The Lottery Council: Chapter 10 – Dr. Winstead Summons

Ann and David continued their daily walks in order to plot the best way of approaching Jim. This was going to be a difficult task that would take some finesse -- Jim trusted his boss. Being in charge of the family finances, Ann had begun transferring a small portion of their investments into precious metals and cryptocurrencies, selling it to Jim as a "hobby." He didn't mind, it gave her a feeling of financial autonomy as well as giving her something to do, they had the money now and who knows, someday it might all pay off.

As she and her brother walked the enthusiastic Bart, they were careful to keep their voices low, aware that they were under constant surveillance. The ever-present van was parked somewhere adjacent to their property -- one day it was Ralph's Plumbing, then Ace Electric, the next. Same van, same color, same plates, only the sign changed. It became a standing joke between them. The time to inform Jim was drawing ever closer. According to Jack, Metzger and the other conspirators must be close to knowing exactly what was happening with the Nolans and before long they would act.

Several hundred miles away, Leyland Masters departed a private jet at Reagan International Airport in Washington D.C.. He took a cab to an address in an upscale Georgetown neighborhood, barely noticing the scenery on his way. He had been summoned to the home of Dr. Carl Winstead. Ascending the stairs, he rang the bell: The door was answered by a middle-aged woman in a maid's uniform...

"Mr. Masters to see Dr. Winstead," he told the maid.

"Come in Sir," she said. "Right this way, Dr. Winstead is expecting you."

"Leyland," a voice boomed from the next room. "Come on in."

Dr. Carl Winstead was a tall stately black man. His voice was deep, rich and melodious. Carl Winstead, MD, JD, Ph.D, held several advanced degrees. He also sat on the board of some of America's most prestigious corporations. After escaping poverty in the slums of Philadelphia, he had gone to college on athletic scholarships where he proved himself to be intellectually intimidating as well as gifted athletically. It was through sheer will that he had risen from obscurity. By his 50th birthday he was a scion of Washington D.C.'s political and social elites, a patron of the arts, as well as many successful politicians... he was one of the most powerful movers and shakers in the country. He was also the National Director of the Council and it was council business that had prompted Dr. Winstead to summon Leyland to his palatial Georgetown home.

"Leyland," he said, offering his outstretched hand, "how long has it been?" He answered his own question, "far too long. How's Margaret and the kids, they must be almost grown by now? Please, have a seat. Something to drink, coffee, tea?"

"Nothing, thanks," Leyland answered. He was feeling more than a little uncomfortable. Carl Winstead didn’t summon people just to talk about the weather, something must be wrong.

"I'll come right to the point, Leyland. Do we have a problem? Metzger isn't liking what's going on in your district. Of course, Metzger doesn't like anything." Winstead smiled and went on: "How much of a threat is this Nolan fellow’s brother-in-law and how much damage control are we going to need? You know we don't like complications, and you need to keep your house in order."

"I don't think there's a problem at all, certainly not with Jim... Nolan, that is. He's on board, 100%," Leyland tried to sound reassuring, he liked Jim and certainly didn't want "complications" himself.

"But, what about this brother-in-law, Russell? Metzger doesn't like him and foresees problems with him." Winstead retrieved a manila folder from his desk. It contained photos from inside the Nolan home, but more damning were the pictures of David and Ann on their walks, heads together whispering conspiratorially.

"He's harmless... just one of those conspiracy nuts. Nothing to worry about, Jim says the same thing. Nobody Takes him seriously. Besides, he's supposed to be moving away to Nebraska, Kansas, something like that, for a job." Leyland was getting more nervous. He didn't like being called on the carpet like this.

"I'm going to have Metzger keep a closer eye on this situation. You know we don't tolerate mistakes; there's too much at risk and the stakes are too high. This isn't a personal reflection on you, Leyland, but Nolan is your man, you vouched for him and he’s your responsibility. You've always exercised good judgment in the past and we don't want any complications now... things are going too well."

