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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 26, 2021 7:57:09 GMT
Federal Spies
Chapter 1 The Apartment
Monday July 6th 1936, Washington DC
Bart Regan took put away his straight edge razor and wiped the foam lather from his face. He had the handsome face that any Hollywood producer would love. He could act too, but not in the movies. His roles were much more realistic and dangerous since he was a US Secret Service Agent practiced in working undercover. He moved with the practiced grace of a dancer even though he had the look like a heavyweight weightlifter. Bart walked out of the bathroom saying to Sally Norris, his partner in many ways, that the bathroom “was yours.”
Sally was his lover and his partner at the Secret Service; though their romantic relationship was known to government; there was policy against them being married of co-habituating. Thus they each had their own apartment as well as a third one which they shared.
She was a raven haired beauty who was skilled athlete, actress, makeup artist and a better shot with a pistol than Bart. Sally was a woman ahead of her time as she stood next to Bart as an equal both in their professional and personal lives. She was a feminist before the word was coined
Bart had wired their shared apartment with two phone lines with the same number as each of their own apartments in an effort to keep his boss from finding out about his and Sally’s relationship. His phone rang as he was finishing getting dressed. He put the ear piece up to his ear and spoke into the mouthpiece. “Hello” he said.
He recognized the voice on the other end as it said “Bart, meet me at the FBI building please. We’re having a meeting with Hoover and one of his top agents. Would you pick up Sally and bring her down to since her apartment is on the way. I’ll give her the head’s up.”
Sally was just coming out of the bath room when Bart replied “No need Chief, I’ll call her as soon as I get off the phone. Can you tell me what’s this is about?”
“Not over the phone” Just meet me at Hoover’s office at 10 o’clock sharp. He’s a stickler for punctuality.”
Sally quickly finished dressing and they left their shared apartment. They didn’t know it but they would not return until before end of summer
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 26, 2021 7:57:51 GMT
Chapter 2 The Federal Man and The G Woman
Monday July 6th 1936, Washington DC
Bart drove Sally in his black government issued 1933 Chevrolet Eagle two door sedan to the FBI Headquarters. They showed their ID when they drove into the government parking lot and entered the building. Again they showed their photo identification cards when they entered the building. The asked for direction to the FBI director’s office and proceeded to the elevator and to the operator to take them to the sixth floor.
Once there they met their own supervisor. He was a portly middle aged man who was puffing on one of his ever-present cigars. He took out his fob and looked at the timepiece connected to the chain and said “Well you’re on time for a change.” Turning to the FBI director’s secretary he said “Tell Hoover my agents have arrived.”
The man used the intercom and made the announcement that the secret service agent were here. Hoover asked to have them shown in. Once inside Bart and Sally noticed how much larger Hoover’s office was compared to their own boss. The chief of the US Secret Service obviously notice too because his face was a picture of open jealousy.
They also notice to other people in the room besides Hoover. A man and a woman, neither of whom was older than thirty the man had the same physique of Bart and the same square jaw and comb back black hair, they looked like they could have been related. In fact they were. They greeted each other with warmth. The woman was blond, slender, and very attractive.
“Chief, I want you to meet my cousin Steve Carson. He’s always saying he’s one of the FBI’s top agents and now I know he hasn’t been lying. Steve this is James Ames, the head of the Secret Service” said Bart with a smile.
Hoover cleared his throat and said “You are correct Mr Regan; Agent Carson is one of my best. So is Agent June Justis” he added as a way of introducing the woman. “Please sit down I Steve will tell you why we’ve ask you here this morning.
“Right” said Steve as he pulled out a chair for Miss Justis. “Agent Justis and I have been pegged for a tough assignment, even though it looks like a piece of cake. We’re going to be the official US Government’s security detail for the Olympic Games. Well I am. But because the Germans won’t let any more than one official be present June’s posing as my secretary.”
Looking both her boss and partner Sally interjected “What’s this got to do with us?”
The Head of the FBI then spoke the US has over three hundred and fifty athletes going to these games. A lot of them are under aged, a few are Jewish, and more than a few are Negroes. US participation at these Olympics has been fraught with controversy. A lot of people don’t want us attending because of the German Government’s opinions on matters of race. The Germans tried to stop both Jews and Negroes from participating. We’ve also heard about some home grown threats from the Phantom Empire and rumors possible violent actions against some our athletes by the Phantom Empire in Germany with the Nazi government tacit sanction. I can’t get any more agents over there to protect our Olympians.
“But I can” said the head of the Secret Service. “I’ve arranged it so you and Bart are official chaperones to the underage athletes. No one will know you’re government agents. You’ll be on the ocean liner that is taking them to the games.”
“Meanwhile agents Justis and Carson will be flying over to Germany and checking out the security situation” said Hoover. The six then made their plans and the meeting broke up. Bart wanted to have brunch with his cousin but his boss asked Bart to drive him to their headquarters. Bart imperceptibly raised his eyebrow with a question at his boss’s request. When they got into the car their boss gave them another assignment besides their official one with the FBI
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 26, 2021 7:58:11 GMT
Chapter 3 The Secret Service Agent
Friday July 3rd 1936, Tirana Albania
The head of the US Secret Service had Bart drive two blocks and then told him to pull over and let him drive. Once their supervisor was in the driver’s seat he reached into his inner coat pocket, handing both Sally and Bart a set of papers. “Read this he said, “I’ll answer any questions after you’ve read them.” Sally and Bart started to read the report filed by one of the United States top spies in Europe, Sandra Moore.
