NOIR

Chapter Two

Fallacy

By Steve Edward

Tuesday, June 8th 1300 hours, Los Angles, California

Foundation Investigator Kelly Summers exited the black Ford Crown Victoria with FBI Special Agent Floyd Christen who had been briefed about the unusual visit. The telephone number on the fraudulent business card had been traced to an office building on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. The obnoxious behavior of the person on the other end of the call, which was recorded at the Foundation Offices in Atlanta, served as probable cause to get a Federal Search Warrant.

It was against Federal Law to misrepresent or misuse registered logos of legitimate businesses or organizations. Because of the suspicious deaths in Paris, and at the request of the Paris, France Police Department Kelly acting as representative of the Baldwin Foundation would participate.

The Los Angles Police Department was joining to assist in serving the search warrant. Kelly watched as the raid team comprised of several men and woman suited up in full combat gear in preparation for the raid.

Agent Christen joined Kelly after conferring with the LAPD raid team, "Ok, Kelly they are ready to go. Should we politely knock first or just go ahead take the door down?"

Kelly adjusting her Glock .40 caliber on her hip replied, "What the hell Floyd, just knock the damn door down, lets see where the cockroaches start scrambling to. Agent Christen with a broad smile replied, "With pleasure Kelly."

Wednesday, June 9th 0015 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Paris, France

The brief phone call alerting Randy Baldwin to a pending conference call sent him back to the Foundation Offices in Paris and along the way he picked up Mireille and Kirika. Establishing the link, Randy listened in disbelief at Kelly Summers verbal report, "Sir, the blond haired woman has been identified as a participant in a travel fantasy program."

Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura sitting in the office with Randy Baldwin listened with disbelief as well. Gina Baldwin's voice replied, "Kelly? What do you mean a travel fantasy?" Kelly sitting at a desk of the Los Angles Field Office of the FBI continued, "Just what I said. The company creates a fantasy using what is supposed to be controlled and regulated where participants play roles. They act out fantasies that involve team building by the participants. Companies utilize the services to help their employees build rapport with others. Different scenarios are utilized. The one that is currently ongoing is what is called the secret agent and crime solving tour."

Randy replied, "Kelly how many others were participating? If this supposed to be some kind of fantasy it has already gotten out of hand. As to the subject of our logo misuse what was their excuse for that?"

Kelly Summers replied, "They chose company names randomly. Ours was replicated apparently from our logo on the foundation web site. The number participating in the European fantasy numbers ten in all." Randy replied, "Under no circumstances are they to attempt any contact with the tour guides. Stress that and see if somebody from the FBI can park themselves at that office. I want to ensure no one in that party is alerted."

Randy mused, "Two down and eight to go. Amongst the group, or shadowing the group is a killer packing live ammunition. Terrific what a combination and it is supposed to be a game."

Randy looked at Mireille, "Did you get any identification on the deceased women?" Kelly replied, "Yes we did. The blond haired woman was a brunette originally before participating in the fantasy. She was 28 years old, her name was Mona Shipp from Los Angles and her true occupation was an office manager. The Asian victim joined the fantasy trip in Tokyo, Japan she was 27 years old and her name was Yokura Kanbe who is from Tokyo and like Mona in real life she was an office manager. You should know that the guns they had in their possession were on loan from the company as part of the fantasy. Both guns were purchased here in Los Angles, seven months ago."

Gina spoke, "What about live ammunition? Was anyone supposed to be carrying that stuff?" Kelly replied, "No Gina, they were not supposed to have live ammunition only blanks. Randy spoke, "Kelly, we do have a third body. Any ideas from your end that the man might be, the Paris Police are still drawing blanks?"

Kelly flipped through the folder and stopped, "Yeah. I just found it. Looks like someone they hired as a local actor to play the bad guy." Gina spoke, "Kelly did you happen to learn what the demand for the "task code" was all about?" Kelly replied, "Yes. It was the code number identifying the tour group. It also doubles as an expense account number for corporate billing. The so called president of the operation has accounts at various medical facilities in Europe, so that like in case of injuries the parties involved do not have to involve their insurance companies for expenses incurred on such forays. Both of you should know that the tour group used a chartered flight for the trip to France. The participants apparently learned their roles on the way over during the flight. By the time they landed at Orley, they were playing the parts."

