Chapter 32

 

 

The first thing I do when I get into the office the next morning is call Bob over to my desk and tell him the FBI likes his idea and is going to run with it.

 

“What do you have on your plate this morning?” He tells me and I tell him to put everything on hold as he’s going to be on a conference call with Don Ericson and me to work on the details of his idea. “Ask Shirley to handle anything that can’t be postponed. This is your top priority until I tell you differently. This Crusader situation is getting more dangerous with each passing day. We’ve got to do everything we can as quickly as we can to write the end to his story.

 

“Have you had a chance to check out the morning news channels yet?”

 

“No I haven’t. I’ve been working on what I thought was going to be my agenda for the day ever since I got in this morning.”

 

I tell him what happened to Janet and me last night and Bob says, “This Crusader may be a basket case, but he’s no dummy and two can play the game of profiling. He’s obviously familiarized himself with some of your routine to have positioned himself in a sniper location within shooting distance of Morey’s. He knew that Morey’s is one of your favorite places to eat and wind down and just waited for the opportunity to take you out. It might be smart if you and Janet changed your routines for a while to make it harder for him to have another go at you.”

 

“Last night he might have waited for one of us to leave work and followed Janet or me to Morey’s which is what I’ve been thinking he did or he has done what you’re suggesting and didn’t have to bother tailing us. He just played the odds. I agree with you. I think it would be a good idea to play it safe and mix things up a little bit until this guy is locked up or dead. I think Janet will agree with you too. Thanks for your input.”

 

“You’re welcome. Does this improve my chances of having a new Tesla in my future?”

 

“Perhaps in your very distant future. Now, go clear your morning calendar and get back here as soon as possible so we can get this show on the road.”

 

When I call Don he has another agent in his office that will be helping us set things up with the media. Her name is Jackie Millhouse and she works in the Bureau’s public relations department. Don and I put our phones on Speaker and we’re off and running.

 

A couple of hours later we have created a detailed outline of what must be done to raise the curtain on our next attempt to lure the Crusader into his comeuppance as grandma used to say.

 

First, we must bring Mrs. Aldrich onboard and coach her on what to say and not say in her interactions with her husband. We must stress the importance of her not doing anything out of character to try to convince him he’s convinced her to go along with his game plan. He’s in a highly agitated state and his suspicions will be easily aroused. None of us think he would turn his anger on his wife, but in his present state of mind we don’t want her to take any foolish chances.

 

Second, Agent Millhouse will arrange an interview for Don with CNN under the guise of wanting to reopen the channel of communication with the public concerning the progress being made on the Crusader investigation since the FBI has been remiss lately in this regard and letting the Crusader get all the press.

 

Third, Agent Millhouse will plant a rumor with the appropriate parties about the upcoming CNN interview which hopefully will spread throughout the journalistic world so we can increase the chances of Aldrich hearing what we want him to hear and as far as Aldrich is concerned add legitimacy to the interview.

 

Fourth, I’ve been tasked to ask Janet for a repeat performance of preparing a script for Don that will incite Aldrich to take action like she did for the President when they were trying to set up the Crusader at Walter Reed, emphasizing that Mrs. Aldrich is being investigated for complicity in the Crusader’s string of revenge killings and will probably be facing formal charges within the next few days if a few more things fall into place. He will also say that once formal charges have been made he believes any competent attorney could get her released on bail, but she will be placed under pre-trial house arrest with limited freedom to leave the house to go to the supermarket or other domestic destinations, but she will have a shackle on her ankle to let the authorities know where she is at all times. This too will add legitimacy to the scheme and will also create a sense of urgency for Aldrich to take action.

 

Fifth, Don will arrange for enough agents to assist in any trailing/pursuit situations that present themselves and ensure a successful capture of the man. Allowances must be made for Aldrich electing to make a run for it in a location where there is a lot of vehicle and/or pedestrian traffic and lots of places to hide.

 

Sixth, a negotiator will accompany Don once the operation commences in case things get ugly and Mrs. Aldrich becomes a hostage and her life is in danger.

 

Lastly, if we can’t surprise him and place him under arrest before he can react, there most assuredly is going to be the necessity for using deadly force to bring an end to the Crusader’s vendetta since Aldrich has already told his wife he is not going to spend the rest of his life in jail if he has anything to say about it. We must be prepared for that eventuality.

 

Ideally, we can corner the guy and talk him into surrendering, but that probably isn’t going to happen. We’ve concluded that the most likely scenario will be one of three possibilities. If he’s cornered he’ll either opt to shoot it out, commit suicide by cop or blow his own brains out. If he’s going to be taken alive once we’ve confronted him, it will have to be by some kind of trickery which at the moment is eluding us. I’m thinking of a fourth possibility, but don’t bring it up because I don’t want to be a wet blanket. My experience with Murphy’s Law has me thinking that he could somehow manage to escape and put us back to square one.

