When the guy stepped forward and yanked the hood off the captive’s head, the entire lab was plunged into a deep silence. The only sound was a short gasp of horror that escaped Tara’s lips.
“You paying attention now, Sean?” the distorted voice asked.
He stared at the face on the screen, the face of a friend, someone he trusted and cared about.
It was the former president of the United States, John Dawkins.
7
Atlanta
Sean wanted to punch the monitor, to throw it across the room and, in the most fanciful dream, dive into the scene and kill every one of the people responsible.
“That’s right,” the voice said. “Your good buddy the former president.”
Dawkins had a cloth stretched across his mouth, forcing apart his lips. His teeth bit into it, but he couldn’t make a sound. The gag was doing its job despite the president’s struggling.
“Now, as I was saying, you’re going to find something for me, Sean. You and your friend Tommy. But what is it you’re to find?” He raised his voice dramatically, which sounded even goofier through the modulator. “That is the question! What indeed?”
“This guy’s insane,” Tommy remarked.
Sean nodded but kept his gaze locked on the screen.
“The Corps of Discovery,” the man said, “which I’m sure the two of you know well, was formed to search the newly purchased Louisiana Territory. To map it and to learn exactly what the country had bought from France. As you are aware, Lewis and Clark were also trying to find the fabled Northwest Passage, a water route to the Pacific Ocean that could make for faster travel between the two halves of the continent.”
Sean rolled his eyes at the obvious statement though his jaw remained firmly set.
“When they reached the Pacific, they set up camp there for a while before returning across the country. However, Capt. Meriwether Lewis didn’t turn in his report for years. While he delivered some of his documents to Jefferson, much of his report was missing. Why? Why didn’t he tell his boss, the president, about everything he’d found?”
It was a good question, one that Sean had actually never considered before despite knowing the story of the Corps of Discovery’s journey west.
“No? Nothing? Well, I have an answer. I believe that Lewis found something, something of immense power. If it had been an ordinary treasure, he and his men might have taken it back to the east, at least some samples of it. He would have happily reported it to his employer. Or…let’s for a moment say he was a dishonest person. If he’d saved some of the treasure for himself, he wouldn’t have been nearly broke when he died. So, that all comes back to the conclusion that what he found must have scared him. It frightened him so much, he didn’t even tell his closest friend about it. Clark appears to have never encountered anything unusual and turned in his reports as expected.”
This guy sure was long-winded for a kidnapper. Sean wondered when he was going to get to the point.
“So, here’s the game, Sean,” the man said.
“About time,” Sean quipped angrily.
Tommy snorted.
“You will find what Lewis discovered on the West Coast. When you do, you will deliver it to me. If you fail, your friend Mr. President here will die. And I promise, it will be a painful, agonizing death. He will take a very long time to expire; I swear that to you.”
Sean’s eyes narrowed.
“Inside the box, you will find a letter. It was written by James Madison.”
The four didn’t need that confirmation. They’d already seen who had written it.
“This letter was written to his successor—James Monroe, but he also wrote it for every president that would come after him until one was elected in an era with both the technology and the know-how to deal with whatever it is Lewis had discovered on his adventure. Madison knew that, at the time, he and the government weren’t equipped for it. That knowledge could only have come from details in the Lewis report. And this is where you come in, Sean.”
There was a sneer in the ripples of the modulated tone. “You will read the letter and decode it. You will then track down whatever it is Lewis found out west and bring it to me. Only when you have it will you contact me.” A phone number flashed across the screen. Sean immediately committed it to memory.
“Call this number before you have Lewis’s secret, and I will kill the man you see in the chair. You have one week to find and deliver whatever it is Lewis discovered. Don’t fail me…or your friend here dies.”
Dawkins didn’t struggle. He didn’t moan or cry. He sat there, resolute in his chair as a proud former leader of the free world. He wouldn’t be bullied or used as a pawn in some sicko’s game.
Sean admired his courage. He wasn’t surprised, though, having known Dawkins for nearly a decade. Still, a burning rage roared inside him. This maniac had taken one of his friends and was using him for leverage.
“Oh, and Sean? I almost forgot.”
Sean’s thoughts snapped back to the screen and the voice coming through the speaker.
“There’s one more itty-bitty little wrinkle to this whole scenario. I’m not going to tell you what it is because, quite frankly, that would ruin the fun. It’s probably best for you to just find out on your own, which should happen any minute now. Just know that you won’t be able to do things the way you normally do. But like I said, you took everything from me. Now it’s time I do the same to you. Good luck, Sean.”
The screen went black, and the sound vanished.
For over a minute, no one said a word. Tara glanced down at the flash drive, wondering if it might burn up like some kind of Mission Impossible delivery system. It didn’t, though, and the screen flashed back to its desktop like it would have any other time.
There were no ill effects that a virus would have certainly caused, at least not that they could see right away. So, that begged the question: What was this guy talking about regarding the wrinkle?
“What do you think he wants?” Tommy asked, finally cutting through the silence.