Sandra was exhausted; she had just finish an assignment which stopped a civil war from exploding in a small European country. She was looking forward to going back home to America. She was just putting the last of her things in her small traveling valise when the phone rang. Frowning she answered the phone.
The hotel manager was one the other line, his English was broken and heavily accented by his native Serbian. “Miss Moore there is an American man from the embassy to see you.”
Sandra had the man sent up to her room. He was a handsome earnest young man with blond hair and bearing of a soldier. “I take it you’re the aide of the embassy’s military attache?” she said with her ever winning smile.
“Yes Ma’am. Lieutenant Trevor, Steve Trevor. Major Darnell says that you have a message from Washington and I’m to bring to the embassy’ said the young man.
“Right, would you please take by bag Steve.”
“Of course Ma’am”
“You can call me Sandra; and Steve you’ll never impress a lady if you call her ma’am.”
“Yes Ma…Sandra” said the blushing Army Second lieutenant just out of West Point. “I have a car waiting right outside.
The drive was short, but pleasant as Sandra enjoyed the young officers company. It’s too bad I’m headed off to another assignment she thought; it would be fun getting to know Steve better. They arrived and went directly to Major Darnell’s office.
Darnell was an officer fast approaching middle age. Sandra mused how America’s dedicated military men had been so slow to advance in rack since the War. She guessed why so many stayed because of the dire economic times of today, but that didn’t explain why a man Darnell’s age stayed back in the booming times of the Roaring Twenties. Darnell came right to the point. “We received this coded message to be delivered to you. You’re to call the head of the secret service straight away. Steve escort Miss Moore to the communication room and see she isn’t disturbed.”
Sandra asked one question “What do you know about this Major Darnell.”
“Only that I’m to have you on a plane to the Island of Valonia with some reading material about where you’re going after you’ve talked to your boss.”
Once she was in the communication’s room she opened her purse and took out a pen and paper because the communication she would receive from the head of the secret service would be encrypted and it would take a while for her to decode it. Three hours later she emerged. She had a quick bite at the embassy with Major Darnell before being driven out to the airport by Second Lieutenant Trevor. She quickly boarded chartered plane. The flight took two hours, long enough for her to read about the Mediterranean Island Principality of Valonia its main Casino’s annual Million-Pound Invitational Poker Tournament
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 26, 2021 7:58:35 GMT
Chapter 4 The Casino
Friday July 3rd 1936, the Island Principality of Valonia
Sandra Moore of the Secret Service flight arrived in the early in the afternoon. She was looking forward to meeting her contact. Phillip Wayne was corporate lawyer who also liked to play poker. Evidently he was very good at it too because he had one the tournament two years ago. The man was an associate of James Ames, the head of her agency back in the Great War. Evidently he had been an American volunteer pilot for the French and then late flew for America when she joined to war against the Kaiser.
Wayne had contacted his old friend saying he had come across an aristocratic German officer who wanted to come to defect to America. The businessman said that the man was a Prussian Baron who didn’t care for the new government of Adolph Hitler. Wayne was a civilian however and he could be duped by the German intelligence service. Sandra was to check on the German officer’s veracity.
Wayne’s Chauffeur Anthony met her almost as soon as she checked through customs. She asked the man where his employer was and he replied “The tournament stated at seven o’clock this morning. There was a short break for lunch at noon, but it has already resumed until this evening when Mr Wayne will have a half hour for dinner.”
“I see” said Sandra. “I’d best wait in the hotel suite then. I don’t want to distract Mr Wayne” Sandra said. Sandra was puzzled by the infinitesimally brief bemused look on Anthony’s face when she had finished her sentence. She rode to the hotel in silence. When she arrived at the opulent hotel which was also housed the casino Sandra discovered that Phillip Wayne traveled with his own personal butler as well as chauffeur.
The short blond haired man was waiting for her at the hotel lobby came to her aid before she went to the front desk. The gentleman’s gentleman Introduced himself as Mr Wayne's butler, took her small valise, and escorted her to the suite. He asked her if she wanted something to eat when riding up the elevator.
Once in the room Sandra, who was famished, ate royally. The butler said it Mr. Wayne told him to see to her every need. Sandra stifled a yawn then and the man asked if she wanted to take a nap before Mr Wayne arrived this evening. Sandra looked at the ornate grandfather clock and saw that it was three in the afternoon. She nodded yes but said she only wanted to sleep until half past four as she needed to freshen up before Mr Wayne arrived. She could have sworn she saw the same bemused look on the butler’s face for a split-second. Julius covered up his amusement masterfully by asking her if she would want a hot bath before his employer’s arrival. She readily agreed. She slept comfortably before enjoying a wonderful steaming hot bath in a huge lavish gold plated; at least she thought it was merely gold plated, tub.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 26, 2021 7:59:03 GMT
Chapter 5 The Gambler
Friday July 3rd 1936, the Island Principality of Valonia
Sandra lolled about the suite rereading the information she had received back in Tirana Albania. She glanced at the clock after read the documents for the third time when Phillip Wayne entered the suite. He was a handsome lean talk middle-aged man with a widow’s peak and paper thin mustache. He smiled when he saw her and said “Miss Moore, I’m so glad to see Tubby sent you” as went over to her.
Sandra smile back as she looked at entrepreneur poker player. She immediately recognized that Phillip Wayne had not called her superior the demeaning nickname Tubby by mistake like an idle rich idiot would, but rather as a way to show that he was a good friend of her boss. “I hope you’re doing well at your tournament Mr Wayne”
“Wayne, please call me Wayne Miss Moore; My name is Wayne Phillips when I am in Valonia” he interjected “I hope you don’t mind pretending to being my paramour when were public. I always have an attractive young lady staying with me at the tournament.”
