Rogue Angel - Footprints Part 35

"Of course they did. I don't just take people at their word, you know," the sheriff stated angrily.

"Naturally." Annja looked behind her at Jenny. "Nice to see what we've gotten mixed up in, huh?"

Annja looked back at the Fed. "So what are you doing here, Agent...?"

"Simpson. You can call me Simpson. This is Baker." The silent man sitting next to him inclined his head only vaguely in their direction.

Annja groaned. "What was wrong with the names Smith and Jones, were they already being used?" She took a moment to calm her anger. "So some government operatives wander up here into the dense forests of Oregon because a local sheriff finds something that he thinks proves the existence of big foot. Is that what you're trying to tell me?"

"So far, so good," Simpson said. "Oh, and Jones had to head back to D.C."

"Which means the suits back in Was.h.i.+ngton must think there's something to this stuff if they sent you guys."

Simpson only smiled.

"Either that," Annja said, "or you two are buffoons and they wanted you out of their hair for a good long time. Something I can actually see happening on a fairly frequent basis."

Simpson's jaw tightened. "You might remember that we have jurisdiction in this area, Ms. Creed."

"How do you know my name?"

Simpson smirked. "We know all about you. And the e-mail Ms. Chu sent to you. We've known everything about this trip since you started making arrangements to come here. It's one way we stay on top of things so we don't have...surprises."

"Must be that good ol' Patriot Act in action again, huh?"

Simpson put his hand over his heart. "The safety and security of our great nation is our highest priority."

Before Annja could retort, David cleared his throat. "They don't actually have jurisdiction over my command, just over the forests for right now. And unfortunately I have to yield to their federal powers. I don't necessarily like it, but I play by the rules."

"Or else what?" Annja asked. "You don't get federal funds for some road repair project?"

Simpson smiled. "Or this little piece of paradise might just be in the way of a brand-new interstate and that old eminent domain clause might mean its very downfall."

"You wouldn't," Annja said.

Simpson shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time. Believe me when I tell you that Uncle Sam does not take kindly to people who get in his way where matters of national security are involved."

"National security?" Jenny shook her head. "How in the world could this have anything to do with national security?"

Baker cleared his throat and spoke for the first time. "When we hear reports about the possibility of a giant ape-man wandering the forests of our country, able to travel from here to Canada and back without ever so much as attracting the attention of any of our border patrols, or tripping any of the rather elaborate monitoring systems currently deployed in this sector, we get a little nervous."

Annja rolled her eyes. "After all, if a giant missing-link creature can do it, what's to stop an al Qaeda operative from doing the same."

"Exactly," Baker said without a hint of humor.

Annja shook her head. "So which one of you dolts dreamed up that ludicrous scenario?"

"It's not ludicrous," Simpson said. "It's a very real concern to those in power back in Was.h.i.+ngton."

"I can't believe the President would fall for such a stupid line of thinking as that," Annja said. "I don't see it."

"And since when do you believe that the White House has any real power in such matters?" Simpson said.

Annja frowned. "Since my naivete hasn't yet been shattered by the hammer of some black-book operative like yourself."

Simpson chuckled. "Well put. But, unfortunately, there are other people who wield much more power and they've decided that it's time to lay this matter to rest. That's why we're here."

"By doing what?" Annja asked.

"Yeah," Jenny said. "Are you guys going to interview the Sasquatch and ask him how he does it?"

Annja smiled. "That'd be a sight."

Simpson stood and Baker followed. "You're not far off the mark, ladies." Simpson nodded at David. "We'll be in touch."

Annja stopped him at the door. "What exactly do you mean by that-not far off?"

"Very simply," Simpson said, "we're here to capture the ape."

Chapter 19.

Annja burst out laughing. "Capture it? You think there haven't been other intrepid adventurers over the years who thought they'd try the same exact thing? You guys are crazy!"

Simpson shrugged. "I don't care one bit what other people might have attempted in the past. What matters is that Baker and I will succeed this time around. Failure simply isn't an option for us."

Baker nodded. "He's right. We don't expect to fail."

Jenny sighed. "Can we just agree not to call this an ape? The Sasquatch may be just as far removed from the primate family as we are."

Simpson rolled his eyes. "He's tall and hairy. Looks like an ape to me and that's what I'll call him. The exact genus of the creature isn't for us to figure out. I'm here for one thing only."

"So you're a hired hand," Annja said. "Just a mercenary, in effect."

Simpson smirked. "I enjoy your feeble attempts at baiting me, Annja. Truly, I do. But in this case, there's only one thing you need to remember."

"And what's that?"

"If you get in my way, I have the authority to use deadly force."

"Whose authority?"

Simpson smiled. "The only one that counts-Was.h.i.+ngton's."

Annja glanced at David. "You're going to put up with this without a fight?"

David shrugged. "Not a whole lot I can do, Annja. I can file an appeal that my jurisdiction shouldn't be undermined, but who would listen? And in the post-9/11 world, my chances of superceding Simpson's command are slim to none."

Annja felt the heat rising in her face. Something about Simpson's demeanor really irked her, but she knew David was right. As long as Simpson had Was.h.i.+ngton power backing him, he was untouchable.