Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 03:20:24 EST
From: Jetjt@aol.com
Subject: Empire, Chapter 47

The following story is gay fiction. If the subject matter is offensive to
you or you are too young, please exit now. This story is the property of
the author and may not be reproduced without permission.  John Tucker,
JETjt@aol.com

					EMPIRE

				Chapter Forty-seven

Sunday Morning, 9 AM, Lake Mead

Tyler and Dan sat out on the lounge chairs that provided outdoor seating on
the upper rear deck of the houseboat. Earlier, they had fixed breakfast
burritos consisting of scrambled eggs, green peppers, onions, crumbled
breakfast sausage and salsa, all wrapped in large, warmed flour tortillas,
topped with sour cream. The boys had two apiece, and Tyler and Dan
one. Matt had called the night before reporting on David's recovery, then
Ron took over asking Tyler and Dan to talk to the boys about minimizing
discussion about David's attempted suicide, especially the reason for
it. Explaining that he wanted to talk privately with Tyler, Dan and Matt
about the circumstances, Ron asked that the whole incident be kept as
low-key as possible. Over breakfast Tyler had brought up the subject,
explained Ron's request, then reported that David would be returning with
Ron, Matt, and Carl later. The boys all agreed but naturally were
curious. Nevertheless, each had his own ghosts in their past and knew that
when the time was right, they'd be told. They all agreed that they could be
satisfied with that.

Dan heard the whumping sound of the rotor blades of the RET helicopter
before they saw it approaching in the sky. Knowing that the cove where they
had camped was not flat enough for the aircraft's landing, Tyler asked Brad
and Cliff, the two security guys who'd spent the night watching and camping
on the upper rear deck of the houseboat and who'd joined them at breakfast,
to keep an eye on things while he and Dan went to the spit of land where
the chopper had landed the afternoon before.

Jumping into the runabout, Tyler started the engine as Dan pushed off from
the shore, jumping in as the prow began to float freely. Putting the
gearbox in reverse, Tyler backed the eight-passenger boat away from the
camping area before cranking the wheel, turning the nose toward their
destination. Putting the outdrive into forward gear, Tyler pushed the
throttle forward causing the nose of the watercraft to rise as the
propeller thrust the boat powerfully forward into a plane. When the boat's
speedometer indicated 25 Tyler backed the throttle down to maintain that
speed, which he estimated would still cause their arrival at the sandbar a
few moments before the helicopter. True to his prediction, the small boat
slowed, then buried its nose up in the sand as the aircraft began its
descent. Tyler had made sure to beach the boat far enough away from the
helicopter's landing site that he and his partner wouldn't be covered with
dirt and sand from the downwash from the rotors. From their docking point,
they watched the chopper settle down gently, until it's wheels buried
themselves nearly to the axles, then stop, finding enough solid ground to
support the weight of the aircraft. The side rear door of the plane opened
providing the exit needed for the passengers to alight. Ron climbed out
first then extended a hand for first Matt, then Carl, then finally David
who appeared in a long sleeved shirt, concealing most of what was a
somewhat bulky bandage on his left wrist.

As soon as the passengers were on the ground, they bent over at the waist
and moved quickly away from the aircraft and its whirring rotors. When the
last two, Ron and David, reached the spot where the other two men waited,
Ron waved to Butch and the speed of the aircraft's turbine engines began to
whine from increased speed followed by the accelerating rotation of the
rotors. The four passengers joined together in making a hasty retreat away
from the craft toward the small runabout, knowing that when Butch pulled up
on the cyclical control the rotors would bite into the upper air throwing
it again downward and creating a large cloud of dirt and dust resembling an
upside down mushroom cap. They wanted to be out of the wake of air, dirt
and dust. Butch too was most aware of the turbulence caused by the rotors
and waited until the men had nearly reached the boat before pulling up the
control causing the helicopter to gently lift off the ground where it had
rested. The plane was less than twenty feet above the beach when Butch
swung the tail around and dipped the nose, causing the craft to move
forward into a climbing upside down arc back toward town.

The four arrivals clambered into the boat as the helicopter rose, yet
remained without speaking; knowing that trying to yell over the noise made
by the chopper was futile. Being the last person to climb into the boat,
Ron pushed it off from the beach before jumping aboard. Tyler again backed
the boat away, turning it toward the houseboat which sat in its overnight
mooring less than a mile away.

Before again pushing the throttles forward. Tyler said simply, "Glad your
back and that you're okay, David."

