by Linda Hawley
Lulu watched a pair of swimmers in the pool for about ten seconds, then sniffed their belongings, returning to me unalerted to anything. We climbed over some big boulders to gain access to the designated meeting place. As we reached the highest point, I saw two people sitting on a boulder together.
One was the Tom Chambers look-alike that I had met with during the Canadian GOG meeting, and the other was a woman I didn’t recognize. She looked to be Native American.
Moving toward them, Lulu ran on ahead of me, and I called out to her, “Cease.” She quickly returned to me.
I approached the duo with Lulu by my side. They were both dressed in hiking clothes, and the woman had a small backpack on her back.
The Tom Chambers look-alike reached out his hand to me. I shook it and quietly said, “Freedom.”
He smiled and said, “Reigns.”
This was the new exchange used when GOG called meetings in the Pacific Northwest, unless a code word was given ahead of time. The organization regularly changed codes, to ensure all of our safety.
The woman also extended her hand, and we shook without speaking. She had a prominent strong nose, stout eyebrows, very dark skin, jet-black straight hair, and serious, dark eyes.
“Is the dog trained?” she asked me.
“Yes. Shall I have her work?”
“Yes, please.”
“Lulu,” I said, and she looked me in the eyes. “Watch,” I commanded her. She immediately started working.
“Those are ours swimming, and six others are in the perimeter,” the Tom Chambers clone said, nodding to the pool I just passed but could no longer see.
“Good,” I said, impressed with security.
“Let’s sit,” the woman suggested.
“We need to discuss your recent successes and make future plans. Are you ready for the next phase?” Tom Chambers asked.
I was stunned. “Yeah…is it time?”
“It is. Details are in the pack,” he said, while the woman handed me her backpack.
I opened the pack and found, among other things, a plastic bag with a passport and driver’s license inside. I opened it. It was my picture, but a new name and other identifying information replaced mine. I looked at a paper, which showed that I’d be flying to Washington D.C. within a week.
“Okay,” I said resolutely, meeting their eyes in agreement.
“Meeting details are in there, too. The flight’s booked for you,” she added.
The Tom Chambers clone moved closer to me, gently put his hand on my shoulder, and whispered in my ear, “Make sure you say your goodbyes.” Then he looked into my eyes as the impact of his words reached my emotions.
“Okay, then.” I eked out the words, looking to him and then to her.
Suddenly she reached out and hugged me, hard and tight, and whispered in my ear, “Remember, it’s for our freedom.” Then she released me and moved back. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It was an emotional reminder of why we all risked so much.
“Lulu,” I called loudly, still entranced through her eyes.
When Lulu returned, I swung the new backpack on my back, and we left. As I descended the boulders, the swimming couple remained active in the pool, clandestine watchdogs for our noble cause.
Chapter 10
BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON
The Year 2015
I pulled away from the park, heading home.
On the hike out, I had thought about what my GOG contacts had told me. Armond and I knew that being involved with GOG meant that at some point we would be asked to cross a line that we could not return from. We had agreed that we believed in the cause enough to cross over that line. GOG also knew of our commitment; they said it was time. I had long ago formulated my plan for this day.
“Dial Vicki,” I instructed the BYD.
“Dialing,” the car confirmed.
“Hello…AlterHydro…may I help you?” Vicki answered.
“Hi, Vicki. It’s Ann.”
“Yes, Ann?”
“I’m not feeling quite well, and I’m heading home. I won’t be in tomorrow or Friday either.”
“I understand. I know you were close to Raymond,” Vicki said.
I was shocked by her compassion and knowledge that Raymond and I were friends. What is she, psychic?
“Thank you, Vicki.”
“Goodbye,” she said abruptly, and then I heard the click of her ending the call.
Guess her compassion only lasts a second or two.
I pulled into my garage and waited for the door to close before exiting the car. Lulu and I then entered the house through the side door. Once in the house, I set the backpack and my bag on the kitchen counter.
“Sinéad, book me a flight from Bellingham to Salt Lake City on the first flight tonight, flying back tomorrow, departing no earlier than three o’clock PM.”
“Coach or First Class, Ann?” Sinéad asked.
“Coach if it’s available, and if not, book me in First Class.”
“Coach is available both directions, but I cannot get your preferred seating for all flights.”
“That’s okay, Sinéad; just book the flights.”
There was a pause. “They are booked, and you have a reserved seat on all flights. The itinerary is now on your phone. Your flight departs Bellingham airport in one hour and fifteen minutes and arrives in Salt Lake at eight-fifty-seven tonight.”
“Thanks Sinéad. Dial Elinor from the home phone and send it to my cell.”
I picked up the phone just before Elinor answered. “Hey sweetie,” I said, greeting my daughter.
“Oh, hi mom. What good timing, I was gonna call you.”
“How would you like to talk in person later tonight?”
“Really? You’re coming here?”
“Yeah, just a little stopover. Wanna pick me up at the Salt Lake airport at nine tonight?”
“Of course. Eliott and I will be there. Just call me on my cell when you land, and we’ll tell you where we are in the airport.”
“That sounds good. I’ll talk to you then. I love you, Elinor.”
