Chapter 2
For three days I received calls from the FBI. Finally they stopped. I still didn't know who planted the bugs, but I was now curious enough to do a little magic to find out. No new break-ins had happened. I beefed up the security a bit, but nothing too overt. The problem with doing spells off the cuff, is that it takes it out of you.
I did have some magical devices that were like storage batteries, but there had been no reason to use those. I had a ring, a watch, and a staff, that believe it or not, were all charged with energy for my use. I still had a cloak downstairs in the basement that had several different charms placed on it to repel knives and bullets.
Unfortunately, cloaks had fallen out of fashion early in the 20th century. Still, I sometimes dusted it off, and went out with it. It had been a gift from my mentor and friend, Markus Fellman. He used the name Mark Fellman now. He was the man who had raised me and trained me. I was seriously considering giving him a call to ask his advice.
A lot of magic was not the hocus pocus you saw on TV. Well, not if you were a strong practitioner anyway. At first I had to use spells, or chants to get something to work. That was just a training technique though. Most magic was a matter of thought and will. I do need to speak a few phrases sometimes. Particularly if I am preparing a spell, but not using it. It sort of reinforces things in my mind. Markus is a long time practitioner and just does it. He makes it look so easy.
There was a knock on my door.
"Enter." I said loudly.
The door opened to reveal Vivian, my office secretary. She was a valuable employee and a no nonsense woman of fifty. She ran everything, including me occasionally, but I wouldn't have changed her for the world.
"A Lt. Cosgrove to see you. Want me to show him the door?" She asked. She knew of my current problem with the FBI and didn't like what she considered 'hers' to be bothered. Cosgrove was a different sort. I had a good relationship with him.
"I'll see him. Thanks Viv." I said and she left the room.
I stood and came around my desk as Terrance Cosgrove came in. We shook hands. He was a tall black man who exuded competence. He was also one of my few friends on the police force here.
"Hey Terry. How goes the crime business?" I asked.
"About the same. Auto theft is up, but we actually have a drop in burglary. Got a minute? I have a case that could use your special touch." He asked. He knew I had abilities that were... unusual in nature.
"Tell me about it." I said.
"Woman was kidnapped by her estranged husband. We managed to track him down, but he put up a fight and we had to shoot him. He is in the hospital, but we have not been able to find his wife. That's where you come in. He has lawyered up and refuses to say anything. We need to find her, and soon. Can you help us?" Terry asked.
"Lets go." I said, standing up and opening the door for him. I told Vivian I would be out for a while and she nodded. Terry and I went downstairs and out the door and we got into his car. We had only been traveling for a couple minutes when he broke the silence.
"FBI came to us a few days ago. They asked about a few of the cases you helped us with. They wanted to know if we thought you were for real." He said, glancing at me.
"What did you tell him?" I asked curiously.
"I told em that you were legit as far as we could tell, and that you always delivered. They wanted to know if we suspected you of collusion in the crimes. I admitted we investigated you at first, but you had the perfect alibis. I have to admit though, if I hadn't seen for myself some of the stuff you can do, I would be skeptical too." He finished with a chuckle.
He didn't know even a tenth of what I could do. To him, I was a private detective who happened to be a psychic. I chuckled along with him.
"Yeah, they have been calling me up until today. I keep telling them I am not interested, but they keep offering me a job of some sort." I didn't go into any details, but he nodded.
We pulled up to a two story house in the east side. Nice place, slightly run down. This part of town was where the middle class lived. We got out of the car and went up the steps to the door. It opened almost before we got there. There were several uniformed officers and a few men and woman in suits. I tagged them as FBI right away.
"Come on, this way to her room." Terry told me and we went down a hallway and into a bedroom. He pointed at a dresser.
"That's hers. Anything you need of hers should be in there. Anything else, and I will be here for you." He finished.
I nodded. "Do you have the last thing she wore?" I asked.
"That dress jacket." He replied pointing at a jacket hanging on a hanger on a door.
I got the jacket and closed my eyes. Yes, I could feel the energy coming off it. I sat down closed my eyes again, and concentrated on establishing a connection with the owner of this jacket. I focused my desire on seeing and being with the owner of this jacket.
