That is when she contacted the CAGC: CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. We met with Lisa and she was intent on using her RN to gain entrance into UC Davis Medical Center and do an under-cover investigation. CAGC offered her as much assistance and security as possible. We sent a licensed, gun carrying Security Guard who is one of our members to apply for a Janitorial position, another to apply for a job in the Record's Department and we borrowed a Physician from his practice for a few months who was able to get a staff job as a Hospitalist! We also established our own Coroner at the hospital. You see Mr. Rassmussen, we arise from all walks of life and dedicate our lives to fight government corruption!

Lisa did a lot of snooping while on her shift, as did the others. One thing Lisa managed to do that was vital to our mission was to get a hold of a sample of RH253. This unapproved drug therapy has been given to some elderly H1N1 Flu patients in Intensive Care. Each of these patients died within 6 hours of receiving the injections, but the Coroner is calling acute respiratory failure due to H1N1 the cause of death. No injections are shown on their charts or discussed by the Coroner. The patients who did not receive these injections all survived and that adds credence to our claim that RH253 is the cause! We sent it out to our lab and its components have been broken down. The lab found an anti viral combination, a steroid combination, a diuretic, and a blood oxygen expansion agent called 02 Co B16 that they are using to increase circulation in the lungs. What is happening is this agent is causing the small vessels in the lungs to bleed out causing final collapse of the lungs due to the fluid retention. Secondary to that is severe Anemia due to blood loss.

Lisa is the foundation of our entire case against UC Avis's Research Department. She is the only person we have who actually witnessed one of the patients being given injections. She is the one who was able to get the sample for us. Unfortunately, they caught her on surveillance video sneaking into the Research lab and taking the sample. She received threatening phone calls later that night and then someone came after her in the parking garage at the hospital the next day when she quit her job. Our Security Guard intervened. He was never far from Lisa. We made sure of that. That is when we devised the seizure and car accident scenario. We knew that they would kill her if we didn't act quickly. Mr. Rassmussen you must understand her life was truly on the line. She had to pretend that everything was fine. She couldn't tell you."

I could tell that something was bothering her, she seemed nervous, edgy. She told me that she had suffered some sexual harassment at work and that is why she quit her job. I was a bit puzzled then since she is more the type to fight back and not to quit and run but I let it go. Things are making a lot more sense now. I never did understand why she quit her job with the Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the first place to take a position at UC Avis as a Nurse. That was a step down and a drop in pay. She said she was tired of desk and field work and wanted to work hands on with patients again. The drop in pay wouldn't hurt us so if it made her happy, I was fine with it. What a massive Charade. So now what? When do I get to see my wife?

"Thanks to Lisa, we have everything we need to take this to the District Attorney. Lisa will have to come out of hiding for her testimony. She will be kept in our care and dead as far as they are concerned until the District Attorney announces that she has been in protective care all of this time and puts her on the witness stand. Then we will have to redouble our protective efforts. The government will not want their part in this little Research Project publicized. They have people who take care of little problems like Lisa. We have seen no sign that they have doubted Lisa's death, or are on to our other investigators within the hospital. Right now things are quiet. It is time for us to make a move. You need to join Lisa. This will be a permanent move, Mr. Rassmussen. You can tell no one the details. You will be changing your name, social security number, everything. As far as your friends and relatives are concerned, Mr. Rassmussen, you will disappear! If you want to be with your wife. This is the only way you can do it. Both of you will be living new lives, somewhere far away, forever. Now do you still want to go to her?" The man in the fog asked me.

How could I say No? Lisa is my wife and I love her. I have grieved her death for the past eight months and now I find out she is alive! But how can I say Yes? I've had a terrible trick played on me, the worst kind. I was left to anguish over my dead wife, only to find that I had been deceived for almost a year. My wife had been alive, all a long! How could Lisa do this to me? Can I give up the rest of my life for a woman who would do such a thing to me? Consider the circumstances Cliff, I had to ask myself. If it would save my life and keep her safe, would I do the same?

All right, Mr. Whoever you are, what do I do to pull this off? "Are you 100% sure you are willing to start over?" He asked me again. Yes, I am positive. I heard the tone of a cell phone being dialed, and he began speaking. " It is a green light on code 17." He hung up and began detailing what he had just begun. "Right now there is a moving truck packing up your Condo. Everything you own will be donated to charities in different states. All of your personal records will be destroyed. Tomorrow morning you call your boss and resign over the phone. The only explanations you are to give are personal problems.
Next you will go to the bank and withdraw all of your money and close out all accounts. If you have any security deposit boxes empty and close them as well. Call and turn off all utilities, cancel all insurance policies. Have any cash out refunds sent to PO Box 500 Sacramento, 92300. That box will only be open for 30 days. It will trace back to what we call a shadow. A non existent person! Within 48 hours you will have a new identity which will still use your legal degree and you will have a totally new look! By tomorrow night you will be with Lisa, or should I say Carol!"

