A Message From Pluto

CHAPTER 3: The Council Of War

The meeting was scheduled for six in an inconspicuous house on the outskirts of Jefferson, a small town in Texas. The choice of San Antonio Museum was informed by its serenity, a good kitchen and a large parking space that was screened from the street. It was supposed to be low profile without infringing on the tastes of the attendees. Nobody knew when it would be over.

On the third and top floor of the building, McGinn sat quietly at a table, sipping a drink without really tasting it. He was that worried but he would never admit it to anyone. He had called the Chief of Staff immediately after the phone call and relayed the message to him. In his opinion, the men who had worked with him in Zamora may be anywhere now. And he wanted their files, a condition he knew could not be granted even him. So the vice president was attending to sanction the agreement.

The"third eye" as the caller had named it was now considered a national treasure. Upon closer inspection by antique and gem dealers of renown, who were handpicked for their specialty in different eras, a unanimous conclusion was reached. The jewel was transferred to a private museum where it will be further appraised. From the findings of the first appraisers the value of the jewel was placed at around five hundred billion dollars, an amount that sounded bigger than actual states. They had therefore kept it under tight and heavily militarized security. No one, except sanctioned by the president and approved by the national director of arts and artefacts who doubled as the Chief Curator of the United States had access to the national treasures. There had never been a case like this before. He had to convince this group of men that it should be released to him

McGinn sat by the window of the third floor of the museum watching the quiet scenery without seeing anything, his mind miles away from where he was, sipping on the stale rum that was placed before him. It was also the top floor of the building. The workers had been given a day off including the management of the museum, much to the director's disappointment. He knew a very important thing was about to go down here, but he could not attend. Personnel was replaced by soldiers in mufty with a code of silence. Snipers were stationed at different strategic places to secure the grounds without ambiguity.

The attendees were not to bring in security.

McGinn recalled that the third eye was taken from a Mexican drug lord who claimed to have bought it in Saudi Arabia when he went for pilgrimage. He had offered it for his freedom, obviously ignorant of its value. McGinn accepted it and granted him the freedom.

He lifted his eyes as the first car turned into the driveway to the museum, a grey sedan that reflected nothing of the occupant. The car slowed at the gate as a lean man with a thick moustache walked out of the sentry to check it out. He walked round to the driver's side, spoke for a few seconds with the driver and raised a thumbs up to an invisible colleague. The gate slid back noiselessly and the car drove in.

McGinn knew the occupant, and he stood up to go welcome him at the door.

Donald Freiss the CIA director, the first career diplomat to be so appointed and a personal friend of the vice president. He had earned his position and McGinn had nothing but respect for him. Though he didn't like him much, personal opinion was always on the back burner when he got down to work. They had worked together before.

When he opened the door to a long corridor that led to the entrance, Freiss was already in, walking briskly hand extended, an invitation for a handshake. McGinn took the hand in both of his and smiled into his face.

"Thank you for coming, Director Freiss". He said in a voice that refused to belly his worry.

"You know I can not refuse to come. You are being too polite". Freiss replied. The handshake was firm without animosity.

That's the more reason why I am so grateful, knowing how full your plate is". McGinn said.

"With the people you have convened here, I doubt if a solution will still be elusive".

McGinn did not reply to this, instead he said, " Come sit down,we will look into this shortly".

They walked together into the conference room and sat down as another two ordinary cars were driving into the perimeter. There were footfalls just outside the door, which meant they had missed another person who had arrived earlier.

" Perry and Fraser will be her?" Freiss asked.

"Yes".

Freiss observed his drink, like he was looking for the right words to say. He finally got them. " You know as much as every other person coming here today that this... what did you call it?"

"The third eye". McGinn said quietly.

"Everyone knows that the third eye can not be released to you on whatever grounds". McGinn was nodding.

"Then things will be easier, unnecessary arguments can be avoided and a pragmatic decision..." The door swung open and Bobby Arthur walked in. He was the Chief of Defense. He had one more year in service but looked more than the sixty three that he was. He came straight to the large conference table and moved round to where the first two sat. They stood up and offered their hands.

