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The NSA programs mentioned – ECHELON, PRISM, AND FINCEN – are all real programs used by the NSA, CIA, and FBI to find foreign spies. They are used to track foreign movements but often catch Americans talking to foreigners and doing naughty things. As soon as that happens, defense attorneys claim that the government is spying on Americans, which it is not doing. Still, it’s what happens.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4 will fill in some of the blanks about how our hero (?) learned his trade. Enjoy!
So far, people seem to like the story. Many thanks to all who have purchased it. My wife appreciates it. She tells me, “Just remember, you earn it, I spend it.” It’s basically a direct line, Bookapy to PayPal to my checking account to my wife. I don’t even have a checkbook!
The number two in a sheriff’s department usually goes by one of two terms, Undersheriff or Chief Deputy. There was a question on this. The Sheriff is an elected official. On an amusing note, when the police are making public statements or announcements, it is usually given to a senior officer, lieutenant or captain, maybe higher depending on the size of the department, acting as the press liaison. When a sheriff’s department has to make a (good) announcement, it is always the sheriff, so his face is out in front of the voters!
I received a couple of interesting comments that I thought I would pass along. First, one reader commented that longhorns are in Montana. In 1866 a fellow named Nelson Story drove 1,000 longhorns from Texas up the Bozeman Trail to Montana, to feed gold miners. This made Story, already a rich man, fantastically wealthy. He was just the start. As could be expected, more than a few got loose and populated the area and neighboring states. However, these were cattle that were imported, so to speak. The original range of the longhorn is Texas, Oklahoma, and northern Mexico. (Longhorns were also imported, sort of, brought by the conquistadores from Spain and Portugal, and then evolved.) Fascinating things I learn doing this, and I sure don’t mind finding this stuff out. Let’s call this one a draw.
Second, a reader pointed out that a printer could fit into the trunk or passenger seat of a Honda Civic, so they didn’t need to take Jake’s pickup truck. Maybe. Not in my trunk, which is loaded with all sorts of crap. And if the printer box is in the front passenger seat of the Civic, where is Jake sitting? In the back? Or maybe Janice is smart and accepts Jake’s offer of free transport and carrying services. I don’t think I am rewriting this one.
In any case, many thanks to those who have written so many positive comments. I hope you enjoy the rest of it!
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