Flying to the Light

by Elyse Salpeter

  “The year your parents received their doctorates, we set them up in a top lab at a university, putting their work in the news. It was only a matter of time before Herrington’s people came looking for them. He’s always on the prowl for brilliance and to find ways to harvest it. He flew your parents to Europe to talk with him, showed him his labs, basically gave them everything a scientist would ever want, which is the ability to have the funds and means to do their research at their pace and their own way. As long as they also worked on his side agenda, which was to find out what happened to people when they die. It’s one of the overriding missions of his organization. And now that his wife’s dying, he’s desperate to know what’s going to happen to her.

  “So, with our blessing, they accepted Herrington’s offer and moved to an island facility far in the Pacific for five years, fell in love, got married, and had you. When they were trained in everything Herrington wanted, he moved them back to a lab in New York and they continued their research. All the time he thought they were working for him, but they were really counter agents working for the FBI and we had to keep that secret at all costs. For the next few years, everything proceeded according to plan.”

  “And the plan was what?” Michael asked.

  “The plan was to gain access to Herrington’s secret terrorist activity and scientific technology and to integrate themselves deeply into the entire political, ethical and biochemical culture through their scientific connections. Their main focus was contra terrorism, supplying us information to fight against anything Herrington had created. In fact, because of your parents, we have in our labs right now antidotes to dozens of viruses Herrington’s people have manufactured and because of your parents, if Herrington decided to release any of these strains into the environment, the United States people and others around the globe could be treated. Michael, your parents really are brilliant, amazing people—true heroes.”

  “So what happened?” Michael asked.

  “Nothing for years, but then Herrington’s wife became ill and he was desperate about her impending death, so he started to focus on your parents. He wanted to know what was going to happen to Marta. Really happen. Not just the idea of a heaven or hell, but the true meaning of what will happen to her soul when she dies. Where will she go? What will happen to her? Your parents were the only ones working on the life after death scenarios, so he concentrated on them and even though they hadn’t come up with any conclusions, he was desperate. But that was when his people realized something odd was happening and maybe things weren’t as they appeared. There were too many birds surrounding your house, seemingly centered around your brother. So, as with anything unusual, even if it might mean nothing, Herrington’s people were told to constantly be on watch and subsequently started surveillance on your family. Once that happened, they saw your mother working with Danny and the machine. Nothing in their research or findings reported on this device and Herrington then knew your parents were hiding things from him.”

  “But my parents did send information back to Herrington at times. Wasn’t that treasonous?”

  “Everything they turned over to Herrington was carefully screened by the FBI first. We had to make it look as if your parents were really working for him, but we never sent anything which wouldn’t have been released to the public sooner or later. Herrington thought he was getting in on the inside, but nothing he received had any bearing on what he really needed or wanted. And, all those business trips they had over the years? They were meeting with Herrington and other labs around the globe. But the end agenda was to find the ultimate answer.”

  “About what happens to you when you die.”

  “That’s right. There’s always been talk of a light people see when they die. Herrington’s main agenda for your parents was to use all their resources to see if there really was a connection between death and the bright light everyone says they see and could the experience be simulated in a laboratory. When your mother was pregnant with Danny, she was accidentally hit with a dangerous amount of ultraviolet rays. Luckily, she came away basically unharmed, but your parents were more concerned about your brother. When he was born, he seemed healthy, but by the time he was only a few months old, they knew something was very different about him. He didn’t look at them when they spoke to him, slept through thunderstorms, hardly ever cried. But, even more, it was the way he’d stare out the window, watching the sky all the time, as if he were searching for something. Then your parents learned of your brother’s abilities and they got scared. They had Dobber place an implant in his ear so if Herrington ever decided to take Danny, they could track him.”

  “So Dobber worked for you the whole time, too?” Michael asked.

  “Yes, your parents suggested to Herrington that he would be a valuable asset to his organization and Dobber defected, so to speak.”

  “I don’t understand something,” Michael said. “If Herrington is this uber bad guy, why haven’t you arrested him yet? Why do you let him continue to do his illegal dealings around the world?”

  Daley sighed. “It’s complicated. There are times you want the bad guys to be visible bad guys. We know some of the atrocities Herrington is doing, but at the same time, by having your parents in his organization, we can learn about all the horrors he’s done in the past. Just getting rid of him isn’t the answer yet. He has lethal drugs hidden in labs all over the globe and accomplices who are very loyal to him. The fear is if we just remove him, there may be orders and fail safes in place to do away with the rest of the world. We need to be sure that won’t happen.”

  “Why did Dobber lie to me?”

  “Dobber couldn’t tell you the entire truth at the time because it would have only confused you. There was just too much for you to have to accept so soon,” Daley explained. “He tried to tell you what he thought you would need to know. Just enough for you to believe him and listen to him.”

  Michael sat back on the seat. “I thought Dobber was a traitor and turned us in to those fake cops. Back at one of the motels he told me to wait and he would come for us, and I believed him. No more than one minute later Herrington’s people pulled up. We barely got out in time.”