Sandra batted her eyes as she said sexily “Why Wayne darling, I’ll do my very best.” Her tone then changed to one that screamed no-nonsense saying “Tell me about this would be aristocratic German defector.
“His name is Baron Wandale Wilden, he’s a German brigadier general. He first approached me last year. I told him I was a business man and didn’t want to get involved. I also didn’t believe him” he said.
“Interesting Sandra replied, “Why not?”
“Almost everyone here knows I am the American Corporate Magnate Phillip Wayne, not Wayne Phillips and that I was in the American Army Air Corp with your boss during the war. It could have been a Hun trick. So I asked him for some business intelligence on one of their airplane manufacturers” he said. “I told Tubby about this during lunch when I was in Washington last May. He told me to contact him if I was approached again. Wilden gave me these plans earlier in this week. I examined them myself. They’re designs of an advanced fighter prototype. I’m not an engineer, so I need to have my people check them out by; but they look good”
Sandra said “I’d like to look at the plans later but you had better have some food first.”
“Julius is getting it even now” he said as he offered a cigarette. He lit it for himself when she declined. “The other thing Tubby told me to do was find out why he wants to come to America. He says he’s married to a Jew. That’s a plausible reason to want to get out of Germany given what I’ve been hearing about Hitler and the Nazis. He says he doesn’t want to go the British or French because they, along with Russia are the real enemies of Germany, but the United States is a young honorable nation who was misguided when she joined the Allies in the war.”
“You still don’t believe him do you Wayne.”
“No I don’t.”
“Why not?
“The way he plays poker. Most of the men here are gamblers they all want to win the tournament but they also want to wind every hand that they can.”
“Aren’t you supposed to do that?”
“Yes and no. It does well in the beginning to let a few pots go by as you get a feel of the other players at the table. Wandale Wilden does this to a degree that I didn’t think was possible. He was cashiered out on the last day of the tournament last year but I had the feeling that he could have won the damn thing if he wanted. He thinks long term and I believe he has an ulterior motive. I have no idea what it is.” Phillip Wayne was silent for a moment before he added “The man’s eyes are a complete contradiction. They are calculatingly intelligent and cold; yet at the same time have an incredibly savage feral look about them.”
Julius arrived just then. They quickly ate a marvelous roasted pheasant and when down to the casino arm in arm. Sandra hugged Wayne tightly and gave him a passionate kiss when he left her to go to his tournament. He kissed her back and the crowd would see a lusty couple but Sandra noted the man had no ardor in lips or any other part of his anatomy. She now understood the quick knowing smiles of the man’s servants. Phillip Wayne wasn’t attracted to women.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:01:46 GMT
Chapter 6 First Observations
Saturday July 4th 1936, the Island Principality of Valonia
The clock had just struck midnight; Sandra had watched the poker tournament all night long until it broke up at eleven pm. Phillip Wayne and her returned to their suite with Phillip going immediately to bed as he had to be back to the tournament at 8 o’clock in the morning. Sandra stayed up and studied that advanced fighter prototype designs. Like Phillip Wayne, she was not an aviation engineer, but she had purloined a couple of airplane designs from the Soviet Union three years ago and another one from Yugoslavia last year.
The Butler Julius came into the room and asked her if there was anything she needed. Sandra replied “no, I’ll retire after I look these over.”
Julius cocked an eyebrow and said “I hope you won’t disturb the master when you go to bed.”
Sandra smiled at the butler before saying “don’t worry Julius, I maybe a working girl, but I’m not that kind of a working girl. Anyways, your master would be interested even if I was. Besides he needs his sleep for the tournament and I need sleep to do my assignment.”
“Very good Miss Moore, then I shall retire for the night” Julius said with a wry smile before turning and leaving the room.
Sandra put down the plans and stretched as she thought about her observations of the German baron. He was a stocky man with broad shoulders and a barrel chest, just a couple inches under six feet, he short van dyke beard with square face. The top of his ears were almost pointed. She noted that he had bushy eyebrows which stood out as the he kept his hair closed-cropped. Those bushy brows also distracted from his contrary brown eyes which were both cold and calculating while implausibly disturbing at the same time wild and feral. His manner appeared to be both overly prideful, domineering, as well as overbearing like a movie version of a stereo typical Prussian aristocrat
Both Baron Wandale Wilden and Phillip survived today’s game where half of the original entrants were eliminated. She hoped the Baron and Phillip wouldn’t draw the same table tomorrow as that would mean one or the other would leave Valonia. In any rate the Baron would be joining them for breakfast and she quickly wrote down a series of questions she wanted Phillip to ask Wilden. She was going to continue her ruse as Phillips paramour as she did want the Baron to know she was an agent of the United States Government
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:02:17 GMT
Chapter 7 Breakfast
Saturday July 4th 1936, the Island Principality of Valonia
Phillip Wayne and Sandra Moore woke an hour before sunrise at Sandra’s insistence. Wayne was exhausted as he was staying up late and playing intense games of poker all day and night. Sandra was tired, but not as spent as Phillip. “I’m sorry we have to get up this early; but you’re the one who arranged our breakfast meeting with Baron Wilden” said Sandra, “We need to go over your conversation with him”
Phillip Wayne sat up on the side of the bed and lit a cigarette. “What do you mean my conversation? You’re the government agent” said Phillip.
“No I’m just a dumb blond American cutie you had flown over to Valonia so you could have a warm bed. That’s what the world believes and I want to keep it that way.”
