The Bovine Connection (30 page)

Angelica was trying to be sensitive to his feelings. She had never intended on becoming serious with Andrew and assumed he knew it. “His name is Michael Anderson. We met in Montana… It’s hard to explain, it just happened. A lot has happened,” she answered quickly, but softly.

“You fell in love with a cowboy while on a story in Montana. That’s a little bit unexpected, wouldn’t you say?” Andrew cleared his throat, noticeably shocked. His eyes were wide as he adjusted in his chair, staring blankly.

Andrew regrouped his thoughts and continued, “He shovels shit all day! And why would anyone pursue a career lassoing horses? I appreciate it… but how could you, Angelica Bradley, be content with that lifestyle?” Andrew gave a grim chuckle. “You and a cowboy from Montana… Good luck with that!” He shook his head in disbelief.

Angelica was not amused. “Let me put it to you bluntly, Andrew. He’s the cowboy you read about in romance novels… and you’re a Harvard Grad playboy with enough notches on your bedpost to carve a totem pole. Do I need to say more?” Angelica pushed her chair away from her desk and stood up.

“Look, Angelica, just because I don’t sell myself to you, doesn’t mean I’m not a deep, soulful man,” he argued, his tone flat.

Angelica looked exasperated. Cleary he wasn’t getting it, she thought. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with Carl and Gail,” she said in a breath, with a look of bewilderment.

Andrew turned his legs so she could pass by. “Well, you and I both know it won’t work,” he announced as he cocked his head and observed her cream colored, high-heeled shoes as she walked out, leaving him sitting alone in her office.

G
ail was already seated in front of Carl’s desk. As Angelica entered, they both became quiet. Angelica went over and took a seat beside Gail, letting out a long breath of air while leaning back in exhaustion.

”Wow!” Angelica lifted her hand to her temple and then dropped it into her lap.

“Angelica, quite a story we’ve stumbled upon, according to Gail,” Carl said and then looked over at Gail proudly.

Angelica nodded her head and was genuinely confused about where to start. “Guys, this cattle mutilation story has gone way beyond anything we could have imagined. First, let me mention that the reporter from Elberton, Matthew Tillman, is dead,” she announced.

“Yes, I know,” Carl said. “Gail told me. I’m sorry to hear the news. I understand you two became close friends while you were there. How did he die?”

Angelica took another, softer breath and looked down, shaking her head. “It was initially reported as a suicide but now it’s been ruled a homicide. I suspect…”

Gail finished her sentence… “You suspect it was because of your involvement in the story.”

Angelica looked vulnerable. “Yes, because of me, I suppose,” she said sorrowfully as she gripped her knee.

Angelica glanced briefly at Gail who suddenly looked nervous, and then she looked at Carl. “Well then you already know you may be in danger,” Carl said somberly. “Angelica, I have an obligation to inform you that what you’re investigation has been linked to several mysterious deaths.”

Closely examining Carl’s expression, Angelica became suspicious. She instinctively sat up straight in her chair. “Did you know where this story was going? How much did you know, Carl?”

Carl looked back at Gail and she nodded, giving her approval on what he was about to say.

“Yes, I’ve known about Newton’s connection… that there are secret projects there revolving around aliens,” he answered, appearing concerned.

“Did you know about the aerospace facility and the billionaire with a fondness for ancient Egyptian artifacts?” Angelica leaned in closer to his desk, clearly pissed off. “Wait, that’s why--out of all the cattle mutilations--you chose this one! I get it now!” Angelica’s tone was flustered. 

Carl nodded. “Yes. And it’s obvious you have accomplished exactly what I expected you, as a crack journalist, to do. You are beginning to put the pieces of this deranged puzzle together.”

“What the hell, Carl? We’re not at the
Post
anymore - I’m your boss! The
Liberator
is my magazine! My company! I started it!” she sputtered.

“With our help!” Carl glanced over at Gail and raised his eyebrows.

