CLOAK & CORKSCREW: 24) A NEW DEAL
My Saturday Evening Post: A Serial Novel of Intrigue & Lunacy
50.
One of the Dataveillant’s monitors was tuned full-time to TZM, which he watched, with amusement, as the sensational coverage of Josh Penner played out. Finally, he picked up his landline phone and connected to TZM chief Brooke Holden on Holden’s personal cell phone.
“I’ve got a new dimension to this.” The Dataveillant spoke in his customary soft growl. “Penner has been working for the CIA.”
“WHAT!?” Holden exclaimed in disbelief.
“His presence in Geneva, and Zurich. I’m reasonably certain it was part of a CIA operation.”
“That’s not my story!” snapped Holden.
“Excuse me?” The Dataveillant was taken aback.
“My story is that Penner is working against the interests of the United States by aiding and abetting a traitor.”
“Oh,” said the Dataveillant. “So you don’t…”
“No!” Holden clicked off.
Dumbfounded by the absurdities of the celebrity news business, the Dataveillant clicked himself into a new idea.
51.
The Josh Penner matter quickly rose to the highest level inside the J. Edgar Hoover Building, causing the assistant FBI director for national security to demand a meeting with his counterpart in the Bureau’s criminal division. The latter sided with his Boston SAC (special agent-in-charge) and refused to set Penner free, if only because of the bad PR that would ensue.
A stalemate between the two led to a showdown before the Director of the FBI, who heard both men out before asking to hear directly from the Boston SAC and special agent Jennifer Jones before making a decision.
After such briefings, the FBI Director resolved that Penner be placed in the temporary custody of Special Agent Jennifer Jones, who would personally accompany him to Washington, D.C., install him in a safehouse, and determine if he truly possessed information vital to the security of the United States.
“What are we supposed to tell the media?” asked the criminal division’s assistant director. “This will be the second time in two weeks Penner is freed after a highly publicized assault and battery affirmed by multiple witnesses.”
The Director summoned his assistant for public affairs. While they hatched a media strategy, Jenny Jones collected Penner for a government charter flight to the Signature terminal at Reagan-National Airport. From there, to a Chantilly, Virginia, apartment kept by the Bureau as a temporary transit zone for important defectors who needed new lives in their Federal Witness Protection Program.
Penner and Jones did not converse on anything of substance until they reached their destination.
“Here’s the deal,” said Jones, facing Penner over a plain wooden kitchen table, bolstered by the SAC from Washington Field Office, who watched and listened from a sofa nearby. “And it’s not subject to discussion or negotiation. You either go along completely or we return to Boston and revert to their jurisdiction.”
“You’ve got my attention,” said Penner, who had been allowed to finally wash and shave and fully appreciate the these small pleasures after two nights on a hard cot with adjoining toilet.
“One, your relationship from this point forward is exclusively with the FBI. You are to have nothing more to do with the CIA.”
“My pleasure,” said Penner, still stewing over Charles Mulberry’s refusal to rescue him.”
“Two. You must identity the State Department official you mentioned. And the story you told me, about this State Department official trying to blackmail you, it must prove to be true.”
Penner nodded. Easy.
“Three,” Jones continued. “You are available to us, if necessary, to play a role in the apprehension of this individual.”
“For trying to blackmail me?” said Penner.
“Yes,” replied Jones, giving nothing away.
Penner shrugged. “Sure.”
“And four,” said Jones. “You will continue to help us by ingratiating yourself with Jose Hernandez.”
Penner nodded. “I agree.”
Jones glanced at the Washington SAC. He nodded. “Good,” said Jones. “We’re in business.”
“Hold on, wait a second,” said Penner. “What guarantees do I have that the charges against me will be dropped?”
“We have an assurance from the Attorney General that you will not be prosecuted. Pending,” she added, “validation of your State Department story.”
“Do I get that in writing?”
The SAC finally spoke, the first time since he introduced himself. “Your assurance is your involvement with us. We would not want you to talk about the work you’ll be doing on our behalf, so we will naturally stick to our side of the bargain.”
Penner digested this. “Why should I trust you?”
The SAC accepted Penner’s eyeball grip. “Because the alternative is that we return you to Boston and close the door on this.”
Penner blinked.