Operation Mockingbird (22 page)

After they cleared that checkpoint, they were escorted to a Humvee parked nearby and told to sit in the back seat. One of the guards jumped into the driver’s seat and started the engine. As they drove through the campus, Matt surveyed the expanse of yard and concrete paths leading to various nondescript one-story buildings. Each of the buildings looked exactly the same as the next one. The landscape was interrupted by fox holes and bunkers throughout the yard. Matt wondered whether these were for training purposes or in anticipation of some type of armed assault on the compound.

They traveled at a fairly brisk pace, but it still took several minutes to reach their destination. The building had a sign out front that read “Administration.” It was also only one-story high, an uncompromising hulk of grey concrete with no windows. The sticker in the front window announced that this building was protected by Preases, a large high-tech security company. Another guard waited in front of the building. When the car stopped, Matt and Alex jumped out and headed toward the building.

Once they were inside, the guard inspected their Protegere-issued ID badges closely and then placed a call. As Alex and Matt waited, they settled into a reception area that was clean and functional but devoid of any decoration. The reading material offered on the table in the center of the
room consisted of the latest issue of the NRA’s
American Rifleman
and
Shooting Illustrated.
The guard stood immobile in the corner as Alex and Matt flipped through the magazines and waited for their escort. The man avoided all eye contact, but Matt suspected he registered their every move.

Finally, the door to the left of the reception desk burst open. A tall thin woman strode in, shoved her hand out to Matt and blurted, “Mr. Connelly, I’m Patty Shaw and I’m going to be conducting your tour of our world-class facility.”

“Patty, great to meet you,” Matt said as he slowly rose and took her hand. “This is my colleague, Alex Doren.”

Patty appeared to be in her mid-20s. Her flaming red hair was pulled back, but several errant pieces had fallen loose and framed a long attractive face dotted with freckles. She blew the hair back as she exchanged greetings with Alex.

“I want to warn you,” she said addressing them both. “I don’t usually do these types of tours. Typically, visits are coordinated through the North Carolina office and handled by someone else. So you’ll have to bear with me.”

“No problem, Patty,” Matt reassured her. “We appreciate your seeing us on such short notice. We promise not to take up too much of your time.”

“Alright, then let’s begin.” She said as she directed Matt and Alex through the door from which she had just come.

After an uninteresting tour of the administration building, Alex and Matt were led to a large building. The sign out front read “Armory.” They passed their
identification cards through a security checkpoint and they were buzzed in to a large warehouse-type building. More than half the room was taken up by an indoor gun range with approximately ten lanes set up for target practice. The other half of the building was comprised of several storage rooms filled with the largest collection of weaponry Matt had ever seen. While he was in the Middle East, the United States had proudly displayed its state-of-the-art military technology as a testament to its reputation as an unparalleled fighting machine. But, here, during this tour, Matt saw technology of the likes he had never seen before or even heard about.

“Protegere is one of the nation’s largest weapons manufacturers,” Patty told them. “And this facility is one of the testing sites for our new technology. Once the weapons have been approved for sale in the marketplace, this facility also serves as a training ground for the end users. You could probably tell driving in that our campus is surrounded by the Everglades so we’re able to coordinate the testing and training without the risk of bothering the neighbors.”

After leaving the Armory, the trio approached a building designated “IT Building.” After passing through yet another electronic security checkpoint, they entered the building. The one-story building was laid out in a wide-open floor plan. From the entrance, you could see clear across the entire floor. Scattered throughout the floor were pods of cubicles separated only by partitions that stood approximately four feet up from the floor. Since it was a Sunday, only a few of the work stations were occupied. The
men and women stared intently at their computer screens, ignoring the small group passing through.

The back wall was solid concrete block. Matt thought this was simply an exterior wall of the building, until he noticed two large double doors in the middle. There were no exit signs above the doors. There was a fingerprint pad to the right of the doors. During the course of the tour, they had gone through several doors. All the other entrances required a swipe card to gain access, like the cards Patty, Alex and Matt wore around their necks.

