Robert Waggoner - John - The Senior Killer

After a light breakfast of scrambled eggs and rice, the team retired to the basement to listen to Brad’s trip to Washington and the latest word about John. The team had no word as to his whereabouts and Nancy had called to say she would be there is a few days’ time. Earie and the old Korean lady came just after breakfast carrying sacks of whatever for the afternoon picnic.

Sandy was laying at Brad’s feet with her head on his socks while he told the team about his short trip to DC. He told them the truth about not knowing what the future was for the team. Steve would be here in a day or two and from his early morning phone call to Seattle Nancy found out John spent the day looking at flowers and was holed up in his hotel room. She told him that John would have to be very slick to get past the four agents watching his door every minute of the time. Both rooms on either side of him were locked tight and not available for lodging.

Brad said, “Quite frankly, I’m not sure of our next move. Arden is still a go and will continue so until we hear different. Billy I want every border crossing from Canada to the US on our China board. I feel our man will head east and lose his tail in a big city like Toronto or Montreal. Check with anyone and everyone about the past ways people used to sneak across the border or where it appears the border guards are lax. Anyway that ought to keep you busy and away from your nasty habit,” he joked to him. Billy jumped up and left climbing the stairs for a least one or two cigarettes before taking on the new search.

Brad told the rest of the team to relax and put to paper different case scenarios on what our John might be up to next. Brad told Mike to do the same while he went in and called his father. After that he and Mike would sit down and make a plan for where if not Arden our serial killer might strike next. Oregon was a good bet and that were in their backyard so to speak. When they discussed Oregon little did they know how close they were to the truth? However, as it turned out it was many months before John the Senior Killer raised his ugly and twisted self once again made his presence known to leave his mark.

Steve and Nancy arrived at the same time, she by commercial jet and Steve by his borrowed NASA jet. It was planned that way and both rode down in Steve’s car talking about where John might go next. To Nancy Steve seemed a little preoccupied and distant. She was beginning to like him and wondered if he was married or single. She wasn’t sexually attracted to him, quite the contrary as she was very happy with her relationship with her lover. She wished this case would come to an end so she could get back to Washington and their cozy town house. However, she liked the weather in the Pacific Northwest and in particular the Oregon coast. Even at the expense of a difference in personalities with Brad, she felt comfortable in his house. She looked forward to the next day or two as they turned down the familiar road to his house.

The team welcomed both with warmth and a friendly attitude. Some of that friendly attitude was due to the afternoon picnic. The dogs welcomed both by wagging their tails and Sandy rubbed Nancy’s legs. Sandy was very pregnant and Nancy noticed. Steve and Brad disappeared for a walk on the beach once Steve changed his shoes.

Silently they strolled up the beach watching the waves climb the beach as the tide was coming in. Soon it would be high and the walking harder in the soft sand next to the dunes. The wind was blowing fairly strong as they found a place to sit behind a giant old tree that had washed ashore a long time ago during a monster storm to place it so high on the beach.

Brad sat on a piece of driftwood across from his friend who too found a place to sit. Brad the always patient one, Steve thought as he tried to find the words to tell Brad that they would leave the case to the FBI and Nancy for a while. The only change might be if John struck again soon. Steve said, looking at his friend who had a twinkle in his eye knowing pretty much what he was going to be told by his friend, “Yes. Your team is put on the back burner for the time being. Nancy will take care of it for a while. If our John strikes again soon then you and your team are back on the front line. Meanwhile we have another little job that needs your attention. This involves your whole team which includes Wendy and agent Jones if you like. They have proved invaluable recently and if you want to add them, then consider the transfer completes, if they so desire to transfer agencies. Their retirement and such things will remain the same. Let me know before I leave what their answer is. Now here is a major problem that needs your immediate attention. You might think this is a way to get you off the case of our serial killer, but that is not true at all. This comes from the president who listened to your recording and likes the way you think and act.” Steve buttoned the top of his Burberry against the cold afternoon wind that seeped around and under the giant old white tree. Brad meanwhile sat there looking and feeling a little sorry for his past commander and friend. Brad looked hard at him to see how he was holding up under the strain. To Brad he looked about the same as years gone by, but maybe a little slower in his movements is all. Brad thought he needed more exercise and hoped the next few days they could spend some time combing the beach. We’ll go up to Agate Beach and look for agates, Brad thought.

Steve continued his dialogue, “The president has a special assignment that needs your expertise. As you are well aware of the problems facing the free world with the off center leader of North Korea is becoming a real problem. The president tells me we need better intelligence from that region. There are rumors that they are about to test more missiles and there is word coming down from the North that a nuclear underground test is planned in the near future. We are applying all the pressure we can try to stop a renegade nation from actually going nuclear. However, it might just be another is a long line of games the North is playing to feed its army for free. China is not happy about them going nuclear and will allow you and any of your team in China without hindrance. A lot of North Koreas are living in exile along the border and we need first hand intelligence on what is truth or fiction. The president knows Sujin is pregnant and a good cover for you is that her parents live in Seoul and the only one who will stand out is agent Jones. You think about it and let me know what you think. Best guess it is a two month job. After that we will know all we will probably will by then.” His look gave Brad an opportunity to ask questions.

Brad shook his head and said, “Not at the moment Steve, and I too think the free world is in trouble with that devil in North Korea who is called the ‘Dear one.” Let me run this by Sujin and tonight after our picnic we will discuss it around the table with the team.” At that they walked for a while talking politics and the elusive serial killer still at large. After Anacortes it was reported the killer went to Canada and all hoped, not that they didn’t care for the people of Canada, but we're glad he was out of the States.

Making their way back up the narrow sand trail to the house, at the top, Steve laid his hand on Brad’s arm and stopped him saying, “You flat out impressed the boss man and the president wants to nominate you to head up the FBI!” Brad laughed and said he wouldn’t have that job for all the tea in China! Both went into the house laughing making the three women busy fixing lunch for the picnic, stare at them like they found something funny about a picnic lunch?

Steve and Brad sat at the kitchen table while the girls worked in the kitchen. They were talking about a trip they made to Russian a couple years ago when a terrorist went to ground after selling some arms and explosives to a rebel group aligning itself with factions of the Taliban. Brad went undercover and after three months posing as an arms dealer, nailed the guy and his right hand man in a dark warehouse area in the slums of Moscow. About at the end of the story, Billy came up for his usual fix of nicotine. Brad called him over and told him to get all the intelligence on North Korea that was available and unavailable. Billy never batted an eye and went out with Rocky on his heels.