Key to Nowhere

Chapter 1

5:00 A.M. Friday

Harrisburg, Nebr.

The four sided clock atop the courthouse chimed five times as the darkly dressed man crossed the street to the entrance of the parking garage located under the building. He descended the ramp, moved across the concrete floor to a support column, unzipped his coat and took a pack of cigarettes from the breast pocket of his shirt. He pulled a Ronson lighter from his pants pocket and cupped his hands to light the cigarette. He inhaled deeply and leaned against the cold concrete to wait.

Two miles away on the north side of the city, Jay Sand came out of his building, unlocked the driver’s door of his vehicle and searched around inside for the ice scraper. He cleaned the thick layer of ice from the windshield and the side windows, crawled in behind the wheel and rubbed his hands together to warm them. He started the engine, backed out onto the street and drove to the corner. He turned south and gave it some gas as he tried to help the defroster clear the fog from inside the window, rubbing the heal of his hand over the cold surface.

He drove onto the courthouse square and circled the building to the parking garage ramp on the south side, touched the brake briefly as the car descended the incline then headed for his parking space, stopping just inches from the concrete wall. He left the vehicle, crossed to the elevator and pushed the button to call the car down. He stepped into the elevator then paused, looking out into the empty garage. He had a brief premonition that he wasn’t alone in the large cavernous space then shook it off and pushed the button for his floor. When the car stopped, he left the elevator and walked to the break room to make the first pot of coffee for the day.

Back down in the basement, the man in black opened the driver’s door of Jay’s Ford Expedition and released the hood. He went around in front of the vehicle and found it to be a tight squeeze with the bumper close to the concrete wall but he managed to release the safety catch and raise the hood. He took a small flashlight from his coat pocket and leaned in over the engine. He found what he was looking for attached to the firewall on the opposite side. He walked around the back of the vehicle, ducked under the hood and looked closely at the device then carefully touched it. Magnets holding it, he thought. He grabbed it firmly in his right hand and pulled it loose. He directed the light from his flashlight over the device, making a careful examination then closed the hood with his left hand. He went back around to the driver’s side and locked the vehicle’s doors.

Jay took his topcoat off and threw it over a chair. He sat down to wait for the water to run through the coffee grounds and his hand automatically went to his left breast shirt pocket for his pack of cigarettes. None there! He was panicked for a moment as his hands went to his suit jacket pockets. He found them in the right pocket, pulled them out and shook out a cigarette. The first of the day. What’s with the panic, he thought. It would do you good if you left them back at the apartment. Might cut down on the number. He had thought about quitting several times but that was as far as it went. He searched in his pants pocket for his disposable butane lighter, lit up the Lucky and noticed the coffee was done. He poured a cup, grabbed up his topcoat and started for his office.

He turned on the overhead lights as he went through the door and was startled by someone sitting in his chair behind the desk.

Christ, you scared me, Jay said. What the hell you doing in here?

The man in black from the basement ignored Jay. He leaned forward and carefully placed the explosive device on the desk. He pulled a wire loose from the timing device then leaned back in the chair.

This place could use some improvements in security. This was under the hood of your vehicle, the man said.

Jay moved to the desk, set his coffee cup on the surface and reached for the bomb. He carefully picked it up.

Where did you say you found this? Jay said.

Attached to the firewall of your Ford. It was set to go off at quarter to eight. Seems like whoever put it there wasn’t too bright. Best way to get the job done would be to wire it into the ignition. Would have gone off when you engaged the starter, the man said.

C-4? Jay asked him.

Looks more like Semtex but could be C-4 although C-4 is kind of dated. Whoever put it there didn’t do his homework on you.

And you have? Jay responded.

The man took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. He leaned back looking at Jay.

"You are Jay Sand, one of four assistant district attorneys for Harris County. You were born November 2, 1968 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Jonathon Lee Sand and Mary Elizabeth Mier Sand. You went through grade school at Jefferson Elementary, junior high at Buchanan Middle School and graduated from Central High School. You were ranked 26t out of 431 students. You started college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln but dropped out when your father was killed in a plane crash on Christmas Day. You have one sister, Betty Marie who lives with your mother in Lincoln. She works for a bank holding company and has a good, well paying position.

