“The NSA collection of what?”

“You need to get out more, Pete. Since one month after 9/11, the NSA has been collecting everybody’s electronic sweet nothings and storing them in their computers for a rainy day. It was supposed to be just for checking on the terrorists, but now they don’t give a rat’s ass about the law. They’re using it against everyone. A blackmail Fort Knox.

“And you can’t think of the FBI in terms of being a domestic law enforcement agency anymore. After they signed the Patriot Act, the FBI joined the CIA. Almost all of the alphabet soup agencies are now under the same umbrella.”

“Like Big Pharma and Big Tobacco, we’ve got Big Intelligence now?” Gannon said.

“Exactly.”

“That can’t be right. There must be something in the Constitution, no? Where’s the outrage? Why the hell isn’t the press doing anything? Isn’t that their job?”

“Pete, pay attention. Most media companies are multinational corporations, too. Everybody has secrets, Pete. All you need is a little dirt on some top key people in each of the media outlets, and every story you want tanked gets tanked.”

Gannon looked at him.

“Okay, so while I went out fishing, my country apparently turned into one massive corrupt racket. Now what? What do we do now?”

Wheldon drummed his fingers on the table.

“I think there’s someone you should meet. She told me the same story you just told me. Well, not exactly the same. But it all fits.”

“She?”

“Yes. She’s a navy lieutenant, an accident investigator who was sent out to the plane crash site before the cover-up started. At the site, she met a coast guard diver who showed her the video he had filmed of the inside of the plane. That’s why when you told me there were six people, I knew you were legit. She told me the same thing last night.”

“So there’s another video?”

“No. She doesn’t have it. She just saw it. And the diver who filmed it is missing now. The FBI tried to grab her down in Florida as well, but she was just able to get away.”

“Holy crap. This is real. A full-scale cover-up. This is really happening.”

“You said it. Which is why I’d like to interview the both of you and upload it onto my channel.”

Gannon sat up straighter in his chair.

“Now, hold up. I don’t want to be on a video.”

“Don’t worry,” Wheldon said. “I won’t show your face or anything, and I can mask your voice. I could bring her here and talk to her in the bedroom, and you can stay in this room here so you don’t even have to see each other.”

“That’s how it works? Just put it out there? Shouldn’t we get my GoPro tape first?”

“No, the more visible the faster the better. The more visible the less likely they’ll target you for elimination. If the truth of Dunning’s death is out there, their mission will shift from plugging the leak to spin-doctoring the news narrative. Putting you six feet under after the truth is exposed will make less sense for them.”