The Farm Read online

  © 2018 Nicholas Yong

  Ebook edition created 2018

  Negotium Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  Some of the events in this work of fiction are a matter of public record; everything else are from the author’s imagination. Resemblance to parties living or dead, businesses, locales, or events is purely coincidental.

  Cover art design concept © Nicholas Yong

  Cover design © Kyle Yong

  ISBN 978-1-7750200-1-1

  DEDICATION

  To the people I love. Thank you.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  It was three years to the day since Cynthia was dismembered, murdered and killed by Betsy Arbor Miller.

  Nelson, our son, is fourteen years old and misses his Mom. Therapy helps and he continues his sessions, three times a week with and without me.

  He said he didn't hold me responsible for his mother's death and that he was learning how to cope.

  His grandparents - my parents - had provided him a foundation and stability when I had to leave.

  His recurring nightmares about Mister have reinforced my on-going mission of dismantling The Network and capturing or killing Mister and anyone associated with him.

  To effect, in a coordinated effort, we arrested 33,980 people who had in some way been connected to The Network.

  All of the accused remained silent.

  And we still hadn't found Mister or the female assassin that had killed Homicide Detective Mike Jones. This was worrisome. Everyone leaves a trail...

  We knew that we couldn't arrest everyone. That would be arrogant.

  What we did was manage to take some of the bad people off the streets.

  In doing so, twenty interrogators had died as a result of the poison gas hidden in a tooth of their suspect.

  With the help of other law enforcement agencies, we were able to thwart 30,000 of those arrested from committing suicide.

  And then they started to die. Prison fights. Riots. Guards killing prisoners and then themselves. No country, police service or law enforcement agency was spared the carnage of inmates getting killed.

  It didn't occur on the same day; it wasn't all at once. It occurred slowly. Then a Vice journalist got killed while investigating The Network. We'd almost been exposed.

  Williams, Zata, Mathews and myself stifled the truth and kept The Network's name out of mainstream news and social media.

  Government agencies worldwide told the media that they'd broken a child pornography ring that crossed jurisdictions and countries.

  They weren't lying... We didn't know if that was the right thing to do; what we knew was exposing The Network in its entirety would give it more life and more legitimacy.

  With every problem we solved, a new one replaced it. And it was getting to us...

  Chapter 1

  "Chun, do you still believe that not telling the general public that The Network exists will actually make them less - I don't know what - knowledgeable?" Zata asked.

  "Not telling people won't sensationalize it. If we did tell people at this point, this situation will be made into a conspiracy and will then lack credibility, while moving The Network and their followers further underground."

  "And?" Zata asked.

  "We know what's happening with white supremacy, drugs and other criminal elements when we expose them," I said.

  "And?" Zata asked.

  "Further, previously unaware citizens become curious. Their curiosity increases attention. Their attention increases incidents," I replied.

  "And?" Zata asked.

  "In the end, those incidents further destroy lives. I'm not saying we're right. Maybe we should disclose. I'm looking from a historical sense," I said.

  Zata was searching for something. She turned her attention on Mathews.

  "And you Mathews, what do you think we should do," Zata asked.

  "I don't know. I really don't know. We keep hunting them down and they keep cropping up. I mean we arrested a farmer, a pharmacist and a girl scout leader. We arrested plain, everyday people," Mathews said.

  "Not plain everyday people. Their careers portray everyday people who we trust with children and our lives. Farmers produce our food; pharmacists give us our drugs when we're sick and a girl scout leader helps build young girls into confident women. They've warped and perverted our trust. I agree with Chun in that I don't know if exposing them will make this worse. Their numbers continue to grow and we're not aware of how pervasive this truly is," Williams said.

  "And this crosses every race, religion and creed," I added. Men, women, teenagers, government officials, law enforcement... And speaking of law enforcement, what happened to SA Russo?" I said.

  "He resigned two years ago to run his own security company. From what I hear, he's doing quite well with executives, foreign nationals and foreign assignments," Zata said. "He asked me to join him as his SVP of Operations."

  "And you turned him down?" Mathews asked.

  "Mathews, you know when your parents told you not to touch something like a hot stove and you touched it anyway and got burned? Well, if I accept Russo's offer, it'll be like I touched that stove when I know better: I'll get burned," Zata said.

  "And Steven? What about him? He's still NSA Director and it doesn't look like he's leaving or the current administration is willing to let him go," Mathews said.

  "He's setting things up to leave," I said, not fully believing it either. Steven had power, position, a job he loved and his family was intact.

  I wouldn't leave if I had those things. I didn't tell the team that. They didn't need to know and it didn't serve a usable purpose right now.