Gina seeing an instant message pop up on the computer screen within the study at the Baldwin Farm house took the cue, "Kelly? What about itineraries?" as Gina tapped out a reply to Mireille in Paris, France.

Kelly replied, "This so called game or fantasy is to take place in and around Paris, France. I have the name and location of the accommodation where they are supposed to be staying when the game is on hold."

Randy saw the replies and questions flying between Gina and Mireille as he replied to Kelly Summers, "Ok. If there was a confidentiality agreement with the tour company and its participants it is now null and void. I want to know the names, occupations and even their true life employers. Check the background of every individual, and if you have to interview immediate family members and their employers do so, and Kelly if you need extra manpower, Gina can send it your way."

Kelly Summers hurriedly flipping through the folders stopped and replied "Mr. Baldwin, the two deceased women worked for the same company." Randy looked over at Mireille still typing an instant message to Gina, "Which one?" Kelly replied, "Albacore, LLC. They have offices in California and Japan."

Randy mused a moment, "That is interesting. Ask your friends at the FBI if you can fax all of what you have to Atlanta and Paris, and then ship the original documents if possible to Paris. Since it is about 15:30 local there in LA, start the faxing to Paris first. I need the documents in time to participate." Kelly leaned back in the chair, "In time for what Mr. Baldwin?" Randy turned to Kirika and then Mireille, "For the replacement gamers. They are two short not counting what amounts to the hired actor. Time to send in the replacements," as Gina hearing the comment typed a silent message back, "Randy don't go and get into something again…"

Kelly Summers pondered the strange comment from Randy after hanging up. Send in replacements? Where was he going to find someone on such short notice? But she dismissed the thought; after all Randy Baldwin and his foundation had a knack for doing things on very short notice.

Randy leaned back in his chair and eyed Mireille "Time to become blonde Mireille and Kirika you can store the wig too. Now lets get you to that hospital, since we have the account number we can charge the treatment to the tour company." Kirika eyed the ace bandage, "It is fine Monsieur Baldwin." Mireille seeing where Randy Baldwin was going, "No it is not. You were injured in the escape. The injury must be treated."

Wednesday, June 9th 0700 hours, The Hilton Hotel, Paris France

Ken Wellford nearly choked on his toast when the two women walked into the dinning room. Yokura was sporting a bandaged arm, Mona standing next to her seemed weary, Ken waved at them calling out to them, "Hey you two over here!"

Kelly Summers had acted fast, and the final background information had come in less than an hour earlier by fax. Only one other person from the same company was participating in the game and it was the vice-president of operations identified as 48 year old Ken Wellford. The tour operator after being shown a photograph of Wellford confirmed that it had been the same man that had requested the fantasy tour to Paris, France.

Randy mused that Noir would have to wing it for the time being. Randy had to be contented with the brief background information that they had for Noir to carry out the masquerade. The other problem he had to contend with was the time zone differences and finding key people to interview. What was going on inside Albacore, LLC was another. The president of the company had taken a Caribbean Cruise. The Atlanta Office was working on locating him and the ship he was on.

Mireille smiled at Ken then sat next to him, "Good morning Ken. How was your part of the adventure?" Ken blinking at Mireille playing Mona Shipp could barely utter, "Uh fine. How was yours?"

Mireille playing Mona, described what had happened and their "capture", and their "escape" in detail. Ken Wellford making noises of astonishment seemed happy that they had made their escape, but noticed that Yokura had been injured. "Hey Yokura? What the heck happened to your arm?"

Kirika playing Yokura replied, "I got too close to a sharp piece of metal in the dark and cut my arm. I had to go to the hospital." The blood stain on her pants showed she had been bleeding. The blood stain courtesy of the Paris Police Department Forensic Lab had been carefully splattered on.

Mireille and Kirika after eating and declaring that both were in need of rest departed the tour group to return to the borrowed hotel room. The room once shared by the real Mona Shipp and Yokura Kanbe would become their temporary home. The next phase of the game would begin tonight at 2000 hours or 8 PM for the American participants not used to 24 hour military time.

Inspector Yannick observing the interaction amongst the tour group had seen the shock that registered but briefly on Monsieur Wellford's face. Finishing his breakfast, he exited the hotel and within a few moments entered the surveillance van parked nearby, where he joined Randy Baldwin.

