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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:09:57 GMT
Chapter 16 Gone Fishing
Wednesday, July 13th 1936, North Shore of the Island of Maui, Territory of Hawaii
Harry Wan was a happy man enjoying a peaceful vacation fishing with second and third eldest sons, Donny and Harry Junior. He and his wife had a total of thirteen children, though his eldest daughter Mae had recently married and is oldest son, Kim, was on the mainland studying Chinese art at UCLA on a full scholarship. Harry was very proud to have learned that Kim was also representing the United States as an Olympian.
He still had another eleven children at home and he worried about how he was going to pay for his other children's education on his policeman salary even though he was often able to supplement his income with private detective work. This was because of his fame.; the world knew he was among the greatest detectives in the world. Thus the Honolulu Police Department let him occasionally work other cases outside his jurisdiction. Because Hawaii was a territory of the United States Harry did a lot of work for the federal government as well, also with a high consulting fee. It was enough money for him and his family to live comfortably, but not enough for him pay for eleven college educations.
Donny was the next in line to go to college as he was was going to be a high school senior this year. Harry has no idea what Donny wanted to do after graduation. He was hoping to talk to him during this fishing excursion. He was the only one who rose before the sun. He made coffee and went off to catch breakfast while his boys slept in their tent.
Unknown to Harry Wan, his boys were now awake, Donny was busy getting both his and his younger brother's fishing gear together while Harry Junior went off into the woods to relieve himself. That was when they heard a single gun shot.
Donny cried out “Pop!” even as he went in search of his younger brother. Harry Wan Junior meanwhile headed toward the sound of the gun shot. Like all the Wan children he had an unusual interest in crime and unlike his brother he had not yet developed a fear of criminals as he still had the childish belief in his own immortality and invincibility.
Harry Wan Senior too had heard the shot and went running back to camp only discover that both his boys were gone; but he heard Donny calling after his younger brother and followed the sound of his second son's voice; checking the revolver he always kept with him as he went.
Donny found Harry Junior on his knees retching beside an airplane that was parked near overhanging foliage on the beach. He immediately went over to his brother and asked him what was wrong. Harry Junior said “Th...there's three dead men in there” as he pointed to the plane over head. Donny audibly gulped before calling for his pop again Their father soon came upon them. After making sure both boys were all right he glanced at the plane and saw a bullet hole in the fuselage. He sigh as realized that his vacation was once again cut short. He then gave Donny the keys to their rental car and told him to take his brother back to the Mako Bait Shop and call the police. “Tell them I have found the missing plane and a probable homicide.
“What missing Plan Pop? Donny asked.
The one the navy reported missing just east of the big island” replied Harry Wan Senior.
“If it was missing in Hawaii, why's it here on Maui Pop?” queried his namesake.
“I do not yet know, but I intend to find out” said Harry. He told Donny to wait for the police and then lead them back to the plane.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:10:19 GMT
Chapter 17 The Crime Scene
Wednesday, July 13th 1936, North Shore of the Island of Maui, Territory of Hawaii
Harry Wan waited until his children had left before pursuing an investigation of the plane. He initially was going to enter via the open door near the wing; but then saw footprints in the sand other than his sons. He quickly went to the other side of the fuselage hoping to find a matching door. Luckily there was one. He took out a handkerchief and opened the door. Inside he found three bodies of men in their late twenties or early thirties. He examined the body that was on the floor first. Its throat had been cut. He then looked over at the empty copilot seat and saw the blood splatter on the windshield on that side.
He deduced that he was looking at the copilot.
He then examined the man slumped over a set of charts, recognizing that the man was at must be the navigator's station. He had a wound in the back. From long experience harry deduced that he died from an expertly thrown knife which penetrated the man's heart. He then went over to the pilot and saw that he too died from a knife wound.
From there he went to the rear of the plane, where he had seen the bullet hole in the fuselage. There he also determined that the bullet first past through a body due to the blood splatter on the wall. Harry saw a large quantity of dried blood on the floor and realized that a fourth person had been killed as well. From there he surmised that the killer had wanted the authorities to believe the missing man was the actual murderer and have them fruitlessly search for a man already dead.
Harry looked at his watch and estimated the time that the police would arrive. He did not want them corrupting the crime scene, but he also wanted to follow the footsteps leading from the plane. He calculated he had thirty to forty minutes and decided to track the killer for fifteen minutes before returning to the plane.
He only needed ten. The trail led to a dirt road, on the side of which Harry found another body. This one he recognized as the head Japanese Government Council Building in Hawaii, Prince Matsui. He had been shot once in the back of the head execution style. Harry saw at once that the man had been killed somewhere else and planted here. No doubt to stir up an international incident between Japan and the United States. Harry rubbed his eyes as he said goodbye to any thoughts of continuing his fishing vacation.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:10:38 GMT
Chapter 18 The Japanese Agent.
Friday, July 15th 1936, Hawaii Police Headquarters, Honolulu Hawaii
Harry Wan sat in his office, drinking a cup of coffee as he backed in the early morning sun, waiting for his guests and interested parties concerning the quintuple murder he found on Wednesday. The Navy was highly interested in the case and were sending their top military intelligence team; code named Anchors Aweigh they consisted of Lieutenant Commander Don Kerry and Lieutenant Red Murphy. Harry made a mental note to remember that a naval lieutenant corresponding rank in the army was captain and the lieutenant commander was equivalent to a major. Admiral Corey assured him that they were there to assist him in any way.
Special Agent Ralph Ventor and Agent Doris West were also coming because Agent Ventor believed that the murders may have something to do with two freelance espionage agents, Yvonne de la Rosa and Boris Makoff. Ventor and Agent West had been following until the day of the murders; when they lost their suspects. Makoff and de la Rosa were known to work with another freelance agent,Carlos Despirita., a small Spaniard who was known to be an expert in using a knife; but Ventor said nothing about the third man.