The thanks that David replied was drowned out by the noise of the boat's
engine's labored acceleration and the prop biting into the water. As the
boat picked up speed and shot toward the large houseboat moored ahead,
David wondered again about the reception of the other younger guys still on
the boat. He felt embarrassed to return to their midst, yet took comfort
that Ron, Matt and Carl had all assured him that they would control any
inquiries that might occur.

David was still in a state of mental confusion and at times regretting that
his attempt to end his life had been unsuccessful. Yet he was somehow
convinced the he was safe with this family who had adopted him in spite of
his revelations. Even more spectacular to him was being with Carl and what
they'd said to each other. Yes it was Carl who lifted his spirits, Carl,
the guy he loved more than anyone on earth. It was Carl, the guy who had
accepted him in spite of all. He thought back to the previous night after
Ron and Matt had left to return to their home, leaving Carl with permission
from the hospital and doctor to remain with him overnight:

"How are you feeling?" Carl had asked sitting beside the bed and taking
David's injured hand in his own.

"I'm okay," David had begun, "I'm just feeling pretty stupid."

"Stupid?" Carl asked.

"Yeah, I'm so stupid that I can't even kill myself," David admitted.

"I think that maybe, just maybe, you really didn't want to do it," Carl
said hopefully. "Of course, I'm thinking selfishly. You have so much to
live for. You have a family now who loves you and will help and protect
you, you have a good job with a future, and you have me, someone who loves
you."

"Yeah, perhaps I wasn't thinking too clearly," conceded David missing
Carl's full message, "but you don't know about my troubles. You're more
than my best friend, but you wouldn't be if you knew about me. You'd hate
me."

"Is that what you talked to Ron about?" Carl asked.

"Yes," answered David.

"Did he hate you, after you told him?"

"No," David admitted, "he surprised the hell out of me when he said he
suspected what I told him."

"If he didn't hate you, then I know I couldn't either. He wants you as a
son, but I want even more."

"A best friend is more important than a son?" David asked.

"I want to be more than a best friend," explained Carl so that there could
be no misunderstanding. "I want to be your lover and partner, now and
forever."

David gasped in surprise, now getting the full message. "But what about
Nathan?"

"He knows and wishes us well," Carl said with assurance.

"But I thought you were boyfriends?"

"At first that's what I hoped for too. I still love him, but I'm not in
love with him. He feels the same way. It took us a while to realize it, but
we're different people and in the long run it wouldn't work," explained
Carl.

"But I've nothing to offer you but sorrow and grief," David argued.

"I admit that I don't now what your problems are," Carl said, "and I really
don't need to know if you don't want to tell me. Just knowing that Ron
accepts them and will help us all we need, gives me great confidence. That
guy, our dad Ron, is amazing. He's not omnipotent of course, but if human
resources can fix something, he can do it, and if he tells you he will, you
can rely on it."

"You could be in danger!" David said giving his final argument.

"Every day is a gift," Carl said philosophically. "I wish you could have
been there when Douglas died. He was the bravest guy I ever knew. He was
the only one who really believed that he would die, yet all he thought
about was others. But he died only because there was no choice. We have a
choice. If we die it can be for something. We could leave the world a
better place. That's the worst that can happen. If we win, we will triumph
together over adversity, and our love will be the greatest triumph of all."

"You make me see things so differently," David admitted. "I've always been
so alone that what you're offering is so much more than I could have ever
dreamed."

"I guess there's only one question then," Carl said softly. "Do you think
you could ever be in love with me?"

"Carl, I've been in love with you from the time I really got to know you.
At first it was a friendship that blossomed in spite of what I thought was
my life's goal, one that had no place for friendship or love. When we met
my being with you socially was a masquerade. I wanted to fit in and appear
to be a normal guy. Oh, I knew I was gay, but it was buried, hidden from a
culture that I grew up in that would never accept that part of me. When you
took me home, I found unconditional love and acceptance. I'd never ever
experienced that before. Truthfully, I didn't know what to make of it, but
I knew, down deep, that it was what was missing in my life. That's when I
realized that I loved you. Now you've offered me happiness that I never,
ever thought possible. I want to say yes. Yes! YES!" He stopped and his
face lost the joy that had been there and became serious. "I can't say yes,
the words I long to shout to the world," he said slowly, showing his fear
of Carl's answer but unable to withhold the truth, "^Ćunless you know it
all ^Ćand can still love me. ^ĆI'm going to tell you my deepest
secret. Then if you still want me, I'll throw myself into your arms, but
you're free to walk away if you can't. I'll still love you, but I'll face
my fate alone."

