“Humm. I don’t know if all that many will want to leave everything behind but I suppose we always have those who are adventurers. They like the challenge of being on the cutting edge. Listen, not to change the subject but you mentioned a weapon.”
“No, you mentioned a weapon, I happen to agree,” he said.
“Are you talking about what goes on at Level-10?” Barnett asked.
“Level–10? I thought there were only nine levels,” Snapp said.
“Everyone is supposed to think that, but almost everyone knows about Level–10. It is impossible to keep secrets in S–4,” Barnett replied.
“And they are working on a weapon?”
“That’s the rumor,” Lake added.
“What kind of a weapon?”
“That I don’t know. Maybe you do Dan?” Lake said.
“All I know is that it is more powerful that anything ever produced. It is some kind of a photon weapon,” Dan replied.
“This is star wars stuff,” Snapp said.
“Whatever Devin is doing, he is trying to keep it under tight wraps. I only heard small bits and pieces,” Dan told him.
“I hadn’t heard it was a photon weapon until just now. I did suspect that it was unlike anything we have ever seen though,” added.
“What is the purpose of the weapon?” George asked.
“For that, you would have to ask General Devin,” Lake replied.
“How long before it’s finished?” Snapp asked.
“George, we have no way of knowing that. I heard a rumor that they were only a month away from testing the thing but that could be just smoke. No one knows that information except Devin and the team working on it,” Lake said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“I’m sorry sir that is just not possible. I have your information down and I will have one of the aides call you,” the operator said.
“I don’t want to talk to an aide. Listen carefully, this concerns national security. It is of the gravest importance that the President talk to me,” Snapp said.
“I understand sir. We get many calls every day that are about the nation’s security. The President of the United States does not have the time to talk personally to everyone who calls the White House. It may well be in the interest of national security but I’m sorry, you will just have to go through the same procedure as everyone else.”
“I am not some crazy nut off the street. Whom can I talk to about this?”
“An aide will call you with more information, good day sir,” she said and hung up
“Don’t…,” but it was too late.
He slammed the handset back in the cradle. Damn it, there had to be some way to get to the right people. This was totally new territory for him. Maybe he should try Homeland Security or the CIA. He didn’t put much hope in that either. He thought that calling the White House would end up being an exercise in futility, and sure enough, he was right.
He got out the Government Directory and looked up the number for the Department of Homeland Security.
“US Government Department of Homeland Security,” a male voice answered.
“I don’t know how to start exactly. I have…”
“Could you state your name please,” the man said, interrupting him.
“George Snapp.”
“Thank you Mr. Snapp. Now, what can we do for you?”
“As I was saying, I don’t know exactly how to start. First of all, I am an investigative reporter. I came by some information that concerns our national security. Specifically, it concerns a project going on that may not be authorized by our government,” Snapp said, thinking how corny that must sound.
“And how did you come by this information Mr. Snapp?”
“Two scientists who worked in a nearby facility passed the information on to me. It is serious enough that I think someone should check it out. I don’t know what else to do.”
“Mr. Snapp. Are you aware of the penalties for gathering information on government projects? We call it treason. Are you saying you’re gathering information about classified government projects?” the voice had become less friendly.
“Look. I’m not a spy and I’m not trying to sell anything. I just think someone should check the possibility of an unauthorized project. I’m just trying to do the right thing,” George said.
“Sir. I appreciate that, but did you ever consider that the information you received could be disinformation? Something to send you on a wild goose chase, so to speak?”
“No, I don’t believe that. These two men are the top in their fields. They have no reason to give me disinformation,” he said, becoming exasperated.
“Who are the two men you say are connected with this project?”
“Not connected with it, were connected to the facility where this was taking place,” George corrected.
“Alright. Who are the two men that were connected with the facility?”
“That I would rather not say until I have had a chance to talk to someone in person,” George said.
“And you think it is important enough to have a face to face meeting?”
“I damn sure do,” George said.
“You would be willing to be interviewed?”
“If you mean having a conversation about what I know, that’s one thing. If you’re talking about an interrogation, that’s quite another,” Snapp said.
“Mr. Snapp. Could you hold on a second? I want to get my supervisor involved in this conversation,” the man said.
“I guess so. I’m on a pay phone, how long will you be?”
“Just a little while. I will ring him and give him a briefing of our conversation. He can decide how we proceed.”
“O.K. but please make it quick.”
“I will do my best,” he said.
One minute went by and then another. He was just about to hang up when the man came back on the line.
“Mr. Snapp?”
“Still here,” George said.
“I have talked to my superior. He is interested in what you have to say about this government project.”
“I’ll be damned. I figured no one would really want to touch this,”
“Well, apparently we are interested in hearing further what you have to say about this project.”
“Great. How do I make the necessary arrangements?”
“That has been arranged. If you will look directly behind you, two men are standing by a black Lincoln. They will bring you to us. Do not attempt to run or they will use whatever force necessary to bring you in. Do you understand?”
George turned and looked at the two men. “I see them. So I should just hang up and do as they say?”
“It would be better if you did,” the man replied.
“I won’t be hurt?”
“Not unless you try to run.”
“Am I under arrest for something?”
“No sir, you are not. It would just be best for you to go along and we can get to the bottom of this.”
“All right, but I sure don’t like the tone of this. I’m trying to do the right thing here,” he said, resigned to the fact that he had little choice.
He hung up the phone and walked toward the two men. For a brief second he thought about trying to escape then decided that it would be futile to try outrunning them. Neither man said a word, one opened the door and the other went around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel.
A partition separated him from the two men and when he got in, the doors locked. They drove for almost an hour before pulling into a parking garage. The two men got out and opened his door.
They led him to an elevator and pushed the down button. It seemed to take a long time so he figured he was at least two or three stories below the parking garage.
When the door opened, two armed men stood there along with a very tall woman in a black business suit.