CHAPTER 6
Webb and Eddy arrived at JAG in search of Harm, Mac and Sturgis. Webb was still upset and visibly so regarding the death of his father. He was angry and felt as though his mother had betrayed him. Eddy did everything she could to assure him that he was not thinking clearly and that at least where is father's death was concerned, there was a reasonable explanation.
"Clay, are you alright?" Mac asked.
"I'm fine," Webb snapped.
"Let it go," Eddy whispered to Mac.
"What's going on?" Harm asked.
"We did some checking and found that there is a direct link between Porter and eight other people, including her husband and Admiral Dyson. All seem to have died under less than usual circumstances." Eddy explained.
"Are you thinking that they were killed by the same person?" Sturgis asked.
"No," Webb replied, "For the same reason."
"Can you show us what you have?" Harm asked. "Maybe if we all looked at it together we might come up with something."
The group adjourned to the meeting room and Eddy spread out the index cards. "Right now this is all I have, a listing of where each person worked and the actual cause of death."
Webb reached across the table and picked up Neville's death card. He wasn't ready for anyone to see it. It was bad enough that Eddy knew his father's cause of death. The last thing he wanted was for the others to know how his father died.
"What was that?" Sturgis asked. "Do we need that?"
"Nothing," Webb said stuffing the card into his pocket. Eddy just looked at Sturgis and slowly shook her head, giving him the signal as to not push the issue.
"So, they all worked for the company." Harm stated.
"Impressive, always stating the obvious," Eddy smiled.
"I'm verbalizing my thoughts," Harm replied.
"They also all worked at the NSA," Mac said. "It's like the NSA was their training camp before going to the CIA."
"Except for the Senator, he only worked for the CIA." Sturgis pointed out.
"There is nothing in here to indicate what they were working on." Eddy stated. "The only project mentioned is the Phoenix project and the fact that the two women in the group were code breakers." She then told them her theory regarding a mass project with different sections.
"So where does that leave us?" Harm asked.
"With nothing, absolutely nothing except a bunch of dead spies and unanswered questions." Webb remarked.
"Clay, go get a drink of water." Eddy said.
"I think I'll stay." Webb said. He didn't trust that once he left the room Eddy wouldn't tell them about his father's death.
"You know, there is one other thing they all have in common." Eddy said looking at Webb. "They were all at your Christening."
"How do you know that?" Webb asked.
"You mother showed me pictures last night." Eddy replied. "One of them was of you. Admiral Foster's wife was holding you and the others standing there. She told me it was taken at your baptism. The Cuban Missile Crisis started soon after that because she mentioned that they had to have your christening right away because there was a chance that Admiral Foster would be gone for a while."
"I don't know what that has to do with anything," Webb stated.
"I guess it doesn't, but it does show that these people were not just work associates. They were friends." Eddy replied.
"Is it possible that this has nothing to do with work or the CIA?" Mac asked. "There is really no indication that they were working on the same project at different times."
"That means we need to look at their personal lives." Sturgis said.
"Clay, you knew these people." Eddy said. "Financially, were they all like your parents?"
"I believe so," Webb replied.
"So we're now talking about a group of people who not only worked for the government in one capacity or another but who were all wealthy." Harm said.
"That would be correct," Webb replied.
"So, there's knowledge, wealth and power in this group." Sturgis stated.
"Those things usually lead to corruption," Mac said.
"Mac," Webb snapped.
"I didn't mean it that way," Mac soothed. "But if these people all died under suspicious circumstances and someone is now trying to kill your mother, I would think there is something corrupt in the works."
"She does have a point," Eddy stated. "Clay is there anyone you can think of who is missing from the group? Maybe a friend or someone who was part of the social group but not part of the professional group."
"No one comes to mind," Webb shrugged. "My mother would be the one to ask."
"I think you're right, I think it's time we speak with Porter." Eddy replied.
"We'll see what we can find out about their personal lives from this end." Harm said. "We'll call when we have something."
"Sounds good," Eddy replied and they left.
