The Joanna Protocol
Chapter 21
"Attack him where he is unprepared,
appear where you are not expected."
The Art of War
At six a.m. Jim and Gavin waited for Lt. Commander Strong and Lt. Chapman to arrive to their hotel rooms. Gavin had called the meeting to go over last minute details before Torrington showed up to the bank at 9 am.
Jim opened the door and ushered in the two officers. They were already dressed for bank business. Gavin poured them all a cup of coffee and they sat down with their padds.
"Jim and I want to go over a few things before you leave for the bank. I anticipate that Torrington will arrive exactly at 9 am when the bank opens. Lt. Chapman, I want you to introduce yourself and escort Torrington to Audrey's office and stay there. You can say you've been assigned to him by Ms. Gardetto to help expedite his difficulties; that due to the large deposit, he is getting special service and attention."
Jim brought out his phaser and put it on the table. "I want you to carry your phasers today, hidden of course, but on you. We're not sure if Torrington will be armed or not, but we'll take no chances. Commander Bradford and I will also be armed and we'll have stasis cuffs with us. He'll be cuffed immediately when we arrest him."
Gavin nodded. "There shouldn't be too many people at the bank at that hour, and your office is sound proof, Audrey, so we hope the clients will be unaware of what's happening. Jim and I will go into your office as at 8:45 and wait there until Lt. Chapman escorts Torrington in and then we'll arrest him immediately. Let's hope it goes down without a problem. Any questions?"
Strong and Chapman shook their heads. "We're ready, sir," Audrey said.
"One more thing," Gavin added. "Both of you will remain at the bank until the end of the day tomorrow. The Banking Commission will send the real Bank Manager and Assistant Manager the following morning. At the end of the day tomorrow, tell the employees that yours was a temporary assignment until the two new permanent people were hired. We don't want to panic anyone about their assets and have a run on the bank." He looked down at his notes. "I think that's all. Good luck today, I have full confidence that things will go well. We're as prepared as possible. Jim and I will be there by 8:15 a.m., right after you two arrive."
Strong and Chapman left to go to the bank, and Jim and Gavin called room service for breakfast. It was going to be a very long day and it would be best to start with a good meal. After they ate, Jim commed the Admiral's office and reported in. Ensign Torres answered immediately.
"Captain, the Admiral is not in right now. He finally went home last night very late, he left me a message that he'd be in by 9 a.m. Lt. Connolly stayed with him for a time then went back to his lodgings. He'll be back this morning at the same time as the Admiral."
"That's fine, Ensign. Just give him the message that we're ready to complete the mission. We'll report in after the terrorist is apprehended. After the arrest we'll need a direct beam out from Lt. Commander's Strong's office here at the bank to New York and then again directly to San Francisco. Torrington will be cuffed, but he's still dangerous. The beam out procedure has to be very secret, Ensign, we certainly don't want to alert the rest of the terrorist cell. I'm sending you the coordinates for this office immediately and you can handle the rest of it. We'll need to interrogate him in San Francisco; please advise the Admiral as soon as he comes in. Also, Lt. Connolly will be able to recover the 50 million credits as soon as the arrest is made. I know that'll relieve the Admiral's mind considerably."
"Aye, Sir. I'll take care of those arrangements immediately and I'll text you and Commander Bradford the confirmations for each beam in point. Good luck, sir. "
"Thank you, Ensign. Kirk out."
"It's time to go Jim." Gavin gave Jim a critical look to be sure his mustache, glasses, and hair color disguise still looked good. Their suits had been pressed by the hotel staff and they looked crisp and professional. Once more they decided to walk to the bank to take advantage of the beautiful crisp weather enjoyed by the Bern citizens.
The walk to the bank was pleasant, and the bank guard let them in the front doors with a nod and pleasant smile. Gavin nodded to Chapman, but they didn't stop. He and Jim settled in the same office, cracked the door so they could have clear sight to the front door entrance in case Torrington showed up a little early. At 8:45 they walked into Audrey's office and took their places behind the door. When the door opened they would be hidden. It was time for the bank clerks and Audrey's executive secretary come in to start their day.
Jim kept a close eye on his chronometer. He knew that promptly at 9 a.m. the front doors would be unlocked and opened by the guard. The Swiss were notoriously punctual.
At exactly 9 a.m., Lt. Chapman, out in the main lobby, saw a man walk up to the door. The guard opened them for him and he walked in and stood just inside the entrance. Chapman saw he was very tall, well built with broad shoulders and a slim torso, clean shaven, and with refined features. He was an imposing looking man with a natural air of command and self-assurance that seemed a part of him, and not just assumed for a role he was playing. He was well dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal grey suit and he wore a dazzlingly white shirt with a grey and blue striped tie. He stood waiting until Lt. Chapman came up to him. A man used to be waited on and obeyed, thought Chapman. Well, that's going to come to an unexpected and sudden end.
"May I help you, sir?"
"My name is Damien Torrington; I have an appointment with the Bank Manager, Ms. Gardetto."
