Dark as Daylight Ch. 09

Sure enough, at their one o'clock position, nearly 350 down was a trail of light, blazing away from them, where moments ago there was nothing.

"Have a great trip dad, say hello for all of us."

"Jack were ready to come in."

****************

Alright Mister Watley, you've proven to us that these codes, and your passwords will work on any computer. There is still one problem we haven't addressed. Is there a day code? Are there codes that can only be used on certain days of the week, weeks of the month, or months of the year? It wouldn't be nice of you to show us today's work, and as of tomorrow morning nothing works. We would be very angry with you if that happened. We would find your wife and family, wherever you sent them off into hiding. We would find your parents, and extended relatives, and make them pay dearly for your transgressions against us. You wouldn't be doing anything underhanded like that to us Mister Watley, would you?

You are moments from freedom, would you risk that all Mister Watley? We can all be on a plane to Geneva in a few hours if need be, or you can be on your ultralight trying to escape us. Either way you can be alive, but in 2 days the FBI is going to be all over you. Your passports will be gone, your ability to leave will be gone. You won't be able to go to the bathroom without them being able to tell you how much you went. Tell me Mister Watley, what games are you playing against me, or I will nic your carotid artery, hang you upside down, and watch you die in 34 minutes."

"I don't believe I have ever come up against anyone quite as good as you number 20, and I have come up against some of the best bargainers in the world. They always miss something, and you haven't missed anything. You have to promise me one thing, and then I will give you the proverbial shirt off my back. You have to protect me while I am in Switzerland being treated. They are in Switzerland. I am as sure of that as I am sure I am breathing now. They may go through the tunnel into Germany every now and again, but I'm sure Switzerland is their base camp. I need at least 6 men, 6 of your finest to guard me day and night. If you give me that I will tell you everything you need to know about those codes."

"My men are private contractors. I cannot answer for them; they will have to answer for themselves. You will have to pay them what they want, and they only accept cash. I know that's not a problem for you. Number one if you would gather the men in the living room, Mister Watley you can ask them yourself."

***************

"Gentleman, I need 6 guards for round-the-clock work for at least 6 months possibly longer if I survive the treatment. I will guarantee the 6-months pay. I do not know the exact nature of the hazard, because I'm not sure if they will know I am there. I will not be using my real name, passport, or credit cards. I will be strictly a cash customer. As number 20 has advised me you only accept cash also. I will pay you monthly in advance as to the agreed amount. After watching what you did today, I would suspect you are very highly paid, because you were extremely proficient at what you do. Is anyone interested in 6 months' service to me, in Switzerland, starting immediately?"

"Number 7 you have a question?"

"Will the drawdown of 6 men cause a problem to our current operation?"

"No it will not. Our current operation, in Switzerland, would only require 10 people. Since everyone acted so proficiently today, I was going to take all of you, and keep the remainder as a second-tier just in case we needed to move to another area of operation after that."

"In that case number 20, I would like to join Mister Watley's crew, as long as we can come to the same financial arrangement or more than we have with you."

"That's totally between you and Mister Watley."

"May I ask what you receive per month number 7?"

"35,000 US dollars per month."

"I will make it 40,000 US dollars per month. The Swiss winter is setting in, and you will need better clothing and probably a better weapon to withstand the cold weather."

"Does anyone else wish to join Mister Watley's crew?"

7 hands rose from the group.

"Mister Watley you have a choice, you can take 5 of the hands that are raised and leave two or you can take all 8. It's your decision."

"I'll take all 8 number 20. There is safety in numbers after all."

"Gentleman, remember as you leave my employee to destroy all evidence of our agreements both present and past. I have your information and if in the future I need your services I can contact you. Mister Watley you and I have further business to talk about."

******************

"Number 20 do you see how pristine the logo is in the center of my checkbook."

"My initial thought when I saw that was why was it on the inside of the checkbook, instead of the outside, not how good it looked. Go ahead."

"When you put my information into the computer, as I showed you, the password goes first, and the other information goes in afterwards, everything will come out looking wonderfully, for that day, will because it is pin coded into the computer before I get to work. If I want to look back on a transaction to change something that I know the feds are going to look for I put everything into the computer and I lineup the appropriate pin by my name and log it in. The computer never shows I was there, it never shows anything was changed, and it alters every book up and down the line. It does it without being told to do it. Now in reference to your case and day codes. For tomorrow all you need to do is look for the day of the week in my pinwheel can you see it?"

"I'm sorry no I can't."

"Try it without your glasses and tilt your head down."

"Turnaround Mister Watley, we are not that friendly yet."

"My goodness the days of the week are even spelled out. They look like little arrows. How ingenious Mister Watley. You may turn around now. What would I do with those days of the week?"

"Regardless of what month of the year, as long as you line up the day of the week, with the pin code, and add it together into the computer, you are in. You have your user ID, password and new pin code to get into the computer every day of the year. No one can stop you, because that is my backdoor program."

It lays dormant, until you ask it to open. They can look all they want, and they'll never see it. I paid the kid $6 million to do make that program for me. I made $6 Billion off it in 3 years."

