David Golemon - Primeval

"The suspicions Agent Simpson brought to me involved her brother, and I knew Collins worked for you in some capacity. I believe he may know something we don't about his sister's suspicions; we need to contact him and brief—"

"Mr. Easterbrook, it's not just Colonel Collins; he happens to be affiliated with the most brilliant people in the world. If he gets wind of his sister's predicament, believe me, he and his people will become involved. Now, get back to me when you have more; right now I have to make a call."

Across the Potomac River, the president of the United States hung up the phone and shook his head, which was beginning to ache. He reached out and slid over a small laptop computer and used a small key to unlock the lid. He raised the top and then hesitated. He took a breath and then used the cursor. He slid over to the only heading on the left side of the screen. It read 5656 in blue numbers. He clicked on the icon and then waited, knowing that the next face he would see would be that of Director Niles Compton, his friend, and the head of the blackest agency in government — the Event Group.

The large office had forty 56-inch monitors arrayed around its walls. One monitor, the largest at the center of the far wall was over one hundred inches in diameter. The large desk had four smaller pop-up monitors that comprised the communications link with the rest of the complex, and, of course, the commander-in-chief of the United States. The monitor on the far left illuminated and the seal of the president appeared as a warning to Niles Compton that the president was making a call to the complex.

Niles lay down the proposal by the Nuclear Sciences Division, which recommended the department requisition a new electron microscope to replace an aging device before the restart of operations and field assignments. Compton wrote DENIED on the outer proposal sheet, knowing it would make Assistant Director Virginia Pollock angry as hell, but Niles knew that with all of the repairs to the facility underway, he could not squeeze any more funds out of an already stretched budget; after all, it's not like they could file an insurance claim. Virginia's department for the time being would have to bite it. Niles looked at the laptop screen and waited. Soon, the presidential seal was replaced by a test pattern, and then the face of his old college roommate, the president of the United States, appeared.

"Mr. President," Niles said, growing concerned at the stern look on the president's face. This isn't going to be a social call.

"Niles, a problem has developed that concerns one of your people."

"Who?"

"Colonel Collins, I'm afraid."

"Damn it, we really don't need this right now. What's the situation, sir?" he asked.

"When we spoke and allowed Jack in on a certain operation being conducted at CIA, I really didn't know how dangerous the individuals we were dealing really were and so I didn't go into detail about Collins and his sister. What I am about to tell you is classified to the point that you are the only person to be told about it. I do not, I repeat, do not want the colonel to hear about this. At the very least, the situation is touchy — and it could turn deadly. Am I understood, Niles?"

Niles didn't want to commit to answering, but he knew his old friend well enough that if he didn't respond the way he wanted him to, the president would clam up and not tell him what was going on.

"Understood," he finally relented.

"Damn you, Niles, don't you hand me that crap. Say it: You won't tell Collins anything about this."

"No, sir, I won't."

He could see by the president's expression that the answer he gave was ambiguous at best, but his oldest friend pursed his lips and gave in to Niles, knowing the MIT grad could go all day long and not give him the correct answer to his question.

"Okay, smart-ass, but I'll hang you, friends be damned, if you tell Collins."

"So far you haven't told me anything, Mr. President."

"The colonel's sister has been kidnapped. Her field team was ambushed in Canada on the mission I was assured was just a criminal investigation, and she was taken by two very salty characters, Russians — ex-KGB."

"Jesus, and you don't want Jack to know about this? We don't even know why his sister contacted Jack. I figured it was just for advice on something."

"Damn it, Niles, this is a full-blown international incident. I'm not giving you any more details at this time, and you'd better not go digging around with Europa, either, or I'll order the damn thing removed from your complex, is that understood?"

The supercomputer, Europa, had been a gift to the Event Group from the Cray Corporation. The system was remarkable at breaking into other computers and gathering intelligence through backdoor spying, useful in getting information from around the world on university and privately funded archaeological digs. There were only four others like her, one at the NSA, the CIA, the FBI, and the Pentagon.

"Again, your point is understood. However, I want it on record that I protest this order not to inform one of my people about something that affects him directly."

"Noted, Mr. Director," the president said angrily, knowing Niles was trying to get pissy with him. "Follow orders here. You know, and I know, what would happen if the colonel found out. There would be trouble, and frankly, I don't need it at the moment. I have every agency in the country working at getting her back, the Canadians are—" The president stopped, knowing he was giving his friend too much information. "I just wanted to alert you so you can break it to him if the end result is bad."

"Please keep me informed."

"I will," the president answered, his gaze intense.

Niles watched the screen go blank and then he closed the laptop. He replaced his glasses and didn't hesitate a second before picking up the phone to the outer office.

"Have Europa find Colonel Collins and get me his location in the complex."

Niles replaced the phone and then stood. He didn't bother putting on his coat or his tie. He walked to the large double doors and made his way out to his assistant in the outer office to await the location of Colonel Collins.

Jack had to be told immediately; the Event Group owed him that much. Regardless of what the president did to Niles personally for disobeying his order, the colonel would be told, or the talk they had had earlier wouldn't be worth the breath used to say the words.

As Niles waited, he knew he was about to open a tightly sealed can of worms, and that all hell was about to break loose when that seal was broken. He was about to unleash Jack Collins on the world of international crime.

Jack was sitting with Sarah McIntire at the only lounge inside of the Event Group complex, The Ark, named after the Group's most valued artifact. The Ark was situated on level eight, closest to the complex living quarters and was run by retirees from the Group. It was a place where they could all unwind without having to resort to taking the underground tram through gate two into Las Vegas.

Sarah was cognizant of the few off-duty personnel who sat at the bar or tables situated farther away. She was tempted to slide her hand across the small round table and place it over Jack's, but she restrained herself. The full bottle of beer sat untouched in front of the colonel as he continued to stare a hole through the tabletop. Sarah tempted fate and reached out for him, damn military etiquette.

"Did the director have anything useful to say?" she asked as a way of making him at least look up at her.

Instead of answering Sarah, Jack reached out and took her hand and stood, forcing her to do the same. He pulled her along to the far wall and stopped at the old-fashioned jukebox the Group had salvaged from a Philippine bar where the last songs played upon it were those heard the night of December 6, 1941. Jack had added a few of his records from his extensive collection, only because he was the only one in the entire complex who still had forty-five RPM records in his possession. He reached out and punched a few fake ivory numbers. Then he took Sarah by the waist and waited until the song started.