Don't own Chuck
Sarah noticed a discrepancy in all their ledgers. There were weapons and munition that were signed out as transferred but there was no indication where they were transferred to. She pointed this out to Chuck who flashed. One of the lots transferred to this mysterious fifth depot was a case of M82A1s the type Verbanski was trying to purchase from Estevan. Gertrude brought all the staff sergeants in and Chuck had them sit down.
"I'm not going to mess around with you guys anymore my colleague found a discrepancy in your books and on the basis of your answers we go from there."
"I don't understand what you mean by discrepancies but my books are accurate and up to date," said one of the quartermasters and the others agreed. "How do we know you guys didn't fabricate this whole thing?"
"You really don't have any guarantees but if we had we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. You'd all have hoods over your heads and be on your way to a dark site. So I guess there's your guarantee."
"Right well this is what I want to know," said Sarah. Chuck had dropped the bomb now she wanted to take advantage of the momentum to keep them off balance. "You each have these listings. Weapons and munitions transfers in your logs but there's no destination locator entered in. It's like they were transferred to no one. Where did all these weapons go to? They didn't just up and vanish."
"See I was right you guys you lost them now you're trying to cover your butts and blame us," said the one staff sergeant. The other three just looked at them in dismay.
"What are you talking about covering our butts and that we lost them? Are you saying the weapons were transferred to the agency?"
"Shush," said the one. "This might be over his paygrade. Remember we were told not to say anything about them."
"You weren't supposed to say anything about whom. Listen," said Chuck. "My wife and I have the highest security clearance on this post, above your General's and we're here asking so we've got a need to know. I swear if someone doesn't start talking soon that plane ride just got turned on again."
"Okay as long as we're not going to get in trouble. This is the way it goes we get orders to transfer weapons from the COS's office then you guys show up with vehicles to pick up the cargo. I don't know about the rest but I kept the transfer orders in my safe so if anyone came asking like you I could prove the transfers were authorized."
"I see," said Sarah. "Any why did you assume it was for the company? Is that what's in the transfer order?"
"No, the guys that pick up the goods told us that on the side and to keep it under our hats. The transfer documents are all labelled 'Top Secret'. As a matter of fact there's a transfer going down it a little while. A second shipment of M82A1s was requested but I told them they had to wait until the C-5 got here with the new ordinance."
"They're looking to replace the crate that they lost with you Gertrude. Does any one of you know where this depot is?" But they all shook their heads no.
"You're coming with me the rest of you are dismissed but you're under orders not to repeat any of this to anyone. Sarah, I'm going with the Staff Sergeant to put a tracker inside that crate. You go brief the General then take him with you and confront the Colonel. I should be back by then but if he's mixed in this he might try to run. Be careful and keep your eyes open that goes for both of you. I'm putting in my earbud so we should be able to communicate."
Sarah agreed and took Gertrude with her to see the General. Verbanski had already met him so he knew her. It would be easier for her to get them both in without too many questions being asked.
"We're here to see the General," said Gertrude going through the General's aide. "We don't have an appointment but it's about the audit and our findings. He wanted to be notified if we found something and we did."
"Just one moment," said the aide. He went straight into the General and came right back out to usher them in. Gertrude introduced Sarah who spread out the ledgers over the General's desk and showed him the entries then told him what they discovered.
"I can't believe Jim's involved in this," said the General. "I've known him for almost as long as he's been in the Army. Our families know each other and our kids go to the same school back in the real world."
"Then let's go ask him," said Sarah. "Just the three of us bring your aide along if you want. We'll keep this low key no one else needs to know but we need to do something."
"You're right if I'm going to accuse a friend of being a traitor I want to look him in the face. Let's go," said the General as he led everyone to the COS office across the hall.
"Chuck, where are you? We're going over to face the Colonel. I briefed the General and he wants to do it face to face. Chuck, can you read me?"
Out on the tarmac...
Chuck was having his own problems he got there in time to watch men load the case inside a van then start to drive away. He flashed on them small time gun runners the big fish had to be back at the depot.
