The weather was calm and
clear for late May on the southern Oregon coast. The stars were out
and the promise of a nice day made Brad feel the urge for a beach
run. Turning off on his dirt road he perked up at the thought of
seeing his wife and dogs made him a little homesick. The cable was
down and both dogs were sitting on the edge of the yard when they
pulled into the gravel parking area. When they saw their master
both dogs went a little crazy with happiness seeing him. Brad
dropped to his knees and hugged the both of them saying how much he
missed them and the promise of a run on the beach when the sun
rose. Sujin was standing just outside the door under a light making
her look so small and fragile. He wanted to run and hug her too,
but she would be totally embarrassed in front of Mike for that
display of affection. Walking in Brad kissed the top of her head
and held her hand as they walked into the living room.
Mike went downstairs where
he bunked with Billy. Brad and Sujin with Sandy followed suit.
There will be time enough tomorrow to discuss the past and the
future.
Chapter 15
Daylight on the Oregon
coast in late May is around six am. The whole team excluding Billy
was dressed for a run on the beach. Brad greeted them all warmly
and Billy were left at home alone. Even Sujin
with her
morning sickness gone was
dressed and ready for an early morning run on the beach. Her sister
was coming later and a picnic was planned for later in the
afternoon. Julie and her two kids were coming along with Earie’s
husband who reluctantly agreed to come. He told his wife that he
always felt like an outsider, but would put on a happy face for her
today.
The air was cool and only a
slight breeze was still blowing like the night before. Brad knew by
afternoon the northwest wind would turn the beach cold for
beachcombers. They would need a big fire in Devils Kitchen this
afternoon he thought. The run was invigorating and just what the
doctor ordered for his body and mind. They all jogged up the beach
to the jetty and back again. The tide was out and very low. The
smell of muscles and star fish was strong with the pungent smell of
exposed seaweed. Seagulls were having a feast in small pools left
by the receding tide leaving tiny fish and other morsels of food
for the birds. Rocky was in heaven running alongside his master.
Sandy was very pregnant and due to have her litter soon. Brad
stopped in front of
F
ish
R
ock
and led the team around the side and up to the top that overlooked
the small cove of seawater moving back and forth in the low tide.
He stared at the water and the team wondered what he was doing and
then Sujin told them when he felt like he was too old Brad would
climb the rock wall inviting the feel of death if he didn’t succeed
in meeting the challenge. The team peeked over the edge and thought
only a crazy man would try to climb the sheer rock wall without a
safety rope or pitons rock climbers used.
They were starting to cool
down from the run when Brad told them the last one to the Round
House was a rotten egg and they all scrabbled down and off the sea
stack and ran to the house. Agent Jones was neck and neck with Mike
as Brad took off fast and then backed off to run with Sujin and
Wendy. Brad found out later that Mike and agent Jones were pretty
much even going up the trail fighting for the lead on the narrow
sandy trail. When Brad and the girls arrived only moments later
they found the two guys rolling on the ground laughing their heads
off like little kids in a sandbox.
After a light breakfast of
scrambled eggs and rice, the team retired to the basement to listen
to Brad’s trip to Washington and the latest word about John. The
team had no word as to his whereabouts and Nancy had called to say
she would be there is a few days’ time. Earie and the old Korean
lady came just after breakfast carrying sacks of whatever for the
afternoon picnic.
Sandy was laying at Brad’s
feet with her head on his socks while he told the team about his
short trip to DC. He told them the truth about not knowing what the
future was for the team. Steve would be here in a day or two and
from his early morning phone call to Seattle Nancy found out John
spent the day looking at flowers and was holed up in his hotel
room. She told him that John would have to be very slick to get
past the four agents watching his door every minute of the time.
Both rooms on either side of him were locked tight and not
available for lodging.
Brad said, “Quite frankly,
I’m not sure of our next move. Arden is still a go and will
continue so until we hear different. Billy I want every border
crossing from Canada to the US on our China board. I feel our man
will head east and lose his tail in a big city like Toronto or
Montréal. Check with anyone and everyone about the past ways people
used to sneak across the border or where it appears the border
guards are lax. Anyway that ought to keep you busy and away from
your nasty habit,” he joked to him. Billy jumped up and left
climbing the stairs for a least one or two cigarettes before taking
on the new search.
Brad told the rest of the
team to relax and put to paper different case scenarios on what our
John might be up to next. Brad told Mike to do the same while he
went in and called his father. After that he and Mike would sit
down and make a plan for where if not Arden our serial killer might
strike next. Oregon was a good bet and that were in their backyard
so to speak. When they discussed Oregon little did they know how
close they were to the truth? However, as it turned out it was many
months before John the Senior Killer raised his ugly and twisted
self once again made his presence known to leave his
mark.
Steve and Nancy arrived at
the same time, she by commercial jet and Steve by his borrowed NASA
jet. It was planned that way and both rode down in Steve’s car
talking about where John might go next. To Nancy Steve seemed a
little preoccupied and distant. She was beginning to like him and
wondered if he was married or single. She wasn’t sexually attracted
to him, quite the contrary as she was very happy with her
relationship with her lover. She wished this case would come to an
end so she could get back to Washington and their cozy town house.
However, she liked the weather in the Pacific Northwest and in
particular the Oregon coast. Even at the expense of a difference in
personalities with Brad, she felt comfortable in his house. She
looked forward to the next day or two as they turned down the
familiar road to his house.
The team welcomed both with
warmth and a friendly attitude. Some of that friendly attitude was
due to the afternoon picnic. The dogs welcomed both by wagging
their tails and Sandy rubbed Nancy’s legs. Sandy was very pregnant
and Nancy noticed. Steve and Brad disappeared for a walk on the
beach once Steve changed his shoes.