'No personal reflection on me,' thought Masters glumly... that's exactly what it was. Leyland could see he was being dismissed and rose to leave. The plane ride home wouldn't be a pleasant one.

Jim’s Epiphany

After several frantic walks, Ann and David thought they had devised a plan that would work for bringing Jim into the loop. There was a farm out on the Arlington/Lexington line where Jim and Ann had spent many pleasurable afternoons having picnics while dating in college. The farmer never minded, in fact he encouraged the young lovers to use his property. This property would come in handy now, but for a much different purpose. A short walk from the road, through a narrow strip of woods brought you to a huge field, in the middle of which was a solitary tree, a large elm that was the perfect spot for picnicking. It was far away from prying eyes and also provided a perfect vantagepoint for Ann to watch for possible interlopers. It would also be well out of reach of any parabolic surveillance equipment, provided they kept their voices low. David was to take the kids to a movie they had been wanting to see. Ann and David were certain they would be followed, but everything should turn out fine... providing that Jim could be made to understand the gravity of the situation.

The Saturday they chose was a perfect New England Autumn day. The leaves were just beginning to change colors and the temperature was just right for an afternoon picnic. When broached with the prospect, Jim readily agreed -- between work and council business he and Ann had little time together. It seemed like the perfect romantic getaway. They drove from their Winchester neighborhood to the isolated spot where they had parked so many years ago; it had been nearly 20 years since they had been there but nothing had changed. When leaving, Ann noticed an unfamiliar vehicle fall in behind them a few cars back – they wouldn't be alone today, she thought to herself.

They departed the car and began through the strip of woods. Ann looked around cautiously watching for any sign of the car that had followed, she was sure it was there, she just wasn't certain where. As they got to the expansive field she was relieved to see the farmer putting about on his tractor. He had aged, but was a welcome sight to the apprehensive Ann, he was familiar although it had been many years. He spied them exiting the wood and headed their way.

"It's the young lovers," he said with a grin.

"You remember us?" Jim inquired.

"Oh sure," was the response," don't get much company out here. Back for another picnic?" He said with a wink.

"We're married now," Ann broke in. "Just reliving old times. It's wonderful to see you after all these years – gives you a sense of familiarity."

"Well, you folks just enjoy yourselves," the old farmer said with another wink. "I'm done here and headin back to the barn. You got the whole place to yourselves."

I hope so, thought Ann. "Thank you very much. It really is wonderful to see you after so many years."

"Come back any time... bring the kids."

"We will," said Jim. It would be a nice place to bring them for a nature walk, if he could keep them off their cellphones long enough.

They walked to the big elm in the middle of the field and Ann spread their blanket out like she had done so long ago. She dreaded what was coming, but there was no turning back now... too much depended on her ability to make Jim understand their situation clearly. She had rehearsed what she would say so many times -- she said a silent prayer that it would all go well. After reaching into the cooler, she opened them each an ice cold beer, she needed it to bolster her courage. After some small talk, Jim turned to her and looked into her eyes...

"You didn't just get me out here for a picnic," he said. "What's going on?"

Ann looked around for any sign of intruders; seeing none, she began. "You know that job interview David had in Arkansas?" She asked.

"Yeah," he said nodding, "I hope he gets it. It seems like he really wants the job and it will be good for him -- give him something to do, some sense of purpose."

"It wasn't a job interview," she gulped and went on, "it was about that council thing you're on... it's not at all what you think."

"What do you mean," Jim said, shaking his head. "What's he got his nose into this time... is this some more of his conspiracy stuff?"

Ann could see he was becoming angry. "Please, Jim, listen to what I'm saying, and please keep your voice down. This is serious, very serious... it means all of our lives, really." She was looking searchingly into his eyes. "Please, this is important. I can't even begin to tell you how important it is, but I have to try. I'm sure we were followed here and people are trying to listen to us, so please act naturally"

Jim sat up and looked around. He saw nothing. "Are you sure about all this?"

