text:
Conspiracy of Swords
by Shadowriter
(See Part 1 for Disclaimers)
Shadowriter can be reached at Shadowriter@kc.rr.com
The task force meeting was scheduled for ten o'clock Monday morning. Alex knew that she'd need plenty of caffeine to get her through the meeting, so she turned in her report to Cliff Jackson's secretary, and headed out to find a large bottle of Coke. Instead, she ran into Cliff just outside the elevator.
"Alex, glad I caught you. Are you and David ready for the meeting?"
"As ready as we can be, sir. My report is on your desk; David's finishing his."
"Anything new?"
"A few things. You can read it in the report."
"Don't need to. You and David will present your story at the meeting."
Alex stared at her boss, completely missing the elevator she'd been waiting for. "Excuse me?"
Cliff sighed. He'd known she wouldn't like it. "Deputy Director Bishop will be there. He wants to hear verbal reports from all the teams directly involved with the homicides. Then he'll make recommendations to the Director on whether to increase the size of the overall task force. I know you weren't prepared for this, and believe me, neither were the other teams. I thought we'd do a brief on Dabir, then do a brainstorming session to map out any strategies. Instead, we have to do verbal reports cause this guy doesn't have time to read." He shook his head. "If I ever say I don't have time to read reports, just shoot me, Alex, okay?"
"You're on, Cliff." Alex took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair. "Well, it looks like I'm gonna have to skip the trip for caffeine. I better warn David, and then we'll come up with something to present."
"You worry about this presentation, Alex, I'll have Jodi order a two-liter bottle of coke for you."
"Bless you, Cliff."
"I thought you were an atheist."
"Actually, I'm more of a pagan. But for a two-liter bottle, I'll be as Christian as you want."
Deputy Director Bishop, in his dark suit with a crisp white shirt, sat stone faced at the front of the room. He had insisted that the meeting be held in this theatre type auditorium, where the seats went from the floor level up. It reminded Alex of the huge lecture rooms she'd sat in at college.
Rather than going in chronological order, Bishop requested that the newer cases be presented first, so Alex and David had been the first to stand at the podium and face the crowd. Each of the agents had a copy of Alex's report in front of them, and they nodded as the two agents went through the events from Philadelphia. They finished, and were about to start fielding questions, when the Deputy Director interrupted them.
"Thank you, Agent Reis, Agent Wu. I don't have time to listen to questions. Let's get the next team up here, shall we?"
David breathed a sigh of relief as he and Alex found two seats near the back of the room. "Damn, I'm glad that's over," he whispered to Alex. "At least he didn't have a million questions for us. Maybe that means we did okay, huh?"
Alex shook her head, and opened her notepad. She tried to focus on the new speaker, but found her mind wandering. She knew that the reason Bishop hadn't asked questions had nothing to do with whether or not they'd done okay. The man simply wasn't interested. Several times she had glanced at him to find him staring into space, not even paying any attention. The only time he'd seemed to notice anything was when they'd told of the forged badges and the possibility of white supremacist involvement. At those times he seemed to grow slightly agitated, but gave no sign that he heard anything in the rest of their report. He hadn't even bothered to open the front cover of the written copy she'd hurriedly made for him.
A nudge on her arm brought Alex out of her dismal thoughts. She turned to David to see him handing her a coffee mug. She reached for it on reflex, surprised when she felt cold rather than heat. Then she noticed Cliff silently hiding a red bottle under the table in front of him. She smiled, and took a sip. Ice cold Coke. Maybe David was right; maybe they had done okay.
After downing half her cup of soda, Alex tried to concentrate on the presentations of the other teams. Pulling out her notes, she compared them to the details the speakers were relating to the group.
The first man killed was Steven Fletcher, National Director of the Rights of Humanity Campaign. After leaving a meeting at a New York gay community center, Fletcher was walking with four other people to a rented car in the parking lot. Several shots rang out, and Fletcher was dead, just yards from the safety of his car. The assassin had used a high powered, semi-automatic rifle, from the roof of a nearby building. When the police investigated, they found a couple of shells on the rooftop, but nothing else. The building itself was a condemned apartment house, three stories tall. On the back side of the building, facing away from the shooting location, there was an intact fire escape. It was suspected that the killer went down it, then either drove away, or met his getaway ride. There, the police investigation had stalled. Unfortunately, the FBI inquiry was similarly mired down. The only thing they'd been able to add was that the bullets used had been 7.62X39 mm, and had most likely been manufactured outside of the United States. Nothing else had been found.
The second death was that of Max Rhodes, director of the Regional African-American Caucus. He had been shaking hands in the middle of a political rally near Baltimore when two shots had struck the side of his head, killing him instantly. Once again, the killer had been in a near by building. This time, however, the police responded quickly, as did the security guards in the office building. Even though the shooter was not apprehended, he had been glimpsed as he exited the rear of the building, jumping into a blue sedan. The license plate had been noted, but was discovered to be stolen plates belonging to another car. The only other clue was the rifle, a Colt carbine semi-automatic, which had been left behind in the empty office. It wasn't really a lead though, since the gun held no prints. The serial number on the rifle identified it as being one of five rifles to have disappeared from a sporting goods store in a robbery six months earlier. The description of the shooter had been vague; approximately five-foot, six-inches, with sandy blond hair, wearing a brown suit and sun glasses. It was estimated that the time between the first shot, and when the shooter jumped into the car, had been less than four minutes. Once again, the investigation stalled.
Victim number three was a Hispanic male in downtown Los Angeles. This murder had confused the task force. Instead of following the set pattern, a semi-automatic rifle shot from a building, the killer had borrowed the tactics of gang bangers from the inner city. As Mr. Mario Arturo, candidate for representative in the state of California, walked from his front door to his car, a sedan, this time black, had driven past, with a shotgun firing out the window. Arturo, who'd been expected to win the Congressional seat, had died before he hit the ground. There had been only one witness, who described the car, but had been too close to get a license plate. This killing had left hard feelings between law enforcement and the Hispanic community in California, feelings that increased as neither the police department, nor the FBI offered any hope of catching the killer.
The last victim, before Dabir, had been killed in Atlanta, Georgia. Doug Wilson had run a community center in a black neighborhood. A white man, he was initially mistrusted by the people he was interested in helping. Slowly, though, he had managed to prove himself, and the neighborhood had rallied around him when he fought against the drug dealers who openly plied their trade. For six years he had worked to create a community among the people, finding ways to keep kids off the streets, and help many stay in school. He had denounced many officials in the Atlanta area when they cut funding for many social programs. His intention, he announced, was to run for the city council in order to reverse those funding decisions. When the list of potential victims had been handed to the task force, Wilson's name had been number four on the list. He had been the second on the list to die when his car blew up in the parking lot of his apartment complex. The FBI investigation team, which had originally included Ken Thomas, had determined that the bomb was triggered by the vehicle ignition. When parts of the bomb were found and examined, it had fit no known bomber profile. Once again, there were few clues. A couple of people remembered a blue sedan that they had never seen before in the area, one with tinted windows. One woman said it had been in the parking lot the night before the bombing, and that she had seen a young white man with brown hair climb into the car. Sketches had been made, and compared to the very vague description of the individual seen in Baltimore. They had not matched.
Realizing that there was little, if any, new information on the other four investigation fronts, Alex began to relax. She leaned back in her seat, finishing her soda, and wondering why the deputy director had really wanted to sit in on their meeting. This was certainly not anywhere near how the task force usually conducted itself. In another room, down the hall from this one, they had set up a contol center, where they met at least twice a week. The walls in the room were covered with sheets of paper. The paper was in turn covered in names, dates, places, and other facts pertaining to the murders. The names of all the potential victims were on one long list next to the door. There were several computers in the room, along with other office equipment. During their meetings, the agents would find seats somewhere in the room. If it was a full crew of sixteen, there would always be a few people on the floor, or leaning against the wall. They'd review what they knew, and look at what they needed to know. After that, there would be brainstorming on what roads the investigation should take.
Background checks on the victims had yielded few results. Fingerprints on the rifle found in Baltimore had been negative, as had all fingerprint tests in Atlanta. There were no footprints found, and no tire tracks. Ken had traced a few of the Atlanta bomb components, but they had been sold at several discount hardware stores in the city. Cash had been paid, and no one had any memory of who bought them, or when.
The most productive line of inquiry, surprisingly, had been the list itself, but even that had given the agents little in the way of clues. While the letter attached to it had been delivered to the Washington Post, and the people who had handled it had left many fingerprints on it, they had also found several fingerprints that had not matched any of those known to have touched the letter, nor did they match any civil service employee. Also, the fingerprints had been found on both the letter and envelope, which ruled out the letter carrier. Other than that, however, there wasn't much. The post mark was from Georgetown, an exclusive area of D.C. The return address had turned out to be a closed gas station earmarked for demolition.
Alex's thoughts were dragged back to the present when she realized Cliff and Deputy Director Bishop had stopped the meeting. Bishop was thanking everyone for their time, and said that he'd present what he'd heard to his superiors. He left, and the room was silent for a moment.
"Asshole."
The muttered word from Cliff broke the tension in the room, and many of the agents chuckled.
"All right. We've wasted most of the morning, and I have phone calls to make. Everyone get some lunch, but be back here this afternoon ready to work. We'll meet in Task Force Central, and put some new sheets on the walls. During lunch, try and study Alex's report; we'll go over it in depth later. Any questions?"
"Yeah, " David said. "Only Alex's report? I handed mine in."
"Yes, David, I know you did. But we both know you only copied Alex."
This brought more laughter from the agents. "Not all of it, Cliff. I mean, I changed a few words here and there."
"Yeah, like the name on the cover sheet." More laughter. "All right, get out of here, get food, read the report, and I'll see you at one."
Alex gathered her papers and followed David down the aisle and out the door. Cliff was waiting for her, and pulled her aside.
"Your Coke." He handed her the bottle. "Great job, by the way. All the facts set out, plain and simple."
"Thanks. I don't think Director Bishop liked it, though."
"Don't take it personally. The guy probably slept through most of it. He's been known to sleep with his eyes open."
They laughed.
"By the way, Alex, what time you plannin' on leaving tonight?"
"I don't know, Cliff, depends on when we finish the session, and when I get a couple of reports I'm waiting on. I should be getting a phone call from Philly at some point."
"Well, if you can stick around till six, I'd appreciate it. One of my connections finally came through, and I've got someone from the CIA coming in. He won't come during business hours, though, so we agreed on my office at six o'clock. I'd like you to be there. I'd ask David as well, but he insisted only one agent."
"That's fine. I can be there at six. Do you mind if I at least let David know? That way he'll know to expect me at his place if we get anything important."
"Fine. Just let him know that I could only have one of you at the meeting. I chose you 'cause I thought he'd want to get home to his wife. After all, you two were gone for quite a while."
"Yeah, we were. Wait, what are you saying, you chose me because David has a life and I don't?"
"No, no, absolutely not."
" It's just that lately, your job is your life."
"Oh, thanks, Cliff. You better watch it, I still have plenty of vacation I could use. How'd you like to lose me for a couple months?"
"I wouldn't. If I promise you another bottle of coke at the meeting, would you delay that vacation?"
She grinned. "Oh, I see your game now. Offer Alex a Coke, and she'll do anything."
Cliff shrugged. "It's the only bribe I have."
Alex shrugged back. "Just make sure it's cold. Vacation can wait."
She found David in his cubicle, on the phone.
"Right. Thanks, Rick. I'll be waiting for the fax. Bye." He hung up.
"What's up, Dave?"
He turned to regard his partner. "Well, for one thing, Ken's not sure about the diaper bag theory, but he's willing to take it into consideration. He's still waiting for Research, but they promised him a full report by the end of tonight. Rick called that clothes company. This is interesting. Kittredge is indeed their signature line, and it can be purchased at over a hundred stores on the east coast. However, the line of Klaser Coats, is a fairly recent release, and there are only four stores which sell that particular line."
"And those four stores are located where?"
"Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, and Baltimore."
"Baltimore?"
"Yep. I'm gonna give a call and find out what time they close. Feel like joining me on a short road trip?"
"I'd love to, but Cliff wants me to be at a meeting in his office at six. A contact of his might have information for us. He thought he'd give you the night to be with Miri."
"That was kind of him. Would you rather we took the trip tomorrow?"
"I don't know. Find out about their closing, and if you think it won't take you too long, go tonight. If they close early, you and I can always go tomorrow morning." She thought for a second. "On second thought, you might want to wait. Cliff seemed to think this contact might seriously have something. If he's right, I might want to brief you tonight."
David nodded. "Good idea. Should I pick you up tomorrow? Say, eight o'clock?"
"Eight-thirty."
"Do I hear nine?"
"Aw, don't tease, Dave, I'm still tired from the late flight. You're just lucky I was on time today."
"Okay, eight-thirty. But you're buying breakfast."
"Agreed. Now, are you ready for this bull session?"
"As prepared as I was for the previous BS session."
"Yeah, well, do me a favor. Just don't bring up the diaper bag, okay? I don't feel like being laughed out of the room today."
"I'm telling you, Alex, I'm right."
"Okay. You're right. But if you tell these guys that you have a suspect based on diapers that weren't there. . ."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll keep my mouth shut. Now, where are we going for lunch?"
"Is that all you think about?" Alex looked at David with exasperation.
"No." He waited a moment. Alex's stomach growled. "But I think that's all the monster in there thinks about. I just try to keep it satisfied."
Alex¹s face reddened, and she smacked David's arm. They were both laughing as they headed for the elevator.
Alex and her fellow agents were much more alert and enthusiastic at their afternoon meeting. Instead of jackets, most everyone was in shirt sleeves; there were also a few open collars and many loosened ties. The atmosphere was also different as people seemed more relaxed, and obviously paid much closer attention.
Alex again had to marvel at the team they had become. While the task force had originally consisted of Cliff and four agents, it had now grown to nearly three times that many. There were two agents for each victim, with several more helping out with research and organization, as well as staying in contact with other potential vicims. Today, the meeting mainly consisted of those pairs of agents who were working on each individual killing. Tom Jorgen and Rudy Wilkins had been two of the original team members, assigned to the murder of Steven Fletcher. Mark Garnett and Ben Cleves had drawn duty on the death of Max Rhodes. The drive-by shooting of Mario Arturo had been assigned to Bill Tucker and his partner Victor Juarez, who was a native of southern California. The bombing of Doug Wilson had been handed over to Steve Hentgen and Louis Baker, who were both bomb experts. Until the past weekend, Alex and David, along with Ken Thomas and several others, had been extra hands for the team. Now, with Dabir dead,they had their own victim and their own case.
Alex and David were both surprised to hear that there had been new developments not mentioned in the earlier meeting. This included fibers found in the magazine tube of the rifle used to kill Max Rhodes.
"What kind of fibers, Mark?"
"First impressions from the lab said they were a synthetic wool blend. They were dyed a beige, or tan color."
"Have they made any matches with manufacturers?"
"None yet, Steve. It doesn't help that we don't know what they're from."
There was silence in the room, then Alex spoke up.
"Try overcoats."
More silence.
"Any reason why?"
"Well, first reason, why not? It's a starting place. Secondly, I know it's a long shot, but the overcoat we found in Philly was a synthetic wool blend, and tan in color." She shrugged. "Like I said, a place to start."
"Good thinking. Anyone I should call on this?"
"Yeah, call Rick Price at the Philly office. He found the manufacturer for us, and David and I are going to one of their outlets tomorrow."
"They have an outlet in DC?"
"No. In Baltimore. Which is another reason to start with overcoats."
Mark nodded. "I'll call the lab and make the suggestion." He leaned over to write a note on a wall sheet.
Alex decided to ask the question. "Can someone tell me why we didn't hear this in the meeting this morning?"
The agents all looked at each other. Steve shrugged. "We kind of came to the conclusion, during your presentation, that Bishop didn't give a shit. We just wanted to get the reports done, so we could get to the real stuff in here."
Alex shook her head. "I didn't think he was listening either. Kind of makes me wonder why he wanted to be there anyway."
There was a grumble in the room, and Cliff let it be for a moment. Then he stood up. "All right, enough. Who cares what Bishop wanted. I want suspects. I want leads. Bill, anything from California?"
"Actually, yes. I got a call from a detective in LA. He said he had a kid dead to rights on being the driver on two different drive-bys. The kid wanted to plead, and offered him the name of the shooter in the killing of some, quote, important spic, end quote. They're pretty sure he's talking about Arturo. Vic and I are gonna take the red-eye tonight, and see if this is for real or not."
"Finally, maybe a break." Cliff ran his hand through his hair. "Check with the JD, but I don't think they'll deny him a deal on any federal charges, as long as he gives up the shooter."
David nodded. "Let's hope the shooter's still alive. And I'd get this guy under cover as quick as possible. We already know that these people aren't afraid to take out their own killers."
Bill just stared at him for a minute. "Shit, you're right. Hey, Cliff, think we can get a couple Marshalls to sit on this guy till I get there?"
"Good idea. I'll give a call as soon as we're finished. They had the guy in solitary, didn't they?"
"Yeah. They didn't think word was out yet, but they had him stashed just in case."
"Good. All right, anything else we need to go over?"
No one said anything.
"Okay. I'll go call California. You guys can brainstorm, or follow up anything you might have. At this point, hunches are allowable.I want answers people. That's all."
Cliff took a final look at his team, then left. The silence lasted nearly a full minute, then Steve pulled his chair closer to David.
"So, Dave, what was this about a diaper bag theory?"
Alex groaned, putting her hand over her eyes. Fortunately, she was spared further embarrassment. A secretary told her she had a phone call from Philly.
"Agent Reis."
"Alex, it's Ken. There should be a fax coming through for you. When you get it, you're gonna wanna sit down before you read it."
"Why, what's up, Ken?"
"It's the report on the background of Mr. Kyle Brogan. And I gotta tell you, David's idea may not be as far fetched as it sounds."
"You'll get the full report in the fax, but to cut things short, let me just tell you two things. Number one, David was right, Brogan carried the diaper bag into the bank, I saw the surveillance tape. Two, Kyle Brogan's cousin is Mallory Gerlach.."
Alex was stunned. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Brogan keeps his distance from the guy nowadays, but there was a time when he was being groomed to take one of the top spots in the organization. However, he decided to move from Idaho to the east coast for college. But he didn't leave his family behind. His younger cousin, Derek came east with him. He changed his name, though."
"To what?"
"White."
Alex felt her knees give way, and she dropped into the chair beside her desk. "You mean Kyle Brogan is related to Mallory Gerlach, and Derek White?"
"You got it. Everything else is in the report. I think you should read it as soon as you can."
"Thanks, Ken. I'll see if it's in yet, and then I'll go rescue David."
"What's wrong with Dave?"
"The guys found out about his theory. They were razzing him when I left to take your call."
"Well, they might want to close their mouths. It wouldn't surprise me if Dave was right on this time."
"God, that's a scary thought, isn't it?"
She was walking slowly and reading the report when she heard the laughter coming from the task force workroom.
"Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me that you suspect this guy because there wasn't a diaper bag in the car?" Alex wasn't yet through the door, but could see David's nod in her mind.
"Shit, Dave, I'd be more suspicious if there was a diaper bag." There was general laughter in the room.
Alex stopped in the doorway, noticing that Cliff had rejoined the men.
David wasn't happy, she could tell. "Look, I didn't say I had proof, but . . ."
"But what, Dave? I know I wouldn't carry a damn diaper bag."
"You don't have kids, Steve."
"So?"
"All right, stop it." Cliff interrupted. "It's an interesting theory, Dave, and with you being the only man on the team with a young kid, it's an idea none of us would have had. Problem is, there's nothing to back up your suspicion."
Alex caught David's eye and gave him a wink. You owe me, she mouthed at him. "Cliff, that may not be completely true."
Everyone turned their attention on her. Cliff turned to meet her eyes.
"What are you talking about, Alex?"
"You know, Ken didn't like this guy either, even before Dave had his . . . idea. So, he ordered a background check, and told Research to be thorough. And they were."
Steve grinned at her. "What did they find, Alex? Was he a babysitter when he was a teenager?"
"I don't know, Steve. But I doubt his cousin was."
"His cousin?"
"Yeah, Mallory Gerlach. You know, the leader of the Aryan Resistance League?"
Nobody said anything. Then Cliff cleared his throat.
"What exactly are you talking about?"
"Research came through. I just got the report. Kyle Brogan, our friend in Philly, is the cousin of Mallory Gerlach. And not a distant cousin, either. When Gerlach's father Thomas was at the height of his career in Idaho's Nazi ranks, his second in command was his Mallory, but his third was Brogan."
There was still silence in the room, so Alex continued.
"When he was fifteen, Brogan took part in the beating of a young Jewish man outside of Boise. He pleaded no contest, and was sentenced to six months probation.That was the only time he was convicted, but not the last time he was suspected. When he was eighteen he and three others were arrested for the murder of a rabbi in Oregon. There wasn't enough evidence to take it to trial, and all four of them, including Gerlach, were released.Two months later, Brogan was on the podium when his uncle passed the reins of the group to Mallory. The next day there was a rally, which became a riot. Witnesses accused Brogan of wielding a baseball bat in the middle of the fight. No charges were brought."
She looked around the room at the stunned faces. Steve's mouth was hanging open, and his eyes were blinking rapidly. Mark's pen, which he'd been twirling, had dropped to the floor. Cliff was just sitting, very very still.
It was actually David who broke the silence. "Okay, so how did Brogan get out to Pennsylvania?"
"He left to go to college. He went to Penn State, where he majored in Communications. After graduation in 1992, he got a job with a RyeTech, a brand new telecommunications company. He went back to Idaho for his cousin's marriage in '94, but hasn't been back since."
That got Cliff out of his silence. "So, if he hasn't been in touch with his family, maybe he's no longer involved, and this was just a coincidence."
Alex frowned. "It could be a coincidence, sir, but I never said Brogan wasn't in touch with his family. He keeps in very close contact with his younger cousin, who moved to Alabama."
David rubbed his chin. "I don't remember any Gerlach involved in anything in Alabama."
"That's because there isn't. He changed his named when he left Idaho. In 1994 he officially became Derek White. And if you're wondering, yes, he was recently named Director of Whites for America, in Birmingham."
Again, it seemed no one had anything to say. Steve finally got his mouth to close, and Rudy, who had been leaning against a back wall, leaned forward to slap David on the back.
"I'll never laugh at your hunches again, Agent Wu."
It was just a couple of minutes after six when Alex approached Cliff Jackson's office. The outer office had been empty, Cliff's secretary having left at five. The inner office door was closed, and Alex hesitated for just a moment before rapping gently.
