Chapter IV “INVESTIGATION” TIME: FALL 2008 SETTING: RICKY WELCH, A 13-YEAR-OLD GIFTED SOCCER PLAYER FROM COLORADO SPRINGS THEY CALL “ SWEEPER “, LEADS THE BEST COLORADO YOUTH GOLD I TEAM INTO THE NATIONAL FINALS AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY. RICKY IS FROM A POOR SINGLE PARENT HOME - LIVING WITH HIS MOM IN A RENTED TRAILER. RICKY PLAYS SWEEPER - A POSITION IN FRONT OF THE GOALIE - AND VIRTUALLY NO GOALS HAVE BEEN SCORED AGAINST THIS COMPETITIVE, GIFTED, AND MOTIVATED YOUTH COLORADO TEAM THIS YEAR. COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL TEAMS ARE ALREADY FOCUSING ON RICKY, HOWEVER HIS MOTHER WANTS RICKY TO JUST CONCENTRATE ON SCHOOL - AND LET THE REST TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. FOLLOW ALONG AS COLORADO GOLD I PREPARES AND PLAYS THE FINAL GAME OF THE YEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IS AN EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCE IN OUR SOCIETY. THE AMAZING EVENTS THAT FOLLOW TRULY DIG DEEP INTO HUMAN EMOTION AND COMPASSION. “ SWEEPER “ ADDITIONALLY ENCOMPASSES SOCCER FUNDAMENTALS, COLORADO CULTURE, MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH, AND THE COMPETITIVE SPORTS ENVIRONMENT OF TODAYS’ YOUTH.
SWEEPER SALLY - WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT GUY ALWAYS HANGING OUT AT THE GOAL COULD BE MY DAD ? SALLY MITCHELL WE DON’T KNOW - WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SOME PARENTS ON THE TEAM AND HAVE NOTICED WHEN YOUR MOM ISN’T THERE HE USUALLY IS PRESENT AT THE GAMES. SWEEPER WELL I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT - BUT HECK IT COULD BE - YOU NEVER KNOW. THE GUY ALWAYS ACTED LIKE HE KNEW SOMETHING I DIDN’T. SALLY MITCHELL WELL SINCE MY HUSBAND IS IN THE MILITARY AND THIS HAPPENED ON academy property AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE YOUR TEMPORARY GUARDIANS NOW - WELL WE WILL CONTINUE INVESTIGATING WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL. 2
SO WE MAY FIND MOM ?
SWEEPER
SALLY MITCHELL YES WE MAY - THAT WOULD BE GOOD. BUT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES - NONE WHATSOEVER. BUT MY HUSBAND USUALLY ALWAYS COMES THROUGH. SWEEPER GREAT - THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL IF WE COULD FIND her - I WONDER IF SHE IS IN TROUBLE OR KIDNAPPED OR IN SUCH DEEP DEPRESSION THAT SHE CANNOT EVER GET OUT OF IT. SALLY MITCHELL I REALLY DON’T KNOW - BUT YOU DID MENTION DEPRESSION. THAT CAN BE OVERWHELMING. WAS SHE ON ANY MEDICATION CONSISTENTLY FOR THIS ? SWEEPER YES SHE ALWAYS TOOK A PILL BEFORE SHE WENT TO BED FOR HER MOOD. SHE SAID THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY SHE COULD LIVE. SALLY MITCHELL DO YOU