporate decisions to be made.

  I thought I got off easy, that is until Jim led me from his office to the conference room. There was a huge stack of cards for me to sign. They were for birthdays, anniversaries, birth announcements, weddings, condolences, and graduations to name most of the events. One was congratulations on adopting a child by a worker in Pittsburg.

  I signed until my fingers were cramping. I took a break and talked to the ladies in the office. Emily’s aunt was there and I made a point of talking nicely to her but didn’t inquire about Emily. Her aunt didn’t bring her up either.

  I finished signing and headed to the beach hoping that Denny’s photo shoot was still going on.

  The trip to the beach wasn’t that bad as the morning rush hour was over. The beach was in Santa Monica. They wanted the Ferris wheel in the background on some of the shots.

  I hadn’t really thought about who the subject of the shoot would be. Some sort of local team or social group probably. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I pulled up and saw several semi-trucks which had brought equipment for sets. Photography sets.

  A sign on the side of the semi-trucks said, Miss California Teen Pageant.

  My little brother had scored a beauty pageant!

  I did as Mum requested and hung way back. There were plenty of spectators standing behind the roped off area so I blended in with the crowd.

  I was proud of Denny as he worked. He was a natural at putting the girls in poses that showed their best attributes, and man there were some attributes! He also joked and laughed with them keeping them at ease during the process.

  I watched until their lunch break. Inside the roped off area there were portable picnic tables set up and various people cooking on grills. I took a chance and moved to the entrance to the area. Denny saw me and waved me over.