Behind the Mask Read online

  Savannah laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Haley asked.

  “Lexie’s no informant.”

  “Just what do you think an informant looks like, Savannah?”

  “I dunno know exactly. But I know Lexie’s not an informant.”

  “Do you happen to know her birth date?” Nick asked Savannah.

  “No, but I can find out.”

  “Start with getting her date of birth, and we’ll go from there.”

  “But be cool when you do it; don’t act suspicious,” Haley added.

  “I can do this, guys. I’m not stupid. Besides, I was the star of my high school drama club. I do have some acting abilities.” Savannah pressed the back of her hand to her forehead, pretending to faint.

  “Oh boy!” Nick replied. “This ought to be good.”

  Nick parked the car, and the three approached the front door. Before Nick could knock, the door slung open and Jeannette greeted them. Jeannette always dressed like she had recently returned from Woodstock. Peace sign earrings dangled from her ears, and faded ink revealed that she got her tattoos long before they were mainstream. “Come in, come in, friends. How are you three doing this fine evening?”

  Nick hugged Jeannette. “Doing great, lovely lady, and how are you?”

  “Doing fantastic, and thank you for asking.”

  “How many folks are we expecting tonight?” Nick asked.

  “We should have about ten, counting you three.”

  “Any news from Badger?”

  “I heard from him yesterday,” Jeannette replied. “He sent me a PGP message letting me know that he might be here tonight.”

  “Great!” Nick said. “I’ve missed that lunatic.”

  Jeannette chuckled. “He might be a lunatic, but he’s a brilliant lunatic.”

  A few minutes after the meeting began, there was a knock at the back door. Phillip went to answer it and returned with a young, shaggy-haired man. Nick jumped up and embraced the newcomer.

  “Badger, how the hell are you, brother?” Nick asked.

  “I’m great, Nick. How about you? You still hanging out on campus, trying to bang college freshmen?”

  Savannah was taken aback by the comment. The two slapped each other on the back and continued to laugh.

  Savannah leaned over and asked Haley, “Who’s that?”

  “That’s Badger,” Haley responded. “He and Nick are old friends.”

  “Oh, he’s never mentioned him,” Savannah stated.

  Haley gave Savannah a quizzical expression. “Has Nick ever mentioned any of his friends to you?”

  “Point taken.”

  During the meeting, Savannah’s attention kept straying to Badger. She wondered how long he and Nick had been friends. Badger was the opposite of Nick in almost every way. He was short and skeletal with long, straggly blond hair. His pale blue eyes were his best feature. On the whole, he looked unkempt, and Savannah wondered if he smelled as bad as he looked. She wondered if Nick would tell her more about this Badger guy later, when they were alone.

  Amber, one of the girls at the meeting, had managed to befriend a girl who worked at the UCLA laboratory. She was working on getting information out of her about the security system at the lab. Another NWM member, Jeff, was working on getting a set of walkie-talkies they could use on their next animal liberation mission. Two other people were present at the meeting, a guy and a girl, but they never spoke. Savannah just knew their names were Ryan and Darla. She did not know anyone’s last name other than Nick’s and Haley’s. In fact, she wasn’t sure if the first names the other members used were even their real names.

  Badger was working on obtaining information regarding a beef feedlot somewhere north of Los Angeles. He was careful not to divulge too much information about his potential plan for the feedlot. He passionately informed the group of the terrible conditions and treatment the feedlot cattle had to endure. Badger promised the group that when his research was complete, he would enlist several members to help him carry out his plan.

  The meeting adjourned, and Savannah saw Nick and Badger go out to the backyard together. She stayed inside, chatting with Amber and Jeannette while munching on vegetables and Jeannette’s delicious red pepper hummus. A half hour later, Nick came back into the house alone. He hung out with Jeff for a few minutes and then made his rounds, visiting with the rest of the group. He walked up behind Savannah and encircled her in his arms. “You and Haley about ready to leave?” he asked.