REMEMBER IF SHE RAN OUT OF MEDICINE OR HAD NOT BEEN TAKING ANY RECENTLY ? SWEEPER NO - I RARELY SAW HER TAKE THE MEDICINE - BUT I DO RECALL THAT THE MEDICINE WAS WELL . . . SOMETHING. SALLY MITCHELL WELLBUTRIN - DOESN’T THAT SOUND CORRECT ? SWEEPER YES THAT’s IT - SHE USED GENERIC BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER. SALLY MITCHELL WELL WE ARE SCANNING THE PHARMACISTS IN THE AREA AND THE DRUG ORDER PHARMACIES TO DETERMINE IF SHE MAY HAVE ABRUPTLY WENT OFF THE MEDICINE. SWEEPER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THEN ? SALLY MITCHELL WELL THAT IS A DOCTOR QUESTION - BUT SHE COULD HAVE WENT INTO A REAL TAILSPIN OR DEEP DEPRESSION - EVEN suicidal - I SUSPECT THIS SINCE SOME PEOPLE MAKE 3
DECISIONS ON WHETHER TO FEED THEMSELVES, BUY MEDICATIONS, OR PAY FOR A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. SWEEPER WELL WE NEVER HAD MUCH MONEY - NOT THAT I WAS AWARE. SALLY MITCHELL WHAT ABOUT RELATIVES - SISTERS, BROTHERS, OR ANYONE ELSE ? SWEEPER WELL THERE IS THE SISTER IN SAN DIEGO WHo I’VE NEVER SEEN. I GUESS SHE CAME ONCE WHEN I WAS REAL SMALL. SALLY MITCHELL DOES SHE EVER WRITE OR EMAIL ? SWEEPER WELL WE HAD A HOME COMPUTER ONCE - BUT THE COMPANY WE BOUGHT IT FROM TOOK IT BACK SINCE WE COULDN’T MAKE THE PAYMENTS. BUT NO PHONE CALLS OR LETTERS THAT I’VE SEEN FROM HER. SALLY MITCHELL I SEE - SO THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE CONTACT WITH YOUR SISTER AND NONE WITH YOUR DAD THAT YOU KNOW OF. RIGHT ? ABSOLUTELY CORRECT !
SWEEPER
SALLY MITCHELL OK WE ARE HEADING HOME TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT - AND DO HOMEWORK SINCE I ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE GEOMETRY, LANGUAGE ARTS, AND COLORADO HISTORY TESTS THIS WEEK. I WILL QUIZ YOU AFTER YOUR STUDY. SWEEPER NO NEED TO SALLY - I ALREADY KNOW THE STUFF COLD. SALLY MITCHELL WELL HOW ABOUT I QUIZ YOU ON A COUPLE TOUGH QUESTIONS ? SWEEPER OK - WHAT IS FOR SUPPER ? SALLY MITCHELL CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS - MY KIDS ARE OFF AT SPORTING AND AIR ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL STUFF - THEY WON’T BE HERE. 4
SWEEPER I HEAR DEVIN IS A REAL STUD AT SPORTS. SALLY MITCHELL OH HE IS OK - HE THINKS HE’S BETTER THAN HE IS - HE’S ON THE BUBBLE FOR COLLEGE STUFF. HE NEEDS BETTER GRADES. SWEEPER YES I ALREADY KNEW THAT THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR ME WAS WITH GRADES - SO I TRY TO ACE EVERY TEST - GET EVERY QUESTION RIGHT. SALLY MITCHELL YOU ATTACK SCHOOL LIKE SPORTS - NEVER GIVE IN AND YOU’LL END UP ON TOP. SWEEPER I MAY WANT TO GO TO THE ACADEMY LIKE CADET........... SALLY MITCHELL SMITH - HE IS A SUPER STUDENT AND ATHLETE - NONE BETTER. OR FASTER.
