by Vella Day
“Thank you,” they all said in unison.
Four of the kids drifted off to the next camper, but the littlest one held out a piece of paper. Paul was uncertain what it was, so he took it. “Thank you.” The child ran off into the darkness.
He went inside, placed the empty bowl on the counter, grabbed a beer, and returned to his computer. After taking care of business, he decided to check what the kid had handed him. It was probably a flyer or a hand-drawn picture.
He opened the paper and froze.
Chapter Sixteen
Kane headed back to the Senator’s with a sack of food and a bag of clean clothes. During the ride, he couldn’t stop thinking about how he’d obviously upset Sky when he stopped kissing her, but he believed she’d regret her actions in the morning. Hurting someone pained him immeasurably, but it had to be done—for her sake.
Stentfield had called him when he was buying the food, and they’d talked for maybe two minutes when the General said he had to go. During that short conversation, Stentfield had relayed some pertinent information, or rather confirmed what Sky had found out. There was a secret base, Blackthorn, which operated under the perfume factory. The General heard rumors the Base performed experiments ranging from mind control to genetic engineering, just like the whistleblower had claimed. If the whistleblower was right about the Base and the mind control, was it possible there were aliens there too? He doubted it, but stranger things had happened.
Kane was within a mile of the RV Park when the Senator called. Kane hadn’t been gone that long. “Yes, Senator?”
“You need to get back here now.” The panic in his voice put Kane on high alert.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just get here.”
“My ETA is three minutes.” Kane floored his vehicle and a few minutes later swerved into the park.
As he passed the fire pit, memories rushed in, and his cheek tingled where Sky had licked him.
Focus. He couldn’t get sidelined until the mission was over. Dust billowed behind him as he slammed on his brakes, turned off the car, jumped out, and rushed up to the Senator’s door where he knocked.
Paul opened up. “Kane, thank God you’re here.”
“Are you okay?” He scanned Paul’s body, but found nothing wrong, other than he looked pale.
“Not really. One of the trick-or-treaters gave this to me. Look at it.” He handed Kane a piece of paper.
Kane stepped over to the window for better lighting. “VOTE FOR THE MILITARY BASE APPROPRIATION OR YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE,” Kane read. “Jesus. Did you get a good look at the kid who gave you the note?”
“No. Ironically, he wore a devil’s costume.”
At least they’d learned humans were behind all this mess, but using an innocent kid was sick. While he had no solid facts, he guessed the same people who ran Sky off the road had written the note to the Senator. They must be getting close to uncovering some dirty secret if someone was willing to kill to keep the information hidden.
“The message on Sky’s bathroom mirror was also in all caps and had similar strokes.” The cross line that makes the letter F wasn’t touching the vertical stroke, just like in her note.
“I was hoping you’d say this was a hoax.”
The Senator couldn’t believe that, not with all that had happened. “Did you call home and warn your wife?”
“I did. I also called Tony, my assistant, and he’s arranging for someone to keep watch over her.”
“Good.”
The Senator stood. “I need to go home.”
Kane hadn’t thought the Senator would return so soon. “You’re not going to pursue the kidnapping or the note?”
“No. If I say the government implanted something in my leg that was made from an alien material, I’ll look like a fool. I’m not sure what will happen next if I stay here.”
“For your safety, it’s probably a wise choice to leave.” Kane paced the cramped room. “Is anyone bucking for your position on the Armed Services Committee?”
He shook his head. “Not that I know of, but who’s to say there isn’t some junior senator who’s after my job?”
“True.”
The Senator took in a big breath and exhaled. “And what about you? Are you staying to continue the investigation?”
No one would be picking up his tab if he remained, but he couldn’t leave without making sure Sky was safe. “For the time being, I’ll stay. If you head back, that will either take the focus off Sky or intensify it.”
Paul polished off the rest of his beer. “Warn her that snooping could get her killed. Clearly, the government takes their secret projects seriously, and messing with them isn’t worth it.”
“Getting Sky Nash to back off is like asking the defending Super Bowl champs to throw the final game.”
Paul tapped the paper. “Show her the note. Maybe she’ll realize how serious they are.” The Senator stood up. “I need another beer. You?”
“Hell, yeah.” With the day he’d had, he deserved a few.
Kane served the meal, and by the time he and the Senator finished discussing who might be responsible for everything going on, it was past midnight.
Kane wanted to touch base with Sky, but it was late. He’d called her earlier, but her cell had gone to voicemail. Why wasn’t she answering? Most likely, she was pissed at him. Perhaps it was for the best.
