Chapter 39
Things were going faster than I wanted. I was feeling that everything was out of my control, now. This General that Jeffery had called, was not on the list of 'council' members, so theoretically he was safe. But... Was I safe from him?
He was definitely a take-charge kind of person. When he arrived, Jeffery went outside, and talked with him while they looked the vehicles over. The general listened and seemed to only have a few questions. I saw raised eyebrows occasionally, but that was the extent of the disbelief I saw. Another man was with them. He was more interested in the vehicles, though, than in what was being said.
John was still watching the major in the study, Evelyn and Courtney had disappeared to the back of the house, and I was looking out the window, feeling very alone. Dusk had fallen just before the helicopter landed, and now it was quickly changing to dark.
The seasons had turned. Night was starting to arrive earlier, as the summer equinox had come and gone. I watched as the two men started in the direction of the house. I sighed to myself. Whatever happened now, was dependent on these two men from "officialdom".
I turned from the window and faced towards the door as it opened. My movement drew Jeffery's attention to me.
"General Howland? May I present Tom Wilshire. Tom, this is Major General Frank Howland, commander of all special forces units," Jeffery said as they walked up to me.
"So you're the man of mystery who can do remarkable things," general Howland said to me as he shook my hand.
We studied each other. While he was taking me in, I saw a man of about six feet in height, weighing about one hundred eighty to two hundred pounds, and not any of it was fat if his tailored uniform was any indication. He had dark hair and blues eyes that seemed to take in everything at a glance.
"I on the other hand have heard nothing about you, except you're the go-to man for this problem," I replied with a grin.
He returned it, and Jeffery said we should proceed into the study where the leader of the assault force was being held at this time. We went down the hall, and I led the way into the study.
More introductions were made, and I told John I would relieve him of guard duty if he wished find the ladies.
"So, this is the recalcitrant major," General Howland said in a dead tone of voice, while staring at the major. I got chills, just from hearing this. I was glad it had not been directed at me!
After that exchange, the general ignored the prisoner, and went to look over the collection we had taken from the assault team. He picked up each item, examined it closely, and set it back down.
"I will question the prisoner, now. If lord Avery-Smythe and Mr. Wilshire will assign myself and minister Milhouse a small room, I am sure we can gather a bit of information. I would also like someone to ask captain Wheemsly to come in. He has some serial numbers to track for me," the General said with a side look at the bound major.
A short time later, I was drinking a cup of coffee at the small table next to the kitchen. John, Courtney, and Evelyn were sitting with me.
"How long have you had this ability, Tom?" Evelyn asked me curiously.
I sighed. "Before I get into this, will you three give me your promises not to discuss this with anyone? I'm serious. I feel like I am losing control of my life, right now," I said in an almost whiney voice. I also did not feel like repeating myself from my previous explanations.
After getting the promises, I launched into an abridged version of how I discovered the ability to look into the past. Also teleporting. Since the ladies didn't know of my 'time diving' abilities, I glossed over that. I was counting on John to keep quiet about this aspect of my talent. They had seen my ability to put people into the NTZ, so I added that I had discovered this ability only recently.
I spent a good thirty minutes or so in telling them all this, not including halts in conversation when a servant entered the room.
"This is all so remarkable," Evelyn said when I had finished.
"Yes. The power you control is dangerous," Courtney said, wide eyed.
"So is the power you take into your hands every time you get behind the wheel of your car," I answered her.
"But what you can do is different! The things you could do to people if you wanted to," Courtney said in a troubled tone of voice.
I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. This was not going as well as I had hoped.
"Courtney, are you serious?" Evelyn asked.
"What do you mean, Aunt Evelyn?" Courtney asked.
"Everyday, people use items that are dangerous. People that have power can use it to harm others, yet you hardly ever hear of it happening. You get into your car, as Tom said; and you could use it to harm someone, or to kill them. Yet, you have no objections to letting the average person drive. Why is Tom any different?" Evelyn asked her niece.
"There are checks and balances on the people we give power to. Tom has only his own ideals and feelings of what's right and what's wrong," Courtney responded.
The bad feeling intensified.
"Do you really think so little of me, then?" I asked in a sad tone of voice.
"It's not that. It's just that you are someone who is in control of this power, and there is nothing to keep you from abusing it," Courtney explained.
"I see. What is to prevent you from running down the man in the street instead of stopping?" I asked her curiously.
"Besides the fact I would wind up in prison for doing that? It's wrong of course," she answered.
"So while you would obey the law with no problems, I would violate it, simply because I can?" I said bluntly.
