THE SWORD AND SICKLE

PART TWO: DECEPTION

CHAPTER-FIVE

REPORT

©2017, Olan L. Smith

"So, Reuben, you are a few years younger than I am. My children are grown and have children of their own. My oldest is twenty-five, and my youngest is twenty-one. I have two grandchildren, ages two and a one-year-old."

That is great. My wife and I waited for a while before we had children. She wanted children, and I didn't, not at first. Now I couldn't imagine life without them. They are my pride and joy."

Greta knew that he was being straight with her and that he was a good man at heart. On the outside, he seemed to be a gun-ho, rugged agent, but she could sense a deep-seated insecurity. His lack of confidence was rooted in his inability to see the whole picture. He wondered what the purpose of life was. She also knew he had put his pistol to his temple and almost pulled the trigger when his wife told him it was time for him to move out and that he hadn't been intimate with a woman since. They arrived at the FBI D.C. offices, took the elevator up to Chief Detective Wescott's office, and walked in for the briefing.

Inside, waiting for them were Homeland Security Secretary Alderman, FBI Director Morgan, and the Chief Detective. As soon as they walked in, Homeland Secretary Alderman spoke. "Glad you two made it. We have a few things to go over before you head out. Morgan will address you first."

Director Morgan said, "The President needs someone on the inside of the followers of the Voice movement. You two are it. We are moving you two to the St. Louis area as a man and wife to join the church. You will present yourselves as two lost souls, looking for the meaning of life. Do you think you can handle it?"

Reuben answered in the affirmative, while Greta stated, "Sir, as you know, take a look! My name is everywhere. I doubt if I can hide and remain undetected."

The Chief Detective responded, "You will be undercover and change your appearance. When you are in public, you will be affectionate toward each other. What you do in your apartment will be at your discretion. We expect you to socialize and become friendly with members of the SDL. Go to their study groups and learn about their structure. I want you to know their beliefs and their goals, inside and out. Find out if they have a plan for some type of rebellion in reaction to Levi's capture. We know little about them. They may have people who know a lot about mental manipulation, so guard your thoughts. Act sincerely as a newly married couple who, in their mid-life, are seeking spiritual enlightenment. This is of vital importance if we are to crush any type of rebellion against the country. We need to know our enemy. Here are your new identities: Greta You are going to be an ex-teacher named Betty Freeman."

"Special Agent Casteel, Homeland Secretary, and I have borrowed your service from the CIA so you can work legally within the borders of the United States, and your new identity will be George Freeman, and we have reserved a position at the Brentwood post office for your cover, and you will live in an apartment at 1051 Brentwood Drive. Inside these envelopes are more details of your new life. Any questions?"

Reuben asked, "How long will we be undercover?"

Morgan replied, "As long as it takes."

Assistant Chief Detective Greta asked, "What about my meeting with the President for lunch?"

"You will tell people you are going to a funeral. We will pick you up then and bring you to Washington to meet the President. The apartment is ready for you, and the two of you will pick up a van filled with furniture in Columbia, Missouri, and drive to Brentwood to set up your new lives. You will be the newlyweds from Columbia, as far as anyone in St. Louis knows," stated Morgan. "We have a plane waiting for you at Langley, and it will fly you to Columbia. The location of the moving company in Columbia is also in your packets. You will report to Langley at seven p.m. this evening. Now, I suggest you two get busy. You are going to St. Louis because Levi is from Missouri, and their largest group location is in St. Louis. It is also the location of their newspaper, The Voice. Now good day...and agents, you need to report makeup to receive your new look, and never appear to the public as anyone other than the characters you have been assigned."

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Finally, Claire got some sleep, fit as it was. As she walked into the White House, she rehearsed her report in her mind. As she entered the conference room, everyone had already arrived and awaited her appearance. She said, "Sorry if I am late, gentlemen. I have had a very busy agenda the last few days."

President Smithson replied, "Not at all, Madam Secretary; we were early. Have a seat. We are all interested in what you have to say. Claire didn't like his tone or the fact that they had convened before she arrived. She also wondered how the president felt about her after the ass-chewing she had given him last night.

"Mr. President, members of the Security Council, as you know, I have been very busy speaking with leaders around the world to organize a defense against the possible uprising of the SDL. I have found support from our allies in Europe and in the Middle East. Russia, China, and India have informed us they will handle all the risings as they occur. As you know, a large number of followers of The Voice in our country presents us with a problem. We will not be able to arrest or detain a large group because of religious freedom. We can only act in response to violations of the law. We also have to worry about a backlash against the group that may cause a large group to rise and put the law in their own hands.