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before I left for Montana? My life is in danger! You had to know it would be! Why did I take this fucking story?” Angelica shouted, then closed her eyes and shook her head.

Gail jumped up and shut the door as a few employees were walking by trying to peep in and eavesdrop.

“Angelica, calm down!” Gail suggested sternly.

Carl looked at Angelica sympathetically. “Angelica, it’s rumored that some people in very powerful positions are up to no good and that’s why I felt it was an important story.”

“So who were you planning on covering the story?” Angelica appeared anxiously curious.

“Steven Jacobs,” he answered confidently.” I never thought in a million years you’d take this story.”

“Oh.” Angelica leaned back and thought a moment. Well, he’s building some fucking alien technology system. Hell, for all we know… he could be planning to blow us all up!” Angelica finished with tight lips.

“Listen Angelica, you must believe me… I didn’t think anyone would get killed! Matthew was a small town journalist. You’re a big city journalist. In the end, maybe it was a warning for you to stop… I don’t know.” Carl shook his head, appearing conflicted. “You can stop, Angelica, and we can edit the story and move on.”

Angelica was feeling a rush of emotions… anger, fear, uncertainty. But without hesitation and with a steely resolve she had never quite felt before she looked directly into Carl’s eyes. “No, Carl, I can’t stop! I have to finish what you started! Come hail or high water this story will be written and published! Angelica laughed spontaneously. “Hell, no one will believe a word of it anyway!

“But seriously, this story has legs like I have never seen before and I am afraid one person has already died because of it.” Angelica’s eyes grew solemn.

Carl pursed his lips. “Okay… Here’s the key. No one really seems to know what is going on in Nevada. That is why we had to go to Elberton. I thought we might stumble across information leading to this mysterious man that has reportedly been seen with John Kaye during the Senator’s visit to Newton’s Air Force Base last year. I know there is a link there, but we just don’t know how deep the trench goes.

By the way, John Kaye just so happens to be the Chairman of the U.S. Ways and Means Committee.”

“Yes, I found that out today,” Angelica sneered.

“Oh.” Carl nodded, appearing unoffended by Angelica’s irritation.

“I’m going to the facility in Nevada. Can you call and set up an interview, Carl?”

“And tell them what?” Carl snarled.

“Figure something out, damn it! The
Liberator Magazine
is interested in the advancements being made in the field of aerospace, whatever…”

Gail shook her head. “Good luck. I doubt they’ll buy it.”

Carl glanced over at Gail and then back at Angelica. “All right, all right… I’ll see what I can do.” Carl stood up and walked over to a file cabinet, took a set of keys from the pocket of his khaki slacks, and unlocked the bottom drawer. He pulled out a thick expandable file folder. “Angelica, this is above top-secret. This file contains classified information that would scare the shit out of most people,” Carl announced, as he dramatically held the file in the air. “This file was given to me by an anonymous source… ex CIA, that’s all I’ll say. We need to find out who this person is and why he built the facility – and most importantly, how and why John Kaye is involved and then we expose it.”

Carl sat back down. “In this file is a document confirming that a treaty was signed with the same supposed ET race a while back, under the Eisenhower Administration.”

Angelica appeared stunned, and then closed her eyes, shook her head and chuckled sarcastically.

“Yes, you heard me correctly,” Carl continued. “We traded human and animal experimentation for technology… rather fucked up… wouldn’t you say? We sold our souls to the Devil. And the Devil turns out to not have horns and a pitchfork… but instead eyes dark as night, and technology that could end civilization as we know it. Angelica, this information clearly implicates the government’s involvement with the extraterrestrial problem for some time.”

“Problem?” Angelica responded intrigued.

Angelica stared in disbelief. “Carl, you’re lucky I don’t fire you for not telling me this information sooner.”

Carl glanced over at Gail and raised his brows. He felt a wave of relief as he looked back at Angelica.

Angelica raised her fingers to her mouth, she had an idea. “John Kaye has an office at the Capital, correct?” Angelica reached over and took the file from Carl’s desk, then scooted back in her chair.