“I love you too, mom.”
“I’ve gotta get packed. Sinéad, dial Aunt Saundra from the home phone and send it to my cell.”
“It’s ringing, Ann.”
“Hello?”
“Hi, Aunt Saundra.”
“Oh dear, it’s so good to hear from you.”
“Aunt Saundra, I need a little favor.”
“Of course, Ann. What do you need?”
“I’ve got to pop on a flight in the next hour. I’ll be back tomorrow night. Can Lulu stay with you?”
“Of course, my dear, anytime. You know I just love her.”
“Okay, I’m gonna be tight to catch the flight in time, so I’ll just swing by on my way to the airport and run her up to the front door. Is that okay?”
“Of course, dear. You just make sure you catch your flight. Don’t worry about bringing anything for her; you know I have everything here.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you in about fifteen minutes.”
“See you then, dear.”
After hanging up, I grabbed a change of clothes, pajamas, and toiletries, then stuffed them in my overnight bag. I quickly looked through my purse to make sure I didn’t have anything that wouldn’t pass security. That’s when I noticed the GOG backpack sitting on my bed.
I really should put it in the ground safe under the house.
After calculating how much time it would take me to put it there, I contemplated whether I could store it in the bedroom wall safe for now.
If anyone gets hold of it, I’ll go to jail, and they’ll throw away the key. It’s gotta go in the ground safe.
Opening the drawer next to my bed, I pulled out a flashlight. I grabbed the backpack off the bed and then a towel from the bathroom, and I placed all three items on the floor of the bedroom closet, to the side of the access hole. Lightning fast, I stripped off my outer clothes to keep them clean, peeled away the
carpet, and then pulled up the flooring, exposing the earth under the house. Shining my flashlight into the hole and towards the location where I buried my safe in the ground, I hopped down into the hole. I then reached up to retrieve the small backpack.
After finding the X on the ceiling, I pulled up the plastic and cover over the area to reveal the safe. I quickly got into the safe and inserted the backpack. After closing the safe, I recovered it. When I reached the access hole into my bedroom closet, I shined the flashlight back to the safe area to ensure everything looked as it should. It’s disguised well enough, I thought. After spreading the clean towel over the carpet next to the access hole, I jumped up through the hole, landing on the towel. After cleaning off the dirt from my feet, I dumped the towel in the dirty clothes hamper. I headed into the bathroom, washed my feet in the shower, dried them with a clean towel, got dressed in my flying clothes, and closed up the access hole.
The safe project took fifteen minutes, and it would be tight to make my flight. I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my overnight bag and purse, and threw in my Kindle Elements while calling Lulu. I quickly grabbed her beloved Kong ball, unsure whether Aunt Saundra had one.
“Come on, girl,” I called in an excited voice. Lulu’s bottom wagged.
Chapter 11
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
The Year 2015
I was the last passenger on the flight out of Bellingham, nearly missing it. The whole flight, I considered what I would say to Elinor and Eliott. We needed to meet somewhere with electronic privacy. The only choice I could come up with was to speak with them at the recording studio on campus; maybe I could rent the studio for an hour. Modern sound studios were designed to block incoming electronic noise, and since the University had just built theirs the year before, I could assume it had the latest technology.
My flight arrived just after nine. When I called Elinor, she told me where to meet them. I waited at the pickup zone, and Eliott drove up shortly after I got there.
Elinor came barreling out of the car. “Hi mom!” she exclaimed while we reached to each other for a hug.
“I missed you, my darling,” I spoke to her while we hugged tightly.
“Oh mom, I missed you too,” she gushed.
Eliott put my things in the car, and I released Elinor so that I could hug him too.
“I see you’re taking good care of our girl,” I said to him with a big hug.
“Of course. It’s good to see you, Ann,” he said, then flashed me that gorgeous smile. “Everyone ready?” Eliott asked.
“Yeah,” both Elinor and I said in unison, then looked at each other and chuckled.
Elinor got in the front alongside Eliott, and I took the backseat.
“I didn’t book a hotel—I was in too much of a rush—but I can find something quickly,” I said, starting a search with my phone.
“No mom…we’ve got room for you,” Elinor said, looking over the seat at me.
“I’m not sleeping on the floor in your dorm room, Elinor,” I replied sternly, looking down at my phone. “I did that once when you were a lonely freshman, remember?”
She laughed while leaning over the seat to look back at me. “It’s better than that, and you’ll even have your own bathroom.”
Engrossed in my hotel search, I replied, “Come on now, spill it. Where is it? I really don’t mind getting a hotel room…”
“Mom, will you trust me?” Elinor said, interrupting me.
I put down my phone and finally looked up at her. “You know I trust you.”
“Okay then, let’s enjoy the ride back to Provo, and you’ll see when we get there.”
“Aren’t you full of mysteries this evening?” I said to her, then paused. She didn’t respond, only grinned.
I loved seeing her so happy.
“So tell me how school is going for the both of you and what you’ve been up to lately.”
During the forty-minute drive, they updated me in detail about academics, but not much more than that. It was clear they were still madly in love. Then Eliott took the exit from the interstate, and the road started to turn residential. About ten minutes later, we pulled up to a house.