  “Whenever you are.”

  “Let’s thank Phillip and Jeannette and take off.”

  The ride home was quiet. Nick dropped Savannah and Haley at their dorm room around eleven. They washed their faces, brushed their teeth, and collapsed to watch a little TV before bed.

  “Haley, can I ask you something?”

  “Oh no, here comes the inquisition,” Haley joked.

  Savannah smiled. “I know we don’t normally discuss other people’s pasts, but how do Nick and Badger know one another?”

  “Savannah, why can’t you just leave it alone? I’m sure Nick will tell you what he wants you to know when he wants you to know it.”

  “It’s not like I want to know if they burned down a fur farm together, I just want to know more about Nick, and he’s so damn tight-lipped. It drives me crazy not knowing anything about him. Please just give me something. I won’t tell him you told me.”

  Haley muted the television and took a moment to consider the request. “You’re going to get me in serious trouble with Nick.”

  “No, I won’t. I promise. I’ll never tell him you told me anything. I’ll take it to my grave. Please just give me something.”

  “Ugh, you’re so frustrating. Why can’t you be content knowing Nick loves you and is trying to protect you?”

  “What is he protecting me from?”

  “Jeez, you are exasperating! Okay, but you can never tell Nick that we talked about any of this stuff. Promise me, Savannah.”

  “I promise. I promise.”

  Haley rolled over on her side so she could face Savannah. “Nick has lived all over the Pacific Northwest. He’s been heavily involved with anarchist groups in most of the areas where he’s lived. While he was living in the Bay Area, he met Badger. Nobody knows for sure how many direct action campaigns the two of them waged over the years, because the only two people who know for sure are Nick and Badger, and they’ll never talk. I do know that the two of them spent a period of time living off the grid—no IDs, no permanent residences. And I do know there were some pretty serious direct actions that took place in and around the Bay Area when they were both living there.”

  Savannah sat completely silent, listening intently to every word that came out of Haley’s mouth.

  “The FBI hauled them both in for questioning, but neither one of them talked, which meant they both walked. The FBI will make up shit to try to get you to give them information. When they don’t have any evidence, they start grasping at straws to put together the pieces. Their main interview tactic is to try to pit people in the movement against one another by saying that someone in your group is providing information. The feds really suck. They call us terrorists, when all we’re trying to do is free innocent animals from the real terrorists.”

  “So,” Savannah asked, “do you think Nick and Badger are planning a direct action of some kind in this area?”

  “I don’t know. Probably. You’ll know if and when you need to know. You know the rule: only tell people about the action who have a need to know. If you’re going to be involved in the plan and have a need to know, then Nick will tell you when the time is right. Now shut up! We never had this conversation, understand?”

  “Yes, I understand,” replied Savannah. “And Haley?”

  “What?”

  “Thank you.”

  H
aley unmuted the television and started flipping through the channels.

  “You’re welcome.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Alexis

  Lexie was bursting with excitement. Savannah had called and invited her to go to dinner later that day with her and Haley. Lexie was meeting with Kate and Adam to form a game plan and to pick up a fresh body recorder. She wasn’t sure if anything of a criminal nature would be discussed, but she wanted to be prepared, just in case.

  Lexie arrived at the deserted meet location a little before ten o’clock. Kate and Adam were waiting for her in the corner of the parking lot. Adam smiled as Lexie rolled up.

  “Hey, girl. How are you doing this fine morning?” Adam asked.

  “Great! And you?”

  “Oh, you know, just fighting the good fight. Of course I never know if I spend more time fighting the bad guys or fighting our management.”

  Lexie laughed. The FBI bureaucracy had to be the worst of all federal agencies. Cutting through the red tape took more time than the actual investigation.

  “So what’s the plan?” Kate asked.

  “I’m meeting Savannah and Haley at the Veggie Grill at six o’clock for dinner. I’m not sure if anyone else is coming.”

