Chapter 4
2002 October 19, Never Never Land
Hooter sat slouched in the chair, he peered meekly up at the glass. They were watching him. as they had been for the last 4 hours. he wasn't sure what this was meant to achieve, he'd told them all he could. But that had been one of the problems. He knew the moment he'd said so that it had been the wrong way to say it. With a guy like Kline it wasn't just a misphrasing, it was a Freudian slip.
* Kline looked him over, eyes sweeping in disgust. "I can tell that, but what I'm concerned about is that you haven't told us all you know. Because you'd better not be withholding information. may I remind you this is an official government investigation and that such an offense is very serious" His words stumbled out "Yeah, that was what I meant, I've told you all I know. Just got it wrong" "Andrew, I'm gonna call you that, ok? People don't get things like that wrong." He got up and whispered instructions to guards at the far end of the room before turning round to add on a final triumphant note "I'm watching you Owsley" *
They shouldn't let the Klines of the world have any form of authority, he got off on it far too much to use it rationally. He was quite sure such a system worked when their guilty but he went onto overkill on every innocent person too. He should have put it better, then Kline wouldn't have anything to catch him on, whether imaginary or not.
Not so far away, in another room, Olga paced from one end to another. For the past day the complex had been a buzz of activity, planes flying in, more and more military assignments and government employees coming. It was nearly back up to the old numbers from a few months ago when it was operational. It wasn't however this sudden influx of strangers that bothered her, it was Kline. His all encompassing case, and his malicious eagerness to solve it with all strings tied. She didn't like to think about where he'd be tying them to. They'd given up on questioning her for now, Kline had got annoyed and given it to another one of the investigation team who was every bit as incompetent as his mentor. And he too had given up in frustration, she hoped she hadn't given him too much stress to handle and yet still enough to think about but it was only due to her kind nature that she stopped at this. She should have wished all the evils of the world on them but she couldn't wish anymore than a bad month or two on them. They were after all in a sense just pawns in the whole of it, Kline albeit a particularly nasty one who didn't fully realize his part. She'd wondered what he'd say if she told him how much out of control he was, how he was just the hoax damage control sent to make-up a plausible cover-up with his mock logical conclusions. Things more made of a delusion based on the lies he'd been told, on his facetious attitude, on anything but the truth he supposedly sought. The shadowy men would make sure of that, those behind it all had set it up so perfectly as to include every detail and account for it. Kline wouldn't find the truth but neither would anyone else find fault with Kline's conclusion. They'd sealed the fate of all involved. She couldn't stop that. If only she knew what that fate was meant to be.
The door to the conference room slid open, the sound of the black suited men shuffling someone in could be heard before looking to it. Who ever it was wasn't happy, was shoving back, arguing, protesting vehemently. She was so deep in thought though, staring out and through the concrete scenery that she didn't hear anymore than a muffled account of events. It wasn't until she felt a hand on her shoulder gently pulling it around that she became aware of a familiar presence. She turned to the figure of Ramsey. Rather more ragged than she'd seen him, as if someone had created hassle for him at an inappropriate moment instead of before when hassle had been the number one task of his job. And who ever'd been hassling him was probably ready to explode with indignation by now. "Olga, you ok?" she met his concerned eyes. It didn't take long though for Ramsey to start vent his anger in the form of his unique whinging. "I can't believe they're doing this, they don't have any right. They closed us down and now they expect us to open up to all their whims. Cater for all their bloody needs." She smiled as he made a face at the idea of their autocracy. He continued moaning "tell them everything they want to know" and with that he raced around to the glass pane to motion fingers to a passing guard. When he was fully satisfied he'd done all he could to show defiance of his restriction, Ramsey turned back to the more than usually silent woman. "Olga, what's this about, what's going on? Who's done what? I can figure it ain't you by the fact you're here." She pursed her lips and stood still, hand folded sloppily only keeping them occupied. "They were asking about everyone, trying not to give it away but they should have known I'd figure it out. They asked about frank, alot more than anyone else and he's the only one they haven't pulled out to this shit hole masquerade of an investigation. What did he do now?" Moving over to lean against the wall, he continued quietly questioning her. She knew it was unfair to Ramsey, he'd done nothing wrong. He didn't have much now and he shouldn't have to lose it but it wasn't her choice, she has no power, things could only run their course. He'd know soon. "Did frank try to escape?" he stopped to wait for an answer. When he got none his face contorted to a look of surprise "He succeed?"
"What did you say about him Ramsey?" she pulled the chair forward, she needed the support, whatever he'd say the conversation wasn't going to be nice. But for all that was at stake she had to deal with it. "Told the bastard the usual, what he wanted to hear. That Parker was the most stubborn guy I've ever met, never followed orders, had no sense of respect. After that I let steam about this whole operation. I'll tell you, he won't be sleeping soundly tonight. I'm not a man to tread lightly on peoples egos, especially not piss idiots like 'Director Kline'." Olga stared into the dark glass table, almost hypnotized by her own wish to be anywhere but here. Anywhere but this time. Sensing something wrong Ramsey carried on, "Ofcourse its all true but you and I both know that Frank Parker's a damn good soldier and a fine man, even if he is a maniac and brick stubborn. Mind you I won't ever admit that to his face" As he pointed his finger on the last point she regretted that she had to do it, that she had to burst another bubble, that he wasn't up to his old trouble but instead that what they were in was bigger than them and worse, impersonal and on an automated series of events. "You couldn't do that if you wanted to" She'd said it, and the words had felt cold and cursed. The sentiment of them damned, made her want to break up inside at the reminder of the wholly regrettable fact of his death. "What?" Better yet, she had to withstand all that Ramsey would inevitably ask of her. And once more the doubts would seep upon her consciousness, leaving deeper scars to her heart.