I stepped out of my body. I saw a line of energy running from the jacket through the wall. I willed myself to follow the little energy line. It lead me next door. I entered the house next door on the second floor. There, sitting in a chair was the woman who was supposedly missing.
She looked at me as I entered. Not many people are able to see me in my astral body. She waved at me. I waved back and thought myself back to my body. I shuddered and opened my eyes. The room had quietly filled with several people, all in suits. It had been a set up, and I had fallen for it.
A man was holding his hand to his ear listening. I stood up. Several people moved to block my exit.
"Congratulations Mr. Lindsy. You are indeed one we would like working for us. You have passed this test with flying colors." Said an elderly man with an old fashioned crew cut, an angular face, and an air of command.
"Funny. I don't seem to remember volunteering for a test." I said looking at Terry. He had the grace to look embarrassed.
"My name is Mr. Lauder. I work for the NSA, and we want you." He said confidently.
"How do you do, Mr. Lauder. I am Mr. Lindsy, and I already have a job, thanks anyway." I said politely. National Security Agency? Suddenly it made a lot more sense. I felt a vast sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"Come now Paul. May I call you Paul?" He asked as if it were already a foregone conclusion that we would be on a first name basis.
I nodded. Why not? Wouldn't hurt to hear what he was offering.
"I represent a branch of the NSA that has been in existence since the late 60's. As a matter of fact, I am the departmental director of that branch. You sir, are a rare and talented man. The United States Government needs men and woman of your abilities.
"We are in a war, Paul. An undeclared war, but a war nevertheless. Most people don't even believe in what we do. I have a lot of good people who work for me. Paul, we know you. We know when you were born, we know how long you have lived here, we even know all the aliases you have used up until now." He paused.
While he had been talking, the woman I had been asked to find walked in. She saw me look at her and smiled. I nodded to her, and let Lauder ramble on. He might think he knew me, but he didn't. I saw no reason to let this go on.
"I'm sorry. I really have no desire to work for the government at this time. I have a good job. I fill a place in my community. I pay my taxes." I replied, trying to buy time.
"I understand. However, the government needs people like you. The US government is not the only government in the world with people of your abilities working for them, you know. There are even organizations with people of your abilities working for them. Private organizations.
"The US is under constant attack from spies with abilities beyond the norm. I am not here to threaten you sir. I do want to convince you to work for us though. Your wasting your talents with this business you're doing. You could be an instrumental force for good..." I stopped him.
"Mr. Lauder. You're about to step off into an area of conversation that annoys me. Force for good. Whose good? The governments? My good? Your good? Will this good put food on the table of a poor family? Will it reinforce the Bill Of Rights? I have noticed over time, that when the government starts spouting the phrase, for the good, people's rights seem to go out the door.
"For example. Everyone wants children to be safe. So, FOR THE GOOD, family rights have been suspended by the state for the good of the child. It is currently politically correct to take rights away from sex offenders. I have the perfect solution for these people. They get caught offending once, send them to jail and rehabilitate them.
"Let them know if they offend again, they will be executed. No second bite of the pie. If it is beyond a doubt that they did it, kill them. But no, the state takes a persons rights away, locking them away, even AFTER they serve their time. Why? Because they might offend again. They are a risk. So they are committed under civil law. For no crime other than they MIGHT do it again. So much for a person's rights.
"What about my rights? Are you people responsible for the bugging of my home?" I asked. He nodded.
"What was my crime? Did you have a court order?" I asked him.
"It's not that simple. We had to be sure of you. No, we did not have a court order. But under executive order..." I interrupted him again.
"Do you hear yourself? The constitution and the Bill Of Rights mean nothing to you. The government is all. You have just admitted to breaking and entering, and violating my privacy. A man's home is his castle, and you violated mine. I am sorry, but I have no respect for an organization or person that casually breaks the law, FOR THE GOOD. Also, what about SECRET laws? What the hell is a secret law? A person can be held responsible for a law he or she has no idea of at all? Yet the government has several of these laws, doesn't it?" I asked. He nodded again.