Harry took a sip of his strong black coffee as he reflected on Bob Merritt and Herbert Cartwright. Merritt was a famous aviator and aircraft designer while Cartwright was an ace electrical engineer. Harry had notice how Merritt blanched when he identified three of his friends. That was natural enough but Harry suspected that Merritt had another malady affecting him. He remembered reading how Merritt had been shot in Alaska and he wondered if his wound was more serious than reported.
It was the murder of Japanese Prince Matsui that was causing Harry the biggest problem. The man was not murdered were he had found his body and the Japanese government wouldn't let Harry into either his residence or his office at the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu. The Japanese Government was sending their own agent to investigate the murder of Prince Matsui. Mr Mata, a famed member of he International Criminal Police Commission. who had been finishing up a case involving the smuggling Korean Antiquities in American Samoa. Mr Mata's reputation was nearly as formidable as Harry's and they had actually worked a case together back in the 1928. Harry liked the man but he could see how a Japanese agent could cause problems with both the navy and the FBI. Mr Mata agreed to come to the meeting this morning and report what he had found out.
Mr Mata arrived first. He told Harry that he had found evidence that Prince Matsui had been murdered in his own residence. He said that the prince's maid had relayed that the prince was entertaining a woman by the name of Yvonne de la Rosa. The name raised the hackles of the hair of Harry's neck. Harry then relayed what Ventor told him. And asked Mr Mata to join him in this mornings meeting.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:11:11 GMT
Chapter 19 The Meeting
Friday, July 15th 1936, Hawaii Police Headquarters, Honolulu Hawaii
Harry Wan began the meeting once everyone had arrived and been introduced by going over everything he had discovered at the plane site. He also disclosed that the criminals were not as clumsy as he first surmised because the supposed gun shot is sons had heard was actually firing of a milk truck's engine. He disclosed that he found this out yesterday evening. Then had Mr Mata explained what he had found out about the murder of Prince Matsui, which also explained his presence to all concerned.
The two FBI agents spoke next, Ralph Ventor related how they had been following Yvonne de la Rosa and Boris Makoff ever since they had spotted by a FBI supervising agent on on vacation here in Honolulu. Ventor said he trailed Makoff from July 9th until the 11th when he took a motor boat into the ocean. “He would've spotted me for certain if I did keep up his tail. I did notify the coast guard but they found no trace of him.”
Agent Doris West's face was red and puffy and it was obvious that her sinuses were clogged when she now spoke: “I was ordered to follow de la Rosa since I was a woman and could go anywhere she did because she has a history of spotting agents tailing her and then ditching them by entering places where men can't go. I lost her on the 11th also. I thought I was being discreet until I followed her into the public bathroom to the side of the of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's lobby . She was sitting over at the table powdering her nose. I went and sat beside her and pretended to check my lipstick when de la Rosa blew this God awful powder in my face, I started coughing and my eyes instantly started tearing up. I was physically unable to follow her. I am still suffering from the side affects from the powder but the doctors say I'll be fully recovered in about a week.”
“I told her skip this meeting and to stay in bed at her hotel room but she insisted on telling you what she knew herself Harry” added Ventor admiringly. He then added that while Makoff was still missing, de la Rosa was once again seen by the vacationing FBI agent Woodly Allen, spotted her on the same train he was taking from San Diego to New York City. Our New York office reports that she's booked on the Bremen – the same ships that taking the US Olympic team to Germany.
Harry nodded and then asked the navy to tell them what they had discovered. Lieutenant Commander Don Kerry was the senior man so he stated that he and Lieutenant Murphy went out to the nearby buoys that would relay the radio planes coordinated to the sending station and found that all the electronic equipment had been taken from the one nearest to Oahu.
“Makoff probably took that in his motorboat” said Bob Merritt.
“Yes, that is most likely Mr Merritt,” said Harry Wan. “I understand that you and Mr Cartwright here built the radio equipment for the drone plane, but that neither of you actually designed it.”
“Correct Detective Wan,” said Bob, “the designer's just a teenager. We didn't think we could sell his invention if he was the presenter. Besides he had other interests.
“Such as,” asked Lt Cmdr Kerry.
“What he's pursuing now is an Olympic medal in the pentathlon” said Bob. “the kid has all sorts of interests. He already has half a dozen of degrees and twice as many patents.”
“He must then be Terry Sloan as he is your country's entrant into that event. He has already won an Olympic gold medal in this year's Winter Olympics for the Nordic Combined,” said Mr Mata.
This raised Ralph Ventor's eyebrow. “Those games were also in Germany. Do you suppose our spies could be working for the Germans; and Sloan's part of their team?”
“No,” said Merritt, shaking his head. “Terry doesn't care for Hitler's racism. But he might be naive enough to mention that he was working on the radio plane to the wrong person.” “He might be in danger if he goes to Germany” said Agent West.
“We need to get to New York as soon possible said Lt. Red Murphy as he quickly stood up.
“Won't do any good lieutenant,” said Ventor. The Bremen will have sailed by the time you got there.”
“Then we should have the police stop her in New York” said Lt Cmdr Kerry.
“No” said Harry Wan, “Not if we want to recover the devices and capture all the operative of her gang of spies. I suggest that Mr Mata and I fly to the main land today, then cross the United States by train before taking the German dirigible that maintains regular flights to Germany. That way we will be in Germany before Miss de la Rosa arrives.”
Bob Merritt then spoke, “Harry I have my private plane here in Honolulu. It can take you to the states and across the US after refueling, but it will need to go in for maintenance once we get to New York”
“Bob,” your not supposed to fly until your wound's healed according to Doctor Wilson. That's why you didn't fly it here or fly the radio plane during the test” exclaimed Cartwright. “It wouldn't be safe for you or your passengers.
Don Kerry then said “Red and I can pilot the plane Mr Cartwright. I take it your plane's large enough to take four men.”
“It could easily fit a dozen,” said Bob.
Harry Wan smiled at this news “Very good, I propose that Misters Kerry and Murphy fly Mr Merritt's plane. Of coarse Mr Merritt and Mr Cartwright will accompany Mr Mata and my humble self. Miss West needs her rest; what about you Mr Ventor.
