CHAPTER FOURTEEN
David sat crosslegged in the back of the van.
Jayce was inside the hardware store purchasing the supplies they’d need for their infiltration.
They planned to move on the facility very early the next morning when it was still dark outside.
The witching hour, as Jayce called it. He reached forward, pressed record, then took a deep breath.
“Good morning. My name is Dr. David Friedman. I’m recording this message for the dual purpose of explaining why I committed the actions I committed the morning following and for reminding my wife how much I love her and how proud I am to have known her.”
He paused, replaying that sentence in his head.
It was a little clumsy, and he almost erased it and tried again, but it didn’t really matter.
The clock was ticking. David was about to put his money where his mouth was.
In less than twenty hours, he was going to invade a secure US government facility, steal classified data, and use it to expose an illegal CIA project that abused dogs.
Others who had tried to expose them had died under suspicious circumstances.
David was relying on help from a defector to ensure he didn’t die too. To ensure they both didn’t die.
Jayce promised to take the fall if they were caught.
He said he could demonstrate that he had forced David into this and left him no choice but to assist. David appreciated the selflessness, but he had declined the offer.
He had made his own choices. He would accept the consequences of those choices.
“The CIA has been conducting an illegal and abusive experiment on working dogs,” he continued.
“They’ve used the cover of a legitimate Marine Corps unit, the 93rd Testing Brigade, to attempt to mold working dogs into telepathic weapons.
I’ve included files with this recording that will prove that they’ve used fringe research and pseudoscience to justify their attempt to enslave dogs telepathically. ”
He took another breath. “I first became aware of this project when a working dog was brought to my office to receive a clean bill of health. It appears that some questions were raised regarding the legality of this program prior to my awareness of it. I initially declined to provide the bill of health, but when I couldn’t definitively prove abuse, I relented.
This remains my greatest regret in connection with this investigation.
“Over the past several weeks, I’ve gathered the evidence included in the files attached, and I’ve concluded that the CIA intends to expand this project to give their agents sentient weapons in the form of telepathically bonded working dogs.
What they plan to do with this capability, I don’t know, but I do know that in their pursuit of this program, they’ve abused dozens of dogs, killed at least two people that I know of, attempted to kill me, and demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the rights of living beings.
I can’t countenance that. I was warned to stay away, but I can’t. Not knowing what I know.”
He took a third deep breath. “So, I’m going to attempt to gather even more information from a secure facility, information that will conclusively prove the CIA’s guilt. If this works, then we will put every doubt to rest. If it doesn’t… Then I tried. I did my best. I can hold my head up high.”
He paused for a long moment. His throat tightened into a lump, and he swallowed before continuing.
“Faith, this part of the message is for you. I’m sorry.
You wanted me to stay away. You had good reason for that.
You wanted me to be safe. You knew I was taking an extreme risk pursuing this, and you wanted me at home with you. I’m sorry I didn’t listen.
“But I know you understand. You’ve put your life on the line many times to protect the innocent.
You’ve tried to leave, but like me, you can’t do that knowing that you had the ability to make a difference.
So, I know you’ll understand what I mean when I tell you I have to see this through to the end, no matter what that end is.
“I love you. Always. Whatever happens to me, know I went on with my head held high. And if this must end in grief, may it also end in pride. I did my best. That’s all anyone can ask of themselves.”
He reached forward and ended the recording before the tears overwhelmed him. He cried only briefly, but when he was finished, he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. The last obstacle removed. Ahead lay the summit. Now he just had to finish the climb.
The door opened, and Jayce began loading the van with the supplies they needed. He looked at David’s camera, then at David. “Everything okay?”
“Yes,” David said. “I’m ready.”
Jayce smiled. “Then let’s do this.”