SWEEPER
SALLY MITCHELL WELL WE ARE FINALLY HERE - SUPPER IS ON AND THE COMMANDANT IS HERE ALSO. AFTER SUPPER YOU CAN STUDY AND THEN I WILL QUIZ JUST TO CHECK. SWEEPER HELLO GENERAL MITCHELL - DID I ADDRESS YOU PROPERLY ? GENERAL MITCHELL YES YOU DID - QUITE A MEAL WE HAVE HERE - SALLY IS THE VERY BEST AT MEALS - THERE CANNOT POSSIBLY BE A BETTER COOK. SWEEPER CADET SMITH - THE RUNNER MUST HAVE STAYED HERE WHEN YOU FOUND HIM DOWN SOUTH. GENERAL MITCHELL YES - HE WAS KIND OF A MESS - AND LOOK AT HIM NOW - A REAL CADET - THE VERY BEST - WILL BE A GREAT OFFICER. SALLY MITCHELL CADET SMITH IS ONE OF MANY CADETS WE HAVE BROUGHT HERE WITH A LESS THAN OPTIMAL FAMILY LIFE - NOW THE 5
ACADEMY AND OUR HOME IS HIS FAMILY - HE STILL EATS HERE WHEN HE ISN’T BUSY - WHICH IS RARE. GENERAL MITCHELL YES MANY OF OUR CADETS ARE UP AT 0430 TO CLEAN THEIR ROOMS, PREPARE FOR 6 AM formation, AND EVEN GET SOME STUDYING IN BEFORE CLASSES. IT IS A REAL DIFFERENT LIFE HERE. NO ONE SLEEPS IN LIKE THEY DO AT CU OR ANY OTHER COLLEGE IN THE COUNTRY. SWEEPER YES I HAVE HEARD MANY COLLEGE KIDS SLEEP INTO THE AFTERNOON. GENERAL MITCHELL WELL COLLEGE KIDS NEED NINE HOURS OF SLEEP DAILY SO THEY NEED TO GET THEIR HOMEWORK DONE AND THEN GET TO BED. WE ALSO HAVE MANDATORY ATHLETICS EACH AFTERNOON - EITHER INTRAMURALS OR VARSITY TEAMS. EVERYONE IS IN SHAPE SO IT’S EITHER VARSITY, CLUB OR SOME OTHER ACTIVITY. NO EXCEPTIONS. SWEEPER SOUNDS PRETTY DEMANDING BUT INTRIGUING. I’M INTERESTED. SALLY MITCHELL WELL YOU HAVE FOUR MORE YEARS BEFORE A DECISION REGARDING COLLEGE IS MADE. PLENTY OF TIME - BUT YOU NEED TO BE THINKING OF THE ACADEMY SINCE WE HAVE A VERY GOOD MEN’S DIVISION I SOCCER TEAM AND YOU APPEAR TO BE A CADET TYPE OF GUY. GENERAL MITCHELL YES FROM WHAT I HEAR THERE ARE NO GOALS SCORED ON COLORADO I GOLD THIS YEAR - EVEN BY LA. SWEEPER WELL WE HAD A COUPLE CLOSE CALLS - EVEN IN THE LA GAME. BUT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT THE OTHER TEAM FROM SCORING, SINCE IF THEY DON’T SCORE EVEN ONE GOAL CAN WIN THE GAME. SALLY MITCHELL YOU ARE REALLY THE TYPE OF PLAYER WE NEED AT THE ACADEMY. ZERO SCORES BY THE OTHER TEAM. SWEEPER WELL THAT IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE. OUR COLORADO I GOLD TEAM REALLY FOCUSES ON ALL FUNDAMENTALS - LIKE OFFENSIVE FREE KICKS.
6
GENERAL MITCHELL TELL ME ABOUT THE FREE KICK - IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I PLAYED SOCCER. SWEEPER WELL YOU CAN DIRECTLY KICK THE BALL DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE ON THE FIELD INTO THE GOAL. IF YOU ARE DIRECTLY IN FRONT THE OPPOSING TEAM WILL PUT UP A WALL OF PLAYERS AND YOU CAN RELY ON A CURVING DOWNWARD KICK JUST OVER THEIR HEADS - OR A DEFLECTION OFF A HEAD OR BODY FOR A SCORE. GENERAL MITCHELL SO YOU NEED TO FAKE OUT THE GOALIE - OR SURPRISE HIM IN ANY WAY. SWEEPER ABSOLUTELY - IT IS CRITICAL. GENERAL MITCHELL LIKE ANY GOALIE - THE MORE HE HAS TO CONFRONT OR THE MORE CONFUSED HE IS, THE BETTER CHANCE YOU HAVE TO SCORE. SWEEPER NOT TO BRAG BUT MOST OF THESE GUYS ARE QUITE ATHLETIC AT OUR LEVEL AND CAN STOP MOST ANYTHING THAT COMES NEAR THEM. GOAL SCORING IS WAY DOWN AMONGST ALL SOCCER. DEFENSE HAS THE ADVANTAGE. GENERAL MITCHELL WHAT ABOUT THE FREE KICK FROM THE SIDE ? SWEEPER WELL THE DIRECT KICKER CAN EITHER KICK TO SCORE - A CROSS KICK - VERY DIFFICULT - OR KICK TO A FREE OFFENSIVE PLAYER WHO HAS A BETTER ANGLE AND LESS CONCENTRATED DEFENSE. GENERAL MITCHELL INTERESTING STRATEGY. SWEEPER YES YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK BECAUSE YOUR TEAM MAY ONLY GET A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CHANCES TO SCORE AND YOU MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY. GENERAL MITCHELL WHAT ABOUT DEFLECTIONS HAPPENING OUT FRONT ?
