Chapter 3
This time for dinner she dresses a little more sexy but informal, and she sees that he notices. They discuss the particulars, and she is instructed to not say a word about the mutant soldiers or the real reason she and Kevin are there. "I will have to fill him in. He doesn't always know when to shut up." Cassandra smiles so Darius will know she means that in the warmest way possible. She wouldn't be bringing him if she didn't value his opinion and professionalism in some way. “So have you been briefed on what the mission is in Colombia? Why your team is being sent?”
“I was told a shipment of uncut diamonds was intercepted by some rebels. The shipment was meant for a CIA planted drug ring operative as payment for some new brand of cocaine being introduced into America. The ‘mutant soldiers’ as you call them, are going in first to neutralize the rebel group and then we go in to secure the shipment. I can’t tell yet if this new cocaine is purposely being allowed into America by the CIA or they are trying to stop it.”
“So this is another mission that you feel you may not be working for the good guys? I always thought it was pretty shady for our government to be so intertwined with Colombian drug lords, but then again, having undercover operatives is probably the best way to gain intel about them,” adds Cassandra.
“Yes it is, but when you are continuing to allow shipments into America for years upon years, it’s hard to believe that ending the drug trade is really their ultimate goal.”
Cassandra thinks back to a news story she helped put together for a coworker a few years back about Master Sergeant Atkinson who was convicted of drug trafficking during the Vietnam War. Although the story was centered on the corrupt Army sergeant, Cassie became more interested in Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and the discovery that the Gulf of Tonkin incident was a false flag operation. She continued her own research into the Vietnam War and this became her introduction into large government conspiracies later proved to be true. Until this, she had assumed them all created by paranoid citizens believing big brother was out to get them. Cassie was fully aware now though. She understood how Darius felt; becoming disillusioned that the career you’ve chosen is serving the great illusion created by the controlling elite. They both felt they were fighting for freedom and liberties, Darius directly and Cassandra by making sure the general public was properly informed. Mostly recently, even though there have always been corruption at all levels, the motivations of those in power have been more overtly revealed almost to the point of arrogance. They weren’t even attempting to hide much these days.
“The statistics have shown that this War on Drugs has increased drug use worldwide. I really believe the creation of this idea of waging war on drugs was merely to create a stream of governmental funding under the guise of an idea all good wholesome Americans could easily support. What their ultimate goal was, I don’t know, but it’s obvious that ending the drug trade was not it.” Cassandra could feel that familiar frustration and anger with her government surfacing. It was a struggle to keep it under wraps all the time. Since Darius was being open with her, she would return the trust.
“I’m sure you are full of various facts and statistics huh? In your line of work I mean, you are exposed to a wide range of information. I have my own theories, but do not want to plant any ideas in your head. Please, just follow where the evidence takes you.” Darius was determined to let Cassandra form her own beliefs on the situations he has been faced with. It was possibly that he was being paranoid; at least he really hoped that was the case. “I think though for this mission, we should just focus on the ‘mutant soldiers’. Gather as much evidence on them, then try and decipher what they might be. That could help us discover why the government uses them.”
“Well, we have to start somewhere and if they are sent on many of these shady missions, they must be connected to it. I will let Kevin know to bring a variety of information gathering tools and tell him the goals for the trip. It is getting late, and I have to get some work done this week and it looks like tomorrow will be my only chance.” Cassandra is reluctant to end the evening but she has writing to do. She takes another sip of her wine and stands. Darius, being a gentleman, walks her out.
Deciding to be a little more revealing with Darius, Cassandra says, “It really is nice seeing you again, Darius. I’ve missed you, more than I think I let myself admit.” She gets a little embarrassed and looks down at the ground.
He lifts her chin up so to look in her eyes. “I’ve missed you too Cassie,” and he kisses her gently on the forehead. She closes her eyes and breathes in deeply. “Good night and I will see you Thursday.” She nods her head slightly and turns to hail a cab. He opens the door for her and then watches as she disappears into the night.