Honor Thy Mother & Thy Father Ch. 23

Ted Nugent submitted each form in triplicate as required. Then he opened each of the sealed boxes revealing the contents within to be the exact duplicates of each other. The fourth box was to be taken out of the building with them, and secured in a vault, until the patent had been issued. The most important part was next: the check. $640,000.00. It would take more than 3 years for the Patent Office to go over each item to make sure it did not conflict with any other patented product. During that time they could demonstrate and use the product cautioning that patent was pending. Everyone could breathe easier now. Whoever wanted to steal these secret programs could no longer do it. They were in the custody of the U.S. Patent Office, and would be stored in three separate depositories. If thieves expected the aircraft to land at Washington National, that was foiled by the last minute change in landing sites, and the FBI escort to the Department of Commerce.

Michael called Patty and told her everything had been done as far as the Patents were concerned. He was on his way to the White House, for a brief, unscheduled, meeting with the President. She should expect FBI agents from Phoenix to arrive in Cottonwood within the hour. He knew this would be hard for her, but they would identify themselves by using the code word, "Swordfish." He did not want her to fall prey to imposters posing as FBI agents.

Patty took a deep breath, and accepted Michael's warning. Very few people knew her mother's last word to her. He was one of them.

******

Michael had to wait 45 minutes, to get two minutes with the President.

"Michael, you do not look happy this morning."

"No, Mister President, I am not. Do you remember the young woman I spoke with you about in reference to the NSA attempting to kill her: Patricia Parent? You declared her a National Treasure."

"How could I possibly forget Richard Stengel walking in front of a bus, Michael?"

"Well, Mister President, we have another problem. It appears that members of the CIA have just attempted to steal two highly classified programs that could clean up the Earth's atmosphere in 10 years. They were developed by Harold Chase, and Patricia Parent Valentino. She was just married two weeks ago. There was an attempt on their lives last night. Two men were killed, and two men are being held incommunicado, until I can get out there to question them myself. One of the men, just before he died, said he worked for 'Ah Company.' The words are too close to 'The Company', or the CIA to be taken lightly. They rented cars without providing Drivers' license. They had no ID on them. They carried heavy weapons, and 9 mm handguns, just like we do. I don't like this one bit."

The President pressed the button on his phone and said, "Tell the director of the CIA I want his ass over here now."

"Michael, I have things to take care of, would you wait outside please."

"Of course, Mister President, thank you for your time."

While Michael was waiting in the outer office he called Cottonwood Police Department, and asked them to fax pictures of the two dead men to his office at the FBI. He was told they would come from Prescott, but they would be sent immediately.

Within 10 minutes, the pictures were in Michael's secretary's box. She called him, and he told her to fax it to the White House, urgent, and addressed to him. The pictures were in his hands moments later.

The director of the CIA came marching down the hallway with a mean look on his face. Even though he was a presidential appointee, and friend, he did not like to be bossed around.

The president's secretary announced his arrival, and he was told to wait, until the President's meeting was over.

When the Australian ambassador left the Oval Office, the President told his secretary to send Brooks and Free into the office.

Michael handed the picture of the two dead men to the President. He looked at them briefly, and handed them to Brooks.

"Do you know who these men are?"

"No, Mister President, I have no idea who they are."

"Well, Mister Director, these two, and two that are in protective custody are yours. They tried to steal two national secrets, inside the United States. They also tried to kill or kidnapped two United States citizens that are declared national treasures. The punishment for that is death. You find out who sent them on this mission. If it was you I will watch you die. You have been my friend for 25 years, and I don't give a damn about it. Find the people in your organization who wanted these two people killed or your ass is out. You have one week to do it. Now get out of my office and get to work."

"Mister President that is not enough time?"

"It is all the time you have. Michael will put his office at your disposal if you want help, but he will not work under your supervision."

"Thank you, Mister President."

"You are both dismissed."

As they were walking down the hall Brooks said, "There is nothing in this world like getting your ass reamed before lunch."

"You should have been at my house at 7:30 this morning, when I received the phone call. I almost tossed my cookies. Is there anything you want me to start on?"

"I know you will not give me the two in custody, but I want their fingerprints and photos as soon as possible. Run them through AFIS along with the dead guys. If they are mine, you will not get a thing on them. I am going to start from the top down, and the bottom up. I swear to you Michael, I had nothing to do with this."

"I'm glad to hear that Bob. Every once in a while we have to shake the trees to get rid of the bad apples. These guys could have been co-opted from the outside for very big money. As always, we have to follow the money."

"Maybe we should bring Treasury and Secret Service in on this?"

"That's a very good idea, with the limited time the President gave you, the more manpower we have, the better our chances of pulling something out of the air."

"Okay, you take Treasury, and I'll take Secret Service."

******

The End

Honor Thy Mother & Thy Father

Chapter 23