Chapter 4: Confusion at Headquarters
1:43 p.m. Jonathan had made it back to Headquarters and was once again sitting across from his father. Clayboy's features were lit up as he laughed about how Henry Bloggart was done as Head of Nixton's. Jonathan was tired. He'd been accosted by the very figure of his father's attention. Bloggart had barked at him in the Hall of Busts and nearly started a duel when Jonathan got back from Denver. Bloggart was pissed that Jonathan had not checked out the leak in Seattle. Apparently the meeting with Charles Bork had gone terribly. Bork had been ready for them, something that had never happened with a new president before. They'd all just gotten out of a secret meeting on Ground Floor when Bloggart saw Jonathan and blew a gasket. All of the Family Heads had to hold Bloggart back as he tried to pin the mess on Jonathan. As if an investigation in Seattle that morning would have done anything.
"Yes son soon Bloggart will be out. He's lost it clearly. It's not that our family and others haven't warned him. He's been making things harder and harder to contain. He had us all chasing ghosts and now they've hit us where it hurts.
"This Bork is a nut job too. We should have never let him win but it's what Bloggart and Slicking wanted. Next thing you know Newton and Holzinger go right along with it. I can't believe Bork sat there and told us that he was in charge now. He told us to hand all of our power over to the government. Well it'll be war before then. Oh he'll try to regulate our businesses, but we have the contacts. He'll tumble before we ever come close.
"Now son I'm sorry about that confrontation with Bloggart. That was just bad timing. As it turns out the Seattle leak was real and it was huge. We're keeping it quiet around the organization but it's assumed that's where Bork got his information. It's during these times that we need to keep a cool head with our underlings. Act as if nothing's happened and move about business. Bork's given us a month to meet his demands. Before the months up there's much to do.
"I need you to keep an eye on the incident you were involved in this morning. The authorities are bound to be onto us soon, what with Bork setting up for his takeover. What a snake! If he weren't so prepared we would just eliminate him, like we did with Harley McCormick back in Grandfather's time. Son, I'd also like your team to take out Binks, he's as useless as ever and we can't waste any more resources on him.
"Yes sir, it's done. Sir, if I may did you get briefed on the details of this morning's mission?"
"This morning? Oh yes, yes I was going to get to that… I'm sorry to here about Templeton. We have someone with his parents now. We expect Manticore to make a ransom offer tonight. As for finding young Alex I have Team 3 tracking him down. Son, what did Templeton know about our organization?"
"All he knew was that you and me worked for the government. He knew nothing about Nixton's nor did he know any details of the missions I brought him on. I should have never included him!"
"Yes, well, as it stands he's lucky that his parents are rich. Had they not been I'm afraid our friends at Manticore would not be too hospitable."
"But, sir they'll know who he is won't they… They wouldn't just torture him for what he knows and… and…"
"Son, I'm sure all will be fine. Focus on what's ahead. Kill Binks tomorrow. Then I want you to meet with the Templeton's. Assure them that the situation is being taken care of. Send someone out to Seattle to investigate that leak further; I want our own family to clean up this mess. Tomorrow our family will move for the end of Bloggart's reign over Nixton's. It's time for Peter Farclot and his allies."
It was here that Clayboy gazed out the window a smile painted on his face, apparently lost in some fantasy. Jonathan just sat there. He did not care for the politics behind Nixton's at the moment. He wanted nothing more then to go home and collapse on his bed. Suddenly Clayboy's eyes snapped back into focus as some thought flitted across his face.
"Son, why did you kill Jeffery Malone? There wasn't a need for that. You should have kept him alive. After all he holds the secrets to his own house. It will take some time to crack into the information stores there. Besides now that you've killed him the authorities will seize the place."
"They would anyway after they realized who owned the warehouse my team blew up. I interrogated him father. He was a hoax. He knew nothing of importance. He was useless."