“Patty, what’s that area?” Matt asked gesturing toward the two double doors.

“I have no idea,” she said looking over. “I’ve never been in there.”

“Well, let’s go check it out,” Matt said heading in that direction.

“We can’t,” Patty said quickly. “That section is off limits to me.”

“Why?” Matt asked. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t have security clearance for that area.”

Matt raised his eyebrows.

“Our security system is state of the art,” Patty continued more confidently after a moment. She held up the card on a chain around her neck. “This swipe card -- my badge -- contains my identification information. The swipe machines you see throughout the campus are connected to the computer mainframe, which has been programmed to know where each person should and should not be. The computer will allow me to open the doors in areas where I’ve been granted security clearance. For areas I’m not
cleared for, my card won’t work. Same with your cards,” Patty said pointing to their cards.

“There are swipe cards on each of the computer terminals as well.” She stopped at the closest cubicle and gestured to a computer with a swipe machine affixed to its side. “The computers can’t be accessed until a card has been swiped and the system determines that I’m authorized to operate that computer. Once I’m logged on, the computer allows me access only to the files to which I’m permitted access. The computers track every location I visit and every piece of data I access. The card also has a microchip in it so security knows exactly where I am and what I’m doing at any given moment.”

Matt whistled softly. “Impressive.”

By this time, they had completed a loop around the perimeter of the IT Building. Matt glanced back at the double doors as Patty directed them toward the exit.

The last building on their tour was the physical training facility, a state of the art gymnasium the size of a large warehouse. In one corner were weight benches and weight-training equipment. In another corner large mats were set up for martial arts and hand-to-hand combat training. In the center were four large boxing rings surrounded by boxing bags hanging from the ceiling. Halfway up the wall was a running track. A lone man was working out in the corner. He bounced lightly on his toes, jumping rope with the grace of a dancer.

“Why are there so few people here?” Matt asked. “Even on a Sunday I would have expected more people.”

“Most of the administrative staff doesn’t work on Sundays. I don’t usually work on Sundays,” Patty added pointedly. “And most of our operatives are on assignment.”

“In Afghanistan?” Matt asked trying to sound casual. Matt had read a report that the U.S. was moving large numbers of personnel to permanent bases in Afghanistan. It was a deeply controversial build-up. The dramatic increase in American-led military presence in Afghanistan had unsettled some regional powers, not to mention many in the U.S. who continued to oppose the war in Afghanistan. So, rumor had it that the U.S. was staffing these bases with private military contractors, instead of U.S. troops.

“Yes, some are in Afghanistan, but we have operatives serving in a wide variety of capacities throughout the world,” Patty responded evenly while watching Matt closely.

Matt decided to try another tack. “And how many of your operatives are engaged in combat?” he asked. “I’ve read several reports that say Protegere employees are actually engaged in combat, fighting alongside the men and women of the U.S. military and, in some cases, leading them.”

“Specific assignments are completely confidential,” Patty replied. “However, I can assure you that our operatives are not mercenaries.” Patty had clearly understood where Matt might be headed with this line of questioning. “Our operatives serve as valuable resources to the U.S. military and the militaries of our allies in the global war on terror.” A very nice, if not outdated, sound bite Matt thought.

“Okay,” Patty said clapping her hands together. “At this point, that’s the end of our tour. If you will follow me now, I’ll take you back to the administrative offices.”

With that, Patty turned around and began leading them toward the exit. “Any further questions will need to be addressed by the head of our PR department. I understand that you have a call set up with her for later today. Correct?”

“That’s correct,” Matt confirmed.

As the trio left the gymnasium and headed back toward the administration building, Matt looked over at Alex, trying to catch her attention. She was on the other side of Patty and staring straight ahead.

Matt guessed the key servers that ran Protégée’s toxic programs must be in the IT Building behind that concrete block wall. Matt and Alex were within striking distance of where they needed to be, yet with each step they took the opportunity was slipping further away from them. His mind raced as they walked toward the administration building and likely toward an armed guard ready to escort them out of the compound.

