Special Talents (28 page)

"Well, well, well," said Green. "Look who we have here. I was wondering when you were going to show up, doctor. You really didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you?"

"I thought it might," said Jeremy. "Human nature being what it is I figured it was worth a shot."

Green looked up where his men had followed Mariah into the clump of trees. As they watch, Mariah, flanked by four guards came out of the trees and began to head for the building.

"My men are trained to fight their natures," said Green. "And to follow orders. Their orders were to lure you in and make you think it would be simple to get into that building holding the statue. And I'd say it worked like a charm."

Jeremy just looked at Green as he smiled from ear to ear. The entire team had been captured and were surrounded by one of the most elite units in the military.

"Well, doctor, for all your grandstanding in the Secretary's office you seem to have come up short," said Colonel Green.

Jeremy, Mariah, and Kamalene had all been taken into the building and handcuffed to chairs, just like Janet, Conrad, and Simon. The colonel stood before them with a big smile on his face, the captain standing just to his right. The colonel had his hands on his hips indicating he was in complete control.

"This one's a comedian," said the captain, indicating Simon. "He's got some real funny answers to my questions."

"Yeah, I'm still waiting on that recommendation," said Simon. "I'm sure when the people at the Improv hear a captain in the army recommended me they'll move me right to the top of the list."

"You're all ready at the top of the list," said the captain. "The terrorist list. After what you people tried tonight you'll be lucky if you don't spend the rest of your lives in prison."

"I told you my men were the best, doctor," said Green. "We pride ourselves on being the best. I don't know why General Porter wanted to have this test but I told him you didn't stand a chance. There's no way a bunch of civilians could stand up to my men."

"I guess you were right, colonel," said Jeremy. "But the test was important, I can assure you. If for no other reason than to work out the kinks, so to speak. You've helped us do that nicely."

"Excuse me, sir," said the captain. "Test?"

"Yes, captain, test," said Green. "These people really aren't terrorists. Oh, the item you're protecting is real enough. And it was their job to steal it. It was your job to make sure they didn't. As usual you did that quite admirably."

"If I may ask, sir," said the captain, "why wasn't I told it was only a test?"

"Order from Secretary Napolitano," said Green. "Only I was to know it wasn't real. Now that it's over I can't see why you shouldn't know. But let the men continue to think it's real. At least until zero eight hundred."

"What happens at zero eight hundred, sir?" asked the captain.

"That's when the test is officially over," said Jeremy. "Until then, we still have a chance."

"Not locked up in here you don't," said Green. "Captain, keep them here until zero eight hundred. Then you can let them go."

"Yes, sir," said the captain. "Can I tell the men it was a test then? I think they have a right to know."

"I think that will be fine," said Green. "But not before. And tell them they performed admirably. I'm very pleased with the way they handled this test. And be sure to tell them it wasn't a test of them. It was a test of these people."

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," said the captain.

"And we'll just leave them handcuffed in here until then," said Green. "General Porter said he wanted this to be as real as possible. Well, our prisoners aren't released until they're ready for transport to another location. So we'll just leave them as they are for the time being. Doctor, have a good night. I'll see you at zero eight hundred. Come on, captain. I think we deserve a celebratory drink."

It was nearly half an hour later when a white panel van pulled up and stopped next to the confinement building. As the guards watched cautiously, General Porter got out of the van. He was dressed in the now familiar Battle Dress Uniform that was the utility uniform for most of the Armed Forces. The guards immediately saluted and he returned their salute.

"Where can I find Colonel Green?" Porter asked.

"He's in the headquarters building, sir," said one of the guards, pointing to a building not far away.

As Porter turned and headed to the building, Colonel Green and the captain came out the front door. They both approached Porter and saluted him and he returned their salutes.

"General," said Green, "the front gate told me you had just come through. I wasn't expecting you, sir."

"I just thought I'd drop by and see how you were doing," replied Porter. "Unofficially, of course."

"Of course, sir. This is my adjutant, Captain Phillips."

"Captain. So, colonel, have you made any progress?"

"As a matter of fact sir, we have," said Green smiling. "I'm pleased to report that all infiltrators have been apprehended and are at this very moment under heavy armed guard."

"All of them?" questioned Porter. "Outstanding, colonel. Out fucking standing. I told Dr. Sloan his people weren't ready. And you helped me prove it. Now, just where are they being held?"

"Right over there, sir," said Green. "It's normally a storage building I had cleaned out to use as a containment area for this exercise. Oh, I hope it's okay. I did fill Captain Phillips in. After all, the exercise is over. The men are still under the impression it's all real however."

"I don't suppose there's any harm done," said Porter. "You certainly have enough men guarding the place. What other security measures do you have in place?"

"The building only has one way in and out," said Green. "The walls are solid reinforced concrete and there's not so much as a window. I also had the place wired so we could listen to them. They were pretty chatty for a while. Mundane stuff mostly. About 10 minutes ago they stopped talking. I guess they decided to get some sleep."

"What other security measures do you have in place, colonel?" Porter asked.

"That's all, sir," said Green. "As I said, they're being held in that building and there's no way out except through the front door. And I can assure you, sir, they haven't come out that way."

