"He burned them?" Gabriel said, surprised.
"Ordered them burned. So he said."
"You don't believe he did?"
"I don't believe much of anything any governmental official tells the public. Especially when it concerns matters of intelligence."
"I read there was a trial," Gabriel stated.
"Yes. But the evidence was from testimonies of participants in the program and the very small number of files that survived Helms alleged ordered destruction. More than likely the participants were tainted either with fear or brainwashed into remembering only what they've been told to remember. As for the files they could've been anything made to look authentic and/or were originals of what information Helms only wanted them see."
"That couldn't have added up to much," Gabriel said.
"Not at all," Leonard agreed. "And do you really think that after all the years and money put into a project like that they're just going to destroy all the files that came out of it? No way. Over thirty universities and institutions had gotten involved in some pretty extensive testing and experimentation at the financial encouragement of the CIA. That expanded what the bureau could learn and shortened the time period in which they learned it. They weren't about to let all that go down the drain just because some of their dirty laundry got exposed. I believe the project is still active just more secretive. They scrapped the actual project in name only, but in scientific practice and philosophy there were offshoots that survived."
"How'd your dad get involved?" Gabriel asked. "Do you remember?"
Leonard paused a moment, searching through the reweaving webs of his memory, then said, "Not directly. At first. He didn't seek them out at least not consciously. I mean… I don't think so. Maybe it's my own form of denial. Anyway, at some point in his career, my father got involved with Army intelligence. He became one of the commanders in INSCOM or United States Army Intelligence and Security Command. In the meantime my father being hyped up and ego-driven had started bragging to his colleagues about how his two sons are so special and share a mutual god-given gift from their mother. Of course, the information hit the grapevine and eventually worked its way to the attention of some higher ups in the mind-control strata. My father was eventually contacted by the CIA. They not only appealed to his deep sense of patriotism but offered him a high position attached to an even higher salary."
"Money talks" Gabriel said. "That was the bait, knowing he would be more willing to get you guys involved in what they planned when the time came to ask him. Man, these people are masters at their game."
"The rest is history," said Leonard.
Having detected that Leonard was growing uncomfortable with the subject Gabriel decided to change to change it. "So how's life in the down under?"
" Aussie?" Leonard said, smiling a little and looking relieved. "All good. For one thing the population is much smaller than in the U.S. which to me makes for fewer desperadoes. They number a little over twenty million compared to over three hundred million here. The people there tend to be easy-going. 'No worries mate,' they like to say. They take life in stride and tend in general to keep a positive attitude. They're not as neurotically challenged as their American cousins and because the government there has sincerely worked at righting the wrongs committed against the Aborigines it lends to a more compassionate cultural atmosphere. Not perfect by far, but at least they don't pretend to placate like the American government's done with Native Americans. Many Aboriginals are completely integrated into the society and you see and feel their influence through their music, art, politics, and it… enhances the overall culture. Unfortunately, Native American culture here is treated more as a passing trend or hobby interest. That's why I don't care for all the flag waving and over-the-top patriotism practiced here – it's disingenuous, more a cover up against guilt and insecurity than truthful authenticity."
"Kind of harsh on the old U.S.A., buddy," Gabriel said, "You really hate this place, uh?"
"No," Leonard clarified, "I don't. Actually, it's a love/hate relationship. Just because I point out her weaknesses - which I hate - does not I mean I don't love her strengths. One of those weaknesses being unresolved historical guilt for crimes committed against an array of people domestically and foreign. Those shadow suppression can lead any country down a torrid path and it's a hard thing to bear and not be in a position to stop it."
"I feel you, Gabriel agreed. "But hey, you might be the one with a solution. That ability you possess…"
Leonard interrupted him. "I'm nobody's hero. I'm here to find out what happened to my brother and why and that's all. Not try to save a country. This one or any other. Two thousand years ago a savior tried to rescue the world and look what happened to him."
"I promise not to raise - no pun intended - that subject again," Gabriel said. "On another note what is you do in Australia exactly?"
"Police department."
The silence that fell momentarily curtained between them almost had a presence as Gabriel recovered from disbelief. "You're an Aussie flat foot? No."
