ZAP Agent Mathis Read online

  ZAP Agent Mathis

  By

  C. R. Daems

  ZAP Agent Mathis

  Copyright © 2015 by C. R. Daems

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from C. R. Daems.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9863514-0-2

  ISBN-10: 0986351407

  Check out all my novels at:

  crdaems.com

  and

  talonnovels.com

  CHAPTER ONE............................................................................................................................. 4

  The Assignment............................................................................................................................. 4

  CHAPTER TWO.......................................................................................................................... 11

  ZAP School................................................................................................................................. 11

  CHAPTER THREE...................................................................................................................... 14

  Candidate Kate........................................................................................................................... 14

  CHAPTER FOUR........................................................................................................................ 23

  First Assignment......................................................................................................................... 23

  CHAPTER FIVE........................................................................................................................... 28

  Congresswoman Patterson.......................................................................................................... 28

  CHAPTER SIX............................................................................................................................. 44

  Shale Energy Corp: Ms. Vansise.................................................................................................. 44

  CHAPTER SEVEN...................................................................................................................... 57

  Intermission – party time............................................................................................................ 57

  CHAPTER EIGHT....................................................................................................................... 60

  NHL Player: Mr. Harkin.............................................................................................................. 60

  CHAPTER NINE.......................................................................................................................... 75

  R & R Spain............................................................................................................................... 75

  CHAPTER TEN........................................................................................................................... 78

  CIA deputy director..................................................................................................................... 78

  CHAPTER ELEVEN.................................................................................................................... 86

  Retribution Required................................................................................................................... 86

  CHAPTER TWELVE................................................................................................................... 97

  Senator Burns............................................................................................................................. 97

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN............................................................................................................. 119

  Right-to-die.............................................................................................................................. 119

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN............................................................................................................ 131

  An experience to forget............................................................................................................. 131

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN................................................................................................................. 137

  Envoy Itzig................................................................................................................................ 137

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN................................................................................................................ 145

  What next?................................................................................................................................ 145

  CHAPTER ONE

  The Assignment

  "I'm sorry I'm late," Annette Liang said as she entered the spacious office of the Director of Homeland Security. She wasn't sorry, but it was the appropriate response given the circumstances. The request to attend this meeting had barely given her enough time to catch the flight they had scheduled her on and hadn't allowed for any delays in flight times or D.C. traffic or negotiating building security. Her suit was crumpled and the French twist that held back her long black hair was loose, but she felt lucky she had made it at all. Of course, the distinguished middle-aged man behind the massive cherry desk wasn't interested in excuses.

  "This is the beginning of many tight schedules, Ms. Liang," the man behind the desk said as if reading her mind. "The stony-faced man in the chair to your left is Colonel Matel, Special Forces. Colonel Matel, the out-of-breath late-to-arrive lady is Senior FBI Agent Liang. Have a seat, Ms. Liang, and I'll explain why you are here." He took a sip from his coffee cup while watching her drop into the only other empty chair.

  The Colonel looked to be in his forties, close to six feet, a wiry athletic build, short sandy hair, and an angular face.

  "People used to send nasty emails when they didn't like something someone said or did. They were easy to ignore. Then the trend became organized protest rallies, which over the years have increasingly become violent, resulting in injury and or destruction of property. They weren't so easy to ignore, but they could be contained. And usually the only people injured were participants or those dumb enough to be involved as bystanders. That was bad enough. Now it's in fashion to have the individual assassinated, and the criminal elements have been quick to seize upon the trend as a business opportunity. The FBI confirms a five hundred percent increase over the last three years of groups that provide assassins for hire. Even more disturbing is their growing level of professionalism, which is beginning to approach State sponsored groups. Over the last two years, four congressmen and two senators were assassinated, and that does not count the number of congressmen, senators, and senior members of the government who were wounded in failed attempts. So, congress and the senate have authorized the creation of a special group that will report directly to the Director of Homeland Security."

  "What good does that do? Every organization has a security group of one kind or another," Matel interjected, obviously not impressed. "What about the FBI, Secret Service, and Diplomat Security? Isn't that what they do?"

  Liang agreed w
ith him but didn't think the Director was seeking her opinion.

