Fanis the Bodyguard Episode 36 Back to the beginning

                Fanis and Kera are in their flat in London where they live.  They frequently travel around the world as Kera is an international Chinese art dealer and Fanis is her trusted bodyguard and cousin.  At first look, Kera doesn’t seem to be an expert in Chinese antiquities with her olive skin and long wavy jet black hair with large breasts.  Fanis and Kera are both Greek but Kera became fascinated with Chinese culture and had moved to Beijing for a year to become fluent in Mandarin so she could pursue a career related to China.  She is fluent in Mandarin, Greek and English.  Although Fanis could only work in English, he is proficient in Russian, Italian, Spanish and Greek as well.  While watching TV, Fanis sees a Republican congressman from California, Devin Nunes on Laura Ingraham’s show.  He talks about how in 2017, he and other upper level house intelligence members were briefed by the FBI that General Mike Flynn didn’t lie to them.  He continues that upon hearing this information, he notified the highest levels of the DOJ.  In response to Ingraham’s question on what Comey had mentioned to him on the topic, Nunes replies that Comey’s memo has been classified at the highest level so he’s not allowed to see it.  This is odd considering as a member of the House intelligence community and a member of the ‘Gang of 8’ it is Nunes’ job to be briefed on sensitive information.  Fanis gives a quizzical look at the TV sparking his cousin Kera to ask, “What are you pondering now?”

               “Why is Nunes bringing this up?  I mean, I know that Flynn was pressured into pleading guilty to lying to the FBI for a conversation he had with the Russian ambassador and his attorney Sidney Powell is trying to fight it because she uncovered all this exculpatory information that the government withheld.  We’ve known all this for a while though so I don’t understand why this is coming up again.  Something must have happened.”

                “Flynn decided to withdraw his guilty plea.”

                “Why wouldn’t he do that when he hired Sidney Powell?”

                “I don’t know but he just made it official.”

                “Well, good he’s fighting back.”

                “Yea”

                “I don’t care which target ends up getting over on these libelous, scandalous, treacherous deep state assholes but I hope one of them gets them.”

                “I think you’re mixing him up with Trump.”

                “No, Trump was just another victim of the larger picture that they weaponize the DOJ, FBI and CIA against political opponents.  They did it against Bob Dole, John McCain, Mike Flynn, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and Mitch McConnell among others.  It’s always the same assholes for the ones since 2014.”

                “We’re on the move.”

                “Where are we going?”

                ‘Manchester”

                “Oh, not too far then.”

                When they arrive in Manchester, they check into a hotel and then head to pub for beers before heading to bed.  The next day, Kera heads to meet her client.  Fanis waits outside and sees other security personnel.  He walks over and introduces himself to a man who’s wearing a suit.  He responds back, “My name is Walter.”

                “Nice to meet you.”

                “Likewise, I see you’re American.”

                “Yes, I am.”

                “Do you support your president?”

                “Very much so and now that Boris Johnson is your prime minister, it appears England has come to their senses as well.”

                “Given the status of your Democrat party, I almost don’t think you have a choice.”

                On the way to Manchester, Fanis had read up on the Mike Flynn case.  “Yea, but we’re beginning to fight back.  Mike Flynn pulled no punches in his motion to withdraw his plea deal.”

                “I’m not sure how you can pull no punches in a legal document.”

                “He wrote that he was withdrawing the plea because of bad faith, vindictiveness and breach of plea agreement.”

                “It actually says ‘vindictiveness?”

                “Yup”

                “I feel your description is accurate then.”

                “Thank you”

                “Does the brief back it up at all?”

                “It’s very clear.  It starts with the accusation that he falsified a FARA filing because he omitted that officials from Turkey provided supervision and direction of the Turkey project.”

                “It was my understanding that he was arrested for lying to the FBI.”

                “That’s what he pled to upon intense pressure and threats of the government attacking his family.”

                “Sounds more socialist.”

                ‘Unfortunately, Obama’s government was pretty close to socialism.”

                “How did it proceed from stating the charge?”

                “It mentions that the government’s sentencing memorandum doesn’t contain any statement asserting Turkey provided supervision and direction over the contract or project at issue.”

                

               “They were unable to keep their story straight.”