Leonard laughed. "No is right. I'm not a cop. I work with the NSW or New South Wales in homicide unit. Help when I can to track down murders. Sometimes even kidnappings. I'm not extremely busy since the homicide rate is lower than here and as well as in a few Latin countries."
"Cool," Gabriel acknowledged. "They know about full ability?"
"No," Leonard said. I keep that on the DL. I have a good rapport with the Sydney law authorities. I certain other cases especially involving missing or murdered children. I don't get involved in gang related or crime syndicate cases unless it involves some innocent person or child. I keep a low profile and I'm not a media sensation like I would be here under the same circumstances. Psychic phenomena is no big deal in Australia. Because of their intimacy with Aboriginal culture it's more or less acceptable even if not fully understood. They respect my right to privacy and I honor any and all information pertaining to their cases by not divulging it to anyone not involved, including the media. Enough about me. What inspired you to become an ex-spook?"
"Me?" Gabriel sat all the way back in the recliner, crossed his legs. "You could say enlightenment."
"Enlightenment?" Leonard repeated begging further inquiry.
"I advanced in the agency fairly quickly compared to the average employee. I started out as a DI analyst. Some of the nation's brightest people work in that area."
"DI?"
"Directorate of Intelligence. In about a year I became a daily brief editor to the President and worked my way as a briefer to senior policy makers."
"Whoa. That must've been an eye opening experience."
"hell to the yeah. It was where I learned how much the leaders in this country, up to and including presidents, are lied to by the intelligence community. Since information is power most of the really important information is manipulated with the help of the media, especially, and or just not revealed except to those who need to know."
"The beginning of your enlightenment."
"Man, I dived into the agency with all the enthusiasm and naivete of a boy scout on his first camping trip. Little by little the more I advanced the more I started noticing things just weren't right. The politicians the American people vote for in this country are completely disassociated with the real agendas and entities behind the proverbial curtain who really run this country."
"Now I here you," Leonard said. "You weren't fired were you?"
"Resigned."
"I know they were suspicious of you," Leonard said.
"They're suspicious of everybody. Nature of the beast. They tried to convince me I was making the wrong decision of course, but I was determined not to be a part of it anymore."
"What reason did you give them?" Leonard asked.
"That I was more interested in working for myself instead of being an employee to someone else in any capacity."
"They believed it?"
"Like I said, suspicion is their nature, but in the end they had no choice. They followed me around for about a year just to make sure I wasn't under the influence of some radical or terrorist group either domestic or foreign, but when they saw I was no threat eventually they backed off."
"They give you any flack about going into business as a private security agent?" Leonard probed.
"Not really. Especially since all of my clients were private citizens who could afford my services."
"My brother being one of them."
"With your brother I had to be a lot more secretive since he was working for the government and had his own secrets. I hired a guy to work for me and set it up like he was an independent like myself. Of course the guy was kept in the dark about what was really happening just in case the government for whatever reason decided to interrogate him."
"Which bring us back around," Leonard said. "How are we going to find out about this code thing my brother created?"
"I think one other person may be able to help us," Gabriel said.
"Who?"
"Remember the business card I gave you?"
"Oh, yeah," Leonard said, snapping his finger. "The woman you told me about." He searched shirt and pants pockets finding the card tucked in his wallet. "Joann McHugh. Who is she?"
"I don't know, but I think she might know something we don't."
"Two questions," Leonard proposed. "What makes you think she knows anything? Secondly, you having been Lawrence's security how is it you don't know more about this woman?"
"In answer to your first question," Gabriel offered, " it's just a gut feeling. In answer to your second, gut feeling on top of Lawrence not wanting me to know about her which makes me suspect she's valuable.
" Okay," Leonard said. "How do we know she doesn't work for the same people that may have been responsible for taking Lawrence out?"
"We don't," Gabriel said. "It's a risk we'll have to take. Besides, there's you." Gabriel smiled.
"And if it turns out she is on the other side?"
The smile on Gabriel's face left and was replaced with an expression that sent a chill through Leonard's soul and gave him the feeling Lawrence's former body guard and close friend was capable of much more than he appeared to be.
"Let's just hope she isn't," Gabriel said gravely. "First thing tomorrow we'll reach out to her."