There had been a snafu in the notification about the event itself. The tour company had made arraignments with the Paris Police Department to notify the local police precinct of the "game". Inspector Yannick had only been informed earlier in the morning himself of the embarrassing slipup. The local gendarmes had indeed kept non-participants away from the area until the specified time had passed. The gendarmes expecting to hear gun play had indeed heard it take place and since it was supposed to be a "game" ignored it.

The relief shift had been the ones to find the bodies. Randy admitted to the Inspector that it had been an initial shock to seeing the photographs as he had two associates who he had worked with previously that looked like the deceased parties. When Inspector Yannick was introduced to Noir who had assumed the personas of Mona Shipp and Yokura Kanbe even he was amazed at the eerie similarities.

Both men sitting in the van replayed the conversations and Randy viewed the video tape of Ken Wellford when he first saw Mireille and Kirika entering the dinning room, "The guy nearly lost his breakfast. Do we have taps approved for his room phone?" Inspector Yannick tapping the replay button nodded, "Yes. But like you I suspect he will likely utilize cell phones. Identifying the correct signal will be difficult, but not impossible. If he stays in one location we will have it easy, but if he moves the cell tower shuffle comes into play and we are short on surveillance equipped vehicles that can monitor cell phone conversations on the move.

The French Police technician got lucky on the third try and without saying a word tapped the recording button and then typed in the cell phone information to the tracking computer as Inspector Yannick and Randy Baldwin listened in to an angry conversation, "Bullshit! They are still alive, the both of them. That bitch Mona carried on like nothing happened. Yokura, shit. All she got was a fucking cut on her arm. What the hell am I paying you for?" The distorted and electronically altered voice replied, "I was assured it had been carried out however, I will ensure it is next time. Unfortunately the script for tonight's events preclude their deaths. But I will assure you they will not leave Paris alive." Then the sound of the cell phone disconnecting came over the speaker.

Inspector Yannick reached for the door handle but was stopped by Randy Baldwin. Inspector Yannick turned in surprise, "Monsieur Baldwin?" Randy looking at the frozen image of Ken Wellford, "Inspector, I know from hearing the audio tape that you have more than enough circumstantial evidence to arrest Ken Wellford, however he was just the initiator. The other voice is the facilitator, he has a script just like us. This whole fantasy tour is just that. My associates know the risks and are well able to defend themselves. They can buy us some time and unlike the late Ms. Shipp and Ms. Kanbe they are packing heat and a lot of it. Wellford wanted those women dead for a reason, and I would like to be able to provide those answers when the families ask."

Exiting the van, the two men strolled to a nearby café to enjoy an early morning coffee and to make plans for the evening. The player's would be going out to play their roles at 8 PM local time, but there would be a lot of unseen extra observers. Randy Baldwin would be among them as would be the Inspector.

Mireille silently tapped out the wireless message to Randy Baldwin sitting at the nearby café, then signed off and hid the wireless device. Kirika Yumura quickly going over the room found nothing and then changed clothing and like Mireille fell fast asleep. Neither had much sleep and their weariness had not been an act. Watched over from a nearby hotel room by other Baldwin Foundation employees who had taken up their observation stations, Noir had an undisturbed sleep.

Wednesday, June 9th 1100 hours, Atlanta, 1000 hours, Caribbean Ocean

Gina Baldwin had left the young twins in the care of Angelina Lopez at the farm as what was now turning out to be a very high priority case was taking shape. Inquires into Albacore, LLC, had been fruitful and rewarding but disturbing. Briefed by the night duty officer on events taking place in Paris and elsewhere, Gina learned that Kelly Summers had briefly interviewed the remaining staff of Albacore, LLC that were not on vacation in Los Angeles and had chartered the fastest jet available to Tokyo.

Moments earlier, the United States Coast Guard in Miami reported that a US Coast Guard interdiction team upon directives from the Pentagon had ordered the cruise ship containing the president of Albacore, LLC to heave to and from the United States Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyer which the Coast Guard Drug Interdiction team had been embarked had in fact boarded the vessel and retrieved the man and his wife. The man identified as Ted Welshman was being flown directly to the Port of Miami by a US Navy Seahawk.