She had to admit she felt just a touch of trepidation. There wasn't much that scared Alex, but being involved with the CIA was one thing that did. Her college study of the agency had been thorough, and she had found things that she couldn't, or didn't want to, believe.There had been rumors that the CIA had paid assassins on their staff, but Alex had held the proof of that in her hands. She knew a few secrets that the general public wasn't privy to. It was just enough to make her breath come a little faster as she waited for an answer to her knock.
The door opened and Cliff looked down at his agent. "You're late."
"Sorry. I was rereading the report on Brogan. I think David and I should go interview him."
"Agreed, but we'll talk about that tomorrow." He stood aside and motioned her into the office. "Right now, I want to introduce you to Agent Ron Graves, and Teren Mylos."
Alex reached to shake hands with Graves. His hand was firm, squeezing hers a bit more than necessary, and it was slightly damp. She looked him at him squarely, and noticed that his eyes didn't rest on hers for longer than a moment. Then she turned to meet the other person in the office, and nearly bit her tongue in half.
Teren Mylos was sitting comfortably in the chair closest to the wall. While the office was well-lit, Teren seemed to have found the one corner that held any shadows. Her black jacket blended in with her obsidian hair, which fell just past her collar. Teren remained seated, almost sprawling in her chair, but Alex could still tell by the long legs that this woman was tall, probably half a foot taller than she was. She could also tell that the air of ease that Teren projected was just that: a projection. Behind the comfortable sprawl was coiled viper .
As Teren leaned over to shake Alex's hand, her bright blue eyes met Alex's green ones, and Alex had in instant of recognition. She put it aside and took the chair Cliff pointed her to.
"This is Special Agent Alexia Reis. She's a member of the task force, and was the Agent in Charge in Phladelphia. She's the one that discovered Perry Watson's I.D. and the fact that it didn't match the shooter who had used it. Agent Reis, Mr. Graves here says there's no way that Mr. Watson is involved."
"Really? And how is that, Mr. Graves?"
"Because, Agent Reis, Perry Watson is dead. Has been for six months." Graves voice had a higher pitch than she'd expected, with an irritating nasal whine.
"Are you sure?"
"Quite. But I will tell you that his body was not recovered. That means his I.D. was not recovered either. It's possible someone took his badge, and used it."
"No, they used parts of his badge." Cliff said. "It was altered to appear as FBI identification."
"But, Mr. Graves," Alex interrupted, "if you didn't recover the body, how do you know he's really dead?"
"Because I killed him."
The statement was made quietly, spoken in low tones by the woman in shadows.
Alex met her eyes. "May I ask why?"
"Because he asked me to."
"I see."
There was a tense pause. Cliff coughed gently.
"Could we ask about the situation, Ms. Mylos? It might help clarify how his badge ended up in our killer's hands."
Teren fixed her eyes on the desk. "Perry was my partner. We were on an assignment to infiltrate a terrorist organization. They were dealing drugs for weapons, and the weapons were coming from somewhere in eastern Europe. We were to infiltrate, and take out the head of the organization, along with the head of the Asian cartel who was supplying the drugs. We had almost completed our objective when our cover was blown. Instead of two quick kills, it turned into a blood bath. Perry took a bullet in his spine, I got one in the shoulder and another in the abdomen. I barely made it to the extraction point. Perry, knowing he wouldn't make it out, asked me to shoot him." She raised her head to meet Alex's eyes. "I did."
Alex listened carefully as Teren spoke. She took note of the even tone, and the lack of inflection in the voice. It matched the emotionless features on Teren's face. She suddenly realized Teren was one of those fabled CIA assassins.
"I would gather, Ms. Mylos, that you are not currently working for the Agency?"
It was Graves that answered. "That is correct, Agent Jackson. Due to injuries sustained in her last assignment, Teren has been placed on inactive status. Currently she teaches Karate and self-defense to both CIA and FBI agents, making sure they keep up their certifications. I brought her along this evening because I thought she would be useful in explaining why Perry Watson was definitely not your suspect."
Cliff nodded. Alex was still examining Teren. "Is there anything else you can tell us, Ms. Mylos?"
Teren returned the look. She nodded. "I believe there is, Agent Reis."
Alex noticed Graves become tense. "Please, continue."
"I've been aware of what happened in Philadelphia. I've also seen the sketches of your shooter and his driver. While I'm not positive of the driver, I'm fairly certain I know the shooter."
"Can you give me a name?"
"His name was George Mather. I can't prove it was him, but the sketches match him almost perfectly."
"What can you tell us about Mr. Mather?"
"Well, he used to live here in Washington, but he packed up his apartment about eight months ago. I'm not sure where he moved to, but I know he was in New York for a short while, possibly when Mr. Fletcher was killed."
"You think he could have been the shooter there?"
"Anybody could have been the shooter, Agent Reis. But George was known to dislike gays, he was definitely a killer, and his skill with a rifle was well-known. He also owned a Romanian Dremov semi-automatic rifle with a sniper's scope. It takes the same kind of ammunition as your shooter used in New York."
"Sounds like you knew him pretty well."
Teren shrugged. "I thought I knew him."
Alex leaned forward. "You thought? What does that mean? Was he a fellow agent?"
Graves was visibly tense, and he reached out. Teren knocked his hand away.
"Yeah, George was an agent. He was the one that blew my and Perry's cover."
Graves interrupted. "Uh, Agent Reis, George Mather is not currently a CIA agent. He disappeared in eastern Europe shortly after the death of Mr. Watson. According to the Agency he is listed as missing while undercover. His current whereabouts are unknown."
"Well, Mr. Graves, it looks like we might have found him for you." Agent Graves frown deepened at Cliff's statement.
Alex and Teren were still staring at each other. No one spoke.
Cliff was the first one to break the silence. "Is there anyway we can prove that this man in Philadelphia was or was not George Mather?"
The CIA man scratched his head. "Well, I suppose we can give you access to his dental records. But I'm not positive about that. It'll be up to my superior, of course."
"Of course." Cliff noticed Alex and Teren hadn't blinked in their staring contest. "Any other questions you'd like to ask Ms. Mylos, Agent Reis?"
"Several. I also thought I'd show her the tape from Philadelphia. That should give us a witness I.D. Would you have time for a conversation, Ms. Mylos?"
"I teach an evening class at seven thirty, so I can't give you too long, but I'll answer what I can."
"Um, Teren, I don't --" Graves voice was pitched even higher than normal. Teren interrupted him.
"I know the rules, Ron. Anything that goes into security, or previous operations, or could possibly endanger another agent, is off limits. I believe that Agent Reis knows the rules, don't you?" She gave a hint of a smile for the first time, and suddenly Alex knew where they'd met before.
Alex nodded. "Yes, Ms. Mylos, I know the rules. Would you follow me to my office, please?"
"Lead the way."
Cliff was left to politely bid Mr. Graves a goodnight.
Alex wound her way through the maze of cubicles to the one that served as her office, with the taller woman behind her. She motioned for Teren to sit in the extra chair, while she slid behind her desk.
"So, Agent Reis, have you figured it out yet?"
Alex opened her notebook, and looked up. "Figured what out?"
"Where you know me from."
Sitting back, Alex nodded. "You were one of the agents that agreed to speak with me when I was doing my CIA paper in grad school. I suppose I should thank you for your help then. It was that paper, along with my thesis, that got me noticed by the FBI."
"Glad to help. I am surprised you decided to work for the government, though, after everything you learned from us."
"Well, I will say you definitely discouraged any desire to work for the Agency. But the Bureau seemed a challenge, and I've done well here, I think."
Teren gave her an amused smile. "Yes, you have. I must say, when Graves called me in and told me what you found, he was very upset. He's not used to having mistakes come back to haunt him."
"Mistakes?"
"Yes. It was Ron's decision to send Mather with Perry and I to eastern Europe. Both of us told him we didn't trust the guy. It's taken me the last few months to be able to sit in the same room and not want to rip out Ron's throat."
The blatant admission surprised Alex, but she didn't show it. "I imagine losing your partner was hard. It must have been worse to realize you'd also been betrayed."
"It wasn't pleasant. So, what questions do you have, Agent Reis?"
"Please, call me Alex. You indicated you might have an idea who the driver of the car was. Unfortunately, he doesn't show on the video tape, but we do have a few sketches."
"I know, I've seen them. Like I said, I'm not sure. But it might be Darryl Wilford. He was George's brother-in-law. He was blond, medium build. Wanted to get into the Agency, but he flunked out. He idolized George."
"If he wasn't Agency, then I could probably get records without a problem, right?"
"Maybe. I don't see why not."
Teren watched Alex as she jotted down Darryl Wilford's name. She wondered if the FBI agent would ask her the right questions.
"Did Mather or Wilford have any tattoos?"
An eyebrow rose on the face of the darker woman. That was one Reis got right. "I know that George had two tattoos. I'm not sure about Wilford."
"Could you tell me the location, and what the tattoos were?"
"One was a spiderweb, on his leg."
"His leg? Normally, when someone gets a spiderweb tattoo it means they've killed someone, normally a black person or a Jew. The web goes on an arm, as a badge, so others can see it."
"Right, but George knew the agency wouldn't like it, so he had his put on his right thigh."
"Unfortunately, not much flesh was left on the legs of our shooter. Do you know if he -- how shall I say this -- 'earned' the spiderweb?"
"Yes, he did. Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to say more."
"I see. What about the other tattoo?"
"It was on the underside of the upper arm. Double lightning bolts. And I don't suppose I need to tell you what they mean."
"Did you find them?"
Teren waited.
"So, may I presume, from the tattoos, and your statements, that George Mather was involved in the Nazi movement?"
"You may. But you'd be wrong."
"Excuse me?"
"Mather wasn't involved in any cause. He wasn't a Nazi, he wasn't a white supremacist, and the only cause he believed in was his own. I'm not saying he wasn't prejudiced; he was. Like I said earlier, he hated gays, and I know he wasn't fond of blacks or Jews. But he killed for money. He joined groups because they paid him. He got cash for doing something he liked doing."
"So, why the tattoos, then?"
"Why not? If they wanted to think he was a part of them, he would have let them think that. No reason not to. But if someone outside had offered him money to kill someone in the group, he'd have taken it."
"Do you know how much he would have been paid for a hit?"
"Depending on the target, and the location, anywhere between forty and a hundred thousand dollars."
"Cash?"
"Yes. Or an electronic transfer. They would have had to deposit it directly into his account."
"And the hit would be made after payment was accepted?"
"Correct."
Alex made a note to herself to call Research about financial records, then leaned back in her chair.
"What can tell me about Mather's family, or his friends? Where did he hang out, who --"
"I'm sorry, Agent Reis. George's wife died two years ago. They never had kids. George's parents have been dead for years, and he didn't have any brothers or sisters. He was close to his wife's family, but they haven't seen him, or Darryl, since the incident in Eastern Europe. I don't know anything about his social life; it's not like we were close."
"I take it you've been reseaching this."
"I've been looking for the son of a bitch for six months. I gotta tell you, finding out he'd been killed didn't make me happy. I'd been looking forward to making him bleed."
Both of them were quiet. Alex tapped her pen against her notebook. Teren dropped her eyes to the floor, a little embarrassed at what for her was an emotional outburst.
When Alex finally spoke, it was in a subdued voice. "Is there anything else you can tell me, Ms. Mylos?"
"Only this. I might have a line on where Mather was staying. I have a hunch it'll tell you a little more about who he was working for. When I find it, I'll call you."
"I'm not sure I understand. The man who betrayed you is dead. Why would you have any further interest in this matter?"
"Cause if anyone was going to take out George Mather it should have been me. Now I guess I'll have to settle for finding the guys who paid him to do what he did."
"You mean the people who paid him to kill Reginald Dabir?"
"No. I mean the people who paid him to rat on his fellow agents. Like I said, George liked money. He wouldn't have given us up if there wasn't something in it for him. I want to know where the money came from. But if I find something that will be helpful to you I'll let you know."
"Is there any possibility the same group paid him for both jobs?"
The question silenced Teren, and she took a full minute to think about it. Again the agent had asked the right question.
"I think that's a strong possibility. However, I can't discuss anything to do with the operation, and therefore I can't tell you why I believe it might be true."
"I understand. But remember this. If they are the same people, then we're on the same side. And I want to get these fuckers as much as you do."
Teren could tell that Alex absolutely believed in her statement. But she knew better.
She gave the smaller woman an ironic smile. "I doubt it."
They stared silently at each other for a moment more, then Alex cleared her throat.
"Would you care to see the video now?"
"Certainly."
Alex could feel Teren's eyes on her back as they walked down the hall to the tape room.
Just as she was leaving her office for the night, the phone rang. With a groan, Alex picked it up, while dropping back into her chair.
"Alex, what the hell are you still doing there at 7: 10 in the evening? I thought you said this meeting probably wouldn't take too long?"
"Well, David, I was wrong." She waited for David to say more, but he was quiet.
"Are you okay, partner?"
"Yeah, I'm all right. I'm just tired. But I'll be on my way to your house in a few minutes. We've got a few things to talk about."
"No, I don't think that's a good idea. You sound way low on reserves. Why don't you lay it all out for me in the morning when I pick you up?"
"I'm really okay, Dave."
"Right. And I'm running for President. Get real."
She had to laugh. "All right, so I feel like crap. A long bath and a warm bed sound pretty good. Much better than dragging my ass all the way to your place."
"Sounds better to me, too. After all, when you show up looking tired, Miri pays more attention to you than me."
"She does not."
"Does too. Hey, how about a little teaser, huh? Did Mr. CIA have anything for us?"
"No. But Ms. CIA had some interesting stuff."
"Ms? Uh, oh. Were you working your charms on her, Alex? Is that why you're so tired?"
"No way. I'd probably get frostbite if I tried to charm her. Either that or a cement overcoat."
"That bad?"
"Yeah. But the good news is, she I.D.'d the shooter, and gave us a good line on who the driver was. Seems she's been looking for the guy, herself."
"Seems he blew the lid on an undercover operation she was involved in, and someone died."
"Who?"
"Her partner, Perry Watson."
"No shit?"
"Nope."
Alex could hear David tapping his pencil. "Is there more?"
"Yes. Do you want me to come over tonight, or can you wait 'til tomorrow?"
"I guess I can wait. You will be ready at eight-thirty, right?"
"Are you bringing breakfast?"
"Don't I always?"
"Yep, I'll be ready. Probably not awake, but ready."
Alex pulled her short coat tighter against her as she exited the building. The weather recently had been nice during the day, but this late in the evening the season was obvious. February was usually cold and snowy. So far, flakes hadn't fallen, but Alex wouldn't be surprised if there was white on the ground by morning.
She began the walk to the Metro station, her briefcase hanging from a strap on her shoulder. She wished she'd remembered to grab her hat before she left home that morning. She'd remembered gloves, though, and she gratefully stopped to pull them from her pocket. As she slid them over her cold fingers, she felt it.
There was an itching on her back, right in the middle. It was an odd feeling, one she didn't like. It felt as though someone was watching her.
Cautiously, and slowly, she turned around to look back in the direction of the door she'd come out of. There was no one there.
It wasn't as though the streets were empty. Several young men with overcoats and attache cases brushed past her, and one stopped to hail a cab. Many others were walking along, minding their own business.There didn't appear to be anyone watching her. But she could still feel that itch.
She shook her head, and resumed walking, trying to ignore the fear that was beginning to settle into her stomach. As she headed down the stairs into the station, she quickly glanced up and behind her. There was no one there. The feeling began sliding away.
With a sigh, she entered the turnstile, then headed for the platform to wait for the next train to DuPont. As she went down the final flight of stairs, the feeling of being watched returned, this time very strong. Once again, surreptitious glances revealed no one, but her senses were on full alert, and she felt herself move with a quickened step.
When she got to the platform, Alex leaned against the wall near where the front of the train would pull to a stop. There, she shifted her briefcase, and unbuttoned her coat. Her hand stayed in front of her, within easy reach of the gun she carried in a shoulder holster. The feeling was still there, though not as strong. It didn't go away, and she didn't move.
The train pulled in to the station, and Alex listened to the loudspeaker confirm that it was headed to DuPont. She didn't move. She waited until most of the people were either into the cars, or headed for the stairs, then she took a good look around. Again, no one appeared to be watching her.
Just as the bell sounded that the doors were closing, Alex shot away from the wall, and onto the first car. The doors closed immediately behind her, almost on the back end of her briefcase. She turned back to the door, watching as the train began to move and the view of the station was replaced with the dark cement of the underground tunnel. She waited for a moment longer, feeling the fear dissipate as the itch in her back disappeared. She sat down opposite the doors and stared at them thoughtfully.
Could she have just been paranoid? After all, she'd had an assassin sitting in her office tonight. Anyone would be nervous after that. She could have just been scaring herself, right?
But then again, she'd had an assassin in her office. An assassin that had seemed to exude shadows even in the well lit office cubicles. And Alex's instincts were very good.
Suddenly feeling exhausted, Alex settled into her seat and leaned her head against the window. The feeling of being watched was gone, and hadn't come back since she boarded the train. Once she got to her stop, it wasn't a long walk home, and before she knew it, she'd be in that hot bath, with Appleby doing his balancing act on the rim of the tub.
But even as she waited, she kept her coat open, and her hand resting just inside it.
Just in case.
Teren Mylos watched the FBI agent as she went down the steps at the Metro station. She'd been surprised to realize that the agent was aware of being followed. She waited near the top of the stairs, counting slowly to ten, then walked down the flight. She saw her quarry pass through the turnstile, and she got into a long line of people waiting to do the same. Again, she noticed Agent Reis looking around her cautiously. She waited until Reis reached the platform before descending to it herself.
Standing well back in the shadows near the stairs, Teren had a good look at Alex. Her back was to a wall, and she'd unbuttoned her coat. Knowing her gun was within easy reach of Alex's hand, Teren almost smiled. Almost exactly what she would have done.
She had to give Reis credit, when she jumped onto the train at the last minute. By being in the first car, it was the first one to leave the station, taking the agent out of shooting range, if anyone was inclined to do that. It also prevented anyone else from boarding the train after Alex. By waiting so long, Alex had made her pursuer wonder if she was going to board the train at all. That could have left the hunter standing while her or his quarry rode safely away.
Again, Teren smiled. That would only work, she thought, if the hunter didn't know where the woman was going. If he or she did know, then they'd be waiting for Alex at DuPont Circle. That could be dangerous for the small agent.
Good thing the hunter wasn't really hunting.
As she climbed the stairs back up to the station, Teren found herself impressed that Alex had known she was there. She knew she should have been able to conceal herself from the likes of Alex Reis, but she hadn't been able to pull it off. It had appeared that Reis knew she was being followed almost from the moment she'd left the FBI building. Unusual, unexpected, but Teren was not unhappy that the younger agent had demonstrated the ability to sense her surroundings. It had been her own strong senses that had kept her alive many times. She hoped the same technique would keep Alex safe as well.
After all, Alex appeared to be a damn good FBI agent. She was quick, and smart, and not easily intimidated. Teren knew that was going to be important if Alex was to solve her current case. And Teren wanted it solved. She knew that the people behind Perry's death were probably behind many more. She wanted Alex to lead her to them.
Of course, then Teren and Alex would have a problem. Alex would want the guilty party taken to jail. Teren would want them taken to the morgue.
Teren glanced at her watch. It was almost seven-thirty. She'd be late to her class, but if she hurried, she could be there by quarter 'til. Already constructing her excuse, Teren slid behind the wheel of her Nissan, and pulled away from the curb.
Continues in Chapter Five
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text:
Army-industry partnerships key to developing next-generation technology
By Kaitlin Newman, C5ISR Center Public AffairsMarch 11, 2021
C5ISR Center computer scientist Zach Kjellberg (standing) and electronics engineer John Tangradi conduct research on PNT systems at Aberdeen Proving Ground in October 2019. (Photo Credit: Dan Lafontaine, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL
While cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) are not new, they are becoming increasingly important as the Army Futures Command (AFC) seeks to build stronger relationships with industry to develop next-generation technologies.
"We cannot do the 'what' and 'why' of our job without industry partners," said Chuck Hoppe, the associate director for science, technology, and engineering for the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center – a component of AFC's Combat Capabilities Development Command. Hoppe, speaking at a March 10 virtual AFCEA event, identified CRADAs one of the key components of the Army's success in delivering new capability to the Warfighter.
CRADAS are written agreements between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties. In this agreement, the Army provides personnel, facilities, equipment or other resources — with or without reimbursement — to identify and develop technologies to meet the government's needs. To facilitate that, industry partners receive very specific information about the threat environment.
While the exact details of the Army-industry relationship vary according to the specific agreement, this mutually beneficial relationship allows the Army to gain greater awareness of industry technologies and examine how it can help solve capability gaps.
The development of a CRADA begins with identifying a specific need that would strengthen the Soldier's capabilities, then noting potential industry technologies that could fulfill that need. A statement of work is developed, specifying the different roles of the government and industry in the relationship and the desired outcome of the cooperative research.
Defining those goals is the most labor-intensive part of developing a CRADA and the most important, according to Hoppe.
"Industry partners can expect a clear purpose and briefings on a real problem. We agree on the project, what the deliverables are, if any, and the timeframe for the project," Hoppe said.
Once the agreement is established, if the agreement includes classified work, the Army can brief industry members on the specifics of the threats and the various environments the Soldier faces. Army personnel are able to share their expertise in how the Soldier's technology and capabilities work, as well as the Soldier's specific needs. The CRADA partnership is a win/win situation for both parties.
"We want to push state-of-the-art technology into the Soldier's hands," Hoppe told the AFCEA virtual audience.
Hoppe identified the Army's upcoming Multi-Domain Operations Live 21 as a prime opportunity for the development of future CRADAs with the C5ISR Center. MDO Live is a C5ISR Center field-based risk reduction activity focused on exercising new technologies in support of the Multi-Domain Task Force and operational threads that are unique to multi-domain operations.
Hoppe reiterated that CRADA's are only one mechanism to work with the Center and that they are, by their definition, cooperative and research oriented. The C5ISR Center currently has 107 active CRADAs with industry and universities.
For more information about CRADAs and how to partner with the Center, please visit the C5ISR Business Opportunities website.
The C5ISR Center is the Army's applied research and advanced technology development center for C5ISR capabilities. As the Army's primary integrator of C5ISR technologies and systems, the center develops and matures capabilities that support all six Army modernization priorities, enabling information dominance and tactical overmatch for the joint warfighter.
The C5ISR Center is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, DEVCOM leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. DEVCOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.
Army Futures Command
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
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January 5, 2023Integrated Visual Augmentation System 1.2 development task order awarded
December 15, 2022$84 million contract awarded for Excalibur replenishment
October 13, 2022TMF Board selects the Army Critical Infrastructure Cyber Protection Project for investment
February 24, 2022Transcript: Media Roundtable with Mr. Douglas R. Bush 17 February 2022
February 17, 2022Doug Bush sworn in as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology
February 15, 2022Media roundtable with Douglas R. Bush, new ASA for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology
August 29, 2017Army Announces 2017 Superior Supplier Incentive Program List