On the ride back to Porter's Webb was sullen and silent. As he drove, he removed the index card from his pocket and crumpled it. Eddy reached over and removed the pulverized card from his hand. She then depressed the cigarette lighter. Once it popped up, she placed the card in the ashtray and used the lighter to burn it. Webb pulled the car over and watched as the card turned to cinders in the ashtray.
"My father was a great man," Webb whispered. "He was an honorable man."
"Then why is this bothering you so much?" Eddy asked. "Clay, your father was murdered. I don't know much about the CIA, but look at the lengths they went to in order to cover up the true cause of death. They didn't want anyone to think for even a moment that your father used drugs. The world, at least your father's world, believed he died from kidney failure. There are only a small handful of people who know what really happened. They've never spoken and I never will."
"I was lied to," Webb said.
"You were protected." Eddy corrected. "Look at the life you have had. You had parents who loved you. There are a lot of people who can't say that."
"You can't understand," Webb said.
"You're right I can't. My mother died when I was a week old and my father probably never knew I existed." Eddy stated. "Now, stop with the self pity. I need to find out who is trying to kill your mother before they try again. You're either with me or you're in my way."
"Let's go," Webb said and they continued to Porter's. When they got there Webb went right to the study to confront his mother. Eddy was right behind him and wanted to run interference. She had visions of having to protect Porter from her own son.
"Mother, how did my father die?" Webb asked as he walked in the room.
"Renal kidney failure," Porter replied.
"What caused it mother?" Webb asked.
"Clayton, I'm not a doctor," Porter replied.
"Mother, what caused his death?" Webb demanded.
Porter sat and stared at him. She took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes. "You've seen the file, haven't you?"
"Yes mother, every sickening word of it." Webb said.
"It's not what you think," Porter said.
"What's to think, my father died of a heroine overdose." Webb said. "What could I possibly be thinking?"
"Clay," Eddy called from the door. "Stop it."
"Clayton, the most toxic thing your father ever put into his system was 100 year old cognac." Porter said. "For you to even think otherwise is unconscionable."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Webb asked.
"You were just a child when it all happened and by the time you grew, what did it matter?" Porter asked.
"It matters," Webb said. "What happened matters."
"We don't know, we never knew." Porter said. "He was found in the bathroom dead with one needle mark in his arm. By the angle of the needle it was obvious he hadn't done it himself. No one ever believed that your father used any type of narcotic."
"Did they even try to find out what happened?" Webb asked.
"Of course, they did." Porter said. "There were no leads. Your father had been murdered. But he was with the CIA, you know what happens."
"A star on the wall, no questions, just a star on the wall," Webb stated.
"I don't understand," Eddy said.
"Because of the work that is done, when an agent dies in the line of duty there is very little attention brought to it. They give them a star on the entry wall at Langley. No names, just a star and recognition for service." Porter explained. "It's along the same lines of saying 'the Secret Service Agent'."
"Mrs. Webb," Eddy said taking down the photo album. "These people in this picture, they were all murdered weren't they?"
"Yes, they were." Porter replied.
"Mother, why didn't you ever tell me that you worked at the CIA?" Webb asked.
"It was only for a brief period and technically I wasn't working there." Porter replied. "It was also classified."
"You all worked there, were you working on something in tandem?" Eddy asked.
"I don't know," Porter said.
"Who's this?" Eddy asked removing a picture from the album.
"Tom Stanton," Porter said turning the picture over, "Nineteen sixty two."
"Who was he?" Webb asked.
"Now, he really was a spy." Porter smiled. "Actually he was a business man. He was the only non government one in the group, but his company did have government contracts."
"Whatever happened to him?" Eddy asked.
"I don't know, he disappeared one day, he left his family." Porter said. "Addison tried to track him down but there was no trail."
"What year did he disappear?" Eddy asked.
"Oh it must have been 1968," Porter said. "It was right around the time that the Phoenix project began."
"Did he have anything to do with Phoenix?" Webb asked.
"No, his company packaged the MRE for the soldiers." Porter replied.
"Did you socialize with Stanton?" Eddy asked.
