Liisa was pleasantly surprised to see Aunt Ellen in the FBI office. Agent Silver took them into a room with a long oak table and very comfortable padded black leather chairs. The chair backs were high enough to give complete support to the back and neck. It was a soundproof room so they felt safe.
Agent Silver asked permission to record this meeting so that they would have correct information for the future. “Nineteen hundred hours in the Porter Room of the FBI building on Broad Street in Waterbury, Connecticut, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Present are Sgt. Ben Gregory of the Waterbury City Police, Mr. Paul Johnson, attorney, Mr. Cory Patterson, attorney, Mr. Ben Johnson, Physician, Mrs. Ellen Johnson, Mr. Ted Cooley, Private Detective, Mr. Sven Jergenson, Private Detective, Mr. Bernard Wickem, Private Detective and owner of the Confidential Detective Agency, Miss Liisa Lofoten and myself, Special Agent Marvin Silver, FBI.”
“The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the threats and the actions of those threats toward the life of Miss Lofoten. Her employer and close friend, Mr. Arnold Watson was killed, supposedly by the person threatening Miss Lofoten and Mr. Ben Johnson was shot but escaped fatal injury.”
“Do I have the permission of all present to record all conversations and information given while we are here?” Everyone responded with a yes.
Agent Silver had the tapes on a machine ready to be viewed. “I want everyone present to look carefully at what you’ll see on this tape. If you see something important, ask me to stop at that point. Otherwise, we’ll view the tape and then discuss it.”
Liisa was disappointed that the person was so well covered that it was impossible to tell anything about him.
Agent Silver smiled. “This was viewed in our lab by experts in reading such tapes. I have some information that will be a surprise to you.” He hesitated. “There is a possibility that this person is a female. We can’t say for sure but there are mannerisms that are suspiciously like a woman. Look again at the walk.”
They looked at the tape again. “I don’t see it,” Liisa said.
“The person is purposely bent over to disguise height and possible body build. This person is probably about five-eight and around one hundred fifty pounds. The walk is not a stride as most men use but carefully stepping as if the footwear is unfamiliar; maybe heavier than he or she is accustomed to wearing.”
“How does that tell you it’s a woman?” Ellen asked.
“We learn to look at people and read their body language. This is either a woman or an effeminate man. There is a rare chance the person may be suffering with MPD.
“But the voice is harsh and low,” Liisa protested. “What’s MPD?”
“Multiple Personality Disorder. Some women have deep voices,” Sgt. Gregory explained. “Can you think of any woman who might feel that she is threatened by you?”
“Or maybe you won an award this person wanted. Or you might have dated some young man that this person wanted,” Agent Silver explained.
Liisa shook her head. “I haven’t won any specific awards. My artwork is my own and nothing that takes away from someone else. I haven’t dated much because I’ve been too busy getting an education and working.”
“What else can we do to keep Liisa safe, other than keeping her imprisoned and watched night and day?” Uncle Ben was disgusted. “I appreciate and understand all that you gentlemen have done, but it doesn’t seem to deter this willful individual. He’s playing with her like a cat plays with a mouse. Torturing and tormenting until he gets tired and then what? Kill her? Kill more of us first? What?”
“Mr. Johnson, Liisa’s tormentor has only been working on her for a few months. I’ve known some who’ve gone on for years,” Agent Silver tried to calm him. “That’s why we’re having this meeting. To pool ideas and try to put an end to this before more damage is done.”
“Let’s go back and discuss what happened and when, and then when these calls and messages happened. Maybe it will help us pinpoint a specific incident or time and we can determine where the person doing the threatening might be. The fact that there are sometimes several weeks between incidents suggests to me that the person might be out of town for a while,” Sgt. Gregory spoke thoughtfully
“Sgt. Gregory, were all the business owners, or managers, present when you interviewed them?” Ted Cooley asked.
“No. I talked to some assistant managers or to a single clerk in a few cases. Remember the owner of the message shop had gone to the post office, but I did talk to him later.”
“Maybe,” Sven broke in, “Ted and I, or Bernie and I can each take one side of the street and visit the stores again. If it is someone close, on the street, we might stir them enough to do something that would give them away.”
Agent Silver looked up at the ceiling thinking. I have no qualms with your suggestion. It could be a waste of time, or it might chase the person out of their hole. We would all need to be alert for more terrorism. If the person decided to lay low for a while, we still wouldn’t know if it were someone close.”
Aunt Ellen was getting more disturbed and fearful for Liisa. “All I hear is it could be, it might be, or maybe, or why don’t we. What is taking so long? Why haven’t you found some suspicious person by now? Why can’t you be more explicit in your planning and your summaries?”
“Now dear, we’re all doing the best we can. Not knowing who or from what direction doesn’t give us much to go on,” Ben soothed her.
“Mom, we’re all angry at the situation. Of course we want Liisa to be safe and carefree, but sometimes, in life, there are people who get a thrill out of making others unhappy. Maybe Liisa saw or heard something somewhere or maybe the person is just plain jealous of her.”
“There you go with those maybes again.”
Agent Silver took control of the discussion. I think the suggestion of talking to the businesses along the street again is a good idea. If it isn’t someone in the area, there is a chance that the person will catch on that we mean business, and that we’re not giving up, and either go away or do something to give himself away. Frankly I’d be worried if he disappeared. We wouldn’t know what had happened or when or where he might pop up again.”
“Okeydoke,” Bernie said. “Sven and I will start while Ted stays in the store with Liisa. Sven can go down the east side of the street and I’ll go down the west side. How many blocks do we want to cover and do we want to go to other streets? There could be more ground to cover than we can do in a short period of time. All of my operatives are busy with cases, but I’ll assign them as soon as they free up.”
“I never did ask who’s paying you?” Liisa said. “No one ever told me what you’re charging or I would have been giving you some of your fee all along. I was too upset to think of money until I got angry enough to start thinking more clearly.”
“We’ll settle my fee later. I owe Paul more than he could ever pay me. I don’t want any fee for myself, but my operatives must be paid.”
“I want to pay you starting now.”
“Back off, Liisa. The money is taken care of. There are more important things for us to worry about,” Paul cautioned her.
“But I don’t want to accept charity. I can pay my own way,” Liisa announced adamantly.
Ellen and Ben both stood quickly. Ben reached for Liisa’s coat to put it on her. “It seems to me that we’ve covered all that we can tonight. I’m taking my two women home and the rest of you can stay and talk all you please. Thank you for including us. You know how much Liisa means to us and we’re as anxious as any of you to have some closure.”
“I don’t want to leave until we finish talking,” Liisa stood back. Ellen put a firm arm around her waist.
“Come on dear. We’ve heard all that can be said tonight. We don’t need to hear every tiny detail of future plans. Just have faith that these men are doing their level best to make sure you’re protected and will expose the varmint.”
Ellen’s choice of words made everyone laugh. The men stood and waited until Ben had firmly ushered Liisa and Ellen out of the room. They then sat down for some serious planning.