I can't go without orders Harry. But I'll call Washington and see if they can get someone of the Bremen to keep Sloan safe.”
“Very well” said Harry as the meeting broke up. “Mr Ventor, please stay a moment. I would like to look over your message to Washington.”
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:11:37 GMT
Chapter 20 Pier 51
Saturday , July 16th 1936, New York City
New York City Police Sargent Sandy Keen was doing his usual patrol in his radio car with his partner Larry Trent when he was told to go to the corner of fifth and Main streets and see the man. The Man turned out to be an agent of the FBI named Wainwright. Agent Wainwright asked Sandy if he a cousin in the bureau named Stave Carson as well as a cousin the US Treasury Department named Bart Regan.
He handed Sandy a sealed envelope as he explained that Bart was undercover, but had to get the information in the envelope. Since Bart knew Sandy he would take the information for the truth and because of the strong resemblance between them the cover story of Sandy happening upon Bart would be taken for granted. The agent then said Bart was at pier 51 and was scheduled to board the Bremen. All sorts of reporters were going to be there because the US Olympic team was leaving for Germany today.
Sandy sped for Pier 51 as soon as the FBI agent left his radio patrol car. Sandy kept his siren going until they were a mile away. Once they arrived he got out of the car and headed for the Bremen, doing his best to look like he was doing his job and hoping he didn't run into any crime. Ten minutes later he saw his cousin Bart with his girl Sally. “Hey Bart” he cried in what he hoped was a convincingly surprised voice.
Bart and Sally both turned when they heard the cry. Sally thought to herself who would have thought that I'd see three of Bart's cousins on one case. The four men looked remarkably alike but then again their mothers were quadruplets. The two men quickly shook hands and Sally noted that Sandy passed a multiply folded envelope to Bart before Sandy hugged Sally. They talked briefly before Bart said they had to get aboard.
Once they were aboard and was in his room Bart opened the envelope containing de la Rosa picture as well as details about what had happened in Hawaii and the importance of keeping Terry Sloan safe.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:12:12 GMT
Chapter 21 The Swimmers
Saturday , July 16th 1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
Bart did not bother to go into his private stateroom. The Olympic Committee only paid for shared rooms, but Bart's government expense account allowed him to upgrade to private lodgings. Sally had done the same; but they would have preferred to share the same accommodations, but then their boss would get suspicious and they would soon be no longer working together. Instead Bart went looking for Sally's room as he had to share the information the was in the envelope his cousin Sandy had passed on to him. The source being FBI Director Hoover.
Bart's mind was going through a myriad of possibilities about the possible tie in between his true assignment and what happened in Hawaii. He was thinking how glad he was Harry Wan was on the case when he ran into Harry's oldest son, Kim, who was talking to a couple of female athletes from the US Olympic Swim Team.
Kim, knowing that Bart was undercover introduced him as an old friend, omitting the fact that he was a government agent, the brunette was a girl named Elizabeth “Betty” Adams and the blonde was another Elizabeth, but she went by the name of Libby – Libby Lawrence. Kim explained that Betty had just introduced him the the teenaged blond swimmer. He added that Libby was an aspiring reporter and was interviewing him about not only being on the swim team, but also about how he help his famous pop solve some of his most notorious cases.
Bart smiled and was about to excused himself when Libby asked him if he was a policeman, Bart raised an eyebrow as he quickly glanced at a bewildered Kim and said “No, he wasn't a police officer.”
Libby then pointedly asked “Then why are you carrying a gun?”
Bart was still coming up with an answer when Sally came up behind Kim and the female swimmers. Sally spoke very softly, in a voice only the four of them could clearly hear. “Miss Lawrence, I know your father's a major with army intelligence, usually posted at various embassies around the world. He comes in contact with Americans who work for the government in special capacities. Capacities that require them to be armed at all times. Even when on vacation.”
Libby, Betty, and Kim all turned around at the voice with their eyes very wide as none of them heard Sally's approach them; even though she was wearing very stylish high red high heels which matched her chic red dress, jacket and purse. “No Miss Norris, I mean yes Miss Norris...I'm sorry Mr Regan' stammered the young blond. Betty was too stunned to say anything and Kim merely shook his head.
“I trust the three of you won't say anything about Mr Regan's profession?” asked Sally.
The three said almost “no” in unison.
“Good” said Bart as he took Sally's arm and walked away.
“Those two are good friends of my pop” said Kim.
Betty sighed saying “I'm going to stay out of their way.”
“Good idea” said Libby who was wondering why their were two American spies aboard the Bremen. Libby watched them as the walked down the hallway before going their separate ways. Libby did not see Bart slip Sally the letter along with de la Rosa's picture.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:12:35 GMT
Chapter 22 The Search
Saturday , July 16th 1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
Bart went in search of Terry Sloan after he passed on the letter to Sally, while she went looking for Yvonne de la Rosa. Bart came up empty handed. Sloan was America's sole entrant in the modern pentathlon, an event that included swimming, cross country running, hurdles, pistol shooting and dressage. Sally was the chaperone for the female swimmers as he was for the male track and field athletes. He knew the archery, rifle and pistol shooting athletes had chaperones for both genders, as did the dressage teams. He soon found though that there was a gap in the coverage for the teenaged Terry Sloan. He was lacking adult supervision because his event had such diverse contests. No one noticed it until now; Bart assumed it was because nobody would have guessed that someone as young as Terry Sloan could have won the American Olympic trials.
Bart was still in search of Sloan when he spotted Charlie Nicholas in the bar. Charlie was the male dressage team chaperone as well as a noted private detective who was married to an heiress who was the female dressage team's chaperone. Bart asked Charlie where the horses for the dressage team were being stalled. One of the reasons the SS Bremen was chosen to take America's Olympic Team across the ocean was that it still had horse stalls. Charlie gave Bart the directions. Bart declined Charlie's offer to buy him a drink and went directly to the horse stalls.
