COVERT WRITERS TAKEDOWN by Joe Bergeron (best beach reads txt) 📕

the number of sensory perceptions we use
to accept its delivery.
209
News delivered through the medium of
television has more impact on us than the same news
broadcast on radio or read in a newspaper simply
because we use more senses to receive this news.
If we accept McLuhan’s theory, we can conclude
that we are most subject to the acceptance of a
proposition when it is delivered to us by another human
being face to face.
Michael Courtney both accepted, and
challenged McLuhan’s theory. He felt that ideas and
propositions themselves contained both weight and
dimension, and he believed those with esoteric value
could best be communicated and completely understood
through the written word.
Facts, assumed facts, and declarations fit the
profile of McLuhan’s theory, but theory itself needed the
format of writing because he felt it required both
intuitive and analytical analysis. It needed review
other than through a physical sense.
For Courtney, Like McLuhan, the medium
would be the massage, but his message would be the
prevailing agent causing Presidential movement.
Arriving at JGM about noon, he pushed on the
clear, glass-panel door, allowing Kay to precede him into
the corporate reception area. She had the letter, and
would enter its handwritten contents onto a hard disc
drive, and finally formatting it on one of the company’s
laser printers.
He lightly touched her elbow as they walked
the short distance to the executive offices.
“I’m going to meet with Andy and Robert while
you type the letter. Could you bring it in when it’s
done?”
She responded with a slight smile, created
more with her eyes than with her mouth.
“Sure.”
210
Andy St. Croix sat in one of two chairs facing
Wirtham’s desk. JGM’s President motioned to the other
as Courtney entered the office.
Seated, he turned to the Zero team member.
“Andy, I need to contact the President.”
Eyes raised.
“He’s letting his Secretary of Commerce dump
all over his Cuban Economic Reform Plan, and it
doesn’t make sense. Tollman’s reasons for noninvolvement
don’t hold water, but Benson refuses to
challenge him. I believe the President has a second
agenda, and I’m beginning to think Tollman has one
too. We’re being accessed by someone in either the CIA
or NSA, and I would guess it’s at a pretty high level.
The breachers have Pat…”
He looked at the office door; seeing it vacant,
he continued.
“…and I don’t believe they’re intentions are to
release him when Yankee Echo’s done knocking the crap
out of the Cuban Reform Plan.
He turned to the Zero again.
“You brought Belize into the picture, Andy. We
know Catalina Salazar works for him, and it sure as
hell is apparent to me that Bellcamp was the one who
sold us out. I would have to think that if we can get to
Salazar or Belize, we’d find Pat.”
He squared himself once again to Wirtham.
“The response from the President could tell us
if Tollman’s got a part in this too because I can’t see any
logic coming from either Benson or his Secretary.”
His eyes met Andy St’ Croix’s.
“I need someone with authority to hand-carry a
letter to Benson, someone who won’t ask any
questions.”
Courtney let the statement hang in the air, a
question made by declaration of necessity.
Andy St. Croix didn’t move, eyes remaining
fixed, brow wrinkled in thought.
211
“Mick, have y’all got a proposition from your
premises?”
“Sort of, but most of what I have are
assumptions based on Laws.”
“Y’all been givin this some real heavy rightbrain
work, but you only make one side of an equation.
Ah ain’t the metaphysician of this group, but ah can’t
make a connection yet between the CIA, NSA, or
anybody else. Ah know you wouldn’t work without a
prop, Mick. What’s your bottom line?”
“A paradox. We have a situation that’s both
true and false at the same time. The President’s being
both real and unreal, and so is Tollman. There has to
be multiple agendas coming from both sides. They’re
both being truthful, and they’re both being liars at the
same time, and the reason, I think, is because they both
know there’s an equalizer…us. If I can get a letter to
the President through a channel he’d respect, he’ll have
to give me some kind of an answer. No matter what he
tells me, he’s going to prove my theory.”
St. Croix’s mouth and eyes formed a smile.
“OK, Mick, you finished up the equation. Now
tell me how he’ll prove your theory.”
The analyst continued.
“The CIA or the NSA, or maybe just a couple of
people in one of those organizations is working either
with the President, or against the President. If they’re
working with the President, he knows all about us, and
he also knows about Belize, Salazar, and Bellcamp. If
they’re working against the President, then they’re
working with someone else, and my instincts say it’s
Tollman. Any way the President responds to me, we’re
going to get an answer…I need a delivery vehicle, Andy.
His eyes connected with the Zero again.
“Ah’ll need a little time, Mick, but there’s some
people who owe me, and they have the kind of leverage
you need to get in that office.”
“Andy…there’s more.”
212
Courtney rose, walked to the office door, and
pushed it closed. Turning, he moved deliberately to the
window facing East.
“I need you to pull together a Zero Team. I’m
certain if we can get to Belize, we’ll find Pat. If that
means the use of firepower, we use it. You tell me how
to set it up, JGM will provide the funding.”
He addressed Wirtham.
“Robert, you’ll be right in the middle of all this.
Are you OK with this decision?”
JGM’s President stood - drew and released a
deep breath.
“I think I knew this situation could have that
conclusion, so I’ll approve it, Michael - but I’ll want
Andy to have logistical control through the whole
operation.
He squared to St. Croix.
“Andy, I know you’ve worked these operations
in Nam, but we’re dealing with a lot of different
variables here. We’re screwing around with the Vice
President of a free nation.”