How can you do all of this? How are you able to get new Social Security numbers, Drivers Licences, Legal Degrees in my new name etc...? "You must remember what I told you Mr. Rassmussen, we have dedicated members from all components of society. We can do whatever needs to be done. When you leave here in the morning. you will be taking a lovely lady with you. She will be spending the night with you. Play along with her Mr. Rassmussen besides being your next contact she is a sharp-shooter and is here to protect you. She will tell you where you need to drive to and what to do next. Now enjoy your evening. It is time for me to go. My wife is expecting me in the mineral bath!" He exclaimed and disappeared out the door.

My head was whirling, and all of a sudden I was feeling the intense heat. I had lost track of time and had no idea how long I had been in the Sauna. I was perspiring profusely. When I exited the sweltering room, I entered the shower room and let the cool water cascade over my body cooling it off as I tried to come to terms with everything I had just learned, and had just agreed to!

After I dried off and dressed I walked into the Mineral Bath Room. There were four baths and four couples all enjoying them. None of them paid any attention to me. So my curiosity was still unfulfilled! I couldn't tell which man was the one I had met with.

I left there and asked the Clerk if I had any messages. He brought me an envelope. In it was a note that read, Honey, I will meet you in the lounge at 10:00pm. Order me a Champagne Cocktail, we have much to celebrate! Love, Celine The Clerk smiled when I read it. Obviously, he had read it too. Now I know why the note was so coy. I smiled back and said, "my lady does love her Champagne!" Then I looked at my watch and it was 9:45. I went to my car, brought in my suitcase and overnight bag and went to my room. I shaved and put on some Stetson Aftershave, and the Dinner Jacket I brought. Then I headed for the Lounge.

There were two couples sitting near the fireplace and woman sitting near the bookcase with a Champagne Cocktail in her hand. When I entered the room, she called over to me, "Clifford, honey I'm over here, I ordered you a Whiskey Sour, I know how much you like them." She continued as I drew closer to her. "Thank you honey, it's been a long day!" I replied to the beautiful stranger sitting on the couch before me. "Sit down and relax Clifford, that's what we came here to do, isn't it?" She was good, I had to say! "Indeed it is, Celine," I said, as I sat back and tried to at least look like I was relaxing! You can fill me in on your day later! Right now, I have wonderful news for you, remember I said we had a reason to celebrate? As we speak, the movers are busy packing the condo up! I got the job in Europe and I start Monday the 15th. Jeffrey said, there are plenty of opportunities for you to open your own firm there." Celine finished her dramatic lines, and then it was my turn, "That's wonderful Celine, it's exactly what we need. You know how much I have been wanting to open my own Law Firm. When do we leave?" She had everything planned out perfectly, "Tomorrow morning we have some business we have to take care of here, then we fly out tomorrow night on the red-eye. We have reservations waiting for us at a hotel and then s realtor ready to show us some Condo's. Jeffrey has some connections for you to meet with so you can open up your Law Firm." I was living in a fairy tale. "Celine, you really thought of everything". I leaned over and kissed her cheek, for effect! She put her glass down and said, "if you want to thank me properly we need to go to our room now!" She took my hand in hers and I led her to my room. When we got inside, I started to say something but she put her finger to her lips and turned on the radio to some romantic music. Then she said, "Clifford darling, I think you need to wash my back for me." She then signaled for me to follow her into the bathroom. She turned the shower on and closed the door. Quietly, she introduced herself to me, "Hi, my name is Danielle, and you do a great job of playing a long Cliff. Keep it up and we will be out of here before you know it! You will be with Carol and God Bless you two, you can soon live a semi-normal life again, once the trial is over! Only it will not be in Europe! I will have to spend the night in this room with you though and you need to know that they have the room bugged! So we are going to make it sound like we're having a good time, without having a good time if you get my drift! We don't know why they have decided to watch you, but they have! Our man in the Sauna found the bug before he met with you. Do you have any questions for me before we go back into the bedroom?" I told her I had so many questions I wouldn't know where to begin, so lets just get this audio sex scene over with before I chicken out. I wasn't exactly comfortable doing it!. She said, "Here goes", turned off the shower and pulled me into the bedroom, she began giggling and with that Act two had begun!