The three later met in secluded alcove of the casino’s main restaurant. German Baron and General Wandale Wilden was not pleased to see Sandra sitting at the table and politely, but firmly ask Wayne to get rid of his paramour. Wayne replied in fluent French that Sandy didn’t speak a word of French and they could speak frankly and openly. “I’ve already told her were going speak in French and to ignore us.
Wandale Wilden frowned contemptuously and swore a red steak in French with his eyes on Sandra who didn’t lift an eyebrow. Wilden than sat down and said while staring and Sandra several lewd comment about Sandra and her anatomy. Sandra continued to eat and ignored the boisterous German. She didn’t blush in the slightest.
Satisfied that Sandra could not speak French Wilden turned to Wayne and asked “have the plans for my family’s defection been made?”
“No” said Wayne. Wandale Wilden’s face became ugly with rage when Wayne added “calm yourself, Baron Wilden. It’s your fault that you and yours aren’t leaving this weekend.”
“My Fault! What do you mean by that?” Wilden snarled.
“You lied to me. There’s no way a Prussian aristocrat would have married a Jewess. Not in today’s Germany, or in the Kaiser’s, or even the Wiemar Republic’s” explained Wayne. “The woman you want to leave with must be either your mistress or your daughter from your mistress. The United States would have helped you leave for America this weekend; but since you lied we won’t assist you. Nor shall we let you stay if you arrive on our shores.”
Wilden abruptly stood up whispering “You’re sentencing Julia to death, you swine.”
Wayne continued to eat his breakfast. He swallowed the morsels he had in his mouth before saying “Oh do sit down general. I’m not finished talking with you.”
Wilden looked as though he would strangle Wayne then and there, but he sat.
Wayne smiled once the Wilden sat and continued, “What we are going to do is check the veracity of the other things you have told us. If they check out we’ll contact you and take you and Julia out of Germany.”
Wilden seemed to be barely able to keep his temper in check as he said “You don’t understand. The Nazis plan on rounding up all the Jews.”
Wayne looked at Wilden and said in his most assuring manner “Nothing will happen until after the Olympic Games. Hitler doesn’t want any more controversy; he wants to show the world that Germans are the master race though his Berlin Olympics. It is a propaganda bonanza for him. He starts round up Jews - many if not all the democracies will boycott the games. America certainly will.”
Wilden now appeared mollified as he said “You seem to have this all thought out Wayne.”
“Not me old boy, I’m just an American citizen. It’s the State Department that reasoned this out. If you haven’t lied about anything else you’ll be allowed in. If not they won’t contact you.”
Wayne and Sandra continued to eat while the baron sat in silence, “When will they contact me?” He asked.
“I don’t know” said Wayne; “my part in this is over. From now on I’m here to play poker – only poker.”
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:02:47 GMT
Chapter 8 The Track
Sunday, July 5th 1936, Paris France
Phillip Wayne was landing his new 1936 Fairchild 24 Model F civilian airplane, also known as “the Cadillac of the Skies”, at a small airport just outside of Paris while Sandra Moore and the only passenger slept in the passenger cabin. Wayne’s chauffeur and butler would follow in his private limousine, which had to be transferred from the Island Principality of Valonia by ferry to Marseille before being driven to Paris. Wayne said it gave his servants a nice working vacation every year.
Sandra woke when the plane hit the ground. She yawned and stretched as the Fairchild taxied to a halt. She was dressed for travel, wearing waist length leather jacket, a yellow blouse and tan pants and brown boots. She patiently waited for Wayne to shut down the plane. She knew Wayne was very satisfied with himself as he had come in third at this year’s tournament. He had told her that he probably would have “won the damn thing if I hadn’t preoccupied with all this damned espionage. “ After watching him play for two and a half days she agreed that he no doubt would have.
Wayne, wearing a neat trim brown suit, smiled as exited the cockpit saying “I’ve ordered a taxi that should be here in five minutes.”
“Did you say how many passengers he’s going to pick up?” asked Sandra.
“No” he replied.
“Good because this where we part company Phillip” said Sandra.
“Why don’t I give at least a lift to Paris? He asked.
“No I have to get to Berlin as soon as possible. I’ve to do a background check out General Wilden. We have to know whether his tale is true or not before we contact him.”
“I don’t see why I can’t at least take you to the border” Phillip said.
Sandra shook her head as she said “You’ve done your part Phillip. The rest is up to me; but you can do me one small favor.”
“What?” he asked with a cocked left eyebrow.
“Stop by the American Embassy and tell the marine guard on duty that you have a message for the Treasury Department’s duty officer. He’ll be there because Washington told him to be” said explained. She hand him a slip a paper with the letters xyZ
She smiled at him and said “It means we need a retrieval team in Germany. My superiors told me before I met you that they believed the best time would be during the Olympic Games which are happening in Berlin next month. This message basically means they should proceed as planned; but not to extract Wilden unless contacted by me.”
“In just these three letters” said Phillip Wayne as he lit a cigarette and smiled. “This is a prearranged code. I imaging if the capitalization of the letters give Washington other prearranged messages.”
Sandra grabbed her small valise and headed for the exit. Just before she went out the door she said “Phillip, you would make an exemplary spy if you wanted to be”. She then vanished into the night.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:03:17 GMT
Chapter 9
Monday, July 11th 1936, Cliffland Ohio
Bart Regan was dressed a dark blue suit with a starched white shirt and red tie. Only his black shoes didn’t display the national colors he reflected as he sat sweltering in the July heat. America was going through a record shattering heatwave that was killing many of her citizens - with temperatures reaching well over a hundred and ten degrees from coast to coast. Hell of a time to be running around he thought as he watched the amateur track and field athletes competing for a berth in the Olympics next month.