You joined the army after your father’s death and took to the military very well. You took ranger training and became very good with a pistol or a rifle. You’re an expert in hand-to-hand combat and you have kept in good physical shape since you left the army.

You spent some time in army intelligence work; rose to the rank of sergeant, earned a couple medals and four commendations then left the army. You returned to the university, got your degree, went on to law school then took your bar exam. You took a job with the largest law firm in Lincoln, worked there a little less than a year then took the job down here. You live in an apartment, drive a new Ford Expedition, you have a little over eight hundred in your checking account, you’re not married and I don’t remember anything about a woman in your life," the man said.

Jay was now sitting on a chair by the door. He thought about what the man had just told him but wasn’t alarmed. He had put together such information on several individuals when he was in the army.

Who are you and why this interest in me? Jay said.

It looks like maybe someone wants you dead, he responded.

Who? I haven’t been here long and most of my time has been spent right here in this office. There is no way I could have pissed off anyone enough to want to blow me into little pieces, Jay said.

When was the last time you had any contact with Elliot Reese? the man said.

A woman’s voice from the intercom on Jay’s desk interrupted his response.

Jay, you in there? she said.

Jay left his chair and crossed to the desk. He touched the intercom button and picked up the receiver.

Yea, good morning, he said. What brings you in so early?

The district attorney set up a staff meeting for seven. He called after you left last night. I came in early to gather up what you might need for the meeting, she said.

Jay looked up to speak to the stranger and saw he was gone. He put the phone down and went out into the hallway. No one. He walked down the hall to his secretary’s office and stood in the doorway.

Did you see someone just come by here? he said.

No. I thought I heard you talking with someone when I came in. Who was it? she said.

I thought maybe you could tell me, he said.

Jay turned and went back to his office. He went around the desk and sat down. He reached out and picked up the bomb, turning it around in his hands as he looked at how it was put together. He heard Nadine coming. He pulled out the left bottom desk drawer and put the bomb there, closing it as she came through the door.

You didn’t tell me what you might need for the meeting? she said.

I don’t have a clue. The boss never mentioned a thing about a meeting this morning. I’ll just have to wing it, Jay said.

He watched her as she turned and left the office. Her name seemed to be sitting on his tongue. Nadine. Pretty name. Fits her very well, he thought. Luck was with him when she came with the job. She was very nice to look at. She was smart and pleasant to everyone. She anticipated what he needed and was always well ahead of him, no matter what came up. His relationship with her had been cordial from the start. She was always well dressed; her clothes a big part of the sensual image she projected. He had been told that she was a widow who was raising a nine-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy. Her husband died young and he had yet to hear what he died from. Carnal thoughts always found a way into his brain when he paused and took a good look at her but he had never given her any indication of this. Keep it business like he thought.

His attention came back to the bomb. He wondered what it would have been like if it had gone off with him in the car. Would he have felt anything? He was staring out the window behind his desk when the intercom rang.

Her buddy, you down there? he heard his boss say.

He spun around in his chair and picked up the phone.

Morning boss, you know what time it is? he responded.

Look, smart ass, I can come in before ten if I put my mind to it. Come up, he said.

Jay put the phone back and headed for the door. He took the stairs to the third floor and walked back to the district attorney’s office.

Most of the third floor was the domain of the court system. The courtroom was large with a raised platform for the judge’s chair and bench, a dozen comfortable chairs for the juries and seating for about sixty in the audience. There were four small offices for attorneys to use, a large office for the traveling district judges and on the north side of the building, directly over Jay’s office was the largest and most lavishly furnished office in the courthouse, the district attorney’s office.

Walter Beddel had been district attorney for eleven years. He was a large, gregarious individual. Jay had never met anyone like him. He was in his middle fifties somewhere. He was a buoyant extrovert who never just talked to people but overwhelmed them with his booming voice and disarming charm. Walter was a true politician. He expected his staff to carry the workload and make the day-to-day decisions as they sorted through the mundane tasks of the job. Everyone knew when the problem was big enough to take to the boss.

Morning Jay. Pour yourself a cup and park your butt, the D.A. said.

Jay took the pot from the warmer on the credenza behind the D.A.’s desk, filled his cup then sat in one of the comfortable chairs facing the large antique desk. He lit a cigarette and waited for his boss to give him his attention.

