Both of you go away. You find a coffee shop. You sit in a corner. And you ask him to explain himself.
"I am Maxime Duchesne. I am a senior officer working for the CSIS. I lead a lot of teams around the country for intelligence activities and sometimes counter-terrorism, although obviously, I am based in Ottawa."
"How did you get here? So you infiltrated the group? How did you hear about it, and why?"
"Simple, through Patrick Meehan. He's an old friend of mine."
(So that WAS the kind of help your father in law was referring to! He knew a higher-up in the intelligence community!)
"Oh, that makes sense. It still doesn't explain the infiltration. And how did you sent a team to me? How did you know I was in danger? Were you following my cell signals?"
"Easy, Mylene told me. In fact, I already met Mylene once, when Patrick had invited me over for supper with his family. Although at that point, Mylene was still a very young girl. I didn't know if she would recognized me. She told me that she paused a little, but thought nothing of it. When I told her afterward however, she ended up recalling it.
Knowing my position, after receiving your message, she begged me to send a team to your aid. She said that sooner or later, you would end up getting killed. Patrick was really worried about that as well."
"Oh, so I have Mylene to thank for it. I guess I take too many risks. But what do you know about the whole situation with the Skull Riders?"
"We know a lot, but not everything. They keep a lot of secrets. I had a hunch, for instance, that you were Frank's son. I'm sorry about your loss, by the way. I don't know if you feel fondness for your old man or not. But at any rate, it's awful that you never got to know him, and didn't have time to establish a relationship with him once he found you."
"Is there a way to prove that? I'm still not completely sure. A lot of people say they see some ressemblances, but it sound kind of vague to me."
"Believe it or not, we've already done it just recently. I sent a team to Frank's dilapidated house. And we found DNA from you, using some of your old belongings. We had it tested in a lab in Winnipeg. The results came back. You absolutely are Frank Ramsey's son."
"Wow, so there really is no doubt about it anymore... that's quite a legacy... that I didn't necessarily ask for."
Maxime then asks:
"You found out what David wanted you to do?"
"It involves meeting various gangs across the country to get something from them, so I can eventually be led for a box. There are three different keys, each of them held by a leader. David told me that, Frank had confided his plans to him to expose the group with extensive surveillance he conducted. He was part of a lot of their most incriminating meetings.
David didn't want me to tell this to other people... but since you're Patrick's friend, I'll tell this to you. I'd ask you to please not repeat it to other officers, unless you clear it with me first."
"Ok, no problem. For sure, that box would be a tremendous help to bust the group. Although, on its own, it might not necessarily be enough."
"Oh really?"
"Well, you know how complicated those megatrials are, with dozens of criminals sued at the same time, and piles and piles of evidence. It's very easy for astute defense lawyers to grind things to a halt or to get evidence thrown out for sure.
The box would be a huge help, but ideally, it should be combined with witnesses ready to confirm some of its contents. Ex-members who decide to testify in court, in other words."
"Oh, that might be complicated, but who knows. If some are compromised, they will surely betray the group."
Maxime looks satisfied. He studies you. Then he says:
"I would like to tell you that I have a proposal for you. It is very serious."
"What is it?"
"The higher ups are really impressed with you. You took on the Skull Riders almost all by yourself. And now you're exposing a cult that has stolen away many relatives who left grieved families in their wake, again, almost all by yourself. You have shown remarkable courage and prowess.
My colleagues in Ottawa really want you to come work for us. Become part of the CSIS. Use your wits and skills to serve your country, and not struggle alone anymore.
That was Patrick's wishes as well. He didn't want to impose it. But he thought it was the best solution, since you were unwilling to back down, perhaps understandably so."
(You never thought about that. You're kind of stunned. You don't know what to think. But for sure, it might make a lot of things easier.)
"Well... suppose I do. That would require a lot of training, wouldn't it? I still want to find out about those keys and get the box. By the way, if I learn the location, couldn't we just bust it open? Even if it's protected by explosives?"