"I'm listening," Carl said giving David his full attention and support.

"It started when I was young^Ć.." David began.

For the next twenty minutes, David told Carl all that he had revealed to
Ron earlier. Through it all, Carl remained quiet and thoughtful, being
careful not to show shock or revulsion at what David put before him. When
David was finished with the story, he concluded with, "Now you know it
all. I don't know how you could still love me, knowing what I planned to
do."

Carl paused a moment, thinking before he replied. David waited with
increasing anxiety for Carl to speak.

"The important thing David, is that you didn't do it. The inner decency in
you refused to let you. I see now why you tried to kill yourself. You
thought it was a way out of the conflict that was tearing you up
inside. You knew that you couldn't participate in our deaths. I know more
than that too. When Ron and I were away from you a while ago, he told me
that he was sure you had a secret that resulted in your suicide attempt. He
told me too that you had left a note that was not found until after we left
the boat. I don't know exactly what it said; just that it was a warning to
us of danger. Ron wouldn't tell me more. He said that anything more would
have to come from you. Both he and Matt knew that I loved you. He wanted me
to be prepared."

"Yes, I left a note of warning. Regardless of my fate, I couldn't let any
of you die."

Carl smiled a grim smile, but his face still hid his decision.

What have you decided about us?" David asked, hopeful but uncertain.

Carl paused again.

"David," he said with a stoic expression, "What you were planning was
horrible beyond my comprehension. I'm trying hard to understand."

"So your answer is `no'," David concluded aloud in sadness, not waiting for
Carl to finish.

"I didn't say that," Carl said strongly. "Being in love is not something
you can turn off and on. When I said I was in love with you, I didn't say
it lightly. Love's a state of being, not something I can help. I love you
David. I still love you and will always love you. What you've told me
doesn't change that. It's just something terrible that we'll have to
overcome. It will be hard for me to put it out of my thoughts, yet I know
that I'm in love with you. David, I love the man inside, the man who is
full of good, waiting to live, and waiting to be loved. Nothing you've told
me has changed that. I love you and want to be with you always, through the
good and the bad. I believe in you and I know that you'd die before you
would ever hurt me. You need never think of dying as a solution again
though. We'll see our way through this together."

As Carl spoke, tears appeared in David's eyes.

"Then my answer for now and forever is `yes'.  ^ĆI love you so," David
cried, pouring out his heart as tears of happiness flowed.

Carl arose from his chair, bent over the side of David's bed and placed the
first of a lifetime of kisses on the face of his lover.



			* * *

Carl held David's hand as the small craft slowed, then nudged the beach in
landing. Ron leaped overboard, pulling the bow rope onto the beach and
retying it to a scrub brush tree where it had been secured a short time
before. Tyler had shut down the engine, and for the first time in the last
hour there was silence nearby, with only the sound of a boat's engine to be
heard in the distance.

The boys who had remained behind leapt off the prow of the houseboat and
came running to meet the returning guys.

"Hey David," Ronnie began, speaking for the younger set.  "Glad to have you
back."

"Thanks guys," David said gratefully.

"Hey!  Aren't you glad to see me?" Carl asked.

"Aiaaaah," Zack said, raising his hands, and quickly rotating them back and
forth.

Everyone, including the older guys, laughed.

"What's for lunch?" Carl asked before anything else could be asked.

"I'm not sure," Matt said leaping from the boat, "but we can find
out. Follow me."

He began striding toward the houseboat followed by Dan and a string of
younger men. A minute later only Ron and Tyler remained on the beach.

Ron turned to Tyler.

"Brother, we need to talk," Ron said.  "I have to tell you what David told
me. Then we must act fast."

"Let's go up on the hill where we can talk privately," Tyler suggested
grabbing a couple of life preserver cushions from the boat to sit on. They
left the small beach, climbing upward until they reached a rocky promontory
looking out over the lake."

"What's to tell?" Tyler asked as he placed his cushion on a 2 foot high,
flat topped rock and was seated.

Ron found a similar rock nearby and performed the same action before
beginning to speak.

"David is an Al Quaida operative," Ron revealed, putting all the cards out
on the table. "They plan to blow up the Stratosphere Tower on New Year's
Eve."

"Damn!" Tyler said in shock. "Here we've been looking everywhere for them
and they're right under our noses. I understand his warning now!"

"What did it say exactly?" Ron asked with real curiosity.

