by Rita Moreau
He led them into the old building and onto an elevator. The elevator descended. Josie held onto Annie who gave her a knowing look. They didn’t have what he was looking for, and Josie hoped that would buy them enough time for MC’s spook friend to find them. She was now worried about John. They would go after him next. When the elevator opened, they followed Colonel Storm out who stepped aside so they could see where they were. They were in a huge cavern. Josie looked down a long walkway. Colonel Storm motioned them to follow. It looked like it went on for miles. She and Annie looked around as they followed Colonel Storms. It was like they were in a room from the future. A lot of people were working there, but not all of them looked like they were of this earth.
Chapter 26
Fish Camp, FL
I was sitting at the bar in the Hotel Florida with Ernie who was busy on the phone. When he got off his cell, he told her that Josie and Annie had disappeared without a trace.
“No way!”
“My men showed up, and they were gone. They went by her house and talked to a neighbor. The military has been camped out in the neighborhood. Your cousin must have thought it was the men I sent,” Ernie said. “Dang.”
“Do you think whoever showed up was from Wright-Patt?”
“Yes, I do. They got there before us and have probably been watching them for some time.”
I thought about this and wondered if John Long was followed.
“Well, we need to get to Dayton and find out what happened. Get your men. Call in the troops. Call Rodeo. You need to find John Long. They will go after him next.”
“Calm down MC. We can’t just run up there and walk around the base. We are talking about a secret group inside a secret and very large military installation, most of which is underground. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and we would stand out. My men are working on finding John Long. They are heading over to the TV station, but he hasn’t shown up for his program.”
“They may have gotten to him,” I said, and now a dark feeling came over me anxious that all three might never be found. I closed my eyes and called on my psychic genes.
After a few moments, I asked, “Can we fly up with Maggie and Max? Max can find them. Maggie said he can sense things way underground.”
Ernie looked like he was giving it some thought. “They both suffer with PTSD. Being on a military installation could trigger some unpleasant memories. Let me give it some thought.”
“I understand,” I said. I could see he was still thinking. I went with Plan B which popped into my head from the psychic side.
“What about Molly? I’ve done some digging and hit a brick wall and was giving it more thought before I contacted Maggie. I was going to call Boris as you suggested but ran into Rosie. She told me Molly is with Maggie’s ex-husband, the Army Ranger. She may have been adopted by a family of prominent cartel members. Narcos.”
“That’s an understatement, MC. They are a family of prominent cartel members, the top family.”
“You know where Molly is too?”
“I do now,” Ernie said.
“Does Maggie know?”
“She does now.” What is it with the spook code I thought while glaring at Ernie.
“Ernie, where is Molly? You called in some favors to find Molly for Maggie?”
“Molly is with Maggie’s ex-husband. They spoke recently. He needs her help with Molly. They both have different skills but unique. Molly is not happy sitting around. She misses the adrenaline. She likes to be out in the field,” Ernie said. “They are in Columbia, and he is working with a very dangerous man, as you have discovered. He told Maggie he was having a hard time handling her. I might work something out that will kill two birds with one stone,” Ernie said as he picked up his cell, walked to the other side of the bar and made a covert call. I watched until his call was over, and he walked back to me.
“Who did you talk to?”
“A contact of mine. A former president of Columbia will get a call from the CIA. He will talk to his brother, the cartel member, and arrange for Molly to get some needed exercise, out in the field.”
“That was quick,” I said.
“Just have to know who to talk to MC.”
“So where is Molly going to get that needed exercise?”
“How about Dayton,” Ernie said without blinking an eye. “Which leads me to ask you to talk to your former client, the one who used to work at Wright-Patt?”
“Gabby. Why?” Ernie was always one step ahead of the curve, and I was always running to keep up.
“Is she sharp?”
“Sharper than me sometimes.”
“Then she might help us. She would know her way around the base and the section she worked at during the 1950s. I think it’s where they have Josie and Annie. We’ll fly you up. Is your Aunt Sophia okay to be on her own for a few days?”
“Yes, she is fine. Aunt Anna and Limo Louie are there to take her to any doctor’s appointments.”
“Does Gabby like dogs?”
“Why?”
“I’d like Maggie to fly up with Max. You and Maggie and Max will stay with Gabby”.
“Where you are going with this.”
“While they are there Molly can get some exercise and Max can spend time with his sister Molly. Like I said it will be killing two birds with one stone before both of them come home to Fish Camp.”
“Both of them come home? Are you considering kidnapping Molly? His owner will not be happy. Molly is keeping an eye on his wild child from what Rosie told me.”
“The former president of Columbia will have a chat with his brother. I’m confident he will be on board to allow Molly to visit for a while. Molly needs a little exercise. It will do her good. Frank said she’s put on weight sitting around all day. The daughter feeds him her food so she won’t gain weight.”
“Frank? Maggie’s ex? You know him?”
“I do,” Ernie said.
I thought about this for a second. Ernie probably knew both Frank and Maggie when they were married. I decided to let Ernie and his CIA buddies take care of arranging for Molly to return along with Maggie’s ex.