7
SWEEPER NO PLAY WORKS EXACTLY PERFECT. THE DEFLECTION REALLY COUNTS ON YOUR OFFENSIVE STRIKER OR FORWARDS TO BE ON THEIR TOES FOR DEFLECTIONS AND DRIBBLE, PASS, OR SHOOT TO SCORE - LOOKING FOR A CREASE TO PLACE THE BALL. SALLY MITCHELL I THINK WE’LL HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU SWEEPER AT THE ACADEMY IN FOUR YEARS. GENERAL MITCHELL WELL SALLY DON’T GET OVERLY EXCITED - MUCH CAN HAPPEN. I KNOW THIS. THE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY ISN’T FOR EVERYONE - AND MANY FIND THAT OUT ONCE THEY GET HERE. IT IS TOUGH - IT’S NOT LIKE REGULAR COLLEGE SINCE YOU ARE BOTH IN COLLEGE AND HAVE MILITARY DUTIES. IT IS A MILITARY CAREER YOU ARE SEEKING. SALLY MITCHELL WELL THAT IS GOOD SINCE I FEEL MANY YOUNG MEN ARE WITHOUT DIRECTION - AND THEY HAVE DIRECTION ONCE THEY ARE IN THE MILITARY. GENERAL MITCHELL AND FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. SWEEPER THIS WAS GREAT FOOD SALLY - I NEED TO GET MY HOMEWORK DONE. MAY I BE EXCUSED ? SALLY MITCHELL YES YOU ARE EXCUSED SWEEPER - I’LL SEE YOU LATER REGARDING DIFFICULT TEST QUESTIONS. GENERAL MITCHELL WE HAVE FOUND OUT A FEW THINGS ABOUT SWEEPER’S MOM. SALLY MITCHELL IT IS NOT GOOD IS IT ? DRUGS ? GENERAL MITCHELL MAYBE - SHE MAY NOT BE ALIVE OR EVEN FOUND FOR THAT MATTER. SALLY MITCHELL I KEEP HOPING AND PRAYING THAT WE WILL FIND HER. AND THAT SWEEPER’S MOM IS IN A REAL RUT BECAUSE OF THE DEPRESSION - AND THAT IS ALL IT IS.
8
GENERAL MITCHELL WELL IT IS CONFUSING - WITH OUR SURVEILLANCE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE THIS MAN THAT IS AT SOME OF THE GAMES - HE IS CONSISTENTLY AT GAMES WHERE SWEEPER’S MOM IS NOT, HAS A CONFUSING EERY LOOK ON HIS FACE, WEARS SIMILAR CLOTHES EACH TIME, AND ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE SWEEPER WITH SOME OF OUR CREATED UP CLOSE PRINTS. SALLY MITCHELL SO PERHAPS THIS IS HIS DAD WHO HAS BEEN COMING TO GAMES WHEN MOM ISN’T THERE OR WORKING. GENERAL MITCHELL YES - WE EVEN HAVE SURVEILLANCE ON HIM HEADING NORTH ONTO I 25 - BUT THEN IT ENDS. WE ARE REVIEWING SATELLITE FOLLOW UP FOR HIS TRAVELS AFTER THAT - WE HAVE FOUND MANY FOLKS THAT WAY ALL OVER THE WORLD. SALLY MITCHELL WHAT ABOUT HIS MOM ? SHE WAS AT THAT LAST SOCCER GAME LAST WEEKEND AND THEN POOF - GONE. GENERAL MITCHELL THAT GAME WAS VERY CROWDED - LIKE AN ACADEMY FOOTBALL GAME - WE KNOW THEY BOTH WERE THERE, AND THEN THEY WERE GONE. WE ARE PERFORMING SOME ISOLATED COMPUTER FEEDS ONTO A MAGNIFYING SCREEN TO DETERMINE IF WE CAN ISOLATE EITHER OF THEM AND THEIR PATHS TOWARDS THE END OF THE GAME AND HOPEFULLY FOLLOW UP ON A SATELLITE SYSTEM - WE ARE EVEN CHECKING BACK AREAS LIKE STANLEY CANYON AND WEST OF THE ACADEMY RESERVATION. AN EASY ESCAPE INTO ROCKRIMMON HAS OCCURRED NORTH OF ICE LAKE ON THOSE HORSE TRAILS UP THERE. SALLY MITCHELL YES THEY CLIMB THE