AK 239: The Enemy Is Already Here

“We’ve all become more enlightened since President Obama’s Hiroshima speech earlier this year that called on the world to ban nuclear weapons. At that time, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, agreed. However since then, Japan has become concerned that the United States would be the only major power in the world to commit to “No First Use.” Meaning the United States would not be the first to use nuclear weapons in the event of a crisis. Many countries such as Japan rely on the United States as an umbrella to help protect them against aggression from their neighbors. Without that umbrella, Japan and others, are threatening to develop their own nuclear weapons. Russian President Ivan Mironovich has stated that Russia would not sign an agreement pledging no first use.”

I just didn’t really pay much attention to global politics.

Again, looking back, I should have.

The phone rings so I turn off the TV and answer the phone,

“Denning.”

For agents that didn’t know me, I used only my last name, as sometimes that was the only name on my reports.

“Ya, okay, I’ll be right down.” I hung up, grabbed my trusty, black drab, parka, and handcuffs, holstered my Glock 23, .40 Cal, and headed out the door.

Outside the rain had stopped but looked like it could pour at any time, typical of Ketchikan and Portland.

Feels like home.

Sitting at the dock across the street from the New York Hotel was a fifty-eight foot Northern Jaegar.

His “boat” had barely squeezed into the Thomas Basin, boat moorings and docks. Our ride had managed to back his fishing boat right up to the Stenson Bayside Float which I could see from my hotel window.

The crazy guy has red and green Christmas lights all over his boat.

It seemed there were more Christmas lights on the boats than on the businesses and homes!

But I did see a Totem Pole with Christmas lights.

So I walked across the street to the docks. As I walked toward the boat the captain was standing on the dock, which had the smell of creosote. The captain had the smell of diesel and alcohol.

The captain was talking with who, I hope, is my partner for the day. She looks much better in person than her mug shot in the FBI database.

Her black hair looks to be tucked in a tight bun and well hidden.

She stood out like a sore thumb. A beautiful woman, all dressed up and talking with this crusty old fisherman with a cane.

I sure hope she isn’t a tourist but instead is my Profile Softening Partner (PSP) for the day.

The PSP was an acronym I made up that spread throughout the FBI like wildfire. In my Navy SEAL days with Black Squadron several operators, both men and women, had been paired so as to not stand out in surveillance and espionage. Black Squadron is the only SEAL unit that currently has women.

I quickly slap myself back to reality as I introduce myself.

“John Denning, Special Agent, Portland FBI.”

Jennifer shook my hand and replied, “Jennifer Tavana, Special Agent, Juneau FBI and this is Jack Tanner and his partner, Mike Gardener, is on the boat somewhere.”

I then say, “So you guys didn’t have anything better to do on Christmas Eve either?”

Jack ignores my insult saying, “Three hours out. Three hours back. Assuming the weather holds.”

I’m a bit concerned, “And if it doesn’t?”

“The weather across the Clarence Strait can turn on a dime. If I see the line of death, I’m not crossing. The swells can go from nothing to 25 feet or more in no time.”

“I’ve looked at a map. Isn’t that side of the island protected from the Gulf of Alaska?” I ask.

Jack smiles, “That Strait acts like a funnel. When the tide is going out and a storm is coming in wave frequency is amplified. On the other hand, I looked at the weather, we’ll be back before dark, right Lieutenant-Commander?”

Jack is looking at Jennifer and I now realize that I read about this woman when I was in the Navy.

She’s the first woman to command a U.S. submarine!

Girls shouldn’t be doing some “men” things (As you’ll see, this philosophy will come back to bite, torture and nearly kill me!)

For now, I’ll pretend not to know. The Navy Times said, “Lieutenant-Commander Jennifer Tavana wasn’t just the first woman to command a U.S. submarine, she also made it to commander in the shortest amount of time.”