TWELVE
Commissioner Morris' secretary opened the door to his office and walked in.
"The Secretary of Homeland Security is here to see you, sir," said the secretary.
"Please, show the Secretary in immediately."
"Yes, sir."
She left the office and a few moments later the Secretary of Homeland Security walked into the office. He was smiling as he walked up and shook Morris' hand.
"Secretary Bennett," said Morris, "it's a pleasure to see you again, sir. I believe the last time we met was at the confirmation hearings for Justice Pollock."
"Please, call me Victor," said the Secretary. "No need to stand on ceremony here. And yes it was at Justice Pollock's confirmation hearings. I got your report on the invasion at the Halliwell manor. And of the woman who was found there. Any idea how she got into the house?"
"We're still investigating it. Perhaps you could give us some idea how she could have gotten past security. You did used to live there after all."
"That was a long time ago," said Victor. "Long before I was aware that my wife was a witch and the mother of the supposed Charmed Ones. I'm sure your security people will find out how she did it. Now, what about this Phoebe Halliwell?"
"I've all ready reprimanded Captain Barger for his foolishness. And I've made it quite clear that we are very interested in this young woman. He's returned to the camp where she is interned to segregate her from the rest of the population. She should be isolated by the time we get there."
"Good. As unlikely as it seems there is a possibility this woman is who she claims to be. If that's the case we need to deal with her immediately."
"I assume you'll be wanting to deal with the other sisters as well," said Morris. "You did say the only reason you kept them alive was to draw out any relatives they might have. If this Phoebe does turn out to be their sister you won't have any use for them any longer."
"No, we won't. "It was a calculated risk keeping them alive. But it appears it was worth it. What of the special prisoner? You haven't sent any reports on her so I assume the situation hasn't changed at all."
"No, sir, it hasn't. She's still secured in her special prison. She hasn't given us any more information but then neither of us expected her to. I've left her to herself. I assume you'll be wanting to speak with her."
"Of course," said Victor. "It's been a while since she was last interrogated. Maybe the time alone has made her more amiable. I know she's hiding something. Maybe she'll be willing to talk now."
"I'll see about making arrangements to take us to the camp while you're interrogating her. Just let me know when you're ready to leave. Barger is expecting us."
"Fine," said Victor. "This shouldn't take long. Somehow I don't think she'll be any more willing to talk than she has been in the past."
Morris picked up his phone as Victor left the office. Victor negotiated his way through the building to an elevator at the end of a hallway. As he approached the elevator two armed security men stepped up to him.
"I'm sorry, sir," said one of the security men, "this is a restricted area."
Victor reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his identification. He showed it to the security guard who looked it over very carefully.
"Secretary Bennett. We've been expecting you, sir. Commissioner Morris has instructed us to provide you with whatever assistance you may require."
"I want to go to sub level four," said Victor. "And I don't want to be disturbed for any reason."
"Yes, sir," said the other security guard removing a security card from his pocket. He used the card to open the elevator doors. "The code for sub level four is 0037. When you want to come back up use code 1549. If you use any other code the elevator will be automatically secured and the alert will be sounded.
"To access the security area on sub level four you'll need the code 5221. Once inside the room the only way to get out is using the cold 9632. Once you have exited the room the security code will automatically be reset to another code so make sure you're finished before you leave the room."
"Understood. Thank you, lieutenant."
The two security men stepped aside as Victor entered the elevator. Inside there was simply a keypad on the wall. Victor punched in the security code the guard had given him and the doors immediately closed and began to descend. A few moments later the elevator stopped and the doors opened onto a long hallway.
It took him less than two minutes to walk the hallway to the only room on this level. Once at the room Victor took a deep breath and then punched in the security code for the room. The door opened automatically and Victor stepped inside. The door closed automatically behind him.
Inside the room was a smaller room. It was constructed completely of a clear material and in the upper corner where each wall met the adjoining wall was a small spherical device about the size of a basketball. Inside the smaller room sat a woman with her head lying on a small desk. The inside of the smaller room was completely outfitted with every necessity a person would need to live. There appeared to be no way into the smaller room.
"It's been a while," said Victor. "I thought I'd stop by and say hello."
The woman raised her head and looked at Victor. Contempt showed in her face.
"Well, Victor. I'm surprised you have the nerve to show your face. Considering everything you've done. I've told you everything I know. I don't know what more you expect to learn from me."
"Is that any way to talk to your husband, Patty?"
Patty Halliwell just stared at Victor with contempt in her eyes.