Pierce: Apologies

Sorry about Tate's posts. He's not here for his charm, remember. He does have some underworld connections in Russia (not in Kiev, unfortunately), though I admit that I'll be surprised if his trip generates anything of substance.

Still no word on the missing ship. I'm checking in constantly, but thus far there's no clue as to its whereabouts.

I spoke with Detective Ward, but his investigation has been taken over by the F.B.I., and their agent has been reluctant to parcel out information. I do get the impression that the Walentowicz case has stalled for the moment, however.

I have a feeling that when we get a break we'll have to move fast, so relax, recharge and be ready to move.

Pierce: Setting It Straight

Mary wrote:

-You are an agent for Homeland Security but you're going under a false name here?

I am communicating with wanted individuals (again, officially, I urge you to turn yourselves in) and at this point am pretty much the definition of "off the reservation", so any legal buffers I can get I'm going to take.

-You tapped someones phone in Japan?

See point one about being "off the reservation". A "by the book" agent would never have found out about the Human Calicivirus to begin with, though my methods do make a conviction in a court of law problematic.

-You're prepared to believe all the crazy stuff that's in this archive, and will even go so far as to send someone to Russia on an offhand reference from a crazy person that killed themselves literally moments after they wrote it?

Over the past year I have seen crimes committed that I could not even hope to explain. As mad as these journals are, they answer questions that have long troubled me. When I get the pieces to a puzzle, I just put it together without worrying about what I'll be thought of for it. I see the pieces I've been looking for in here, and as insane as they are, they fit. Now I want more, and I see Kiev as a possibility. My willingness to "think outside the box" has not endeared me to my agency, but I'm usually effective enough that I get a relatively free hand.

Josh wrote:

-So he was lying about being a Doctor? Anything else we should know?

He wasn't lying. He has a Doctorate in Mathematics. Kisho Yoshida's registered I.Q. is in the world top 50.


I'm going to send a man to Kiev. Again, equating this "Taras" with Hollis means that the trip will be extremely hazardous, so I'm sending someone expendable. There's an ex-con named Ricky Tate who's done business with the Russian mob and has a grasp of the language, so I'll have him go and look into it for us. Cynthia, I'll need you to set up a separate account so he can post here, but can't read the archives. You don't want scum like Tate poking around in your private business, believe me.