               

“The judge piled on opining that there was no evidence, not even in hearsay statements from Turkish clients or Flynn’s business partners directed or controlled by the Turkish government.  They mention names like Alpetkin, Inova, Fig and Sphere.  I don’t know who those people are but given that the conclusion is they never mentioned Turkey coordinating anything, it doesn’t really matter.”

    

            “What would be the motivation to go after Flynn?  Simply because he had a desire to work for the Trump campaign?”

  

              “No, it started in 2014.  It was because he was very outspoken against the way Obama weaponizes the DOJ and government against political opponents.  He was also very vocal about being against the Iran deal, which was supposed to be Obama’s legacy.  He ended up being a target of the very thing he was protesting against.”

    

            Kera finishes her deal and exits the meeting room.  Fanis utters good bye to the security guard and leaves with Kera.  They head to a pub to celebrate Kera closing the sale as it was a very expensive item.  After a couple pints of beer, they leave the bar and head back to the hotel.  While walking, Fanis’ jerks his head to the side to a scream of ‘help.’  Fanis hurries over to find a woman mounted by a knife-wielding man.  The woman is crying and looks scared with the man’s hand over her mouth.  Fanis yells out, “Hey! Get off her.”

    

            He hopes that’s all it’ll take for the man to scurry off but instead he gets up and faces Fanis brandishing the knife.  Fanis had already taken out a knife he carries and has it tucked against his arm shielding it from his opponent.  “Get the fuck out of here.  This doesn’t concern you.”

      

          “It does now.”

   

             Kera states in Greek, “I’ll meet you back at the hotel” and Fanis just nods in agreement.

    

            Kera hurries off while Fanis stares back at the assailant.  The man charges Fanis and Fanis bends down and when the attacker got close, Fanis wrapped his arms around the guy’s leg and snapped his body up catapulting him over Fanis’ head flipping on his back.  The knifemen hops to his feet and sprints at him again.  This time Fanis falls to the side and sticks his right leg out.  When the sprinting man got to his leg, Fanis used his left leg to kick at the back of his legs tripping him onto his stomach.  Fanis rolled over and jammed his three inch knife into the back of the man’s knee.  As Fanis gets to his feet, he hears the man he just stabbed scream.  As he glances over at the girl, she realizes she’s standing and watching.  Fanis turns to his opponent and steps with his left and kicks the man in the temple and his body goes limp as he is no longer screaming.  Fanis puts the knife away and asks, “Are you okay”

    

            The girl smiles, “I am now.”

   

             Fanis sizes her up.  She is 5’8” with straight blond hair and an hourglass shaped hips with curves that impress.  He detects a Russian accent, so he asks her in Russian, “What’s your name?”

                The blond responds, “Azra”

                Fanis nods and switches to English, “What happened?”

                “I was out for a walk and he just jumped me.  I was on my way to a dinner at my professor’s house.”

                “It’s kind of cold to be walking.”

                “You were weren’t you?”

                “Yes, I was.”

                “I know you were with a girl, but do you mind walking me to the dinner?  I’m a little scared to be alone right now.”

                Fanis calls Kera and she answers immediately, “I’m fine if that’s why you’re calling?”

                “Are you back at the hotel?”

                “Not yet.  Did you save the damsel in distress?”

                “Yes, I did.”

                “Good for you.”

                “How far from the hotel are you?”

                “I’ve been power walking because I also am a little nervous about being alone after what happened.  I’m almost at the hotel.”

                “Alright, I’m going to keep the ear piece in.  Stay on the phone and let me know when you get home.”

                “Will do but you should say bye so the woman you rescued thinks you have her undivided attention.”

                Fanis laughs and Kera giggles.  “Alright, I’ll see you when I get back to the hotel.  Good bye.”

                “Bye” she replies in a tone that suggests she thinks he’s going to get lucky that night.

                Fanis articulates to Azra that he will walk her home.  She starts speaking Russian and Fanis interrupts, “I don’t speak Russian.  I just know like 10 conversational words.”

                Azra gives him a confused look and then shrugs her shoulders, “Okay”

                Fanis inquires, “I know this is a strange question but do you read the Daily Caller?”