  “Who called you about the meeting?” Adam asked.

  “Savannah called me, but I could hear Haley in the background. She didn’t call to chitchat either. She asked if I could meet them for dinner and told me where and when.”

  “That sounds positive,” Adam stated. “We have a source who’s been attending the New World Militia meetings. He reported to his handler they’re having a meeting this evening and that Haley and Savannah usually attend the meetings. If we’re lucky, maybe they’ll invite you to go. The source obviously doesn’t know about you, but you need to know about him.”

  Adam pulled out a file from his backpack and showed Lexie a photograph of a nice-looking, clean-cut man in his early twenties. “His name is Ryan, and he’s a student at UCLA. We recruited him about a year ago. So far his involvement has been limited to aboveground activities such as protests and demonstrations. He started attending NWM meetings a few months ago. Try not to spend time talking to him unless you need to make things look natural.”

  “Got it,” replied Lexie.

  “Our surveillance team also identified Savannah’s boyfriend. His name is Nick Harris, and he has a lengthy criminal history.”

  “What kind of criminal history?”

  “Mostly property damage and vandalisms, but he does have an assault and battery conviction from a year ago. I’ve requested the police report and should have it in a few days.”

  “It surprises me that Savannah would be with someone who has a violent criminal past. I wonder if she knows.”

  “I don’t know, but you be careful dealing with him, Lexie.”

  Adam gave Lexie a new body recorder and a camera hidden in a button that Lexie could sew onto a shirt or jacket.

  “Does the white button work for you?” Adam asked. “If not, we can request one in black.”

  “White works fine. I’ll sew it on when I get back to the apartment.”

  “Do you think anyone will search you?” Kate asked.

  “I don’t think so, but I did notice these people tend to hug one another, so I’ll be careful where I run the wires.”

  “Do you need any help getting ready?” Kate asked.

  “No, I can handle it, but thanks.”

  Adam ran over the plan. “If you get invited to the NWM meeting, shoot Kate a text if possible. If you do go, call or text her once you’re clear and can talk,”

  * * * * *

  Lexie spotted Savannah’s Prius in the parking lot. Before getting out of the car, she texted Kate and then quickly adjusted her sports bra. She was also wearing a hoodie, which would help keep someone from feeling the equipment under the bra. The button was sewn into the collar of her shirt, peaking out from beneath her hoodie. She parked next to the Prius and went inside to meet the girls. She was surprised to see a guy sitting at the table with Savannah and Haley.

  “Hey, guys,” Lexie said as she approached the table.

  Savannah jumped up and ran around the table to hug her. “Lexie, this is my boyfriend, Nick.”

  Lexie smiled. “Hi, Nick.”

  Nick stood and reached out his hand. “Hi, Lexie. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “Have you guys ordered yet?” Lexie asked.

  “No, we were waiting for you,” Savannah replied.

  “Great, I’m starving.”

  They ordered their food, and while they waited for their order to arrive, Nick questioned Lexie. “Where’re you from, Lexie?”

  “Mobile, Alabama,” Lexie responded.

  “What on earth brought you to LA from Alabama?”

  “School, mostly, but I’ve always wanted to live in California. I grew up seeing California in all the movies, and I wanted to see if it was as wonderful as it looked on the big screen.”

  “And what do you think?” Nick asked.

  “Are you kidding? I love it, and I never plan to leave. The weather is perfect and there’s so much to do.”

  The server brought their food to the table, and everyone dug in. Lexie had ordered the imitation chicken sandwich. She was surprised how much she enjoyed the food at many of the vegan restaurants.

  “Have you ever lived anywhere else other than Mobile?” Nick asked.

  Lexie’s undercover credit history included a couple of places where she had supposedly lived, so she figured she had better mention those places. “Well, I lived in Louisville, Kentucky, for a short while, and also in Nashville when I was younger.”