Bart knew from his FBI that a large contingent of colored athletes were among the competitors and he was looking for signs of trouble from the Phantom Empire whom his brief had warned him about or any other racist mischief-makers. The loud speaker announced that the next event was the four hundred meter hurdles race. It was then he heard a southern drawl say “Now you all gonna see a true representation of America. "Slats" Hardin is a god fearin’ White Bama boy who won the last Olympics an’ hasn’t lost since.”
“Right Wilbur, but what we gonna do “bout all these colored boys racing wid out them obstacles in the way of their running?” queried another voice with a Midwestern twang.
Wilbur smiled and lowered his voice and Bart only caught pieces of what the man said but those small thread led him to believe whatever they were going to do would happen at the athlete’s hotel tonight. Bart remained sitting for another ninety minutes hoping for more snippets of information, but nothing came.
He left the stadium and went directly to the police headquarters. He showed his badge and identifying credentials showing that he was a Secret Service Agent of the US Treasury to the uniformed police sergeant sitting behind a raised desk and asked to speak with someone in charge. A red headed man dressed in a green suit soon came down came down a flight of stairs that was off to the right of the police sergeant. He put out his right hand saying “You must be the secret service agent.”
Bart put out his own hand and the two shook hands and Bart introduced himself. The red headed man said his name was Jim Corrigan and that both the police chief and the chief of detectives where at the stadium watching Olympic trials.
Bart smiled as he said “That’s where I just was. I overheard some people who were planning to somehow attack the colored athletes competing tonight.”
Corrigan raised an eyebrow at this and said “You don’t know how?”
“No, I only caught bits and pieces of the conversation” replied Bart. “I have no jurisdiction in this; as a matter of fact on an official leave of absence.”
Corrigan gave Bart a frosty look when he asked Bart to explain the “official leave of absence.”
“I volunteered to chaperone the Olympic athletes. It’s a chance to see Germany free of charge” said Bart.
Corrigan looked at Bart with a knowing smile. “Meaning there’s more to this chaperone business, but you’re not at liberty to talk to a local flatfoot.”
“Your words detective – not mine” said Bart.
Corrigan smiled back at Bart and said “Okay, we’ll leave it at that Agent Regan. My partner and I will be at the hotel tonight. We’ll finish whatever these stupid bigots start. But I advise you to stay out of the way because like you said: you have no jurisdiction.”
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:04:20 GMT
Chapter 10 The Pool
Monday, July 11th 1936, Cliffland Ohio
Secret Service Agent Sally Norris was at the Cliffland Municipal Pool keeping track of the various meets of America's top swimmers as they vied for an Olympic berth. She had made an almost imperceptible grimace when she read the program's list of athletes because one of them knew who she was and what she did for a living. Kim Wan was was the oldest son of the famous Chinese Honolulu Police Detective Harry Wan. Bart and Sally both worked on a case in Hawaii with Harry and met the over-exuberant Kim Wan, who fancied himself as a detective. Kim had won his first two heats in the 100 meters Freestyle event this morning and was done for the day. Instead of going back the athlete's hotel Kim stayed and watched other matches in the front row.
Sally sat in the back; deciding how to approach Kim. She and Bart were working undercover and the wrong word from the boisterous Kim Wan could spoil everything. But Kim had yet to notice her and was keenly watching the current heat. Sally noted that Kim was loudly rooting for Betty Adams, a swimmer from UCLA, the same school that Kim attended.
While she sat and thought Sally overheard to brutish looking man with Midwestern accent say to his friend “See Joe, I told ya we'd find the wrong kind of fellow to represent America at the games.”
“Ah, Harry that slant-eyed fellow ain't gonna win tomorrow” the second man said. “Sides we need to be available tonight.
“We will be Joe. We'll burn the n****rs out of their hotel tonight, but first we gotta break that Chink's arm this afternoon” said Harry.
Damn, thought Sally now I have no choice but to let Kim know I'm here. She stood up and went directly over to Kim Wan saying “Kim, I didn't know you were competing.
Kim Wan turned and smiled when he saw Sally. He rose and shook her hand as he asked a bundle of rapidly fired questions: “What are you doing here? Is Bart with you? Are you on an assignment? Are you undercover?”
Sally put up a finger and Kim fell silent. She then said “I can't say anything about any active cases, but Bart and I are both here in Cliffland. We're taking a vacation and are official chaperones to the under-aged athletes like you.”
“Aw common Sally. I'm nineteen.” protested Kim.
“And still under-aged,” said Sally. Changing the subject she asked “Is your father here?”
“Naw, he's still in Honolulu. He knows I'm competing but none of the family couln'td get away” said Kim in a slightly sad tone.
“Well, Bart and I will make a poor substitute for family but we'll cheer you on if you make the team. For now though I need to be an impartial spectator.” Sally noted the two thugs she had overheard earlier were coming their way. “Kim let's go outside for a minute” she said. She saw the two were following them out the door and she said quietly to Kim “There's a couple of goons following us who are going to make trouble for you Kim.” Kim started to look behind him when Sally said “Don't look I'll deal with them soon enough.”
Once they were outside of the pool area Kim stopped and turned abruptly saying “Miss Norris I can take care of myself.” he visibly gulped when he saw the two large men headed directly towards them.
Sally then turned to see the men. Kim valiantly stepped between Sally and the men asking them what they wanted.
Harry smiled and said “Hey you speak pretty god English for a chink.”
“My ancestors are Chinese, but I'm as American as you” protested Kim.
“No you ain't, you're a yellow devil an' we ain't having the likes of you representin'; the United States of America” said Joe.
