Bush Whispers (Chapter 50)

Chapter 50

After what felt like about a minute I walked back out. Just Margy and Clive were still seated. Both looked up at me expectantly.                                                               

“We got more problems than we thought guys but where is Morgan?”                 

Margy answered “Morgan and ‘Mr Smith’ went to arrange another flight to Miami, maybe on one of their planes and to send in a report to his boss and for Morgan to let Ed know what has happened. Don’t think Ed is going to be all that happy. How the hell did whoever know we were coming and set up that little welcome to America present?”

“Like I said guys, things are not what they look like. Think about it, who knows we were coming to help?” and left the question dangling.                                             

Both looked at me hoping for obvious answers.                                                      

“The top cop from Miami, the FBI and the Governor and I don’t think too many others, unless someone has split the beans and talked. The top cop could be involved but what would he gain from it? The FBI people are not going to grab them unless they are terrorists, which just leaves the Governor and what would he gain from it? I am not going to give this info to the FBI just yet so let’s keep this close to home for a while, OK guys?”                                                           

Both nodded in agreement and in walked Morgan and the FBI, all five of them.

Morgan looked at me and I gave him the slightest of head shakes then put my finger to my lips with my hand holding up my chin.                                                                

“So Doggs, anything?” lifting his eyebrows.                                                         

“Nah, still too fuzzy. We need to get more info then maybe.”                                    

I saw the derisive look on Mr ‘FBI original’ Jeff Smith’s face. Boy would he be surprised if he knew what I knew but that was not going to happen just yet. We were informed that we were going to be flying to Miami on one of the FBI aircraft and would have the services of the five agents until such time as we got there then Jeff Smith would remain with us and the other four would return to New York. We sat around for about an hour and a half before we got the call. As we walked out onto the apron we saw our plane. It was a big glossy black executive jet which we found out was a Hawker Siddeley A400. Very nice and just for us, so things must have been hotting up down South.

We had an uneventful flight with the weather clearing up. As we came into land we could see the beaches and the high rise buildings on one side and open scrubland on the other, it was beautiful. We rolled past the arrivals gate and to a building and hanger off to one side. We were told that it was the FBI’s little piece of privacy at the airport. With things having gone wrong already these boys were not taking any chances. I wondered who was paying the tab and why the 'in your face' presence of the FBI. We would again soon find out.

The pilot had rolled the jet straight into the hanger then stopped. Within ten minutes of arriving, we were off and unpacked. We walked into what looked like a small conference room with soft seats and a big mahogany table, very official looking. Waiting for us were three people. The big man rose and introduced himself.  

“Welcome to Miami, I’m Chem Mayer, Florida Governor and this is Police Chief Mickelson and the young lady is my PR lady Beth Warne. Surly hope you guys are going to help us find my young un and her man.”                                           

Morgan took the lead “Thank you Governor for the welcome and I sure hope we can do what is necessary to find them quickly.”                                                                   

The Governor looked round and then asked “Which of you is Doggan?”                      

I stepped up to him with my hand out stretched.                                                    

“That would be me Governor, good to make your acquaintance sir but would rather have met under different circumstances.”

I was learning quickly.                                           

“Yes, yes but things are what they are and hopefully will turn out for the better. Have you been able to put anything together yet?”                                                          

“Well not completely but I would need to get to where they were staying just before they went missing. That will give me a better feel of what is going on.”                    

I noticed both the Governor and the Police Chief were sweating and wondered why but then again they were both big guys and it was warmish. Mr Smith’s knowing smile was there again and I was tempted to tell them but restrained myself. Damn, no fun in that but my time would come.

We drove out of the airport in a small convoy of black Ford panel van type vehicles going to the Governor’s house as this was where the two had stayed before leaving that morning for the shoot. The shoot had been scheduled to happen between Miami and the Everglades but they had not even got anywhere near before they parked her car and done the disappearing trick. I was still thinking about everything when we pulled up at his estate. This was one fancy looking place, a whole lot bigger and fancier than Morgan’s house. I nudged him in the ribs and told him what I was thinking. He just scowled at me and grumbled something uncouth I did not fully catch. As we stopped an elegant woman stepped onto the front porch and walked down the stairs. She looked totally distraught and drawn. The Governor introduced her as Catherine his wife.        

“I certainly hope you are going to find out who took my baby girl and Jeremy and chuck them into jail and throw away the keys.” She mumbled and extended her hand to me.

“That we will do Mrs Mayer plus will give you a guarantee on that outcome. The throwing away of the keys, well, we will leave that for you to do, fair enough?”      

She nodded vigorously and saw the Governor raise his eyebrows but say nothing.

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