“Yes,” Gail interjected. Angelica quickly glanced over.

“Well, I’ll start there,” Angelica said confidently as she peered at Gail.

Carl appeared puzzled. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“What the hell. Why not? Let’s see what the honorable Mr. Kaye has to say.” Angelica smirked.

Carl leaned back and clapped his hands with a nervous laugh. “Follow the money… I’m with you.” Carl’s face turned solemn. “But for God’s sake Angelica, please be careful. I am truly sorry I got you into a story as dangerous as this.”

Angelica looked suspiciously at Carl as she rose from the chair. Gail stood up and stepped toward the door. Angelica abruptly turned away from both of them and to their surprise Angelica left without saying a word.

In the hall, Gail rushed over and took Angelica’s arm softly, causing Angelica to stop and turn. Gail leaned in so no one could hear her. “Is going to the Capital to confront John Kaye really a good idea? Isn’t there another way? Can’t you find a good source to do the dirty work?” Gail lifted Angelica’s arm exposing a blood stained Band-Aid. “And what happened to your arm?” Gail gasped.

Angelica looked around the room and noticed a few of the other employees watching them. “Probably not, but what the hell, my life’s already in danger… what do I have to lose at this point? My arm, oh, it’s nothing… just an accident.” Angelica quickly pulled her arm away.

Gail squinted, clearly rattled, and whispered, “I don’t want to lose my dear friend,” before she turned and walked off, leaving Angelica alone and suddenly feeling very vulnerable.

Angelica glanced around to see that everyone was still watching but trying to act as if they were busy at their desk. Easing her shoulders, she put the file against her chest as she walked down the hall to her office. Once inside she closed the door behind her, then went and sat down at her desk. Angelica opened the file and started to read. The first page was a classified CIA document.

“Jacque Langston, structural engineer with both military and aerospace applications with the U.S. Government was involved in the construction of twelve underground military bases. In 2005 Jacque Langston was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His death initially ruled a suicide, was later reported by former Nation Security Officer, Alex Harper, to be a military-style execution. Alex Harper is now an independent journalist in San Francisco, California.

Jacque Langston was earmarked as an extremist. He was under constant surveillance for leaking classified information to the public. Langston was known to openly speak of the 1954 treaty made with the extraterrestrials which stipulated the exchange of technology for testing their implanting techniques on a select group of humans and cattle. Jacque Langston shared with the general public information regarding the extraterrestrials’ decision not to abide by the agreement and the subsequent confrontations that occurred. Jacque Langston was injured during a gunfight that transpired between himself and extraterrestrials at Newton Air force Base’s underground facility during its construction. During that time, other military officials and contracted mine workers were killed.”

Angelica dropped the document on her desk and put her hand to her mouth. She immediately thought of Matthew and his ransacked house. “Did he know more than he told me?” she thought aloud. Was someone looking for information he had which corroborated the document that was now lying on her desk? Angelica wondered if Matthew knew about the underground ET facility. Angelica wondered how much had he kept from her to protect her?

Feeling anxious and still irritated at Carl, she stood up and put both hands behind her neck, and began to pace back and forth between her desk and the wall of windows. She wanted to continue reading through the file, but she suddenly remembered Michael was on his way to see her, and would be at her townhouse within the next two hours.

Angelica felt short of breath as if she were about to have a panic attack and she realized if she didn’t calm down and focus on one task at a time she was not going to be of any help to herself or anyone around her. People had a right to know what she was discovering whether they chose to believe it or not and she had an obligation to get it right. Angelica wondered how many people knew about the Treaty. She turned and looked back at the file lying open on her desk. Standing there, she tapped her fingers anxiously under her bottom lip as she stared at the picture of Jacque Langston. Angelica had another thought.
What about his family, did he have children… a wife? Who killed him? Are they the same people that have been threatening her, stealing her computer? Are they the same people that killed Matthew? Will they do the same to her?
She wondered anxiously. She felt a tingling and the warm wetness of her tears as they glided down to her cheeks.