"We did, he was part of our group." Porter replied. "He was there for everything."
"He wasn't at my baptism," Webb said looking at the picture.
"No we didn't meet him until 1962." Porter said.
"He looks so familiar," Eddy said looking at the picture.
"Is it possible that he had something to do with all the deaths?" Webb asked.
"It's possible that he had something to do with the deaths in the 70's but he was at least ten years older than the rest of us. By the 80's he would have been at least sixty and couldn't have done it."
"Maybe he had help." Eddy said looking at the picture. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen his face or a similar face before. "Did he have children?"
"Sons, four of them, two were older than you and two younger Clayton." Porter said.
"This is personal," Eddy stated. "This has nothing to do with anything at the CIA."
"How do you know?" Webb asked.
"It's a feeling, I'm not sure how I know, but I do." Eddy replied. "This is definitely personal."
Several weeks past and there had been no further attempts on Porter's life. Webb resumed his travels while Porter and Eddy settled into a routine. Mac, Harm and Sturgis continued to search for clues in the personal lives of the victims but hit a wall each time they believed they had found something. There were no leads, no clues and no ideas. There was just a retired spy and a Secret Service agent. As the days past, Eddy could not get the image of Tom Stanton out of her head. She put his picture in her room and would look at it often. She tried to force herself to remember where she had seen him before. She could only draw a blank.
"Eddy, the Webb Foundation dinner is four weeks." Porter announced. "That is something I must attend."
"I understand," Eddy smiled. "We are already on it. It will be safer than Fort Knox."
"I realize you'll be working, but you will be seated at the family table. I hope you will be able to wear something nice." Porter smiled.
"I was thinking a bullet proof vest and silk skirt," Eddy winked.
The next week, Porter was to attend an art exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery. As they prepared to leave, Eddy again reviewed the rules with Porter. "Eddy, at this point I could tell you the rules."
"I just want to make sure that we are on the same page." Eddy replied.
"Don't worry, we are. Besides I may just fake a headache at this one." Porter smiled. "I do not like modern art, it's just so modern." They got into the limo and were off.
"So have you heard from Clay?" Eddy asked.
"You've become rather found of my son haven't you?" Porter asked.
"I believe the word is tolerant," Eddy replied. "He was so hurt when he saw your husband's file."
"He placed his father on a pedestal after his death." Porter said. "Deep down he knew his father would never use drugs, but I think he had to hear it from me, to truly believe it."
Across town in a small room a man sat looking at a poster size replica of an old picture. There were X's across the faces of all but two, a woman and a baby. The babe was of no importance to him. He actually remembered the kid from his childhood. But the mother, she was going to pay.
"There's only one left, Pop." The man said. "I missed the first time, but I'll get her. It will be big. I may have a little fun first, take another shot at her just as a warning. I want her to know that her time is coming as well." The man picked up the picture of his father and kissed it. "My way is so much easier, no drugs no injections just a simple gunshot." He put the picture down and left the room. It was a picture of Tom Stanton and the poster was Clayton Webb's christening. He made his way to the Corcoran Gallery and stood in wait. He knew she would be there. He wasn't going to kill her today. "No Mrs. Webb, today is not your day to die." He watched as limos pulled up and let out their passengers. He waited and waited, and then he saw her. There she was so high and mighty. Just like the rest of them. Spies with money. He wondered how much they worked for their country and how much of it was for themselves. He knew only too well that spies can be bought and sold.
As Porter got out of her limo Eddy and her partners surveyed the area. It was Eddy who spotted him first.
"Down, everyone down!" She yelled as she pushed Porter back into the car. "Shit," Eddy yelled as she banged the top of the car. "Get her out of here."
Eddy watched as the limo raced away. She looked across the street and saw nothing, the shooter was gone but this time she got a glimpse of him and he bore a striking resemblance to Tom Stanton, he also bore a resemblance to someone else, someone from her past. As she tried to sear the image into her head, she sat down on the curb and tore open her jacket. This one was going to leave a nasty scar. With one hand she got out her cell phone and placed a call.
