The Chameleon Soldier: NOW AS AN ALIEN BLUE HE CANNOT DIE. (19 page)

Finally Mario spoke. “What the hell’s going on, Spencer? We do the job for you on that General guy, and then you send a suit to kill my two best boys?”

“Mario, we didn’t do that!” said Spencer with emphasis.

“Bullshit!” shouted Mario. “I didn’t just get off one of our banana boats in Louisiana. Me and my men know a professional hit when we see one, and in this case two. Your guy in the suit was good, real good.”

“For God’s sake, why would we do that? We paid you to get information, and take care of the General. In addition, we’re offering you a hell of a lot of money to take care of Fidel Castro and his brother Raul.”

“Maybe you and Director Waterton are pissed off because we didn’t get the information you wanted from the General before he got killed,” said Mario.

“I admit we were upset, but not enough to kill your men and jeopardize our negotiations on the Castro deal,” Spencer replied.

“Who the hell else would have the balls and ability to do it?”

“Mario, think about it. Who’s the most pissed off about the death of General Dugan? The answer is the United States Army, and I’m sure that’s who killed your men, and made it look like it was one of our people.”

“No way, Spencer, the Army doesn’t have the men who could handle two hits like that. Jesus, you know that! Hell, you guys had to start your own goddamn Green Berets to get tough, skilled fighting men.”

Nothing was said for close on thirty seconds.

“One of your suits was seen by the gym attendant, and by the gal selling tickets at the movie theater.”

“It wasn’t one of our men, Mario.”

“Okay then, who?” demanded Mario, raising his beefy arms in a gesture to emphasis his question. “It had to be one of your men who killed the Loretti twins. They were two of my best men. I can’t believe how anybody got the drop on them. The guy who killed them was very skilled, Spencer. For Christ’s sake, Anthony was strangled with a Sicilian necktie.”

Deputy Director Spencer shook his head. “Maybe it was one of our rogue agents. We had a few who went out on their own, causing us problems. They used our connections to sell drugs, weapons, explosives and other equipment to terrorists and small nations. Maybe one of them is trying to get back at us.”

“And maybe the Army paid one of your boys more money,” suggested Mario.

“I’m sure that didn’t happen. They don’t have the funds we have. Our men are paid very well,” answered the deputy director.

“What have you done about these rogues?” Mario asked.

“We’re working on it. They have some high connections, and have secured some powerful backers.”

“Ain’t nobody out of our reach, director,” said the Mafia underboss.

“That’s a subject we’ll need to discuss at a later time, Mario.”

There was another silence as Mario gazed thoughtfully at Spencer.

“If it’s one of your ex-men who did the Lorettis, then you owe us,” he muttered.

“Why would we owe you?” asked the deputy director, surprised.

“Because you’re responsible, that’s why.”

“For an ex-CIA man, if it was one?”

“Yeah, you trained him, and he killed my best men. It’s going to cost me to replace them.”

“You want more money?” asked Spencer.

Mario shrugged.

“There’s no way, Mario?”

Mario shrugged again.

“It doesn’t make any sense. We didn’t do the hit on your men, Mario,” Spencer repeated.

Mario shrugged again and continued to gaze at Spencer.

“What’s the Boss think about this?” asked the deputy director.

“This was his call.”

Spencer disgustedly shakes his head. “Shit, alright, Mario, twenty-five thousand.”

Mario thought for a moment. “There were two of them. Twins, remember?”

“Mario, if it wasn’t for us needing you for the Castro deal, I’d tell you to go to hell,” said a flustered Deputy Director Spencer.

“And I’d give you five to one you’d beat me there,” said Mario, as he and his men laughed.

Spencer grinned sourly. “Alright, you win. Fifty thousand, but it’s a bitch because, on my mother’s life, I guarantee you we didn’t make the hits on your men.”

“If that’s true, we both need to find out who did. If we can’t, and your CIA people can’t, then we both got a real problem out there. And I might add, the way Anthony died, with the wire around his neck…” Mario paused, and then nodded at Spencer. “Whoever killed him knows the CIA was involved in General Dugan’s death, Mr. Deputy Director.”