Ted Welshman rousted by the heavily armed US Coast Guard boarding team sat next to his wife holding her hand tightly as the Seahawk at full military power raced toward Miami. The Navy crewman sitting across from them did not look all that friendly and he was carrying a sidearm. The only words spoken to them had been by the Coast Guard Officer in Charge who stated, "Mr. Welshman up directives from the Pentagon you are hereby being taken to the Port of Miami for an interview. That interview will be carried out by the agents belonging to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and by investigative agents belonging to the Baldwin Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia. That is all I can say for now. Enjoy the flight, sorry but there is no in flight meals."

Wednesday, June 9th, 1300 hours Atlanta, 1900 hours, Paris, France

Lucio Magnus had greeted Randy Baldwin on his arrival at the Foundation Offices in Paris, with information from Soldat contacts. There had been a rumor of an assassination contract, but for whom and those that were to be carrying out the assignment were unknown.

Briefing Lucio in private on what had transpired, Lucio advised that if the Foundation needed additional manpower it could be arranged, then turning over the transcript of the interview with the president of Albacore, LLC in Miami that had been faxed by Gina from Atlanta, both men puzzled over the initial evasive answers. Randy discovered why on the last two pages.

Corey who had come to the office from the soccer facility sat with his step-sisters and none of them appeared happy, "Dad? What kind of military contract is it and why is Noir involved?"

Lucio like a kindly grandfather he appeared to be replied, "They became involved as the direct result of being in the right place at the right time. Mireille and Kirika know the risks, and since they happen to look like the ones who are really dead then there is a benefit of the doubt that falls upon those who desired their deaths. Noir will give us time to dig further into the military contract that the company is involved with. The innocent women died for a reason related to that contract. The man responsible is here in Paris with them. He initiated the apparent contract to an unknown facilitator. That person has to be located as well. They must face justice for their actions."

Randy mused over the question of the military contract replied, "Corey, it involves some kind of new surveillance technology that is being developed for the United States Military and the Japanese Self-Defense Force. Albacore, LLC is behind the development and testing. The vice-president of operations for Albacore is responsible for the testing and development and that is Ken Wellford. Both women were office managers for Albacore. Mona Shipp was the manager of the California office and Yokura Kanbe held a similar position in Japan. You can figure out the rest, Mona and Yokura discovered something. I have got to get going, Lucio please if you would take my kids home to the guest house. I don't have time as I have to meet with the Japanese ambassador in less than 15 minutes."

The twins and Corey watched their step-father leave and turned to Lucio with questioning looks to which Lucio replied, "Children. Your step-father knows the risks. The Foundation he help establish, stands to help those without the ability to help them selves or speak with their true voices. He gives them a leg up and if there is a need the Foundation will speak for those who have become silenced and act on their behalf as well." Lucio Magnus ushering the children from the office mused silently, "And will give those silenced a very loud voice indeed."

Gina Baldwin in Atlanta having read the transcripts was furious. Speaking with her harried husband by cell phone in Paris, she passed on additional information "Randy do you realize the significance if that surveillance technology is reengineered?" Randy Baldwin just leaving the office in the Land Rover replied, "Yes I do. Have you heard from Kelly yet?"

Gina composing herself replied, "Kelly's charter touched down in Tokyo an hour ago. She is on her way to the Embassy now to get a secure communications link. I am going to feed everything that we have learned and let her present it to the authorities there. Should I call Tabitha?"

Randy had mused over that, "The Agency is not going to miss the activity that the Foundation is putting on. I am a bit surprised that Tabitha has not called already considering how many Agencies that we have interacted with stateside. Put her on the same page we are and advise her of the implications. Advise her that Welshman has denied us access to the testing facility on Japanese soil, why he pulled a stunt when he is already in the dark is beyond me. I am on my way to the Japanese embassy here in Paris to discuss the situation with the ambassador. Give Kelly's cell phone number to Tabitha in case she needs to call her, and see about getting Kelly some reinforcements. If Tabitha has any questions have her call me, I'll be with the observation team to view the games."

Hearing the phone disconnect, Gina Baldwin wondered just by what Randy meant when he said he was going to observe the games. Tapping out the phone number of the private line belonging to Tabitha Alexander, Gina wondered if she could convey clearly enough on what the Foundation had learned to Tabitha Alexander.