Maxime looks dejected.
"Normally, I would say yes. But if Frank made a box with such a mechanism, according to the intelligence I've had, it most certainly was designed by Miles Hicks. That guy is a genius with contraptions and explosives. It would be too risky to have the box and the user attempting to disable it explode. So, we probably have to go along with this whole wild goose chase."
"You would be allowed to continue. You can keep working mostly on your own, as you're used to, except with support from the guys from time to time. What we could do, is train you over the winter. It doesn't look like it's an urgent situation anyway, and it would be painful to try to do this in the freezing cold. Then once spring starts, the show is back on. After the whole saga is over, you come back to Ottawa to complete the rest of the training, and formally join the team."
"Hmmmm... but I still have to help expose the cults to all the members captive from its mind control. I can't let these people down, me and other ex-members have worked so hard on this."
"Ah, you're underestimated me on this one.
That's exactly why I came here and joined the group. I came to help you. As a show of good faith. Mylene told me about everything you've done lately. I want to also help, if you accept to work for us. While you go to Edmonton, I want to try to go to Vancouver and meet with Pious Peter... I want to follow him around, and see if I couldn't glean some sort of compromising information about him. That would make the big showdown at the meeting a lot easier.
Honestly, I've been bored with office work. I found this a perfect opportunity to go back to some undercover work. I missed the thrill and excitement of it. And it gives me an excuse to get out of a boring town like Ottawa, full of stuck-up people. To spend some time in the sunshine and pleasant weather instead."
Maxime sees you are still doubting things.
"Well, picture this. You already risk getting beaten up or shot at all the time. While not be paid a pretty penny for it? With a good pension plan? We'll even provide you with a roomy condo in downtown Ottawa, how about that?"
He jokingly points his finger at you, mimicking the famous drawing of Uncle Sam
"We want YOU!"
"Well... I can't really say no, can I?"
"Haha, that's great! The only other thing is that there is someone you need to meet in Edmonton. Well, not really in Edmonton. He's coming from the airport, and we will meet in a hotel right beside it. It's a good 40KM distance away from Edmonton itself or so, so nobody else from the group will see us.
Tomorrow, we will leave and go there, you, Mylene, David, and me. Afterward, you three can go to Edmonton, while I go straight to Vancouver to meet with Pious Peter. Then later on, it's showtime!"
You are enthusiastic. You see that it is the best possible idea in these conditions. Finally, you won't have to take against the entire world on your own, with your motley crew.
You go back to the house. You greet the other brothers and sisters. You explain your plan to Elder William (without the plots against the group and the secret service and Skull Riders stuff), who seems happy of it.
You have a good night's sleep. You change clothes. You meet up with David, Mylene and Maxime.
You book a ride in a van that will leave you at the hotel close to the Edmonton airport.
In the car ride, you tell David all about what is going on. He is surprised, but also finds that it is a good idea. It will surely be of comfort to his father as well.
You get a chance to talk to Mylene. You thank her for having saved you. She is relieved, she thought you might have gotten upset that she intervened in your affairs. You're just very glad to be able to count on her, come what may, rain or shine.
Maxime says: "Let me tell you that you two make a fine couple. Patrick told me he was so proud for both of you. You were only a little girl last time I saw you Mylene, but you're a woman now."
Eventually, the van arrives in front of the hotel.
Maxime books a room for you and Mylene, and another one for David. David goes to get some rest.
Mylene also does the same, in your room.
Maxime looks concerned and talks to you:
"Our man is already here. I have to tell you, you might be really shocked. I'd ask you if you are, to please keep your emotions under control."
This sounds ominous. You are not sure of what is going to happen.
You and Maxime arrive at a room on the second floor. Maxime knocks three times. The other man says "enter".
He opens the door. You step into the room.
And you have one of the biggest surprises of your life.
".... YOU???? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE????"