  "Do you really believe that Chun? That Steven's ever going to leave?" Williams asked.

  "Whether he does or doesn't, won't materially affect the outcome of our mission. We've been doing this - I mean you and Mathews have been at this and haven't stopped. I took three months off and Zata has been here when she can. Do either of you need time off? Zata and myself can work the way you two worked and figure things out. No shame. If you need a break, take it," I said.

  "Before anyone answers that, Zata, why...?" I asked.

  "I could use three weeks off," Williams said, before I could finish. "I need to re-group. I'm feeling lethargic. I need to go to Bali or Thailand and just bask in the sun and do nothing," she said.

  I rolled with it. "Mathews, what about you?" I asked.

  "Well, Zata and me, we were thinking about going to Italy and then taking Eurorail through," Mathews said shyly. He blushed and Zata hit him. "Oww, what did you do that for?"

  "Chun didn't need to know that, Mathews. And yes, Chun, before Williams answered, I guess this is where I was going. I need a break. I feel we all do... Mathews, look what you did!" Zata said. Williams was making air hearts. It was cute.

  "It's settled then. Book yourselves under your new aliases. Get new burner phones and check in everyday. I don't mean to be paranoid but this is how we do this or else you're staying here," I said

  Zata and Mathews were now Mr. and Mrs. Gary and Wendy Terranova from New Jersey. Williams was now Kelly Anne Richter. I was still Craig Lowell. My alias hadn't been burned and I had opportunity to test it out on multiple occasions.

  Mathews and Zata grabbed their bags. They'd already packed and were waiting for this day. "You're leaving now?" I asked.

  "Well, we have an open ticket and are taking a private jet. W
orking with you, Chun, has its privileges," Zata said. "If we leave now, we can make it to Italy and still enjoy the night life," she said while grabbing Mathews and pushing him out of our storage unit.

  "That was slightly awkward," I said to Williams. She had tilted her head and was looking at me - the way a woman looks at a man she wants.

  "Chun, I'm going to tell you something and I don't want you to talk. I like you. A lot. I don't know what to do with these feelings. I know you've lost your wife and your son - his mother. I'm not expecting that we'd get married or anything or I'd be Nelson's mother. I want to know, if you'd like to get to know me better because I'd like to get to know you better. And you may speak now," she added with a small smile.

  I can't say that I didn't expect this; I was dodging Williams every chance I could get. Williams was letting me know, in a very adult way she wanted to get to know me and was asking if I wanted to do the same.

  The truth is, I was suppressing my feelings for her. How could I tell her I didn't want her to end up like Cynthia?

  And she really didn't know me. The old me. Not the new, shiny me. And Nelson... Would he accept her? Not as a mother; as someone who's close to me?

  I was too silent because Williams's smile faded. I noticed and quickly said, "Yes. Yes, forgive me. I'd definitely like to get to know you better, Tera."

  She closed the gap between us and kissed me. I kissed her back and then hugged her close. She now looked relaxed. "So you'll be coming to Bali or Thailand with me?" she asked.

  "Yes," I said. Williams hugged me and I hugged her back. It felt right, yet I was afraid. Not for me; for her.

  "Chun, you okay?"

  "I don't want what happened to Cynthia, happen to you. I'm afraid for you... That being with me is dangerous and I'm not talking about us dating. I'm talking about whatever vendetta The Network has against me. I don't know how I'd be able to cope if anything were to happen to you. And it's not that you can't protect yourself or anything chivalrous or male protector slash ego massaging. I'm a target and my family has paid the price. You might have one, too, and with us being together..." I said.

  Williams took her time to gather her thoughts. "Dylan, I appreciate you letting me know how you feel. I'm quite sure by the words you used and the way you said them, it wasn't easy. I know if we were to be together, it would be dangerous because we are together, working with each other every day for the last three years. Every day is different and we don't know where it would take us. What I'm saying is it's dangerous regardless."

  Williams didn't know what Cynthia knew about me. What my parents felt but didn't ask.

  "You're right. Let's go," I said.

  We arrived in Bali, Indonesia, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and were driven to Bulgari Resort, twelve kilometers away.

  It was a twenty-three hour flight and even though we flew first class, I felt restless. Williams had warmed up and she glowed.

  Bulgari is one of the most private and luxurious resorts in Bali and we stayed in the luxe mansion. Everything was made available to us and our privacy was assured.

  Williams had changed her ID to Richter-Lowell. It was easier to have us as a married rich couple than being single. We even bought plain white gold rings. It was almost 19:30 when we got settled.