“I agree, Mr. Marcinetti,” the deputy director answered soberly.

They all stood up. Mario and Spencer shook hands. Then the deputy director and his men left the kitchen, and made their way out of the restaurant.

T
he same afternoon,
Kip was saddling Blaze while Killian was putting a bridle on one of Zack’s finest horses.

“Our friends are somewhat shocked you killed those two mobsters,” said Kip. “They want to know why you didn’t tell us you’d found the men who’d killed General Dugan.”

“Timing, Kip. Timing is everything. I didn’t have time for all the discussion it would have led to. Those two men murdered our friend; I killed them, but they weren’t the important ones. It’s Deputy Director Spencer who you and the others need to be concerned about.”

Killian mounted his horse and started to ride off. Kip climbed up on Blaze and rode after him. They rode side by side in silence for a couple of minutes.

“I didn’t know you had it in you, to execute two men like you did,” said Kip.

“I’ve done it before. You watched me one time back in Texas, remember? Murderers need to die, Kip.”

“I agree, Killian, but the others wanted to talk about it and make a decision.”

“That’s the problem with you people in Washington. You politicians and high-ranking military officers always want to talk. But while you talk, evil men are causing innocent people to die. By getting the Loretti brothers we sent the CIA and the Mafia a message that we’re not afraid of them. The Loretti twins murdered the General, and would have killed for the CIA again.” Killian glanced at Kip riding next to him. “Now they won’t.”

Kip nodded. A short time later, they came to a shady area where there was a large, open galvanized tank filled with water. They dismounted and let the horses drink.

“Kip, if you men want to talk, how about you make a decision on what to do about Deputy Director Spencer? He paid the Mafia to hit General Dugan.”

“I know. We’ve been discussing it, and have come to the conclusion that Spencer wouldn’t have done it without Director Waterton’s approval.”

“Then, Kip, we need to do something about both of them.”

“We’re going to have a meeting here tomorrow evening. It’s a tricky situation. Word is the Mafia and the CIA are working together to find out who gave General Dugan the information, and who killed the Loretti brothers.”

“You need to do something about Waterton and Spencer, Kip.”

“I agree, but you can’t kill the directors of the CIA, Killian.”

“For God’s sake, Kip, why not? They had General Dugan murdered.”

“We believe that’s true, but right now we can’t prove it. The Mafia won’t admit it, and they’d kill anyone who said they knew anything about the General’s death.”

“So what do we do about them?”

“That’s what we’ll discuss tomorrow night. Maybe put the fear of God in them. Maybe we’ll just lay low for a while. Hell, I don’t know, Killian. It’s a big hurdle, almost an impossible task to take on the CIA. Maybe we’re over our heads in this matter.”

Neither of them said anything for a few moments.

“Well, you tell the others I’m all in. I’ll do whatever they need me to do, and I mean anything, Kip.”

Kip patted his friend on the back. “I know you will, but I want you to be safe. You mean more to me than the problems with the CIA.”

They mounted their horses and continued their afternoon ride.

The following evening
Zack arranged for an outdoor barbecue on the large, well-illuminated patio for Kip, Admiral Hildegard, General Mittlebonn, Whelan Dunne and Congressman Bernard. The five guests laughed, drank, ate and thoroughly enjoyed Zack’s hospitality. Killian was invited next door for dinner with Kip’s parents.

After their barbecue dinner, the guests went into the spacious living room, and lit up their choice of a cigar or cigarette. Zack didn’t join them for the meeting. He went next door to visit with Killian, Jesse and Arthur.

The five guests enjoyed a few minutes of light conversation, and smoking, before starting their intended discussion.

“We found out what we wanted to know about the CIA, but we sure as hell stirred up a hornets’ nest,” said the admiral.

General Mittlebonn agreed, “Yes, that’s true, now the Mafia and the CIA have a burr under their saddle as to who was informing General Dugan, and who killed the Mafia’s two best assassins.”