For the next forty-five minutes, Danielle, a masterful actress I might add, led me through an intense time of loud breathing, sighing, moaning, bed rocking, wall knocking and calling out words like yes and more. All with our clothes on! Somehow I still felt dirty, like I had cheated on my wife! When it was over, it was back to the bathroom, with the shower on. "I'm sorry we had to put you through that Cliff, but we have to make them believe that you have moved on. That you believe Lisa is dead. That is the only way they will back off of you, otherwise you pose a threat to our mission and to Carol!" Danielle, gently elaborated. "Now we need to go back in there and get some sleep the next few days will be a whirl wind for you," she exclaimed. Danielle turned off the water and led me by the hand into the bedroom. As she neared the bed, she giggled and said, "Now that's the way to celebrate, baby! Maybe we can celebrate again tomorrow" Then she turned around and kissed me on the cheek. She slept in her camisole and slip, I stripped down to my T-shirt and boxers. I rolled up an extra blanket and put it between us and she whispered, that it was valiant of me but not necessary; She slept with a gun! And then she giggled!

I lay there for hours with so much information processing through my brain that I felt it overloading. If that was not enough to keep me awake, every conceivable scenario passed through my brain as well. Where was Lisa? How was she? How had she been living? Would we be the couple we were before this nightmare? Had she been with anyone else while we had been separated? Why hadn't she told me anything was wrong in the very beginning? Couldn't I have disappeared with her then? I don't know what time I finally fell asleep. Danielle woke me up at 7:00am. "Honey, it's time to go down for breakfast. I know I gave you quite a work out last night, but rise and shine! There is a large glass of Orange Juice with your name on it!" She called out, all bright and cheery! I yawned, and turned over facing her. I opened my eyes and she was dressed and ready to go! "All right honey, I'm awake.Give me a few minutes and I'll be spit shined and ready to face the day with my beautiful lady!" I got out of bed threw my clean slacks and shirt on, washed my face, brushed my teeth, splashed on some Stetson Cologne, threw all of my things into the suitcase and overnight bag, and I was ready to go!

Danielle and I walked hand in hand out the door to put my belongings into the car and then back into the Dining room for breakfast. We needed to be seen together as much as possible she had said. We ate a scrumptious breakfast. Our choices were fresh Croissants, Biscuits, Gravy, Whipped, Creme Cheese, Jams and Butter, Fruits, Cheeses, Ham, Cheese or Vegetable Omelettes, Scrambled Eggs, Ham, Bacon, Sausage, Juices, Teas or Coffee. It would have been perfect if my stomach had not been so nervous!

Unbeknownst to me, we passed Mr. Sauna in the Registration area as we were checking out. Danielle dropped her sweater and they bent down at the same time to retrieve it. She said, "What a gentleman, thank you." He replied, No problem Miss." Danielle and I got in my car and drove away from Chateau Le Belle and that is when she told me that he told her that he had found and dismantled a listening device in my car. We could speak freely now! I was relieved, I wanted to know where we were going! "You need to call your boss and resign first thing. Pull over and do that at the end of the driveway," was Danielle's, first instruction. I pulled over and did just as she said, "Put me through to Mr. Cain please, this is Clifford Rassmussen. Tell him it is urgent. Thank you. Mr. Cain, this is Cliff, your not going to like this sir, but I am resigning affective today. I know sir. I just can't discuss personal problems' sir. Thank you sir. I appreciate your understanding my decision. I won't be coming back to the office at all sir. Have the secretary do whatever she wants with the few personal items I have left there. Yes, I'm sure. No sir, I'm not in any trouble sir. Thank you for asking. Goodbye sir." Well, that was easier than I thought it would be."Now you need to go to your bank and withdraw all of your funds for cash, and close all of your accounts," she directed me. That was easy enough, there was a branch just a few miles down the road. I walked in and within 30 minutes my checking and savings were emptied and closed. I was holding two large envelopes containing $74,000 dollars. I was very nervous now. Danielle reminded me that I had nothing to worry about and pointed to her dress jacket. Inside, she wore a gun halter.

