Agent Ed Barrow didn’t know why he was here on this task force. The NCMEC case with the missing children had basically consumed his entire department for almost a year now. With them getting close to the end of it Ed could finally be able to take a long vacation. His boss hadn’t even given him a heads up when he left the office this morning. Just told him to show up for a multi-agency meeting at Langley and be prepared to answer questions and provide input. He’d been sitting here all morning and still wasn’t sure why he was here. Getting pulled into another case at this time with the NSA and CIA involved did not look good for his vacation plans. A group of squints were just now just finishing up with their presentation. Ed got a hazy idea that it was about some statistical irregularities on some recent cases. He wasn’t completely sure about that. He had zoned out after the eighth chart was presented.
The team of analyst had finally finished their presentation to the group. The 200 page report that accompanied it was handed out to the group members to discuss. Looking at the report in front of him the director got frustrated. The committee would have his head if he didn’t find out why so many of their projects were failing. Frustrated he picked up the report and deliberately slammed it down on the table. Looking around at the different agencies here he started to rant and curse about the useless report. All this time and resources spent and all those idiots could come up with is a bunch of wild guesses! They couldn’t come up with a clue or useful theory. A circus fortune teller could have come up with better research than this crap. After a visible effort to come himself the director looked around the group and demanded everything be checked again. One way or another he had to find out who or what was doing this and most importantly how it was being done.
* * * * *
While the coal issue played out I decided to try to do something about trash pollution. Something I had been putting off since I had no idea how to get started on it. On the main screen in front of me was the current Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Floating in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California it was already bigger than the state of Texas. The number of marine life killed by it every day was in the thousands. The other monitors showed similar trash islands that were now forming from the Caribbean to the Baltic. The problem was quickly growing to a horrendous level, far past a level I could imagine anyone being able to stop. There was an ongoing attempt called System 03 the used a floating barrier pulled by a couple of ships to scoop it up one small section at a time. This has resulted in a minor reduction in the speed it was growing but it still was.
Focusing on the composition and source it looked like the trash was basically plastic and the source came from a combination of garbage floating down from rivers to actual ocean dumping of it. The big issue as far as I could tell was the old adage “Out of sight, out of mind”. The extensive amount of trash was floating where no one but a few freighter crew members would see. Checking online it’s been 25 years since it was first discovered and only a small number of references to it could be found since. I could try focusing on the rivers which were providing most of the trash to it. Looking at some of the worst ones they were basically garbage disposals for the people and businesses along them. Looking at the Ganges river in India I couldn’t even tell where the edge of the river was. It was all a solid layer of garbage. Some of it seemed to be slowly moving maybe that was it. Impossible not to believe those river polluters weren’t aware of how bad it was. I watched as a young boy herded three goats through the trash as they stopped and ate something they found in it.
I decided this was another situation where international pressure was what was needed. That would require getting the press involved. For them to do more than just a human interest story about it I would need to get the rich and famous involved too. Breaking it down this way I got an idea somewhat silly, that might work.
“Hawk” I said “If a portal connected the bottom of the ocean with one at sea level would the pressure cause a stream of water shoot out?”
“Yes” was the response from Hawk.
“Then could you use that effect to move a section of that floating garbage closer to California?”
“Yes” was again the only response from Hawk.
The silly ideal of mine seem to have potential. A quick internet search of rich famous beaches in California got me a number of possibilities. Looking at them I saw a perfect one “Malibu Beach”. The homeowners there were basically a list of the country’s most rich and famous. I’ll have the trash threaten most of the beaches on the coast but Malibu might deserve a little more.. The trick now was to find a way to make it all seem accidental or in this case just an act of nature.
Looking at the NOAA site I identified the North Pacific and California currents as likely candidates. They weren’t precisely heading in the direction I needed but close enough. If I timed it with a pacific storm that should help cover up any inconstancies with the path. Then a few careful nudges on the trash should provide some response to beaches like Malibu. I expected the public would be screaming for a solution as soon as they were aware it was heading their way. Most likely they would probably try and shift the System 03 Scooper to stop it. But just in case I might need to use the excuse of the Northern flowing Davidson current to send it away. That is after they’ve ha time to get support for the trash problem. I had no intention of wreking those beautiful beaches just use them to draw attention to the issue.