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Mitsubishi calls for plug-in hybrid grant to be reinstated
Mitsubishi is leading calls for the UK government to revive its axed financial incentive scheme for buyers of plug-in hybrid vehicles، as the Car News said.
The Japanese car maker says that UK owners of its Outlander PHEV hybrid SUV cover half their average weekly mileage in electric mode، substantially lessening the model's environmental impact.
The grant in question، axed in October last year، enhanced the appeal of hybrid vehicles by offering buyers a £2500 - £4500 subsidy depending on the model's zero-emissions range.
According to a survey commissioned by Mitsubishi but conducted independently، over two thirds of Outlander PHEV owners charge their vehicle daily، with 90% charging at least 2-3 times per week.
Mitsubishi says the results of this survey oppose the notion that PHEVs are rarely plugged in، and are purchased as a means of paying reduced benefit-in-kind tax.
Top-selling plug-in SUV gets major revisions to styling and suspension as Mitsubishi bids to keep its market advantage
The vast majority of Outlander PHEVs are charged at owners' homes، with only 23% of drivers relying on public charge points، which Mitsubishi says "refutes the misconception that PHEVs are preventing electric vehicles from accessing charging units".
Mitsubishi says 25% of UK Outlander PHEV owners would consider a pure electric vehicle as their next purchase – implying that incentivising sales of hybrids could help the government in its mission to end the sale of conventionally fuelled vehicles by 2040.
The company's appeal comes days after it was revealed that UK sales of plug-in hybrids fell by 34.3% in April – a direct result of the government's abolition of financial incentives for anything but pure-electric vehicles.
The Outlander PHEV is the UK's biggest-selling plug-in hybrid، with an estimated 45،000 currently on the road.