It was St. Croix’s turn to stand.
“Ah’ll get the team, Mick. We’re probably
looking at close to two hundred thousand dollars to pull
this off, Bobby.”
Wirtham accepted.
“That’s the least of our problems right now.
We’ll work with cash.”
“Mick, ah hope y’all know what’s goin down
here for you.“
Courtney remained steadfast.
“I’m working with everything I know that’s
true, Andy. Lies don’t stand up to truth.”
He addressed them both.
“Are we agreed?”
Wirtham and St. Croix nodded simultaneously,
and affirmatively, each knowing their respective jobs
and responsibilities.
213
“Robert, Andy, one more thing…Kay doesn’t get
involved.”
That was understood. Even though Wirtham
knew she was more involved than he was.
Wednesday, May 24, 1:35 p.m.
In JGM’s conference room his shoeless feet
were on one chair, his body in a second. She knew his
degree of concentration. Although he knew she would
know he had an agenda, he hoped she wouldn’t
recognize it as anything new.
He also knew this was ridiculous.
“Michael, what is it?”
“Oh, hi…did you get the letter done?”
“It’s right here - I dumped it off the disc - and
I’m going to tear it up of you don’t tell me.”
“it’s nothing, Kay. I’m just trying to fit all the
pieces together.”
“You’re full of it, Courtney.”
She walked around the table.
Picking up his feet, she sat, placing them in her
lap.
Their eyes met.
“You’re the worst liar in the world, Michael.”
“Kay, you’re not getting involved from here on
in.”
“How big is it?”
“Bigger than a breadbox.”
“Stop being a shithead.”
“Stop asking questions.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing, I just have a lot of stuff to consider.
We’re really in a lousy position, Kay.”
“No fooling, Professor. Why don’t you let me
work on a few pieces of your puzzle with all the
intelligence you’ve told me I have.”
214
“According to you, I should be able to balance
Metaphysics and the Federal Budget at the same time.
What’s on your plate, Courtney, and don’t blow smoke
up my skirt.”
He didn’t respond.
“Michael, what’s going on?”
“I can’t tell you. Things are going to escalate.
You won’t be a part of it.”
“Shouldn’t that be my decision?”
“Not this time, Kay. Please - leave it alone.”
“You’re pissing me off Michael. I thought we
were a team.”
He removed his feet from her lap. Placing
them flat on the floor, he leaned toward her.
“Kay, trust me, you don’t want to get involved
in the next part of this.”
Handing him the letter, she stood to leave the
room.
“No, you have to trust me, Michael. I’m in this
more than you are. I’m going out. I’ll meet you back at
the hotel.”
He jumped to his feet.
“Where are you going?”
“OUT!”
“I don’t think you should go anywhere by
yourself.”
“You’re not running my life, I am. Just make
sure you get your part of the job done.”
Wednesday, May 24, 6:15 p.m.
During the formative years of Yankee Echo,
Patrick McKenzie knew that, in order to financially
support the organization, he’d require more than his
own resources.
Fifty American multi-national corporations, In
addition to his own had access to Yankee Echo writers
through Robert Wirtham’s office.
215
A telecommunications company, an international public
relations agency, a conglomerate jet engine
manufacturer, an oil and chemical processor, and a
pharmaceutical manufacturer were all part of the
system, and, along with other 45 other companies,
contributed the monetary support required to run the
operation.
Courtney and St. Croix were unaware of these
companies and their involvement in Yankee Echo.
Kathleen McKenzie was not unaware.
That wasn’t all.
Directions came from Wirtham, a man who
knew if the organization were ever breached, it wouldn’t
be for long. His belief was founded on the safety that
existed in another dimension of Yankee Echo.
With his financial support in place, McKenzie
also knew the organization would need protection. St.
Croix saw to internal security. But outside, in the very
vulnerable real world, Yankee Echo was protected by
one of the country’s leading security agencies - the
Central Intelligence Agency.
Because Patrick McKenzie provided much of
the technology for the U.S. intelligence bureaucracy, he
had ample opportunity to meet at high levels with the
people who controlled the agencies that made up this
community. One of these people was the Director of
Central Intelligence.
It is not well known that the CIA supports its
own domestic divisions. This public side of the CIA in
the U.S. is known as the National Collection Division.
In order to effectively run this part of their
operation, the CIA needs money. And it always falls
short of the funding required to run this division which
is allocated by Congress.
McKenzie’s group made up for the shortfall
every year in exchange for its freedom to operate
Yankee Echo, and also for protection from any
subversive elements.
216
A special Deputy Director at the CIA oversaw
the operation of Yankee Echo. David Eisenberg.
Kathleen McKenzie about knew him too.
His phone rang only once.
“Yes?”
“David, he’s written the letter to the President,
but he’s also planning something else..”
“What is it?”
“He’s going after Pat with St. Croix.”
“How soon?”
“I’m not sure yet. If I know him, it will have an
urgency. Probably very soon.”
“Well, we both know St. Croix’s capable of
getting tough.”
“Have your people found out anything new?”
“We’ve been working off the information you’ve
been feeding us. We’re certain Pat’s in Cuba and he’s
being held at Belize’s villa. We profiled Belize
emotionally. He’s a man who consumes wealth and
power, and apparently wants to take control of
something, maybe the Presidency, or he’s looking to
someone