Looking at my watch I saw I was running a bit short on time. Sammy’s prom was tonight and I still had a tuxedo to pick up and a limo to get. Last week I had Grandma give me a small square of the cloth she used to make the prom dress for Sammy. With that the guy at the tuxedo rental made sure to have coordinating colors for the tie and pocket square. I was working as hard as I could to make this evening as special for Sammy as possible. I was uncertain about what to do after the prom. There was a tradition but I wasn’t sure Sammy was ready. That was until this morning. She must have talked to Granma of her plans for after the prom. When I went to see her this morning she made a point of handing me a small overnight bag right in front of Grandma. I was shocked she did, and then thrilled. I looked at Grandma after Sammy handled it to me and saw the resigned look on her face. Not a response I expected. If Sammy was my granddaughter I would probably have gotten out a shotgun.
The limo took some work to find and rent. It was a modified Hummer limousine and driver that came with it was willing to make the trip out to our small town from the city. It took some time and a lot of Hector’s money to do it but it was all worth it from the look on Sammy’s face. When we drove up to the front of their cabin Sammy and her Grandma couldn’t stop checking it out. They both climbed in and had to try everything, every button, sit in every seat, look in the refrigerator and move the divider window and sun roof open and closed.
We left early, a couple of hours before the prom was to start. I had told her I would take her some place nice to eat before the dance but our small town didn’t really have anything but the dinner. She was so excited and busy at the ride that she never asked where we were going. From what she had mentioned to me most of her classmates were eating at a town 20 miles away that had a Italian pizzeria. She might have thought that was where we were going. Instead, I wanted something a little more special for her and with a permit from the town hall and a caterer I had hired she was going to get it.
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Sammy was surprised when we pulled into the town park. It was just getting dark and we had the place to ourselves. The town used the place for special events and holiday celebrations. There was a small bandstand or maybe it was just a large gazebo in the center with trails and playground equipment around the sides. The driver drove us up a trail and towards the middle of the park. When the car stopped Sammy looked out the windows not understanding why we were here. Her surprise increased when the driver opened the door for us. I steped out and held my hand to assist her out.
“Why are we here” she asked “Aren’t we going to eat someplace?”
“Dinner waits” I said as we walked to the gazebo.
As she looked toward the gazebo she saw a table with candles and covered dishes. Music started to play as we approached and a waiter walked around from behind. She stumbled a bit as I held her chair for her to sit at the table.
“This is wonderful, are we going to get in trouble eating her” she said.
“No”, I said “I went through the Town Hall and Mrs. Prentiss gave me a permit to do it. When she heard what I was planning she didn’t even charge me a fee”.
Sammy laughed and said “Mrs. Prentiss was my fourth grade teacher before she retired and started volunteering at the town hall”.
As we ate, we talked and I watched her she smiled and laughed. Before we knew it was time to head to her school for the prom. As we arrived at the school and pulled up in front dozens of her classmates gathered around the limo to look at it. Seeing all her friends gathered around and a few pushing their faces against the tinted windows Sammy started to get she. She didn’t want to get out.
“I had a great time already, why don’t we skip the dance” she said.
Seeing her scared and embarrassed face looking out the tinted windows at her classmates I cajoled her by saying “Don’t you want to dance with me? You have such a pretty dress and I’ve been practicing so I won’t step on your toes to many times”.
At that point the driver had pushed through the bystanders and reached our door to open it. The students pulled away from the door as it was opened and I was able to step out. I leaned down and held my hand out to Sammy. After a minute she stepped out and joined me. As we walked up to the doors or the school’s auditorium she hid her face against my shoulder. I thought her embarrassed shyness was very cute until she stopped suddenly right before the doors.
Thinking she was still having thought of not going in I whispered “It’s alright; remember I’m here with you”.
Suddenly she smiled, leaned up and kissed me hard right in front of her classmates.
Whispering to me “There’s no PDAs allowed in the school” she smiled and pulled me inside.
The prom had a “Starry Night” them and the decorations showed it. A lot of tinsel, cut-out stars and a big lit up moon on the wall. Sammy took me around to see all her friends. I had met most of them when Sammy and I were out an about town. After we had danced for a while Sammy excused herself to go off with her girlfriends. This gave the opportunity for the guys to question me, warn me about the punch. Invite Sammy and I to a party afterward and even offer me a joint. When Sammy and the other girls came back they kept sitting together and talking quietly. I overheard someone mention the after party to her and Sammy turning it down. The girls all laughed when Sammy said we had “plans”. After they announced the King and Queen Sammy and I said our goodbyes and headed out.
