Ghosts of the Past Ch. 09

Butler sighed. "No. He took leave last Friday and I never heard him say where he was going. He said something about whisking his wife off on a second honeymoon... but that was it."

Tom and Charles looked at each other again. They raised their eyebrows and took deep breaths. Well... it looks like we've found out who the source is... And, of course, he's disappeared...

Tom looked back at his friend. "Can we keep these reports, Gator?" Butler nodded. "Boy... this is strange. I came to you today hoping you'd be able to give us some idea on how to figure out whom this person was. I didn't expect that you'd be able to actually provide the proof! This case keeps getting more and more coincidental..."

Charles frowned. Yeah... a little TOO coincidental...

They both shook Captain Gary Butler's hand and thanked him before they left. On their way out of the building, Tom said, "We'll contact Pete as soon as we get to the airport so he can call HQ and get them to track down this Major Barnes. We just better hope he hasn't skipped the country or we may never get our hands on him."

Tom glanced at Charles and saw the worried frown on his face. "Hey, partner... what's up with that look? We've just gotten a big break and you don't seem very happy about it."

"I don't know, Tom. Something about this just doesn't seem right to me. This just seems like too much of a coincidence. It was too easy. I could tell right away that Butler was hiding something and he seemed way more nervous than he should've been if he was just suspicious about something. I don't know... maybe he was just worried that he would get into real trouble for not bringing this to someone's attention right away. What do you think, partner? Would you have suspected that this old friend of yours would be in on something like this?"

It was Tom's turn to frown. "My immediate impulse would be to say no. But then again... I would never have suspected that Bradley Williams would be, either... but he is! And Gator did disappear out of my life for the past several years. But he's got these reports to back up his story! Before we can suspect him of anything, we're going to have to try to find this Major Barnes and verify these reports. Let's go, partner. We need to get back to L.A. and figure out what the hell's going on."

**********

Wednesday, February 6th, Bradley Williams aka William Bradley, arrived in Los Angeles and was met at the airport by Donald Price and Robert Warren, who'd also just arrived. They went to Harold Green's office in the headquarters building of Green Worldwide Enterprises at four o'clock in the afternoon. At 4:30, an urgent phone call came through for Bradley.

He picked it up. "This is Bradley." He was silent for several minutes as he listened, an increasing frown furrowing his brows. He took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. "I see. You think that's the only way we can handle this? ... Are you sure you didn't throw them off enough so that we could get through this first transaction before you have to change locations? ... OK. I'll take care of it from here. You just be ready for our arrival in three days. ... Yeah... see you then." He hung up and looked at Green, Price and Warren.

"We've run into a bit of a snag. It seems that a couple of Feds have been checking into what we've been up to since last fall when they received an anonymous tip. They've just about figured out who my source is and they could blow the transfer at Benicia on Saturday night. We're going to have to take care of them. It's a real shame, too. One of those agents used to be a man under my command back during the war. He was a good man."

He looked at Harold Green. "I don't suppose you know of anyone we could trust to take care of this... I really don't want to get my hands dirty."

Green thought for a moment. "Don't worry, Bradley. I know just the guy." He picked up the phone and called one of the warehouses. "Saunders, this is Green. Tell Bobby Joe Hutchins to call my office before he leaves today. ... Right. Thanks. Goodbye." He looked at Bradley. "Just tell me who these agents are and I'll make arrangements for their disappearance."

Donald Price and Robert Warren frowned when they heard the names Seldon and Richards. Those names sounded familiar for some reason...

Warren/Clark frowned even harder. Damn it, this was not supposed to happen...

**********

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Hutchins. I have a special job that I need you to handle for me and I've been very pleased with the little problems you've handled for me in the past. This one is a bit tougher, though, so the payment will reflect that. I heard you complaining one time about how much you hated the Feds because a couple of them roughed you up in Vegas and had you kicked out of a casino there." Hutchins snorted in disgust. Green continued, "How would you like the chance to get even with a couple of Feds yourself?"

Bobby Joe grinned and chuckled menacingly. "Boy, would I! I'd love to beat the shit out of some fuckin' G-men!"

Green frowned. "Well, Hutchins... you can beat the shit out of them first if you want, but I want them eliminated the same way you took care of that other problem for me last month. I'll pay you ten grand for these two!"

Bobby Joe jumped up from the chair he was sitting in. "Ten grand! Hell... I'd have done it for two! You've got yourself a deal, Green!" He thrust his hand across the man's desk and they shook firmly.

Green said quietly, "Well... I told you it'd be ten, but you've got to handle this problem before you leave to do that other job for me this weekend. And then I'll add the payment for this to it. And call me when it's done."

Bobby Joe Hutchins nodded at him and left the office. I can't believe this... Green's gonna pay me ten gees to take care of a couple fuckin' Feds... Is this my lucky day or what...

**********

One of the front desk personnel stopped Charles and Tom as they were leaving the FBI office that evening.

"Agents Richards and Seldon... I have an urgent message for you! Some guy just called... he wouldn't give his name. He would only say that he's been working undercover for the CIA and that he had information that you're both in danger because of the case you're currently working on! He said that Green and Bradley are making arrangements for a hit on you two. He has no idea when or where but he did hear the name of the person they were calling in to do the job... one... Bobby Joe Hutchins."

Charles and Tom looked at each other in shock and said at the same time, "Bobby Joe Hutchins!"

Charles frowned. "That can't possibly be the same asshole we ran into in Vegas last October... Dawn's old boyfriend! But how many Bobby Joe Hutchins could there be?"

Tom shook his head. "This is crazy... this is yet another too strange coincidence! How in the hell could he possibly be involved? Let's get a hold of Dawn and Rick and see if they can shed any light on this!"