"Absolutely. David met with a man out there who knows everything that’s going on. A man who knows all about the council and what they really do. That man Metzger is a killer... and Leyland is involved as well." Ann stared into his eyes looking for some sign he believed her. "You know I'm the one you always call the practical one. I wouldn't make something like this up, and neither would David -- not something this serious. We're all in danger."

"Leyland?" Jim couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked up to Leyland Masters, he had become a mentor as well as his boss. He didn't want to believe it, but he also knew his wife. She was not someone given to flights of fancy like her brother often was. He lay back looking straight up into the cloudless sky. It was all too much, but if Ann was saying it, it must be true. "How much do you know?"

"Just what David has told me. He's in contact with the man in Arkansas, Jack something. They have some encrypted form of communication, so nobody can eavesdrop." She was beginning to feel better, knowing that Jim believed her. She needed him, more now than ever and she needed him to believe her, no matter how improbable the story seemed.

Jim thought for a moment, "Leyland," he repeated. Metzger he had no problem with, he didn't like him anyway, but his boss... “What else?" He asked

"The council doesn't select people to get experimental cancer drugs -- the council selects people to be given fatal forms of cancer – some sort of population control thing." Ann went on, laying out everything that David had told her. Jim listened intently as she searched his face for emotions as the story unfolded... there were none. "Another thing," she went on, "the house is bugged. We're under constant surveillance. Have you noticed that van that's always parked on the street in front?"

"Vaguely," he responded, deep in thought. "I've seen it there, but didn't pay any real attention."

"I think it has listening devices and maybe monitors for viewing inside the house."

"You mean they can see everything we do?" He asked incredulously. "Everything?"

"Pretty much," came the response. "David says even the yards. We can't mention any of this at home, or in the cars. That's why I wanted to bring you here... so I could tell you somewhere safe."

Jim covered his face with his hands and remembering he may be watched, he removed them quickly. "What can we do?' He asked meekly. He was going to have to depend on Ann for much now –Ann and her brother.

"Right now, just go on like nothing has happened. I've already begun transferring money into untraceable stuff. We're going to need more. According to this Jack, these people at the council are huge, incredibly rich and powerful... we can never stop them. We just need to focus on getting us and the kids out alive. Jack will help."

"So our lives depend on a guy we don't even know... Great!" Jim shook his head again. "Well, this has been a swell picnic," he grinned at her sickly.

She smiled back. "We can do this," she said. "We have to." They ate in silence, neither had much of an appetite. "There is something else," she said at last, "Jack needs the passwords to the council computers. If he's going to keep us alive, he needs to know as much as possible, and so do we."

Jim thought for a moment and reached for Ann's purse. After taking out an envelope, he wrote the passwords he knew. "This first one is for the state and district. The second is for the regional office. I hope this doesn't get us all killed."

"This Jack is supposed to be some master hacker. I'm sure he knows what he's doing... at least David thinks he does." Ann was beginning to pack up. Jim rose and helped. They looked into each other's eyes. "I love you," he said seriously, "Very, very much... and I'm so sorry I got you into this. I was just trying to help us and all those people out there." There were tears in his eyes. The enormity of what was happening was beginning to set in.

"I love you too Baby," she said back gently touching his cheek. She could see he was in an emotional state and needed all the support she could muster. He had always been her strength and now it was up to her to furnish enough strength for them both. Jim and the kids would need her more than ever now and she would not fail. "Very much – and it's going to be alright. We'll make it alright," she said, trying to convince herself as much as him.

The ride home was quiet, not only for fear of surveillance, but because both were deep in thought. Ann thought about their next move. Jim wondered about this Jack guy and how much they could trust him. They would have to depend more on David now, a prospect Jim wasn't very comfortable with. He liked David, even loved him as a brother, but there was the whole conspiracy thing. Then he remembered what Leyland had said: "Just because something is a conspiracy theory, doesn't mean there's nothing there." He felt worse. When they arrived home, he saw the van... Lurene's Catering, a new one, thought Ann wryly. What was a catering van doing parked in front of their house? The closest neighbor was 100 yards down the street... so it was true and they weren't being discreet anymore about letting them know.