{"id":2502,"date":"2023-11-23T01:17:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T01:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/?p=2502"},"modified":"2023-10-13T15:14:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:14:42","slug":"chap-52-a-failed-attempt-to-extricate-jane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/?p=2502","title":{"rendered":"Chap. 52 – A Failed Attempt to Extricate Jane"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 52<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Failed Attempt to Extricate Jane<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Tuesday, December 20, was a day of intense anxiety in Philadelphia  \u2013 no developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Up in Westport, at the \u201821st<\/sup> Century Big Pink House,\u2019 Huck got a call from Steve and heard the plan: \u201cSkip\u2019s doing the right thing.  At whatever point he has all the evidence he thinks he can get, he\u2019s going to the D.A. \u2013 even<\/u><\/em> if he doesn\u2019t have all the evidence he hopes to have, even<\/u><\/em> if he doesn\u2019t get Ken\u2019s sign-off to come forward.  So tell everybody up there to relax, practice your strumming.  Any ladies in the band up there?  I\u2019m thinking of bringing Phyllis to the party.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Patty and Sally were also apprised of developments.  \u201cYou forgot one thing, Steve,\u201d Patty interjected, \u201cI got a call from Rocky, they want us to start planning our next performance of the Rumpkins Theatre Troupe \u2013 have us all crashing whatever press conference announces the busts.  Plus, Jesse and Pirate Jack have been alerted to be ready for a gazillion hits once we make international headlines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Patty spent most that Tuesday sketching out the important points to be made when we crashed the press conference \u2013 if there was to be a press conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

——————————————————————————————————————-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Meanwhile, back on the west coast, Gordy (our erstwhile SLA member turned double-agent) had driven all night and half the next day, Sacramento to Vancouver, to rescue Jane, telling her he had a hide-away place all set.  Arriving in Vancouver, he called to set the rendezvous spot, but Jane told him, \u201cSorry Gordy, but I can\u2019t split just yet.  I\u2019m in on the final planning \u2013 they have even assigned a role for me in New York.  That\u2019s<\/em> where I\u2019m going next.  I\u2019ll call you back as soon as I know the final plans.  Stay in town – go check out Stanley Park, it\u2019s a great place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Oh<\/em> shit<\/em>!  Gordy thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     But at five o\u2019clock Vancouver time, Jane called back: \u201cI can get away for a while.  We need some groceries.  Meet me by the ATM machine at the West End Farmers Market in twenty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     It had been three years since he\u2019d last seen her.  He wondered if she looked the same or had taken up some disguise in her new role as a jihadi wannabe.  He planned to tell her the jig was up, that the cops were about to be clued in \u2013 maybe had been already \u2013 and that it was time to split, right<\/em> now<\/em>.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cHey Gordo,\u201d she said, surprising him, sneaking up behind him, \u201cIt\u2019s me, your old sweetheart.  Give me a hug.\u201d  She hadn\u2019t changed a bit, Gordy thought.  Still confident.  Still a flirt.  Still reddish hair and a freckled face.  Still preferring skirts to jeans.  The dark glasses were new though.  \u201cListen,\u201d she said, \u201cI\u2019ve only got a cuppla minutes.  Let\u2019s walk down by the seawall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cHow \u2018bout we go for a ride in my car instead?\u201d Gordy suggested, even though he knew he could never force her to leave against her wishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cNo, I\u2019ve gotta make this fast.  Listen to me carefully:  I\u2019ve lost the battle to do no harm, just strike terror.  The group doesn\u2019t think the baseball bombing got enough attention, or struck enough fear in the hearts of Americans.  This time they\u2019re insisting the bomb go off with maximum carnage.  They want people dead.  The latest thinking is to switch to Christmas Eve for the bombing, the midnight mass at St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral, or the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center a little earlier in the evening.  There\u2019s a warehouse in Brooklyn where the bomb\u2019s being assembled, but I don\u2019t have the address and it\u2019s still undecided who will be carrying the bomb or who will be the driver.  As soon as I know final details, I\u2019ll let you know.  Gotta run.  Gotta grab some groceries.  Gotta get back before I\u2019m gone too long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     After a dozen quick steps, she turned and said, \u201cBy the way lover-boy, I am looking forward to seeing you again.  I appreciate you driving all the way up to get me, but I\u2019ve got a plan to break away on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Heading back to California, Gordy debated just driving all the way to Mexico where he had a hide-away planned for him and Jane, and let the chips fall where they may as to whether the planned bombing pulled off, whether Jane would make it away \u2013 or, on the other hand – calling Ken with the latest developments.  