Garret handed Tony pictures of a Caucasian man and an African American woman, with Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fire Arms labels.
"Agents Martin Warner and Loretta Briggs were investigating a faction of the Christian Army for possible weapons violations. They had been in Norse Lake several days."
"Covertly?"
"No. Everybody knew they were ATF. They had contacted the local LEOs. But they were trying to keep the investigation low key. When they didn’t check in with their supervisor, he sent the sheriff to find them. When he came up with nothing, the supervisor called in his troops. They organized a search, including local volunteers. They found the agents’ vehicle. No sign of them. No sign of foul play. And the volunteers trampled half the county."
"It’s standard operating procedure. Can’t be helped."
"They only called us after the SOP failed. We get to clean up the mess."
"When did the agents disappear?"
"They were last seen at one PM day before yesterday."
"You said they were investigating a faction of the Christian Army."
"Yeah. A small group to the right of right wing. Survivalists. White supremacists. They believe that the government has no authority over them. Their interpretation of the separation of church and state."
"So the core group doesn’t believe that?"
"No." Garret smiled and shook a paper at him. "The FBI file. They strictly follow the Ten Commandments. They are intolerant of people who don’t. Very intolerant of laws contrary to them. But they try to stay under government radar and obey all other laws. In the Norse Lake area, almost half the people list their religion as Christian Army. Including the sheriff."
"How can you enforce the law if you belong to that group?"
"Good question. Which we’ll avoid asking. You know me. I’ll assume the sheriff is guilty until proven innocent."
"Why should you treat him any better than you treated me?"
"I wouldn’t dream of it. There’s the computer for your research. You can fire it up as soon as we’re in the air."
"Maps."
"As always, I’ve anticipated your needs." He handed Tony a stack. "The most detailed available."
"Thanks. I’ll shut up and study now."
***
Contrary to its name, the Christian Army home page featured smiling children with a cross and a circle in the background. He clicked on a link entitled "What we believe." and read on.
The church stressed their belief that the Bible is the word of God as opposed to the belief that the Bible contains the word of God. They listed the Ten Commandments as the only laws that people needed to follow to live together as a society. They believed many of the same things Tony held as truth.
They began to lose him when they spoke of civil disobedience and the rights of women. A man had no right to abuse a woman, but other than that, she had few rights. Their obedience of the Bible’s command to avoid those with different beliefs leaned toward shunning.
He looked outside of their web page to other references on the internet. More positive than negative stories appeared. Among the negative, he found mention of the faction within the Christian Army.
"Were the ATF agents investigating Lyle Hoffman?"
Garret looked up from a file.
"Yeah. You found him on the web."
"He held a rally. The reporter wouldn’t dignify it by quoting him, just said that he fired up the crowd with his controversial leanings. He estimated the crowd at more than fifty men and boys. Quoting, ‘You might have thought it a gathering of farmers or loggers until you heard the speeches. No shaved heads, no leather, no tattoos, no swastikas. Hoffman does not want his followers to be confused with Skinheads.’ They blend right in."
"Good point. What else did you learn?"
"I’m pretty comfortable with most of the Christian Army teachings. But they go to extremes in some ways. Any agent who’s obviously different won’t be much use to you."
"Such as?"
"Someone who appears to be from India, or of Arab descent. A Christian Army member will probably ask them if they are Hindu or Moslem. If they get a positive reply, they probably won’t cooperate. Any of us may be subjected to questions about our faith. They probably won’t cooperate with a Jewish agent either. And we don’t dare lie, because Christian Army members are Biblically well-educated. Almost every church has a school through the eighth grade. There’s a Christian Army boarding school about fifty miles from Norse Lake, for people who don’t want to send their kids to public school at all."
"So how will they react when I tell them I’m Methodist?"
Tony shrugged.
"I think it will vary between individuals. As soon as I can, I’d like to talk to the local minister. If I can develop a rapport with him, it should help."
"That’s why I thought you’d come in handy. That and the scores you got in the classes you took last winter."
"They were easy."
"They were not easy. They are designed to eliminate people, not let everyone in. Your instructors want you to apply to Quantico to become an agent."
"No, thanks." Tony shuddered. "Just the thought of working in cities gives me the willies. Drag me on one of these rural case once in a while. That will satisfy my need to investigate."
Garret chuckled.
"Okay. But this won’t be the last time you’re recruited."
"Kelly wants me where I am too. I won’t change my mind. That reminds me. She’d never forgive me if I didn’t requisition a vest. I left mine at home."
"You can put it on as soon as we get off the plane."
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