“What are you going to do?” He obviously had a plan in the works.
“Find Josie and Annie, like I said it’s a large installation and very secretive. One of the most protected government installations in the country,” Ernie said. “That’s where Molly and Frank will come into play. He will look like another military handler on base with his war dog,” Ernie said.
“Oh, I see where you are going with all this now,” I said as the light bulb came on in my brain.
“Let Velma know you will be out of the office for a couple of days. You need to use that ability of yours to find THE chip. You may see it once we are in Dayton.”
“What are you going to do with THE chip? File it away next to the Ark of the Covenant?”
“I’ll find that out once we have it,” Ernie said.
“I see,” I said.
“Be careful, MC.”
“You too,” I said. But I knew the house on Xenia had our backs.
Chapter 27
Dayton, Ohio
We flew into the Wright Brothers airport in Springboro, Ohio. By flew, I mean by chopper.
“We’ll be in the shadows ma’am but never far behind,” the pilot told me when we landed. “Are you familiar with this airport?”
“No,” I said thinking I was in for a history lesson. Sister Matilda would like this good-looking guy in his covert uniform escorting me to a car that was waiting. The wind was swirling all around us from the huge blades of the black helicopter with no military insignia.
“On the grounds is a replica of the Wright Brothers Huffman Prairie hangar. It contains a museum and a replica of the Wright “B” Flyer.”
“Interesting,” I said, and then he and his men were gone, in the shadows.
Gabby was waiting for me in the car. Another good-looking young man was driving.
“Thi
s is Tony my youngest grandson.”
“Nice to meet you, Tony. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you ma’am. I feel like I already know you.”
“Tony is home on leave. He is in the Coast Guard.”
“Goodness, who escorted you?” Tony asked.
“A friend who has connections,” I said.
“I recognize the bird,” Tony said. “I suspect he has connections and then some.”
“Does your friend with connections have any ideas where Josie and Annie are?” Gabby now asked. “A friend of his by the name of Maggie and her service dog Max are back at my place. I like her and Max.”
I had given Gabby the trailer version of the movie when I called to say I was flying up. She had already talked to Toolou, and the family was beyond worried. All the special card tables and all the special cards were busy. I must have Aunt Sophia call them again and keep them calm. I heard from Aunt Anna that Sister Matilda and Sister Hildegard had the entire convent of nuns on prayer watch. They were chanting the prayer to Saint Anthony and novenas not to mention lighting candles. Well, we could use all the help we could get, on earth and beyond.
“He is working on it. He thinks they are on the base and may talk to you since you worked there back in the day. Do you remember anything about where you and Josie’s mother worked on the base?”
“Hmm,” Gabby said. “I might. A lot was underground, and we were never permitted in that area. But we heard all about it. I’ll look at some stuff I have back at my place. I’ve kept it for a long time. I don’t know why. I could never throw it away.”
“Can we drive by the house?” I said. “I need to talk to the house.”
“Good luck with that. As you know, it’s not the best neighborhood, and it will be getting dark soon.” Gabby gave Tony directions. They took 35 over to east Dayton and drove in the house's direction. MC saw the two massive clock towers of St. Mary’s.
“Hard to believe we were just here for Alexi’s funeral,” Gabby said. They stopped in front of the church for a light.
“This church is a landmark because of those twin towers,” Tony said as they waited for the light to change. “During the second world war army aviators used it as a waypoint when navigating the runways at what is now Wright-Patt,” he said and started driving when the light changed.
“This used to be a great middle-class neighborhood. It was populated by a large German population,” Gabby said as we continued the drive past dark and abandoned houses. It was like a ghost town. Not a soul to be seen.
“Here we are,” Gabby said as Tony stopped in front of the house on Xenia. The darkness seemed to drape the house with another layer of sadness.
“I’m back old house. I don’t have Annie, but we need your help. She and Josie are in trouble, and we need your help to find them,” I said.
I looked at the house, and I knew the days for this old house were almost gone.
“I need to get in there.”
“Now?” Gabby asked.
“As good as time as any.”
“I think we are being followed,” Tony said.
“Don’t worry. It’s the pilot and his men.”
“Can you drive around back and park in the alley?” Tony nodded and drove around the block and up the alley and parked behind the house. We could see the old farmhouse or what was left of it where the body had been found.
“I’m going with you,” Tony said.
“No, stay here with Gabby.”
“I’ll be in and out,” I said.
Chapter 28
Dayton, Ohio
I made my way through the backyard. An old cement path led from the burnt-out farmhouse to Xenia. I had a flashlight with me and turned it on. I felt as if the house was leading me. I jiggled the knob on the back door, and it opened. I entered and climbed up a few steps to what at one time had been the kitchen. The floor was solid wood, and although the inside was strewn with debris, I felt safe. I walked through the kitchen to what was the dining room. An old table sat in the middle. I saw a flight of stairs that went to the second level. I went through the dining room to the living room and could see the fireplace as I looked out the front window at the dark street.
