Chapter 78

After a few minutes of scuffling in his seat, “Hope Emerson, Senator from Montana, Chairperson of the Senate foreign relations oversight committee.”

“Ruth Gavin Missouri, Senate foreign relations oversight committee.”

“Gilbert Howell, California Senate foreign relations over sight committee.”

“Rose Pearlman, Oregon Senate appropriations committee.”

“Sherman Ballard, Minnesota Senate appropriations committee.”

“Roxy Granger Ohio, House foreign relations committee.”

“The other four were to Iraq government officials; they were supposed to be for compensation divided between the victims of the Market Square fiasco. That was how the officials demanded payment. The victims ended up with nothing.”

“All the ladies play bridge every Wednesday night and gossip. Hope, Ruth and Gilbert routinely delayed legislation that would have a negative impact on us. Rose, Sherman and Roxy were sending us proposed contracts before they were published, giving us advance notice and pushing our bids higher on the list,” he said.

“It started with Hope, Ruth and Gilbert. They were steering countries to us that needed the services we supplied. Sometimes they arranged foreign aid funding or mutual security grants for those countries to help pay for our services. Then they got help from their friends to expand the enterprise,” he said.

“As long as contracts were coming the payments were viewed as a cost of doing business. Then several things went haywire and the contracts slowed down or stopped. They thought they should still get the checks. We couldn’t do it anymore and that’s when they started all the investigations to force our hand to pay them again,” he said.

“Have they tried to contact you since the court decision?” I asked.

“A couple times but the courts ended our problem, but they may have their sights on you,” he said.

“I can handle them - let them bring it on. I have several surprises for them when they do,” I said.

I learned all that I needed to know and what to expect when I went to Washington on Monday the third. I didn’t want to go but I needed to give the monthly terrorist report to Congress.

I expected that there would be trouble from the foreign relations committees and the appropriations committee. Also trouble with the foreign relations committee because so much of the terrorism was foreign sponsored.

The appropriations committee because we were still requesting anti-terrorism funding and awarding grants to colleges for security. The very people that were railing against the grants and our international findings had their hands out.

Milton Bear confirmed what Charles had said. There was no need to continue with that line of questioning.

I brought both of them back in and began discussing some of the previous contracts they had held and the men assigned to them. I was sure Andy would do the same thing when he had time.

The weekend was upon us and so was Indian summer. It was still warm and muggy with the days getting shorter. Dad and Jason were back into the farming mode with harvest in full swing. They would be done with their corn crop in another week. Then they needed to plant a cover crop but the real thing on their mind was getting goose blinds set up in the bay property they had leased. It would not be long before the Canadian geese would in full migration.

Last year I had brought a select few to go goose hunting; Troy, Frank Love and Eric Roberson. This year General Ingram and a couple more Generals and Supreme Court Judge Harvey Sizemore wanted to join the group. He and Judge Slaughter were old friends. Judge Slaughter was part of the regular hunting group with Dad, Jason, Andy and Judge Kellerman - aka Bones. Several of the county commissioners joined the group from time to time.

Bones didn’t apply anymore; she had filled out to be a real catch for some lucky man.

The girls and I spent part of Saturday putting Halloween decorations up. JJ and RJ were big enough to be interested in the festive atmosphere of the season and picking out trick or treat costumes.

Supper tonight was at the seafood inn; we wanted a little change plus we had worked hard today. No one had taken time to think about putting together supper. Family time and intimate time consumed the rest of the evening.

Most of Sunday was laid back. I did spend time moving six of the crates that came back on the C5 to the office basement. The rest were placed into the secure hanger. Thirty five crates came in this time. The weapons had been taken directly to the explosives bunker until we could get them shipped to Texas.

The jet was taking off for Texas with the additional trainers going to Fort Dean to train the men going to France in crowd and traffic control - French style. Andy had chosen two hundred of the men that were there for the task. The day after the French raid they were flying back to go to Mexico. At least that was the plan.