Sean’s head twisted back and forth. “I don’t know. I guess we have to read the letter to find out.” His eyes wandered down to the laminated sheet on the table.
He didn’t admit it, but a big part of him suddenly didn’t want to read what the former president had to say. He knew that wasn’t an option. This freak on the other side of the camera was playing the hardest ball there was to play. He’d kidnapped a former president and was threatening to kill the man if Sean didn’t cooperate.
He picked up the paper and started poring over it, skimming through the formalities to get right to the meat of whatever it was Madison needed to pass on to future generations of leaders.
Tommy and Alex leaned in close. Tara stood from her chair and looked down at the sheet.
Every eye was fixed to the copy of the old page.
Sean sighed as he finished reading. He turned it over when he was sure everyone had finished and checked the back. There was nothing on it.
He shook his head. “Any ideas?”
“It’s confusing to say the least,” Tommy confessed. “What’s that about the power to control the sea supposed to mean? I hope we’re not looking for something like Poseidon’s trident. We’ve already had one of those we had to deal with.”
“I don’t know,” Sean said. “We’ll have to sit down and piece it together.”
“The box,” Tara said. “Do you guys think the box is a clue?”
The men’s eyes flashed to her and then down to the puzzle box. Sean picked it up again and analyzed the designs on the sides. “Could be,” he admitted. “These pictures are certainly interesting. And why would he send us a puzzle box like this if it didn’t have something to do with the case?”
“It must,” Tommy said. He turned and paced to the other side of the lab and back. “If he sent that video in the box, that must mean there is something about that container that has to do with what Lewis found.”
&
nbsp; “You’d think,” Alex said. “Otherwise it sure is a strangely dramatic way to send a message.”
“Right.”
“The clues are there,” Sean interrupted. “It’s all there. We just have to figure it out.” He pointed at the third paragraph. “Right here; this is where the riddle begins.”
Sean’s phone started buzzing in his pocket. He frowned and fished it out, glanced at the screen, then answered.
“Hey, Em,” he answered in a somber tone as he pressed the device next to his ear. He figured he was about to be the bearer of bad news.
She and Dawkins had become close, so close that they’d thrown inhibitions to the wind and were in a full-on relationship. She was still working for Axis, but it was anyone’s guess how long that would last. Emily Starks was only in her mid-forties, hardly ready for retirement by most career standards. Her job, however, was different than most. Sean knew she’d saved up enough money to retire years ago, but she was good at what she did and couldn’t force herself to walk away, not yet.
Sean knew Dawkins was nudging her in that direction. There were beaches for them to lie on, cities for them to visit, mountains to hike. He was ready to enjoy some nonpolitical travel. The only thing holding him back was her. He didn’t view it that way, though, and Sean knew that. Dawkins was supportive, encouraging Emily to work for Axis as long as she wanted. Still, Sean knew the man’s desires. Sooner or later, she would have to call it quits: either the relationship or her career.
“Sean,” she said in an urgent voice, “where are you?”
“I’m in Atlanta. Why? You okay?”
“Shut up and listen. I don’t have long. For all I know, this phone is tapped.”
“Tapped?” Sean couldn’t have been more confused. Emily’s agency operated above most others, answering to one office only. If she was being investigated for something, there was certainly trouble afoot. He turned away and took a few steps in the other direction, leaving Tommy and the others staring at him with concern. “What do you mean tapped?” he hissed.
“I said to shut up.” There was an intensity to her voice he’d never heard before in all their years working together and being friends. Sean’s lips pinched together tight enough to crush a rock to dust.
“Someone took John.”
Sean hesitated. He felt himself standing on a tightrope a thousand feet above a rocky gorge. He didn’t know if he should tell her he knew or not. If he said he did, she’d wonder how. Then again, he couldn’t lie to her. It was against his nature to lie to anyone, especially a friend.
“I know,” Sean said. He spoke quickly before she could say anything else. “Someone sent me a package. In it was a thumb drive with a video file on it. We just watched the file. John is okay, for now.”
“Sean,” there was despondence in her voice, “the Feds…they’re saying you did this. They want you to turn yourself in.”
The words didn’t register at first. The statement was so outlandish he almost laughed, but he held back, knowing Emily wasn’t the type to joke about such things.
“What do you mean they’re blaming me?”
“There was evidence at the scene of the crime,” she said. “We were out of town at John’s cabin. I went out for groceries. When I came back, he was gone.”
“And you called the authorities.”
“Yes. They arrived…faster than I would have expected, especially way out here. Pretty much every kind of cop you could think of, which immediately raised some red flags for me.” She lowered her voice. Sean could tell she was trying to speak as quickly as possible to keep anyone from hearing. “Look, I know you didn’t do this.”
“No. And I was with Tommy in Chattanooga yesterday. I have an alibi.”
“Won’t matter,” Emily said. “This is coming from somewhere…somewhere high up. I don’t know how or where—or who is involved.”
He detected a hint of fear in her voice. Emily wasn’t one given to outbursts of emotion very often. For a long time, he’d wondered if she even had feelings. That was until he got to know her.
