Behind the Mask Page 6

  “So Lexie, how did you find out about the demonstration today?” Haley wasn’t finished with the inquisition.

  “I found it on Facebook.”

  Lexie hoped the words coming out of her mouth were making sense, because it was obvious Haley was on a fishing expedition. Haley eventually relaxed but still shared nothing while Savannah and Lexie continued getting to know each other.

  “How long have you been a vegan?” Lexie asked Savannah.

  “Only since I started college,” Savannah replied. “I didn’t know anything about animal rights or veganism until I met Haley. What about you?”

  “I’m a pretty new vegan too,” Lexie responded. “I became a vegetarian first. I’ve only been a vegan about a year or so.”

  Savannah leaned forward. “Can I ask you something, Lexie?”

  “Sure, anything.”

  “How did your family react when you told them you were a vegan?”

  Lexie chuckled. “Not exactly favorably. How about yours?”

  “They treated me like a drug addict in need of rehab. They actually arranged an intervention for me while I was home for the holidays.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Completely! I had a huge fight with my parents, brother, and best friend the night before I returned to school. It was horrible. That’s why I asked. I’m not sure how to fix things with my family, and I thought you might have some advice, since you’re from the South too.”

  “That’s a tough one,” Lexie said. “I think it helped that I eased my family into my lifestyle one stage at a time. I became a vegetarian first, so later when I switched to completely vegan, it wasn’t that big of an adjustment for them. I still have to remind them not to buy me anything leather and to avoid cosmetics unless they’re from cruelty-free companies. But we don’t discuss my activist activities.”

  “That’s probably a wise decision,” Savannah said.

  “So it was really bad?” Lexie asked. “With your family, I mean.”

  “Oh God, it was terrible! I wish I had handled things differently.”

  “Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m around,” Lexie told Savannah.

  “Thanks, I might just do that.”

  After they finished eating, Lexie, Haley, and Savannah walked to the parking lot together.

  “Thanks for inviting me along,” Lexie told Savannah and Haley.

  “No problem; it was fun,” Savannah stated. “Do you want to get together tomorrow and grab some coffee?”

  This is too good to be true, Lexie thought. “Sure, that would be great. Where and when?”

  “Well, since you live in Venice, how about Groundwork Coffee on the Boardwalk? Do you know the place?”

  “I know it well. I go there all the time,” Lexie said. “What time?”

  “Two o’clock work for you?”

  They exchanged cell phone numbers and said goodbye. Lexie finally had something of significance to put in an FD-302. Lexie was expected to type up one of the FBI’s investigative reports each time she gathered any information that could be evidentiary in nature.

  Lexie returned to her apartment and called Kate.

  “How did things go?” Kate asked.

  “About as well as can be expected. Haley was quite the inquisitor.”

  “Do you think she was suspicious of anything?”

  “No, I think she was just being a typical paranoid activist. She grilled me on where I was from and so forth. Nothing I couldn’t handle. Savannah and I exchanged cell phone numbers.”

  “That’s great,” Kate said. “I’ll check subscriber information on her account and subpoena her number. It’ll be interesting to see who she’s communicating with.”

  “I’m meeting Savannah for coffee tomorrow at two o’clock. Maybe she’ll bring Haley.”

  * * * * *

  The next morning, Lexie got up and went for a long run on the beach. The California shoreline was absolutely breathtaking. Lexie couldn’t get enough of the white sand beaches that seemed to go for miles. After her run, she took a shower and had a quick lunch. It was nearly time to leave for her coffee date with Savannah. She quickly refreshed herself on her legend, reminded herself to not act like a cop, and headed to the Boardwalk.