                “I’m not sure I’ve heard of it.”

                “There was an interesting article entitled, ‘Cambridge academic reflects on interactions with Spygate figure.”

               Azra seems uninterested, “Oh yea?  I don’t know it.  This isn’t exactly something you talk about on a first encounter.”

                “Yea, I’m weird.”

                “I like weird.  We can talk politics if you like.  It’s definitely different from all the other conversations I have when I first meet someone.”

                “Are you familiar with Richard Dearlove?”

                “Yes, he used to be the head of MI6.”

                “Looks like you know your English news as well as America’s.”

                “Well, Dearlove came up in American news too.”

                “How so?”

                “You know how England and America are close allies and share military.  There’s an old expression that if England has two stealth bombers and America has 5, the reality is they both have seven.”

               Azra laughed, “Yea, that’s definitely true.”

                Fanis notices Azra constantly looking at him from the side of her eyes.  They arrive at the house and she rings the doorbell.  Fanis announces, “Well, you’re here, I’m glad I could help.”

                “Please come in for dinner.”

                “I can’t impose.”

                “I’ll vouch for you.  It’s the least I can do.”

                The door opens and Fanis sees the owner of the house.  He explains, “I was just leaving.”

                Azra rushes to him and puts her hands on his chest, “No no, Chris, this man saved me from an attacker.  Please, I’d like for him to join us.”

                “I don’t have a problem with that.”

                “Are you sure there’s enough food?” posed Fanis

                “Plenty; please join us.”

                “Alright, thank you” Fanis extends his hand, “I’m Fanis”

                “Chris”

                “Nice to meet you.”

                “Pleasure is all mine I’m sure.”

                Fanis sits at dinner, “So what do you do?” Chris asks

                “I’m a bodyguard.”

                “Oh that’s exciting.”

                “And yourself?”

                “I teach at Cambridge.”

                “Wow nice.  You must be very smart.  Are you familiar with Stefan Halper?  I believe he teaches there.”

                Chris frowns quickly and then looks up, “That name isn’t too familiar but there are a lot of professors at Cambridge.  I’m sure I’ve run into him on campus but no we are not too familiar.”           

                “Yea, it’s a big school.”

                “How do you know him?”

                “Well, as you may have been able to ascertain based on my accent, I’m an American.  I’ve been tracking the travesty that is what our government has done to General Mike Flynn.”

                “What would that be?”

     

           “Well in 2014, Halper invited Flynn to a dinner.  He also invited this Russian woman named Svetlana Lokhova.  When questioned, everyone at the meeting says there was nothing inappropriate with their interactions and a man confirmed that he drove Lokhova home alone.  Yet, Halper claimed that Flynn had an affair with her and even called her a Russian agent.  This is odd because she’s a dual citizen of the UK and has lived in London since 1998.”

               “Sounds like this Halper isn’t a good character.”

                “Oh no. it wasn’t just him though.  He is well connected as he’s close friends with Richard Dearlove, who you know was the head of MI6 here in England.”

                “Yes, I am familiar with him.” Chris’s voice now took a dire tone.

                “I mean, I’m a Trump supporter so I don’t like Dearlove because he vouched for his former employee Christopher Steele to the head of the CIA John Brennan, which started this whole Russian collusion fiasco hoax that has plagued America the last four years.”

                There was another man at the dinner who spoke for the first time, “It is always interesting to get the perspective of a non-British person about our country.  The American opinion is especially intriguing as they appear to know so much.”

                “Ah, you’re implying that Americans are arrogant.  Given the smugness of the English and your constant interaction with you neighbors on the other side of the channel, it appears arrogance is what you’re used to.”

                The entire table burst out in laughter as they agreed.  “That’s true” Chris confesses

                “But, Halper is an American so I’m attacking a fellow American.  I mean our Pentagon paid him a million dollars through the Office of New Assessment to write studies on Russia, China and Afghanistan.”

                Azra’s face brightened with a charming smile, “Wow, I’m Russian, I wish someone gave me a million dollars to write about my birth country.”

                “Better be careful.  Someone may use you one day like they did with Lokhova.”

                “You don’t know the context.  You just have her story.”

                “Yea, but she is suing Dearlove and Halper so hopefully she’ll get justice.”

