Story Four: “Not Quite the Heart of the Conspiracy….Maybe Just the Spleen”
Lester Dawes and Abby Germain stood in the elevator that would take them to the SPUD Detention Center. Surrounding them were several agents of the Super-menace Principal Undercover Directorate. The fit and trim young men and women were on their way to a variety of places for a variety of reasons, all of which were top secret. When they saw the duo’s ID badges bore the symbol of the Office of Paranormal Security, the veneer of competent professionalism on some was replaced briefly by disdain.
OPS and SPUD had been rivals for years. It was natural for two organizations with similar mission statements to be at odds over jurisdiction and funding, and the differences were exacerbated by very conflicting styles. For example, no one in the OPS had to wear skin tight jump suits as their official uniform, which Lester appreciated. Still, it would be nice to have a flying car for the commute to work.
The elevator doors whooshed open to the level Dawes and Germain sought. They stepped out. Abby turned and shot the agents a smirk.
“Love your outfits. Do you buy them in bulk?”
The doors shut before any reaction could be gauged.
“Nice,” Lester commented.
“Hey, somebody had to say something. They were judging us. With their eyes,” Abby looked around the cell block’s foyer. No door, window or any other egress was visible.
“State your names, please,” a clipped, officious voice came from nowhere.
Both Dawes and Germain complied.
“State your business, please.”
Lester fielded that request, “We’re here to interview one of your prisoners. I.M. Payne. Um, the people upstairs said you were expecting us.”
“We are. The security drones are just running voice and DNA matches,” there were several seconds of silence, then “You’re cleared,” and the far wall disappeared and a team of SPUD guards waited to escort them to their meeting.
*****
“Lester! Abby! So glad you could make it,” Contessa Natalia Romanza sat in the cell that was supposed to be occupied by one of Factor X’s death trap architects.
“Aw, crud. You again. Shouldn’t they have fired you?” Abby Germain referenced the last time the three had been together when it was revealed that SPUD’s premier undercover operative had illegally gathered evidence against a suspect.
The Contessa shrugged her milky white shoulders and slathered lox onto her bagel. The table before her was well stocked for breakfast. It was an impressive spread, Lester had to admit. No wonder the spy group’s budget was classified if this was what it was wasted on.
“Where’s Payne? We’re here to conduct an interview.”
“I’m sorry, dears. Director Drury and I made that little story up to get you here,” Natalia smiled.
“Director Drury? He knows who we are?” Abby was flattered.
“Of course he does. The Colonel tries to be on the look out for promising talent.”
“Sources, you mean. He wants people on the inside of OPS,” Lester didn’t like where this was going.
“Why would the commander of SPUD need contacts inside the Epitome Division? We’re all friends here, aren’t we?” the raven haired super spy crunched into her bagel.
“What’s in it for us?” Germain asked. Lester turned to her, eyes wide.
“Abby-”
The taller agent held up a hand to ward off the admonition, “Quiet, Lester. This is our chance to get back in from the cold. We’re here to talk about Howard Gittes, aren’t we?
“Indeed. Even though your organization has stopped investigating the connection between Gittes and Emperor Scorpion, SPUD hasn’t.”
“Well, Howard Gittes used to head your Counter-Intelligence office. You have extra incentive,” Lester opined, “As far as OPS is concerned, there is no tangible evidence, especially now that the man who made the accusation, William Freehling, has recanted.”
“We had evidence: Gittes’s computer records,” Natalia replied.
“Yeah, but that stuff is worthless, since you stole it from his office.”
“I always thought you did that on purpose, to close down the investigation,” Abby confessed.
Romanza nodded, “I can see that. But no, we are very concerned as to what happened between Howard and the people backing Emperor Scorpion.”
Lester asked a question that had plagued him since they had been called off the case, “Are they us? America, I mean. Were we supplying Kufadalla with weapons before he attacked the United States?”
“Would it upset you if it was?” the SPUD agent sipped her cappuccino.
“Yes. Emperor Scorpion killed thousands of civilians in an act of terrorism. If he was being propped up by the United States government, the people need to know.”
Abby showed her agreement by nodding, and then grabbed a melon slice from the table.
“We’re not sure if the U.S. supported Unskar Kufadalla’s organization, but we know this man is involved,” Natalia showed the pair a photo taken by telephoto lens. He was in a tropical climate, wearing a brown suit and tie. His face was blurred, as if someone had smudged the print, “He has several aliases, but Aaron Jay is the one he used in his correspondence with Howard Gittes. In fact, he warned him that Freehling was alive and in federal custody.”
“Why is his face obscured?” Lester asked after polishing his glasses.
“Light bending technology, we believe. SPUD also thinks it can distort his features to the naked eye: no description of Jay ever matches.”
“Wait, Jay warned Gittes?” Abby realized the implication here. If the man knew OPS and SPUD were investigating him before he was contacted by the agencies, someone was talking out of school.
“Yes,” the Contessa said, letting the knowledge seep in before continuing, “This is what Colonel Drury needs from you: One, your discretion. No one should know we had this conversation. Two, any information you have on Aaron Jay in the Epitome Division database. Three, copies of the Grey Eminence case file.”
“The Grey Eminence file?” Abby scoffed, “That stuff’s birdcage lining. He doesn’t exist. You’re better off looking for the Loch Ness Monster.”
“I enjoy a good conspiracy theory,” Natalia winked, “humor me.”
Lester acquiesced, conditionally, “We can help you, but I want to run this by our boss. Mr. Epitome needs to know.”
Natalia Romanza didn’t seem too upset, “Very well. If it ensures your cooperation. After all, if you can’t trust the Paragon of Power, whom can you trust?”
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