Post by Dr. M. H. Stark on Jul 14, 2012 15:35:47 GMT -6
Dr. Morgan Hargrave Stark sat back in his throne with the tips of his finger tapping together. His gaze was even but the fire in his eyes belied any calm that might be mistaken for existing in the room. He removed his glasses and began to wipe them to a meticulously clean state.
"I was hoping someone could explain to me how it is that one of our operators managed to infiltrate the labs, which he has no access to... Stole information, which he shouldn't have known existed... And is now evading every attempt made to capture him?" He set his glasses on the edge of his nose and pushed them up his nose and spread his hands wide. "Anyone?"
The tension in the room could cut through a knife. He had spoken low and even, almost sing song, as if to a children. But the tapping of his foot under the desk indicated he was anything but calm. And Dr. Stark was not a man to one hoped to irk.
"Sir, It is unclear at this time..." The small, rather rotund man was cut off mid-sentance.
"I DON'T WANT YOUR EXCUSES," yelled the large man as he slammed a big fist into the desk with an audible crack. The executive hung his head falling silent.
Dr. Stark liked this. He didn't like being outsmarted, he hated it. But to see true fear of him at his mere presence? He imagined everyone fortunate enough to touch his type of power would agree. The fear of the masses was as sweet as honey.
"We failed you, sir. We will do anything in our power to bring him back immediately." Ah the soldier had spoken. Stark liked soldiers. They didn't complain, followed orders, and tended to be made of tougher stuff than most. But he couldn't show favoritism unless he was achieving means to an end. He waved the comment off with all the care of a horse tail to a fly as he sat back down.
"Do you know what I think? I think he had help. Had to be. And judging by the nature of the information it's quite clear that it came from high up." He let the information settle as the tension rose impossibly higher. "No... No, no... I think I'll handle this one personally." His mind fired up like the V12 engine in his luxury sedan as he closed his eyes.
Caine... He'd be too good to be caught on tape. He'd leave no traces, follow no discernible patterns, sever all ties, and cover his tracks. He needed a mistake or a miracle to catch him. Unfortunately, operators didn't really make mistakes.
"I want reports of stolen cars, records of disposable phone purchases, I want witnesses brought in for any fighting matching his description. I want dumpsters checked, hotels, apartments. Anyone in the department he had contact with I want people watching them at all times. Mobilize the retrieval unit. Use our contacts in the media. I want his face all over the news by tomorrow morning offering a reward for any information. We have two scientists with the misfortune of having family. Rather then eliminate the families, I want the deaths of the scientists blamed on Caine. And I want this done YESTERDAY!" He yelled the last word to emphasize his point as the executives quickly filed out.
He sat back as he drew out a can of chewing tobacco. He took a sizable pinch between his large thumb and index finger, placing it in his right lip as he sighed contentment. He let the buzz build slowly in his head.
The truth was he had already sent field agents to check out any of his old contacts. And an interesting report had come in. Of course Caine would have had help. What he had stolen no one but the highest in the department even knew existed. Anyone below executive branch that had known about it had been executed, all traces wiped, and the books were doctored to explain away any expenses. No signs, signatures, or second guessing. His department was clear. But it meant progress had been temporarily halted until loose ends could be tied up.
He clicked the button on his desk phone and requested a secure, direct line.
"Report."
The voice on the other end crackled to life. "It appears as though he made contact with his handler, sir. I tried getting close enough to plant a bug or overhear but both of them were leery of everyone."
Stark had expected as much. He smirked a bit. Afterall, the operator training program had been his idea. Little wonder Caine was so good at what he did. Stark marveled momentarily at his own achievement.
"Orders, sir?" The Dr. was pulled out of his own head.
"Follow her. I want every move reported to me. And when she messes up badly enough..." He held up a picture of Cassidy from the folder on his desk. "Bring her to me."
The phone crackled and faded to dial tone.
"I was hoping someone could explain to me how it is that one of our operators managed to infiltrate the labs, which he has no access to... Stole information, which he shouldn't have known existed... And is now evading every attempt made to capture him?" He set his glasses on the edge of his nose and pushed them up his nose and spread his hands wide. "Anyone?"
The tension in the room could cut through a knife. He had spoken low and even, almost sing song, as if to a children. But the tapping of his foot under the desk indicated he was anything but calm. And Dr. Stark was not a man to one hoped to irk.
"Sir, It is unclear at this time..." The small, rather rotund man was cut off mid-sentance.
"I DON'T WANT YOUR EXCUSES," yelled the large man as he slammed a big fist into the desk with an audible crack. The executive hung his head falling silent.
Dr. Stark liked this. He didn't like being outsmarted, he hated it. But to see true fear of him at his mere presence? He imagined everyone fortunate enough to touch his type of power would agree. The fear of the masses was as sweet as honey.
"We failed you, sir. We will do anything in our power to bring him back immediately." Ah the soldier had spoken. Stark liked soldiers. They didn't complain, followed orders, and tended to be made of tougher stuff than most. But he couldn't show favoritism unless he was achieving means to an end. He waved the comment off with all the care of a horse tail to a fly as he sat back down.
"Do you know what I think? I think he had help. Had to be. And judging by the nature of the information it's quite clear that it came from high up." He let the information settle as the tension rose impossibly higher. "No... No, no... I think I'll handle this one personally." His mind fired up like the V12 engine in his luxury sedan as he closed his eyes.
Caine... He'd be too good to be caught on tape. He'd leave no traces, follow no discernible patterns, sever all ties, and cover his tracks. He needed a mistake or a miracle to catch him. Unfortunately, operators didn't really make mistakes.
"I want reports of stolen cars, records of disposable phone purchases, I want witnesses brought in for any fighting matching his description. I want dumpsters checked, hotels, apartments. Anyone in the department he had contact with I want people watching them at all times. Mobilize the retrieval unit. Use our contacts in the media. I want his face all over the news by tomorrow morning offering a reward for any information. We have two scientists with the misfortune of having family. Rather then eliminate the families, I want the deaths of the scientists blamed on Caine. And I want this done YESTERDAY!" He yelled the last word to emphasize his point as the executives quickly filed out.
He sat back as he drew out a can of chewing tobacco. He took a sizable pinch between his large thumb and index finger, placing it in his right lip as he sighed contentment. He let the buzz build slowly in his head.
The truth was he had already sent field agents to check out any of his old contacts. And an interesting report had come in. Of course Caine would have had help. What he had stolen no one but the highest in the department even knew existed. Anyone below executive branch that had known about it had been executed, all traces wiped, and the books were doctored to explain away any expenses. No signs, signatures, or second guessing. His department was clear. But it meant progress had been temporarily halted until loose ends could be tied up.
He clicked the button on his desk phone and requested a secure, direct line.
"Report."
The voice on the other end crackled to life. "It appears as though he made contact with his handler, sir. I tried getting close enough to plant a bug or overhear but both of them were leery of everyone."
Stark had expected as much. He smirked a bit. Afterall, the operator training program had been his idea. Little wonder Caine was so good at what he did. Stark marveled momentarily at his own achievement.
"Orders, sir?" The Dr. was pulled out of his own head.
"Follow her. I want every move reported to me. And when she messes up badly enough..." He held up a picture of Cassidy from the folder on his desk. "Bring her to me."
The phone crackled and faded to dial tone.