“We ain't letin' ya bother wit white women neither” said Harry who hit Kim with an open hand slap which caused that younger and smaller Kim to fall to the floor.
“Beat it doll,” said Joe to Sally.
Sally smiled at the big goon and purred “but he offered to buy me a drink” as she stepped between the two men and Kim.
Joe's eyebrow's raised as he lips turn into a hungry smile. “Tell you what doll, as soon as we're finished here I'll buy you ya drink.”
Sally nodded as her hand brushed against the inseam of Joe's trousers, causing his leering grin to turn into a beaming smile. Then her hand rapidly rose between his legs as she smash her fist into his genitalia.
Harry blinked as he friend crumpled into a heap. Sally then gave him a quick rabbit punch to the larynx. Harry grabbed his throat with both hands as Sally kneed him in the groin, causing him to double over. She then gave both men a quick karate chop to the back of the neck – knocking both men out cold.
Kim and Sally then went and found a police officer who arrested to the two bruised bigots once Sally showed them her credentials
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:06:39 GMT
Chapter 11 The Private Investigators
Monday, July 11th 1936, Cliffland Ohio Sally Norris and Kim Wan went to the Cliffland City Police Headquarters Building to file official charges against Joe and Harry, as well as to warn the police about the planned arson at the Olympic athletes hotel tonight. A red headed detective named Jim Corrigan came out and met them.
His right eyebrow rose when Sally showed him her secret service credentials. “You don't happen to know a Bart Regan Do you?”
Sally eyed the detective for a long moment before saying “I take it Bart ran into trouble at the track meet?”
“No he just overheard some bigots talking about causing problems at the hotel where the colored athletes are staying. There's too many police at the meet for them to try anything- including the police chief, the commissioner and my boss” explained Corrigan. “We'll deal with them tonight.” Turning to Kim he asked “I think you're a little too young, but are you a federal agent too?”
Kim's eyes widen at the question. Quickly Kim said “Me no, I'm one of the competitors, I swam in the 100 meters freestyle. I won both of my heats.. That's why those guys attacked me. My pop's detective in Honolulu though. But I don't that's why they attacked me.”
Corrigan jumped in with another question when Kim paused for a breath. “Are you Harry Wan's kid?”
“Yes sir,do you know him?” replied Kim.
“No but my boss worked a case with him once” explained Corrigan. “He swears that Harry Wan's the best detective he ever met. Keeps comparing me to him; and I come up short” he added with a smile.
Sally jumped in then and said “Harry Wan is one of the top detectives in the country, if not the world.”
“Yeah,. That's his reputation” said Corrigan.
The rest of the interview went well. During their writing their of official statements Corrigan's boss came in and was told of Kim's presence. He went over to the young man and said hello as he knew Kim as well as his father. Sally and Kim were just finishing their statements when a loud calamitous noise came from outside the detective's squad room. Unseen to the detectives, Sally or Kim, short man came inside the main entrance of the police headquarters yelling “Can we get some help here?”
Sally knew the voice and she could tell from his facial reaction that Kim knew it as well. She couldn't put a name to the voice until she saw Corrigan pinch the bridge of his nose and “Oh God, Shorty Morgan.
Corrigan's partner Wayne Grant stood up saying “I thought that shrimp hooked up with a young Private Eye from Cleveland.”
Corrigan rose as he said “He did Wayne, he hooked up big fella whose making a name for himself in Cleveland.”
“That's right Mr Corrigan.” Said Kim as he too stood. “My pop worked with Mr Morgan and Mr Bradley on a case in Cleveland.”
Sally smiled to herself as she thought how happy Bart would be to see his cousin Slam again. The two may look alike and be excellent detectives, but Bart was suave with a certain sophistication and refinement while Slam was a rough hewed man who more apt to rush headlong into trouble. The men liked one another well enough unless they were working on a case together - then they clashed. The last time they saw each other involved a case and Slam had given Bart his most recent black eye three years ago.
Sally took the always inquisitive Kim's arm and had him hang back. This was police business and not theirs. Eventually Slam and Shorty came in with several uniformed and plain clothes policemen and well as half a dozed beaten up mobsters.
“This is the Johanssen Gang. They were stealing diamonds in Cleveland and fencing them here in Cliffland. We caught them red handed and brought them in” said Slam Bradly. He was a large, incredibly fit man, he even made his cousin and Sally's fiance, Bart Regan look small by comparison.
His face resemble Bart's enough that they were often mistaken for brothers. Slam's jacket and suit pants was ripped and he had a fat lip but he was smiling because there was nothing Slam Bradly liked better that a brawl.
Corrigan was busy cataloging several diamond with his boss when he said “Hey chief this looks like the necklace that Society Dame Winston claimed was stolen last week.”
The chief of detectives looked at the necklace in Corrigan's hands and said “Put that one aside and take it over to the Winston's Estate first this tomorrow. Put the rest of this stuff in the evidence locker while I call Cleveland and make sure Slam's story checks out.”
Slam scratched the back of his head as he said to Corrigan “Can I get an itemization of this stuff. I gotta prove to my client that I got her ice back.
“Sure, no problem Slam. Just so you know though – you didn't get all of the Johanssen Gang. You miss Lars's number two man Gat Benson” said Corrigan.
Slam shrugged his shoulders as he said “What can I tell you Corrigan, he wasn't there when we hit them.”
“No problem. Benson's a punk. But I'm not going to be able to get through your itemized list typed until tomorrow morning.”
Shorty yelled “Dang, there ain't no hotel rooms available in this town cause of the Olympic Trials.”