"He's dead." "How?" She could almost read the thought circling his mind, how can it be, how can it be that Frank Parker is dead. Although this would only be because she too had been shocked by this, noone that knew him could not be so. That he was dead after all the times wasn't acceptable in reality, as if he couldn't die in the minds of his friends. Like this life was parallel, and out of synch with what was certain. But tomorrow would confirm it all, as she would lift up the coffin to see the sweet face of her dear friend who's life had ended unjustifiably. " They're saying it was suicide" Something she was consigned to acknowledge as the official statement should the press get the opportunity to ask of her. The whole situation had become a remote media circus, a show she had not been privy to witness or have the opportunity to exploit. Suicide would remain the statement whoever examined the records, however much she campaigned against, she wasn't on the right side to change that and that was the one thing that was pure circumstance.
"Are you sure it wasn't?"
Hadn't been prepared for that. She'd counted on his faith in her, on her reasoning. "How can you say that?" It was more than just an insult to him, it was a slash at her throat, one more cut that would bleed, one more tiny reason to cry that one more person believed the lies.
"I know you usually have good judgement but I think you're more than a little clouded by emotions right now" His mind raced over the two things at once. Firstly that of the death of Frank Parker, of the loss of the man who'd saved millions of lives and secondly of the circumstances, of a friends innocent determination to believe what was the best to believe, the possibility too that she was right.
"Forgive me if I get slightly emotional but if I am so then it is only for the fact that it is a lie that makes it worse, I can't stand by and let them slander a good man, a good friend of mine." Olga got up, the motions of her body matched her mind, she rushed in an angry volatility. Looking ever nearer to both tears and murder.
"He's a friend of mine too, don't forget and I think you're being naive. You and Parker, good friends, That's not how I'd put it. You're seeing what you want to see here." He struggled to wrestle his mouth before he said anything he'd further regret. He settled for sitting opposite Olga. The space of the table leaving them in total silence. Each wondering who was right, what was what,. why it was.
2002 October 19, Never Never Land
Hooter sat slouched in the chair, he peered meekly up at the glass. They were watching him. as they had been for the last 4 hours. he wasn't sure what this was meant to achieve, he'd told them all he could. But that had been one of the problems. He knew the moment he'd said so that it had been the wrong way to say it. With a guy like Kline it wasn't just a misphrasing, it was a Freudian slip.
* Kline looked him over, eyes sweeping in disgust. "I can tell that, but what I'm concerned about is that you haven't told us all you know. Because you'd better not be withholding information. may I remind you this is an official government investigation and that such an offense is very serious" His words stumbled out "Yeah, that was what I meant, I've told you all I know. Just got it wrong" "Andrew, I'm gonna call you that, ok? People don't get things like that wrong." He got up and whispered instructions to guards at the far end of the room before turning round to add on a final triumphant note "I'm watching you Owsley" *
They shouldn't let the Klines of the world have any form of authority, he got off on it far too much to use it rationally. He was quite sure such a system worked when their guilty but he went onto overkill on every innocent person too. He should have put it better, then Kline wouldn't have anything to catch him on, whether imaginary or not.
Not so far away, in another room, Olga paced from one end to another. For the past day the complex had been a buzz of activity, planes flying in, more and more military assignments and government employees coming. It was nearly back up to the old numbers from a few months ago when it was operational. It wasn't however this sudden influx of strangers that bothered her, it was Kline. His all encompassing case, and his malicious eagerness to solve it with all strings tied. She didn't like to think about where he'd be tying them to. They'd given up on questioning her for now, Kline had got annoyed and given it to another one of the investigation team who was every bit as incompetent as his mentor. And he too had given up in frustration, she hoped she hadn't given him too much stress to handle and yet still enough to think about but it was only due to her kind nature that she stopped at this. She should have wished all the evils of the world on them but she couldn't wish anymore than a bad month or two on them. They were after all in a sense just pawns in the whole of it, Kline albeit a particularly nasty one who didn't fully realize his part. She'd wondered what he'd say if she told him how much out of control he was, how he was just the hoax damage control sent to make-up a plausible cover-up with his mock logical conclusions. Things more made of a delusion based on the lies he'd been told, on his facetious attitude, on anything but the truth he supposedly sought. The shadowy men would make sure of that, those behind it all had set it up so perfectly as to include every detail and account for it. Kline wouldn't find the truth but neither would anyone else find fault with Kline's conclusion. They'd sealed the fate of all involved. She couldn't stop that. If only she knew what that fate was meant to be.
