Final Notice, page 14
Getting the relatively good news, his thoughts returned to Miles and he asked to make a call. The doctor told him that he would need to wait until he was moved from the OR to another area, which should be within minutes. She also told Vince that he could go home at that time. So, minutes later when he was moved, he anxiously asked a nurse to help him call Trudi’s cell.
Trudi answered and asked how he was at the same time he was asking her how Miles was. Having heard that Vince was OK, Trudi said, “I wish I could say the same about Miles. He’s still being operated on and the vet said it didn’t look good. His jugular was torn, but fortunately not completely. A little bit more and he wouldn’t have made it to the hospital. He lost a lot of blood and some of his organs started to shut down. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Do you know how much longer?” Vince tried to wipe away the tears but with only the one hand, they just streamed down his face.
“No. The doctor said he would come out and tell me how it went and then he would need some recovery time to see if he would make it.”
“OK,” choking back tears, “why don’t you come get me after the Vet gives you an update. Then, depending on what he says … ,” Vince broke down and sobbed for a bit. Recovering a little, he said, “we can go home.”
“OK, sweetheart. Hang in there. I’ll be with you as soon as I can.”
About an hour later, Vince felt Trudi gently shake his arm, the good one, and he woke up.
“How is he?” he asked, fearing her response.
“The doctor said he was one stubborn mutt and while he wasn’t 100% out of the woods yet, the prognosis was good, although he may not bark anymore.”
Vince and Trudi looked at each other and burst out laughing followed by full on crying. Vince said, “I want to hug that little guy so much, but I must admit that I won’t miss that bark in the mornings.”
They returned to the AEC and the night shift doctor told them that Miles was doing well, all things considered, but that they should go home, get some rest and return in the morning.
Trudi drove them home and Vince started to give her a recap of what happened, but he suddenly stopped. “Did you see Qasim?”
“I did, and what a nice man. He was prepared to stay there until one of us relieved him. I got his phone number and told him we would call tomorrow … or now, it’s today. We talked for a little while waiting to see what was happening. He’s a Syrian refugee. One of the first, I guess, as he’s been here about two years.”
“I was very lucky he happened by. Very lucky … ” and then he asked, “How was your song circle?” Trudi loved that he thought of that, after all he had been through but before she could tell him, he had dozed off, as the medication intended. She drove the rest of the way home in silence, her brain whirling, and by the time she arrived, she thought again about Vince’s desire to get a gun. But this time, she came to quite a different conclusion.
***
CHAPTER 16 – CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
Quincy, Massachusetts. The text said ‘4 seasons, rm 840 xx.’ Vijay’s humble roots were pretty close to the surface and his initial thought was why stay in a hotel versus his nearby apartment, when they’d be spending the night together anyway. But he knew that Jennifer did not want J. Edward or anyone else at KKL to know the depth of her “client relationship” with Vijay. So, a hotel bill and a restaurant receipt would be required. And that even ruled out a cozy room service meal. But with the time approaching, he felt his pulse rate quicken.
Rechecking the text to make sure that the room he was standing outside of, 840, was correct, he knocked. Then, because the knocking sounded puny against the probably fireproofed, security door, he spotted a doorbell and pressed, just as the door opened.
“You’re not impatient, are you?” she teased.
He stepped into the room and showed her, taking her in his arms and planting a long and passionate kiss. It was actually a series of kisses, with very little dialogue for a very long time. When they eventually untangled their warm and naked bodies, Vijay finally spoke a normal sentence. “I’ve missed you.”
“You made that obvious,” she teased again. “I’ve missed you too. Whoever said talk is cheap was right. So was the person who said ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’ ”
They lingered for a while, holding each other and catching up emotionally. Jennifer noticed it was getting dark and suddenly realized that the late hour, and the pleasurable physical exercise, had unleashed another appetite. “Why don’t we make ourselves look like we haven’t been making love for an hour and get something to eat?”
“You won’t have to twist my arm.”
“Wow. You are pretty easy today.” She smiled.
“I’ll always be easy when it comes to making love with you … and food. But tomorrow morning, it won’t be so easy keeping up with me on the streets,” he quipped.
“We’ll see,” she said as she headed to the bathroom.
Vijay enjoyed watching her naked body glide away. “Need any help in the shower?”
“Now that you mention it, there is a place on my back I can’t reach.” Vijay’s ‘help’ almost caused them to miss the last serving time at the hotel restaurant.
Only after ordering their healthy meals – with requests to omit this and serve that on the side, substitute this for that, etc. – did they discuss the earlier meeting at VitalTech and any business. Not exactly a model business development approach, but then, neither was their relationship.
Vijay asked, “You were very quiet at the meeting today. How do you think it went?”
“There was a lot to absorb and I was in listening/learning mode. Sounds like it’s all going well and that’s exciting. How about you?”