Silently they strolled up
the beach watching the waves climb the beach as the tide was coming
in. Soon it would be high and the walking harder in the soft sand
next to the dunes. The wind was blowing fairly strong as they found
a place to sit behind a giant old tree that had washed ashore a
long time ago during a monster storm to place it so high on the
beach.
Brad sat on a piece of
driftwood across from his friend who too found a place to sit. Brad
the always patient one, Steve thought as he tried to find the words
to tell Brad that they would leave the case to the FBI and Nancy
for a while. The only change might be if John struck again soon.
Steve said, looking at his friend who had a twinkle in his eye
knowing pretty much what he was going to be told by his friend,
“Yes. Your team is put on the back burner for the time being. Nancy
will take care of it for a while. If our John strikes again soon
then you and your team are back on the front line. Meanwhile we
have another little job that needs your attention. This involves
your whole team which includes Wendy and agent Jones if you like.
They have proved invaluable recently and if you want to add them,
then consider the transfer completes, if they so desire to transfer
agencies. Their retirement and such things will remain the same.
Let me know before I leave what their answer is. Now here is a
major problem that needs your immediate attention. You might think
this is a way to get you off the case of our serial killer, but
that is not true at all. This comes from the president who listened
to your recording and likes the way you think and act.” Steve
buttoned the top of his Burberry against the cold afternoon wind
that seeped around and under the giant old white tree. Brad
meanwhile sat there looking and feeling a little sorry for his past
commander and friend. Brad looked hard at him to see how he was
holding up under the strain. To Brad he looked about the same as
years gone by, but maybe a little slower in his movements is all.
Brad thought he needed more exercise and hoped the next few days
they could spend some time combing the beach. We’ll go up to Agate
Beach and look for agates, Brad thought.
Steve continued his
dialogue, “The president has a special assignment that needs your
expertise. As you are well aware of the problems facing the free
world with the off center leader of North Korea is becoming a real
problem. The president tells me we need better intelligence from
that region. There are rumors that they are about to test more
missiles and there is word coming down from the North that a
nuclear underground test is planned in the near future. We are
applying all the pressure we can try to stop a renegade nation from
actually going nuclear. However, it might just be another is a long
line of games the North is playing to feed its army for free. China
is not happy about them going nuclear and will allow you and any of
your team in China without hindrance. A lot of North Koreas are
living in exile along the border and we need first hand
intelligence on what is truth or fiction. The president knows Sujin
is pregnant and a good cover for you is that her parents live in
Seoul and the only one who will stand out is agent Jones. You think
about it and let me know what you think. Best guess it is a two
month job. After that we will know all we will probably will by
then.” His look gave Brad an opportunity to ask
questions.
Brad shook his head and
said, “Not at the moment Steve, and I too think the free world is
in trouble with that devil in North Korea who is called the ‘Dear
one.” Let me run this by Sujin and tonight after our picnic we will
discuss it around the table with the team.” At that they walked for
a while talking politics and the elusive serial killer still at
large. After Anacortes it was reported the killer went to Canada
and all hoped, not that they didn’t care for the people of Canada,
but we're glad he was out of the States.
Making their way back up the
narrow sand trail to the house, at the top, Steve laid his hand on
Brad’s arm and stopped him saying, “You flat out impressed the boss
man and the president wants to nominate you to head up the FBI!”
Brad laughed and said he wouldn’t have that job for all the tea in
China! Both went into the house laughing making the three women
busy fixing lunch for the picnic, stare at them like they found
something funny about a picnic lunch?
Steve and Brad sat at the
kitchen table while the girls worked in the kitchen. They were
talking about a trip they made to Russian a couple years ago when a
terrorist went to ground after selling some arms and explosives to
a rebel group aligning itself with factions of the Taliban. Brad
went undercover and after three months posing as an arms dealer,
nailed the guy and his right hand man in a dark warehouse area in
the slums of Moscow. About at the end of the story, Billy came up
for his usual fix of nicotine. Brad called him over and told him to
get all the intelligence on North Korea that was available and
unavailable. Billy never batted an eye and went out with Rocky on
his heels.
About two o’clock Earie’s
husbands showed up making the security go off. Earie hurried to the
door to let him across the yard and Brad greeted him with a warm
handshake and told him to sit down and have a cup of coffee while
they waited for the go signal to head to the beach. The other
members of the team came up and all were introduced around and Lane
Brown greeted all with a little awe and respect. After the intros
down the beach they went with blankets and ice chests full of
drinks of all kinds. Sandy stayed home and came to attention when
they all left except the old Korean woman who stayed and cleaned
the kitchen.
Walking down to the beach
and tucking themselves out of the wind, the team made a nice fire
out of gathered drift wood. Brad thought it good the team could
relax after a stressful couple of months. He vowed to give them a
few days of relaxation while he worked out a plan for going to
South Korea and then over to China along the border with North
Korea.
Nancy, Brad noticed was
into the swing of things much different than last time when she
showed up with her tail between her legs. Now she was helping build
the fire and spreading blankets around to sit on. Agent Jones and
Wendy went up the creek to find some sticks to roast some
marshmallows on. Billy was smoking more than the fire was as he sat
Indian style with Mike and Julie’s two boys talking computer games
and the internet. Brad thought Billy wasn’t much more than a kid
himself as he watched him with the young boys. The tide was in and
starting to turn back out. It was early that morning Brad had taken
a crab pot and with a chicken from the freezer dropped it off the
side of Fish Rock. In a couple of hours the tide would be low
enough for him to fetch the crab pot and see what occupied the jail
inside. He’d carried down a big pot and all wondered what he was
going to do with a big pot when it was just a picnic. Brad and
Sujin inwardly smiled at the idea of live crab probably never seen
by agent Jones, Wendy or Nancy.