Dr. Skinner took Jeffrey by the hand. “Well, my son, are you ready to embark on your new life?”
Jeffrey smiled and nodded, tears running down his cheeks. “I’m ready. Thank you.”
Skinner nodded to the technician who injected something into an IV line. Within seconds, Jeffrey was sound asleep.
Skinner powered up the NESD and a low hum filled the room.
“When he awakes,” Skinner said, “this young man will have no memory of the forces that led him into a life of crime. Heretofore, there was no opportunity for do-overs. Now, with this marvelous device, there is.”
Nick and Arnie just stared in awe of what they had witnessed.
They thanked the doctor and me profusely and left with their minds filled with the fantastic possibilities the device could bring to the world.
I was about to leave when a thought occurred to me.
“Dr. Skinner, I haven’t seen your friend, Mr. Watson, since you opened the treatment center. I hope he’s okay.”
“My goodness, yes. Jacob is quite well. He has an office at the rehabilitation camp. He’s responsible for the business end of our operation, paying bills, keeping in contact with the benefactors who fund our project. That kind of thing.
“Thank goodness I have him. While I realize it’s a valuable part of our operation, I loathe doing any of it myself. The next time I see him, I’ll tell him you inquired.”
I left the treatment center with a happy heart. I had agonized as to what to do with the mysterious box I kept hidden in my safe. Now, I felt sure I had made the right decision, giving it to Dr. Skinner.
CHAPTER 18
“What now?” Boris Balakin asked. “We’ll never get the device with a direct assault. Skinner will simply lock himself inside that impenetrable vault. Maybe we grab him outside the treatment center and force him to give it to us.”
“I don’t think so,” Ivan Sokolov replied. “I believe Dr. Buford Skinner is the kind of man who would endure torture and go to his grave before giving up his precious toy. No, I have a better idea. I have no doubt Skinner would give his life to save the device, but would he sacrifice the life of a friend? We’ll see.”
I was about to meet Kevin at Mel’s Diner when the phone rang.
It was Dr. Skinner.
“Walt, something dreadful has happened. Those despicable Russians have taken Jacob Watson and they’re holding him for ransom. They want the NESD of course. Watson for the device. What should I do?”
This was way beyond my pay grade.
“Let me call my brother, Mark, at Homeland Security. This is now a matter of national defense. He should be involved.”
“Well, okay, if you think that’s best.”
“What did they tell you to do?”
“They said they would call later and give me instructions for the exchange. They said if I didn’t comply, I’d be responsible for Watson’s death.”
“I’ll get back with you. Mark will know what to do.”
I said the words to comfort Skinner, but I had my doubts.
“Mark, this is Walt. I just hung up with Dr. Skinner. The Russians have snatched his friend and partner, Jacob Watson. They want a trade, Watson for the NESD.”
“Jesus! The Eraser can’t fall into Russian hands. You told Skinner that I hope.”
“I told him I’d call you and you would know what to do.”
“I’ll put together a team. Meet me at the treatment center.”
When I arrived at the treatment center, Mark and his men were setting up a command post.
After all the equipment was in place, Mark addressed the group.
“When the Russians call, we’ll try to trace their location. Dr. Skinner, keep them talking as long as you can. Agree to make the exchange. We’ll either get them from the trace or after the exchange. Is everyone ready?”
Nods all around.
An hour later, the phone rang.
“Dr. Skinner, are you prepared to make the exchange?”
“Who is this? To whom am I speaking?”
“That’s not important. What’s important is that we have your friend and his life is in your hands.”
Mark signaled to Dr. Skinner and mouthed, “Proof of life. Ask to speak to Watson.”
Skinner nodded. “I need to know Jacob is okay before I make any arrangements for a trade. Let me speak to him.”
A moment later, Watson’s voice came on the line. “Buford! Don’t listen to them! My life is not worth letting the device fall into the hands of these thugs. Don’t ---.”
The Russian cut him off. “There you have your proof. Are you ready to trade or should we just take care of our nasty business on this end?”
“No, no!” Skinner moaned. “Don’t hurt my friend. What do you want me to do?”
“Bring the NESD to the parking lot of the Denny’s restaurant at I-70 and Blue Ridge Cut-off.”
“I --- I don’t know where that is.”
“I’m quite sure the Homeland Security agents with you can give you directions. One more thing, bring the old P.I. with you. I want Walt Williams to make the exchange. One hour or you’ll never see your friend alive again.”
The phone went dead.
Mark looked at his technician who shook his head. “Not long enough.”
“Damn!” Mark muttered. “Walt, do you know that location?”
I nodded. “It’s by the baseball and football stadiums.”
“Access roads?”
“From Denny’s, they could go north or south on Blue Ridge Cut-off, or east or west on the I-70 freeway. Oh yes, 39th Street intersects there too.”
“Lots of ways out. We’ll have to cover them all. We’d better get moving. Dr. Skinner, let’s take a look at that NESD of yours.”