On his way to below deck he spotted Yvonne de la Rosa walking in the opposite direction. Her face and demeanor appeared very poised and calm but Bart could see a tiny flicker of anger in her eyes. She was good at espionage and hiding her true emotions, but Bart and Sally were better as his face betrayed nothing in the way of recognition of her; or his fear of what she might have done below deck. He picked up his pace once she was out of both eye and earshot,
He smelled the horse stalls well before he arrived there. He heard a male voice, with a distinct educated middle east coastal American accent, probably an athlete or coach of the dressage team. As he neared the stalls he could tell by the phrases that the voice used that it was a was younger man. Once he entered the area he saw that it was his quest, Terry Sloane. The youth was apologizing to the assembled grooms for bringing down such an obnoxious bigoted woman to the grooms area.
An older gray haired colored man replied “That's all right sir. We're used to that sort of talk. Can't be helped.”
“Sides,” said another younger colored man, “Y'all were speakin' some foreign language. We didn't understand ya anyways.”
The young man frowned saying “I suppose that's true Benny, we were speaking in Italian, but what she said was simply dreadful.” then turning to the older colored man he added “Jack, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Terry. You're old enough to be my grandfather; not to mention you're teaching me how to be a groom.”
“Mr Terry,” said the older man, “It's not the way it's done” said the man shaking his head. “We're not supposed to talk to you that way.”
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Terry. “If you don't drop the sirs and misters I'll start calling you Mr Rochester.”
The old man winced and said “Please don't do that sir... Terry. But I can't do that in front of other white folks.”
Terry, whose back was to Bart (who came into the stalls without making a sound), looked very puzzled. “There's nobody else here Jack since that awful woman left in a huff.”
Bart smiled at that before saying “It's okay Mr Rochester, so happens I agree with Mr Sloan here.”
Terry turned around with a surprised look on his face as faced Bart. “That's quite impressive Mr Regan, I usually know when there are people behind me. When did you come in?”
“Just now Mr Sloan, but please call me Bart” replied the US Treasury agent.
“Very well Bart. I take it you're here because Mr Rooney finally figured out that I don't have a chaperone” said Terry.
Bart smiled back at Terry and said “I don't think Mr Rooney has figured that out just yet. But I have and we need to talk.”
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:13:05 GMT
Chapter 23 Conversations
Saturday , July 16th 1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
“Talk about what Mr Regan?” Inquired Terry Sloan.
Smiling Bart said “First, why were you with Miss de la Rosa and what did she say to you that was so offensive?”
Terry blushed as he said “She seemed to be very interested in me even though she's at least ten years older than I am. It was... flattering I guess. We talked and then I took her down here to the stables to show her my horse. She was very rude to Jack and Benny and couldn't grasp that I consider them to be my friends. She called them nig...” he paused in mid-sentence and changed what he was saying “a derogatory name. She also couldn't or wouldn't understand why I would want to learn to be groom since that has been servant's work for time in memorial.”
Bart folded his arms across his chest and leaned his large frame against the wall as he said “She's closer to twenty years older than you Terry. While I agree with you in regards to your friends race; I too would like to know why you want to learn to be a horse groom.
Terry was obviously surprised to hear that Miss de la Rosa was close to twenty years older than he was. Terry sreplied to Bart “The modern pentathlon is derived from the skills a cavalry officer would need to have in the field. That's why the events are so diverse, including swimming, hurdles, pistol shooting, running and dressage. The cavalry takes care of their own horses. I need to take care of mine. It will help us connect and give me the edge I need to win the event. Plus it a useful skill to have.”
Bart nodded as he said “Her presence aboard this ship increases the need for you to be chaperoned every minute for the rest of our voyage.”
“Oh there's no need fro that Mr Regan. I can take of myself, I'm a gold glove boxer, I have black belt in Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Karate, and a brown belt in Tae Kwan Do. Plus I am an expert shot” said Terry Sloan.
“Right,” said Bart as he motioned Terry to follow him. Once they were alone in the hallway and out of earshot of the grooms Bart said “What do you know about the murders of the robot plane's crew over Hawaii?”
Terry Sloan's lips formed a silent “O” when he was asked the question. “Only what I read in the papers” he answered.
“You invented and designed the equipment Terry. That makes you a target for assassins and spies” said Bart. “You need more protection than the other athletes.”
Terry was flustered, he shook his head saying “Mr Regan, I just told you that I can take care of myself.”
Bart frowned and said “And if I told you that Miss de la Rosa in a known freelance spy and suspect in multiple murders across the globe. Do you still insist on having no one watch your back.”
Terry's eyes grew wide even as he reiterated “I don't need protection Mr Regan.”
“Fine, have it your way kid” said Bart.
Terry turned away from Bart and started walking back to the stables when Bart wrapped him arm around the lad's neck in a choke hold and lifted him off his feet so he would have no leverage to use his martial art skills. Terry Sloan started to pass out when he dully heard Bart say “This is how a foreign spy would capture or kill you Terry.”
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:13:28 GMT
Chapter 24 A New Companion
Saturday , July 16th 1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
Terry Sloan woke with a start when a small amount of water water was splashed on his face. There were three men in his cabin and his roommate wasn't one of them. Bart Regan was leaning against the only door out with his arms folded. Next to him was Charles Nicholas, the chaperone of the male dressage team and a famous private investigator who had recently married an heiress. Terry recognized the young Kim Wan from the US swim team. Judging by the glass of water he was holding Kim was the one who woke him. Terry sprang out of bed, ready for a fight.
Nicholas cried out “Hold on kid! No ones going to hurt you” as he reached into his coat jacket. Terry had observed that Nicholas carried a gun in a shoulder holster. Unfortunately Kim Wan was standing directly in the way; otherwise Terry would have flung the lamp at him before he draw his pistol. Terry's cheeks flushed red a second later when Nicholas produced a metal flask instead of a gun. Quickly Terry Sloan realized that he was in no danger. “The way you took me down wasn't very sporting Mr Regan” Terry said.
Nicholas cocked an eyebrow as he took a drink from his flask. “Bart's badge may say he's a US Treasury Agent, but he's really a spy. A genuine American spy kid – and spies don't play fair. Neither do your average, normal everyday assassins like Miss de la Rosa” he said.