" General". He clicked his heels in greeting. It was obvious he held McGinn in high esteem.

"Bob". They shook hands.

" Good to see you".

" Me too."

"Under different circumstances,.it would have been pleasant too".

" Yes, Sir. It will pass. That's why we are here."

Two more people walked in. In the lead was Doris Goshen, the head of National Counterintelligence, a secret service annexed at Fort Knox. Her circle of relationships was small and quite deep, to say the least. Behind her was a subordinate she had specifically requested to be present when she was told the reason for her summon.

" Gentlemen, let me introduce Mr Pat Gordon. He specializes in Intel and weapons.

They sat down round the large table. A woman who had military written all over her came in silently and served drinks. Nobody spoke for a while.

The meeting had started.

" You all know why we are here." McGinn spoke after the woman had withdrawn. "Initially, I had reached out to the army chief as a friend to help me reason it out because the caller had threatened my life and that of my family. But when it became clear that he knows what he is doing and will stop at nothing to get this gem, we decided to invite you here to help. Because if this pendant is not delivered to him, men will die, starting from my family members and spread out. It is safe to say, he knows we are here now and for what purpose. That makes him a dangerous man. He had threatened to destroy the people around me. That's the frightening part. Not me, the people around me starting with my wife, my children, my friends. He knows every little detail about me.'

" So what do you have in mind?" It was Freiss who spoke.

" If I had a solution I wouldn't have called you all here." McGinn replied immediately. He looked around the table, saw Gordon whisper into Doris Goshen's ear, shifted his gaze to the other people at the table. Everyone picked this moment to pick up their cups of drink to their lips.

After a long while, Bobby Arthur as said. " Then why don't we bring it out, hand it over to him and then apprehend him. It will make things a lot easier"

" That will not happen". It was Freiss who spoke. "We will not allow a man hold us to ransome. That is really why I am here. The message from my higher-ups is this. The government can not succumb to blackmail of any kind and wishes that the good General immediately file a police report to effect a proper investigation. I want to assure all of us at this table that the culprit will certainly be apprehended and dealth with accordingly". He looked around again, his eyes finally resting on McGinn. His gaze was penetrating like he wanted McGinn to read more in his stare. "The next time we meet, General, we will laugh at this over a drink."

" I hope so too. Thank you for your time. I won't see you off".

There were nods around the table and Freiss walked out closing the door behind him. McGinn picked up his phone and dialled a number, when it connected he said simply, " Nobody is to leave here until the stipulated time", and hung up.

Outside, Freiss got into his sedan and drove slowly towards the gate the man who had checked him coming in approached him again.

"You can not leave before the others Sorry but I will have to detain you here".

Freiss smiled, " I wasn't expecting anything less". He said, closed his eyes and leaned back in the car.

Back in the conference room of the museum, there was a moment's silence after Freiss had gone and McGinn made the call. McGinn cleared his throat and said, "Now?"

Doris said, " It is quite clear that the authorities will not give in to this threat and hand over the third eye to you. Therefore the only thing I can say here can not be on record. So I will wait until the meeting is ended."

' I suggest the end of the meeting". It was Arthur who spoke. Everyone hummed in approval.

McGinn said, "Then the meeting is ended". Nobody moved as all eyes turned to Goshen.

" Let's find someone who can steal it" She said quietly.

This sent shock waves round the table. They looked at each other without saying anything.

McGinn asked tentatively, " Who can do it. Is there such a person?" When nobody spoke he added. " He must be unknown and skilled, if he is caught, he will be denied outrightly. Need I say that the penalty is death?" There was silence around, then Gordon said almost inaudibly, There's a man. Jeremy Jordan."

Arthur frowned, Jordan is dead, he died three years ago."

Gordon smiled, "Exactly, only he can do it."

McGinn heaved a sigh. " Get me this Jordan, bring the grave with him if that is what it will take. Time line is four days"