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Authors: Thomas A. Mays
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enough certainty or evidence to proceed with impunity. In fact, if they did arrest him, he could probably have it thrown out of court because of the manner of his arrest. Homeland Security might have become overcautious and extreme in their procedures over the years, but they were still ostensibly a law enforcement agency. Nathan tried not to repeat that to himself as a mantra.
This was a fishing expedition. Not only that, but it had all the classic trappings of a shakedown rather than a legitimate interrogation. These people were likely experienced at this sort of thing, and did not appear to be stupid. That meant that their method of snatching him could hardly be an accident. It was intentional, calculated, probably intended to intimidate him or cow him into a cooperative frame of mind. He was unsure of what that meant for him, but it did serve to relax him somewhat.
Special Agent Stanton saw Nathan settle a bit from his earlier position atop pins and needles. It only seemed to infuriate her. No longer content to wait for his frightened, nervous babbling of what they wanted to know, especially since it did not seem to be working, she started in. “Who is Lee working for?”
“As far as I know, Mr. Lee only works for Mr. Lee.”
She smiled. “So Lee is taking it upon himself to become a nuclear power? He’s trying to acquire weapons grade and reactor grade fissile material for some perfectly legitimate reason?”
Nathan winced inwardly, hoping his poker face betrayed nothing to the Homeland Security agents. “Overseas procurement problems,” Lee had said. It had been nothing for Nathan to worry about—that is until he had been snatched up by the most paranoid, overreaching law enforcement/defense agency since Hoover’s FBI. Now, it might be considered Nathan’s problem.
“Ma’am, if something that outlandish were true, I’m sure that Mr. Lee would have a perfectly legitimate reason. As it’s not true, I think this discussion is probably unnecessary.”
“Oh, it is indeed true, Mr. Kelley. We’re not quite sure how involved you are, but since you’re the head of Windward’s Special Projects division, we would surmise that you are fully briefed.”
“Fully briefed on what exactly? Your wild speculations?”
She folded her hands demurely in her lap. “We have international data and voice intercepts of your employer attempting to procure nuclear material from several nations which are not on the best of terms with the United States. I would advise you to drop the false innocence and start digging your way out of this.”
Nathan tried to think of something. Repeated pleas of his virtue would fall on deaf ears here, and staying quiet would do no good, not when this whole operation seemed focused upon turning him into a babbling informant. Unfortunately, there was nothing for him to babble, even if he had been so inclined. He had not done anything, but Stanton and her underlings would never be satisfied with that. He had to give them something, and though Nathan’s thoughts turned at a furious rate, they uncovered nothing. Then he smiled.
There was no lie half so good as the truth.
“Okay. Though I knew nothing about the specifics of what he was up to, I do know that he has been looking for some way to power and arm a spaceship in order to defend the planet from a marauding alien force.” He paused, but she said nothing in return. “That’s probably what he was doing.”
Stanton frowned. “You’ll enjoy extra-territorial rendition, Mr. Kelley. Sun, tropical beaches, four by eight cells, no ACLU or UN interference ...”
“I’m being serious.”
“Spaceships and aliens? That is the polar opposite of serious and definitive proof that you doubt our own willingness to find the truth through whatever means necessary.”
“I’m not saying you have to believe it, and I’m not saying I believe it, even after seeing years’ worth
This was a fishing expedition. Not only that, but it had all the classic trappings of a shakedown rather than a legitimate interrogation. These people were likely experienced at this sort of thing, and did not appear to be stupid. That meant that their method of snatching him could hardly be an accident. It was intentional, calculated, probably intended to intimidate him or cow him into a cooperative frame of mind. He was unsure of what that meant for him, but it did serve to relax him somewhat.
Special Agent Stanton saw Nathan settle a bit from his earlier position atop pins and needles. It only seemed to infuriate her. No longer content to wait for his frightened, nervous babbling of what they wanted to know, especially since it did not seem to be working, she started in. “Who is Lee working for?”
“As far as I know, Mr. Lee only works for Mr. Lee.”
She smiled. “So Lee is taking it upon himself to become a nuclear power? He’s trying to acquire weapons grade and reactor grade fissile material for some perfectly legitimate reason?”
Nathan winced inwardly, hoping his poker face betrayed nothing to the Homeland Security agents. “Overseas procurement problems,” Lee had said. It had been nothing for Nathan to worry about—that is until he had been snatched up by the most paranoid, overreaching law enforcement/defense agency since Hoover’s FBI. Now, it might be considered Nathan’s problem.
“Ma’am, if something that outlandish were true, I’m sure that Mr. Lee would have a perfectly legitimate reason. As it’s not true, I think this discussion is probably unnecessary.”
“Oh, it is indeed true, Mr. Kelley. We’re not quite sure how involved you are, but since you’re the head of Windward’s Special Projects division, we would surmise that you are fully briefed.”
“Fully briefed on what exactly? Your wild speculations?”
She folded her hands demurely in her lap. “We have international data and voice intercepts of your employer attempting to procure nuclear material from several nations which are not on the best of terms with the United States. I would advise you to drop the false innocence and start digging your way out of this.”
Nathan tried to think of something. Repeated pleas of his virtue would fall on deaf ears here, and staying quiet would do no good, not when this whole operation seemed focused upon turning him into a babbling informant. Unfortunately, there was nothing for him to babble, even if he had been so inclined. He had not done anything, but Stanton and her underlings would never be satisfied with that. He had to give them something, and though Nathan’s thoughts turned at a furious rate, they uncovered nothing. Then he smiled.
There was no lie half so good as the truth.
“Okay. Though I knew nothing about the specifics of what he was up to, I do know that he has been looking for some way to power and arm a spaceship in order to defend the planet from a marauding alien force.” He paused, but she said nothing in return. “That’s probably what he was doing.”
Stanton frowned. “You’ll enjoy extra-territorial rendition, Mr. Kelley. Sun, tropical beaches, four by eight cells, no ACLU or UN interference ...”
“I’m being serious.”
“Spaceships and aliens? That is the polar opposite of serious and definitive proof that you doubt our own willingness to find the truth through whatever means necessary.”
“I’m not saying you have to believe it, and I’m not saying I believe it, even after seeing years’ worth
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