"I'm going need to borrow this," said Chuck in Pashto to an Afghani man on the back of a motor bike. He handed the man a years' worth of cash so the man threw in the helmet. Sarah called him as he was leaving the base following the van through city traffic to tell him she and the rest were going in to see the Colonel.
"I'm sorry I'm having trouble hearing you over noise. Be careful when you go in if the Colonel feels his back's to the wall he might... wait, wait a minute it's not the Colonel. Describe the secretary's desk to me?" As Sarah started to check, a bus got behind Chuck and honked its horn as he tried to pass.
"You're out in town aren't you," said Sarah. "What are you thinking? It's dangerous for you out there too."
"The dealers showed up early and I'm following them you can use my comms signal to track me. Now what does her desk look like?"
"It looks like she likes cats. There are cats everywhere. She's got cat pictures and cats of every shape and size on her desk. You know those little statues. She's even got cat erasers."
"Martha," said Chuck. "Don't repeat it. Remember the secretary that went on the lamb from the JPL in Pasadena. I think she's sitting right in front of you be careful."
"I'll take this from here. You need to take your own advice and watch your back. I'll have Gertrude get together a team," said Sarah. "I need to run."
Sarah looked at Martha she looked back at her and they both knew she'd been made. Martha went for her desk drawer but Sarah was faster pulling her Smith and Wesson.
"Anything other than a paper clip come out of that desk draw and someone's going to have to call janitorial services," said Sarah. Just then the Colonel's door opened and the General stuck his head out.
"Agent, we're waiting for you," said the General not used to being told to wait. "What the hell is going on out here? Put that weapon down."
"I don't think so," said Sarah. "Martha you want to explain to everyone what's going on and like I said anything but paper clip come out of that desk then things get messy. Oh Chuck says to compliment you on the plastic surgery you almost had him fooled."
"Her name isn't Martha, it's Wendy and CID vetted her so I think you've got her confused with someone else," said the General as he started to come out.
"No don't get between us," yelled Sarah to make the General stop. "Gertrude, check her desk and make sure she doesn't have a weapon in there."
"It's because she's pregnant," said Martha. "It does that to women sometimes General. It makes them crazy." There was a loud bang as Martha tried to shoot through the desk at Sarah then pulled out a Walther PPK. But she was off, Sarah returned fire but she didn't miss, two rounds center mass. Martha fell backwards on the floor. There was little anyone could do. Gertrude confirmed she was dead.
"Chuck, Martha's gone. It's up to you now to find this arms depot," radioed Sarah. "Chuck come it please. Crap I need a radio signal tracked now."
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Casey sat down with his new family for breakfast. He looked apprehensive when Lizzie put a cup of Billy in front of him. Then the vegemite took a little getting used to. Lizzie noticed John's apprehension at eating the way he was picking at his food so she made some soft boiled eggs and put one in front of him.
"Okay soldiers and eggs I know what that is," said John. He took the top off his egg and started dunking. "This is about the best egg I can remember."
"But you don't remember anything," said Sammy looking perplexed at John.
"So that really does make this the best egg I can remember," said John. They all laughed. Lizzie gave John another egg and he didn't turn it down.
"I was thinking after this morning," said Lizzie. "Maybe Sammy and I ought to go visit my sister in Alice Springs for a while. Maybe long enough for things to cool down here."
"If you're talking about the weather that will never happen. If you're talking about the mining company well I think we've got more chances of a cold spell."
"How can you joke after what nearly happened," said Lizzie. "I warned you what I'd do if another 'accident' occurred when your friend Tom was killed."
"Oh Lizzie, you're probably blowing this out of proportion... I know who it was; it was one of those loud mouths from the waterhole. That's it you even said that it wouldn't end there and it didn't. You were right but I think they've learnt their lesson. John, after your done we'll turn the sheep out then we'll make a trip around the farm on the quad so you can get the lay of the land."
"Don't forget you were going to show me how to make a sling shot," said Sammy as he finished his breakfast.
"First your lessons," said Lizzie. "And I'd better not find any broken windows or we're going to have a problem and someone is going to have to stand up to eat. I don't care how old he is."
"I think on that we need to go," said Bill as he started to take Casey out to the sheep pens to let them out to graze."
"That's my job," protested Sammy wanting to get out of the house.
