Chapter 15 All Hale
Jonah Hale couldn't believe what he had seen and heard in the Phillip's hotel room the prior night, but he knew his instincts were correct, the Phillips were indeed compromised as reliable partners in the development of more playtoys. His question now was more focused on who Marcus Kingsman is and how exactly does he fit into this scenario. He was waiting patiently, so far, for information, but that would only last so long. Hale wanted in formation from the field agent watching Kingsman, as well as from his top analyst. Hale was also ready to move on his updated mind control drug and programming, he just needed to finalize the logistics of the move.
Hale checked his email and found a message from Meeks, the analyst on the hunt for information about Marcus Kingsman, at the top of the queue. The message simply read, "Mr. Hale, I have information for you."
Hale called Meeks, and ordered him to his office immediately. No sooner had the young analyst entered the office that Hale said "what have you got for me."
Meeks was intimidated by Hale, and it showed in each encounter, and Hale loved to show his authority over the young analyst. Meeks showed intellect and potential, and Hale hoped the poking would harden the young man.
"Well, Mr. Hale," Meeks started, preparing to show information on the laptop Hale had given him to use for the job. "Marcus Kingsman didn't exist until about 10 years ago."
Hale looked at the data, and queried "how can you be sure?"
"Well, Mr. Hale, whoever did the work to make Marcus Kingsman exist did really great work." Meeks began. "I never would have noticed this if it wasn't for the time stamps."
"Explain," Hale ordered.
"Well Mr. Hale, if you weren't looking for anything you would never know anything was wrong. I mean the details are amazingly well done," Meeks said. "This hacker is a genius. Birth information, grade school and high school information, college information, all sync together, and all are flawless. The grade school and high school no longer exist, so corroborating evidence to his existence is not possible. His college information placed him in the middle of the pack, a forgettable student in a large school. Using the advanced timestamp options our company technology has access too, I was able to see that all this information was uploaded within a few days on this date 10 years ago."
"And you are sure of this, Meeks," Hale cautioned.
'Yes, Mr. Hale, I forwarded you the evidence before I came up here," Meeks said. "We have access to timestamped information. Take the college information, sir. One day there was no record of Marcus Kingsman in the system, we see that in this timestamp assessment. The next day, here he is."
"Good work, Meeks," Hale offered. Meeks smiled at the complement.
"I also accessed everything we can access, state, federal and local government sites, motor vehicle services, also completed a search of medical records," Meeks followed up.
"Anything interesting there?" Hale asked.
"Drivers licence from Tennessee, same week he began to exist," Meeks offered. "And also visits to different doctors regarding migraine headaches, for 5 years, started the time he got the drivers license."
"Anything else, Meeks?" Hale asked.
"No, sir, but whoever this hacker was, you should consider hiring them, they are that good. We were lucky the timestamp program helped us out," Meeks said.
"Well if we ever find out who that was, I will be sure to hire them,' Hale began. "Maybe as your supervisor, or your replacement, Mr. Meeks. Keep looking for whatever else you can find."
"Yes Mr. Hale," Meeks said as he hurriedly left the office.
**********
Lexi had hoped for a better day, as her previous day was, to say the least, trying. There was the internet incident and video, and her parents' constant messages and calls about that video, as well as her smoking and being seen kissing a girl. There was also the issue with Gianni, who would not take no for an answer and who had physically assaulted her before her Master saved her from harm. Just thinking about that was ironic, her master saving her from something bad. But her biggest disappointment was that Nikki had to bail on her, she had to complete a few loose ends on her senior thesis after meeting with her professor overseeing her project.
The other truth nagging at Lexi was that she really knew very little about the girl she was infatuated with, and wanted to change that. Her first task of the morning was calling and connecting with Nikki.
"Hey Nik, what's up?" Lexi said as her partner picked up the phone.
"Just trying to finish this senior thesis," the contest winner explained. "A few things I need to tie up."
"Well great, you get that done and maybe later I'll tie you up?" asked Lexi. "Pick you up at 5?"
"You're relentless," Nikki said, sighing deeply. "Yeah, I should be finished by then."
"Great! It's a date!" Lexi said. "I have big plans for us tonight! Sounds golden!"
**********
Kingsman was doing what he usually did, keeping to himself. He was always nervous and slightly intimidated by his ability, and he was always conscious of only trying to use the ability if he had to- and only for good causes. Justice for his sister was a good cause in his mind, but he was also realizing that being alone in this fight might not be the best idea, but he hoped the element of surprise was in his favor. He had set up his wind up toys, specifically James and Lexi Phillips, with specific instructions, and was sitting back watching the ensuing chaos within the family. Now he hoped that shaking this tree was going to yield results with the other players in the game, hoping nothing was going to fall directly on him as he shook that tree.
Hale's field agent was noticing a specific pattern, that Kingsman was normally alone, was not talking to people either in person or by phone, and seemed content to be this way. Kingsman was a daily grinder at the gym, working out daily to keep his body in fighting shape. The agent noticed little interaction with anyone, even at the gym, and his report was pretty boring, given Kingsman's desire to be alone. The audio from Kingsman's hotel suite was silence, which was developing into a steady, daily diet.
Hale, meanwhile, was checking up on his search for information regarding the DNA of Marcus Kingsman. Also in his inbox was an email from the DNA specialty company he had forwarded the Kingsman DNA to evaluate. The report concluded that this DNA, from Kingsman, was not in any database until now. Hale was very intrigued by the second note of the report:
"Sample 1 and sample 2 DNA share 52% features and are likely fraternal twins or siblings."
Hale sent the sample of Kingsman gained from his hotel suite by his agent, with one he had stored away from Alison Grant to be sample number 2. Hale had his answer- Kingsman was indeed the sibling of the woman he presumed had special talents, from the only case he found having merit in his ties leading the federal government's 'Specials" unit.
"Son of bitch, the prodigal has returned," thought Hale, as he now had proof of Kingsman's identity, but he was going to hold that information from anyone, at least for now. "So this explains what's happening to the Phillips, but what is his end game?"
Hale called a meeting for the top level of his research and development team for early evening. He was going to figure out Kingsman's plan, and set his new drug and training program in motion. He read the report sent by Dr. Alexander Mason that morning about the new drug. It's biggest upside was the immediacy it provided- instead of months of programming, the new drug could cut the programming time to hours in perfect conditions. Game changing results for slave traders. Hale also had a surprise in store for that meeting later in the day.
Anastasia was at her seminar, struggling and reluctantly going with the suggestion her husband made that kids go through phases and experiment with things. But at her core, she was seething and blaming her husband and daughter for sabotaging her reputation and career. Her demeanor and performance showed how rattled she was, and her reputation was spiraling downward from her sudden lack of confidence.
She was further confused as her husband's suggestion that she start to think about being with women, since Lexi obviously was, kept flashing in her head. Usually when she was interacting with or looking at the two very attractive 20 something professionals who did return to her seminar for day two.
James enjoyed another day lounging by the pool, proud and content with the fact that what his Master had in store for Anastasia's training he was able to begin the night before. What he didn't expect was how much he was starting to enjoy training his wife as a slave. Years of her attitude, the revelation of her cheating and consistent condescension of him allowed for this newfound joy in her training.
Kingsman took a walk in the park outside his hotel, and he called James in Miami.