“Old house, I am here, and we need your help to find Josie and Annie,” I said. “I know you are here and you will protect them to the end.”
It was then that the house spoke to me.
I looked down and, in the dust; I thought I saw a letter B.
“B,” I said out of that part of my brain that now was communicating with this old house.
“Okay. I see a letter B. You are telling me something.” I felt like I was with an old woman on her deathbed and I was holding her hand. It was cold but still strong.
“Yes,” I heard Xenia say as the cold air blew in through the broken windows.
I then saw a large mouse scurry across the room. It stopped at the dust on the floor. I now saw the letter B and the number 23.
“Thank you YaYa. I’m out of here, but I’ll be back.”
I left the house and the ghosts. I knew she would not breathe her last breath until she spoke to Annie. She was holding on. What in the world was that message?
Chapter 29
Dayton, Ohio
“Did Xenia talk to you?” Gabby asked.
“Yes. In the dust, I saw the letter B and the number 23. Do you have any idea what that might mean?
“I think I do. I have some old maps of the base. They helped me to find my way around. I’m guessing the B is for Area B. I think one of those old maps will tell us what the number 23 stands for and where it might be on the base. Let’s head back to the condo, Tony,” Gabby said. We drove back down Xenia, past the old houses and past St. Mary’s.
“Our friends are still with us,” Tony said.
“We’ll invite them up for a beer,” I said. “You’ll like them.”
“Cool.”
I got out the burner Ernie had given me that would only call one number, Ernie.
“I just came from the house. I saw something. The house gave me a message. In the dust, on the floor of the house, I saw the letter B and then the number 23. That must be a clue as to where they are. We are heading back to Gabby’s. She may have some old maps of the base. She thinks that it might tell us what 23 stands for and she said the B represents Area B,” I said.
Ernie was quiet. He did not question my psychic ability. He’d seen me in action.
“Area B,” Ernie said. “It’s a part of Wright-Patt. Those maps of Gabby’s will help. Get back there as soon as you can and let me know what you find out. TRANSPORT is flying Maggie’s ex and Molly, and they should be here before long,” Ernie said. “We will have to get Molly and Frank on base.”
“Should be simple enough to do for you and your connections.”
“That part yes but Maggie and Frank are going to have to work this one together. They used to be a team.”
“Oh,” I said.
“Once we find them, we need to get the colonel to bring them out. We sure could use that chip and whatever is on it as a bargaining tool. We are still looking for John Long. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“You know where I’ll be.”
“Sure. I work for the government, remember.”
We were back at Gabby’s waiting for Ernie and his entourage when a good-looking fellow came to the door and asked for Maggie. He had another dog with him. I knew this was Frank and the dog was Molly. Maggie had been taking a nap. We watched as she came to the door and reached down and gave Molly a hug who obviously was delighted to see her because she returned the hug with doggie kisses. She quickly retrieved Max. We all watched the reunion of Max and Molly. After the siblings greeted each other, Maggie turned to us. “We’re going now,” and out the door they went.
“Well, Max was happy to see Molly,” Gabby said. “You know Tony has a crush on Annie,” Gabby said in a whisper while Tony was busy on his laptop.
“T
hey’ve met?”
Gabby nodded, “He’s a few years older, but he has known her since she was a little toddler. If you haven’t noticed, she has grown into a beautiful young woman.”
Just then, we heard a knock on Gabby’s front door. Tony answered it and then stepped aside as Ernie and his men entered.
“How did you get here so quickly?” I asked, but the look he gave me told me I was wasting my breath. I assumed he also knew Maggie and Frank had just left with Max and Molly.
“Ernie, this is Tony, Gabby’s grandson. He is in the Coast Guard.”
“I’d like to help sir.”
What is your position soldier?
“I fly. Mostly choppers.”
“Good.”
“Gabby, have you found anything?”
“Oh goodness, give me a minute.” Gabby came back after a few minutes with an old cardboard box and pulled out a map of the base.
“Yep, 23 is actually a building, right next to a hangar. It’s the real Area 51,” Gabby said and handed the map to Ernie. “But I guess you already know that.”
Ernie gave Gabby an uncharacteristic smile and then looked at the map and gave it back to Gabby.
“MC, I want you to call Josie’s cell and leave a message saying that you have the chip. It will stir the pot.”
“Okay but I don’t have the chip.”
“Irrelevant,” Ernie said.
I called her number and left the message as directed by Ernie, and within minutes I had a call back. Ernie prompted me to answer.
“Just see what they have to say. Don’t commit to anything.”
I answered and heard a voice on the other end.
“This is Colonel Storm. Mary Catherine Mahoney, I understand you have in your possession something that belongs to the US government. You need to return it to me to avoid charges that will land you in a dark cell for a long time along with your cousin and her granddaughter. Return it, and they will be released, and that will be the end of it.”
“I need to see that they are both okay and how did you know my name?”
“They are fine and are being treated very well. I know a lot about you, Ms. Mahoney. Say hello to your friend Josie.”