Sally, with some effort had kept Kim quiet. The two of them stayed out of the way and hadn't caught the notice of either Shorty or Slam until Sally stepped forward and said “I'm sure Bart will let share his room for one night.”
Slam smiled at Sally as he said “I was wondering if you were going to speak to me because Bart was still sore at the shiner I gave him.”
“You know better that that Slam. I know you two write each other at least once a month” replied Sally “Yeah, well, what can I say” said Slam.
Shorty came up to Kim now and said “Hey Kim, how's your pop?”
With that the four started reacquainting themselves until the chief of detectives asked if they could take their reunion outside.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:08:11 GMT
Chapter 12 Drinks and Dinner
Monday, July 11th 1936, Cliffland Ohio
Sally Norris, Shorty Morgan, and Slam Bradley met Bart Regan at the hotel bar. Kim was under-aged to be in a bar at eighteen years old and the head swimming coach for the US Olympic team had left word at the front desk that he wanted to talk to him.
Bart stood and kissed Sally when they arrived before shaking both Slam and Shorty's hands with Bart reassuring Slam that all was forgiven for the black-eye that Slam had given Bart on the last case they worked together. “So what brought you to Cliffland?” Bart asked.
“Jewel thieves” said Shorty.
“Our client was an insurance company. We nabbed the crooks okay. They're all in jail or the hospital but our problem is I can't get an inventory of the loot we recovered from the police until tomorrow” explained Slam.
“An' there's no place to stay cause of these Olympic trials” added Shorty.
Sally took a sip of her martini before saying to Bart “I told the boys they could room with you tonight Bart.”
“I don't want to cause you any trouble Bart, but I sure would appreciate it” said Slam.
Bart smiled and said “Not a problem Slam. You and Shorty can both use my room. Just don't let anyone know.”
“Won't we have to get a cot?” asked Shorty.
Slam knew that Bart now intended to share Sally's bed. He looked at Sally, who was barely blushing before saying “No Shorty, Bart has a detail tonight anyways. So we can have the room to ourselves but we can't tell anyone cause it'll be on the governments nickel.”
The four went to the main dining room with the Olympic hopefuls and coaching staff. One of the US Olympic officials who knew that Bart and Sally were government agents came over to Bart and said “I hear that there's was an incident at the pool and that the police expect trouble tonight with the Phantom Empire. Do you think we should warn our athletes, or hire some security?”
Bart smiled and said “I think the police will be able to handle any problems but if you want some extra protection you can hire my cousin Slam Bradley and his partner Shorty Morgan. They're private investigators from Cleveland who have just finished up a case and are staying the night.”
“How much do you charge?” asked the worried official.
“Ten dollars a day – each, plus expenses” said Shorty.
The man looked at Bart and said “are these two worth it?”
“Absolutely” said Bart.
Slam Bradly and Shorty Morgan made the easiest twenty dollars they ever had because the Cliffland Police broke up the attempted arson at the hotel and there were no further problems at the US Olympic trials.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:08:44 GMT
Chapter 13 The Naval Reservist and the Amateur Astronomer
Tuesday, July 12th 1936, Pearl Harbor United States Navel Base, Territory of Hawaii
It was 0700 and Wesley Dodds been awake for three hours now doing his yearly navy reserve stint as a navy lieutenant . He had been honorably discharged for health reasons from the navy after a routine physical had discovered that he had a heart murmur in 1933. Last year he had joined the naval reserves in hopes that his month long tours would put him back aboard one of America's Aircraft carriers, where he would fly enough sorties to keep his air officer's rating that he had when he was an active officer in the navy. Unfortunately his medical records were reviewed by the war department and the secretary of the nave determined that Lieutenant Dodds would no longer be allowed to fly because he would not only put his own life in danger, but also the lives of other naval personnel, and put navy property at risk as well. He therefore spent his first year in the reserves frustrated behind a desk in the naval aircraft development office.
He had then decided last year that he would not reenlist in the naval reserves because it was so frustrating. This was his last year in the naval reserves. He had reported to the war department headquarters and was assigned to be the aide-de-camp to Admiral Corey, who was overseeing a test of a totally new type of plane. One which theoretically didn't need a pilot. The Admiral determined that he would therefore need an aide who was, like himself, an experienced carrier pilot, so Wes was away from the stifling heat of midsummer Washington DC enjoying the tropical paradise that was Hawaii.
The test being done this morning was for the navy, army as well as the civilian Pan Global Airlines, which solely flew regular flights from America to Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Pan Global was interested because pilotless planes would save the company money. The army's interest was in using the planes as bombers.
According to Admiral Corey the navy was interest in such a plane because of the very vastness of the Pacific Ocean. The plane would be useful as a ground based search and rescue aircraft because ships and planes were often being lost out there. An airplane would be sent to search for the missing but the pilots also had to fly the plane as well as search. That could cause them to easily miss a life raft. An aircraft that could fly several hundred miles by itself might make all the difference is saving lives. Personally, as a pilot Dodds was skeptical that any electrical device could remotely control a plane; and certainly not better than a highly skilled aviator.
He stifled a yawn as he opened the rear door of the admiral's vehicle. He entered the front seat next to the driver once the admiral was comfortably seated. He smiled as he thought of how often he sat in the back of limousines in his civilian life, where he was a very wealthy New York financier. A life which he would be going back to in two weeks.
He was used to getting up at nine o'clock or later with breakfast served in bed. But now he was up before the sun and he had to stay at the base's bachelor officer quarter's spartan accommodations instead of the famously luxurious Royal Hawaiian Hotel where he normally stayed whenever he came to Hawaii. because he was at the admiral's beck and call.