“Still...you had no reason to attack me Mr Regan” protested Terry.
“Actually, I did Terry. You were far too confident in your skills. We know de la Rosa on board his ship and she most likely has one or two accomplices aboard as well. Her being with you tells me that you're a target. They've already killed five people in Hawaii to get this robot plane invention of yours.”
“Yeah, but don't worry my pop's on the case!” interjected Kim Wan.
Terry looked at Kim for a second before saying “Your father must be the famous Chinese Honolulu Police Homicide Detective Harry Wan.”
“That's right” said Nicholas as he took another sip of his flask.
“Harry Wan will meet us in Kiel. Along with a couple of officers from US navel intelligence and a Japanese a member of he International Criminal Police Commission. He'll be there because this spy ring also murdered a Japanese Consul in Hawaii, plus he'll have actual jurisdiction in Germany. In the meantime we have t keep you safe Terry. My partner and Charlie's wife will keep an eye out for de la Rosa while Charlie and I do our chaperone duties.”
“But we can't do that and do our assigned job of looking after the other underage athletes,” said Nicholas.
“So we asked Kim here to be your new roommate. He's helped his father on numerous cases” said Bart as he thought that Kim had also impeded many of his father's cases as well. I'm asking you to let me and Charlie know where you planning on being at all time while were at sea. And let Kim tag along with you at all times.”
Terry took all this in and slowly nodded in the affirmative. He told them what his plans were this evening and through tomorrow morning. Satisfied the two older men left. Terry smiled at Kim and asked “Have you really help your father catch murderers?”
Kim said “yes “ and them proceeded to regale Terry to regale Terry in his involvement in half a dozen murders.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:13:55 GMT
Chapter 25 The Olympians First Supper
Saturday , July 16th 1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
Terry Sloan was upset because the head of the American Olympic officials would not approve the speech he was going to make about Germany. He was initially asked to do so because he had participated and won a gold medal in the Winter Olympics in Bavaria earlier this year and the head of the committee thought it would be a god idea for the Summer Olympians to hear about his experiences.
This Terry did along with a treatise on the Nazi government that Terry believed bedeviled the poor German people and especially its minorities. It was rejected by the Olympic Committee and Terry therefore refused give any speech about the Winter Games. Unknown to Terry there had been a vote to remove him from the Olympic team altogether that failed by only two votes.
When Kim Wan, the son of the famous Chinese Detective Harry Wan, heard about the Olympic Committee's decision concerning Terry;s speech, he declined the committee's invitation for him to sit at the captain's table. Instead he sat with his new friend Terry Sloan at a table in the back where the dressage team's grooms supped. This spark a small commotion among the Olympians. The Olympian athletes and their coaches were not segregated, but its white and colored participants did not sit together and each race preferred to sit together, usually separated by which field they were competing in. the swim team sat together, apart from the dressage team or the boxing, wrestling, track and field teams, or the rowing team.
A surprising thing then occurred when two female swimmers, friends of Kim Wan, Libby Lawrence and Betty Adams joined thems. Shortly thereafter two negro athletes from the track team entered late. At the urging of the taller of them they also sat at the groom's table.
“I hope you don't mind our joining you” said the shorter man.
“Ah they don't care Gus” said the taller one, “this is a very cosmopolitan table.” The taller man added this not a table reserved for the athletes, but their staff.” he then looked at the white athletes, pointingly saying “why are you sitting here?”
Everyone looked at Terry who said “there's actually no seating plan. The head groom Jack believes that they should sit here in the back of the room.”
The tall black man smirked at Terry's answer. “Are you saying you're a groom?”
“No,” said Terry, “I'm sorry if I gave you a false impression. I like you am an athlete, but I'm training to be a groom.”
“Why,” asked the shorter man. “Why would you want to know a colored man's job?”
Terry smiled at the question as he said “Why not, why not learn all you can about whatever you can.”
“Because you'll take away a job from a man who needs it” said the taller man heatedly.
“Oh no, horse grooming for me is a hobby, not an occupation. Its like electrical engineering or aeronautics – its something I'm interested in” replied Terry.
The shorter man looked at Terry quizzically for a moment before saying “Will, this guys the fella I told you about. You know the one who had a half a dozen college degrees before he was twelve an' does the pentathlon because its events are all so different.”
“Correct, allow men to introduce myself” said Terry before introducing the grooms and athletes at the table. Terry then surprised the two new comers by letting the others know who they were, (William Everett and Gus Grey) their events and in Everett's case his college. Gus Grey was a corporal in the United States Army and its current fifty yards dash champion.
“I heard you were supposed to give a speech tonight” said Will, “what happened?”
Terry then explained the committees refusal to let him say what he wanted to say. Gus then asked Terry what was so bad about the Nazis government. After Terry explained to them Will said “So they treat their Jews like the southern states treats Negroes.”
“Not quite Will, they also treat Gypsies, Bolsheviks, homo-sexuals, and intellectuals the same way said Terry. They will eventually treat any non Aryan the same way when they gain enough power.”
Will shrugged his shoulders unconvinced. “I don't see why you're upset with your blond hair and blue eyes.”
Terry smiled at Will and said “Believe me Will they would treat me exactly as they would treat you if they could if only because of my intellect and beliefs. I believe we should all know this before competing in Germany.”
The athletes at the table spoke to every other competitor during the rest of the voyage and America's Olympic team were made aware of the fact that the Nazis and Hitler were evil by the time the Bremen docked at Kiel Germany. Not everyone believed it and the American Olympic Committee tried to squelch the stories about the Third Reich but they failed.
Bart Regan, Sally Norris and Charlie and Clara Nicholas convinced the other chaperones not to tell the committee members who was telling their team members the truth about the Nazis. They made sure that Terry was protected because they knew that He would have been kicked off the Olympic Team if the Olympic Committee found out.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:14:18 GMT
Chapter 26 Spy Tails
Saturday , July 18th 1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
Sally Norris searched for, found and began a round the clock surveillance of Yvonne de la Rosa (with help of the heiress, Clara Nicholas; both were quite exhaust by the end of the ten day voyage) while Bart was working with Terry Sloan. Sally was not able to find de la Rosa until ate in the afternoon on the following day.