“I’m not sure I was able to focus 100%. There was this drop- dead gorgeous blonde there that I wanted desperately to get into bed with.”
“And how did that go?”
“Pretty well.”
“Just, ‘pretty well?’ ”
“OK. Amazing, fantastic. How’s that?”
“Better.”
“As you can see, I’m still struggling with my focus, but I thought it went well. Maria shared a concern with me afterwards, however. She felt uneasy after Don expressed his view that a leaked story about the killings might spur interest in the VT2 ... and that J. Edward reacted to that possibility in a way that suggested he might want to help that happen.”
Jennifer thought a bit. “I can see his point,” she said, “but I also see the risk. What about a few focus groups to gauge reaction? Perhaps groups with sub-sets of gun owners, non- gun owners, and different age groups. In that way, if it proves that Don’s hunch is right, we won’t lose out on the opportunity. If it proves him wrong, both Don and J. Edward will see the proof.”
“Gorgeous and smart. A lethal combination.”
“And I intend to use them to my advantage with a certain client who possesses those same characteristics.”
Their food arrived and for two very different but equally intense hungers, they ate quickly and returned to room 840. Despite a short night of sleep, and ‘one for the road’ when they woke up, they were out of the hotel at 6:00 for a planned ten-mile run. Ten miles for Jennifer and Vijay was about an hour or less, but they were in no hurry. They enjoyed each other on many levels. Back at the hotel they took one last advantage of the large walk-in, rainfall shower before saying their goodbyes. Jennifer wanted to attend one or more of the focus groups, which pleased Vijay, who promised to give her dates as soon as they were set up.
***
The next morning, when Drew Pierson arrived at his office, there was a file on his desk marked ‘URGENT!’ containing a single-page, alpha test user profile: a print-out showing vital signs with a telltale precipitous drop, an ‘FN’ in large caps, and a copy of a press release, “Politician and Scientist Dead.” Drew scanned the first two documents and then, seeing the third, knew that this wouldn’t be a routine day. He called Maria and then Vijay, getting Maureen, who said Vijay hadn’t arrived yet.
When Vijay arrived at his office, uncharacteristically late, he greeted Maureen, who knew why he was late and why he was wearing a big smile. He asked her to get Drew and Maria to discuss Jennifer’s Focus Group idea and she said they had already called for him and needed to see him. He didn’t react with concern, just, “OK, good. Tell them I’m here now.”
When they arrived, however, he knew immediately from their faces and demeanor that something important, and not good, had happened.
“What’s happened?” he asked.
Drew explained that an alpha test user, Dr. Madison Manatta, had received his Final Notice, killed Congressman Dumble, and then committed suicide.
“On the list we sent Agent Brouet, was he listed as having gun access?”
“Yes,” confirmed Drew.
Vijay knew then that Brouet would already know about this incident, or certainly would very shortly. He had intended to write to Zoe, but now that didn’t seem adequate. He was also seriously concerned that this very high-profile, murder-suicide might make the Focus Groups academic, and make public to the world, the unplanned consequence of the VT2. He explained Jennifer’s suggestion of Focus Groups to Maria and Drew and added his worry that this new event might outstrip any effort to control the news.
Maria suggested, however, that they do just that. “With the beta test about to start, why not come out with our release first to control the story? In that way the first news they hear about the VT2 will be positive with respect to the VT2’s features. We can also address the unfortunate side effects in our own words and detail our efforts to monitor and control them with the help of participating doctors in the future. That shows that we are responsible and are trying to do something about it.”
Drew and Vijay liked the idea and Maria said she would draft something straight away. Vijay suggested that she get Don’s input, too, and that he would like to invite Agent Brouet back to discuss, in person, their plans for the beta test. He suggested that the meeting be relatively soon to forestall any releases by the FBI – giving Maria time to get her release out to the press. Maria and Drew were happy with that and Vijay asked Maureen to arrange a meeting with Zoe.
When they left, Vijay called Jennifer, hoping she hadn’t boarded her flight yet. She answered, “Miss me already?”
“I do, but that’s not why I’m calling. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure. My flight doesn’t board for 20 minutes and I got here early because someone woke me up early.”
Vijay smiling, “Are you complaining?”
“No! What’s up?”
Vijay brought Jennifer up to speed on the Manatta-Dumble episode, recapping his meeting with Drew and Maria and their concerns that keeping this under wraps was probably not an option any more. Jennifer agreed and they decided that nothing would be gained with the Focus Groups.
She asked, “Shall I tell J. Edward?”
Vijay hesitated. “I guess so. Make sure you tell him that we’ll be coming out with a press release momentarily. That might dissuade him from leaking it in case he finds out through another channel.”
“OK. I’ll tell him when I get back to the office. And by the way, I loved being with you again. I’ve missed you, or did I already tell you that?”
