Mistake [EWC]

Mistake [EWC]

It was 11 PM when the doorbell started to ring. Walter was getting ready for bed, his wife and kids already tucked in. He had just finished writing a new thread about the NSA on his favorite website, ATS.

The doorbell rang again, then again. In his pajamas, Walt walked back downstairs to answer the door, upset by the disturbance at such a late hour, and he heard his wife rustling in the bedroom, slipping on her housecoat.

He looked out the door window while he reached for the knob, and his heart jumped into his throat. His blood started pulsing.

Outside was a uniformed person in black, surrounded by several others garbed in the same style. They had their guns trained on the door.

“Open the door, Mr. Jennings, we have a court order to take you into custody”, he heard the man saying from outside. “Open the door, then put your hands in the air, or we will open fire.”

He opened the door, and raised his hands in the air. His wife, now by his side, watching with a horrific expression on her face, also raised her arms above her head.

The men in combat gear rushed inside, handcuffing Walt and his wife, then continued to search the house with weapons drawn.

Walt tried protesting, saying his kids were upstairs, but the guy that rang the doorbell said, “We already know that,” and “we'll have them soon.”

Both Walt and his wife were pushed to their knees, and held at gunpoint. The two children were hustled downstairs, wide-eyed, by two other soldiers. They were moved next to their parents and told to sit on the floor.

The youngest girl, with tears in her eyes, looked questioningly at her mother. “Mommy?”

Walter's wife tried to reach for her daughter, but was stopped by the intervention of one of the soldiers. The young girl started sobbing, and buried her face in her hands. The other daughter just stared, befuddled by the whole situation.

Not Walter. He was furious.

A gun held to his temple calmed him down a bit, but he managed to blurt out, “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!”

The guy that rang the doorbell looked at him, almost sneering, and said, “Yes we do.” He paused for a moment to speak into his shoulder mic, and queried, “Alpha Team?”

“Premises Secured,” came back over his intercom, “No other occupants.”

With that, the guy that rang the doorbell pulled a document from under his body armor, and waved it in front of Walter's nose.

“According to section 23345.4 of the FCR, pursuant to the Patriot Act, and in violation of the DHS policy 833.4344, you are being arrested for plotting terrorist activities against the United States of America. This is a court order granting your arrest for questioning and subsequent prosecution.”

Walt's jaw fell open. “What the heck are you talking about?”

“Sure, play stupid. They all do that.”

“Honestly,” Walt said, trembling, “What proof do you have?”

Rather absorbed in the moment, Walter suddenly realized the soldiers carrying outside his laptop, the kid's Ipads, and boxes of other material. “Wait a second...”

“We will have proof,” the guy who rang the doorbell said, “believe me. The PRISM program has determined that you will commit a terrible terrorist act on April 15th of this year, at the Boston Marathon. We are preventing that from happening.”

“But, but...”

“Save it buddy. We're just doing our job, taking violent terrorists off the streets.”

“I am not a Terrorist!”

“That's what they all say. The intel says you own a pressure cooker, and that you belong to a conspiracy website. That's what the computer tells us, and the computer is never wrong. Sorry about your luck buddy, but it's run out. I hope they put you away for a long time to come.”

“This has to be some sort of mistake......”

reply to post by Druid42

Good thing this is a work of fiction.

Especially those trumped up charges of "cooking and blogging".

reply to post by Druid42
Great story! It brings to mind the pre-crime division from that movie "Minority Report". With all of the leaks concerning technological intrusion by certain agencies into our everyday lives you have touched upon a fear that many of us are fairly certain will become a reality very soon. I give it two thumbs UP!

Just getting the theme going, but thanks for the flags and comments. Much appreciated!

Poor Walter. The creepy example of what could happen. Not to many on this site do not fear the knock in the night. ATS is our passion, our love, but also a guilty pleasure. What if.......

Stellar read Druid.

reply to post by Druid42


SnF friend. That was really good, it gave me chills.
Good job.
Thanks for sharing
-nat