Sally followed de la Rosa on the second day until her quarry went to the ship's beauty parlor to have a scheduled permanent. Sally left the salon once she was certain de la Rosa was going to spend the next hour or so in the salon. She spotted Clara Nicholas and asked her to watch de la Rosa while Sally searched her room.
The free-lance spy de la Rosa was a known expert at espionage and Sally was surprised when she examined the door to de la Rosa's stateroom because it had no hidden trigger such a a piece of paper stuck in the door jamb which would fall and alert de la Rosa that someone had been in her quarters. Then she heard muffled voices from within de la Rosa's room.
Sally discretely backed away from the door and monitored the room from farther down the corridor. A few minutes later she saw a Pair of Mutt and Jeff men leave the room. The tall man was proportioned like a heavy weight wrestler He had wavy black and a handlebar mustache. The smaller man had a close cropped blond hair. He was clean shaven with a small pair of spectacles on his rat-like face. Sally knew both men by sight as they were old opponents. Both worked for the Soviet Union' NKDV, the smaller man was Lieutenant Ivan Illyich Zastrow and the larger man was his primary operative and assassin, a merciless killer named Ivan Illyich Gort
Sally watch the two leave, noting that they did not put anything back in the door jamb to hide the fact that they were in de la Rosa's room. That meant that either they in cahoots with de la Rosa or that they were meeting someone else in her room.
Sally went back to the door and took out a small stethoscope from her purse and listened by the door. She heard the sounds of someone moving around and once again moved away from the room. As she walked away she passed a known elderly German operative, Baron Paul Von Gunther. The man's face did not betray any indication that he recognized Sally. Von Gunther knocked on the door and Sally saw de la Rosa's known accomplice Carlos Despirita, who let the older German enter.
Sally glanced at the watch and saw that de la Rosa hair appointment would be ending soon. She them decided to head back to the salon. She turned the corner and Gort was there. He grabbed for her throat. She dodged his grasp while jabbing her finger s into his eyes. She clawed his face as his hands went reflexively to his face. She then kicked him in the groin and continued warily on her way.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:14:40 GMT
Chapter 27 The Performance
Sunday , July 19th 1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
Sally decided that there were far too many spies aboard the Bremen. That morning she reported that someone attempted to assault her the previous morning. She sobbed hysterically when she told a tale of how a big brutish thug groped and attacked as he tried to drag her away with him. She stated the man spoke a language she didn't know. She added that she was able to get away because she was able to scratched his hands. Once reassured by the ship's first officer that the man would be put in the brig if she pointed him out she left. She kept up the pretense of being a shaken up woman as he continued to tail de la Rosa but the woman did not make contact with anyone on board.
She spotted Gort at the main dining room. The scratch marks on his hands were plainly visible. Gort was smoking a foul smelling pipe while sitting sitting at a table with Zastrow. Sally made a point to appear as though she had not seen them while making sure that they saw her.
The Russians were professional and other than the momentary scowl on Gort's face they gave away no sign that they knew her. She sat three table's away from them. She reached into her purse and took out a compact and lipstick. She smiled ever so deviously as she open the compact and brought to her eyes and looked it's mirror. The Russians were deep in conversation, probably about her when her lower lip began to to tremble.
The compact and lipstick fell to the ground as Sally stood , turned around and screamed “It's you! You're the one who attacked me!”
Zastrow and Gort were not prepared for this and were caught flat-footed for a moment before they rose in an attempt to leave but several crew members quickly gathered around the two while others tried to console the distraught Sally.
They escorted the three to the first officer's office. Once there the Russians first protested their innocence with Zastrow stating that Gort had accompanied him during the entire voyage so far. That was when the first officer ask him to explain the scratches on the bigger Russian's hands. Zastrow was attempting to come up with a plausible answer when an official from the German government entered the room. He was the Baron Paul Van Gunther.
The baron questioned the first officer as to what was going on. Once he was told his face gained a cunning smile. He gave Sally the briefest of nods, not noticed by anyone except Sally and Zastrow. The old German gave a grim smile before stating “We have a problem here. This man Zastrow is lying to protect his obviously guilty friend; but we can do nothing to either one because they both have diplomatic immunity. We can't arrest them and put them in the ship's jail.”
With that pronouncement Gort and Zastrow gave triumphant grins before the baron continued “But that does not mean we should give them free range o the ship. They are hereby confined to quarters except for meals; where they are to be accompanied by six crew members. They can eat either before of after the rest of the passengers have eaten - their choice. They will be expelled back to Russia when we reach Kiel.”
The Russians left scowling at both the elderly German and Sally. Once they were gone Von Gunther spoke in English to Sally. “That was a magnificent performance my dear, but please do not repeat it.” then in a slightly ominous tone he added “You do not have diplomatic immunity..”
Sally smiled back at the baron saying “But I am a chaperone for the US Olympic team and neither one of our governments want the publicity of a diplomatic incident.”
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:15:05 GMT
Chapter 28 The Baron's Final Assignment
Friday , July 24th1936, Aboard the SS Bremen
It was early in the morning yet almost everyone aboard was asleep. Tomorrow they would be docking in Kiel around noon. From there they would hop a train to Berlin, arriving late in the evening. They would then go go to the Olympic Village and settle in their assigned rooms. The athletes would spend Sunday recuperating from their long travel. They then get five of practice before the Olympic Games actually began on the following Saturday, August first.
Bart and Sally were sitting at a table near the bar of the the ship's main dancing hall with Charlie and Cara Nicholas while an orchestra play the latest dance music. They were having a final drink aboard before retiring for the night. Sally had discovered that the Germans, like her and Clara, were following de la Rosa. She realized that whoever de la Rosa was doing, it wasn't at the the German government - or at least Von Gunther hadn't been told if they did.
Bart and Sally were still on their first drink, Clara was on her second, while charlie was polishing off his fourth. Charlie saw the Baron Von Gunther enter the bar. He stood and asked his wife for a dance.