  Lexie walked past the activist flophouse on her way to the coffee shop. She noticed that the trim was rotten in places and that the chipped paint revealed an olive green color under the dirty tan topcoat. The same old cars were parked in front of the house and on the street. Lexie arrived at the coffee shop a few minutes early, so she waited out front. She observed a host of Venice Beach characters, from a wino singing “Jingle Bells” to an old man on roller skates who skated up and down the Boardwalk playing a guitar. A few minutes later, she saw Savannah come around the corner. The women ordered soy lattes and sat at an outside table.

  “Do you live close by?” Savannah asked.

  “Yeah, just a few blocks from here.”

  “That’s awesome.”

  “Where do you live?” Lexie asked.

  “Haley and I live on campus at USC.”

  “D’you have a boyfriend?” Lexie asked.

  Savannah’s cheeks flushed.

  “I have a Nick. He’s pretty incredible.”

  “Looks like somebody’s in love.”

  “I dunno, maybe. Though I wish I knew what the hell he was thinking half the time.”

  “Why don’t you ask him?”

  “Nick’s not a conversationalist. He doesn’t talk about himself. He thinks it’s tacky.”

  “Wow, sounds super healthy,” Lexie said.

  “Yup,” Savannah laughed in reply.

  The two women chatted about growing up in the South. Lexie liked Savannah, and it was apparent Savannah was comfortable with her. The women decided to get together over the weekend for dinner and a chick flick.

  Lexie walked home following her usual path. A couple of guys were hanging out on the front porch of the flophouse when she strolled by. A strong odor of marijuana wafted from the house. Lexie had a new goal: to get inside that house.

  * * * * *

  Lexie’s mouth watered as she smelled the spicy entrees that were being carried from the kitchen to the tables. She heard the sizzle of fajitas being served as she, Kate, and Adam followed the hostess to a table.

  “So,” Adam started, “Kate tells me that you’re kicking ass and taking names.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but I do think I’m finally making a little progress.”

  The server delivered their drinks and took their food orders. Lexie couldn’t pass up the veggie fajitas.

  “You know you can order a meat dish out here if you want,” Adam stated.

  “Meat actually makes me sick to my stomach when I try to eat it now,” replied Lexie. “Besides, I feel much healthier not eating meat.”

  “Oh my, they’ve brainwashed you already,” Adam said jokingly.

  “Not yet, but they sure are trying.”

  Lexie gave Adam a thumb drive. “This is the report from my meeting with Savannah.”

  “Wow! You’re quick.”

  “I like to write my reports when they’re fresh on my mind.”

  The waitress brought their entrees. Lexie loaded her fajitas with fresh salsa and hot sauce. By the end of the meal, she had worked up a sweat from the spice.

  “I took your advice, Kate. I found a friendly face and started chatting with her at the demonstration. Once I heard her Southern accent, I knew I was home free. Savannah and I are going to dinner and a movie over the weekend, and with any luck she’ll bring her roommate.”

  “That’s great, Lexie,” Adam interjected. “We wanted to talk to you about Haley. We don’t have any intelligence on Savannah, but Haley is a suspect in a series of vandalisms at several UCLA faculty members’
homes.”

  “No wonder Haley was so close-lipped when it came to sharing her information. I’ll have to see if I can get her to warm up to me the next time we hang out together.”

  “Just be careful,” Adam advised. “Haley has participated in the animal rights movement a long time. Don’t let her find any cracks in your story. Believe me, she’ll be looking for reasons not to trust you. Never turn your back on her, and never trust her.”

  “I’ll be careful, boss,” Lexie told Adam. “Savannah has a boyfriend named Nick, but I don’t know his last name yet.”

  “I’ll have the analyst put together a list of all the activists in the area who go by Nick,” Adam said.

  “Once I meet him, I’ll be able to identify him from a photograph. I better hit the road so I can beat the traffic.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Savannah

  Los Angeles, California

  Savannah and Nick were sitting outside in the courtyard near her dormitory.

  “How are things with your parents?” Nick asked.

  Savannah sighed. “About the same. I’ve only talked to them a handful of times since the Christmas break debacle. I told them I wanted to stay out here over spring break.”