"Ah, yes, of course, Mr. Torrington. I'm Paul McClain, Ms. Gardetto's assistant. Please come with me, sir, Ms. Gardetto is expecting you in her office. She's explained the difficulties with your account to me, and I'm sure we can expedite your situation. "
"I certainly hope so, Mr. McClain. This whole situation has been very inconvenient for me."
"I'm sure it has, Mr. Torrington. However, these rules are not ours, they are imposed on us by the Federation Banking Commission, and so it's really out of our hands. Please come this way, sir."
Lt. Chapman led him to 'Ms. Gardetto's' office door and knocked lightly.
"Come in," came Audrey's pleasant voice.
Lt. Chapman came in first, opened the door wide, and ushered Torrington in to stand at the front of Audrey's large desk. She stood as they came in.
"Ms. Gardetto, this is Mr. Torrington. I believe you were expecting him?"
"Yes, I was indeed expecting you, Mr. Torrington, and may I say your presence gives me a great deal of personal pleasure." She looked coldly at Torrington.
Jim and Gavin came up silently behind Torrington. Gavin grabbed both his arms in a sudden unyielding grip and pulled them tightly behind Torrington. Jim quickly put the stasis cuffs around his wrists then bent down to put larger cuffs around his ankles.
Everything happened so fast, Torrington didn't even have a chance to move. His face went rigid with shock and surprise as he felt his confinement.
"What's the meaning of this? Let me go!" He struggled futility against the stasis cuffs, his face flushing red with fury, the mask of gentility slipping rapidly away. "I don't understand this. Let me go!" He growled, baring his teeth.
"Damien Torrington," Gavin said. "You are under arrest for suspicion of the following high crimes against the Federation: terrorism, attempted murder of Federation citizens, attempted extortion of Admiral Nogura, the Commander in Chief of Star Fleet, attempted theft, and further threats of terroristic acts against Federation citizens. There may be further charges brought against you once you have been arraigned. You have the right to remain silent, but I must inform you that under Federation Law 1708.3, which deals with terroristic threats and acts perpetrated against the Federation, your rights to an attorney and bail, will be held in abeyance for 48 hours until you have been interrogated by Star Fleet agents."
Torrington stopped his struggling. "You think you're all so smart. You'll get no information from me," he sneered. "I have made contingency plans in case of my death or imprisonment. There are many others eager and willing to take my place, and no matter what you do, I'll never betray them or give you the information that you'll need to find them." He looked contemptuously at the four Star Fleet officers.
Gavin and the others ignored his outburst. Jim opened his communicator. "Kirk to Ensign Torres."
"Ensign Torres here."
"Commander Bradford and I have the prisoner in hand, Ensign. Please let Admiral Nogura and Lt. Connolly know. The 50 million credits are safe and you may retrieve them now. Three to beam out to New York at my one minute mark."
"Aye, Captain. One minute and counting," replied Torres.
They stood waiting for the beam out. Jim tore off his mustache with relief and took off his fake glasses. It was over! Torrington was captured.
Gavin smiled grimly at Strong and Chapman. "Good work everyone! Audrey, Paul, I'll brief you this evening after we finish his interrogation and I'll see you back in San Francisco day after tomorrow."
The silver whine of the transporter took them. They reappeared at the New York Star Fleet main transporter room, which had been emptied of everyone except the transporter chief and two burly well-armed Security officers in body armor. They carried phaser rifles and had additional phasers clipped to their belt. The two officers flanked them immediately. Jim and Gavin looked at each other. Obviously the Admiral was taking no chances.
Gavin approached the transporter chief. "We'll need beam out to the main Star Fleet transporter station," he told him.
"Yes Commander. I already have orders to that effect. The San Francisco station is waiting for you; it's been cleared of all personnel and there are two more security officers waiting for you."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. We're ready to go," Gavin told him. They stepped up to the transporter pad and they dematerialized. When the transporter released them Jim, Gavin, and Torrington were inside the main Star Fleet transporter station. Immediately two large, burley officers also with phaser rifles and body armor, presented their credentials to Gavin.
"We are to escort you all to the ST main interrogation room, Commander. Admiral Nogura will meet you there."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Please escort the prisoner, and Captain Kirk and I will follow behind you."
"Aye, Sir."
The two officers each grabbed Torrington by the upper arms and step marched him quickly out of the room and down a long deserted corridor. They stopped in front of a large plain door. One of the Security officers pressed his thumb print to the sensor and it opened. They stepped inside the door and escorted Torrington into a smaller room. There was nothing in the room except for one large chair. They sat Torrington down, and one of the officers uncuffed his ankles and recuffed each ankle to the chair legs. Torrington arms remained behind his back.
Gavin looked him over critically. "I believe it'll be better for his wrists to be cuffed to the chair arms, Lieutenant. They look sturdy enough to hold him immobile."
"Aye, Sir." One of the men uncuffed his wrists and bound him to the side arms of the chair.