Jonathan cringed only the slightest as his father stared into his eyes with a deadpan glare.
"Hmm. You never know son, and pointless killing is not honorable. I suspect you let your emotions get the better of you. Do not let this happen again. It is of utmost importance that we take our job seriously. Efficiency has been curbed by your ruthlessness. It is now even more important that you infiltrate the federal investigation of your crimes and get the information we need. Jeffery Malone was no two-bit performer; he was one of the best informers in his heyday. Who knows what information is in his stores.
"Now get to work. We will discuss Binks' assassination and the visit to the Templeton's tomorrow. You are dismissed."
Jonathan stood and left. He felt all mixed up inside. He was enraged by his father's insistence on lecturing him. He also felt guilty about Malone's murder. His father was right, it had been wrong. Yet he'd gotten some strange satisfaction from it. Jonathan had killed before, but always in defense or with purpose. He'd crossed a boundary today. It opened up a hunger for more. He'd been warned of this and he knew that he'd never be satisfied if he let his emotions get the better of him. Next time he'd have to keep his anger in check.
Jonathan had reached his office. Chrissie was sitting and waiting for him, Michael was standing at the window looking out. Jonathan coughed, and they both looked about. "Welcome back to headquarters Chrissie. I assume your day has been uneventful thus far."
"Yes sir. Sen. Binks is a lame duck. I heard your morning was far more intriguing."
"You heard right. Michael what's your report on the leak?"
"As far as I can tell it was nothing major. My contacts within the rest of the Circle seem to know little to nothing about it."
"Good, Chrissie I assume you've filed your field report for the day. I have our team on several tasks as I'm sure Tom informed you. Go to your office and coordinate them. I want a report at the end of the day."
"Yes sir."
Chrissie left shutting the door behind her. She suspected that Michael and Jonathan were going to talk about some heavier stuff. Jonathan usually let her hang around his office, as he liked to coordinate the team himself.
"Michael what have you really heard?"
"There are some crazy rumors going around the Circle. First of all the leak's huge! Some people say there was an altercation at the meeting with the president this morning. Others say that there's a spy among the higher ranks. Still others claim that the circle's about to crumble. Whatever the case, there's a mass amount of confusion."
"You must have some pretty good contacts. As you know I can't confirm or deny any of the rumors but I need you to go to Seattle within the next hour. An investigation needs to be made. Take as long as you need. I want to know how this leak occurred. Try to keep your investigation on Level 1 secrecy."
"I will Johnny. When do you need results?"
"Check in with me regularly and Mike this is real important. I know you don't want your family life interfered with but your gonna have to tell Emma Lee that your busy."
"She'll hate hearing it, especially on your orders. Your not the most popular person with the Curdek family right now."
"I know, I know. How is Emma Lee coming along?"
"She's pretty moody but the pregnancy's going well. Jonathan what's this about Alex?"
"He's been kidnapped. I should've never brought him…I…I" Johnny was close to tears but he'd never cry in front of Michael.
"Don't blame yourself. You know Alex would've killed you if he heard you were involved in something like that without him. He's a tough cat he'll survive."
"Mike I told dad that he didn't know much. I don't know if he did but he had to suspect something. He was there for all those missions. He had to have pieced some of it together."
"Whatever he knew, it wasn't concrete. He knew what you were involved in something; nearly your entire family was involved in something. Manticore has to know that already. Besides once they realize he thinks we're part of the government they'll give up on him."
Jonathan contemplated this. Michael was right, though Alex had to have figured something out, he could not have possibly known anything of importance. Jonathan figured that's what his father was banking on.
"I suppose. You'd better get going. I'll see you later."
"Later Johnny. Take care of yourself. Remember your mother's coming over tonight for dinner."
"Thanks Mikey, good luck."
As Michael left, Jonathan thought about canceling his meeting with his mother. However, if he did this she would become concerned and then he'd never get rid of her.
"Barney come here!" Crack! Barney appeared bowing.