Matt’s pace slowed and he began to fall behind the two women.

“Alex,” Matt said. “Let me get that camera bag for you.”

“It’s okay,” she replied.

“Really, Alex, I got it.”

Alex turned around to reply but must have caught the expression in Matt’s eyes.

“Uh, sure. It is kind of heavy.”

Matt reached forward and took the bag. He slowed his pace a little so he fell a few steps farther behind the two women. They continued walking.

Suddenly, a crashing sound ripped through the otherwise peaceful afternoon. Birds in nearby trees chirped and fluttered away. Patty and Alex jumped and turned back toward Matt, then down at the camera laying in pieces at his feet.

“Damn,” Matt muttered. “Didn’t realize the bag was open.”

He squatted down and began to pick up the pieces. As he bent over, the open camera bag spilled out its contents in every direction. Matt heard someone sigh heavily and then footsteps as both women walked back to help Matt pick up the mess.

“Well, look who’s old school,” Patty said as she squatted down next to Matt and picked up a canister of film.

Two pairs of hands joined Matt’s to pick up pieces of the now-broken camera, accessories and film. They were shoving everything into the open bag sitting on the ground in the middle of them. Patty leaned across Matt to pick up an errant film canister that had rolled off to the side. Matt leaned in quickly and placed one hand on the back of Patty’s head. With his other, Matt pressed one end of the glass camera lens against Patty’s neck. She gasped and her eyes widened.

“Up,” Matt commanded. “Very slowly,” he said. They rose together awkwardly.

“What are you doing?”

“Extending our tour.”

The young woman’s eyes darted from side to side but no one was around to help. Her eyes began to tear up.

“Let’s go,” he said pushing Patty back toward the IT building.

Patty stumbled along with Matt leading the way and Alex following closely behind.

At the entrance to the computer building, Matt ordered Patty to use her swipe card to open the door. The building was empty. The two technicians that were there earlier must have gone to lunch or left for the day.

Matt directed Patty toward the back of the room. When they approached the door in the back, Patty stopped.

“Open it,” Matt said.

“I can’t,” she replied.

“I said, Open it!”

“I told you,” Patty said weakly. “I can’t get in there.” She gestured toward the biometric fingerprint pad. “The room has additional security. And I’m not authorized.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I’m telling you the truth.” Patty stammered as her bottom lip began to quiver.

“Do it.” He pressed the jagged glass harder against her neck.

Her eyes welled up again. She reluctantly lifted her hand and pressed it against the pad. The light next to the pad continued to blink red.

“Try it again.” Matt demand.

She pressed again, this time harder. Nothing happened.

Knowing it was likely futile, Matt nonetheless jerked the handle.

“Damn it!” he said to no one in particular when it did not budge.

“Shit. Shit. Shit,” Matt muttered as tried to think of another option.

Patty was now openly crying as he continued to hold her neck and the glass firmly against it.

There had to be another way. His eyes combed the building, looking for a window. Another entrance. Something.

“It’s okay,” Alex said from behind him.

Matt turned to look at her. She pushed past him, moved in front of Patty and toward the keypad. She pressed her hand against the biometric fingerprint scanner. After a few seconds, the light on the scanner switched from red to green. There was a soft buzz from the door. She turned the handle, pushed it open and walked into the room.

“What? How?” Matt asked as he slowly followed her in, dragging Patty along with him.

“Alex?” Matt said when she didn’t respond. “How, did you ...”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“WELL, HELLO, MATT,” a familiar voice boomed from across the room. “Thank you for joining us.”

As the words hung in the air, Jack Rabin stepped from behind the rows of servers and walked slowly in their direction. Following closely behind him, Cole Harrison flashed Matt a grin. Matt was rendered speechless at the sight of the two Department of Homeland Security officers. Matt felt a stirring behind him and turned back toward the door quickly, jerking Patty with him. Two other men walked into the room, both had their guns pointed directly at Matt.