Wednesday, June 9th 2030 hours, The Paris Mystery Mansion

Inspector Yannick and Randy Baldwin listened to the Who Done It play as it took place within a mansion on the outskirts of Paris. Inspector Yannick puzzled at first commented to Randy, "Monsieur Baldwin? What is this?" Randy too had been puzzled then upon reading the script and reading what the tour fantasy was all about replied, "Team building. Companies can send their employee's to these fantasy tours. The tour company in Los Angeles puts together tours that challenge the participants in solving certain things. This particular scenario is where a realistic looking murder takes place and the participants have to solve the case. It is unusual that two different companies are involved but it has happened in the past so when Wellford booked the fantasy at the last moment he did not realize, that he along with Mona and Yokura were going to be with the employees from a company in Boise, Idaho."

Inspector Yannick replied, "Intriguing. A fake murder within a real murder. Yet only three really are aware what has transpired within the mansion already. The facilitator apparently already wise to the nights planned events realized that to carry out another attempt would likely have been seen by everyone; therefore has decided to choose his or her time at the appropriate point, still it is uncomfortable that your associates are within and out of quick reach."

Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura were with the eight participants sitting in the library of the mansion. The tour guide had explained what was to happen. The ten people within the room were going to have to solve a crime, a crime that one amongst them would discover. The sound of a gun shot startled those around Mireille and Kirika as the tour guide smiled, "The game has begun once again, good luck."

Ken Wellford, waited for Mona and Yokura to race to the source, but instead they strolled unconcerned towards where the gun shot had come from on the floor above. Mireille out of ear shot of Wellford spoke to Kirika, "It appears the intention of the game is to split the group up," as the other participants choosing their own routes went ahead.

Mireille replied, "The goal of this is team building. The participants have already failed. If this was real, a killer could pick off the others one by one."

Mireille seeing Ken closing behind them nodded to Kirika and they split apart taking the "Y" stair case separately eyeing the floor above for a hidden gunman real or otherwise. Ken making a quick choice followed Kirika, "Yokura! Wait up!" as Wellford joined Kirika on the second floor, Mireille circled the balcony warily checking doors as she passed joining up with Kirika who had done like wise, with Wellford directly behind her.

Randy Baldwin and Inspector Yannick would have liked to have video of what was going on inside the mansion, but the tour group had kept the play location secret until the last minute. The participants had been taken by bus as a group, so Randy had to be contented with playing follow the leader. The only source of sound was coming from the wireless concealed mikes worn by Kirika Yumura and Mireille Bouquet. The audio quality had been so good that the microphones had picked up the fake gun shot.

Ken Wellford stepping past Mona and Yokura, motioned for them to follow; "Hey guys this way. There is a staircase over there. We can go up that way." Mireille and Kirika playing the subordinates followed.

Mireille spoke quietly, "Second floor rear staircase." Inspector Yannick called up the floor plan on a nearby laptop. The mansion listed as a historical landmark had been fully documented. The floor layout on CD ROM, the Inspector moved the mouse pointer and clicked. Randy spoke, "Upper landing, short balcony, entry to hallway then first two rooms right and left three meters."

The Inspector pointed to the screen, "The upper tea room perhaps?" Randy silently nodded, as his cell phone chirped. Randy, removed his microphone headset and spoke, "Baldwin," as the Inspector took over giving the lay out description.

Tabitha Alexander in Langley, Virginia replied, "Randy, I'll keep it short. Gina gave me a full brief. Agency is in agreement as is Pentagon. Japanese government will cooperate and assist. Your investigator Kelly Summers and I have already been in contact; how things going there?"

Randy replied, "Mireille and Kirika inside participating in a team building game of sorts. The prime suspect is with both, a Ken Wellford. I can assume you got briefed about him?" Tabitha replied, "Yes I did. The president of Albacore, LLC is on his way back to Los Angeles as we speak. By the way that was some stunt getting him off that cruise ship."