"But those deal with persons within the government Paul. They are not applied against the average citizen. If a person signs the secrets act and violates it, the government can take action. The reason they are not well known is because of the secrecy they are protecting. Every government has something similar. We don't abuse them or use them lightly." he said.
"Really? Didn't you just admit to violating my civil rights a minute ago?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
"Touché sir. However the situation is covered, whether you like it or not. Look, at least give us a chance to talk this out with you. You're a valuable resource. I would hate to think that you didn't have all the facts and could not make an informed decision." He implored.
I pondered the situation. I understood where he was coming from. I was not being unreasonable, at least in my minds eye. I understood his position. The government worked for the good of the majority, but I hated that people got squashed inadvertently or even deliberately. When that happened, it was never for the benefit of a person, but for the governments benefit.
"Look, at least come out to our offices in New York. I want to show you what we are doing. I just ask that you keep what you learn confidential. I won't even ask you to sign anything. What do you say?" He asked almost desperately.
I considered. What would it hurt to go out and see what they were doing? Also, they weren't being the assholes I knew they could be. I nodded slowly.
"OK. I'll come look. It's the least I can do. But I am not making any promises." I told him.
"Thank you! If you at least keep an open mind, I am sure I can convince you of our sincerity!" He said excitedly grabbing and shaking my hand.
I didn't doubt his sincerity, I just didn't want that kind of commitment on my time or my life. I really did not want a boss. I have not had a boss in decades.
Mr. Lauder followed me out of the house and back to the car I had arrived in. He told me that his office would be in touch with me with travel arrangements in a few days. I told him as long as it didn't conflict with anything, I would be there. He was beaming as we pulled away.
"So, how long have you been working for the NSA?" I asked Terry as he drove.
"I don't really work for them. They told me you needed convincing is all. Look, you're a good man. If what I heard is any indication, you're some sort of hot stuff. Don't you think it's your duty to protect your country?" He asked seriously.
I groaned. "Terry. I am not sure how much, or what you think you know of me, but I have already given to my country. Are you saying that a person has no right to say enough is enough? A person has no right to the pursuit of happiness? What if that happiness does not include working for the FEDS?" I asked angrily.
"Sorry man. You're right. Forget I said that." He said. We finished the ride in silence.
As I got out of the car he apologized again. I sighed and told him to forget it.
"Seriously, are we ok? I respect you Paul. I would hate to lose your friendship."
"We're ok. Just don't try to manipulate me again, ok?" I asked. He nodded and drove off.
I went back up into my office. As I was entering the outer door a messenger was leaving. I looked at Vivian and asked her what she was grinning about. She held up what looked like a check.
"Cashiers check for 1,500.00 dollars. Nice bit of work Paul. But I didn't have anything in the register for you. Are you moonlighting?" She asked me.
"Nope. I have no idea what it's about. Unless it was over what I did this afternoon. If so, that was fast work." I said musingly.
"Go ahead and deposit it, and set it aside in the pending accounts. Just in case." I told her as I went back to my office. She followed me in.
"Roger called, and said he was on the road following Mr. Baylors wife. She is apparently on a road trip. You have two requests from that divorce attorney. Outside of that, nothing since you left." With that she left, closing the door behind her.
Three days later I was being driven in the New York countryside. I had been picked up by a small private jet. That had been an interesting experience. I had also come armed. Oh, not with a gun. I had readied several spells. I was wearing my power ring and watch. I had decided that when I made my decision that would be that. If it was accepted, well and good. If it came to a fight, they would know better next time.
I also had 7 listening devices and two cameras in my carry on. I was going to return to the government what it had misplaced in my house. I looked at the countryside as it went by.
"Excuse me, but this is not the way to the NSA headquarters." I said to the occupants in the front seat.
"Yes sir. We are not going to the official headquarters. We are going to a separate facility. That is where the department you will be working out of is located." I raised my eyebrows at this.
Twenty minutes later we were pulling into a tree lined driveway that
had to be a half mile long. It terminated at a three story building
that looked nothing like what I would expect a top secret building to
look like. Of course, that was the point, wasn't it?