More Careful This Time

225.

Julie has the jump. Her tail of Bartowsky took them to Dulles Airport where he boarded an early commercial flight to Orlando. By 0745 EST she was back in the office checking the morning chatter and asking for field updates from the group. By noon the wisdom behind the adage warning one to be careful about what one asks for, was playing out in real time.

Harlan has the chance to apply the letter of the law to his surveillance of Mr. 38. His law degree from Georgetown, a solid background for a career in criminal law, has set the stage for a live demonstration of the many nebulous gray areas stemming from the rushed passing of the outlandishly dubious Patriot Act. The act clearly defines search warrants into two categories, one for surveillance of suspected terrorist activity, and the more common, legitimate criminal action, the former is ex-ante, the latter ex post. Harlan wants to push the verdict on this shady character known to carry a concealed weapon. The shady in this case is proxy for possible connection with domestic terrorists. And that he feels is sufficient to ask him a few questions. In this case he justifies his intent as being in the category of it being 'better to do and beg forgiveness than to ask and be denied permission.' Mr. 38 parks his ugly white Ford Taurus in the driveway of the Colonial brick house. Harlan pulls in behind him and quickly meets him as he exits the vehicle. With his Homeland Security credentials he asks him to please provide positive identification as he is a POI in a recent attempted homicide investigation. As 38 reaches for his wallet his jacket opens revealing the Smith & Wesson loosely held in a leather shoulder holster.

"And I will also need your concealed weapon permit," Harlan says, although thinking 'Gotcha.'

It is already ninety degrees in the desert and not even ten o'clock. Davis in full costume navigates the several layers of casino security, finally reaching the executive suites where Adelson presides. He sits in the plush foyer waiting for an audience. Finally one of the lawyers enters the lobby, greets him with practiced professionalism and asks about the nature of his business. Davis recognizes him from their past negotiations so cuts to the heart of the matter, "We're back and ready to roll. Like to pick up where we left off and get to work."

This takes the lawyer somewhat by surprise but he nonetheless nods his head in non-plussed understanding. "I'll let Mr Adelson know, can you wait a bit longer?"   

"Sure," Davis says playing the self important charade by glancing first at his borrowed Rolex.

Twenty minutes later he is seated at the huge mahogany conference table with Adelson and a pair of his counselors opposite him. The counselors appear uncomfortable and slightly anxious as if waiting for direct orders or a script. Davis waits for Adelson to open the dialogue.

"You have been away, left us out in the cold Mister, ah, Cooper. I thought we had a deal."

"Are you telling me that you are unaware of the reason behind our absence and the delay of the project?" Davis, as Cooper, responds.

Adelson looks at the pair of his uninformed legal representatives and continues, "We heard about the incidents but assumed they were independent of our business and had something to do with your past - and not the present."

"So you had nothing to do with it?" All three bristle at the direct accusation, Adelson adjusting his slight slouch into a more upright and formal position.

"I admire your fortitude Mr. Cooper. It is most likely one of the traits that has fostered your success," he says, "But no, we did not. And why would we? Do you have something to hide?"

"Of course we do, how about the codes and infrastructure for a device capable of transferring a trillion dollars into an off-shore account? So yes, we like to keep that under our hats."

"I assure you we had nothing to do with either of the unfortunate situations," Adelson says in what Davis takes to be as close to the truth as he is going to get.

"Fair enough then. I am proposing that we get back to business under the same terms and conditions initially agreed to. Call and raise sir, bet is to you. Are you in?

Adelson again briefly looks at this counsel as if to justify their presence and value, and then back to Davis. It is the cold, cunning glare of a seasoned gambler smelling live action and blood in the water.

"Adjusted time frame?" He asks.

"Less than thirty days, before New Years."

Adelson, having already made his decision, plays out the drama by engaging Davis in an old fashion stare down. Neither budge, neither blink. Finally he says, "How is your girl friend?"

"Ready to rock. I am asking for your decision. The clock is running."

Adelson nods his head deliberately with the affirmative up-down movement.

"We're in. But do try to be more careful this time."