I’ve got the troops coming in at 7:00 for a staff meeting. I want to be out of the office some next week so thought I’d get the bi-weekly review done today. Something else. I got a call last night at home from some guy by the name Elliot Reese. He said he works for the federal government. Didn’t say which department, just that he’s a fed. Anyhow, he tells me he’s got an investigation going on one of our locals, Walter Evans. He said Evans is connected to the Leonetti crime family based in Philadelphia. This Reese says he’s coming out here Monday to fill us in on what he’s doing but the purpose of the call is that he wants surveillance on Evans until he can put someone in place. He also said he knows you, the D.A. said.

Is it normal for the feds to ask for locals to keep an eye on someone they’re interested in? Jay said.

I’m suspicious as hell buddy. First off, the feds never let us locals in on anything they do. Second, they would have their people watching this Evans and never tell us but you didn’t answer me. You know this guy or not? the D.A. said.

If it’s the Elliot Reese I knew, he was a big pain in the ass captain in the army back when I was in the service, Jay said. He claimed to be with army intelligence but I had the feeling he was with one of the covert shops like NSA or CIA. He definitely had his own agenda.

Well, I asked the police chief and the sheriff to the meeting. You think we should put any time into watching Evans? the D.A. said.

Who is Walter Evans? Jay responded.

Oh yea, I keep forgetting you’re new around here. Walter Evans owns the local Ford agency, the Ramada Inn up on the highway, half a dozen commercial properties and some rental housing. The guy is a flashy dresser who tries to pass himself off as smart and cultured but he’s really dumb as a post. He came out here from the East. The few times I ever had a conversation with him he spoke with a Brooklyn accent. No one really knows a hell of a lot about the guy. I suppose that’s because no one ever took him very serious, the D.A. said.

Jay was about to respond when the office started to fill up. The other assistant district attorneys came through the door followed by the Harris county sheriff, Ted Greason and the Harrisburg police chief, Charley Gray. The sheriff was wearing civilian clothes that looked to be at least one size too big for him. He appeared to be a mild mannered individual who was probably comfortable serving civil papers and loafing down at the coffee shop with his friends. He had several deputies who worked the county but their criminal investigations were few and far between. Jay had never met the sheriff.

Chief Charles N. Gray was completely different. He was a tall, African-American dressed in full uniform. He was very neat in appearance and projected quiet strength. He had a well-earned reputation as an honest, efficient and very intelligent policeman. The mayor, from a list of sixty applicants, had picked him for the job. He had found Jay in his office the first day he came in for work, making a special trip to meet the new assistant district attorney and to pledge his help and co-operation in getting him started in his new position.

The other three assistant district attorneys were all older than Jay, each had several years of trial experience and they all could make more money in private practice. None of them needed the money and found their calling on the prosecution side of the courtroom. Walter Beddel had handpicked them all and he thought highly of each one. They spoke to the D.A. as they took their places around the table then greeted Jay. The D.A. started the meeting by telling them of his call from the fed, Elliot Reese.

I’m not going to get very excited about Evans until we know more but it wouldn’t hurt to check on the guy so I guess we put some people out there to keep an eye on him until we know more. Sheriff, since this will be in the city we’ll have Charley look into it. You got enough people chief? the D. A. said.

If you want us to keep an eye on his house, the auto shop and the motel we can handle it, the chief said, running numbers through his head as he spoke. He had forty-eight uniformed officers and eight detectives. His department was well organized, his people well trained and he was proud of them.

Fine, set it up. We find the guy is what I think he is we can soon pull back to just the house later on. Stay a few minutes until we finish up will you chief, the D.A. said.

He turned his attention to his assistants and went through the pending cases, agreeing with what they were doing. The meeting was over, he announced.

I need to talk with you and the chief, Jay said. Should I come back?

Now is fine buddy. What’s on your mind? the D.A. responded.

Jay told them about his visitor and the bomb the guy took from his car. He said this stranger knew a lot about his background and he mentioned Elliot Reese.

Well Jesus H. Christ, the D.A. responded, his booming voice almost a shout. Some son of a bitch is trying to knock off one of my boys right here in the God damn courthouse. What the hell you working on that someone wants you dead?