  “I know, Michael. It seems they found out about the tracking device and honed in on the frequency. Dobber didn’t know how much time he had and wanted to get to you as soon as possible. It’s a good thing you ran and an even better one you removed the device. I tracked you both until you were picked up outside California.”

  “What?” Anger rolled through Michael. “If you knew where we were the whole time, why didn’t you come for us? What were you waiting for? They could have taken my brother at any time.”

  “Michael, we did try to come for you. We’d been tracking you in the car, but we also tracked you with the credit card back in Pennsylvania,” he explained. “If we could locate you, then we were sure Herrington’s people were on to your whereabouts as well. We didn’t want them to realize we were involved because it would have complicated things for your parents. As far as they know, your parents really were just scientists who worked for Hi-Core Industries and not members of the FBI.

  “If Herrington knew the full truth, I’m certain he would have killed them by now, with or without you in his custody. He’s overly confident and thinks he’ll simply buy his way through to you if anyone catches you. Your parents must be found quickly because soon Herrington won’t care anymore if they live or die. Especially now that he knows we removed the ability for people to turn you in for the bounty.”

  “Do you know where my parents are?” Michael asked.

  Daley cleared his throat. Michael thought he sounded uncomfortable.

  “No, Michael, we don’t know where they are,” he said. “We know many of Herrington’s hideouts, facilities, and bases of operations, but others keep springing up. If we don’t find out some more information soon, we’re going to have to risk intercepting Herrington’s people searching for you and interrogate them. It’ll most likely happen n
o later than tomorrow night.”

  If Daley was sharing, then it was his turn. Time for full disclosure. “Well, you better hurry because Danny thinks they’re killing my dad.”

  Daley spoke slowly, carefully. “Why would he think that?”

  “My dad showed up at the motel we stayed at the other night. He was a bird, and he was sitting outside our window. He was only there for a minute and then he disappeared, but Danny swears it was my father.”

  “Michael, hold on a minute,” Daley said. Michael heard him put down the phone. In the background he heard Daley barking orders. There was a momentary discussion and then Daley got back on the phone. “You there, Michael?”

  “Yeah, I’m here.”

  “Danny was certain it was your father?” he asked. “Not just another person who died?”

  “No. Danny was sure it was him,” he confirmed. “And, I am, too. The bird was looking right at us and then disappeared.”

  “It makes sense he would come to you if something happened to him. We figured your parents might be roughly interrogated, but not tortured to death.”

  “Do you think my Dad is dead?” he asked, quietly.

  “Not if that bird really did disappear. If it truly was your father, then we need to find your parents immediately. I don’t think he’s dead yet, but he could be getting close.”

  Michael started to shake and begged his muscles to stay in control. “Danny thinks he’s fighting a battle to stay alive. He says the bad men are hurting him enough to kill him. Mr. Daley, we have to find him.” He glanced at his brother playing with the phone handset in the next booth. “Mr. Daley, how can Danny know all this?”

  “It’s no longer a question of how does he know this, but how much more does he know that he isn’t letting on,” Daley said. “Danny has a very powerful gift, an ability no one else has, and I believe when he said that bird was your father, it was. The decision is made, then. We don’t have any more time to spare. We’ll pick up one of Herrington’s agents tonight. And we have to get you boys to safety. The people tracking you are actually close to your present location.”

  Michael gazed around the bowling alley worriedly. “How close are they?”

  “Don’t worry. About four hours away. They tracked the sedan you stole, but they’d been searching in the other direction and had to do an about-face. Great work back at the police station,” he complimented. “You seem to have the makings of a first rate agent.”

  “No, thanks. As soon as this is all over, I’m never leaving my house again.” Just then, he heard a strange clicking noise. He thought Mr. Daley might have been disconnected. “Hello, you still there, Mr. Daley?”

  Daley’s voice chimed in right away. “Yeah, I’m here. Why?”

  “I thought I lost you for a second. There was a strange noise or something on my end.”

  Daley was immediately silent. Then Michael heard him ask someone to recheck the phone line to make sure no one was tapping in. After a few seconds he seemed to be satisfied and continued with what he was saying. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I’ve got men in your area only an hour away. Until they get there I want you to go bowling.”

  “What? You want us to bowl?” Michael was incredulous. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

  “Absolutely. It’ll get your mind off what’s happening to you for the moment, and it’ll keep you safe and indoors. Normalcy, that’s what we’re looking for. Take your brother bowling and within the hour two plainclothes FBI agents will come for you.”

  “How will I know it’s them?”

  “I’ll make sure one of them has an ice-cream cone for Danny. How’s that?”

  Michael was sure he could feel Daley smiling. “Okay, fine. And wait, just one more question before you go. Were you really watching out for me all these years?”

  “Yes, a lot of us were, actually.”

  “Who else is involved?” Michael asked.

  “Do you really want to know?” Daley asked. “It might make you feel like a fish in a glass tank to know who’s been involved.”

  “Don’t hold out on me, Mr. Daley. I already feel that way. After everything I’ve learned I just have to know the truth. I’m entitled to it.”