  “Bet that didn’t go over well.”

  “No, not really. They offered to come out here to visit me, so I told them I’d think about it.”

  Nick ran his hands through his thick, tangled hair. “What about Nora and Hunter?”

  “Well, Nora and I talk about once a week, but I haven’t spoken to Hunter since Christmas break. I have nothing to say to him. Even when I talk to Nora, it feels strange.”

  “Strange how?” Nick asked.

  Savannah shifted around so she could look Nick in the eyes. “I feel like I’m always walking on eggshells with Nora. Our relationship is so fragile right now, maybe even superficial. I can’t trust her anymore, not after she sided with my parents and Hunter. I know she’s in love with my brother, but I feel so betrayed. She and I have been best friends our whole lives, and now she sides with them.”

  Nick scooted closer to Savannah and put a protective arm around her. She breathed in the smell of his cologne.

  “I’m sorry that happened to you, Savannah, but I’m not surprised. People outside our movement don’t understand. I haven’t spoken to my parents in almost three years. They don’t even know where I’m living these days. It’s hard, but it’s not the end of the world. It does get easier as you become more involved and you see the good that you’re doing.”

  “Speaking of that, when are you going to teach me more about the movement?”

  Nick smiled. “How about now?”

  “Really? That would be great!”

  “Savannah, I know this culture is far different from how you were raised. But if you truly devote yourself to the movement, you’ll understand why we do what we do.”

  “I want to,” Savannah said. “I want to understand everything. I want to save animals and to feel like I’m making a difference in the world.”

  Nick pushed a stray strand of his inky-black hair out of his eyes and stared at Savannah. “Are you willing to put your freedom on the line to save animals and to protect the people in our movement? This is a serious commitment and not a hobby. There are people in the movement who put their freedom and lives on the line to save innocent creatures. It is our duty to protect those people so they are free to save animals and are not suffering at the hands of an intolerant government. You have to decide if this is the life you want to live.”

  “That’s all I’ve thought about since I got back here. The life I had in South Carolina isn’t mine anymore. I want a life out here with you. I love you, Nick, and I want to stand beside you and help you.” The words came tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them. A tear trickled down her cheek, and she bit her bottom lip.

  The seconds ticked by at a snail’s pace. Nick broke the awkward silence when he reached over and grabbed Savannah behind the neck and pulled her close to him. His tongue found its way into her mouth as he kissed her feverishly. When they finished kissing, he rested his forehead on hers. “I love you too, Savannah. I tried not to fall in love with you, because love complicates things. I wanted to keep things casual and uncomplicated between us, but somewhere along the line I fell in love. But despite that, you have to commit to the movement for yourself, not for me. No matter what you feel for me, you have to want this for you.”

  Savannah exhaled. She couldn’t believe he’d said those three words back to her. She threw her arms around Nick’s neck and kissed him again. She nuzzled her face into his neck.

  “I understand, Nick, and I am making this decision for me. I want to do everything I can to save innocent animals from torture and death. I’m doing this for the right reasons.”

  Nick grinned, and Savannah’s heart raced.

  “Well, okay then. Get ready for ALF 101.”

  Savannah already knew that ALF stood for the Animal Liberation Front. The Animal Liberation Front carried out direct actions against animal abusers by rescuing or freeing caged animals and causing large financial losses to companies who supported the exploitation of animals. Their actions involved damage and destruction of property belonging to animal abusers. Savannah had previously learned, by making a fool out of herself, to pronounce each letter in A-L-F. Once, she referred to the group as Alf in front of Haley’s friends. Haley told her that the group was referred to as A-L-F, and that Alf was a small, furry alien from an old television sitcom. Savannah wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  Nick turned to face Savannah. “ALF members take precautions not to harm any animals or humans, but sometimes their campaigns involve danger and almost always involve breaking the law. The goal of the ALF is to liberate animals from places of abuse such as laboratories, factory farms, and fur farms and place them in good homes where they will be free from suffering. Another goal of the ALF is to reveal to the public the horrible conditions and atrocities that occur to innocent animals behind locked doors.”

