[MD2, 5:40PM, the lodge]
>"The NSA keeps track of all the UFO sightings >in this country. JFK threatened to use his State >of the Nation address, after re-election, to reveal >what really happened at Roswell. This was >unacceptable to the NSA, so they had to kill him."
>"Where do you get all this from?" Vanessa asked >sceptically.
>Martin immeditely became a bit more evasive. >"You know, friends n' stuff."
"That's an interesting theory," Zenya said, "but going back to Oswald, if he was working for the CIA, it was only to ingratiate himself to the KGB. Otherwise, one would have to believe among other things that his suicide attempt in Moscow in 1959 was genuine and not a transparent political ploy. The Soviets had no use for him and wanted nothing to do with him. In fact, the KGB was putting constant pressure on him to leave the Soviet Union. He was forced out, and in search of an opportunity to do something that would permit his return."
[MD2, 6:00PM, in the car]
>No one seemed to follow them, as Zenya drove >south towards Cambridge.
>"There's a Jack-in-the-Box up ahead, but perhaps >that's too tacky," Martin said.
>"You only suggested Jack-in-the-Box because you >want a burger. Am I right, or am I right?" Zenya >gave Martin a smile through the rear-view mirror.
>Martin pretended to sulk for a while, but eventually >he smiled back. "OK, you're right about the burger, >but I still think it's a perfect meeting place. There >are no buildings nearby, so we can rule out any snipers. >Plus, it's close enough to the highway to make for a >quick escape, if it becomes necessary."
>"We'll check it out," Leo said. "I'm also kind of hungry. >Normally I wouldn't go for Jack-in-the-Box, but it'll >have to do for now."
Zenya groaned at the thought of another fast-food burger. Here they were in the seafood capital of the United States, and she had yet to see even a decent bowl of chowder! On the other hand, she thought, Martin was right about the location, and with the team being two people short until Jim and Vanessa got back from California, location was everything.
She turned into the parking lot and pulled into a space facing the only other building nearby, a strip mall situated across the street. It had been at the bottom of a small hill, and from where they were parked, they could see the most of the roof of the mall, except that which was hidden behind a giant 'Food 4 Less' sign. To the east was a vacant lot and to the west was the highway, which provided enough traffic that the area couldn't be called isolated.
"Wasn't it a Jack in the Box that was responsible for several cases E Coli in Washington state a few years ago," Zenya inquired jokingly as they got out of the car.
"An isolated incident," Martin said. "Think of the millions of people who eat at these places everyday."
Which is probably in large part responsible for the high rate of coronary disease in this country, Zenya thought, but she decided not to say it. "Okay, but next time we go someplace that serves the food on an actual plate," she said instead.
Inside, Zenya handed Martin a five dollar bill. "You're the expert. Pick something for me. And a coffee," she said. "I'll get us a table."
"Good idea," Leo said. "I don't think it takes three federal agents to place an order."
Zenya laughed. "There's a joke in there somewhere. How many FBI agents does it take to order a cheeseburger?"
"Three," Leo said without missing a beat. "One to place the order, and two to write the report. Come on, there's a table by the window where we can keep an eye on the parking lot." Once they were seated at the table, Leo said, "I haven't had a chance to ask you how you're doing."
Zenya shrugged. "I'm not planning to hit you again. At least, I don't think I am. I'm fine. What about you?" She hated to admit that it had taken her until about midday to figure out that the situation was probably no easier for him than it was for her. When she thought about the conversation with the two men, the thing that stood out the most was the way Leo had said the name Docker, and the look on his face as he'd said it. The more she thought about that, the worse she felt about the way she had reacted.
Leo looked at her skeptically. "Fine," he said. "Zenya, I downloaded the files�"
"Don't," Zenya said, putting a hand on his arm to stop him. "Don't tell me anything right now. With everything that's going on, I don't want the distraction. And I've been distracted by not knowing for so long, I'm used to that."
"I just wanted to let you know, in case you change your mind."
Martin joined them a moment later. "So, what do we think," he asked, tearing the wrapper off his burger.
"Location's good," Leo said. "Doors on both sides of the restaurant, and probably one out the back in case we need it. We'll to keep an eye on the roof over there." He nodded in the direction of the strip mall.
"From the roof or from here?"
"Unless Jim and Vanessa make record time getting to California and back, it'll have to be from here," Leo said. You and Jordan will be meeting with Carol. That leaves Zenya and me for backup."
"If it comes to it, I could ask DeShawn to lend a hand," Martin said.
Zenya contemplated her chicken sandwich. She had to admit, it wasn't bad for something that came in a paper wrapper. "It's probably best to keep this just among us," she said. "What do you think," she asked Leo, and noticed that he was staring at something outside. And so was Martin.
Turning, she noticed a Taurus with tinted windows cruising slowly through the parking lot.
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NRPG:
Krister - Sorry. I couldn't resist throwing in a little bit of my own theory. ;) Have you ever read 'Passport to Assassination' by Col. Oleg Maximovich Nechiporenko? Very interesting book.
Everybody - I hope this isn't as lame as I think it is! Real life has been *so* crazy this week, and I think I might be too out of it to be trusted with a keyboard and an original thought. ;) On the bright side, my computer problems got solved without too much hassle!!!
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