Day 19-5
I have no problem finding the way to the area where the chemicals have been dumped. Not only because I have been there once before and made sure to remember all the landmarks I possibly could, but more because there is evidence that someone has come this way recently. Footprints! I observe, trying not to be obvious about it. Three sets, two made by heavy boots, the other by dress shoes, sort of like... Micheals'! So I was right. Apparently only two of the other Agents have been up with him. I take a one to a million bet, I know which two. Darrel, and the guy he called Terry.
"Sergeant," General Lancaster addresses me from behind, "now that we have a minute to talk..."
"Yes, Sir, I assume you would like to know how we found the chemicals?" I sigh.
"Correct. Care to fill me in?"
"Well..." I hesitate
"Look, Sergeant, you have my word that whatever you tell me will be strictly confidential. I would just like to know how many people actually are involved."
"I understand, General. I'm just concerned for the safety of these folks."
"So there are others?"
"Yes!" I reply scarcely.
"How many?"
"Two, as far as I know, besides us."
"This, of course, does not include the agents allegedly involved in this, correct?"
"Correct!" I remain careful.
"The other two," Lancaster refuses to let up, "Military?"
"Civilians."
Now he exhales a sharp breath, and Roberts does the same.
"Look, General," I start again, but then stop in mid-sentence and mid-stride. Shit! The feeling is back. The weird sensation of being watched. Damn, Harry, not now. Knocking a General in the head wouldn't be such a good thing.
"Sergeant?" Lancaster says low, glancing around. "What is going on?"
"Oh, nothing," I lie. "Just thought I heard somethin'."
"Well, did you?" Roberts queries, sounding a little anxious.
"Nah!" I shrug, and exhale a furtive breath because the strange feeling is suddenly gone. Thank God! I'd hate to try and explain that one. Besides, Jimmy ain't here for the translation either. That might've gotten rather complicated.
Another quick glance around the area, and I start walking again.
Lancaster and Roberts follow close behind me.
"Watch your step, Gentlemen," I advise them as we reach the passage between the two boulders.
The path behind the opening seems much clearer this time, and there is definite evidence that someone came through, only a short time ago.
Even Lancaster notices. "It looks like someone has recently been here," he muses, examining a bush where several branches have been more or less hacked off.
"Yes, Sir! And I'm pretty sure I know who," I retort harshly, stopping again.
"Care to tell me, Sergeant?"
"Agent Micheals and two of his guys," I reply without hesitation.
"What makes you so certain?" Roberts inquires nevertheless.
"Simple," I shrug. "There are three sets of footprints, two from boots, the third from dress-shoes. Harless isn't involved, we are pretty sure of that, and unless there is someone else up here, which I seriously doubt..."
"Then that leaves only Micheals and his men," Lancaster fills in the rest.
"Exactly!" I acknowledge.
"One question though, Sergeant," Roberts continues to pry. "How do you intend to prove this?"
"Well," I scratch my head, "you don't know all of the story yet."
"Apparently neither do I, since I was going to ask the same thing." The General raises an eyebrow. "What are we missing here, Sergeant?"
"Well," I repeat, getting a grin from Lancaster, "for what we found out, this thing goes a lot farther back than just five or six years. Apparently Micheals was involved in a conspiracy to dump them same chemicals on an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. But he got caught and ended up..."
"Wait! Just hold up a second, Sergeant," Lancaster interrupts quickly. "How did you find all this out?"
"You seen my friend's face, Sir, didn't you?" I answer hard.
"Yes, and Agent Harless told me that Micheals beat him."
"Did he tell you why, too?"
"No!"
"Let me fill you in then, Sir." I draw a deep breath. "Like I mentioned, Micheals had a plan going to dump the chemicals on Reservation land in Oklahoma. There was a security tape that showed him and someone else talking about it. I'm not sure you noticed, Jimmy is deaf..."
"Yes, I watched him and your other friend communicate in sign-language," Lancaster throws in.
"Right! But Jimmy is also extremely good at reading lips."
"Ah, I understand. The security tape. No sound, just video," the General puts things together quickly. "But how did your friend get involved?"
"Well, Sir," I sigh, "the way we figured by what he and Agent Harless told us, it was Jimmy's brother who accidentally came across that tape. And since Jimmy could make out what was being said, the whole thing blew up. Micheals got busted, but not before he killed Jimmy's brother. Unfortunately though, some of the evidence, including the incriminating part of the tape disappeared, and Micheals got off with only three years..."
"Wait!" Lancaster finally gets another chance to interrupt. "You rattle this whole thing off in one breath, Sergeant. Hold up a minute. You say Micheals killed someone?"