The next thing I did, even before leaving the bank parking lots was to call my insurance companies. I carried two life insurance policies, and a policy on my car. I canceled them, and had any cash out funds sent to the shadow PO Box in Sacramento. Then I called and had all of my utilities canceled. I asked Danielle what would happen to my Condo Mortgage, Car Loan and Credit Card Accounts? She said they would all go to collections as unpaid, my credit would be ruined, my Condo would be foreclosed on, and an order to repossess my car would go out. She said I was not to worry though since my new identity came with a wonderful credit rating! The last thing she said that I needed to do before Clifford would disappear forever would be to call my parents and tell them I was going out of town on business and then was going to make a vacation out of it. This was going to be hard. I had to be careful not to sound like there was anything wrong and I certainly had to sound like I was coming back!

"Hi mom. I'm going to Washington, D.C. on a business trip for a few days. While I'm there, I figured, I'd stay a few extra days to take in some of the sights. I hear it's beautiful this time of the year. I just didn't want you to call and find me gone and then worry about me. When I get back how about I come over for some of that great Pot Roast you make? Okay Mom, I love you and tell Dad I love him too. See you soon" I managed to say with tears in my eyes but with a voice as stable as iron. That would be that last time I would hear my mothers voice! Danielle reached over and put her hand on my shoulder, "I know that broke your heart, but you did it very well. Now, let's go begin your new life!" We drove back towards Sacramento, but before we got there we stopped in a small town about two hours away and met up within someone else. It was a man in a black van. We exchanged vehicles with him. Danielle told me to give him my wallet with all of my identification in it as well. She said I wouldn't need it anymore. I had listened to her thus far, so I went ahead and handed it over. He drove away and we headed on towards Sacramento. Our next stop was just outside of Sacramento, in a business complex. The only insignia on the door was the letter "C". Danielle walked up and knocked on the door. Three specific knocks. The door opened and a woman popped her head out and summoned me. I followed Danielle in. Inside was quite a set-up! A Make-over station, photo-shop, electronic fingerprinting machine, several computer stations and a lot of stuff I couldn't identify! I would guess this was the identity change building!

By the time they were done with me my light brown hair color had changed to a dark brown, my medium length comb-over was a short almost Military cut, with a brush back in the front. My green eyes had been changed to brown with contacts and I was wearing clear lenses in some very handsome frames. I had a tatoo on my left shoulder that was a Marine Corps Semper Fi image. My new name was Retired, Sargent Michael Thomas Jenkins, Attorney At Law. I had a new Drivers License and Social Security Number. A new Credit Card with a $10,000 limit. A totally new history. Outside the van was waiting to reunite me with my wife. Would I recognize her, I wondered?

Danielle drove to the Sacramento International Airport. We boarded a flight bound for Orlando, Florida with a layover in Houston, Texas. When our plane stopped in Houston we walked down to the next gate and waited to board. We were waiting for quite a while and then Danielle said, "honey I need to use the restroom, will you walk me down there." I was wondering what was up. She took my hand and headed down the long hallway. This meant we would be at the end of the line now, I told her. She smiled and said, "Exactly, that is what we want!" She ducked into the bathroom and back out again. When we got back the airplane was being boarded. We were at the end of the line. We boarded last! Just as the attendant was about to close the door, Danielle cried out, " Oh no, honey I forgot my purse in the ladies room. We have to go back and get it!" We stood up and walked towards the attendant who said that she could only allow us 5 minutes and that was all! Danielle said that we would be back in four!

I followed Danielle's lead, We walked off the plane and down the walkway and then she began running! She ducked into a maintenance room pulling me in behind her. There was a small window in the door. She peeked through the window and saw a man run past the door. He kept running and was soon out of her sight. I asked her how she knew we were being followed. She said, "It's my job to know! The idiot was a white guy hiding behind a Spanish Newspaper in the boarding area! He is so stupid he will be back any minute to board that plane and be on his way to Florida! We are staying here in Houston, where we will catch another plane to where Carol really is! See there he goes." I looked through the window and he was headed back through the door and down the hallway to the airplane! He didn't come back and the Airplane took off, without us! He could search for us in Florida forever and never find us or Lisa there! Come on we have a plane to catch in ten minutes.

In a few minutes we were in the air, headed for Minnesota. I was so nervous. Seeing my wife after all this time and after all I had learned was going to be a complicated reunion. I ordered a Whiskey Sour in hopes of calming my nerves and a Champagne Cocktail for Danielle. She didn't seem nervous at all, but I didn't feel like drinking alone. "Celine, I haven't taken the time to thank you yet have I?" I asked her. She nodded her head no, but followed that with, "Michael no thanks is necessary. This is what I do. It is my job. I go where I need to go and do what I need to do, to keep people safe. But you're welcome anyway!" "How long have you been doing this?" I asked her and she told me she had worked with the CAGC for the past 7 years. She began working with them after her Uncle, a prominent Judge had been silenced when he refused to help cover up a major crime within a government agency. The District Attorney had been bought off as were several witnesses. The Judge however was going to expose the whole thing. She said they found him hanging in his closet with a suicide note claiming that he couldn't live with himself any longer because he had been taking bribes.