"It said first, `I'm sorry.  David,'" Then it said, "Beware the Crowds,
Beware the Clouds, Beware the New Year' I didn't get it when I read it. I
knew it was a warning, but I never put it all together."

"I guess he thought we'd figure it out before the New Year's party at the
Stratosphere," Ron surmised. "I'm sure he knew we'd take it seriously,
especially since he planned to die in order to leave us the warning, and to
avoid participating in the bombing."

"Will he help us?" Tyler asked.

"He said he would," replied Ron. "I don't know if he'll help us more than
telling us what he knows though."

"Hmmmm," Tyler said deep in thought. "I'm sure we can foil the attempt to
destroy the tower, just by rounding up the members of the cell, but I'm not
sure we can keep them in jail just based on David's accusations, nor
prevent another cell from trying the same thing here or something
similar. We'll need more evidence."

"We can ask him to do more," cautioned Ron, "but I know he's afraid they'll
kill him if they find out."

"I'm sure they would try," Tyler agreed. "We'll have to talk to him and see
how much he's willing to risk. In the meantime, we need to find out all he
knows already. Do you know what their plans are?"

"I'm sure that the tour he requested to the Stratosphere Tower is a fact
finding mission. We could go ahead with that at least."

"That's planned for tomorrow?" asked Tyler trying to confirm what he'd
remembered.

"Yes, it's planned for after they get off work in mid afternoon."

"I think we have to make sure that tour happens," Tyler advised. "We don't
want to tip our hand too soon. In the meantime, we need to interrogate him
and find out what he knows. We need to do that this afternoon, or tonight."

"We can go back early, if you can set it up quickly," suggested Ron. "I
don't want him to have to go home too late, or, if they're watching him,
they might get suspicious."

"Right, and I want him protected too. I have some very good guys that can
be close to invisible."

"That I know," confirmed Ron. "Even I rarely see the bodyguards you have
following me around. It's easy to forget that they're there."

"I want you and Matt to only use the Escalade or your Mercedes until this
is over too," Tyler insisted.

"Why?" Ron asked with curiosity.

"If it looks like they might fail in their plans, they may come after
you. You're pretty high profile in this town."

"What does that have to do with the cars?"

"They're the only ones, except my Beemer that are armored," explained
Tyler.

"Armored?" Ron gasped. "When did that happen? I don't know how that's
possible, I bought the cars off the showroom floor."

"And I had them armored when you weren't around," Tyler said. "Remember the
5 days that the Mercedes was in the shop?"

"Yeah, I never had such bad service. They kept calling saying that they
needed parts that had not come in. I knew they were taking out a couple of
dings and doing a complete detailing, but I didn't pay that much either. I
remember being surprised, especially when it looked brand new when I got it
back."

"It was brand new," Tyler said. "We bought an identical car then had it
armored. You should have seen the bill I got from the armor specialists,"
Tyler laughed. "It was over $100,000."

"That's pretty expensive," Ron admitted, "even for two vehicles."

"$100,000 each," Tyler confessed.

"Wow!  I had no idea!

"Yep, and it took two months. When your car went into the shop we did a
swap. It took a while though as we had to change the plates and
registration. Fortunately the old car was in the company's name. We didn't
know if you would notice. The new cars are 600 pounds heavier. The Escalade
was easier because you don't drive it as much."

"You sure fooled me," Ron admitted. "I wondered why they've both felt
sluggish after being in the shop. I was tempted to take them back!"

"I'd better call Wes to get the meeting set up," Tyler said reaching for
his cell phone. "How soon can we get back there?"

"Make it for 3 o'clock," Ron suggested. "It's still morning, in spite of
the kids eating `lunch' already. I want them, especially David, to have
some enjoyment out of this trip."

"Uh, one last question," Tyler asked. "Did I notice a special look on Carl
and David's face in the boat?

"Yeah, they're `an item' after our `trip' into town," Ron said
smiling. "It's a good thing. I don't know if David would be able to get
through all of this without some real personal support."

"If he's in love with Carl, then he'll have it. Carl is very tender, but
nevertheless very tough. He's also done well in my self-defense training
with the boys and developed a real body too. David couldn't have anyone
better by his side."

"I think so too," Ron agreed.

"Well, I'd better call Wes. Go on back to the boat. I'll join you in a few
minutes."

"Okay Bro," said Ron. "Just remember to go easy on David. He's had a rough
time."

"Got it!" Tyler responded as he pushed the speed dial on his phone.