  Savannah nodded.

  Nick’s demeanor completely changed as he took both of Savannah’s hands in his and stared into her blue eyes. “We have to talk about the security culture of our movement. Savannah, you must make security your number-one priority. The alternative to not adhering to a strict security culture is spending years of your life in prison. First rule: do not trust anyone completely.”

  Savannah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Nick, I trust you completely.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t. You have to understand that every person has a breaking point. When faced with numerous years in prison, most people will break. The police and FBI will do anything and say anything to gain your trust and get you to turn on the other members of your group. That’s the way they operate. That’s why the smart people in our movement who are involved in any kind of illegal direct action operate on a strict need-to-know basis. Never discuss any kind of direct action. Don’t trust your best friend, your parents, your boyfriend, or other activists. Even if the person you tell is trustworthy, he or she may end up being tricked by the police. It’s never okay to discuss your involvement or someone else’s involvement in illegal activities.”

  Savannah removed her hands from Nick’s and crossed her arms.

  Nick continued, his voice growing more and more insistent. “If you do have to discuss direct action, do so only with those who have an absolute need to know and only have the discussion face to face. Always discuss direct action outside, away from people who may overhear you, and don’t have any cell phones or other electronic devices with you when you have those discussions. The FBI has ways of eavesdropping on activists in houses and vehicles, so never discuss any sort of plans or actions inside someone’s house or in a vehicle. Never discuss direct action over snail mail, e-mail, or phone. This includes instant messages and texts, Savanna
h. I know how you love to text, so just don’t do it.”

  Savannah was starting to feel annoyed by Nick’s patronizing tone.

  “I’m going to install PGP on your laptop. Do you know how to use it?”

  “No. What does PGP mean?” Savannah asked.

  “Pretty Good Privacy. It’s a data encryption and decryption program that’s impossible to decode. I use PGP for all e-mails, and I have a whole partition on my computer encrypted. I’ll teach you how to use it.”

  “Why do we need to go to this much trouble? You and I aren’t breaking any laws.”

  “The police and FBI constantly target animal rights activists. It’s better to be safe, even if you and I aren’t involved in criminal activities. ‘Keep the FBI guessing’ is the best philosophy.”

  “Look, Nick, I’ve read the guidebook and studied the ALF website. I know the dos and don’ts. I’m not an idiot.”

  “I’m sorry, Savannah. I’m not trying to treat you like an idiot, but this stuff is so fucking important. People tend to get in trouble when they forget about security. You’re new to this way of life, and I want you to completely understand what you’re getting yourself into.”

  “I do, but it’s not like I’m going to build a fucking bomb, so do I really need to be so concerned about security?”

  “You might not be assembling any bombs, but you might have knowledge of someone doing something illegal, and you have to know how to protect yourself and others.”

  Savannah groaned. “Okay, you’re right. I’m listening.”

  “The FBI and police go to great lengths to infiltrate our movement. Government agents come in the form of undercover agents and snitches. These government agents will pretend to be activists in order to befriend you. Be extremely careful about who you get involved with in the movement. Once you participate in an illegal action, never discuss it again. Don’t discuss it even with the people who participated in the action with you. I’ve had friends convicted of crimes who were caught because they discussed old actions with people they thought they could trust but who became government informants. Cops will actually pay people to wear a wire and try to get information from people who were once their close friends. You never know when a former friend will fall on hard times financially or get arrested for a crime completely unrelated and cooperate with law enforcement to get the charges thrown out. I know this sounds very cloak-and-dagger, but believe me, it’s all necessary.” Nick relaxed a bit. He squeezed Savannah’s shoulders. “Okay, that’s all the training for today, young Skywalker.”