They<\/em> still<\/em> think<\/em> it\u2019s<\/em> planned<\/em> for<\/em> New<\/em> Year\u2019s<\/em> Eve<\/em>,\u201d he thought.  They<\/em> might<\/em> not<\/em> go<\/em> to<\/em> the<\/em> cops<\/em> just<\/em> yet<\/em> \u2013 there\u2019s still time for Jane<\/em> to pull<\/em> off<\/em> whatever<\/em> she<\/em> has<\/em> in<\/em> mind<\/em>.  I<\/em> should<\/em> let<\/em> Jane<\/em> do<\/em> this<\/em> her<\/em> own<\/em> way<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Fifty miles later, traveling down Interstate 5, thinking about Camilla Hall, another one of his SLA friends \u2013 who was pretty much innocent of everything, but ended up being killed – he made up his mind to call Ken, thinking I\u2019ll<\/em> never<\/em> be<\/em> able<\/em> to<\/em> live<\/em> with<\/em> myself<\/em> knowing<\/em> some<\/em> innocent<\/em> people<\/em> are<\/em> dead<\/em> because<\/em> I<\/em> kept<\/em> my<\/em> mouth<\/em> shut<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     It was ten p.m. east coast time when Ken called Phyllis\u2019 house.  Steve had once again rocked Phyllis to sleep, and joined Skip, Rocky and Max who were still up, bemoaning the lack of developments.  \u201cYou\u2019re not going to believe this,\u201d Ken started, \u201cbut<\/em> the<\/em> day<\/em> for<\/em> the<\/em> bombing<\/em> has<\/em> changed<\/em>.  It\u2019s been switched to Christmas Eve!  Less than 100 hours from now!  Gordy just called me.  He\u2019d driven all the way to Vancouver to get Jane out of Rafferty\u2019s clutches, but she wouldn\u2019t leave, she\u2019s going to keep playing along so she can continue to get the inside skivvy \u2013 says as soon as she knows final details, she\u2019ll let Gordy know.  They\u2019re making the damn bomb right now \u2013 in Brooklyn!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cOh fuck!\u201d we all said in unison.  \u201cGive us what else you know, and then it\u2019s off to the cops,\u201d Rocky said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cHang on a second,\u201d Max said.  \u201cLet me get Lisa in on this call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     After Lisa got on the line, Ken continued giving us the latest: \u201cWell, Gordy says the timing on this is still important.  When \u2013 and what \u2013 we tell the cops might make the difference as to whether Jane gets away or not.  Plus, she\u2019s still planning to get more details for Gordy.  Of course she can\u2019t have Rafferty or anyone up there suspect she\u2019s turned.  She\u2019s planning on leaving for Mexico immediately before the bombing, somewhere no one will find her.  She did say she\u2019d appreciate any negotiation with the D.A. that they won\u2019t try to catch her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cOh, one more thing for now,\u201d Ken finished his alarming update with: \u201cGordy says he doesn\u2019t much care if they give him immunity or not.  He\u2019ll take his lumps if he has to.  He\u2019s just happy he decided to stay with us on this, wants us to do whatever we have to \u2013 to stop the bombing.  And if we\u2019re successful, he figures he\u2019ll wear the hero\u2019s mantle whether he\u2019s in prison or not, and he\u2019d love to tell a jury the whole story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cOkay, good enough,\u201d Skip said.  \u201cAt least I\u2019ve got something <\/em>to work with, to go to the D.A. with.  If Jane doesn\u2019t get anything more, she\u2019s got to be willing to tell Gordy where everybody can get rounded up sometime on the 24th<\/sup>.  Steve, get hold of the D.A.  Let\u2019s meet with him as soon as possible.  We have to start the negotiation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cGood,\u201d Ken said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cWhew,\u201d we all said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     After the call, Lisa and Max stayed on the line a little longer.  \u201cHey Rocky and Skip,\u201d Max yelled over to us, \u201cLisa\u2019s really worried:  What if their plans change again<\/em>, the bomb goes off even earlier<\/em> than what we\u2019ve been told, or somewhere<\/em> else, and because we waited, people are killed.  Don\u2019t hold out for every one of our demands. Don\u2019t wait any longer.   Give them everything at the first sit-down.  Get the FBI working on this ASAP!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cYeah, I\u2019ve thought about that,\u201d Skip said, \u201cbut without Jane\u2019s continued cooperation, we don\u2019t really have much of anything to go on except to cast a whole friggin’ dragnet from Vancouver to Brooklyn looking for Dougherty\/Rafferty and anybody who looks suspicious.  Or maybe the plan would be evacuating the entire Boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.  No, we\u2019ve got to wait it out at least one more day.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 52 A Failed Attempt to Extricate Jane      Tuesday, December 20, was a day of intense anxiety in Philadelphia  \u2013 no developments.      Up in Westport, at the \u201821st Century Big Pink House,\u2019 Huck got a call from Steve … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2502"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2502"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2502\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2818,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2502\/revisions\/2818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}