"You left them in there alone?" Porter asked, his temper flaring. He turned and head toward the building. "Get that door open right now. Colonel, you have no idea what these people are capable of doing. They're unlike any opponents you've ever faced."

"Sergeant," ordered Green to one of the guards, "open the door."

The sergeant punched in the key code and the door opened automatically. Porter, Green, and Phillips stepped into the building and looked around. The sight that greeted them chilled Green to the bone. Instead of the prisoners he had left handcuffed to the chairs, all that was in the building were the chairs and the handcuffs placed neatly on the seat of each chair. Porter and Green looked around the building and found nothing else. It was completely empty.

"Damn," swore Porter, stepping outside. "We had them."

"Sergeant," said Green, "has anyone gone into the building since the prisoners were locked in?"

"No, sir," replied the sergeant. "The door hasn't opened even once. I've been here the entire time. So has Private Pasqual, sir."

"I don't understand it," said Green. "The building is solid concrete. So is the foundation. There are no other doors or windows. They couldn't have escaped."

"You said you had the placed bugged," said Porter.

"Yes, sir. Sometimes we can find out things by listening to the prisoners talk among themselves when no one else is around."

"Did you record their conversations?"

"Every second of them."

"Where's the radio room?"

"This way, sir," said Green leading Porter back into the headquarters building.

They entered the radio room and found a soldier sitting at the equipment with headphones on. He seemed to be listening intently to them.

"Private," said Green, "did you hear anyone else in the confinement building besides the prisoners after I left?"

"No sir," replied the private. "They kept talking about 'Phase IV', whatever that is. They were never very clear about it. About ten minutes ago it became real quiet in there."

"That must have been when they got out," said Porter.

"They couldn't have," protested Green. "There's no way out of that building."

"There is for these people," said Porter. "Private, did they say anything that might give an indication where they were headed?"

"Earlier they mentioned something about having a truck waiting on the other side of the Anacosta River. They said all they had to do is swim the river and they'd be home free. That's about it."

"That's where they're headed," said Porter. "They'll have to be stealthy to prevent being recaptured. It's possible they haven't made it to the river yet. If we can get there ahead of them we might yet salvage this night."

Green turned and ran out the building, calling to the sergeant who was standing guard at the confinement building.

"Get all of the men and head to the north side of the compound," Green ordered. "Search everything, including the river." He turned back to Porter as the sergeant ran off issuing orders into his radio. "I'm sorry, sir. I take full responsibility. I have no idea how this could have happened."

"I do," said Porter. "The statue? Is it still in the building?"

"Maybe we'd better check it."

Together the two men hurried to the building where the statue was being kept as soldiers ran from all over the compound to the north side. When they got to the building two men stood guard outside the building.

"Private," said Green to one of the guards. "Has anyone tried to get into the building in the last half hour?"

"No, sir," replied the private.

Green stepped up to the key pad and punched in the code that opened the door. As the door swung open the two men stepped inside. Even from the door it was clear the statue was still there. It sat on a pedestal with lights shining on it from the ceiling. The general sighed a sigh of relief.

"Well, at least they didn't get their objective," he said. "Colonel, I want four guards inside this building for the rest of the night. No one in or out for any reason."

"Private," Green said to the guard, "call the First Sergeant and have four men report here on the double."

"Yes, sir," said the private.

"Colonel," said Porter, "I want you to remain in this room until those four guards arrive. At zero seven hundred I want you to personally come and get the statue and bring it to Secretary Napolitano's office. No one, and I mean no one, enters or leaves this building for any reason. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly, sir," replied Green. "I don't know how the prisoners escaped but they won't get that statue. You have my word on that."

"Good," said Porter, looking at his watch. "I need to get going. I have to be at Secretary Napolitano's office at zero seven hundred. Dr. Sloan may have escaped his confinement but he didn't complete his objective. I told him he wouldn't. I'll see you at approximately zero eight hundred, colonel."

"Yes, sir," said Green, saluting the general. Porter returned the salute. "And again, my apologies for having failed you sir."

"Don't give it a second thought, colonel. If you knew all the specifics about this you'd understand better."

Porter went back to his van and got in. As Colonel Green waited for the interior guards to arrive, Porter drove out of the installation and headed back into D.C.

It was 7:45 a.m. and Secretary Napolitano and General Porter were in here office. Scarborough was also there. They had all been there since 7:00 waiting for Jeremy to arrive with the statue. They had been discussing the normal business they had to contend with on a daily basis. They were also discussing if Jeremy would complete the assignment and place the statue on Napolitano's desk as agreed. Porter was still sure he wouldn't. Scarborough told the general not to count them out yet. Suddenly the phone rang and Napolitano answered it.

"It's for you," she said handing the phone to Porter.

It wasn't such an unusual event. Many times the two would be in her office when he received a phone call. Since it might be something he would have to apprise her of he would normally take the call.

"Porter here." He paused for a moment listening to the person at the other end. "When? . . . Please escort him to the Secretary's office. And bring the briefcase with you but don't let him carry it."

He hung up the phone.

"Dr. Sloan was apprehended coming into the building about 10 minutes ago," he told Napolitano.