He then nodded in the direction of the baron and said to Bart “If it's okay with you; we're gong back to being plain old chaperones,”
Bart and Sally turn to the direction of the baron, who was headed directly to their table. He asked if he could join them and did before they could reply. “My agents are sorry to see that you have stopped watching Miss de la Rosa. Now they'll have to be up all night instead of you.”
Sally smiled saying “Please give them my apologies.”
Bart then asked “Just why are you here Baron Von Gunther?”
“I have so information that I know you don't have, but you would no doubt would like to know” replied the old man. “Harry Wan and Mr. Mata arrived in Kiel three days ago aboard the Hindenburg blimp. He had four additional men with him, two American navel officers, the famed American aviator and plane designer Bob Merritt and another man who is said to work for Merritt. They will be meeting the ship when it docks. The German police are giving Mr Wan assistance.”
Bart and Sally looked at one another before Bart said “And what aren't you telling us?”
A waiter came by and asked the baron what he wanted. The Baron ordered a beer. Once the waiter left he said “I am an old German Herr Regan, I served my kaiser to the best of my ability and then after the war I served the republic in the same way. There is now a new government in Germany, one which is changing the old ways and retiring many of the men who served the old governments. The last three years I have served aboard this ship as the government liaison officer...”
“Resident spy” interjected Sally
The old man smiled “I prefer counter espionage officer.” The waiter returned with the barons beer and the conversation died until he left. Then the baron put the glass to his lips but did not drink. Instead he said “In Germany these days everyone betrays one another to the Nazis. This cruise my last voyage as I am retiring.”
Intrigued Bart asked “Are you looking for visa to America?”
“Good heavens no” said the German. “I have spent enough time in your country Herr Regan to know that I do not care to live there. But I do admire its people. I no longer wish to live in Germany though. Not with the current government. But royalty no longer automatically gives one the wealth it once did so I will have to live on my pension and live where I can afford to live.”
“So where will you go?” asked Sally.
“Austria, my cousins there prospered much better than I and my family. But I did not come to see you just to tell what my retirement plans are or of Harry Wan's arrival. I wanted to let you know that Germany true police- the Nazi's secret police-the Gestapo are covertly working against harry Wan and his cohorts.” with that the Baron drank his lager in one gulp, stood and left the pair of American spies.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:15:41 GMT
Chapter 29 Security Arrangements
Friday , July 24th1936, Berlin Germany
FBI Agent Steve Carson was tired and bored as he ate a late night dinner at the famed Cuisine International Restaurant. He grateful to have found this restaurant that actually serve a hamburger and fries with real Coca Cola. He had to check the security precautions the German government had arranged for the American Olympians, coaching, training staff and other personnel and equipment like the equestrian horse stalls. The German were very efficient and everything looked okay but he had had a major down and out argument with the Germans living arrangements for the Jewish and Colored American's housing arrangements. The German had segregated both group arguing that different races should not be cohabitants.
The German had used segregation laws of many of the states to bolster their argument; an argument that Steve had to say was true. The Germans were going to win this battle because the US Ambassador was not backing Steve up. He was all alone in Germany arguing that all the Americans should be together because they were all there representing their country. He wasn't totally alone, his fellow agent June Justis was there as well, but she was stuck posing as his secretary because the Germans insisted that America could only send one FBI agent to the games.
June was far better suited to this sort of negotiations. The Germans had him beat when June trumped the Germans by sending a telegram to the American Olympic officials on the the SS Bremen . She knew that the US Olympic Committee agreed with Steve. Their reply was threat to boycott the games if all American were not treated equally. The Germans acquiesced because an American's boycott would have greatly embarrassed the Nazi government.
Steve was relishing the hamburger. He ate all of his meals here. June sometimes accompanied him but she also ate with several of the young single diplomats at the embassy who took her to German restaurants. Her palette was international while his was strictly American. Steve glanced at his watch because he was waiting for big German Gestapo agent to enter. That and because he had a to catch a train to Kiel tonight because he wanted to be there when the Bremen docked.
Steve Carson loathed the Gestapo Agent because he was running a protection racket against the owners of his new favorite restaurant. Steve hated perpetrators of the protection racket more than just about any other criminal. His father had had to pay mobsters just keep his little grocery store back in Cleveland open. He first saw the big, fat gestapo agent a few nights ago; unlike tonight, he was was eating a late supper alone when Gestapo agent had come in just before closing and demanded the owner sell their business to the Gestapo agent's son for less than a third of the restaurant's value. The fact that the crook was hiding behind a badge made Steve's blood boil.
Steve Carson was a man action but not means. He was a government employee and only received his biweekly paycheck and expense allowance. He knew the owners of the Cuisine International were going to be forced to sell and there was nothing he could do about it. That is until he remembered a teenager whom he had met years ago. The youngster was a member of the Junior Federal Men club which Steve had founded.
Those kids gave the bureau thousands of tips about America's racketeers across the nation. But this young man stood out among all those others, not only because he was the scion of one America's oldest and richest families, but also because he had personally been touched by crime when his parents were killed in front of him in an apparent robbery attempt. The young man had earnestly told Steve if there was ever a way in which he or his fortune could be used to foil a crime he would freely give it.
The next day Steve took timeout of his boring, but busy day to check on the restaurant owners. They were both from foreign nationals, one was Austrian and the other was from France living in Germany.
Steve then called the states and ask if he the young man could loan him what the restaurant was worth plus expenses to get the men out of Germany. Steve told him that he would repay the loan as soon as he could but the young man said Steve did not have to repay the loan. He then made other arrangements to give the Gestapo agent a warm welcome.
The next day Steve approached the restaurant owners. He explained who he was and proposed to buy the restaurant. The men were afraid saying that the authorities would arrest them if they sold it to anyone else. Steve said they should leave Germany and he would make certain their restaurant and employees would be taken care of, he also promised to send the men profits from the restaurant. In return Steve asked them to repay the they American millionaire who had lent Steve the money. The two men gratefully accepted Steve's offer.