3 PM, the Aztec-Turner offices of RET

"Welcome gentlemen," Wes said rising from the table where he sat with three
agents as Ron and Tyler arrived with David. "It's good to see you David."

"Uh, I guess it's good to be here too," David said hesitatingly as the trio
approached the table.

"Have a seat," Wes offered. "David if you'd sit next to me," he said,
indicating the chair around the corner from his seat at the head of the
table, "Tyler and Ron can sit next to you across from our agent Sparks and
Agents Fernley and Tellman from Homeland Security."

The trio said hello to the agents, took their places, then looked again at
Wes who would conduct the interrogation.

"David,"(delete ") we realize how difficult this is for you. "We'll try to
keep it as low-key as we can, for your sake. Your cooperation is more than
just appreciated; it's vital to the success of this operation. We need to
know as much as you know, then we'll have to decide how to proceed."

"What will happen to me?" David asked. "They'll kill me if they find out."

"Our job is to see that that doesn't happen," Wes assured the young man,
"and we take our job very seriously.  When this is over, you will have a
couple of choices. The safest is to put you into a witness protection plan,
whereby your identity and even looks would be completely changed and you'd
be moved elsewhere to continue your work or education. The second choice,
which is unique in your case, would be to do the same identity changes, but
you would stay as Ron and Matt's new son. The second option is a bit more
risky, but with the security that Ron and Matt have, it would still be
relatively safe. Another thing that we'd do, once the sting is over; we'd
publicly announce your capture, along with the others and your
prosecution. Of course it would never happen, but they would never know
it. Each of the terrorists will be separated, so no one would know what
really happens to the others."

"What do I have to do?" David asked, satisfied with Wes' answer to his
previous question.

"First we need to know everything that you know, who the others are, where
they live if you know, and then what the plans are."

"Right now I only know the leader Achmed Mubaric," David reported as an
agent scribbled down the name. "The other three guys I only know their
first names, but I don't know where they live or anything. We've only met
twice all together. We're going to meet again on Tuesday after I've got the
pictures from the Stratosphere to do the final planning."

"Where will you meet?" Wes asked.

"At Abdul's house," David replied. "It's a small place out near Tropicana
and Jones."

"If we can we'll bug the house," Wes said. "If we're not able to do that
you'll have to wear a wire."

"I really just want out," David said adamantly.

"We'd like that too," Wes agreed, "but unless we can catch them red-handed,
you would have to testify against them in court. That would make protecting
you much more difficult. Believe me, we'll be listening and if you're
discovered we'll sweep in to protect you."

The questioning went on for another hour, the inquisitors wanting to make
sure nothing was missed. The strain was beginning to show on David's face,
making him look haggard.

"Let's wrap it up," Tyler ordered. "I think David's had it. We've all
agreed that for now David will take life normally, going to work, going on
the tour tomorrow, and attending the meeting on Tuesday night with Mubaric
and the others. Then we'll see what their plans are and decide when to make
our move. In the meantime, we'll do a 24 hour surveillance of David for his
protection, and of Mubaric to see if he leads us anywhere.  David, before
you leave, we'll provide you with a `panic button'. Keep it with you
always. It's disguised to look like a key fob, so put your keys on it right
away. If you push it, help will be there within 30 seconds. Don't use it
though just because you're scared. Use it if you're threatened and think
they're going to try and kill you. Once you use it, the jig is up. We'll
have to move in on the whole operation immediately. Oh by the way, we'll
also wiretap both your phone and Mubaric's. Don't say anything on the phone
you don't want us or them to hear. We're not the only ones that know how to
place bugs or tap phones. It's important though that you do the things you
normally do. If they become at all suspicious or even cautious about you,
they may either watch you or bug your apartment. It's important that we're
able to find all the members of the cell though. We'll have teams standing
by to tail them after the meeting, so you needn't worry about finding out
their addresses for us. From now on we'll be ready to move, but don't give
it away any earlier than you have to."

"Yes sir," David said.

"Let's get you fixed up then," Tyler said with a smile, "then we can
leave."

		* * *

Ten minutes later, in the same room

Wes returned and sat with his agent and the two agents from homeland
security.

"I want to make it clear from the start that this is our show," Chief Agent
Fernley of Homeland Security stated.

"That's fine with us," Wes replied, "as long as we participate in a way
that's acceptable to us."

"No conditions, I said!" Fernley said adamantly.

"That's fine," Wes said, "but I can promise you two things. First you will
lose your witness, and secondly, you'll hear from either the Secretary of
Homeland Security or the President within the hour."