“Do we really have to take the device? If you’re going to capture them ---.”
“They’ll want to see it before they release Mr. Watson.”
“But what if they get away with it? What if you fail?”
“That’s not going to happen,” Mark replied, reassuringly. “But even if they did slip through our fingers, we’ll still get them.”
“How?”
“We’ll plant a tracking device with the NESD. Do you have some kind of container to carry it?”
Dr. Skinner’s countenance suddenly changed from anxious to solemn and morose. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I have a special suitcase made especially for transporting the device.”
“Perfect. Let’s get it rigged and head out. Only forty-five minutes left before the meet. One more thing, we’ll be monitoring your phone in case they call again. Just remember Dr. Skinner, I don’t want the Russians to have that thing any more than you do.”
I pulled Mark aside. “I don’t get it. Why do the Russians want me with Skinner?”
“I have no idea, but we have to play along. You’ve done this kind of thing before. Any problems?”
“No, I guess not.”
Mark and his men took off in unmarked cars. They planned to park in strategic locations to cut off all the Russian’s possible escape routes.
A white-faced Dr. Skinner clutched the suitcase with his precious device to his chest.
“Are you ready?”
“I suppose so,” he replied with not a lot of conviction.
We had just pulled into the Denny’s parking lot when Skinner’s phone beeped.
It was the Russian.
“Dr. Skinner, there has been a change of plan. I want you to proceed north on Blue Ridge Cut-off to 40 Highway. Turn east and go to the Walmart at the intersection of 40 Highway and I-70. Park by the dumpster at the rear of the store.”
“But why ---?”
“Just do as I say if you want to see your friend again.”
The Russian hung up and Mark came on the line. “I heard. Follow his directions. My men are already on their way.”
We pulled onto Blue Ridge Cut-off, and just before we reached 40 Highway, my phone rang.
“Mr. Williams, there has been ano
ther change in plans.”
It was the Russian.
Suddenly it dawned on me why he wanted me to ride along with Skinner. He figured Skinner’s phone would be monitored, but mine was not.
“What do you want?”
“When you reach 40 Highway, turn west instead of east. Proceed to the entrance of the Twin Drive-in Theatre. We’ll be waiting for you there. Do not make any attempt to contact your comrades at Homeland Security or you’ll find your friend’s body in the theatre parking lot.”
The line went dead.
“What should we do?” Skinner asked.
“Follow their instructions,” I replied. “Mark can follow them with the tracking device he planted in the suitcase.”
When we pulled into the parking lot, a black SUV was waiting for us.
Skinner and I climbed out of our car as did the Russians.
“Do you have the device?” one of them asked.
Skinner held up the suitcase.
“Bring it here so we may examine it.”
“Not so fast,” I replied. “Let’s see Mr. Watson.”
The Russian nodded to one of his companions who pulled Watson from the SUV.
“Now,” the Russian said, “let’s take care of business.”
Skinner and I moved forward with the suitcase, and the Russian came forward with Watson.
When we were face-to-face, the Russian ordered, “Open it.”
Skinner opened the suitcase revealing the NESD.
The Russian smiled. “Very good,” and pushed Watson our way.
“Don’t do this, Buford!” Watson moaned.
“I’m afraid I have to my old friend. It’s time to end this.”
We heard sirens in the distance.
“Time to go,” the Russian said, grabbing the suitcase.
The SUV peeled out of the parking lot.
Minutes later, Mark and his men pulled into the lot.
He spotted Watson. “The NESD! Where is it?”
I pointed to the taillights disappearing around a curve. “The Russians have it.”
“No problem,” Mark said. “I’ll have a chopper in the air monitoring the tracking device.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Skinner replied, sadly.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number.
Moments later, we heard an explosion and a fireball lit up the horizon.
“What have you done?” Mark asked in disbelief.
“What I had to do,” he replied. “There was a false bottom in the suitcase with a brick of C-4.”
“But why?”
“In the short time we’ve had the device, there have been four attempts to take it from us. I knew as long as it existed, there would be more and more attempts. It was inevitable that someone would finally succeed.
“I promised Detrick Von Braun that I would never let it fall into the hands of evil men. I have kept my promise.”
EPILOGUE
A few months ago, a mysterious box fell into my hands.
Little did I know that inside was a device that could alter the lives of thousands, maybe even millions of afflicted people.
Ishmael, the man who helped me protect the box, knew its secrets. He said that what was inside could either be a blessing or a curse to mankind. He likened it to nuclear energy. Used wisely, it can provide power to thousands, but in the wrong hands it can bring utter destruction.
I had seen both sides of the device.
For Warren Prescott, Nellie Archer, and Jeffrey Allen, it meant erasing the demons that had ruined their lives, giving them a second chance for a productive, fulfilling life.
But in the hands of Lloyd Hatfield, a killer with no conscience was conceived.
