Hampered in His Plans Ch. 03

Part 17 - Progress and Hope

"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!" said Bettina at 7:00am, Thursday, January 14th. "The outpouring for support for young Amy Croyle has been tremendous! People from across the State and even the Nation have called in, asking how they can help. Amy's name was elevated on the national organ donation list, in the hopes that the very rare match she needs can be found before it is too late."

A video came on, showing Amy, Buddy, and a visitor at the Hospital: "Yesterday, the famous rapper T-Square visited Amy and her dog Buddy in the Hospital. Amy is a fan of T-Square, and said she was very excited to be visited by the world-renowned rapper."

"Meanwhile, the first Public Policy Polling has come out since Jenna Stiles announced her candidacy for District Attorney, and D.A. Krasney as a four point lead, almost within the margin of error. As to the continuing EMT strike, only 25% of respondents support the striking EMTs. Ten percent have no opinion, and 65% say they either support the Fire Department's side or simply don't care. Over 75% of respondents do say that their County taxes should not go up to pay for a private ambulance service."

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

Cindy and I were in my office just before 8:00am, preparing for the 'Angels' meeting, when our Catholic Chaplain, Father Romano, came to my office. I offered him some coffee, which he gratefully accepted.

"I just wanted to tell you," he said happily, "that last night young Amy professed faith in Christ and received the Sacraments. We also prayed for success in finding her a transplant, and she insisted on praying for Buddy, as well."

"I also believe the Lord loves dogs, Father." I said. "But I perceive that there is something else you came to tell us?"

"I've been told that not much gets by you, Commander," said the good Father, "and I can see that's true. Amy told me an enlightening but... difficult story last night. She said she was no longer afraid to die, not just because she had accepted Christ, but... well, she said that she thought she would be buried in an unmarked grave, with no one knowing her name. But now, she said, she has a name for her tombstone, since Lt. Croyle has 'adopted' her. Lt. Croyle was there, and told her that she expected a transplant organ to come, and that tombstones could wait. For myself, I... was not sure what to say about that."

I just nodded, understanding. Cindy asked to be excused for a moment, and left the room...

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

At 9:00am, I got a piece of news, as Detective David Krueger, Supervisor Myron Milton, and Master Technician Mary Mahoney Milton came to my office. I fought the urge to call them the 'Three Musketeers'.

"Sir," said Krueger, "a money transfer went through Vauxhall Holdings last night. Rather major amount: $200,000 came in, essentially laundered through several banks on the East Coast. The money then went out in two directions, being laundered again. But we were able to trace one of the two paths to a little distribution and delivery company called 'Moschel and Stein, LLC'."

Mary took it up: "There's not much on them, but the only officer on the State incorporation filing is one 'Steven Moschel'. Here's his DMV picture." I took the file folder, seeing the photo of a youngish man with very curly black hair. Mary continued: "He's 5'9" tall, pretty lean. Has a few hundred on his credit cards now and again, pays them off. But he also has offshore bank accounts, and it looks like his business routed a good bit of this money to them."

"Can you get the information on the offshore account?" I asked.

"It'll take a bit of time." said Krueger. "We'll need Jack Muscone's FBI team to work with us on that."

"Which they'll do, as soon as you tell them about this." I said. "Okay guys, great work. Keep monitoring, and as usual, not a word about this." Everyone agreed. I dismissed them. David and Mary got up and left. Myron remained seated.

"I take it you need to talk to me about something?" I asked. I took out the bug-killer, in case I.A. was listening in, and activated it.

"Yes sir." said Myron. "And it may be something big."

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

"I think we've got it!" said Dr. Richard Searles. It was 9:30pm, and Laura and I had brought Buddy to see Amy. Teresa was there, of course. Dr. Searles had practically knocked the door down.

"Let's go into the hallway." Laura said. She and I went out with Dr. Searles.

"City University Hospital has a woman that is dying." said Dr. Searles. "She's expected to die within about 24 hours. As you can see from this report, her liver may be 'close enough'."

"Have you put in the claim?" Laura asked.


"You bet." said Dr. Searles. "Several of her organs have been asked for, but Amy's top of the list for the liver. Only one other claim was made, and that's not an exact match either. We've already been told we'll get it."

"Should we tell Amy?" I asked.

"We need to tell her that it's possible, and that things will go fast if it happens. She'll have to be prepped for surgery, we'll have to get ready because that organ will be here very fast once the woman dies."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked. "Transportation, etc.?"