Emily was a complex woman, with many layers. Sean had once referred to her as an onion, saying you have to peel away the layers to get to the core of who she really was.
But he wasn’t surprised to hear the fear and concern in her voice. She loved Dawkins. That much was clear.
“Why do you think they’re blaming me for this?” Sean asked, changing the subject to get her mind away from thinking the worst.
“I don’t know. All I know is that one of them claimed he found something. The guy had a shaved head. He was one of the suits.”
“Can’t you override them?”
“Doesn’t work like that, Sean. Most of them don’t even know about Axis or what we do. That’s one of the downsides of answering to one person. We essentially serve a monarchy.”
“So, tell the president. She’ll help you.”
“She’s out of the country on a political trip.”
“Yeah, but you have a direct line to her.”
He was right, and she knew it. That didn’t mean she should just up and call the president of the United States on a whim.
“I’ll definitely reach out to her, but I had to call you and warn you. Sean, these guys, they’re dirty. I can feel it. You know what I’m talking about, that sense you get from certain people.”
“They’re legit Feds?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Think so? She should know, but he wasn’t going there right now. She was in the most fragile place he’d ever seen her. Honestly, it was a stupid question for him to ask anyway.
“Then they’re dirty, or someone they’re working for is setting me up.”
“You said there was a video of John?”
He knew where this was going. “He’s fine, Em. I swear. They had him tied up, but I saw him. He was breathing and looked pissed.”
She offered a feeble chuckle. “I bet he is.”
“I don’t know how they got around his security, but whoever did this must be pro. Amateurs couldn’t take out Secret Service like that. I promise you: I will find John, and I will bring him back. Okay?”
“I know you will. In the meantime, I have to go, and so do you. The first place they’ll check is your house in Atlanta. I’m pretty sure they already went there. The next spot will be IAA. You need to get out of Atlanta as quickly as possible.”
Sean sighed. A million thoughts ran through his head. There was a place he knew he could go, but it would be difficult to reach. It was all the way on the other side of the country. However, the good news was that it was right along the path Lewis and Clark had taken on their Corps of Discovery mission across the continent. If he could get out there and get set up off the grid, maybe he could figure out this riddle James Madison had written about so many years ago.
It was a long shot, but there were few options. She was right. If the Feds were pinning him for the abduction of the former president, they’d be here any minute.
“Okay, hang up, Em. I know how to reach you if I need to. Meanwhile, you work on figuring out who is behind this. I’ll work on finding John.”
“I’m so sorry, Sean.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault. And I’m sorry, too.”
She ended the call, and he held the phone down to check the screen.
He stuffed the device back into his pocket and looked up at the other three in the room.
Tommy stepped close. “So…what is going on?”
“Well, you guys already know that Dawkins was abducted. Turns out the Feds are blaming it on me, which means they’ll be here any minute.”
Tommy’s brow folded with worried wrinkles.
“What do you mean they’re blaming it on you? You’ve been with me the last few days.”
“I don’t think that’s going to matter,” Sean said. “We’re dealing with someone, apparently, with pretty deep connections.”
“Wait a minute,” Tara said. “The Feds are coming here?
Shouldn’t you get going?”
Sean nodded. “Yes. But not without a copy of that letter.”
Alex picked it up and ran over to a printer/copier in the corner. He placed it down on the glass surface, closed the top, and pressed the copy button. The machine warmed up for ten seconds and then spat out the duplicate sheet on the tray attached to the end.
He returned with both sheets and gave Sean the still-warm copy.
“Thanks.”
Alex nodded.
“You can’t actually be considering solving this right now?” Tommy asked, incredulous. “You need to go hide somewhere and lie low. Let us handle figuring out whatever this psychopath wants. We can handle it.”
“I know you can, but I have to help in any way I can.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to the cabin.”
“The cabin?” Tommy asked, but he knew exactly where Sean was thinking of going. “That’s a long way. And you won’t be able to fly.”
“I know. I’ve made that drive before. Heck, I’ve driven to Seattle before. I can make it.”
Tommy sighed. “So, you’re dropping off the grid.”
Sean nodded. “I’ll get rid of my phone when I leave the building. I have a burner I can use. When I get to the cabin, I’ll call you.”
Tommy’s worry was written in the long, drawn lines that etched his cheeks from the corners of his eyes to the ridge of his jaw. “I don’t like this.”
Sean put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Me either, buddy. We’ll sort it out.”
“There’s nothing Emily can do?”
Sean shook his head and reinforced what she’d said on the phone. “Doesn’t work that way, pal. Don’t worry. It’s going to be fine. We just have to do our thing. Okay? You work from here. I’ll work from out there. Besides, if we’re looking for something along the trail Lewis and Clark took, that puts me right in their path.”
Tommy took in a deep breath and sighed. “Okay, fine. Go. But be careful.” He didn’t have to say that. And he didn’t have to ask if Sean needed anything. “Take the new 4Runner,” Tommy said. “Get your bug-out bag and go.”
The Omega Project Page 7