“For one, I think our man did a hell of a job,” Whelan Dunne pointed out. “Now we know for sure Director Waterton and his Deputy Director of Plans, William Spencer, were behind Dugan’s death.”

“Yes, but I would have liked a heads-up before the killing of those two mobsters,” said a concerned Congressman Bernard.

“Our chameleon wanted me to pass on how he felt,” Kip responded. “He told me timing was everything, and it was necessary to eliminate the men who killed the General to send a message to the CIA, and Mafia, that we’re not afraid of them. Now it’s our decision to decide what to do about Waterton and Spencer, who arranged the hit on the General.”

The men thought about what Kip had said.

“He’s right,” Admiral Hildegard conceded. “I believe we need to center on Spencer. There’s no question the CIA’s out of hand. He and Waterton have the pompous belief they’re invincible.”

“They may be out of hand, but to challenge the CIA director? I don’t know about that,” said Congressman Bernard.

“At this moment, and for the first time I’m sure they feel somewhat compromised,” emphasized Whelan Dunne. “The CIA and Mafia are friends. The Mafia has just lost two of their top men. General Dugan had challenged Director Waterton, and threatened to expose things the CIA doesn’t want the United States public to know about.”

“And they don’t have any idea who’s on to their dirty tricks,” said Kip.

“So far they don’t, and we damn sure need to keep it that way,” cautioned General Mittlebonn.

“I believe we should lay low for a while,” Congressman Bernard suggested.

“I sort of agree, but…” Whelan hesitated.

“But what, Whelan?” General Mittlebonn asked.

“Laying low is a good idea, but I’d still like to rock both of the directors’ apple carts,” Whelan confided.

“Like how?” asked Kip.

Whelan looked at Kip. “I’m not sure, but let’s let them know that someone is closely watching them, and all the current operations of the CIA. I’d like to make them feel uneasy.”

“Yes, I like the idea,” agreed the admiral. “Maybe our chameleon can do it for us? It might make the CIA; back off on planned covert endeavors, like the rumored deal regarding the Mafia and Fidel Castro.”

“What are you suggesting our chameleon do?” asked Kip.

“That’s a tough one, as we don’t know what his capabilities are, Kip,” said the admiral.

“Well, he’s done a good job so far,” Whelan Dunne reminded them. “He secured the information for General Dugan, killed those two mobsters, and passed on the proof we needed about Spencer’s involvement.”

“We have some secret information regarding operations the CIA is presently doing, or planning on doing in the near future,” said Admiral Hildegard. “One of their secrets is how they’re illegally manipulating the lives of both individuals and countries. We could give Kip our information and he could feed it to the chameleon. It would upset Waterton and his organization, to know the people he’s trying to identify are aware of the plans of the CIA.”

“Then it would be up to our chameleon to hound Deputy Director Spencer, and constantly let him know we have knowledge of CIA operations?” asked Congressman Bernard.

“Yes, if he’s able,” answered the admiral.

“How about it, Kip, can our man do it?” asked General Mittlebonn.

“I’m positive he can. He asked me to tell you he’s all in; he’ll do whatever we want him to do, and he emphasized he meant anything.”

“Bravo,” said Whelan, as he and the other men clapped.

“If this plan works, Spencer will be reporting what he’s hearing to his boss, Director Waterton. It could go a long way toward limiting CIA operations,” said General Mittlebonn.

“I’d like it! I’d like to irritate those SOBs,” Whelan Dunne exclaimed.

Everyone laughed.

“Kip, let’s put it in motion,” said the admiral. “We’ll see how this works over the next month.” He looked at the other men. “All agree?”

There was a loud, “Yea,” from all present.

For the next half hour Admiral Hildegard and General Mittlebonn briefed Congressman Bernard, Whelan Dunne and Kip on what they had learned regarding the current clandestine and covert operations of the CIA.

At breakfast the
following morning, Killian and Kip went over everything that had been discussed at the meeting the previous evening. Killian wanted to do more than simply irritate Spencer and the CIA but, as he had promised, he went along with the team’s plan.