"Not today," said Bill as he and John started to leave the kitchen. "But you can round them up this evening from Uncle Willy. I'll take you to meet Uncle Willy. He's a nice bloke he lives in the abo village not too far away and helps me with things around the farm."
"I think they prefer native Australians," said his wife as she brought out a jug of ice water for the ride. Casey went over and took it from her. "You have to take whatever my husband says with a grain of salt. He isn't very politically correct."
"I could've said worse," said Bill with a big smile.
"And I could've thrown my shoe at you. Why don't you get John to help you with that stump you've been trying to uproot?"
"That might not be a bad project," said Bill as he pointed it out in the backyard. "It's what's left of boab tree that died here and I've been trying to get rid of it. I want to move our garden closer to the house but that thing would be in middle of it. I tried to pull it up with my tractor but it's just not big enough and there are too many roots."
"Well when I look at it a couple of solutions come to mind but I don't want to risk breaking any windows," said John as they got the quad out of the shed.
"Finally a man who knows how to listen," said Lizzie as she laugh walking back in the house. "Bill MacDonald, you could learn a few things from John on how to treat women."
"What are you talking about woman I listen when I want to? Just go on back in there and make sure you've got lunch ready when we come in. John hop on we'll meet up with Uncle Willy down by the billabong."
On the other side of town in the mining offices...
"How long are we going to screw around with this swagman? He's taking us out one at a time and we're not doing anything about it. I got three laid up with concussions not to mention the guys he took out when he first came into town."
"We lost Jake last night... well this morning. I guess you had them go out and drop a surprise in Bill's hen house," said Blanchard. "Perry called in saying Jake got poisoned by the snake and I couldn't have them going to the Doctor's."
"If we keep losing men like this soon it will be just you and me. I think I should just drive out there and shoot them all in the face."
"Yeah that would look good. So when that Deputy comes back to check up on his friend he finds them dead or missing either way the blame will come back on us and we can't afford for people to look too closely into our operation. It wouldn't be too healthy for you or me if that happens."
"So what do we do just let him keep chipping away at us. I think people back in the home office would pick up on that soon with the results being the same. Has anyone been able to find out anything in the Home Office about who this guy is? The way he handles himself he has to have a past."
"Nothing yet, but I'll call and have them put a rush on it. You're right this all would go a lot easier if he weren't around but maybe we're concentrating too much on him and Bill. We should be looking at easier prey like the Fergusons instead? Why don't we make a quick run out to their farm?"
An hour later Mrs. Ferguson's son came running in telling her that guy from the mining company was back with his friend. She told him to stay inside and she'd deal with them. The boy grabbed the shotgun then went up to the second floor where he could cover them.
"Mr. Blanchard," said Mr. Ferguson, "I thought you were going to give me more time to think this over and yet here you are already."
"I'm sorry but as they say time is money and I think you've had plenty of time or are you stalling hoping the offer will go up? I need an answer and I need one today."
"Well there's no need in putting this off. I talked your deal over with my sons and we all agreed... I'm sorry but we don't want to move from here. We'll do whatever we have to do but this is our home and we're not budging."
"I can appreciate your position but I personally think you're being foolish but I can't force your hand, now can I?" said Blanchard as he looked over at Carl. Carl sent a text message with one word 'go'.
Before they arrived at the Fergusons' they dropped off one of their men. He scurried out of the back of the Defender then made his way around the property to the Fergusons' barn. They calculated and correctly that everyone at the Fergusons' would be watching their mother and Blanchard talk out front which would leave the back vulnerable. They were right.
"Let's find us some fuel for our fire," said the man as he moved the dried hay around. "Yes this will do and to make sure," he said as he pulled out of a bag some vials of liquid. He poured them out on the hay.
The man was an arsonist, a firebug. He liked burning things and this was going to be fun for him. He just wished he could hang around to watch it burn but he knew that was impossible.
"Next he took out a box, a type of incendiary bomb," he placed it in the hay he'd soaked before then he went back to the door. Looking outside he made sure the coast was clear then he received the text message, 'go'.