text:
Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/fines_related_to_covid_19_26?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link&utm_source=whatdotheyknow on January 30, 2023 14:59
Fines Related to Covid-19
Jonathan Moseley made this Freedom of Information request to Hertford College, Oxford
Jonathan Moseley
Hertford College, Oxford
Jonathan Moseley 14 February 2021
Dear Hertford College, Oxford,
I am requesting:
1) The total number of fines issued related to restrictions put in place due to Covid-19 (e.g. students exceeding household sizes, lack of social distancing, failing to wear a mask etc.) since 1 October 2020;
2) The number of fines broken down by size and type (e.g. suspended, part-suspended, or levied) as well as the total value of these fines;
3) Have any other forms of disciplinary action been taken (e.g. any form of community service, or warning letters being issued)?
4) How many students have been sent down* for Covid-19 related offences during this time period (*this includes any variation of rusticating, temporarily suspended, being asked to leave college accommodation or any other meaning of 'sent down')?
5) How much did the college earn through decanal fines in the same time period, last year.
Could you also break down this information into a termly basis i.e. the answers for the above in Michaelmas 2020, in Hilary 2021 and then a total for both terms?
If you need any clarification do not hesitate to contact me. Under section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act it is your duty to provide advice and assistance and so I would expect you to contact me if you find this request unmanageable in any way.
Hertford Bursar, Hertford College, Oxford 11 March 2021
Dear Jonathan,
In response to your enquiry, I am able to confirm as follows:
For Michaelmas 2020:
1) 2
2) One of £50, and one of £100, both levied.
3) Warnings and reminders will have been issued as appropriate, as per
usual practice.
5) This has been interpreted as relating to any student fines (which would
include any charges for damage or breakages etc.), as Decanal fines are
not applicable. The total value was £1,015
For Hilary 2021 to the date of request:
Bursar and Fellow
Hertford College, Catte Street
Oxford, OX1 3BW
E: [1][email address]
PA: Linda Cassettari
[2][email address]
Jesus College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Regent's Park College, Oxford
St Hilda's College, Oxford
St Hugh's College, Oxford
St John Baptist College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Number of returning students in Hilary Term, 2021