 

Don wraps things up with, “Okay, we all know what we have to do. Chet, I know Janet isn’t up to full speed yet after what happened to her at Walter Reed, but we really need her writing skills if we’re to be successful. She may not feel up to it, but she seems to like you and listens to you when you make suggestions. I’m relying on you to get her on board and to urge her to do her thing ASAP. I’d like to be ready to go within the next 48 hours.”

 

“Don, you couldn’t keep her away from this with a tank. She’d have both our heads if we dealt her out of this. Remember, she’s a reporter and one of the best. Once she’s on the trail of something she follows it to the end. You two made a deal to work together and just as she expects you to keep your word, she’ll do everything possible to keep hers.”

 

“Sounds like you’re getting to know this lady pretty well.”

 

“I’m working on it.”

 

I hang up and thank Bob for his participation and send him back to the Dawson salt mines. I call Janet and give her a summary of what was accomplished on the conference call with Don and she didn’t balk for one second when I told her what we needed her to do. “I’ll get on it right now and have something for Don and you by quitting time today.” Click.

 

From the way she said that I know she has just kicked herself into overdrive and I’m hoping she’s physically up to the stress. She didn’t look like the picture of health when she drove out of Morey’s parking lot last night. From what I’ve read and heard, head injuries can be nebulous things; one minute you’re feeling fine and the next you’re feeling like you’ve been broadsided by a truck.

 

Around two in the afternoon I get a call from a Detective Sergeant Logan calling to tell me they found the spot where Aldrich let his rifle do the talking. They were pretty sure it was the spot because they found the Crusader’s calling card wedged into the bark of a tree. “Mr. Dawson, it looks like you were dead on as to who the shooter was.”

 

“It couldn’t have been anybody else. Everyone else adores me.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Don’t mind me, Detective. That was just a feeble attempt at humor to make things seem less serious. Thanks for calling.”

 

Around four-thirty Janet calls. “Check your email. I just sent you and Don a copy of what I wrote for Don to use in the CNN interview. It should have Aldrich jumping out of his skin with dread and provide the kick in the pants needed to get him to come to his wife’s aid and prevent her pending incarceration.”

 

“I’m sure it’ll be just what the doctor ordered. How are you feeling?”

 

“Other than the beginning of a headache I feel fine, no dizziness or nausea that the doctor said I might experience. I’m not in for another evening at Morey’s at the moment however. I think I’ll head for home and some more pampering from my mom.”

 

“Okay, that’s probably a good idea.”

 

I tell her what Bob suggested about us changing our routines until the Crusader is put out of commission and she readily agrees to do that where she can.

 

After talking with Janet, I decide to call it a day and head for home. On the way, I stop at an English style pub a few blocks from my apartment for a relaxing Guinness, some darts and a little time alone with my thoughts.

 

The pursuit and capture of Hank Aldrich has taken over my life and Janet is something I never imagined would happen to me. I’m not thinking that these are necessarily bad developments, just ones that I’ve given into without giving them much conscious thought. If I don’t screw things up, I’ll have a very profitable relationship with the FBI and that could lead to other government business and if I don’t screw things up with Janet that could lead to a whole new life for me, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that despite what Sadie thinks.

 

After an hour of contemplating the current state of my life and accomplishing nothing by the exercise, my stomach brings me back to reality by rumbling to be fed, so I order some Kippers and tatties (salted and smoked herring and potatoes) to shut it up and another Guinness, my third, to wash the combo down. Kippers are getting harder and harder to find these days, even in the British Isles, and I love them.

 

After wolfing the delicious morsels down and playing a half dozen games of darts, winning three and losing three, I decide to head for home. When I get there I find two cop cars with their lights flashing parked in front of the building.

 

When I approach to find out what’s going on, an officer sitting in one of the patrol cars gets out and asks me if I’m Chet Dawson. I say I am and he says, “You’ve had a visitor. A man was seen trying to break into your apartment by one of your neighbors about fifteen minutes ago and she called 911. When he saw her looking at him, he took off but not before he dropped this in front of your door.”

 

It’s one of the Crusader’s calling cards. Aldrich must have been planning to wait for me in my apartment to put a bullet in my head when I opened the door. The FBI guy who has been watching my back pulls in behind my car, gets out and approaches us, flashing his credentials at the officer. “What’s going on here?”

 

The officer tells him what he told me and looking at my bodyguard I say, “This guy has become more determined than ever to remove me and Ms. Vanderhill from the field of play in this deadly game of pursuit we’ve been playing. Please arrange to have someone posted at Ms. Vanderhill’s apartment as well as mine until Agent Ericson orders otherwise. I’m going to call him now to apprise him of what went down here tonight just in case he needs some additional persuasion. Damn, if I had gotten home fifteen minute earlier I might be headed for a slab in the morgue. This s.o.b. is really starting to tick me off.”