                Chris queries, “Why was Halper paid so much and how did you come across this information?”

  

              “There was a whistleblower names Adam Lovinger who found it.  He worked at the Pentagon.  Not only did he find that the payment was made for four papers but Halper never wrote the papers yet still got the money.”

                Azra wrapped her arms around Fanis, “Can we stop talking about stuffy stuff.  Why don’t you tell the story about how you were my knight in shining armor.”

                Fanis didn’t react, “It was curious that the Democrats were so upset if anyone says Eric CIaramella, the Ukraine whistleblower’s name, but nobody cared that Lovinger was suspended without pay for his blowing the whistle on Halper.  Very curious indeed.”

                The man that hadn’t introduced himself pronounced, “I’m Richard by the way.  I’m not sure if I said that.”

                “Oh, I think we can stop with the pretenses.  You are Richard Dearlove, he is professor Chris Andrew, the one that invited Lokhova to the dinner.” He turns to the girl next to her, “And you, my dear, are Azra Turk.  I’m not the first Greek you hit on in order to get information.  I believe you were introduced by Halper as ‘Putin’s niece’ to my fellow countrymen George Papadopoulos.”

               Azra let go of Fanis and put her head down.  There was a moment of silence and Richard broke it, “There was a lot of pressure by our friends across the pond at that time. All that is in the past now.  Perhaps we should just enjoy our dinner.”

              “Is it though?  Mary McCord was working in the Trump White House on the National Security Council (NSC).  She quit and is now working for Adam Schiff with the impeachment hearing.  McCord also happened to be Mueller’s chief of staff after John Carlin, who was on the Mueller probe.  She also worked for Michael Atkinson who was the head of the NSC where Eric Ciaramella or the whistleblower came out of.  Just to bring this full circle, she targeted Mike Flynn as well in an intelligence briefing in 2016.  Flynn, Trump, Impeachment, is all the same scandal and everyone here is involved.  My only question is what do you want with me?  I’m not involved in American politics at all.”

               “Do you really not know?” Azra asked

                “No, I mean I also can’t figure out why you used your real names.  Well, Azra is a fake name but the same fake name you gave George Papadopoulos…..Wait, Boris Johnson is the new Prime Minister.  Glenn Simpson and his partner wrote a Russian collusion piece for the Guardian just like they did with the dossier.  The only difference is that this time they didn’t put someone else’s name on it.  I don’t have anything to do with Boris Johnson either though.”

                Richard scolded, “Don’t make the mistake of thinking we’re fools.”

               “Like you did with me?”

                “Let me ask you something as your American arrogance is exhausting my patience.  If you know who we were, why did you come inside?”

                “It’s not going to hurt my profession if you accuse me of colluding with Russians.”

                “Not you perhaps but is there another reason?”

                Fanis gave a shocked expression.  This was the first time where his willful ignorance on why Kera needed a bodyguard could get her in trouble.  He took another bite of his food and got up.  “Thank you for dinner.  It was surprisingly lovely as English cuisine has a bloody bad reputation.  You’re hospitality was impeccable but I’m afraid I must go now.”

                He was met with half smiles by the other three people and Fanis scurried out of the house.  Before he left, Dearlove called out, “Are you curious on who you stabbed?”

The second that the girl told him her name; he knew he was being tricked.  He purposely didn’t speak Russian with her because he thought that would be ammunition for whatever they were setting him up for.  On the way, he suspected that the attack was staged but before making an accusation like that, you needed to be sure and he wasn’t.  “He was a rapist, he deserved it.” He fired back.

“You’re not a big fan of Stefan Halper.”

“I thought I made that clear.”

“Well, considering you stabbed him, I don’t think he’s too fond of you either” Dearlove grinned before ending with, “Have a good night.”

Fanis left and went to the hotel.  When he went inside, Kera shouted, “So did you fuck her?”

              

  “No, she was trying to honeypot me.”

           

     “Oh, you’re too paranoid.  I can’t believe you fucked that up.”

        

        “No, cuz, you don’t understand” Fanis then explained to her everything that happened.

                Kera sighed, “Did you say anything about me?”

                “No, I spent the whole time talking about how I knew who they were.”