Nothing I’m aware of that merits a bomb, Jay responded.

The D.A. was quiet for a few moments as he regained control of himself. He was furious that someone was stupid enough to go after one of his people. It didn’t matter that it was not directed at him personally. By God if anybody messed with his people they messed with him.

Okay, the way I see it is we treat this like any other case of attempted homicide with an exception or two. Chief, you start an investigation. Get this bomb from Jay and see what it is, the D.A. said.

You sure Walter? This might be the sheriff’s domain, being here in the courthouse, the chief said.

The damn thing was probably put on Jay’s car at home. That makes it your jurisdiction. You know how to handle this chief. The sheriff doesn’t usually get into anything complicated. Get the state patrol involved if you need them, the D.A. said.

Describe this visitor, the Chief said.

A guy about six feet and probably weighs about one eighty. He was dressed in warm clothing, an old navy watch cap, a heavy coat like the old navy P coats and work boots. All of it black. He’s probably in his fifties; he has dark brown hair that he had cut short, military style. He’s one of those guys who projects quiet strength. Someone like you chief. I’m certain he would be very dangerous if provoked. I’m sure he was carrying a piece under his clothing. He smoked and field stripped his cigarette butt when finished. He has to be in the military, Jay said.

What do you mean he was like me? the chief said.

Aren’t you aware of the invisible aura of quiet strength you have all around you, Jay said, a smile on his face.

Write it up Jay and get it to the chief, the D.A. said. Assign an officer to work with him chief and get him a gun to carry. If someone tried once and missed, they may try again.

I don’t need a bodyguard, boss, Jay said.

The hell you don’t. Do like I tell you, you may thank me later, the D.A. said.

Jay left when they finished and went back down stairs. Nadine followed him into his office, carrying a pile of paper.

Here’s the latest batch, she said. Are you okay? You look pale?

I’m okay. The boss put me on a new project and you know me. I get a little up tight until something new gets organized, he said.

Well, if you say so, she said.

Jay moved to the window as she left. He stood looking down on the square. He was thinking back to the time he spent with Elliot Reese.

Chapter 2

He had just finished ranger training and was posted to Fort Benning, Georgia. He wondered around the sprawling complex for a week with nothing to do, waiting for his assignment. He was about to ask someone if the army had forgotten him when he was summoned to the base commander’s office. He expected to go before one of the captains commanding line companies, as he was certain he would be assigned to such a unit.

He reported to a first sergeant sitting at the only desk in the outer office. The sergeant told him to find a seat and wait. Twenty minutes later a major came looking for him.

You Sand? the major asked him.

Jay came to his feet and responded in the affirmative.

Come with me, the major said.

Jay followed him out of the building and out onto the street. The major crossed the busy thoroughfare, dodging around vehicles and heading across a large grass covered field. Jay hurried to keep up with him.

You had breakfast yet? the major said.

Yes sir!

Well, I haven’t. You just tag along and have some coffee, he said.

After a two-mile hike, Jay followed the major through the front door of the mess hall. The mess attendants behind the long food service cases were cleaning up from breakfast. Jay expected them to tell the major he was too late for breakfast but that didn’t happen. Someone must have been expecting him or it was his usual time to arrive as a corporal followed them to a table and placed two plates of food down in front of the major. The corporal left and soon came back with two hot cups of coffee. The major offered Jay his hand and the handshake was almost bone crushing.

My name is Leonard Rose. Most who know me well call me Lennie. You being enlisted will have to address me by rank. You have a very good file. I figure you want a line company job but that will have to wait a while. I want to give you some exposure in intelligence work. You have a problem with that? the major said.

This a loose conversation or orders? Jay said.

Say what you want, the major responded.

What’s involved in this intelligence work?

Don’t get your skivvies in a bunch. It won’t be complicated. I need someone I can trust to help with a delicate situation. I also need a new face. You’re a new face. Can I trust you? the major said as he stuffed a fork full of eggs in his mouth and washed it down with coffee.

You don’t know me so there is no way I could convince you one way or the other. I can trust my instincts or take the army line and accept your orders. I’ll go with my instincts which tell me you might be an honest spook, Jay said. Yea, you can trust me.