I knew our government was corrupt but I was just beginning to find out just how corrupt it really was! Now I understood how serious Lisa's situation was. Her life really was in danger. They meant business!
Can you tell me how Carol is? Danielle smiled and said, "I wish I knew her personally, but I don't. I have never actually met her. I do know that she is safe. She is working in one of our Physicians offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She lives in a house outside of the city and has a couple of well trained, guard dogs! That is all I was told about her Michael. I'm sorry." I looked out the window and tears dropped from the corner of my eyes. Some man I was, crying on an airplane. Danielle handed me a Kleenex and then ordered me another Whiskey Sour. "It wouldn't be too much longer" she said, "before we would be landing!" I sat back and sipped on my Whiskey Sour, hoping to relax some.

Within an hour we were on the ground, I was jumping out of skin. Danielle kept telling me to calm down. We still had to jump through a few hoops before we could meet up with Carol! She reminded me that I was never to call her Lisa, not even in private. Lisa was dead. Carol was alive and well and we wanted her to stay that way! We would be meeting with friends, and picking up our Luggage. Our friends were Tom and Ellie Manning, they were picking us up. Play along with anything they say or do! We will be picking up four suitcases plus what you brought with you to the Chateau. The suitcases are large black suitcases with red ribbons tied to the handles to be easily identified. Your new name is on the tags.

We approached the baggage claim belt that held our planes baggage and a lively couple burst out in whelps of joyous discourse! "Michael over here, Celine oh, Celine, honey it's so good to see ya'll! How was your flight? Any turbulence?" Celine jumped right in there! " Tom, come over here and give me a hug. And no, there was no turbulence at all!" Ellie headed for Michael and gave him a huge hug and kiss on the cheek. He finally entered the game! "Ellie my sweet, it has been far too long! You look as lovely as always. How was your drive over here?" "Just fine darlin'," was her reply.

"Celine" I called out, "there's our luggage honey. We'd better grab it before it gets away from us! Tom why don't you help me grab the large ones. They're the black ones with the red ribbons tied to the handles." "That's my girl, always the decorator," Elie said, and then she and Celine laughed! "Honey, Ellie and I grabbed the other two." Celine told us. "I'm going to grab a luggage cart. I'll be right back." Tom told me and disappeared across the baggage area. He returned shortly and we piled all the luggage onto the cart and headed for the parking garage. "Michael are we going to get in any fishing while the girls hit the mall this time? I've got a couple of brand new, rods and reels, I'm dying to try out!' Tom asked, staying in character."That sure does sound good to me. Ellie you ready to fry us up a fish feast?" I asked? " Sure thing, Michael, I think I can even talk Celine into making us come of her wonderful cornbread to go with it!" Ellie proposed! "You got it Ellie, anything for a friend!" Celine replied.

We arrived at the parking lot and Tom opened the gate to an Expedition. There was plenty of room for our Luggage and us. They were definitely prepared. Before we left the parking area, Tom made several rounds through the lot to make sure we were not being followed by anyone. When he was sure, we paid the parking fee and left!

We made several passes throughout the city, Tom said this was to further check for any tails. He said that we could not be sure enough! He had not seen any tail, but he needed to positive, not just sure! We drove around for nearly an hour before he was positive! Then we headed for the outskirts of town. There was a small housing district of maybe a dozen houses. We drove down several roads to get there. When we were about a mile away, Ellie shocked me with some more news! "Michael we wanted to wait until you were near the house to tell you this, Carol is pregnant with your child. She was four weeks pregnant and didn't know it at the time, when she had to disappear. She is due to deliver in two weeks." This is another reason we chose this time to bring you here to be with her." I was more than just shocked, I was paralyzed. I couldn't move. I couldn't talk. I couldn't think! I just looked blankly at Ellie as if she hadn't uttered a word. "Michael, I know this is startling news for you especially since you just found out yesterday that your wife is still alive. Hang in there Michael, you will be with her any minute now and in a few short weeks you'll be holding your baby." She went on to say. Tears ran from my eyes and I slammed my fist into the back of the seat. "Ellie, I have missed so much!" I yelled out, when I did find my voice again. She did all she could to calm me down before we pulled into the driveway!