"Good, good, it's a go," he said to himself as he flipped the toggle switch and the green light came on. The bomb was armed. He double checked the timer making sure they had enough time to get away before it went off. He stood there for a minute thinking about what was about to happen but he had to go.
"Everything's a go," the man texted back then he was out again slipping back to the rendezvous point.
Back out front Carl walked up to Blanchard and touched him on the shoulder giving him the signal it was time to go. Blanchard turned to him and nodded then he excused himself with Mrs. Ferguson
"I'm sorry but my man was reminding me that I have other places to visit. I'm sorry you feel that way but if things should change you know where to find me," said Mr. Blanchard as he turned and left. They both got into the Defender and drove off heading back into town.
Not too far away Bill was showing John around his land. They met Uncle Willy near the small pond where they left the sheep with him then they drove on.
"What did you think of Uncle Willy? He's a nice old man and God only knows how old he is. He was helping my father on this place before I took over."
"He seems like a nice guy just a little enigmatic when he talks. But you can tell he's been around for a while and knows what he's talking about."
"Yeah I know what you mean but he sure took to you. He usually doesn't say two words when other people are around but you two were having a good conversation in grunts or it seemed," said Bill as he laughed.
"What can I say we speak the same language?" said John as they approached a grove of boab trees. They stopped where they could admire the view.
"This is the farthest corner of my place where my land meets my neighbors the Ferguson's. She's a widow her husband passed a few years back. She's got three sons that help her run the place but we all stop in from time to time to help out that's what neighbors do. You never ask because she'll always tell you they don't need anything."
"Hey look at that," said John. In the distance they saw a huge column of smoke. "Don't tell me that's the direction of your neighbor's house?"
"Yeah, come on we need to see what's going on," said Bill as they took out on the quad as fast as they could. "Hold on, you might want to buckle in this is going to be a bumpy ride."
"You just think about getting us there I'll worry about me," said John as Bill opened up the throttle covering as much ground as he could in the shortest time possible. When they got there they found the barn engulfed in flames. Sheep were running away terrified and Mrs. Ferguson with two sons were trying to fight the fire but it was a losing battle.
"Thank God you came," she yelled hysterically. "We need help." Bill did a head count then looked at her.
"Where's Zed?" he asked then he heard a boy scream from inside. "Jesus, he's inside." Bill started to run into the wall of flames but John pulled him back.
"No you'll get both of you killed like that," he ran to the clothes line yanked off a sheet then soaked it in a bucket they were using to throw on the flames. "Stand back once I come out start dousing us with water." John put the sheet over himself then jumped through the flames inside the raging inferno.
"Zed, Zed can you hear me," yelled John over the sounds of the flames. The heat was so intense it seemed to suck out all his breath. Then he heard a coughing noise so he ran to it and found the boy. When he found him he realized why he had run inside. The boy had a Dingo pup he was holding.
"I can't leave him," said the boy coughing. Casey grabbed up the boy and the dog then headed for the flames trying to keep them and himself covered by the sheet. "We're coming out," yelled John. He broke through the flames out into the barnyard with the sheet ablaze. He let it go as soon as he was out and they doused them with water.
"Zed," yelled Mrs. Ferguson as she took her boy. Casey dropped to his kneels wheezing and coughing then he rolled over. The Dingo pup yelped then jumped on top of him licking him in the face as gratitude. Bill went over to the quad and brought back a bottle.
"Here I think you earned this," said Bill. Casey didn't say anything other than taking the bottle and turning it up to take a swallow.
"Uhm, Dobson's single malt not bad I'm going to have to remember this," said John as he handed the bottle back. There was little they could do but make sure the fire didn't spread.
"Let me look at your hands," said Mrs. Ferguson as spread suave on the back of John's burnt hands. "I'll be forever in your debt mister you saved my boy."
"It was nothing, we leave no man... or dog behind," said John as the Dingo looked at him sideways panting. "Semper Fidelis" he said as he dropped back on the ground coughing.
"You were an American marine," said the oldest boy. Casey looked over at him. "That's where that comes from I saw it on the telly. Semper Fidelis is their motto."
"Yes I guess I was," said John as he remembered the dream he had and suddenly things made more sense than they did before. "But how did this fire start?"
"Well it started after those men from the mining company left."
