Americans here so we keep guard all night.”
“But we’re Canadians.” Kaplan said in jest.
“Doesn’t matter, all Westerners are the enemy here. And we’re always faced with some element of danger.”
“Then, I’ll take a watch too.” Kaplan said.
“Not tonight. You’ve been awake a long time. Get some sleep. You can pull a watch tomorrow night if you’d like.”
Chase pointed to another door with a crescent moon sign hanging from the door. “The outhouse is over there.”
“Outhouse?” Kaplan asked.
“Okay, it’s not a real outhouse, but the facilities are somewhat…primitive. You know, third world country and all.”
Kaplan laughed. “I’m sure it’ll be just fine.”
“One more thing.” Chase patted his sidearm. “Keep your weapon within arm’s reach at all times. If someone yells, get ready for action.”
CHAPTER 10
J AKE SWALLOWED THE last bite of his t-bone steak, folded his napkin, and tucked it under the edge of his plate. He leaned back in his chair. “Now that was a good steak.”
“I didn’t think you’d be disappointed.” Bentley smiled.
“So what’s next? How long do we wait?”
“Relax, Jake. It won’t be much longer.” Bentley said. He pushed his plate to the side and drank the last of his iced tea.
“Sir? Why all the secrecy and cryptic answers? Who is this guy?”
“Jake, let me ask you something. How many surveillance cameras have you noticed?”
Jake studied the room. Glancing at the rough-hewn beams, the antler lights hanging from the ceilings, the pictures and paintings mounted on the walls. After a few seconds he said, “I don’t see any.”
“This compound has over five-hundred cameras mounted throughout. He has twenty monitors tucked away in a secure location. His computer analyzes every guest’s motions and body language—he programmed it himself—and alerts security of any behavior not fitting his parameters. A security guard, disguised as a chef, will then approach the table and ask a few questions, you know things like, ‘How is your dinner?’ ‘Is everything satisfactory?’ ‘May I get anything else for you?’ The kind of stuff you’d expect but in such a manner and in such an order as to invoke certain subconscious psychological responses. Then his computer, based on its interpretation of the responses and body language will issue a threat assessment. Further action, or inaction, is based on the computer’s assessment.”
“You’re yanking my chain.” Jake said in disbelief.
“No, Jake, I’m not. The man you’re about to meet is probably one of the smartest, if not the smartest person I know. He’s in his early seventies and has been in the intelligence business a very long time. He can’t afford to be careless or let his guard down.”
“He’s a spy?” Jake asked.
“No, he’s not a spook and he’s never been a spook. But the entire intelligence community, CIA, NSA, Special Forces—and not just our country but also several ally countries, have relied heavily on his technology for decades. He provides us with specialty items to help us accomplish our missions. He’s been doing it for over fifty years. Hell, I’ve known him for thirty. You know that copper tent and the TEMPEST setup you used in Australia?”
Jake nodded.
“You’re about to meet the man who invented the technology that made it possible. It is his design.”
Cowboy interrupted them. “Director, Mr. Pendleton, this way please.”
Jake gulped down the last of his sweet tea. He and Bentley followed Cowboy through a maze of rooms then down a long rustic hallway of knotted pine paneling littered with posters from movies, mostly Westerns, which were filmed on the property. Cowboy called it the Movie Showcase Wall. Wagon wheel lights hung from the fifteen-foot ceilings. They entered an unmarked room at the end of the hall.
Cowboy opened the door allowing Jake and Bentley to enter first. “Please make yourself
“But we’re Canadians.” Kaplan said in jest.
“Doesn’t matter, all Westerners are the enemy here. And we’re always faced with some element of danger.”
“Then, I’ll take a watch too.” Kaplan said.
“Not tonight. You’ve been awake a long time. Get some sleep. You can pull a watch tomorrow night if you’d like.”
Chase pointed to another door with a crescent moon sign hanging from the door. “The outhouse is over there.”
“Outhouse?” Kaplan asked.
“Okay, it’s not a real outhouse, but the facilities are somewhat…primitive. You know, third world country and all.”
Kaplan laughed. “I’m sure it’ll be just fine.”
“One more thing.” Chase patted his sidearm. “Keep your weapon within arm’s reach at all times. If someone yells, get ready for action.”
CHAPTER 10
J AKE SWALLOWED THE last bite of his t-bone steak, folded his napkin, and tucked it under the edge of his plate. He leaned back in his chair. “Now that was a good steak.”
“I didn’t think you’d be disappointed.” Bentley smiled.
“So what’s next? How long do we wait?”
“Relax, Jake. It won’t be much longer.” Bentley said. He pushed his plate to the side and drank the last of his iced tea.
“Sir? Why all the secrecy and cryptic answers? Who is this guy?”
“Jake, let me ask you something. How many surveillance cameras have you noticed?”
Jake studied the room. Glancing at the rough-hewn beams, the antler lights hanging from the ceilings, the pictures and paintings mounted on the walls. After a few seconds he said, “I don’t see any.”
“This compound has over five-hundred cameras mounted throughout. He has twenty monitors tucked away in a secure location. His computer analyzes every guest’s motions and body language—he programmed it himself—and alerts security of any behavior not fitting his parameters. A security guard, disguised as a chef, will then approach the table and ask a few questions, you know things like, ‘How is your dinner?’ ‘Is everything satisfactory?’ ‘May I get anything else for you?’ The kind of stuff you’d expect but in such a manner and in such an order as to invoke certain subconscious psychological responses. Then his computer, based on its interpretation of the responses and body language will issue a threat assessment. Further action, or inaction, is based on the computer’s assessment.”
“You’re yanking my chain.” Jake said in disbelief.
“No, Jake, I’m not. The man you’re about to meet is probably one of the smartest, if not the smartest person I know. He’s in his early seventies and has been in the intelligence business a very long time. He can’t afford to be careless or let his guard down.”
“He’s a spy?” Jake asked.
“No, he’s not a spook and he’s never been a spook. But the entire intelligence community, CIA, NSA, Special Forces—and not just our country but also several ally countries, have relied heavily on his technology for decades. He provides us with specialty items to help us accomplish our missions. He’s been doing it for over fifty years. Hell, I’ve known him for thirty. You know that copper tent and the TEMPEST setup you used in Australia?”
Jake nodded.
“You’re about to meet the man who invented the technology that made it possible. It is his design.”
Cowboy interrupted them. “Director, Mr. Pendleton, this way please.”
Jake gulped down the last of his sweet tea. He and Bentley followed Cowboy through a maze of rooms then down a long rustic hallway of knotted pine paneling littered with posters from movies, mostly Westerns, which were filmed on the property. Cowboy called it the Movie Showcase Wall. Wagon wheel lights hung from the fifteen-foot ceilings. They entered an unmarked room at the end of the hall.
Cowboy opened the door allowing Jake and Bentley to enter first. “Please make yourself
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