"Yes, General, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"You have any kind of proof for such a serious accusation, Sergeant?"
"Not at this time," I admit, but add, "at least nothing beyond what happened up here so far, and a little slip-up from Micheals himself that hinted to that."
"What did he say?" Roberts wants to know.
"He made a remark to Harless, that he got away from the authorities once before and that he can do it again."
Two more sharply exhaled breaths, and a look of serious concern between Lancaster and Roberts.
"Sergeant," the General then comes back, "let's leave the subject at that for the moment. I'll take your word on it for now."
"I appreciate that, Sir."
"You are welcome. But I am definitely going to take the matter up with Agent Micheals, as soon as we get back," Lancaster grumbles, and I am thinking, won't do you no good. He ain't gonna talk voluntarily.
"I would also like to speak with your friend, Jimmy, to find out exactly what went on. Do you think this could be arranged, Sergeant? I'm not familiar with sign-language, but perhaps your other friend could interpret?"
Great! Bet Cut and Chief gonna be just delighted about that. "That's a question you will have to ask those two, Sir." I pull myself out of the bind.
"I will. Now we better get on with our trip here. How much further is it?"
"Just a few hundred yards," I inform him and start walking, glad that he doesn't get back on the first subject about how we found the chemicals.
"Oh, good Lord!" Roberts blurts out as soon as he lays eyes on the barrels. "Jesus, Hobert, would you look at that," he gasps, motioning Lancaster closer.
#####
The containers are still there. All of them. Exactly the way we had found them before. I have to admit, realizing that Micheals had been up here, I was quite concerned he might have let some evidence disappear again. But apparently he was so sure of silencing us, he didn't even bother. Your mistake, George.
Roberts looks pale. "Sergeant, do you know if this is all of them?"
"To be honest, I don't know for sure. But according to our information, there are about two-hundred drums up here all together."
"Two-hundred? Oh, my God!" he sighs.
"Yes, Sir," I confirm. "As far as I know the other ones are in this same area, but have been covered up by now."
"Sergeant Riggin," Lancaster doesn't sound all too good either, "I owe you an apology..."
"No, you don't, General," I cut him off. "I wouldn't believe it either, if I hadn't seen it."
"Well, I can definitely tell you one thing, Sergeant, there are a few heads going to roll over this. And if I have to personally turn every Government and Military department upside down, to find out who all is in on this." He says it so dead serious, it even gives me the creeps.
"I have seen all I need to see, Sergeant." Roberts' voice has kind of a crack in it.
"So is there anything you can do about it?" I inquire nevertheless.
"You bet there is!" he avows harshly. "This has to be the absolute worst case of environmental endangerment, I have ever seen. It's an outrage!" He is really getting angry now.
"All right, Brian," Lancaster places a hand on Roberts' shoulder, "let's get out of here. You can blow some steam on the way back. I want to have a few words with this so-called Government Agent down there." Saying this, he looks at me, and there is a glow in his eyes that makes me think, boy, I wouldn't wanna be in Micheals' shoes.
#####
We don't talk much on the way back. Roberts looks so upset, I am afraid to say anything to him, and Lancaster seems to be thinking real hard about something. There is only one question that burns in my mind, and I come out with it at last.
"Sir?" I hesitantly address the General.
"Yes, Sergeant?" he gives me his attention.
"I was just wondering. For all I know, it would take a whole lot to clean up this mess. Figure they'd need to send in a Nuclear-Biological team, to get these chemicals out of here and to a recycling-station."
"You are pretty well informed, Sergeant," Lancaster smiles wry. "That is exactly what it would take."
"Yeah," I drawl thoughtfully, "but who's gonna pay for it?"
"The taxpayer of course," Roberts throws in angry. "It would have been a lot cheaper to dispose of the chemicals correctly to begin with. Now we have one hell of a mess on our hands, and this area is never going to be the same, even if it gets all cleaned up." He turns more irate with every word. "They will have to come in here with heavy equipment, just to get those drums safely into airlock containers, and even if everything goes right there is still a great danger of contamination. Wouldn't be surprised if we have to quarantine this whole area indefinitely."
"Hmmm," I muse, thinking that might actually be a positive outcome of the situation. If they close this whole area after it is cleaned up, then Harry and them would be safe up here, at least for a few years.
"Sergeant," Lancaster gives me a curious look, "what are you thinking about so hard?"
Ooops! Can't tell you that one, General. "Nothing, Sir. Just wondering how long it would take to clean this place up?" I recover the situation—or hope to do so anyway.
"It will be a while," Roberts replies. "Even if I can get this through the proper channels quickly, there is still a whole mess of bureaucracy involved, I am afraid."