  "It's one of methodology. Those groups try to stop an assassination by investigating potential threats, monitoring the activities of known trouble-makers, infiltrating suspicious groups, checking out the area the VIP will be visiting, and maintaining a physical presence. And when they encounter a threat, they tend to be reactive rather than proactive, due to their current rules of engagement. The new group's agents will be accountable only to a special appointed court which will sanction very lenient rules of engagement. Although no one will admit it publically, collateral damage, while unfortunate, is preferable to the assassination of a senator, congressman, or VIP." He didn't smile.

  "Interesting. Battle-field rules on American streets," Matel said, almost as if thinking out loud. Liang was too busy trying to imagine FBI agents with … shoot first authority.

  "Well put, Colonel, although I think congress considers them new rules to meet an evolving terrorism that threatens our democracy."

  "How does that affect me ... us?" Matel nodded in Liang's direction. The Director smiled before answering.

  "When the congress, senate, and president of the United States unanimously agree on anything—an extremely rare event—nothing is impossible." The director stopped and took a drink of his coffee while openly scrutinizing Matel and Liang. "They have passed a bill called the Zero Assassination Program, ZAP. It authorizes the Director of Homeland Security to develop a special anti-terrorist group. This group will have special rules of engagement and immunities in order to carry out their responsibilities. Their charter is not to seek out and bring to justice assassins or groups offering assassins for hire—that's for the FBI—but to provide highly trained agents to protect individuals considered at high risk to professional assassins. You and Ms. Liang will create and manage this group."

  Liang felt a growing sense of panic. She knew such a project was a quagmire that would suck the life out of her. "That will take years—" Liang began desperately searching for a way out, although in the back of her mind she knew she had no choice. The director's raised hand and wry smile confirmed her thoughts.

  "You have my sympathy, for what it's worth. Producing a charter would require endless committee hearings with lawyers and special interest groups, congressional approval, the creation of new schools because the current ones aren't adequate, hiring and training staff, developing a curriculum, recruiting and screening candidates, and finally years of training—gives me a headache just thinking about it." He grinned and gave a snort. "I would estimate six to eight years before the first agent would be operational, and they wouldn't be any better than the groups Colonel Matel mentioned. Given that, I can understand your anxiety and all the excuses you’re trying to come up with why you aren't the right person for the job."

  Liang nodded agreement while waiting for the but to come. He hadn’t rousted her out of bed at two in the morning for something that was going to take six years. And it didn't sound like the director was recruiting volunteers or that excuses were going to work.

  "The president was very understanding after I explained everything that would be required. He has agreed to give me two and a half years to produce the first group of ZAP agents."

  "Ridiculous," Matel said in a tone used to being acknowledged as the end of the discussion. Liang agreed with him but knew by the smile on the Director's face that it didn't matter.

  "True, Colonel Matel. And impossible when you consider that the president and congress expect dozens if not hundreds to be produced. Although the president is a reasonable man, he has to contend with the combined pressure of the congress and senate. Consequently, we have no choice but to produce the first ZAP agents, two or three will do, in the two and one half years. He has agreed to consider the first ones prototypes."

  "Impossible," Liang involuntarily gasped out—a real faux pas. You didn't tell the Director of Homeland Security something was impossible even if it was. You just suffered the consequences.

  "Difficult, Ms. Liang, but not impossible. Like the president, I'm a reasonable man, so you and Colonel Matel have no rules, no paperwork, no audit trail, and no money limitations. You want—you get." He extended two normal-looking Visa cards, which Liang and Matel retrieved. The cards looked like any normal Visa card; however, when the hologram was tilted, the Visa dove disappeared and the seal of the United States Congress appeared in its place.

  They were jarred out of their inspections of the cards by the director's voice. "These Visa cards have no limit. The only requirement is for you to verify your purchases. Ms. Anderson will send you an encrypted email once each day. You need merely verify you made or authorized those charges. No explanation or justification will be necessary—a reasonable precaution given the unlimited nature of those cards. Once you verify the charge, it will be approved and the debt paid. And yes, you may make cash withdrawals. In fact, your first withdrawal will be two million dollars, one million each. Consider that your salary for accepting this responsibility, because as of today you are officially on extended leave-of-absence from your current positions. In reality, it's more like a bonus, since you will charge all of your expenses whether business or personal to those cards: meals, clothes, etc."

