The Cold Six Thousand - James Ellroy [163]
I view CRUSADER RABBIT’s trip to Bogalusa as fully in character, and it does not surprise me that he wished to view the planned civil-rights agitation in person. Please respond per CRUSADER RABBIT.
Respectfully,
BLUE RABBIT
DOCUMENT INSERT: 7/6/65. Internal memorandum. To: BLUE RABBIT. From: Director. Topic: OPERATION BLACK RABBIT. Marked: “Stage-1 Covert”/“Eyes Only”/“Read and Burn.”
BLUE RABBIT,
Take all measures to see that the accidental explosion verdict is sustained in the Bogalusa case. Allow WILD RABBIT to claim credit for the “Bombing” and thus gain credibility for his new Klan unit. Continue to discourage WILD RABBIT from committing acts of violence outside his operating parameters.
I agree: CRUSADER RABBIT’s presence in Bogalusa was entirely in character, albeit marginally disturbing. CRUSADER RABBIT is a close associate of Pete Bondurant, who is a close associate of Charles Rogers.
The confluence troubles me. Have Los Angeles and Nevada-based agents tail CRUSADER RABBIT at irregular intervals. Initiate trash and mail covers at his Los Angeles and Las Vegas residences.
DOCUMENT INSERT: 7/8/65. Internal memorandum. To: Director. From: BLUE RABBIT. Topic: OPERATION BLACK RABBIT. Marked: “Stage-1 Covert”/“Eyes Only”/“Read and Burn.”
Sir,
I’ve talked to WHITE RABBIT. He told me he’ll be taking a Las Vegas vacation soon. Should I have him meet with CRUSADER RABBIT and judiciously assess his state of mind?
Respectfully,
BLUE RABBIT
DOCUMENT INSERT: 7/10/65. Internal memorandum. To: BLUE RABBIT. From: Director. Topic: OPERATION BLACK RABBIT. Marked: “Stage-1 Covert”/“Eyes Only”/“Read and Burn.”
BLUE RABBIT,
Yes. Have WHITE RABBIT contact CRUSADER RABBIT during his stay in Las Vegas.
76
(Port Sulphur, 7/14/65)
Prospects: Gaspar Fuentes/Miguel Díaz Arredondo. Cubano/anti-Beard/allegedly pro-Tigre.
Flash boated to Cuba. Flash found them. Flash boated them out. Flash praised their skills. Flash praised their pidgin English. Flash praised their balls.
The venue: a cinder-block shack/10-by-10/a heat sponge. Two electric chairs—straps and hoods—bought from Angola Pen. A dynamo/two chair feeds/two polys.
Flash strapped Fuentes. Laurent G. strapped Arredondo. Wayne and Mesplède watched.
Shots popped outside. Troopers hit targets. Tiger South—Kamp with a “K.” Exiles in residence—sixty strong—kadre-adjunct/kadre-armed/kadre-fed.
Flash rigged the needles. Laurent pumped the cuffs. Wayne watched. Wayne drifted off.
We’re in Port Sulphur. Go north a bit—you’ll hit Bogalusa.
Littell shoots Chuck. Littell’s drunk. Littell vows sobriety. Pete consoles him: I’ll dump Chuck and brace WILD RABBIT. Wild Bob’s Fed now. He’s Wayne Senior’s boy.
Flash ran the polys. Laurent ran the quiz: Do you drink water? Is your shirt blue? Do you hate Fidel Castro?
Needle dip—short—no lies.
Port Sulphur—stone’s throw to Bogalusa.
They drove Chuck around. They found a swamp. They dumped Chuck in. Gators ate him. Wayne and Pete watched.
Wayne toured the hospital. Wayne saw the bomb damage. Wayne saw a boy minus toes.
Pictures. Add-on shots. Let’s augment your Bongo pix. Let’s augment Wendell D. Pictures: The icebox/Chuck’s parents/those big gator teeth.
Flash ran the polys. Laurent ran the quiz: Are you a spy? Do you serve the Cuban militia?
Needle dip—short—no lies.
Wayne drifted. Wayne yawned. The stateside runs bored him. He missed Saigon. He missed the lab. He missed the war and the threat.
Are you anti-Communisto? Are you pro-Tigre? Will you serve El Gato supreme?
Needle dip—short—no lies.
Flash smiled. Laurent smiled. Mesplède up and cheered.
They unstrapped the prospects. They hugged them. Fuentes hugged Wayne. Fuentes oozed Brylcreem. Arredondo hugged Wayne. Arredondo oozed VO5.
Looks traveled. Hey—it’s lunchtime—let’s cook by electric chair.
They scrounged.