"Just as long as we can put a stop to it at all, Brian," Lancaster grits his teeth. "The Sergeant and his men have done their part, now it is up to us."
"You bet," Roberts agrees, and I kind of swell a little, even if it was just an indirect compliment that Lancaster paid us.
#####
We return to the camp, finding everything in order. The six agents are still tied and under guard by Sawyer. Micheals looks madder'n hell, and Colonel Wise is watching him closely, though involved in a conversation with Harless. Cut, Chief and Lieutenant Hughes have not returned with the other guys yet. General Lancaster and Brian Roberts use the opportunity to have a little talk with Micheals. Good luck! And I decide to get comfortable on the bench outside, with a beer and Buck, to keep me company.
"Well, boy," I reach down to scratch his head, "guess we done a good job after all. What you think?" I get a "whoof" of agreement and keep talking low, rather to myself but with the dog listening attentively. "So now we just got three things left to figure out. One, how we gonna make sure Micheals doesn't get away with it again. Two, how we gonna keep all these guys from sayin' anything about Harry and his folks up here. And three, how the hell we gonna explain where they been all this time."
Another "whoof", but that isn't really a very helpful answer.
"Guess I'll wait till Cut and Jimmy get back. Maybe they've come up with an idea by now. Wonder how the General is getting along with Micheals?"
This question is answered right away because Lancaster steps outside at this moment. Judging by the look on his face, he isn't all too happy.
"May I?" He indicates the free space beside me on the bench.
"Certainly!" I scoot over just a little, and he sits down. I can't help a furtive, curious look at him, but hold my question nevertheless.
Lancaster is quiet for a long time, then suddenly shakes his head in frustration. "Sergeant, tell me something, will you?"
"Sir?" I raise an eyebrow at the unexpected opening.
"How does an ignorant son-of-a-bitch like Micheals end up as a Government Agent?"
I don't answer at all. First, because of the straight-to-the-point question, and second, because coming from a General it seems so out of place. I merely stare at him with my mouth open.
He looks over and grins wry. "I apologize, Sergeant. I just could not find a better term to refer to this man."
"No apology necessary, Sir." I finally recover and grin too. "To be honest, I've called him a lot worse than that."
"Wouldn't doubt it. I tried to talk to him, but all I got was a mouthful of cussing and a bunch of lies."
"So he still denies everything?" I ask, slightly worried.
"Yes, but it will not do him much good. Apparently while we were gone, Colonel Wise had a long talk with this other agent. What is his name?"
"Harless?" I help out.
"Yes, Harless. According to the details they discussed, everything you told me is the absolute truth...not that I doubted it or anything," he adds quickly, then continues. "Colonel Wise also informed me, that during this conversation Micheals had another, as you put it, slip-up, more or less admitting to the whole thing."
"Sir," I interrupt again, but he doesn't seem to mind, "one question though..."
"What's that, Sergeant?"
"Well, we weren't quite sure just how many of them other agents are in on it..."
"That is something we will have to put under investigation," he admits honestly. "For now they will all remain tied. Except for Harless and the other one of course."
"Sawyer!" I throw in the name.
"Yes! Whatever! They will be taken off this mountain and placed under maximum security until this matter is completely resolved," he adds sternly, then glances at me again with another thoughtful look. "Sergeant?"
"Yes, Sir?" I squint, anticipating what he is going to say next.
"You never did answer my previous question."
"Which one, General?" I inquire unnecessarily.
"Who else..." he interrupts himself this time, because Buck suddenly takes off in a flash, down the path, yipping and barking. "What is the matter with your dog, Sergeant?" Lancaster gets off the subject.
I suppress a sigh of relief as I answer. "Nothing, Sir. By the way he's acting, that's my friends coming up the path. Buck's got a thing for Lieutenant Hughes' after shave. I think he'n smell it from a mile away."
"Oh, so that's why..." He doesn't finish, but bursts out laughing instead.
"Sir?"
"Oh, it just explains why Bill received such a ferocious welcome from the dog when we first came up here," he chuckles, and I can't quite suppress a smirk, picturing that scene.
"Sorry, Sir! Buck gets a little carried away with his affection every now and then."
"That's quite all right, Sergeant." Lancaster is still snickering. "I have four dogs at home myself, and when they start in on you..."
Damn, he's really a down-to-earth kinda guy. But most of the higher ranks I've dealt with are, if you get talking to 'em. Just that most people worry more about kissin' ass, than seein' a high Officer as a guy who puts his pants on the same way we do. (Not meaning to be disrespectful, only talking from personal experience.)