That was two days ago. He expected the Gestapo agent to return tonight because three days would be the amount of time he would need for the bureau to plan a non-emergency raid. Steve was savoring what was going to happen to the Gestapo agents and his men. Steve glanced at the clock one last time, he was going to have to leave. He was about to excuse himself when he saw the big dumb bullying Nazi come in with a dozen other goons who started smashing up the empty tables and chairs while one went to the cash register, emptying it out. The Gestapo announced that as of now the Cuisine International was closed as he looked for the previous owners.
Steve stood excused himself before going to the Gestapo agent, asking in fluent German “What seems to be the problem sir?”
“None of your business.” then to his men he yelled “I want to the owners of this establishment brought here now”
Steve smiled at this as he said “I am standing right in front of you sir.”
It took the Gestapo agent a moment to register what Steve had just said. “So the two stealing miscreants have stolen from you because this is to be my sons business stating next week.”
“Why I'm not selling” said Steve.
“If you don't sell it to me right now I will have my men raze this pigsty and arrest you.”
Steve whistled and suddenly every guest in the restaurant stood at the ready to attack. “Let me explain something to you sir. My name is Steve Carson, I am an American with a diplomatic passport. I am here at the behest of your government working in conjunction with them on the security arrangements for our athletes during the upcoming Olympics. And my guests are members of the US, British and French Marine detachments from their respective embassies. I suggest very strongly that you leave. After your man by the cash register empties his pockets. Stealing is beneath a police officer.” The Gestapo agent snorted with rage and rose his hand to strike Steve. Steve sidestepped his blow as he hit him squarely in the breadbasket which knocked the air out of the Gestapo agent. The other German Gestapo at first had a look of astonishment on their faces, quickly replaced with anger and then menacing glee as they took out their clubs. Their face next turn to abject fear when the voice of Albert von Kleiss was heard ordering them to stand down.
The Gestapo Agent on the ground moaned as his superior came to stand next to Steve. He gave his apologies and promised that the agent on the floor and his cohorts would be severely punished. The commander of Berlin's Gestapo then ordered his men to leave all their money on the bar. The Gestapo agent on the floor started to rise but von Kliess pistol whipped him. He then order his men to take their fallen comrade to the cellar of Gestapo headquarters.
Steve was a gracious as he could be to the corrupt von Kliess as the German apologized for his men. Stating that he had not known that he had such corrupt officer. Whatever else von Kliess was, he was not a good liar. The Gestapo were thugs with badges but they didn't like being exposed. Steve wanted to wash his hands after shaking the man handd goodbye. He looked at the clock and saw that he had to hurry if he was to catch the train he told the marines that they could have two rounds of drinks on him. Before leaving. He felt the absolute best he had felt since leaving America.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:16:10 GMT
Chapter 30
Friday , July 24th1936, Berlin Germany
While Steve Carson was happily thwarting a Gestapo agent June Justis was dining at nearby restaurant that specialized in Spanish cuisine. Her date was a dashing young state department employee name Don Quintana, with them was another couple from the Spanish embassy. The three thought June was just Stave Carson's secretary and not an actual FBI Agent. The main topic of discussion besides small talk was about the armed insurrection that started in Spain last month.
The other three payed down the success of the rebel General Franco and said that the government would soon regain control of Seville. They also talked about how wonderful the Spanish government was. June didn't know a lot about the governments of Europe but she did know that the Spanish Republic had allied itself with the Soviet Union and its Communist ideology. Very carefully she turned the conversation to the Russians and found that all three of her friends thought very highly of Stalin.
June agreed with them as they talked. At some point June realized that Don was in the very earliest stages into turning her in to a mole.
That is to say a spy for another government. That meant that dashing Don was already a spy. June played along until she had enough rope to bust the earnest and handsome young diplomat. She'd let Steve know about this tomorrow after the Olympians were here. Most of assignment here was over anyway. It had been a tedious job, necessary, but tedious. Steve Carson was the wrong man to come to Berlin for negotiations. She was better at it and saved his bacon. She was happily surprised when she saw the wire he sent Washington because he give her all the credit for their success. Most males at the bureau tried to walk all over and take the credit for her good work.
She smile as she listened to the other three banter about the Soviet Union and realized the director had spoken the truth when he said that Steve Carson was his best agent. Best male agent anyways, June believed that she was better agent overall, but the nice thing about Steve was his utter lack of ego as far as who received credit for what was done – good or bad.
She left Dashing Don at the entrance to her hotel. She knew he wanted to come in. she was tempted to but decided against it. She wasn't quite ready to out the Bolshevik and she knew she would have a very busy day tomorrow with the American Olympians arrival.
Like all agents in a foreign land June had left hidden traps to alert her if someone had entered her room while she was out. The single strand of hair she left over the door had been moved ever so slightly. The Germans had allowed Steve to keep his firearm but June, who was posing as a mere secretary was not allowed to legally carry a gun. She had a small snub nosed .22 caliber pistol in her purse anyway. As many criminals could attest; the weapon did not have much range or stopping power , but it would get the job done in the hands of an expert marksman like June.
She opened the door and found no one there, but she did find a note from an old friend from Holiday College. It was written in an old simple code the two had created as sophomores more than a decade ago. It took her the better part of an hour to decipher the coded message. In part because June had forgotten bits of the old cypher. When she finished decoding the note it read: “Tell Regan XY not Z repeat, XY not Z, ” Sandra.
June studied the note and smiled. Sandra had to be her old friend d Sandra. She thought Regan and Norris were on this case for some other reason. Sandra Mclane was in the Secret Service. Bart Regan and Sally Norris were also in the Secret Service. Unlike Steve Carson, both she and director Hoover suspected their some ulterior motive for their boss allowing to of his top spies to be assigned to chaperone duty. June wondered what it was. She knew it couldn't have been because of the murders in Hawaii.
Whatever the reason is she thought, it's going to be a whole lot more interesting than a security detail, or catching a would be spy master. June was now looking forward to tomorrow instead of dreading it. She slept well knowing that action would soon be forth coming
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