We’re back from our trip to Sri Lanka and Southern India. Just let me say, “Wow.”

Tis was our fourth trip to India. What a wonderful and different place. You either love it or want to go home.

We love India.

Chapter 25

Agent Simms sat looking over the latest reports on the upcoming court case with Chad and his family.

Chad was leaving the country for a short honeymoon vacation. He would be under surveillance and out of reach of his family. His father was not aware of the new investigation into him and his firm yet. he thought he had waylaid that investigation the last time he had talked to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

He had agreed to pay restitution to those clients that had complained without admitting criminal guilt. The brokers involved would be sanctioned or fired as needed after an internal investigation of those involved. The Securities and Exchange and two other agencies were looking into criminal actions and the famiiles tax returns, business activities and extensive travels. There was some concern about overseas bank accounts.

Chad’s father, Henry, had traveled to Europe often and to Switzerland several times over the last year. There were millions of dollars passing through his accounts to an account in Switzerland and some islands much closer to the United States in the Southern Atlantic.

There had been complaints from some of his clients of churning and slow redemptions when stock sales had occurred. It started with one complaint, then two and then several.

One son had just been approached to tell all to escape a tough sentence. the meetings had been held in secret for obvious reasons. Bryan, the younger brother, was the person approached. His lawyer wasn’t sure the governments case was as strong in the beginning. But over the months that passed as more victims came forward, his thoughts changed.

“Who knew what the father knew about what was going on? Had the sons taken it upon themselves to run a scheme? Or was the father the mastermind?” the lawyer wondered. The youngest son had been told clearly by his attorney that if he talked to his father or brother, about the deal, the offer “was off the table” and he would “go up the river” with the entire family. He was rightfully scared to death. A young man in prison stands little chance against hardened criminals and their desires. That had been mentioned to him once before. Agent Simms was enjoying the scenario playing out in his mind when he was interrupted by Jane Thomas.

“Everything is under control at the airport. Everyone is in place and we have an hour before the plane leaves. Boarding is underway as we speak.”

“Great. tomorrow when Chad and his wife are in Africa, I’m going to drop in on Bryan and explain his options open to him. He has little to no idea that we are targeting him for prosecution. when I mention that his whole family will go down as well, perhaps he’ll take an offer and plead guilty. If he doesn’t, will go to work on his little sister.”

“I don’t see him doing that but it’s a chance we’ll take.” Miss Thompson said quietly. She almost felt sorry for the kid, Bryan.

“Once he sees the time he is facing, he’ll come around. Can you make sure Jessup has that offer written all written out clerly for me to show Mr. Williams tomorrow?”

“Sure, I’ll check on that when I leave here. How are things in Rwanda?”

“I’ve talked to my counter part there. He will see that at least three men are inserted into the gorilla trek and more will be added as needed along the way. Chad and his new wife will be under their watchful eyes most of the time. The time change is the most difficult part of the operation. Rwanda is six hours ahead of us here in New York so any communication needed to be done in the morning must be done very early in the morning here, like two am our time.

Make sure everyone is aware of that even if I’m the only one making the calls. That means I need any new information early in the morning, the day before. “How’s Johnson doing on the tech?”

“We have a truck down the street from the younger brother’s house and a wire tap on his phone. The tech guys can hear everything on his cell phone. He hasn’t talked to his brother in a few days. Not since the wedding. That seems normal I guess.”

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I’m still trying to get used to the time change. It’s brutal as a lot of you know quite well.

This is a little something to think about.

I did work on this story a little while on vacation.

I’m glad to be back but miss India already.

It isn’t for everyone, but it is something else.