                “Good.”

                “I know I don’t really ask about your business but why is it bad if you are linked to Russia and that I would have colluded with Russians?”

                “I’ll make you a deal.  I’ll answer that if it comes out.”

                “You’re not a public figure.”

                “No, I’m not.”

                “And you hate what Boris Johnson stands for.”

                “I’m not as opposed to the PM as I am to your president.”

                “Kera…”

                “Pelosi handed over the articles today.  I wonder why she waited so long.” Kera mused

                “She was waiting for new evidence to emerge.  It just came out.”

                “The lawyer named Les something.”

                “Yea, they think they got a bombshell because he has handwritten notes on Ritz Carlton  stationary.  It’s all helter skelter but it talks about how he needs to put a package together, go to DC and do his magic to cut deal with a Victoria and Joe.”

  

              “Whoever they are”

                “Maybe, Victoria Nuland and Joe Pietnka.”

                “It’s possible but I saw those notes.  They are barely legible and that plan doesn’t seem too damning.”

                “Yea, if that’s the smoking gun that they have against Giuliani and Trump with the quid pro quo, I’m not impressed.  President Trump never associated with the lawyer either so it’s still hearsay.”

                “It just seems like he wrote down stuff the Democrats wanted him to.’

                ‘Yea, like the black ledger, which has already been proven to be a hoax.”

                “I guess we’ll find out with the impeachment trial.”

                “How are you feeling right now?”

                “I’m fine.”

                “Are you drunk from the pub?”

                “I wasn’t even drunk when we left, let alone now that I’ve eaten.”

                “I think I want to drive back to London now”

                “Alright”

                They pack up the car and head towards London.  There was an awkward silence in the car and Fanis ended it with, “I can’t believe the Democrats think we’re stupid and after getting exposed with the Russian collusion, they’re trying it again.”

                “Many people still believe it.”

                “Yea, but now they’re saying the Russians hacked Burisma so any damning information about Hunter and Joe Biden, they’re going to blame the Russians and Trump for.”

                “It would be a good cover.’

                “Except the CEO of Area 1, the company that alleges the hack, has been working for several 2020 Democrat candidates for president.”

                “I wouldn’t imagine they would work for Trump.  They’re trying to remove him from office.”

                “I’m just saying they’re biased.”

                “They were hired by them to do a job.”

                “No, they’re not being paid for it.  They are helping Warren and Booker for nothing.  They confirmed in the election contribution records that the amount that the candidates are giving Falkowitz, the Area 1 CEO, is the same amount he had donated shortly before.”

                “That is suspicious”

                “Then you know there are trolls that checked his twitter history.  He sent a message on July 15, 2017 ‘@Dalperovitch, are you in Aspen this week?”

                “Wow, very scandalous” Kera remarked sarcastically

                “Dimitri Alperovitch is the CEO of Crowd Strike who investigated the DNC servers when they pretended to get hacked.”

               “Not sure I remember hearing that.”

               “Not confirmed but they did pretend.  Why else did they not want to give their servers to the FBI after getting hacked?”

                “Because they’re the FBI.  They have a reputation of blackmailing people.”

                “So do hackers.”

                “Possibly; not sure who’s worse” She responded before giggling. 

                “The date is interesting.”

                “Why? A year after Crossfire Hurricane?”

                “No, it was a year before Adam Schiff got caught meeting with Christopher Steele at the same conference in Aspen.  It’s an annual event on computer security.  It just happens to be filled with anti-Trump people.”

                “Did you see Congressman Brian Mast in the house hearing on Soleimani?”

                “He just wanted to know which name of those who died in Iraq that is posted in the capitol was not reason enough to kill Soleimani.  Nobody seemed to come up with a name.”

                Yea, the moderator made it much worse by calling him out of order.”

                “Yes, because being quiet for two minutes and 30 seconds is way out of order” Fanis retorted sarcastically before continuing, “But I give him credit for sticking up for himself against the chairman and to the guy that yielded him an extra minute because that shut up the chairman.”

    

            They switched to more light hearted conversation.  When they arrived at their flat, Fanis went straight to bed as the drive exhausted him.  Kera stayed up and appeared deep in the thought as she seemed to be trying to figure something out.