"James, the porcelain doll is safe and on her way back to the china cabinet but the raven has a broken wing." Eddy said and dropped her phone. In all the mayhem, no one noticed that Eddy had been shot. The Metro Police at the scene found her leaning up against a wall. James was in constant contact with them and met her at the hospital. As she was wheeled into surgery she said only two words, "Get Sturgis."
Harm, Mac and Sturgis arrived at the hospital and found James.
"What happened?" Sturgis asked. "Where is she?"
"She's still in surgery," James advised. "She was hit in the shoulder, the problem is no one knew it and she's lost a lot of blood."
"What happened?" Harm asked.
"Someone tried to shoot Porter Webb." James said, "Again."
"Again, I thought she wasn't the target at the farewell luncheon." Harm said.
"There had been an attempt before that." James replied. "Eddy didn't tell you?"
"She didn't tell us anything," Sturgis answered.
"Do you have any idea why she was asking for you?" James questioned.
"We're old friends," Sturgis replied and motioned to Harm, "the three of us were at the Academy together."
"Mr. Crowley," The doctor said approaching them. "She's going to be fine."
"Oh thank god," Mac said.
"She was lucky, it didn't hit any muscle or bone." The doctor stated.
"We need the bullet," James advised.
"I know," The doctor replied.
"Can we see her?" Sturgis asked.
"She's still in recovery," The doctor said, "Maybe in an hour."
"I think I should call Mrs. Webb," Mac stated.
"Doctor, we need you in recovery," A nurse came running over. The doctor ran to recovery to find Eddy yelling.
"I need to speak with Commander Sturgis Turner now," Eddy hollered.
"Go see if one of those men is this Turner." The doctor ordered.
The nurse ran to the waiting room, "Are one of you a Commander Turner?"
"I am," Sturgis said. "Agent Winthrop is calling for you the doctor would like you to come."
"I need to speak with him now," Eddy yelled. "It's important."
"Eddy, I'm here." Sturgis said. "Relax, what's the matter."
Eddy was out of breath and trying to stay awake. It was a miracle that she had woken up so soon. "Go to my room at Porter's, picture on the wall. Our annual." That was all Eddy could manage to get out before she fell unconscious again.
"She said something about a picture on the wall at Webb's and our annual." Sturgis said when he returned to James and Harm.
"An annual, is she taking about flowers?" James asked.
"No," Harm replied. "it's an expression for a year book."
"Do you have yours?" Sturgis asked. "Mine is at my dad's house."
"Mine's in California." Harm replied. "We can always go to the Academy. They have them in the library there."
Harm and Sturgis left for Annapolis on the condition that James call them with any and all updates. The passed by Porter's to search Eddy's room for the picture. The only one in the room was a picture of Tom Stanton. They took the picture and continued to Annapolis.
Sturgis was a wreck in the car. He was worried about Eddy. There were no longer the romantic feelings he once believed he had but her returning after all these years and the revelation that they had been each other's first, made him realize how much she meant to him. He wanted nothing more than to see her settle down and be happy. She deserved at least that, they both did.
"What's with you?" Harm asked.
"One of our oldest friends was just shot," Sturgis replied. "What do you think is with me?"
"Sturgis, buddy. I gotta ask." Harm said. "Are you in love with Winkie?"
"No Harm, I am not in love with her," Sturgis replied.
"But you were," Harm smiled.
"A long time ago my friend, a very long time ago," Sturgis replied.
"Graduation night," Harm said looking out the corner of his eye at Sturgis.
"How did you know?" Sturgis asked.
"We were all together celebrating and then you two just disappeared." Harm laughed. "I figured you would eventually tell me, but you never did."
"Maybe because it was private," Sturgis replied.
"Well, at least I know how you knew about the tattoo." Harm smiled. "She's going to be fine."
They made it to Annapolis and pulled their graduating yearbook. They took the picture and started to compare it to their classmates.
"She didn't say anything else?" Harm asked.
"Nothing," Sturgis replied. They were coming up with nothing when they turned the page...