That didn't stop him from dining there however. The food there was so much better that the base's officers mess. He ate at the Royal Hawaiian whenever he could. That's why he was tired this morning.
He had run into the younger sister of an old flame. At seventeen she was way too young for him romantically speaking. Her Uncle, Woodly Allen, a man whom Wes noted had the air of a fairly high level government bureaucrat and her boyfriend, Ted Knight, a handsome teen aged millionaire from Opal City, who obviously came from old money and was a very boring fellow who could only talk about his going to the big island of Hawaii today so he watch the scientist conduct new test using a radio telescope in the middle of the day. He left them early and his date, Doris Lee explained that he was an extremely gifted amateur astronomer and had been invited by the observatory's chief scientist. Her uncle added that Ted's father had also made a substantial donation to the observatory.
He and Doris then talked, catching up on old friends. Her sister was now married with three young children. After dinner they dance until ten in the hotel's ballroom. He would have liked to have seen her again this evening but they were leaving Ted behind and heading back to the mainland tomorrow by plane.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:09:11 GMT
Chapter 14 The Aviator
Tuesday, July 12th 1936, Pearl Harbor United States Navel Base, Territory of Hawaii
They drove across bridge spanning Pearl harbor to Ford Island, where the airfield of the navy's land based aircraft were located. The Driver parked the car near a building with a large antenna next to the control tower. Wes jumped out of the limousine and opened the door for the admiral. They then entered the building guarded two marines armed with Springfield rifles who checked their credentials before letting them in the building.
The building was a small with only one room. A desk, flanked by two additional armed marines, with the head of the guard detail , a marine corporal, was stationed. He stood, saluted, asked to see their credentials, and logged them into a ledger before letting them pass the entrance.
Six men were already inside, five of them were standing by a sixth man, Herbert Cartwright, the engineer who built the relatively small device allowed a plane to be controlled by radio remote control over hundreds of miles. It fit inside a large suitcase which was sitting on top of the table and was hooked up to the large, loud humming generator that took up most of the room. The other men were
Army Air Corp General Carson, his aide Major Thomas, two civilians were from Pan Global Airlines, the company's President Ralph Meyers and its chief engineer, Jonathon Strauss, and lastly the famed millionaire adventurer, aviator, and aircraft designer Bob Merritt whose company was bankrolling the demonstration.
Merritt and his men were famed aviators who had recently found a new source of gold on the Alaska Territory. He was a tall lean, lanky, sickly looking man with slicked back curly black hair. His face was angular and thin with a pronounced jaw. Wes noted that the man's hands were unusually large, even for a man as tall as Merritt.
The aviator smiled when they entered and shook the admiral's hand saying that remotely controlled Airplane was ready to take off from the US Naval Base at Midway Island and would take off as soon as Admiral Corey gave his approval, which he promptly gave.
Merritt said the seaplane he was using had a full crew – pilot, copilot, navigator, and flight engineer. He assured the admiral that all four men were his friends and excellent experienced pilots should anything go wrong. Wes glanced at the clock on the wall by the entrance and let out a sigh because if nothing went wrong with the flight he was in for a very long and boring day.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:09:34 GMT
Chapter 15 The Test
Tuesday, July 12th 1936, Pearl Harbor United States Navel Base, Territory of Hawaii
Lieutenant Wesley Dodds was correct that his was boring until late in the afternoon. The test had had no problems at all; but during that time Admiral Corey and the others questioned Cartwright and Merritt about the remote control device.
All the suit cased sized controlling device need was a transmitter. It was the same on the plane, though the receiver was smaller still and could easily be added to the plane's cockpit. The controlling device sent out its signals and the plane responded. There was a further nuance that Wes was not aware of – all along the flight path Merritt had placed special buoys that were anchored in place. They picked up the signal sent by the receiver only when the plane was within a hundred miles of the buoy and would then send out their own signal back to the receiver, allowing them to see the plane's progress in flight.
Wes, like the others were truly impressed. Trans Global Airlines President Ralph Meyers congratulated Merritt and Cartwright on their genius. Merritt in turn confessed that although they help design the device, it was not either his or Cartwright's idea, they merely helped fine tune the device.
They all then demanded to know who was the actual designer and why he wasn't there. Merritt explained that the inventor was actually just a teenager and he was busy competing in the Olympic trials in Cliffland Ohio. The young man had won his right to compete in the pentathlon and was on his way to Berlin. The admiral, general, and airline president were all fairly angry at this piece of information.
Fortunately the three were mollified because the test went along according to plan until neared the big island of Hawaii. Cartwright tore his earphones off as he said “There's an incredibly loud amount of static. It's jamming the signal.” Merritt ran over to the radio and called to his friends and plane but received no reply. It was very tense in the room as Merritt and Cartwright tried to get in contact with the plane. The men standing by started asking questions but neither Merritt or Cartwright could give them any answers. Then Wes remember his meeting with Doris Lee and her boyfriend Ted Knight, the teenaged amateur astronomer who was going to the observatory on the big island to watch their initial use of a radio telescope. He asked the pair if that might cause a problem.
Cartwright and Merritt looked at one another for a moment before Cartwright said it might. Merritt became very angry at Cartwright saying “I thought you said you checked all the various radio signals”
“I did, but this radio telescope thing wasn't publicized in any of the papers I read” Cartwright explained.
“Nevertheless we have a missing plane” said the admiral. Turning to Wes he added “Lieutenant get our standard missing plane protocols started. And once that's done contact the Anchors Aweigh team.”
“Yes sir” said Wes said as he saluted ant left the building wondering why Admiral Corey was calling the navy's top military intelligence agents.
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