Sam, Luke, and Josh pay homage to the late Art Bell, muse about the importance of critical thinking when it comes to arcade game huxter-villains, chuckle at Christian cinema flops, respond to listener feedback, and praise NJ lawmakers for strong vax laws.
This episode begins with Sam discussing recent allegations of sexual assault by David Silverman, former president of American Atheists.
Art Bell's US callsign was indeed W6OBB. He also held a license in the Phillipines, 4F1AB. Additionally, the comet that hit Jupiter was not the same comet that signaled the Higher Source cult to kill itself.
As a skeptic and ham radio afficionado, I hope [Sam] might be able to help me with this – Assume you have an old type transmitter, late 1930s technology, transmitting at 50 watts at 3105 khz during the day and over water. The transmitter is about 1000 high, could a voice signal be picked up as signal strength 5 / good at 400 miles? Yes, there is a skeptical angle to this.
Sam, I think you would like the soap & other products at geeky clean.com. My son has their D&D soap in his bathroom, and he really likes it.


Approximately 9604 leased acres are concurrent with neighbor for 162 cows calf pairs or (1.5 times yearlings) 243 yearlings. Just up the road from the Powder River on Beaver Creek, this diversified cattle ranch has year round ponds and produces an impressive stand of newly seeded Alfalfa hay. The hunting cabin is surrounded by a large amount of public land on 3 sides, but the wildlife is the true asset of this ranch. Elk, deer, bear, mountain lion, pheasant, turkey, many bird species and prairie dog towns in the prized hunting district 700. Some of Montana's record bull elk have been taken in this area. The property is extensively surrounded with Elk friendly electric fencing. Productive ranch headquarters includes cabin, two residences, livestock corals, calving barn and machinery shop.


