Chapter VI
David and Janice met D. Bloom at Glacier International Airport. By international standards it’s a small airport. Parking in the pickup area, David showed a security guard his US Marshall ID.
The plane was due in at one, but D. Bloom didn't come out until quarter to two. When they saw him, they started laughing. D. Bloom was the spitting image of a drug store cowboy: from the tan cowboy hat on his head to a pair of snake skin cowboy boots on his feet. In-between a silver snap button red and white shirt was firmly tucked into a new pair of Lee jeans. An ear to ear smile with sparkling blue eyes quick stepped his way to their SUV. David helped him store his bags in the back, shook hands and said, "Welcome partner to Montana."
Sitting in the back, Janice turned and said, "Where did you park your horse Black Bart?"
All three cracked up laughing as David drove back down Highway 2 to Kalispell. Bloom said, "I hope you're not disappointed in me being here. I was told to blend in and thought this outfit would serve the purpose. However, from little I've seen so far, I'm slightly overdressed.
"That's an understatement Bloom," David said. You could probably ditch the hat, boots and shirt for a pair of hiking boots complete with outdoor gear. It's damn cold up in the mountains. April is not spring to the Rockies. However, tell us what role you are to play in the scheme of things."
"Dr. Jones wants me to buy a motor home set it with computer and phone/fax stuff and park it in a campground or RV place nearby your cabin. I know by a map your cabin is a fairly long ways from any town, but I've surfed a few places to check out. Then he said to do whatever you guys told me to do."
"What more can you tell us about the wind company putting a hit out on me," asked David.
"The idea is to set them up, capture the perp alive and have him or her turn back to testify against the wind company."
"The problem there is how to follow the money trail back to Allied."
"Because of the terrorists crap since 9/11 tracing funds has been much more transparent. Also, because this is such a high profile hit; you guys are famous you know, the dealings are possibly not so distant, but closer to home. AJ is hoping some Allied flunky will give up his boss as to the hiring of a hit man."
Janice said, "That's a lot of ifs and wishes and hopes with our necks hanging out just waiting for a sharp sword to lop our heads off."
"Dr. Jones and Jake both said, 'just think of the money your making' and they laughed like hell."
David dropped him off a block away from the motel. They would remain unseen together for the time being. After that they drove over to the hospital see their new Indian friends.
Sue Leadfoot was there when they arrived. Delores was still sporting a bandage partially covering her mouth. A strip of white tape contrasted with her brown skin crossed over her nose to hold it straight. Eddie Two Shoes was his usual quiet self. Sue said, "Delores will have some major dental work, but we consider that a small price to pay. She could've been killed. We heard that an ambulance took the three bad guys to Whitefish. Someone instructed the ambulance driver to take them to North Valley Hospital rather than here in Kalispell."
They all chatted for awhile and David and Janice left for their motel. David asked Janice to ring up Tommy Sharp Eye for some topographical maps along with back roads and trails in the cabin area. "I need to make a list of stuff to buy for catching the bad guy. Let's hope he’s naive enough to underestimate his quarry. Oh, by the way, no way am I going to put you in harm's way, my Pine Queen," he said with a squeeze of her knee.
From the room to room phone, David called Bloom. He said, "Hello Inspector. I bought a 25' motor home. It was a private sale. It's still at his house so could you give me a ride out there tomorrow?"
"Why don't you come to our room? We have some things we need to chat about."
"On my way Inspector," Bloom said happily.
Janice let him in. Bloom had changed into casual clothes of blue jeans, sweat shirt and a pair of Nikes. Janice said, after giving him the once over, "That's better Black Bart. Have a seat and tell me about this Carol girl who is moving into AJ's apartment. I suppose it was your idea," she said flippantly.
Bloom blushed and said, while walking towards David, "I had nothing to do with it. Well, mostly I didn't. I was asked and I gave my professional opinion. For a tall computer nerd she is rather nice."
David said, "Have a seat. I want you to get on the internet and have these items here by tomorrow night." He handed Bloom a list. 1.M1903 Springfield rifle. 2. M25 sniper rifle with B&L 10X40 scope. 3. One B & L 3X9 scope for .06 rifle. 4. Spotting scope Zeiss 5. Four pair of high quality binocs. 6. Sighting targets 7. Rambo knives [2] 8. 200' of quality climbing rope. 9. 20' square fish net 10. Four army blankets 100% wool.
"Wow, you don’t want much do you. I'd best get on this right now, but, hey guys, I'm a little hungry. How about you?"
"I need a change of pace," said Janice. "Some junk food sounds good to me. I saw a pizza place about a block away. What say you guys?"
*~~~~*
The next morning they took Bloom down towards Flathead Lake where the almost new motor home waited for him. Bloom was yawning all the way down, occasionally nodding off. He said he was up most of the night ordering what was on the list.
Janice said, "You're young Bloom. This is only the beginning. You'd best catch a nap when you can."
After saying good morning to Wanda Bright Flower, David and Janice walked back to see Tommy. Tommy rose and greeted his new friends with a smile and a good morning. As usual, they discussed the weather and the health of each other, then he said, "I've got what you requested David. The hiking trail maps will be here by noon. Also, a surprise awaits you on the mountain when you return to your cabin. It's a small token of our hospitality and a small reward for helping our people who are basically helpless."
"We thank you for the maps, but the surprise is like when my mother said the same thing. In those days I'd be treated to a plate of warm cookies. Now we were treated to some homemade strawberry jam by Tana at the restaurant and that was a nice surprise."
"We have a young man who goes by the name, Johnny, Eagle that Soars. He will stay with you at the cabin in his little trailer. He raises German Shepherds for a living. He knows the area around your cabin like the back of his hand. He'll be no bother as he rarely speaks, but you can rest assured he will be on the alert for any bad guys."
"We are a little overwhelmed," said Janice. "But thanks in advance. I hope we don't need him, but we appreciate the added security."
Outside, sitting with the motor running waiting for the heater to take the chill off, David looked over his treasure of maps. Janice was thinking about how her honeymoon digressed into a major fraud case with murder just around the corner.
*~~~~*
Houston, Texas. Home to Allied Power, among other major conglomerates. In the CBD sat a high rise office building. In a conference room there were five men of various nationalities sitting at a round oak table. The topic was Montana and the event that threatened a set back to the plans of Allied Power. A distinguished looking man of advanced age said, "The report from Hyster is not good. Apparently his security men took it upon themselves to physically harm an elder of the Flathead tribe to entice him to sell his property. Furthermore, it appears, and I'm not sure how, two hotshot Chicago homicide detectives got involved. Now these security men work for us. In addition, these men assaulted a tavern worker putting her in a hospital."
"Now believe it or not, these men go up in the mountains where the two detectives are on their honeymoon and attempt to do them harm. Our men fall into a trap and wind up in a hospital."
One of the men across the table said, in halting English, "Does this event, as you call it, have any effect on our Navaho/Hopi plan?"
Another man, Asian, said, "This could bring the federal agencies into play.
An extremely old man said in a voice belying his age, "I've a mole in Virginia that sends word these two Chicago detectives are to pursue the, so called, injustices, by our actions against the Native Americans."
The fourth man said, "Do we need to silence those two detectives?"
The last to speak, but when all eyes turned to him, all knew where the power resided. He said, "Make it happen. Try to make it look like an accident. Regardless, we can't afford to have anything impede our plan. If we fail, Enron will look like child’s play."