I’m not a spook. I’m army intelligence but no one calls us spooks. That title is for anyone dumb enough to get mixed up with the covert cruds like CIA or NSA. Okay, this is what I have in mind for you. I’m going to put you with Master Sergeant Lonnie Strauser. He’s been around a long time. He will expose you to much of what we do. You will spend a couple weeks in the office getting a feel for the operation then you go out in the field. We’re working on a deal, which has to be kept very quiet. You put up with the boring part and in a couple weeks I’ll fill you in on what I want from you, the major said.

Jay felt someone standing behind his chair. He turned around and looked up at a tall, muscular master sergeant. The sergeant’s uniform was immaculate, pressed with creases in all the right places; army regulation haircut and boots reflecting the high gloss only hours of work can produce.

This is Sergeant Strauser. Lonnie, meet Jay Sand. You go along with the sergeant now Jay. I’ll talk with you again after a few days, the major said.

Jay spent the next two weeks at a desk in the basement of a large brick building. He was exposed to intelligence briefing papers and spent hours reading. He was then sat down in front of a computer and instructed to find his way through the maze of files, passwords and coded intelligence. After two days he had a basic idea of how the system was organized and was ready for what came next. Sergeant Strauser would give him a name and tell Jay to find the guy in the system and gather up everything he could find into a working file. Much to Jay’s surprise, it soon became interesting work.

Two weeks to the day he started, Sergeant Strauser woke him at 5:00 a.m. and told him to dress in field gear. He took Jay through the breakfast line at the mess hall then rode with him out to the gun range.

You any good with a handgun? the sergeant asked him.

I’ve used the .45 a little, Jay responded.

You hit anything with it?

Three out of five, Jay said.

Let’s see if you can do a little better, the sergeant said.

The sergeant took an automatic from a dozen handguns lying on the bench behind the firing line inside the long building.

This is a Beretta 9 millimeter. It’s smaller than the .45 with much less recoil. It’s easier to conceal. Here is some ammo. Lets go outside and try it, the sergeant said.

Jay followed him out to the firing line; he filled the clip, shoved it into the base of the gun, jacked in a shell and emptied the clip on the target.

Again, the sergeant said.

Jay kept firing until he had used up the box of shells. The sergeant handed him another box of shells and a round noise suppressor. He showed Jay how to attached the silencer then stepped back. Jay fired the clip then refilled it.

That silencer is only good for a small number of rounds then it burns out and gets louder than hell. You use it much just toss it away. You know what the major has in mind with this field work? the sergeant said.

Not a clue, Jay responded.

Let’s find a nice quiet place and I’ll tell you what I can. Bring the piece, the sergeant said.

Jay followed him back inside the building and across to an office in the corner. The sergeant closed the door and pointed to a chair.

What I say stays between us. I don’t know how much Major Rose will tell you but you need to know a few things to give you an edge. The major is going to put you into an intelligence team that is working a deal that will take you to the base we have in Frankfurt. The boss of the team will be a guy by the name Elliot Reese. Captain Elliot Reese. Now as far as everyone around here is concerned, this Reese is supposed to be working intelligence just like the rest of us but I don’t think so. I think the bastard is CIA or something like that. He’s into all kinds of shit. Comes and goes when he pleases and doesn’t seem to answer to anyone around here. First thing you do is watch your back. Don’t trust this Reese or anyone who works for him. Now the way I got it figured is Reese is dirty. The trip over is to infiltrate a black market operation involving the Germans and some bad ass Russians. Some of our people are selling all kinds of government material to the Germans who are passing it on to the Russian Mafia. You’ve surely heard the term Russian Mafia." Someone hung this title on a bunch of Russian crooks who became organized when the Soviet Union broke up. These people are into everything, theft, drugs, and murder when it suits them.

This Reese is supposed to have a meeting set with the Germans who can finger who all are involved on our end. As I said before, don’t trust this guy. He’s black ops and those spooks will sell you down the river in a minute if it helps what they want. This guy Reese has to be the worst of the worst. Now, I may have spilled too much of this but something tells me you’re no fool. Just don’t believe everything you see or hear and cover your ass at all times. You hang onto that piece. I’ll give you some more spare clips and a couple suppressors before you take off," the sergeant said.

Two days later, the major called Jay to