  “Why did you live in those states?” Nick asked.

  “My dad lost his job, and we bounced around while he worked odd jobs.”

  Lexie hoped Nick’s interrogation of her was a good sign. She decided to ask him a couple of questions, to make the conversation seem a little more realistic. “Are you from California?”

  She thought he wasn’t going to respond, but after he took a sip of his soda, he answered. “I grew up in Oregon, but I’ve lived in California for the past few years.”

  “Do you go to USC with Savannah and Haley?” Lexie asked.

  “I go to USC part time.”

  “That’s cool,” Lexie said.

  Haley jumped into the conversation. “What are you studying, Lexie?”

  “Right now, photography, but I’m worried about the job market. I love photography, but I don’t want to end up working at some Sears studio taking photos of screaming toddlers.”

  “Ugh, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to do that,” Haley agreed. “Sticky, mad two-year-olds all day doesn’t sound like a load of fun.”

  They were finishing up their dinners when Lexie saw Nick nod to Savannah, who was devouring her carrot cake. The moment Lexie had been waiting for had occurred.

  “What are you doing this evening, Lexie?” Savannah asked.

  “I don’t have any plans.”

  “Do you want to go to an Animal Rights meeting with us? The meeting is in Venice, not far from your apartment.”

  Lexie was doing cartwheels on the inside, but she didn’t want to appear too excited. “Sure, sounds good to me.”

  “Great,” Savannah added. “Just follow us when we leave here.”

  The foursome left the Veggie Grill, and Lexie followed them to the flophouse in Venice. On the way over, she put her phone on speaker and called Kate.

  “Hey, girl.”

  “Hi, Kate. I’m driving to the activists’ house in Venice. I got an invite to the meeting, and I’m following Savannah, Haley, and Nick over.”

  “Fantastic job, Lexie.”

  Lexie was pleased to hear how excited Kate sounded. It was difficult to get a reaction
out of Kate, so Lexie knew this meeting was a big deal. “I’ll call you tonight when I get home.”

  Lexie quickly deleted the outgoing call from the log on her cell phone. She parked her car behind Savannah’s Prius. The four walked up to the front door together. Jeannette welcomed Lexie and showed her around the house, offering her refreshments. Since they had just come from dinner, Lexie passed on the food, but did accept a cup of hot tea when it was offered.

  “How many of these meetings have you been to?” Lexie quietly asked Savannah.

  “I think this is my fifth one,” Savannah said. “Most of the people are super nice once they get a chance to know you.”

  A few more people arrived for the meeting, and Savannah introduced Lexie to the people she knew. When a straggly haired guy arrived, he immediately grabbed Nick. They walked out to the backyard to talk in private.

  “Who was that?” Lexie asked Savannah.

  “Oh, that’s Nick’s buddy, Badger. He was at the last meeting. I don’t really know him, so Nick will have to introduce you to him.”

  “No problem. Just curious.”

  “Well don’t be too curious around here,” Savannah said. “These people don’t like curiosity.”

  “Good to know. I don’t want to alienate people before they have a chance to get to know me.”

  There were eleven people at the meeting. Lexie wondered if this was the regular group. She didn’t want to press Savannah on too many details at the first meeting. Her body wire was set to record for four hours, give or take a few minutes either way.

  The meeting was low-key. The group discussed some upcoming protests in the area. One girl reported on the security at the UCLA lab that housed primates for experimentation. The security system seemed extreme, and Lexie wondered if these people were sophisticated enough to bypass that level of security. The Badger guy didn’t say anything throughout the whole meeting. Nick didn’t discuss much during the meeting either but told the group that he was working on a few things and might need some help in a week or so.

  Lexie mingled with the group following the meeting and sipped another cup of hot tea, trying to memorize all the names and faces at the meeting. At the conclusion of the evening, Savannah walked Lexie to her car. “I hope you weren’t weirded out by anything you heard tonight,” she said.