What a shame that the device had to be destroyed, but I understood why Dr. Skinner had to do it. No matter how great the potential for good, there would always be those who would covet it for evil.
It reminded me of a movie or TV show I had seen. Aliens from another galaxy had come to earth to share a technology far greater than anything humans possessed. But after seeing the unending conflict in our world, they knew that earthlings were not yet ready to possess such advanced technology, so they turned their craft around and left our warring planet in search of other less hostile life forms.
Maybe someday in the future, another brilliant mind will construct a similar device that can be blessing to mankind, and maybe we will have evolved to the point where it would only be used for good.
My name is Walt Williams, and there is no doubt in my mind that I will be long gone before that day arrives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author, Robert Thornhill, began writing at the age of sixty-six and in nine short years has penned thirty-four novels in the Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, the seven volume Rainbow Road series of chapter books for children, a cookbook and a mini-autobiography.
Lady Justice and the Sting, Lady Justice and Dr. Death, Lady Justice and the Vigilante, Lady Justice and the Candidate, Lady Justice and the Book Club Murders, Lady Justice and the Cruise Ship Murders and Lady Justice and the Vet won the Pinnacle Award for the best new mystery novels of Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring of 2013 and Summer 2014 from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs.
Many of Walt’s adventures in the Lady Justice series are anecdotal and based on Robert’s real life.
Although Robert holds a master’s in psychology, he has never taken a course in writing and has never learned to type. All 44 of his published books were typed with one finger and a thumb!
His wit and insight come from his varied occupations, including thirty-three years as a real estate broker. He lives with his wife, Peg, in Independence, Missouri.
Visit him on the Web at: http://BooksByBob.com
LADY JUSTICE TAKES A C.R.A.P.
City Retiree Action Patrol
Third Edition
This is where it all began.
See how sixty-five-year-old Walt Williams became a cop and started the City Retiree Action Patrol.
Meet Maggie, Willie, Mary and the Professor, Walt’s sidekicks in all of the Lady Justice novels.
Laugh out loud as Walt and his band of Senior Scrappers capture the Realtor Rapist and take down the Russian Mob.
http://amzn.to/16lfjnY
LADY JUSTICE AND THE LOST TAPES
Second Edition
When corrupt politicians, the Italian mob and a dirty cop collude to take over a Northeast neighborhood, Walt is recruited for the most bizarre undercover assignments of his new career.
When conventional police work fails to solve the case, once again his band of scrappy seniors come to the rescue.
In the process, the amazing discovery of a previously unknown session by a deceased rock ‘n’ roll idol stuns the music industry. What should be a joyous occasion soon turns dark as lives are threatened.
All of your favorite characters, along with two lovable additions are back to help Walt in his quest for justice.
Their adventures and misadventures are sure to keep you captivated – and splitting your sides!
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LADY JUSTICE GETS LEI’D
Second Edition
In Lady Justice Gets Lei’d, Walt and Maggie plan a romantic honeymoon on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, but ancient artifacts discovered in a cave in a dormant volcano and a surprising revelation about Maggie’s past, lead our lovers into the hands of Hawaiian zealots.
http://amzn.to/15P6bLg
LADY JUSTICE AND THE
AVENGING ANGELS
Second Edition
Lady Justice has unwittingly entered a religious war.
Who better to fight for her than Walt Williams?
The Avenging Angels believe that it’s their job to rain fire and brimstone on Kansas City, their Sodom and Gomorrah.
In this compelling addition to the Lady Justice series, Robert Thornhill brings back all the characters readers have come to love for more h
ilarity and higher stakes.
You’ll laugh and be on the edge of your seat until the big finish.
Don’t miss Lady Justice and the Avenging Angels!
http://amzn.to/1xXrYdY
LADY JUSTICE AND THE STING
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL ---WINTER 2012
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
In Lady Justice and the Sting, a holistic physician is murdered and Walt becomes entangled in the high-powered world of pharmaceutical giants and corrupt politicians.
Maggie, Ox Willie, Mary and all your favorite characters are back to help Walt bring the criminals to justice in the most unorthodox ways.
A dead-serious mystery with hilarious twists
http://amzn.to/1gS4JMA
LADY JUSTICE AND DR. DEATH
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL --- FALL 2011
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
In Lady Justice and Dr. Death, a series of terminally ill patients are found dead under circumstances that point to a new Dr. Death practicing euthanasia in the Kansas City area.
Walt and his entourage of scrappy seniors are dragged into the ‘right-to-die-with-dignity’ controversy.
The mystery provides a light-hearted look at this explosive topic and death in general.
You may see end-of-life issues in a whole new light after reading Lady Justice and Dr. Death!
http://amzn.to/H20Erx
LADY JUSTICE AND THE VIGILANTE
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – SUMMER 2012
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
A vigilante is stalking the streets of Kansas City administering his own brand of justice when the justice system fails.
Lady Justice and Good vs Evil Page 10