Canon announced the new 15.1MP Canon 50D DSLR camera this week. The Canon 50D is a bit more expensive than the Nikon D90. The higher resolution and the exceptional sensitivity of ISO 12,800 is surely to blame for the price difference.
Canon targets with the 50D advanced amateur photographers who blur the line between the hobbyist and the professional.
Canon is taking steps to give advanced amateurs more flexibility with a new "CA" Creative Full Auto setting on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's mode dial. This new setting goes a step beyond Full Auto, by allowing users to make adjustments before shooting while still in an Automatic mode, without needing to know the meaning of technical terms such as aperture, shutter speed, etc.
If you choose a Canon, Nikon or Sony DSLR camera is almost a choice of faith. If you believe in Canon than the D50 is a very interesting choice starting at $1,399 (body only).
Great gift for amateurs who want to take the next level. They should be Canon believers.
The Canon 50D is shipping in October. Amazon has the Canon 50D listed.
See all our top 10 gift tips in the Digital Camera Category. Explore all our Top 100 Holiday Gift Tips 2008.


Wells Fargo & Co fell 1.76 percent after the bank's quarterly revenue missed analysts' estimates, as revenue across all its banking units declined.
"As we start earnings season with financials group, it's not going to be a pleasant picture, at least from the start. It is going to set the tone in negative fashion for fourth-quarter earnings," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities in New York.


Examing the various items found, the agents follow the lead on the napkin and head to Happy's Place. They arrive mid-day in Berry, Florida at a mostly empty biker bar, with only a few patrons inside.
Questioning the bartender, they learn that a man matching Hearst's description – whom he refers to a "the bald guy" was part of a bike gang that started showing up and hanging around the bar about 2 months previous. During the conversation, the agents see some pictures of a young woman behind the bar who has a parrot tattoo on her should – a parrort identical to the one drawn on the napkin found on Hearst. The bartender tells them that she was the best waitress he ever had, by the name of Lorene Foster. She was the object of the bald guy'sflirtations, and packed her bags and went with the gang when they left town a few weeks prior. He too had heard the rumors that she had been murdered by the gang, and sadly believes them to be true.
The agent's questions draw the attention of a trio of biker's that were playing pool in the bar, who attempt to disuade them – with their fists. The first blow sends Maverick to the ground and rather than reciprocating with his fists, Lester pulls out a pair of pistols and ends the fight – by way of acute lead poisioning.
In the violent aftermath of the conflict, the agents fled back to Miami; fortunately for them, the deaths did not attract too much law enforcement attention – the two suviviing bikers refused to cooperate with investigators, and the dead biker had quite a rap sheet accumulated.
At the Miami office, they begin the process of trying to locate Lorene Foster in hopes of getting a lead on what had happened to Agent Hearst. But it appeared that a week after her departure from Berry, there was no further trace of her. Credit card and cell phone use tied to her all stopped, having traveled no further north than Hollywood, Florida; neither were there any recent law enforcement records. A call to Field Director Jones at the NY headquarters prompts them to follow on the rumors of her death, and a search of Jane Doe's leads to a body of a young woman with a parrot tattoo on the shoulder. Maverick was able to convince the eager coroner's assistant to provide the autopsy report.
Of particular interest, the barrel she was placed in was still in at the morgue and had a partial label which he helpfully read to the them: "Under the serial number it says 'Eagle Storage,' something, '—ade City, FL.' And there's a partial number: —5-0414." A quick search internet search returned an address for a Eagle Chemical Waste Storage located in Dade City, Florida – ~40 miles north of Berry.