"No, it has to go through an accredited delivery service." said Dr. Searles. "Don't worry, that's all been arranged, and is routine for all our hospitals for organs going in or out."

"Okay," I said, looking at Laura. "I'm going to allow myself to feel some hope. How about you?"

"It's not a perfect match, but it might save her." Laura said. "It'll definitely give us time to find a better match..."

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

"Hello, my lovely Sinon." he said as the lovely Sinon came into his private study. "Would you care for a drink?"

"Thank you, but not tonight." she said. "I have hours of work ahead of me. I came here because a very urgent situation has developed."

"Yes, I know." he said. "The liver for donation has been claimed for that orphan girl at University Hospital."

"She's a national story now, too." she said. "I guess we'll let this one go?"

"Are you kidding?" he snarled. "That little waif getting sympathy for caring for a filthy dog? That simply disgusts me. But think no more of it, my dear. And by the way, we may be near getting Robert Brownlee the heart he needs."

"It'll be the first time that bastard has ever had a heart." she said. "And what he really needs is brains."

"And a pair of balls." he said, making her giggle. "So what will have your attention for the next few hours?"

"The Police." she said. "The three Mouseketeers, Krueger and the Miltons, are working on something hot. I'm going to have to try to invade their systems and find out what it is. Thankfully, everyone is distracted by the exploding politics of the Fire Department and the D.A.'s Office."

"Yes, that." he said. "Between all this, my plans are indeed being hampered. I shall have to take swift action to rectify these problems. By all means, do let me know what you find in your hacking efforts. Are you sure you don't care for a drink?"

"No, thank you." she said. "But after all this settles down, I'll take you up on that... and have a long, hard night with my boy-toy stud. Would you like to watch, as you often do?"

Part 18 - Victory and Failure

"War is hell!" ---- General William Tecumseh Sherman

Friday, January 15th. The ROTC Cadets made a point to start their Winter P.T. by trying to run the Town & County Police Commander into the ground. But they did not run me into the ground. Even after a grueling hour of work with Sergeant Tate, I kept up with them.

After the run, I addressed them. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored that I am able to work out with you. Your commitment to our Armed Forces is something I am very grateful for. Having said that, and having been there myself, there is something you need to know."

"I was never in military combat in the Army," I said, "but I've been in situations close to it with the Police Force. And I can tell you what my ROTC Instructor, who was a Green Beret in Viet Nam, told me and my ROTC class: there is nothing on this earth as hard, as physically strenuous and mentally taxing, as combat. There is nothing else on earth that can prepare you, except for the training you are doing every morning, and even it is not enough when the balloon goes up and the shit hits the fan."

"There is no silver medal in war, ladies and gentlemen." I told my very attentive audience. "If you lose in war, you lose everything. And I mean everything. Your conquerers will take your possessions, your families, your spouses and your children. They will rape your wives and daughters in front of you because they won and you lost. The Freedom we enjoy today... will be gone if you lose. Period. No silver medal. So remember that every time you do your pushups, every time you run around this campus, every note you take in class. It is not 'win or go home', it is not 'win or lose'. It is 'win'. Period."

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

South Vietnam. Somewhere west of Saigon.

"All right, guys, get these god-damned helicopters ready to go!" yelled the Captain, the shoulder patch of the 173d Airborne Brigade standing out against the olive drab of his uniform. "There is no telling when we're going to have to jump to go fuck up Charlie!" Men scrambled.

"Cordell!" the Captain yelled at the Corpsman, who came up and saluted. The Captain returned the salute and then said "You got all your medical stuff ready to go on ten second's notice?"

"Yes sir!" said Cordell as the stood in front of a sandbagged building that served as the terminal for the line of choppers. "Sir, do you think an attack is imminent? The TV is full of chatter about peace talks in Paris."

"I don't care about that shit." said the Captain. "I don't know if we're going to be attacked, but there's chatter going on in our own intel room, and they won't tell me about it. Besides, we have a job to do here, until they tell us we can go home. Besides, Cordell, you're the cynical one."

"Yes sir." said Cordell. "I'm just wondering what's going to happen to these people, the Vietnamese people, when we leave. I don't trust the NVA not to cross the line and invade once we're gone. And they'll show no mercy. They're going to kill a lot of people, brutalize the women in front of their children. And then... well, it'll be oppressive under the Communists."

"Well, Cordell, we can't do a damn thing about that. All we can do is our job right here, right now. Besides, Cordell, those so-called peace talks are a sham. They're making too much money to pull out now. But you and I will be home by Christmas."

"I hope so, sir. I hope so..."

To be continued.