I’m sure she thought I would be taking her to a hotel when we left. Maybe one in the city since I mentioned that’s where I rented the limo from. The surprise on her face was priceless to me when the driver left us off at the gazebo again. This time the park was deserted with only a single candle still burning inside. The driver retired Sammy’s overnight bag from the trunk and handled it to me. Holding hands we quietly watched the driver go leaving us there. Sammy didn’t know what I was doing but she trusted me. Holding her hand I walked behind the gazebo and right through a portal. As we stepped through into a very nice hotel room she saw Cinderella’s castle rising above the Magic Kingdom in the window. Welcome to Disney I said to her with a smile. Our night was magical, some uncertainty, a bit of fumbling and a quick stop for room service before we did it all over again.
In spite of being up most of the night Sammy was wide awake first thing in the morning staring out at the theme park.
“Why don’t you call Grandma and let her know your fine” I said “We can spend the day in the park and be back home tonight”.
With a happy shout and a hug to me she was jumped on the phone. I stepped into the bathroom to give them some privacy. The last thing I wanted to overhear was any details of our night she might decide to share. As I came back out I heard her promising to get Grandma a souvenir before hanging up. Next thing I knew she was rushing me to hurry up before the lines got to long.
Henry, a vacationing fisherman 40 miles off the coast was the first one to spot the trash field. A Pacific storm had kept him off the water for the last few days and his vacation was now almost over. Intent on making the most of it he had arranged a private chartered boat and headed out early on his last day. By first light his hook was in the water and he was halfway through his first beer. Feeling a drag on the line Henry first thought it was a Sea Bass until the lack of play made him realize his mistake. Reeling up the line Henry found a milk jug half full of water he had hooked. Surprised at such an old thing he looked down at the spot he was fishing and saw garbage all around the boat. All thought of continuing to fish left him then. After a few moments to comprehend what he was seeing Henry decided that was it. This vacation was a bust so he finished chugging down his beer and preparing to head back to port. Usually when he was out fishing if no one was watching he would just chuck the empties into the water. This time after looking at all the garbage he hesitated and then tossed the empty can into the cooler.
Complaints to the charter service when Henry reached shore got him nowhere but the next day more complaints started coming in. Two days later the coast guard had a spotter plane up and was investigating the area. Spotting no one dumping they gave up and flew back to base. The complaints kept coming in and a day later the size, location and direction it was heading made the news. A week later beach warnings were being given up and down the coast. The news full of meetings and protest insist something be done.
Adam Strutford was enjoying a long weekend at his Malibu place. Being a Hollywood studio exec was a stressful position these days. The trailer for the latest summer release was getting slammed online and the lead actor was bad mouthing the film and the director on live TV. Getting away was just what he needed. Opening the drapes of his bedroom Adam starred at the sunrise and decided a swim was just what he needed.
Yelling to his housekeeper as he headed through the living room “Brenda I’m going for a swim, how about an egg white omelet when I get back”
“Ok Mr. Strutford, enjoy your swim” Brenda said.
Heading out his patio doors and down the steps he first realized there was omething wrong was when he felt something squish under his feet. Looking down he saw garbage all over the beach from the hide tide mark to the shore.
Yelling “Brenda, call the Coastal Commission; get them out here right now. I want this mess cleaned up immediately!”
Looking out the Window Brenda saw her boss standing on one foot and looking angrily at the beach.
Not understanding she said “Sir, what do you mean, why should I can them?”
“Stupid! Can’t you see all this garbage? Get them out her now and call the cops. I want to find out who did this to ‘My’ beach!”
Mr. Strutford spent most of the day on the phone yelling and threatening people about the beach trash. He never did get his egg white omelet. It was a relatively small amount of the trash that showed up on the richer beaches. I made sure to have Hawk push it closer to the richer houses but never higher then the high tide make. I made sure to remove the trash the next night. The homeowners would likely assume that the Coastal Commission did it or the high tide took it back out to sea. Either way it caused more complaints and several rich homeowners pushed for tighter laws. Contributions to “The Ocean Cleanup” group doubled and push to get international support for it was raised.
I had Hawk remove the small trash island that was offshore few days later. The public was told that the island disappeared and things were back to normal. Not something they really believed and most still thought it was out there ready to mess up the beaches again. With the public believing the trash would be polluting their beaches in the future the support for more cleanup effort continued. One odd thing was beach goers started to point to the garbage normally found on beaches as being from the trash island. It kept interest in dealing with the problem high. The results were a long way from a complete success but Daniel counted it as a partial win.