  He paused, which was a good thing since Liang wouldn't have heard anything else while her rational mind tried to process the total absurdity of the situation: no paperwork, no rules, no accountability, unlimited funds, all expenses paid. It felt like a dream, and she was tempted to pinch herself. And she doubted the Director of Homeland Security was into practical jokes. Colonel Matel sat there, frowning.

  "What's the catch, Director Wegner?" Matel asked the exact question on Liang's mind.

  "The most powerful people in the world fear for their lives. Because they don't want to give up their power, they are willing to do whatever is necessary to fix the problem. If necessary, they will amend the constitution and raise taxes to pay for it. So in a sense, there is no catch. Of course, there is a bill that you and I must eventually pay. I'm risking my career and probably my future by placing my trust in you to deliver. Likewise, you must deliver a program that meets very high expectations, or else." He shrugged, leaving the consequences to their imaginations.

  Liang was sure whatever she imagined wouldn't be half as bad as the real consequences. Matel looked resigned to the situation.

  "I've rented the Jefferson Suite, a two bedroom unit, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It's reserved for a week. After that, you will have to make your own reservations. You're accountable only to me, but I have no intention of managing you. Contact me only if you can't get something done and need my help. Well, I imagine you are anxious to get started." He rose, signaling the end of the meeting. "Ms. Anderson is waiting for you in my conference room."

  Matel and Liang rose and exited the office unsure of where his conference room was located, but when they looked down the hallway, a young woman waved to them.

  "I think that's Ms. Anderson," Matel said, pointing. She looked like a college kid, out of place in an area where everyone was in business attire. She was dressed casually in jeans, a green print blouse with a rounded neck and three-quarter length sleeves, and grey Basics running shoes with pink trim.

  She greeted them with a cheerful smile. "Hi, I'm Tara. I'm going to be your information technology interface. Come, I'll show you your new toys." She waved them into a room with a conference table for twenty, leather chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows with a good view of Congress Heights and the surrounding area. "First, I have a Samsung Galaxy Note smartphone for each of you. I can change them if you prefer something else, but I thought the ease of scribbling notes might be an advantage over typing. Using G-Note, emails between us will be encrypted," she said while handing one to Liang and then one to Matel. "Then, I have two MacBook Air laptops—loaded. I've given you three secure, password controlled areas, which you can rename. Your first email from me ..." She tapped on her smartphone. "… is the passwords for your laptop and th
e secure areas. The password for your G-Notes is your last name and the number one, which you should change. Any questions?"

  "Your phone number in case we need to reach you?"

  "I'd prefer email, but my cell number is in your initial email."

  * * *

  Matel and Liang left after a brief tutorial on G-Notes and their new laptops, caught a taxi to the Mandarin, and proceeded directly to the room. Matel took two steps into the room and froze.

  "The damn bill for this is going to be astronomical."

  Liang wandered past him into the room and after a look around nodded agreement. It looked like some rich person's house: two tan-leather couches, mahogany furniture, two maroon-leather wing-backed chairs, and black and silver granite counter surfaces. The two bedrooms, one with a king sized bed and the other with two queens, each had their own bathroom. And the main room had a picture window with a breathtaking view of the city. Matel's voice brought her back to reality.

  "I'm Phillip. Phil," he said, sticking out his hand.

  She shook it. "Annette, Ann."

  "What do you say we order dinner? I doubt you've had an opportunity to eat a decent meal today." He handed her a menu, smiling. "We'll make it a working meal. The first of many I suspect."

  They each selected a steak dinner and agreed on a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. While waiting for room service, Ann used the time to change into worn jeans and a Henley shirt. When she joined Phil, he’d changed into a Hawaiian shirt and brown slacks. Dinner was a quiet affair, as she tried to come to grips with the day’s events. Fortunately, her companion seemed deep in thought as well.

  Finally, Matel refreshed Liang's and his glass, rose, and waved for Liang to follow him to the main sitting area. "Well, how would you like to proceed? I suggest we start at the end and work backwards."

  Liang sat on the couch facing him. Out of his uniform, he looked less … intimidating. "Backwards?"

  "Yes. Decide what the final product will look like, work on the school, and then the recruitment, etc. backwards," he said, giving her a crooked smile as though evaluating her.