Free The Marijuana Chronicles by Jonathan Santlofer Page B

that?”
    “McClaren! Set up a trace!”
    The one called McClaren worked his tablet just as there came another flash. The troopers snapped to attention with a shout. McClaren, irritated to see the trace wasn’t working, found himself staring into the face of the Regional Commander himself. It was a harsh, battered face, cheek once slashed by a meat cleaver, his glowering glass eye uncovered by his usual patch.
    “Damnit,” he said.
    2.
Report to Commission C [SPECIAL]
FROM:
TIME CONTROL ENFORCEMENT [TCE] REGIONAL COMMAND “D”
Colonel Johannes Belasco
As of date 201262-208==
Primary Report:
As Deputy Commander of all TCE Troopers in the fields of time, I wish to place a complaint with this board .
For the second time this month we have intercepted two commission agents on a “time disturbance” case. I have been briefed that these two agents, Randolph “Killy” Jones and Rick “Kelly” Santana, are working to correct a time imbalance, confirmed by Time Control “K” traces .
These two agents are operating in restricted jurisdictions. Their actions come up on random traces and of course our agents respond to all violations of the codes. There are no exceptions and TCE REGIONAL COMMAND “D” would never apologize for its agents doing their jobs .
I also request that information be given to this office regarding the nature and purpose of their actions in the time zones involved, so that ultimate effect can be certified by TIMELINE SURVEY. Only then should an investigation be launched, always under the auspices, and obeying the codes and jurisdictions of the TCE regional structure. “Killy and Kelly” are no such thing as private investigators. They are ex–TCE Troopers, thirteen years of service between them. And since washing out of the force, they’ve left a trail of time violations a mile long. Why don’t these “agents” put in for clearances or apply for permits? Why don’t they follow the rule of law with regard to time interference? Why do they feel they can somehow act independently of the TCE and its guidelines? And why has this commission enlisted the services of two suspicious characters instead of relying on the TCE which is already running its own investigation? They are a constant danger to that investigation. It is crucial that the commission share its files and all information pertaining to THE ZIEGLER FILE. If this is not done within the next twelve hours, I will sign a warrant for their arrest. These violations must be addressed, and jurisdictions respected .
I MUST ALSO POINT OUT that while Abraham Ziegler is missing, there is as yet no evidence that he is behind these recent events, or any reason to go outside code or sidestep TCE investigations which are more than well-equipped to handle the case. I hold the commission personally responsible for any setbacks resulting from this affair .
    3.
    The strange smell of burnt toast.
    Jose “Crash” Mendoza woke up in a room. A dingy bulb, a tiny window. A room of brick walls and stone floor. His brain was sluggish, his limbs rusty and slow. He stood up and looked around. A couple of tires. An old cajón . A dirty old mirror, half covered in a dark cloak. Crash gave himself a good gander in the spotted glass, as if to make sure he was still … “he.” His afro, wild and free, still in effect. His jeans jacket with the Puerto Rican flags on it, his street colors (and that included his prized Young Lords button and that Black Panthers patch). Made him feel good just from looking so wild, resistant, and Afro-Rican . It was Funkadelic, it was Hendrix. Reached for his afro-pick in his back pocket. (Yeah, reassuring feel of that plastic handle shaped like a small black fist.) Pulled it out to give his hair some flow action. But what’s with this room? A slow brain, like when he smoked bad weed. Weed, weed … he remembered smoking weed, right? He looked around the room again. There was only that steel door. The way out.
    Crash opened the door