Gordon Ryan - State of Rebellion

Dan shook Connor’s hand. “Thanks, Pug. If you’ve been reading my book, then you’ll be aware that in some respects, I’m repeating history. If these devious people, as you call them, win out, I could hang for treason.”

“You could always retrace the steps of your history.”

“Excuse me?”

“Didn’t your family start out in New England? Nicole’s from Connecticut. It’s a beautiful place to live. . if necessary.”

Dan nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”

“That’s all we ask.”

After Connor left, Dan pulled Nicole close, enfolding her in his arms and kissing her gently, then running his fingers through her hair. “I’d like to arrange some future ‘contact,’ if you don’t mind, ma’am.”

“Dan, this is serious,” she said, placing her hands on his chest and making a small scowl.

“Oh, I know it is, Nicole. Believe me, I know. And it frightens me. But if we’re ferreting out ‘origins,’ let’s not forget ours in the process. It’d be nice if we could work out both issues and arrive at popular support on both fronts. You have my support, Agent Bentley. Have I yours?”

Nicole stood on her toes and pressed her lips to Dan’s, allowing her hands to slide behind his head. “All of it, Assemblyman Rawlings, all of it. And you can trust Colonel Connor, truly. He’s a good man, Dan. I’ve quickly grown to trust him.”

Dan nodded his head and started for the kitchen to finish the breakfast cleanup before leaving for the day. He paused and looked back toward Nicole. “Oh, and by the way, Voices in My Blood is going to be a movie,” he said nonchalantly.

“ What?” Nicole exclaimed.

“My agent called to say Hollywood was going to make it into a movie. But before you get too excited, she also told me that what Hollywood intends to do and what they do , are two entirely different things. They only want to buy the option.”

“They’ll make it,” she replied.

For twenty minutes, Dan tried to explain to Governor Dewhirst his dilemma about working with Colonel Connor. Once again, Dan was impressed and astonished at how calmly the governor accepted information that Dan would have thought provocative.

“Governor, it seems I’m to be reviled by both sides in this charade.”

“You looking for absolution, son?”

Dan was taken aback by the governor’s direct accusation. “No, sir. But it seems that either way I go-”

“Look, this is a tough game we’re involved in. You need to learn when to compromise and when to stand your ground. I can’t teach you that-it’s an inherent quality that each person has to develop for himself. Personally, son, I think you’re on solid ground. You told me when I first called you in that you were an American. Well, then, be one. Both you and I would rather see this secession nonsense go down the tubes, but we’re proceeding forward with it in any case. I might take a different position were I not governor, but I am, and I have those responsibilities, and the voters have told me what they want. I can either follow their lead or get out of the way and let someone else lead. Dan, I don’t mean to be harsh, but do you understand?”

“I believe so, sir. My main reason for the visit was to make you aware of Connor’s approach.”

“I appreciate that. Maybe you don’t know how rare such loyalty is, but by the same token, I need to keep my oars in the water on many fronts. I’ve already spoken with the president, and he told me he had someone out here-‘keeping an eye on things,’ was, I believe, the expression he chose to use. Now, thanks to you, I know who he is. The president has faith in the man, as I do in you. Do what you need to do, and so will I.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, Governor.”

“Oh, and Dan. Be careful who you confide in. There are a lot of folks out there who wouldn’t take kindly to your. . shall we call it. . activity.”

“Yeah. That’s what Colonel Connor said. Thank you, sir.”

“You’re coming closer all the time to Gary Cooper’s role, aren’t you?”

Dan grinned and nodded. “But this isn’t fiction, Governor, and I’m not writing the script.”

Woodbridge, Virginia

The following morning, Pug was escorted up to the office of the Director of the FBI. Ushered in, Pug found Judge Granata talking with a well-dressed man of Latin extraction. Both men rose as Pug entered the room.

“Morning, Pug. Glad you could make it,” Granata said. “Colonel Connor, I’d like you to meet General Rodrigo Cordoba, retired from the Mexican army and currently head of the Mexican federal police. My counterpart, as it were.”

The three men shook hands and sat as Judge Granata refilled Cordoba’s coffee cup. “Pug, General Cordoba is here unofficially, but he feels he’s stumbled across something of import to us. Perhaps I should let him tell it,” he said, nodding to Cordoba.

“ Si . Thank you, Mr. Director.” Facing Connor, Cordoba set his coffee cup down and studied Connor’s face for a moment, a gracious, but inquisitive glint to his eyes. “Colonel, Judge Granata tells me you are a man to be trusted. I hope so, Senor , as my life, possibly that of my family, and perhaps your life as well, will be at risk should the source of this information be discovered. But it is important that you are informed. You are aware, of course, that Mexico has recently recognized the proposed government of the Republic of California.”

“I am, sir,” Pug replied, interest rising, and impressed by Cordoba’s command of English, punctuated by only a hint of accent.

“The basis for Mexico’s recognition of California comes more from a business interest than from a political alliance, Colonel. You are familiar, are you not, with a man called John Henry Franklin, of the Franklin Group?”

Pug nodded his assent, vaguely aware of the financial reports he’d read over the years on Franklin’s empire.

“Mr. Franklin has a long reach and much influence in many quarters, including some within my government. I’m sure you will understand that I am not privy to all aspects of this venture, but certain details have come to my attention that relate to the California issue. Several months ago, I was witness to the hideous outcome of a failed attempt to smuggle Mexican citizens into the United States. It was a most distasteful incident in which the lives of sixteen of my countrymen were needlessly lost. Many more have been lost, Senor , but these-these were horrible deaths and uncalled for by all accounts. As I began to investigate this tragedy, I discovered that a man I have met in a social setting was directly involved in the planning of that operation. I am speaking of illegal immigration, Senor , and the deaths of those who cross the border by whatever means are at hand. This man, known to me as Jean Wolff or Jean Minards-a man who probably has many other names-established the channels by which these people are promised passage into your country and employment through a series of temporary agencies, all without proper documentation. The money is sufficient to entice those at the highest government levels, those who could possibly interfere, to look the other way on both sides of the border. Several in my personal employ have participated in this venture as well, although they are not aware that I have discovered their involvement.”

At the mention of Jean Minards, Pug immediately recognized the name from Agent Bentley’s reports about the man who had been involved in the California elections office.

“General, you say you’ve met this man?”

“Si, Senor . At Mr. Franklin’s retreat in northern California, and once in Mexico City.”