 

Looking back at the officer I ask, “Who was the neighbor that foiled the B and E attempt?”

 

Looking at his notes he says, “A Mrs. DeWitt.”

 

“Thanks. Sending her some flowers and a box of candy hardly seems sufficient to thank her for saving my life, but what would be? I’ve never been in this position before. Do you guys have any suggestions?”

 

This query gets me nothing but silence and some shoulder shrugs. “Never mind. I guess that‘s one of those questions that doesn’t have an adequate answer. I’ll send her the flowers and candy anyway.”

 

When I get up to my apartment, Mrs. DeWitt, a delightful 73 year old widow, is standing outside of her apartment door. “I saw you talking with a policeman from the window in my living room, so you must know what happened earlier. I’m glad seeing me scared that creep off. I called 911 right away and the police were here in less than a couple of minutes.”

 

“I don’t know how to thank you. You probably saved my life.”

 

“There’s no need to thank me. Neighbors should look out for one another, but some flowers and candy would be nice.”

 

I roar with laughter, give her a big hug and say, “Two dozen orchids and a big box of the best Swiss chocolates I can find will be at your door before sunset tomorrow.”

 

She’s a little taken back by my behavior but she quickly smiles and mischievously says, “Won’t that gossipy Mrs. Halstead have a field day with her rumor spreading when she sees them at my door. Have your name placed in real big letters in the ‘From’ section on the tags so she can see it from the hallway. I’ll enjoy that almost as much as the flowers and candy. A few seconds later she’s in her apartment and through the closed door I can hear her laughing.

 

Going to my door, I check it out for damage and seeing none I open it and proceed with my evening routine, tossing my coat over the back of a living room chair, turning on the TV and selecting CNN and then checking my answering machine for messages. There’s no new news on CNN, but someone left a message on my answering machine. That someone is an exasperated Crusader. “Don’t count on me giving up. Your time is going to come. I will see to it even if it’s to be the last thing I ever do.”

 

Wonderful, just what I need to get a good night’s sleep, threats from a nut.

 

I call Don to let him know about the sweet nothings Aldrich hissed into my answering machine, to make sure surveillance will be put into place at Janet’s and my apartment ASAP, preferably this evening, and to get a progress report on how he and Agent Millhouse made out with their assignments.

 

“Chet, this guy has become a loose cannon and is liable to shoot at anybody who in his warped mind he views as an enemy. That neighbor of yours was damn lucky Aldrich didn’t take a shot at her.”

 

“I know. How did you and Agent Millhouse make out today?”

 

“Mrs. Aldrich reluctantly agreed to work with us as she still feels guilty about playing a part in having her husband arrested or killed. She still loves the guy, that’s quite apparent, and she wishes that we could do what we want to do without her assistance. It took a bit of persuasion, but I finally managed to convince her that without her help Hank would most likely remain free to go on killing. I explained in detail what we want her to do and cautioned her to act as normal as possible under the circumstances to avoid raising any suspicions in her husband’s mind.

 

“As far Agent Millhouse’s progress is concerned that has been a mixed bag. CNN said that they couldn’t set something up for at least three days due to prior commitments and demands being made on staff by current news developments and she had the same reception from several of the local channels, but struck pay dirt with Fox News on Channel 5 who said they could make a prime time slot available tomorrow evening. The clincher for them was they would be airing new developments in a story that has been dominating the news for a long time now ahead of their competition. She hasn’t been able to make contact with the folks she needs to spread the word about the interview on Fox News yet.

 

“I read the script Janet wrote and I’m convinced it will light a fire under Aldrich hot enough to get him to try to do something to protect his wife if he hears it. I’ll begin the interview on Fox by reading a prepared statement which will be what Janet wrote for me and then I’ll take questions. The only potential fly in the ointment is if Aldrich is unaware of the interview. Rumors spread fast in the world of journalism I’m told, so we may still have time for that to happen if Millhouse makes contact with her folks early tomorrow morning.”

 

“Well, we’ve got to run with what we have come show time and hope for the best. Hold on a sec, Don, someone’s at my door. Pulling my Glock from my ankle holster I cautiously approach the door and peek through the peephole. I see a guy in a suit that looks like a FED and ask, “Who’s there?”

 

I get a quick reply. “Agent Welford, sir, I’ve been ordered to report here for stakeout duty by Agent Ericson.”

 

“Show me some ID.” He does and I open the door to let him in and say, “Just a minute. I’m on the phone with Ericson now.”

 

Back on the phone with Don I say, “It was your Agent Welford letting me know he was on the job. Thanks for acting so quickly.”

“As soon as I got word you had requested someone be posted at your and Janet’s apartment houses 24/7 because someone tried to break into your apartment, I immediately sent Welford to your apartment house and an Agent Hubbard to Janet’s. From now on, when you folks are out and about your homes will be under close scrutiny for any suspicious visitors.”