“Who lives here, and are they going to mind me staying with them tonight?” I said to both of them with my eyebrows raised.
“They’re not gonna mind, mom,” Elinor replied confidently.
We got out of the car, and Eliott brought my bag up to the door. He then pulled out keys to unlock the door to the dark house.
“Whoever they are…are they out of town?” I asked.
“Just come in the living room, mom.”
We all sat down in the living room, while Eliott flipped on lights. Eliott and Elinor sat next to one another, facing me and holding hands.
“You two are starting to make me nervous. What’s going on?”
“Just tell her,” Eliott said softly to Elinor while looking at her.
“Okay.” Elinor looked from Eliott to me. “Mom, we eloped.”
“What?” I said sharply, jumping off the couch spontaneously.
They both stood in reflex.
“Settle down, mom. I know I promised to wait, but we just couldn’t,” she said, stepping to me and taking my hands in hers.
“I just couldn’t,” she said softly to me. “I didn’t want to spend another minute without him,” she said passionately, looking into my eyes.
“Okay, okay,” I said compassionately, pulling her to me in an embrace.
I could feel her tears on my shoulder. I pulled her away to look in her face. “Tears of joy?” I asked her.
“Yes, mom. Of course. I had hoped you would understand, and you do.”
“Well, don’t forget, I couldn’t wait either, with your dad,” I said, smiling.
“Welcome to the family, Eliott,” I said, opening my arms to him for another hug.
“Ann, thank you for being so gracious.”
I winked at Eliott. “Okay then, will someone finally tell me whose house I’m staying in?” I asked playfully.
“Ours,” they said in unison.
“Yours? Did someone hit the lottery?”
Eliott replied. “It was a gift…from my family…”
“Huh?” I said, dumbfounded.
“The reason we’ve been out of contact the past two weeks is because we flew to Brittany and eloped…”
“And your parents bought you this house as a wedding present?”
“Oui, the whole family did. They handed us the deed right there. They bought it online after watching a virtual tour.”
I laughed out loud. “I have always loved the French,” I exclaimed with joy.
“Me too,” said Elinor excitedly.
We all laughed together.
“So give me a tour while you tell me about it,” I said, looking at them both arm in arm and full of joyful spirit.
“Okay then,” Elinor agreed.
After the tour of the 2,500 square foot Tudor-style house and the elopement summary, we ended up in the kitchen, eating a snack.
“So why are you here, mom?” Elinor said curiously.
“I need to talk to you both about something in private.”
“We are private; we’re in our own house,” she said giggling.
“More private than this.”
A look passed between them both.
“Trust us, mom, this is pretty private.”
“Do you have a note pad and a pen?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Eliott said, reaching into a drawer on the outside of the island, curiosity lined into his face.
I wrote on the pad:
Ever heard of electronic peekers?
“Yeah mom…”
I put my finger to my lips to shush her and pointed to the paper instead. Eliott took the pad from me and wrote:
When we got back from France, we had the entire house shielded; it’s now safe.
“You’re kidding,” I exclaimed.
“No, we’re not,” Eliott said.
“I think I’m in shock…”
“Mom, I’ve suspected for a very long time that our Bellingham house was shielded. Is that true?” Elinor asked.
I nodded my head in the affirmative.
“I knew it!” she shouted, like she had won something.
It made me laugh, relief pulling the tension out of my body, and I breathed out heavily.
“I told you,” Elinor said to Eliott, looking at him.
“You did my love, didn’t you,” Eliott said to her, then kissed her on the cheek.
“How did you know?” I asked Elinor.
“You and dad indoctrinated me into the rights of the people. Mom, I could recite the Bill of Rights when I was in Elementary School. How many other kids could do that?”
“Well…”
“None, mom. None,” she said, interrupting.
“Well…”
“Didn’t you think I would start to learn for myself what it all meant?”
“Well…”
“Mom—I learned—and then it all made sense,” she said, interrupting again.
“What did?” I asked.
“Everything you and dad were always passionate about. The cause. GOG.”
“GOG? You know about GOG?”
“We’re members, Ann…” Eliott said softly.
My eyes met his.
“It’s the freedom of the people that matters,” he firmly said, staring into my eyes.
“It is,” I agreed. “That’s why I came here, to talk with you both about freedom.”
“What do you mean?” Elinor asked.
“My role in the organization just changed. I’m moving into a new phase. They need my help, and it’s time. I can truly make a difference…”
“What do you mean a new phase?”
“You know about some of my extra-sensory skills, right Elinor?”
“Yeah. You sometimes have dreams and premonitions and things like that.”
“Yes, I do. But I’ve never told you how my paranormal skills were used by the CIA.”
“No,” Elinor said, shock registering in her face.
“Let me tell you, then you’ll understand more.”
For the next hour, I explained my role as a trained Remote Viewer for the CIA. I also explained my dream of Shanghai, the earthquake, my success in remote viewing the destruction of digital records in Canada, and my most recent time travel on Raymond’s behalf, changing history. Both of their faces registered shock, alternating with dazed looks. They asked questions, and I answered.