FENCE OR CLIMB MOUNT BLOGETT AND THEN CROSS OVER - UP BY THAT ABANDONED AIRPLANE THAT CRASHED YEARS AGO. GENERAL MITCHELL THAT AREA IS UNDER HEAVY SURVEILLANCE. BUT NO SIGN OF THEM - THEY ARE REAL SMART. IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE DRUGS AT TIMES - ALMOST LIKE ESPIONAGE. IT IS WEIRD AND WHY WOULD THEY BE AT THE ACADEMY SPYING - I’D BE MORE AT SCHREIVER OR PETERSON - OR EVEN FORT CARSON BEFORE I’D COME HERE. SALLY MITCHELL SO YOU THINK THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAN DRUGS OR DEPRESSION OR KIDNAPPING ? 9
GENERAL MITCHELL I REALLY DON’T KNOW. BUT I’M INTENT ON FINDING THE ANSWER - THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SECURITY BREACH - AND IF SWEEPER IS HERE DURING THIS SEARCH, HE MAY HAVE TO LIVE ELSEWHERE. I’M SORRY. SALLY MITCHELL NO WAY - WE NEED HIM HERE - HE NEEDS TO BE HERE. GENERAL MITCHELL BUT WE’LL NEED TO DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION PER AIR FORCE REGULATIONS - WE CANNOT HIDE EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION THAT MAY JEOPARDIZE LIVES - WHETHER CIVILIAN OR MILITARY. HERE COMES SWEEPER. SWEEPER OK I THINK I’M READY FOR A QUIZ SALLY. SALLY MITCHELL COMING - WE’LL DO IT IN YOUR ROOM. SWEEPER HERE IS A TOUGH COLORADO HISTORY QUESTION SERIES. PLEASE READ ME THE QUESTIONS. I THINK OUR TEACHER WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY. SALLY MITCHELL OK - WHO WAS THE MOST FAMOUS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBER AFTER CONGRESS APPROPRIATED FUNDS AND APPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY ? CHARLES LINDBERGH.
SWEEPER
SALLY MITCHELL CORRECT - NOW A TOUGH ONE - WHAT OTHER SITES BESIDES COLORADO SPRINGS WERE CONSIDERED FOR THE ACADEMY ? SWEEPER ALTON, ILLINOIS AND LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN - OUT OF NEARLY 600 SITES PROPOSED. I’M GETTING TEXTED BY DEMI. MAY I ANSWER THAT SALLY ? SALLY MITCHELL YES I HAVE TO PUT THE DISHES IN THE WASHER ANYWAY I’LL BE BACK SOON . DEMI - HOW ARE YOU ?
10
SWEEPER
DEMI I JUST TEXTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO TALK TO MY PARENTS......AND TOMORROW THEY WILL TALK TO ME. WHAT IS GOING ON ? SWEEPER I DON’T KNOW - BUT I’M CERTAIN IT HAS TO DO WITH MOM’S DISAPPEARANCE. NOTHING MORE AND PROBABLY ROUTINE POLICE STUFF. DEMI BUT THESE WERE FBI AND CIA AGENTS - BIG TIME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. AND MY DAD SAYS I CANNOT HANG AROUND YOU ANY LONGER. I DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS - YOU KNOW HOW PARENTS ARE . WE WILL JUST HAVE TO BE........ SWEEPER SNEAKY. HERE COMES SALLY - WE ARE GOING OVER THE TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR TOMORROW’S TESTS - SEE YOU TOMORROW. DEMI YES AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED BETWEEN US.
END - SWEEPER IV
11