  "I need to eat. Would you mind if I ordered?" I asked Williams.

  "Certainly," she said. "I value your judgment."

  I ordered Betutu - one dish made with duck and the other chicken; I also ordered sambal seafood - Jimbaran style and Sayur Urab or mixed vegetables. When I spoke traditional Balinese, our butler was surprised. I said, "matur suksma" and he replied, "suksma mewali."

  The meal came. It was spread before us and came with bowls of water with lime. Williams watched me as I washed my hands separately starting with the right and then the left.

  We were given cutlery, however, I ignored it. I served Williams first - starting with rice and adding more dishes. Our butler was standing to the side, watching our every move.

  I finished serving Williams and served myself. I put my left hand in my lap and began to mix the rice in my fingers and pushed it into my mouth with my thumb. Williams followed.

  Our butler cleared away our plates when we finished and we washed our hands once again in our bowls filled with water and lime.

  Our butler, whose name was given in full on his name tag was, 'I Wayan Suardika Rai' which meant he was a male, first-born, a 'guiding-light.'

  When I told him what his name meant, once again he was surprised. He rewarded us by ordering Bubuh Injin (Black Rice Pudding) for dessert.

  I thanked him again and he went back and watched over us while we ate. We finished and he cleared our plates.

  I said,"Selamat malam," which means 'good night.' I got up and walked toward the desk and pulled out an envelope. He returned from the kitchen and I handed him the envelope.

  His service was timely, albeit intense. I ushered him out and he gave me his card to contact him. I took it and turned the 'do not disturb' electronic blue light on.

  Williams had changed into a white sarong and she glowed. I was in shorts, flip-flops and a golf shirt. "So, what do we do now, Chun?" Williams whispered.

  I grabbed her hand, pulled some towels from the rack by the bathroom door and we walked towards the beach.

  It was a cool night and Williams was getting goose bumps. I wrapped a towel around her and spread the other two on the sand.

  I wrapped my arms around her and we sat there, not saying anything and watching the waves of the Java Sea.

  We woke up the next morning in the king sized bed, fully clothed. I remember carrying Williams to the bedroom and we collapsed, exhausted from the trip and the work we'd been doing for the past three years.

  Williams was still asleep and I had severe morning breath. I took a shower and brushed my teeth.

  The water cascaded downwards, massaging me as I thought about the intimacy we shared last night. While we didn't have sex, we'd held each other.

  I'd taken in her scent which was a mix of vanilla and shea butter. I got out of the shower and Williams was standing there.

  She dropped her sarong and entered the shower.

  I toweled myself off and I have to admit, I was nervous. I didn't look at another woman when I was married; now, another woman was looking at me.

  I was still naked in the bathroom and began shaving my face, when Williams finished showering.

  "Chun, why are you still naked?" Williams said.

  "Well, I'm shaving and you're naked," I said.

  "Do you like what you see?"

  "I can't see all of you, come closer." Williams stepped right up to me and for the next three hours we enjoyed each other.

  We showered again and walked out to the restaurant. We were hungry. It didn't help that we burned a lot of calories and Williams was amazed at how flexible I was.

  We'd missed official breakfast but since we were in the luxe mansion, hotel services sent a special order just for us. We went back to our suite and three carts arrived.

  We were served Bubar Ayam which is a chicken congee - a soupy rice porridge with crispy chicken skin on top.

  We also had banana crepes, and of course, Nasi Goreng - fried rice with veggies. The other carts had dim sum - shrimp dumplings, shao mai - a combination of pork and shrimp, radish cakes, steamed pork buns, spring rolls and we finished with sponge cake. We were given jasmine tea and I tipped the staff.

  Williams watched as they left. "Chun, I'm going to look like a stuffed pig by the time we leave here if I keep eating like this."

  "Well, maybe you should do some yoga and some martial arts," I replied.

  "Oh, so you're saying I'm fat, is that it?" Williams said, with tone in her voice.

  "Let's keep active and train," I replied. I was married and knew how to avoid those types of questions. She was probably testing me, now that we had sex.

  She would also be watching to see if I was looking and paying attention
to other women. That's a good way to get shot, I reminded myself.

  "Where do you go, Chun? You disappear for a moment and then you're back."

  "I was thinking through what we should do first. We should let the food settle, then go for a walk on the beach to warm us up. What are your thoughts?"

  "A walk on the beach would be nice," Williams said. Her body language changed and I avoided that landmine.

  We hung out for another ninety minutes and I changed into basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Williams changed into bicycle shorts, t-shirt, baseball hat and she applied sunscreen. I did, too.