"How do you do, master?"
"Swell. Listen I need you to prepare a dinner for my mother and I at my flat tonight."
"Yes sir, anything else?"
"I lost a friend today Barney. I slipped up. I need to find him. Can you help?"
"Sir with all due respect, I am tied to your father's wishes as well. He wishes me to tend to his household. I can not look for your friend." Barney immediately started beating his head on the floor.
"Alright Barney, alright. Please stop. I wasn't thinking when I asked you. Now go prepare dinner. She arrives at 4:30."
"Yes sir and sir if you may, please do take a few minutes for yourself. You look awful."
Barney shyly smiled and then began to beat himself even as he left. A small smile crept across Jonathan's features. Barney always knew what he needed.
For the rest of the afternoon Jonathan worked on paperwotk. There was quite a load. Various small jobs poured through his office constantly as the Clemmings had many responsibilities in keeping Nixton's Secret Circle in power. Manticore sometimes seemed the least of there problems. Nixton's had a stake in nearly every country in the greater America. The wizarding governments of these countries had to be kept in line. Speed is power. Then there were the countries abroad. They were constantly keeping an eye on them for information about this or that. Knowledge is power. The families were rich and therefore powerful in the known world. Money is power. They had to keep up their respectable appearance through their businesses and personal lives. Then there was the constant eye on the Muggle governments and not to mention other families. No one could be trusted after all.
Of course Manticore had to be there. Manticore's sole purpose was to destroy Nixton's.
Jonathan buzzed through the paperwork not really paying attention. He kept thinking of his school days and earlier youth when nothing had bothered him. There was only he, his family, his friends, and Barney of course.
A knock came on the door. It was Chrissie she had the end of day report. 3:45 p.m. Already!
"Well sir, Charlie and Greg are reporting that they have found very little evidence of sympathy for Manticore and its causes among the senate. Sen. Binks' party is not in power and it is apparent that even that party was cautious when it came to Binks. There seems to be much distancing from him especially in the last few months. It appears they knew he was on the way out. There is a good friend of Binks' among the ranks however, that would Hunter Pentolli. He is a backwater senator who holds little sway in congress and it appears he has no knowledge of Binks' involvement with Manticore.
"Of course, few in the Senate believe that Manticore even exists despite your mother's insistence on it. They believe the criminal underworld cannot be united after the destruction of Chimera and the defeat of You-Know-Who in Europe. Within the other party there seems to be no likely candidate for suspicion, though Greg seemed insistent on reminding you of your own brother-in-law's radical push within the party to investigate corruption in government."
"Have Greg and Charlie prepare for more extensive research. I want a comprehensive report filed by next week with each senator's likelihood of betrayal listed. Also make sure details about each politician in the Senate are collected. In fact, have them investigate any holdovers from President Wallander's cabinet. They're sure to be suspicious. What did Jack uncover?"
"The authorities immediately rushed to the warehouse after it's explosion. They've explained it as an unfortunate gas explosion to the Muggles and they reported no deaths to them. However, the bodies of five men were found in the wreckage. The owner of the warehouse's body was found in a wooded area in plantation Texas. That confirmed the government's suspicion of foul play. A seasoned auror and a fresh recruit have been put at the head of the investigation. Malone's house has been seized and family members of the dead have been notified. Each of their residences will likely be searched."
"Who are the aurors?"
"Sergio Clemente and Jessica Gertrude."
"Alright! That's the ticket, I know Jessica from awhile back. That's how I'll infiltrate the investigation. Tell Jack and Tom to prepare for an assassination tomorrow. It will be made to look like suicide and I'll take the lead. Do you have anything else of note?"
"It's Greg's night to watch Binks' residence. Other then that I have nothing."
"Good finish up and take your leave. I'm on my way out as well."
As Jonathan faced the setting sun in the basement of Headquarters he thought of Jessica Gertrude. What luck! /