Torrington wriggled in his seat. "I demand to see an attorney. This is outrageous. All Federation citizens are entitled to an attorney if they're arrested on any charge." He sneered at them. "You won't find out anything from me, and when I don't report in to my colleagues, there will be consequences you won't like. They'll look for me and when they don't find me, there'll be reprisals. They know I was going to the bank to retrieve the 50 million."
Jim grinned tightly. "You will have no attorney until after your interrogation, and," Jim continued grimly, "what your colleagues will discover, should they inquire about you at the bank, is that you kept your appointment with Ms. Gardetto, retrieved the 50 million and left the bank. No one knows where you went after that. I'm very sure your colleagues will not be happy to hear that."
Torrington's face paled. "They know I would never betray them. I'm their leader, and have been for a long time. They trust me."
Gavin snorted. "You think that they won't think you stole the 50 million? That's a lot of temptation, and if you've disappeared, they'll think the worse; anyone would." His communicator beeped and he looked at the message. "The Admiral is here."
"Watch him like a hawk, "Gavin told the two security officers. "Captain Kirk and I will be right outside with Admiral Nogura."
The Admiral and Ensign Torres were waiting outside the interrogation room looking through the one way glass.
"Excellent work, Captain, Commander! Captain, your plan worked beautifully," Nogura told Jim.
"Thank you, Admiral."
"By the way, Lt. Connolly has recovered the 50 million, which is a great relief, I can assure you. Now if we can get the location of the terrorist cell and the names of all its members, we can arrest them and put this behind us. Who is going to do the interrogation?"
"I will, Admiral." Gavin sighed. He wasn't looking forward to this part of his job. He was sure that they'd get nothing from Torrington during the interrogation. There were drugs that could be used, but he doubted that even the truth drugs would break the terrorist. There were ways to circumvent the drugs, and he was sure Torrington had been well trained. They would try them anyway and hope for the best.
The Admiral looked at him. "You don't think he'll break do you, Commander?"
"No I don't, Sir."
"We'll let him stew in there for a while and let's see if we can come up with something that will work on him, "Nogura said. He turned to Jim. "Captain, Ensign Torres has a message for you."
"Captain," Torres nodded. "Dr. McCoy reported that Ms. McCoy is awake now and doing well. He and Commander Spock are with her now. Also, he said the new patients are also doing very well. The viral vector is working faster on the three newer infected patients."
"Thank you, Ensign, that's great news." Jim felt relief about Jocelyn, more for Joanna's sake than for Bones. Jocelyn had been nothing but difficult with Bones since their divorce.
He turned to the Admiral. "Admiral, I have an idea how we might get some information from Torrington. May we speak somewhere in private? This may be a little tricky to implement."
They moved out of the interrogation rooms and into a small office at the entrance of the area. There were chairs and a small desk there and the Admiral ushered them in to sit down.
"Go ahead, Captain," Nogura said.
"Please understand that we'll need Commander's Spock's cooperation for this because I don't believe normal interrogation techniques are going to work with Torrington."
"I agree with the Captain, sir," Gavin said.
"So what do you suggest?"
"I want us to threaten him with a Vulcan mind meld. Of course, we know that Mr. Spock would never meld with anyone without consent, nor would he ever force a meld with anyone; that's considered both a crime, and a deep violation of Vulcan principals. I think that if we have Gavin conduct the first interrogation and we don't get anything from Torrington, I'd like for Mr. Spock to be present for the second interrogation. We tell Torrington that we have ways of extracting the information we need. We tell him that a forced meld is dangerous and painful and that no one can hide the truth in a meld; he'll know those statements are true. There are certainly enough urban myths about Vulcan mind melds to add weight to what we tell him. I know Spock; he won't tell a lie, but I believe that just his presence will do the trick. In the past, he's been willing to bend his Vulcan principals just a little and use subterfuge for the success of a mission."
Jim waited for the Admiral to comment.
"I like the idea, Captain, but do you think Mr. Spock will agree? I don't want to step on any Vulcan taboos. If we did that, I would hear from T'Pau faster than warp speed, and I don't mind admitting to you that that woman scares me. I'd rather face Klingons than incur T'Pau's wrath."
Jim shuddered, remembering his own interactions with the formidable Vulcan Elder. "I totally agree with you, Admiral. I'll speak with Mr. Spock as soon as possible and get his thoughts about this. Meanwhile, I think we should let Torrington stew for a while before Commander Bradford begins his interrogation."
Gavin nodded. "I agree."
"I'm anxious to speak with Mr. Spock about this, sir. I'd also like to speak with Dr. McCoy about Ms. McCoy's status." Jim looked at the Admiral, waiting silently for his dismissal.
"Go ahead, Captain, you're dismissed until you speak with Mr. Spock. Torrington isn't going anywhere. Again, my thanks to you and Commander Bradford on the success of this very difficult mission."
"Thank you, sir," and Jim strode rapidly out of the office to find Spock and Bones.