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NEW SINGLE RELEASED TODAY FROM JERMAINE BOLLINGER
'Turn It Over,' with Rapper Point5, Out at Radio and Digital Outlets
NEWS SOURCE: INOV8 PR
August 30, 2019 (Springdale, Arkansas) – A new single from Christian music artist Jermaine Bollinger titled "Turn It Over" goes for adds today to Christian AC and Christian CHR/Hot AC-formatted radio outlets. The song, featuring Christian hip hop artist Point5, also is available today at all digital platforms, including iTunes and Spotify." A video for "Turn It Over," which was written by Bollinger and his wife, Mallory Bollinger, is available on YouTube.
"My desire," Bollinger says, "is for my music to reflect my mission statement, which is to strive to be the catalyst that revolutionizes the Christian music industry forever."
Named for Jermaine Jackson from the iconic Jackson 5, Bollinger has developed into an excellent representation of his namesake. Not only is Bollinger a talented singer/songwriter, but the musician plays a variety of instruments. A former worship pastor, Bollinger also is a respected performer, studio musician and engineer.
"Turn It Over" is from Bollinger's upcoming album titled "Guardian."
For more information about Bollinger, check out JermaineBollinger.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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Quick Thoughts: COMMUNITY, "History 101"
For those die-hard Community fans who're aware of the behind the scenes drama involving Dan Harmon, "History 101" was probably a slap to the face, but that's probably because they were expecting it to be a slap to the face. As for me, I liked it well enough. It wasn't great, but it didn't put me on a ledge either. It was a different version of Community, but there's nothing wrong with that.
Now, I'll admit that there were somethings that didn't land. I thought the whole Hunger Games homage was a bit weak, and I could've done without people getting on Jeff's back for wanting to graduate on time (although I don't know how far he'd go as a lawyer with just a degree from a community college). Even Annie, who I usually like, came of as rather annoying, but oh well.
Thankfully, Troy and Britta did a lot of the heavy-lifting in terms of delivering jokes that actually made me laugh, and while I don't know how I feel about them together, I liked them enough to keep me engaged in the episode. Abed's plot about creating a sit-com in his mind to be his happy place was more problematic, but it had Greendale Babies so it ultimately won over.
Was "History 101" a successful return for Community? No, but it's not like the show was flawless to begin with, and I'd wager a bet that most "fans" would've commented on its genius if they didn't know about Harmon leaving. At the end of the day, most people were going to hate this episode regardless, which is fine. It just should've had a fair chance.
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Nursing students and new graduates are the future of the profession, but they also face barriers as they move into the workplace (e.g., high attrition rates, lack of leadership opportunities and inconsistent and inadequate transition supports). In consultation with students and new graduates across the province, NNPBC's IGNITE Student and New Graduate Program was established.
IGNITE provides comprehensive resources, a platform for dialogue and opportunities to network. We invite you to explore and learn about the IGNITE program and continue to work in partnership with your professional association and colleagues to build a strong, supported and unified nursing profession. Join the IGNITE movement!
Please note that NNPBC's Student Services are currently being revamped. Please contact NNPBC's Nursing Advisor with any questions about NNPBC's IGNITE - Student and New Grad Program at info@nnpbc.com.


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Dressen steht für:

 Dressen (Weiler-Simmerberg), Ortsteil des Marktes Weiler-Simmerberg, Landkreis Lindau (Bodensee), Bayern

Dressen ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Jourdain-Willy Dressen (1908–1945), belgischer römisch-katholischer Geistlicher, Dominikaner und Märtyrer

Siehe auch:
 Dreesen
 Drehsen
 Dresen
 Dreßen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
A vertical agreement is a term used in competition law to denote agreements between firms at different levels of a supply chain. For instance, a manufacturer of consumer electronics might have a vertical agreement with a retailer according to which the latter would promote their products in return for lower prices. Franchising is a form of vertical agreement, and under European Union competition law this falls within the scope of Article 101.

Whether a vertical agreement actually restricts competition and whether in that case the benefits outweigh the anti-competitive effects will often depend on the market structure.

Contractual parties may include contractual restraints or obligations in vertical agreements to protect an investment or to simply ensure day-to-day business operation (e.g. distribution, supply or purchasing arrangements).

Competition issues
Vertical agreements are often exempted from regulatory controls as they give rise to fewer competition concerns than horizontal agreements, which are concluded between two current or potential competitors, and are seen as promoting efficiency in business. Generally, vertical restraints can realise benefits by:

 reducing transaction costs,
 promoting beneficial investments (which would not otherwise occur due to financial, technical or logistical issues),
 helping to solve economic problems such as double marginalization, inefficient input substitution and insufficient pre-sale services.

However, vertical agreements may entail competition law risk when there is a chance that e.g. barriers to entry increase, competition is reduced or softened, and other ways when horizontal collusions are facilitated.

Competition concerns arise when there is insufficient competition at one or more levels of trade.

European Union: Article 101 TFEU
Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) prohibits agreements between undertakings that have as their object or effect the restriction, prevention or distortion of competition within the EU and which have an effect on trade between EU Member States. This prohibition is relevant to all agreements between two or more undertakings regardless whether they are competitors.

Vertical agreement will be illegal under Article 101(2) TFEU when the agreement has a restrictive 'object' or has restrictive 'effects' within the meaning of Article 101(1) TFEU. But if the contracting parties can demonstrate that it falls within a potentially applicable block exemption or can be explicitly justified on efficiency grounds under Article 101(3) TFEU then it may be exempted.

EU competition law: block exemptions for vertical agreements
Vertical agreements that fulfill the conditions for exemption and do not contain any so-called "hardcore restrictions" of competition are exempted from the prohibition in Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by Regulation 330/2010. The main exception is agreements for motor vehicle distribution, which remain subject to Regulation 1400/2002  until 31 May 2013, pursuant to a three-year extension granted in Regulation 461/2010. Although this latter regulation applies Regulation 330/2010 to agreements for the repair of motor vehicles and for the distribution of spare parts as of 1 June 2013, it also supplements Regulation 330 with three additional "hardcore" clauses

Assessment framework
Where it is confirmed that contracting parties operate for the purpose of an agreement at different levels of trade and the agreement has the 'effect on trade', the process for assessing the vertical arrangement under Article 101 TFEU is broadly as follows:

 determine whether the agreement as a whole falls outside Article 101 TFEU
 determine whether any contained restraints are restrictions 'by object'—with implications for
 the application of the De Minimis Notice (which is European Commission Notice on agreements of minor importance which do not appreciably restrict competition under Article 101(1) TFEU)
 the likely application of the Vertical Restraints Block Exemption (Block Exemption) - though this is not definitive since 'by object' restrictions are not synonymous with 'hardcore' restrictions, albeit the concepts often coincide and overlap in their application, and
 whether it is necessary to conduct an 'individual assessment' in order to demonstrate appreciable restrictive 'effects'
 consider whether the agreement meets the criteria set out in the Block Exemption
 if the agreement does not meet the Block Exemption criteria:
 where confirmed not to be 'by object', carry out a case-by-case ('individual') assessment confirming whether the arrangement produces restrictive 'effects' within the meaning of Article 101(1) TFEU
 if the agreement is found to be restrictive (whether 'by object' or 'effect'), assess whether the agreement benefits from an 'individual exemption' under Article 101(3) TFEU (i.e. generates incremental economic benefits which, amongst other requirements, outweigh the restrictive effects identified).

Exemptions from Article 101 TFEU
There are cases where certain types of agreements automatically fall outside the scope of Article 101 TFEU, e.g.:

 ICA / intra-group arrangements, since Article 101 TFEU applies only to two or more independent parties
 Relationships between principals and agents which are effectively treated like relationships between parents and controlled subsidiaries (ie 'single economic entities'), if certain conditions are met.
 'Albany exception' - agreements falling within the framework of collective bargaining between employers and employees and which are intended to improve employment and working conditions
 Subcontracting agreements (normally considered vertical arrangements) - the subcontractor undertakes to produce certain products exclusively for the contractor
 According to Article 106(2) TFEU, Article 101 TFEU is not applied if the compliance with the Article 101 TFEU results in the obstruction of undertakings from performing tasks assigned to them by Member States. However, it is a limited exception and is strictly interpreted.

Additionally to above mentioned restrictions local exemptions may be applied according to member state's legislation.

Identifying and classifying restraints
Certain vertical agreements are likely to contain restraints which are not in compliance with Article 101 TFEU. These are agreements which contain provisions:

 Facilitation of vertical price-fixing
 Imposition of certain territorial or customer resale obligations/restrictions
 Prohibition or limitation of parallel trade
 Prohibition or limitation of passive sales (most notably in relation to online marketing and sales).

Under the Block Exemption and applicable Commission guidance the above restraints would normally be understood as 'hardcore'. The inclusion of a 'hardcore' restraint automatically removes the potential benefit of the Block Exemption safe harbour to the whole agreement.

The above restraints may also amount to 'by object' restrictions within the meaning of Article 101(1) TFEU.

While the distinction between 'by object' and 'by effect' infringements has become rather blurred, in principle 'object' infringements arise from conduct that is inherently (or obviously) anti-competitive and is hence at the more 'serious' end of the scale - 'serious' in terms of likelihood to cause harm and/or the absence of any obvious or credible pro-competitive redeeming features.

A 'by object' finding would not in principle rule out the benefit of the Block Exemption. This is on the basis that a restraint might be deemed 'by object' without it necessarily being considered 'hardcore'. Conversely, a restraint confirmed to be 'hardcore' may not necessarily (though often does) amount to a 'by object' restriction.

Only where a contextual assessment reveals a 'sufficiently harmful' effect on competition (or a lack of any credible redeeming virtues) can an agreement be legally characterised as 'by object' within the meaning of Article 101(1) TFEU.