"You'd better not threaten me!" Fernley shouted.

"I'm not threatening," Wes replied with a confident smile. "I'm making a
promise. You don't have any idea just how much political juice Tyler's
brother, Ron Turner, has in Washington. Piss him off and you'll end up
running the Homeland Security office in Point Barrow, Alaska. And I'm
talking about tomorrow. "

"What do you want?" Fernley asked in a toned-down voice, being smart enough
to back down from his arrogant demands.

"We want to provide the security for David and for the Turners, and want to
be included in all direct contacts between you and David. The rest you can
have."

"I can agree with that," Fernley replied in surprise at the
demands. "That's all you want?"

"Only that and complete amnesty for David," Wes replied. "We'll cooperate
with you with any information we gather, but you can have the glory that
goes with the capture of the terrorists. I will say this though, if David
or any of the Turner clan as much as gets scratched because of ineptitude
on your part, someone's career is over."

"I understand and agree," Fernley said begrudgingly. "I hope so," Wes said
smiling. "Just so you know, I've recorded this conversation."

"I want that tape!" Fernley demanded.

"Fuck you!" Wes said smiling. "I wasn't born yesterday."

		* * *

 Monday afternoon

The tour that Ron arranged through the inner workings of the Stratosphere
tower took well over two hours. Ron, Tyler and all the boys were shown in,
out and around the 1000 foot-high structure by the casino's VIP Director
and the Chief of Maintenance. The group visited the legs, both inside and
out, the central staircase, the only means of exiting the upper pod if the
elevators should fail, and all the workings of the Pod itself, including
the elevator room, the six 10,000 gallon tanks of emergency water located
on the top level of the pod, and the emergency evacuation concrete-encased
floors located on the lowest two levels of the pod whose only purpose was
to protect the occupants of the pod until evacuation could be accomplished
in the event of a fire or other calamity. Finally, the guides took a key to
the double deck elevators and delivered the group down to the casino's
rooftop, where people could be evacuated if there was a mishap in the
casino itself. During the tour David and Tyler took copious pictures of
every feature of the tall tower. Finally thanking their guides, the Turner
group headed home where Tyler and David would print out the digital
pictures they had taken.

At home, in Ron's office, Tyler and David worked, reviewing the pictures as
they came out of the printer.

"We got some excellent shots," Tyler commented.

"Yes," David agreed. "I'm not sure what it all means though. Achmed told me
he wanted to blast the leg nearest the casino so that the tower would fall
on the hotel. He wanted to kill as many people as possible. I don't see how
that's possible," David remarked. "The leg that he wants to blow up is in
the middle of the Casino. You could never haul enough explosives in there
to do anything before being caught. The other two legs are a possibility
since they're out in the open, if a huge truck bomb could be ignited at the
base."

"I'm glad you're so observant," Tyler complimented David's power of
observation. "Maybe if you want to get out of construction, you could come
to work for Aztec-Turner Security."

"Wow, I hadn't ever thought of that," David said in surprise at the
suggestion. "Oh, I just thought of something else."

"What's that?" Tyler asked.

"The leg nearest the hotel could be blown up from the roof. There are
stairways and everything leading up there to evacuate people from the
tower. I didn't see any security cameras up there either."

"I'm convinced that you'd make a good investigator," Tyler beamed. "You're
very observant."

"Yeah, but what should I tell Achmed?" asked David.

"Tell him all he wants to know. Give him the evaluation you just discussed
with me. We want to keep him convinced that you're a loyal member of the
cell," Tyler advised. "If there is a plan developed and you can tell us, we
can take every precaution to prevent it from ever happening."

"Alright, I'll do that," David agreed.

"Let's join the others then," Tyler said as he gave David's arm a friendly
squeeze. "Mary should have dinner ready soon, then Carl can take you back
to your place."

"Yeah, I probably shouldn't spend too much time here until this is over,"
David said.

"I agree," Tyler said. "If you have some information you need to give us,
you can send it through Carl, or if you have to talk to me, call me from
your cell phone."

"I don't have one," David revealed.

"Hmm," I'll give you Carl's and get him a new one," Tyler offered. "Just
make sure you don't call from inside your apartment or where others can
overhear you."

"Alright," David said.

"I guess that's it then," Tyler concluded as he looked at David with a
smile and encouraged, "Don't worry son. You'll do fine."

David's thin smile back indicated that he wasn't totally convinced.

			*	*	*	*	*

Happy Thanksgiving.  JET