“You did, but you can’t say it too many times. I’ve missed you, too.”
Vijay heard the airport announcement in the background and Jennifer confirmed, “That’s me. They’re calling my flight. Gotta go. I love you.”
“I love you, too!”
He sat there for a few minutes transitioning from the joy and deep feelings he had for Jennifer to the situation at hand. What would he say to Zoe Brouet? He wasn’t sure, so he asked Maureen to see if Brouet could come to Quincy on Monday. He and the team would have a plan by then.
***
Austin, Texas. Agent Zoe Brouet was one of the few passengers on American Airlines flight 1561 who waited, as requested, until the seatbelt sign was off before unfastening her seatbelt and switching on her cell phone. She extricated herself from the uncomfortable MD80 seat, asking herself again if she was foolish for saving the FBI $125 by flying on American, not her favorite airline. As she walked up the jetway into Austin-Bergstrom International airport, her phone chimed, alerting her that she had a message.
Retrieving it, she wasn’t surprised to hear Maureen’s voice. She was definitely going to visit VitalTech again.
Moving away from the stream of deplaning passengers, she called the number Maureen had left. Maureen answered immediately, and seeing the 816 area code, said, “Hello, Zoe.
Thanks for returning my call. Are you in Kansas City, or some other exotic place?”
“Austin, Texas, actually.”
“Ahh. Well that is a bit more exotic. Vijay wondered if you could come to Quincy on Tuesday. He said you’d know what it’s about. Can you do that?”
“Let me look,” fumbling with the phone.“Sure, is early afternoon OK? I can be there by two.”
Maureen looked at her desktop Outlook calendar. “Great, it’s a date. See you Tuesday at 2:00 PM”
“Great. Bye for now.”
As Zoe entered the baggage claim area, she spotted her colleague immediately – just as most species of animals recognize each other – even though they’d never met. The Bureau recruitment team had a formula for what they’re looking for and they stick pretty close to it, she thought. She also wondered if that was a good idea. Troy Wilkins spotted her at about the same time, but he had intel to look for a short, good-looking woman with honey-toned skin.
“Special Agent Brouet?” Zoe outranked Troy so formality was required.
“It’s Zoe. Hi Troy. Thanks for meeting me. Are we going to Manatta’s place?”
“Yes. I’m parked right outside. One of the perks of being in the Bureau.”
“There are others?” And they both laughed.
They drove to Manatta’s apartment and Troy filled her in on what they had found. Once inside, she took in Manatta’s four handguns. In addition to the Sig Sauer used at the shooting, there was a Ruger LC9, a Glock 26 and a huge Desert Eagle 50 caliber handgun.
Zoe’s eyes widened, “I see why he chose the Sig Sauer. The others would be easier to spot, especially this one, hefting the Desert Eagle. Can you believe that? And this guy was a mild-mannered scientist,” Zoe said, shaking her head. “Anything else of interest?”
“We have the VT2 watch and an iPhone which has the VT2 App. The app showed that a Final Notice was received four days before the murder.”
Nothing much of consequence was found amongst Manatta’s possessions. Divorced many years ago and with no children – not atypical of someone who lived, breathed and slept with their passion – Manatta was distraught over his humiliation, as verified in innumerable emails to colleagues. Zoe suspected that he would have at least committed suicide if this opportunity hadn’t presented itself. But the VT2 pattern was there. For some people, the Notice was clearly an opportunity for revenge with impunity.
Zoe’s issue was what to do about it. You can’t stop a doctor from telling a patient that he or she will die, so it seemed reasonable that you couldn’t stop someone from getting a watch that will break the bad news.
Having collected the few facts, Zoe returned to Kansas City with more questions than when she left. She had a meeting with Regional Director Hawke tomorrow, which she wasn’t looking forward to, and not just because it was Saturday.
She thought back to her first meeting with Vijay when he reopened the emotional wound she’d been nursing. She was happy with her decision to join the FBI, although she deeply lamented the rift it caused between herself and her father. Yes, there was danger attached to the job, but she was a big girl now and could take care of herself. And while she understood his deeper concern, she still felt that he was being irrational. When her mother was a child living in Tunisia, their family had suffered greatly at the hands of the police. Zoe could remember her father getting angry whenever he was reminded of those times. To have his daughter join the police was too much for him. And yet part of Zoe’s motivation for joining the Bureau was to play a role in making law enforcement responsible. She wanted to be an ally of the majority of people who are on the right side of the law. But she never got to have that conversation with him.
***
Pasadena, California. The pain medication Vince was taking worked well and he actually had a sound night’s sleep, so it took him a while to shake the cobwebs off. And then the emotional pain returned, hard. “Poor Miles,” he thought, “having that beast of a dog almost rip his throat out, literally. I hope he’s OK and will be OK.” Trudi stirred beside him.