Randy chuckled, "I had nothing to do with that. I think Gina asked for that to happen and it did." Tabitha Alexander gave a small laugh as well, "Well it got his attention. You should know that he has no knowledge that Ken Wellford is in Paris. He thought Wellford was either in California or Japan. Makes you wonder what kind of organization Welshman is running." Randy replied, "An organization minus two key employees. Was he notified of their deaths?" Tabitha replied, "Yes he was, hence his return to California. Oh by the way before he could rescind the original denial of entry request, your investigator and the Japanese Self-Defense Force backed up by the Tokyo Police, just made entry as of 10 minutes ago. That's all I know for now. Good luck."

Closing the cell phone, Randy put the headset back on and listened as Yokura played by Kirika was describing the crime scene which was in the upper tea room, "Single gun shot wound to the heart, the door to this room was open but there is a key lying on the floor inside. The lock and key are antique. The killer could have used his or her own key to push the other out of the key hole then unlocking the door made entry."

The actress on the floor, playing the part of the murder victim had a look of shock on her face as Mireille playing Mona stepped carefully over her, "The victim sitting in this chair having her evening tea before meeting her guests was surprised at who entered the room. She may have known the killer as well, the shock of impending death etched on her face forever."

The heavy footsteps coming down the hallway alerted those present that another participant was entering the play. The male voice announcing who he was brought some laughs to those listening in the van, "I am Inspector Palo of the Paris Police Department, can someone tell me what has transpired?"

Randy looking at a real Paris Police Inspector quipped, "You would think, that if he was called to the mansion for a murder; he would at least have that as a clue in the first place?"

Inspector Yannick looking at the humorous expression on Randy's face could only roll his eyes in disgust.

Thursday, June 10th, 0500 hours, The Hilton Hotel, Paris, France

If he and the Inspector were bored to near tears, Randy wondered what Mireille and Kirika were feeling about now. The killer had not been the butler, but the maid and she had killed the lady of the house because of a lover's spat. The surveillance team watched as the participants having finally banded together had solved the "case" and the maid was led away in handcuffs. The participants boarded the bus and returned to the hotel, followed the entire way by unmarked police units and the surveillance van and of course Randy tagging along in the Land Rover.

Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura both had voiced to the silent observers that someone amongst their midst was going to pay for putting them through the game that had to be the most boring thing they had ever done. Mireille punctuated it by stating, "I know where you live." Inspector Yannick looking at Randy seemingly puzzled got his answer, "I occasionally spar with them in karate matches. I guess next time neither will hold back."

Mireille and Kirika joining their compatriots at the breakfast table, observed Randy Baldwin and Inspector Yannick enter the dinning room and take a table nearby. Mireille got up briefly and walking past Randy brushed up against the table discreetly as she passed. Wellford engrossed in conversation with Kirika failed to see the drop.

Randy retrieved the message, reading it then passing it to the Inspector who nodded in acknowledgement to the request, he stood and departed briefly. As Mireille returned, Randy stood and seemingly making accidental contact passed the return message back.

Randy apologizing in French to Mireille for bumping into her, returned to his seat observing Ken Wellford's reaction. No concern apparently.

Interrupted by the cell phone chirp Randy answered in French, the caller Kelly Summers in Tokyo, Japan spoke, "Randy?" Replying yes, Randy switched to English, "Yes Ms. Summers?"

Kelly Summers who was seven hours ahead replied, "The assumption of the altered test results was correct as was the implications of it being reengineered. Wellford oversaw the testing and sent in altered reports. But here is the kicker, someone else sent in the correct test results. The mangers, Yokura and Mona each received the test results both altered and true. I've gone through Wellford's office here and he has some interesting e-mails. Some friends from showed up from the Agency and the FBI as well. They are busy cracking the encryptions as we speak. Also are you familiar with PDF files?"

Randy mused a moment, "Yes I am. What about them?" Kelly continued, "Albacore, LLC exchanges the blue prints through PDF files. So when an alteration to the design was needed, Albacore engineers in Tokyo would send them to their counterparts in Los Angeles and so forth. We found a PDF that had been altered by Wellford's I.D. code. It looks like he added an unneeded component, one that would allow an outsider to gain control and access the system." Randy taking a sip of his coffee glanced casually at Ken Wellford replied, "Ok. Make sure everyone is on the same page there then bring the material with you, and get the first available flight to Paris." Kelly Summers smiled, "I've got a charter standing by now, I will be in the air in an hour." Randy disconnected and sat back in the chair as Inspector Yannick rejoining him nodded that the request had been carried out.