The door to the conference room slid open, the sound of the black suited men shuffling someone in could be heard before looking to it. Who ever it was wasn't happy, was shoving back, arguing, protesting vehemently. She was so deep in thought though, staring out and through the concrete scenery that she didn't hear anymore than a muffled account of events. It wasn't until she felt a hand on her shoulder gently pulling it around that she became aware of a familiar presence. She turned to the figure of Ramsey. Rather more ragged than she'd seen him, as if someone had created hassle for him at an inappropriate moment instead of before when hassle had been the number one task of his job. And who ever'd been hassling him was probably ready to explode with indignation by now. "Olga, you ok?" she met his concerned eyes. It didn't take long though for Ramsey to start vent his anger in the form of his unique whinging. "I can't believe they're doing this, they don't have any right. They closed us down and now they expect us to open up to all their whims. Cater for all their bloody needs." She smiled as he made a face at the idea of their autocracy. He continued moaning "tell them everything they want to know" and with that he raced around to the glass pane to motion fingers to a passing guard. When he was fully satisfied he'd done all he could to show defiance of his restriction, Ramsey turned back to the more than usually silent woman. "Olga, what's this about, what's going on? Who's done what? I can figure it ain't you by the fact you're here." She pursed her lips and stood still, hand folded sloppily only keeping them occupied. "They were asking about everyone, trying not to give it away but they should have known I'd figure it out. They asked about frank, alot more than anyone else and he's the only one they haven't pulled out to this shit hole masquerade of an investigation. What did he do now?" Moving over to lean against the wall, he continued quietly questioning her. She knew it was unfair to Ramsey, he'd done nothing wrong. He didn't have much now and he shouldn't have to lose it but it wasn't her choice, she has no power, things could only run their course. He'd know soon. "Did frank try to escape?" he stopped to wait for an answer. When he got none his face contorted to a look of surprise "He succeed?"
"What did you say about him Ramsey?" she pulled the chair forward, she needed the support, whatever he'd say the conversation wasn't going to be nice. But for all that was at stake she had to deal with it. "Told the bastard the usual, what he wanted to hear. That Parker was the most stubborn guy I've ever met, never followed orders, had no sense of respect. After that I let steam about this whole operation. I'll tell you, he won't be sleeping soundly tonight. I'm not a man to tread lightly on peoples egos, especially not piss idiots like 'Director Kline'." Olga stared into the dark glass table, almost hypnotized by her own wish to be anywhere but here. Anywhere but this time. Sensing something wrong Ramsey carried on, "Ofcourse its all true but you and I both know that Frank Parker's a damn good soldier and a fine man, even if he is a maniac and brick stubborn. Mind you I won't ever admit that to his face" As he pointed his finger on the last point she regretted that she had to do it, that she had to burst another bubble, that he wasn't up to his old trouble but instead that what they were in was bigger than them and worse, impersonal and on an automated series of events. "You couldn't do that if you wanted to" She'd said it, and the words had felt cold and cursed. The sentiment of them damned, made her want to break up inside at the reminder of the wholly regrettable fact of his death. "What?" Better yet, she had to withstand all that Ramsey would inevitably ask of her. And once more the doubts would seep upon her consciousness, leaving deeper scars to her heart.
"He's dead." "How?" She could almost read the thought circling his mind, how can it be, how can it be that Frank Parker is dead. Although this would only be because she too had been shocked by this, noone that knew him could not be so. That he was dead after all the times wasn't acceptable in reality, as if he couldn't die in the minds of his friends. Like this life was parallel, and out of synch with what was certain. But tomorrow would confirm it all, as she would lift up the coffin to see the sweet face of her dear friend who's life had ended unjustifiably. " They're saying it was suicide" Something she was consigned to acknowledge as the official statement should the press get the opportunity to ask of her. The whole situation had become a remote media circus, a show she had not been privy to witness or have the opportunity to exploit. Suicide would remain the statement whoever examined the records, however much she campaigned against, she wasn't on the right side to change that and that was the one thing that was pure circumstance.
"Are you sure it wasn't?"
Hadn't been prepared for that. She'd counted on his faith in her, on her reasoning. "How can you say that?" It was more than just an insult to him, it was a slash at her throat, one more cut that would bleed, one more tiny reason to cry that one more person believed the lies.
"I know you usually have good judgement but I think you're more than a little clouded by emotions right now" His mind raced over the two things at once. Firstly that of the death of Frank Parker, of the loss of the man who'd saved millions of lives and secondly of the circumstances, of a friends innocent determination to believe what was the best to believe, the possibility too that she was right.
"Forgive me if I get slightly emotional but if I am so then it is only for the fact that it is a lie that makes it worse, I can't stand by and let them slander a good man, a good friend of mine." Olga got up, the motions of her body matched her mind, she rushed in an angry volatility. Looking ever nearer to both tears and murder.
"He's a friend of mine too, don't forget and I think you're being naive. You and Parker, good friends, That's not how I'd put it. You're seeing what you want to see here." He struggled to wrestle his mouth before he said anything he'd further regret. He settled for sitting opposite Olga. The space of the table leaving them in total silence. Each wondering who was right, what was what,. why it was.