The Protectors of the Saltire. William Speir

important and very involved.

      Tom had been tasked with looking for patterns and trends so there wouldn’t be another situation like the one with Saul Mancuso three years earlier. The Order had been so busy with interventions against local criminals that it didn’t realize many of them were part of the same criminal enterprise. Several members of the Order had been killed – something that Tom was working to ensure would never happen again. Every report from every intervention being carried out by all Commanderies crossed Tom’s desk to be analyzed and cross-referenced. Even though Tom had a team working with him on this, he still felt obligated to personally review the files and analysis.

      “Please keep me posted,” Tom said to Ralph and Sam as Emily entered the office and closed the door. “There are a lot of HSF sightings these days with similar stories about buying strange supplies and parts. It’s starting to feel like a pattern emerging, and I need to know what they’ve been using the parts for. It’s also strange that two HSF officers from Charleston are here now.”

      “I’ve been thinking about that myself,” Sam said. “It was just lucky that I happened to recognize them as two of the HSF officers who arrested my team and me. I wish there were a better way to spot the HSF officers who are still on the loose.”

      “Me too,” Tom said. “Hopefully these two will know where some of the others are hiding and will help us find them. Without facial recognition software and access to every surveillance camera in the country, I don’t know any good way to find these criminals.”

      “We’ll keep you in the loop,” Ralph promised. “Good night, Tom.” Turning to Emily, Ralph said, “The team is meeting tomorrow evening at 5:30. Can you be here for a briefing?”

      “Sure, I’ll see you then.”

      Ralph nodded, and he and Sam left Tom’s office.

      Tom walked over and gave Emily a kiss. “Congratulations on your new assignment.”

      “Thanks! It’s still strange going on interventions without you, but I love the work.”

      “Do you think you’ll be using the new cameras?”

      “I hope so. The last of the bugs have been worked out with the manufacturer, but I want one more field test before the press release goes out.”

      Emily had designed the surveillance camera system that was being used by the Commandery. It consisted of a hand-held video viewer that could monitor and record up to 20 different cameras simultaneously. The cameras, which came in a variety of models ranging from one the size of a television remote to one the size of a cigarette filter, all had excellent clarity. Each camera also had a 90-day power supply and a wireless range of almost two miles, and by using signal repeaters, the cameras could have a range of over 20 miles. The cameras could either stream live video or store it and transmit images in a micro-burst to avoid detection and triangulation. She had patented the design and was partnering with a local company to produce them commercially. The CEO of this company was a great engineer, but even he had some difficulties duplicating Emily’s design at his assembly plant in Kentucky. The bugs had finally been worked out, and the production models were performing as well as Emily’s prototype. Once in production, they could become a valuable tool for all Commanderies, as well as for military and law enforcement around the world.

      Tom was incredibly proud of Emily for what she had accomplished. The system was the best he had ever worked with, and he was sure that sales would do well once it hit the market.

      “Did you drive yourself or do you want to ride home together?” Tom asked.

      “I was hoping we could ride together.”

      “Sounds good! Can you give me about ten minutes to finish something?”

      “Sure. Mind if I go say ‘hi’ to Dad?”

      “Go ahead. He loves it when you come and see him.”

      Tom sat back down and picked up the report he had been reviewing earlier. Emily stepped outside, closing Tom’s door behind her, and knocked on the Grand Master’s door softly.

      “Come in, Emily,” she heard Tom’s father say. She smiled and opened the door. He always recognized her knock.

      “Hi, Dad.”

      “Hi, Emily,” James Kirkland Anderson said. He stood up and came around his desk to give Emily a hug. “How’s my favorite daughter-in-law?”

      “Dad,” Emily said mock seriousness. “I’m your only daughter-in-law, and I’m doing fine. How are you?”

      “I’m doing great, and just because you’re my only daughter-in-law doesn’t mean you’re not my favorite. Care for a drink?”

      “Not tonight, thanks. Tom and I are leaving in a few minutes.”

      “I still can’t believe it’s been almost a year already,” Tom’s father said.

      “Me neither, and I still don’t know what to get Tom for an anniversary present.” Tom and Emily had gotten married on Valentine’s Day a year earlier and were getting ready to celebrate their first anniversary together. Even though they had lived together for several months before that, the wedding anniversary was a big deal to both Tom and Emily, and she wanted it to be special.

      “Well, you have only two more weeks to figure that out,” Tom’s father reminded her.

      “I know.”

      “Don’t let it get to you,” he told her with a fatherly look on his face. “When you’re relaxed, you can be more creative. Trust in yourself, and you’ll make the right decision.”

      Emily hugged him again. “Thanks, Dad,” she said.

      “Any time,” he replied. “Let’s go get that husband of yours and get out of here.”

      He put on his coat and followed Emily into the hallway towards Tom’s office. He opened the door and stuck his head in.

      “Tom, I found this lonely woman roaming the halls. What do you want me to do with her?”

      Tom looked up from the report he was reviewing and smiled. “Is she good-looking?”

      “Reasonably so,” his father replied with a grin.

      “Well, then, send her in, but make it quick. Emily will be back soon.”

      All three laughed as Tom’s father and Emily walked into Tom’s office. Tom put the report down and stood up to get his jacket. All three left the office and walked across the meeting hall to the Commandery exit.

      “Any progress?” Tom’s father asked as they neared the elevator to the parking deck above.

      “Some, but not enough. The patterns are there, but I just can’t figure out what they mean. We need more data.”

      They rode up the elevator in silence. In the parking deck, Tom opened the car door for Emily. She gave Tom’s father a kiss on the cheek and got in. When Tom closed her door, he shook his father’s hand.

      “Do you know what you’re getting her for your anniversary?” Tom’s father said softly so Emily wouldn’t hear.

      “Not yet. I only have two weeks to work it out, and I’m drawing a complete blank.”

      Tom’s father gave Tom the same advice he had given Emily earlier.

      “Thanks, Dad,” Tom said as his father walked to his car. Tom got into his car, and he and Emily drove home.

      Tom’s father watched Tom’s car drive out of the parking deck. As James started his car, he thought: I wonder what I’m going to get them for their anniversary.

      3

      January 31, 9:00 AM

      Law Offices of James Anderson & Associates.

      “Come in, gentlemen,” James