"Is that person still alive?"

"Hell no, he died at the party I threw for him. It must've been something in the drink."

"Excellent precaution Mister Watley. It is nearly 3:30 P: M. You are past your flight departure time by 90 minutes, so we must use the Ultralight Escape Plan. We stole money from your safes, your wife's insured jewelry, and whatever else you can think of. Just be sure you are out of the country by early tomorrow morning. Canada is across the water, and for a very rich business man, renting a private jet should not be a problem. Good luck Mr. Watley, I am very pleased we came to amicable terms. I dislike blood, when it is not necessary."

"Thank you number 20, I enjoy being alive."

"Do you need any help launching that thing?"

"No, it rolls down the ramp, and flies like a bird."

"I will keep both feet on the ground, if you don't mind. I'll watch you take off from you back yard, and then I'll take my leave of you."

********************

Paul was set up on the western ridge of the roof, using Kelly as his spotter.

The wind was brisk over the bay, 15 to 18 miles per hour from the northwest, and the sun was to Paul's left, 170 above the horizon. The glare off the water was intense and sparkling, but hopefully Watley would climb high enough to negate that factor. The temperature was 540 and falling, as the cloud cover was being pushed away by the wind. All in all, it was a shitty day for a long range shot that had to be made, without hitting the man flying in his tiny machine. Maybe he could scare him off the thing, by whizzing a few by his head, and getting him to jump to his death? It was just a thought.

Paul brought his rifle, but was using a different type round in it today. Instead of the sleek aerodynamic Pointed Shape round he regularly used, which had a higher muzzle velocity, and impact capability; he chose a 45-70 350 grain Round Shoulder, which had a lower muzzle velocity, but a wider impact point. When you are shooting at strings, 1/16 of an inch wide, every little bit helps. His rifle held a clip of 4 cartridges, and just in case, Paul had 11 more 4 cartridge clips lined up close by. In these conditions, anything could, and probably would happen to him. He only hoped the colonel kept his word, and stayed downstairs, where he belonged.

The colonel was walking along the bank of the bay, when Watley opened the doors that revealed his flying machine.

"Hello number 20."

"You are nuts Mr. Watley."

"I've done this hundreds of times before, what's one more?"

"Can you get to Canada in that thing?"

"I don't know; I've never tried?"

"Enjoy you flight."

They waved to each other. James Watley strapped himself into his Ultralight, and started the engine. Moments later, he released the brakes, slid down the ramp, and was off into the Michigan air, straight over the bay behind his home. He looked over his right shoulder, and saw number 20 walking into his home. All was right in his world.

"320 yards. He is in the crosswind Paul. It's causing the left side to jerk up and down every few seconds. I think you should take the shot early."

"The colonel said 450. I'll shoot him in the back of his head, before I shoot him one-yard shy of 450 yards."

"You tell her Paul. Range to target."

"380 yards, colonel."

"There is one hell of a chop out on that water today, isn't it?"

"Yes it is sir."

"I wonder if that is the reason he can't gain attitude?"

"No sir, He can't gain altitude because of the severe crosswind he's fighting. Every time he lifts the left side of his airfoil, the wind nearly blows him over. He shouldn't be flying that thing in weather like this."

"Really, you mean an accident could happen? Paul aim for the string that connects to the rear of his seat."

"You mean you want me to aim at something in this weather?"

"Do you want me to do it for you, Paul?"

"Don't think about it; I can do this. Range to target."

"435 yards, wind 3280 18 gusting 23. Temp 520 F Range 450 yards. The range is open, fire when ready."

"Bang...Bang...Bang...Bang."

Paul changed his magazine, without looking downrange, that was his spotters job. He reloaded, reset his position, and waited for Kelly's report.

"Wide left and low. Left and low, left and low, Hit. Number 3 string left side. Shredding but still holding on."

"Bang...Bang...Bang...Bang."

He repeated his previous actions precisely.

"Miss high and left. Hit 5 string is severed. He's down in the water. Hit 4 string. He is under the water. No sign of him. Craft is being blown, end over end, away from the scene of the accident. No sign of a swimmer in the water. Great shooting Paul."

Paul looked over his right shoulder, and saw the colonel looking down at him with a frown on his face. He had to know what he did wrong this time, so he shouted, "WHAT IS IT NOW?"

"What are you going to do with all these slow cartridges?"

He turned, walked away, and shook his head.

The team gathered around Paul, laughing, because the colonel had done it to him, AGAIN!

The End

Chapter 9

Dark As Daylight

By

Prolonged_Debut10

Note: A thank you to anonymous: one of you advised me to get a tape recorder and put my thoughts down on it, and have someone else put it on my computer. As my current problem moves slowly along, my hands inability to type progresses. My aide happens to be an excellent typist. Although she blushes at certain portions of the story, she gets through them quickly and moves on. She is a wonderful woman. So whoever you are, I take this moment to thank you for putting this thought in my head, because it keeps my mind active as I lie down, and continue to think of where this story is going. She is why Chapter 9 has gotten to you more quickly than Chapter 8, and hopefully, Chapter 10 will be the same.