 

I thank Don again, disconnect and then remember I left Agent Welford standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry guy. I forgot all about you. Please come in and make yourself at home. There’s no need for you to deal with the elements outside until I’ve left the apartment. If the Crusader is going to try anything while I’m home, having you in here means it’s two against one and that suits me just fine.”

 

I show Agent Welford around the place and then he sits himself in one of my living room chairs, picks up a Sports Illustrated magazine I left on the coffee table and starts skimming through it while listening to the news commentator on the TV. I retreat to my home office which is a converted bedroom and call Janet to give her a heads up on Agent Hubbard, a rundown on the progress made by our FBI confederates and top it all off with a replay of Aldrich’s message while holding the phone close to the answering machine speaker.

 

“Janet, this guy is becoming obsessed with our demise. We’ve got to stay alert for anything that might pose a threat to us no matter how remote. Whenever possible when we’re outside we must seek the safety of crowds and not go off alone somewhere. We must be careful not to put anything in any file on our computers that will let Aldrich know what we are planning to do or what our agenda will be on any given day. It’s not a nice way to live, but the alternative is even more bleak.”

 

“I hear you.”

 

“How’s your headache?”

 

“Unfortunately, alive and well. I’ve held off taking one of the pills the doctor gave me for them because they make me sleepy when I want to be wide awake. It’s starting to get more severe, so I think I’ll pop one and hit the sack.”

 

“Okay, I’ll hang up then and let you get some rest. Let your mother know about Agent Hubbard so she’ll let him in when he shows up which should be pretty soon now.”

 

“I will. Night.”

 

“Night.”

 

It’s now a few minutes before ten, a little early for me to be crawling under the covers, but I’m in no mood to engage in any polite conversation with Agent Welford and I’m all caught up on my work at the office, so I strip to my skivvies, grab the Baldacci novel off my dresser that I’ve been trying to finish for over a month now because I keep getting interrupted by something or someone and prop myself up for some fun reading. I must have been more tired than I realized as I wake up a little before eight the next morning with the book on the floor, my head buried under the pillows and my special cell phone ringing.

 

Oh, oh. This is not a good way for me to start the day. I’ve overslept and the President is calling me before eight in the morning. He’s never called me this early before. He’s fuming over something and that could be over me not keeping him abreast of the Crusader situation. I’ve been meaning to call him with updates, but my intentions keep getting waylaid by new developments. That sounds like it might fly if that’s why he’s calling. I sleepily reach for the phone, press the button and say, “Good morning Mr. President.” and then hold my breath for the tirade which surprisingly doesn’t come. Now I’m really nervous. Something is really out of whack here and I’m now wide awake.

 

“Chet, where do we stand in our attempts to put this Crusader nut where he belongs, either in the ground or in a prison cell? The only input I’ve been getting lately is what I hear on the news. Agent Ericson called me the afternoon of the Walter Reed debacle, so I know all about that and I saw the article in the Times that Vanderhill wrote about that and the attempt on your lives at that restaurant. I have a pretty good idea about what the Crusader has been up to. What I don’t know is what you and Ericson are doing about it.”

 

I tell him about our latest scheme, the Crusader’s attempt to break into my apartment and the message he left on my answering machine. “Mr. President, this guy is losing it. He’s running on pure emotion and Janet and I have moved to the top of his list alongside you and he’s taking chances he never would have taken when he started his vendetta. This is why we think our latest scheme has a good chance of working.”

 

“It had better work, Chet. The last thing we need is to have this guy running amok shooting anyone he pleases. Pressure is starting to build for me to get more involved and if this doesn’t work I may have no choice but to have Ericson taken off the case and be replaced by someone else. This man has killed a lot of high level people who had friends in equally high places. These friends have a lot of political muscle and they could make big trouble for my administration.

 

“Something else has occurred that has me even more concerned. The Crusader has zeroed in on the First Lady. Less than fifteen minutes ago she received an email from the Crusader accusing her of knowing about the inferior quality of the weaponry being used in the Middle East and turning a deaf ear to what she was hearing and therefore she deserved to be exterminated like the rest of the human vermin. I’m used to threats on my life. It goes with the territory, but I won’t tolerate threats on members of my family. I want this bastard, Chet. He’s just made this very personal. I will do everything I can think of to corral him and put an end to his killing.” Click.

 

Wishing I could clue Ericson in on what the President just said so he’ll know what’s riding on this latest tactic of ours and perhaps be able to keep the wolf approaching his door at bay and knowing that I can’t because of the nature of my relationship with the wolf, I sigh and head for the shower. Maybe things will look better after a good scrub, some breakfast and a couple cups of coffee. Probably not, but hope springs eternal. That’s something else grandma always used to say.