More flexibility exists in relation to other vertical agreements. For example, the following types of agreements will not be considered 'hardcore' under the Block Exemption (they are called 'non-hardcore'):

 agreements containing recommended or maximum resale price provisions
 agreements conferring territorial and/or customer exclusivity
 agreements containing non-compete stipulations
 exclusive supply agreements
 agreements containing discount schemes
 agreements with tying and/or bundling provisions

These are unlikely to be considered 'by object' though this must be assessed in the relevant legal and economic context. Nevertheless some of these arrangements might raise concerns under Article 102 TFEU (or its Member State equivalent) where the party imposing the restraint is dominant.

United Kingdom
In the UK, the Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order (VABEO) was adopted on 4 May 2022, replacing the EU's block exemption regime which had formed part of retained EU law with effect from 1 June 2022. In advance of issuing VABEO, the UK government undertook a consultation exercise during which respondents "were generally content that the Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order (VABEO) achieved its intended outcome".

See also
 Horizontal agreement
 Vertical restraints
 Collusion
 Cartel

References

Competition law


As many of you will already know, the Screen Time feature introduced with iOS 12 in September 2019 provides some great parental controls for controlling and monitoring a child's use of their iPad and iPhone.
We recently included an article about how App Limits (time limits that you set to restrict how long a child can spend each day on certain apps or categories of apps) can be customised by day of week.
With the arrival of iOS 12.2 on March 26, Apple has also added this 'customise by day of week' feature to the Downtime aspect of Screen Time.
In a set of new tutorials on the iTandCoffee website, we show how to set up and use the Screen Time features offered as part of iOS 12, released in Sept 2018.
One of great features of Screen Time that a lot of parents will really appreciate is the ability to set time limits on a child's use of apps, either by category or on individual apps.
One of the questions we get asked so often is whether there is the capability to set these time limits by day of week - so that there can be different rules for weekends and weekdays.
It's that time of year again, where so many parents are having to put on their 'IT' hat and set up devices for the upcoming school year.
If the device that you are setting up for your child is an iPad or iPhone, there is a list of things that you need to consider when setting up these devices.
We have put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard) and written up this list for you. Select the button below to view this checklist.
With the recent release of Apple's Screen Time for mobile devices, parents were given a suite of great new parental controls to help manage their children's use of these devices - for children up to the age of 18.
Here's how you can stop your child from changing their device password (and recording their fingerprint on your own)!
One of the frustrations I hear from parents all the time is that they wish they could stop their child from changing the passcode on the child's iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.
Not only does it prevent the parent from doing any 'spot checks' of the child's usage of the device, but we regularly deal with situations where the child changes the passcode to keep Mum and Dad out, and then forgets the passcode! This means the device has to be completely wiped, which may result in the loss of photos, app data and more.
Many of you will already be aware that Apple's new set of iPhones will be announced this coming week, on Sept 12th. There are already lots of rumours about what these new iPhones will look like - here is just one article about this from The Age this week: Apple's iPhone Xs: What we know about the three new iPhone models expected next week.
Also arriving in the next week or two will be iOS 12, the upgraded operating system for our Apple Mobile devices.
As has been previously mentioned in this blog, this new version of iOS is going to be a must-have for families with children on i-Devices, as it includes an amazing set of new Parental Controls - known as Screen Time - that will allow parents to take back some control of the devices in their children's lives!


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HomeUK News
Bad bodyguards: 80 elite British police officers disciplined for misconduct since 2010
Reuters / Neil Hall © Reuters
Figures reveal dozens of police officers and bodyguards responsible for protecting senior politicians and royals have been punished for misconduct since 2010.
SO6, the armed police unit which guards 10 Downing Street and top establishment figures, has faced 60 disciplinary cases alone.
The offenses ranged from general failure in duty to assault and traffic irregularities.
Also known as the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG), SO6 will undergo a major shakeup this year in a bid to root out "pockets of behavior."
Freedom of Information requests by The Guardian revealed the extent of misconduct within the Metropolitan Police.
The FoI figures reveal that 12 officers from the royal protection unit, SO14, have been disciplined for misconduct in the past five years.
Eight officers from the unit that guards Prime Minister David Cameron and other leading ministers were also reprimanded.
However, the worst offender by far is SO6. Out of 60 cases, 54 concerned police officers, while the remainder were civilian staff.
SO6 became embroiled in the so-called "Plebgate" scandal in 2012, when the Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling officers in the unit "f**king plebs," an accusation Mitchell denied.
The incident allegedly took place when officers prevented Mitchell from riding his bicycle through the gates of Downing Street.
Despite a high court ruling in November 2014 that Mitchell probably did use the "politically toxic" term, three police officers concerned have yet to be reinstated.
Investigations into the 'Plebgate' affair resulted in further sackings after pornographic images were found on two SO6 officers' mobile phones.
READ MORE:100 British cops suspended each year on corruption allegations
In March 2013, SO6 officer Ricci Giff was jailed for nine months after it emerged he had left his patrol area while on duty to have sex with a woman.
Met Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley announced reforms of the Diplomatic Protection Group last October.
He said unacceptable "pockets of behavior" had emerged where officers spent too long in their posts.
His announcement came the same month an officer guarding Buckingham Palace was arrested after ammunition was discovered in his police locker.
READ MORE:'Endemic corruption': Rogue ex-Met officers sold ecstasy tablets on the black market
The Metropolitan Police told The Guardian: "It is important to note that the number of allegations is an extremely small proportion of the total number of officers and staff in the MPS, which is over 48,000."
"The vast majority of our officers and staff carry out their service to Londoners in the manner the MPS and the public expects," the Met said.
"The MPS is committed to delivering a professional service of the highest standard to the public and expects its employees to conduct themselves professionally, ethically and with the utmost integrity at all times."
"Any instance where the conduct of our staff brings the MPS into disrepute is treated extremely seriously by the MPS."


There's a reason why many individuals ask for immediate skunk removal in the Toronto, Hamilton & Niagara area. Read on to find out why.
It's the dog owner's biggest fear…. You let your dog out into the backyard, you hear some very noisy barking and maybe a yelp. You run back your door to let the dog in, and then it hits you!
Your dog has just been sprayed by a skunk and he brought the smell inside!
Contrary to popular belief, these small critters are not only nocturnal animals, they are actually more active at both dawn and dusk. It's something to consider when you're letting your dog outside.
They are omnivorous, which means they'll eat practically anything to survive. They're not very fast, have extremely poor vision and rely upon their sense of smell to find food. Garbage, barbecue droppings and compost heaps will attract a skunk.
Skunks do not climb, unless the climbing is easy, for example beside a fence with piles of wood beside it. Or they'll use bushes that are easy to climb.. Typically a skunk will burrow underneath a shed or a deck, or take refuge in a window well.
People tend to worry about skunks being rabid, however it's typically not the case. Most other types of animals, with the exception of dogs, tend to stay away from skunks therefore the chance of skunks being bitten by a rabid animal is extremely rare. However, as a precaution, with any wild animal bite, we recommend that you go get the proper tetanus shot if it does happen. But if you're that close to a skunk, let's face it folks, you're far more worried about being sprayed then being bitten.
Skunks can spray quite accurately up to a distance of about 10 feet, that's not to say they can spray further but this is where they can really aim. Their spray contains a chemical from the mercaptan family, which is also used in natural gas to let you know when there's a leak. What does this mean to you? It means a very small amount stinks to high heaven and is very difficult to remove until it just wears off.
We at Petty Pest Control Services use specialized opaque plastic traps for skunks. This allows us to approach the traps safely without fear of being sprayed. We then remove the skunk humanely and allow him to get on with his life without bothering you.
Another facet of our approach is animal exclusion. Petty Pest Control Services will eliminate areas that skunks will burrow under so that you and your dog can enjoy your backyard (or for that matter your front yard). We dig far enough down (typically about 2 feet), install the mesh and refill the hole so that it will hit the mesh and not bother digging any further.
If you do find a skunk in your home or near your area, you need to act fast. Contact us today for all skunk removal in Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, Guelph, Oakville and the Niagara region.


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Q: zip four lists to create dictionary with keys from two lists and values from another two lists I have four lists:
list_a = ['hello', 'yes', 'you']
list_a_ind = [0, 1, 2]
list_b = ['he', 'here', 'great']
list_b_ind = [1, 2, 3]

I want to create a dictionary with combined index as keys and combined elements as values, result as below:
dictionary_ab = {(0,1): ('hello', 'he'),
                 (1,2): ('yes', 'here'),
                 (2,3): ('you', 'great)}

what's the fastest way to do it?

A: You can use dict() directly with zip():
out = dict(zip(zip(list_a_ind, list_b_ind), zip(list_a, list_b)))
print(out)

Prints:
{(0, 1): ("hello", "he"),
 (1, 2): ("yes", "here"),
 (2, 3): ("you", "great")}

A: The straightforward approach is a single zip unpacked and repacked via a dictcomp:
{(a, b): (c, d) for a, b, c, d in zip(list_a_ind, list_b_ind, list_a, list_b)}

For your short example inputs, this is the fastest solution (it has the lowest setup overhead), but the nested zip solution eventually wins out for large enough inputs (it has lower per-item overhead). This is a little easier to read to my mind, being a little more descriptive of what you're doing and how, but not enough to strongly prefer it (it's really fine either way).

A: This snippet will do the trick:
dict(zip(zip(list_a_ind, list_b_ind), zip(list_a, list_b)))

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