  “Of course, you are,” he said, seriously. “Okay, there was Mr. Jacobs, your Scout Master, Danny’s kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Smithey, Dobber, your pediatrician, Dr. Schwartz, and your next door neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Polensky.”

  Michael gasped. “Dr. Schwartz and the Polenskys? But all of them are at least in their seventies.”

  Daley chuckled. “Don’t let age fool you, Michael. Dr. Schwartz may look fragile, but it was all an act. As for the Polenskys, their job is simply to inform us of how you and your family go about your daily lives. They would be the ones who would report if anything out of the ordinary were happening. You might be interested to know they were the ones who got in touch with Dobber and told him to call and tell you to leave the house. The morning after the kidnapping.”

  “Incredible,” Michael said.

  “Trust me, Michael. We want to save your parents as much as you do. They’re very fine people and an invaluable asset to our team. You should be proud of them—they really were winning an award at the Plaza. The fact of the matter is we screwed up. We should have known Herrington had caught on sooner to the phony documentation. There must have been a leak somewhere or else he just finally got his act in gear. But don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this. We always do.” He hung up.

  Michael put the phone back and turned to Danny. “So, you want to go bowling?”

  “I was hoping you’d let me,” Danny signed, excitedly jumping up and down.

  And for the next forty-five minutes, they bowled.

  Chapter Fourteen

  As Michael watched his brother bowl another gutter ball, he saw two men amble into the bowling alley. They both wore short-sleeve checkered shirts with jeans and jean jackets. One wore a Mets hat and the other sported a Yankees cap. Michael couldn’t help laughing when he saw the one in the Yankees cap trying unsuccessfully to hold onto a swirl cone. He must have had it for a while because the ice cream was dripping down the sides of the cone, onto his hand.

  “Hey, Danny,” he signed. “Our new friends are here. They brought you an ice cream cone.”

  Danny jumped up, and they walked over to the agents.

  The guy without the ice cream signed, “Hi, Danny and Michael. How are you guys?”

  “You know sign language?” Danny asked, as he took the cone.

  “Sure, doesn’t everybody?” he spoke and signed simultaneously. Michael grinned at the strong southern twang and tried not to laugh at all the fresh nicks the agent had on his cheeks and chin, probably from shaving that morning.

  To Michael, he turned and extended his hand. “My congratulations to you. You’ve done an outstanding job taking care of your brother and dealing with Herrington’s agents. Totally embarrassed the guy, I’m sure. He’s got billions at his discretion, and you guys keep slipping through his grasp. It’s probably driving him crazy. Your parents will be very proud of you. I know Daley is.” He pumped Michael’s hand up and down.

  “Thanks,” he said, humbly.

  “I’m Agent Porter, and this is my partner, Agent Cray.” He flashed their badges. Agent Cray nodded and tipped his baseball hat with his dry hand. “We’re going to take you guys to California where there’s an FBI facility. You’ll be safe there until we locate your parents.”

  After the agents paid for Michael and Danny’s games and returned their shoes, they led them out to a rented gray Buick. “We’re going to fly out of a small local airport, tickets and drinks compliments of the FBI.” Agent Porter winked.

  Michael liked this guy.

  They climbed into the Buick. Agent Cray slid behind the wheel and drove them towards the highway. They were only on it for ten minutes when they turned off onto a side road. The drive took another twenty minutes. Agent Porter entertained them the enti
re time with stories from his training in the FBI. He even made some cracks about Daley in his training days, which Michael found hilarious. The fact he knew sign language made it all the more special because Danny could follow the entire conversation. Well, most of it. Every once in a while Agent Porter did a two-handed sign that neither of them understood.

  “I’m still learning,” Agent Porter shrugged, sheepishly. “I have a daughter who’s turning two and she was diagnosed as being hard of hearing earlier this year. I thought I should learn the language so we could communicate with her. Hard for this ol’ Texas boy though,” he said, tapping his forehead. “Thick skull.”

  “That’s just what we did with Danny,” Michael said. “Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.”

  They finally drove up to a secluded airport. It was a small area cut into the side of a mountain. The expanse was about two hundred feet wide, five hundred feet long and bordered by craggy slopes, downed trees, and rocks. Agent Cray pulled up to a lone plane on the airstrip. It was what Michael’s Mom would call a puddle-jumper. Michael couldn’t believe this was what they were flying in. He’d expected something bigger.

  Agent Porter saw his expression and laughed. “I know, it’s not the biggest plane, but then again, it’s not the smallest either and it’s really nice inside. Leather seats, thirty-two inch flat screen TV, and loaded with snacks. We should be in California in just a few hours.” He led them out of the car and onto the plane.

  “Guys, we’re going to go talk to the pilot back in the control room. It’s over in that building,” he said, pointing to what appeared to be a small concrete bunker about fifty feet away. “We’ll be back in a little while. You know protocol,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Feel free to make yourselves comfortable. The TV’s over there and there’s a bunch of videos as well, if you feel like watching. If you need anything, use the phone on the wall behind the seats. Just hit pound fifteen, and it’ll go directly to my beeper.”