I felt frustrated. Why was it that people automatically assumed I was some sort of power hungry megalomaniac? I got up and walked to the window, and stared out it; though I was seeing nothing, really. I heard Evelyn talking quietly with Courtney, but could not hear well enough to understand what was said.
At this time, Jeffery came into the room.
"Well, we have some information to work with now. It seems I am indirectly responsible for this attack, after all. I am on a sort of unofficial 'persons of interest' list. I made it to that list, just recently, by the way. The major is part of a team that is responsible for monitoring all my communications, and taking action when warranted.
"Apparently John's call to me, and his mentioning the 'council', was enough to activate the good major and his team. He says they were just going to get information, then threaten us a little, and leave us none the worse for wear. Tom's intervention was totally unexpected," Jeffery paused.
"These people have violated my home, endangered my family, and kidnapped my niece! This major thinks this is acceptable behavior?" John asked, his voice in rising incredulity.
Several hours later, we watched several military vehicles drive away with our prisoners. The two vehicles, in which the assault team had arrived, were also being driven away. All weapons and equipment had been turned over to the general's team, which had arrived to clean up the mess.
I became known as "The American", to the team that had arrived to help with the clean up. The general was kind enough to say he would try to keep my part in this to a minor roll, but that he was going to have to report my presence.
Jeffery told me he had ordered the general to maintain secrecy concerning anything he had learned or suspected of my abilities. Jeffery was high up within the government, and apparently in a position to instruct the general. I was relieved and appreciative, but quickly decided I 'would not hold my breath'.
Jeffery said that the action that had taken place this evening was reason enough to go after the leaders of this 'council' for treason, and a few other charges that were mounting. Plus, there was the computer evidence that damned many of their activities.
I decided that I was not needed here any longer, and said my goodbyes. I went upstairs to get my suitcase. I didn't have much to pack. I had just closed my suitcase when there was a knock on the door. I opened it.
"Courtney? What brings you up to my room?" I asked a little fearful. I really wanted this woman to like me.
"I'm sorry if I sounded like I was attacking you before. I mean... I was just startled, and well, the things you can and could do are a little scary," she said looking up at me through her eyelashes.
I nodded, but kept silent.
"What I mean is, I like you, and I still like you. Please don't be mad at me," she said nervously.
I was relieved! She still liked me. I smiled and grabbed her up in a hug. She laughed at me. I let her go, realizing I might have overstepped the bounds.
"Well, I must say you certainly bring mystery to a relationship," she said after I released her.
"Do we have one? A relationship, I mean?" I asked.
"Hmm. I would not be adverse to dating you whenever you're in country, if that's what you mean. As for a serious relationship, only time can tell for sure," she replied.
She kissed my cheek and left the room. I was on cloud nine! Someone whom I had thought lost to me, was still interested! I took another look around, and teleported to my car, which I had left in long-term parking, near Boston.
I got into it and drove home, still on cloud nine. As I was pulling up in front of my house, my security team came out of their hiding places, and said that nothing had been disturbed.
I went in, put my suitcase down and went to put on a pot of coffee. While it might be late evening in England, it was still early afternoon here. I then went and listened to the phone messages that had been left on my machine.
I had one from my CIA controller. That one I would have to return. He sounded upset that I was not here to take his call, and he had called no less than four times. I looked up his number, and called him.
"Whisper," said the voice on the line after it was answered.
"Hello. Wilshire," I returned with the same brevity.
"Mr. Wilshire? Where have you been?" my controller asked right away.
"I was taking a slight vacation. What's the problem?" I asked curiously.
"Mr. Wilshire, Tom, you need to maintain a specific contact schedule with me. Technically, you are in violation of the contract you signed by not being available," Whisper told me in no-nonsense tone of voice.
"I apologize. Did a situation develop that will use up one of the two times a year you have my service?" I asked helpfully.
"My department is discussing this now. No decision has been reached, but you must be available at a moments notice, is that clear?" Whisper stated more than asked.
"Certainly. I will be home for the next couple of days. Feel free to call anytime," I said and hung up.
For the next two days, I waited 'on pins and needles', to see if I was going to be used. I would be interested in seeing what they considered important enough to use up fifty percent of the use of my talent, well, as much of the talent as they knew of.
In the meantime, I had to think of a way of getting as much information about the 'council' to the proper authorities in my own government. Steps had to be taken, and the British seemed to be taking an active house cleaning approach, according to the news. Already, over a dozen arrests had been made, and almost as many resignations had taken place. The international press was in a feeding frenzy.
Curiously enough, when an official mentioned the existence of a 'council', the American press jumped on that, as they still remembered their own recent stories and investigations. They now knew it was international in proportion, which was helping me solve my "how to reveal the 'council'" problem.
Edited by TeNderLoin