Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

"Someone, anyone!" Father Benedict insisted, endeavoring to remain calm. "Mosteveryone on the base knows what happened here!""I've already circulated a memo that the `escape' was only a readiness exercise.Handed out a few reprimands, a few commendations . . . no problem, actually. After all,there's no more secure facility in the world than AREA 51.""But why kill them?""They'd outlived their usefulness. It isn't complicated.""But ..." Andrew sputtered, at a loss for words. ". . . How did you kill all ofthem?""The same way I'm going to kill you.""Vernon . . ." Father Benedict's face hardened. "I know there were many in theGroup who despised you, but it makes no sense to kill your supporters.""Bravo, Andrew!" the Colonel praised, rising from the bed with mockingapplause. "Take a bow, old man!" he taunted, looking into the priest's troubled, perplexedeyes.The Colonel approached the head of the bed, exuding a satisfied air of conquest."You think you understand what went on here," he addressed the prone figurewith contempt, "you understand nothing!""How did you find out?" Father Benedict asked, resigned to his fate."Don't be so hard on yourself, Andrew," he said condescendingly. "I could citeDr. Scott's slip-up about the gun—while he was threatening me, he inadvertently said thathe'd taken Major Sheppard's gun and killed him with it. A ballistics test proved that to befalse, of course. I also checked the logs into the room where we keep our nukes.Naturally, there was an override code in the system, but what was more important wasthe time. You see, Andrew," the Colonel fixed his gaze on the elderly man, "MajorSheppard was with me at the time the override was recorded. I knew you were the culprit,since no one else in the Group would be smart enough or resourceful enough to come upwith such a foolproof way of getting off the base. It was a wonderful idea. And the selfinflictedgunshot—a simply marvelous improvisation!"The priest closed his eyes in chagrin."This blunder notwithstanding, I've known from the beginning who you were andwhose side you were on. For sure the major was an unexpected traitor, but I wanted all ofyou together to see how it would play out. I sent a message to the General for the wholeGroup detailing the Bandstra incident in which I `accidentally' let it slip that I'd beholding Dr. Kelley and Dr. Scott in his room. Once you entered as well, I had the securitysystem disallow the overrides so I could track you. In yet another stroke of genius, youdismembered the major—a scheme that bought you some time while we looked for Dr.Bradley and Dr. Harper—and we will find them, I can promise you," he said, notattempting to conceal his amusement. "What a creative mind! I am sincerely going tomiss these jousts, Father. It isn't often that one of your kind can keep me thinking."Andrew felt a chill."You believe that the General brought you on board to watch Dr. Scott andencourage him in his contribution to the project. Who do you think planted the idea inhis mind after you got in touch with him last year?"Father Benedict remained mute."Let me see, now . . . You believe as well that the Group was using the team to327