Kane had a hard time falling asleep, as part of him needed to stay alert in case the note writer intended to come after the Senator personally and partly because he worried about Sky.
Fortunately, his evening turned out uneventful, and by seven in the next morning, the Senator was ready to head back to Phoenix, promising to keep in touch. Both hoped the person who’d temporarily kidnapped the Senator would make himself known in Washington, allowing Sky to return to her safe little life, and Kane could go home.
He expected relief to loosen his muscles, knowing this case was nearing the end, but instead, a sense of melancholia descended. The spunky woman had gotten under his skin, though he couldn’t decide when that had happened. It might have been the illicit kiss that sent him over the edge, or the way she seemed to come alive when thrown a challenge. Like a good soldier, she’d embraced their mission antics as much as he had.
Her sole purpose in life appeared to be helping others, like taking candy to the orphans or making sure her invalid friend, Earl, had whatever he needed. And the interplay between her and Harriet—like the love between a mother and daughter—warmed his heart. He envied her for the close connection. Since his wife died, he’d withdrawn and made work his focus in life. Now, he realized how much he’d been missing.
Even though Sky had shown interest in him by the fire, he obviously wasn’t the right man for her. She loved Chris, and it hadn’t helped that he’d acted like an idiot when he’d taken her straight inside after their s’mores date. Dammit, though, she never should have kissed him, and he never should have kissed her back, but when her tongue touched his face, all sense of propriety flew out the door. He had no one to blame but himself, since he’d seen how the first glass of wine made her giddy. He should have insisted she stop, but they were having more fun than he’d had in a long time.
If Kane had learned one thing in life, it was that starting a relationship with sex was risky. Until she told him she and Chris were no longer an item, he’d keep his hands off her.
It was still early when Kane stopped for breakfast. The closest food place was EBE’s since Rosalie didn’t serve breakfast until nine, claiming civilized people shouldn’t rise until then.
At the restaurant, he ordered two double-sun omelets and a Martian Minimal coffee. Surprisingly, they called bagels and cream cheese just bagels and cream cheese, instead of something like the Double Rings of Saturn. Cathy waited on him, but he must have looked fiercer this morning than when they’d first met, because she didn’t even flirt with him this time, not that he cared. Maybe it was because he hadn’t shaved and had slept in
his clothes.
After he ate, he walked to the police station where the inside smelled good. He walked up to Harriet and looked down at the cinnamon rolls. “What do you got there?”
She held up the plate. “I was hoping someone would appreciate my baking skills.”
He picked one up and bit into it. “Mmm. My mom couldn’t have made this better, and she’s a great cook.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I’m looking for Sky.”
She gave him an exaggerated frown. “And here I thought you wanted to court me.”
He laughed. “Harriet Brown, you are a fine woman. If I were a little older, you’d be my first choice.” He could have sworn she blushed. “Now about Sky.”
“She hasn’t come in yet. She usually doesn’t roll in until ten-ish.”
“I wanted to check the station first before heading out to her place.”
“Want to take her a roll?” Harriet held out the plate. “I swear she never eats.”
“I’ll take two. One for her and one more for me.” Harriet smiled.
In a better mood than when he’d woken up, Kane drove to Sky’s, keeping an eye out for her VW. To his dismay, he never passed her on the road.
Her house was about seven miles away from town, east of Savory on 98. Once he arrived at Ransom Road, he took a right and drove for another two miles, passing about five streets, each of which contained no more than four or five homes on the block. He made a left on a small dirt road called Ivory Creek. He couldn’t see any creek, but maybe years ago there’d been one. About six houses sat nestled together. While quaint, they weren’t very well protected from intruders. What he didn’t like about her place was its isolated location.
Her car wasn’t in the drive, which he found odd. He would have noticed if he’d passed her driving into town. Bright orange VWs were hard to miss. Just in case she’d wrecked her car or had loaned the VW to someone, he knocked on her door. No lights were on, but then again, she could still be asleep. After a few tries to rouse her, he walked around to the back and peered in the window hoping to see some signs of her. Her bed was unmade and the door leading into the bathroom was open and dark, convincing him to conclude she wasn’t home. He tested the back door but found it locked. At least she was being smart after the break in.
Back in the car, he ate both of the cinnamon rolls. Other than the s’mores he’d had with Sky, he couldn’t remember anything tasting better. He pulled out his phone and called Sky again, but it went straight to voicemail. Damn. “Sky, it’s Kane. Please call me. I have news from the General.” That should intrigue her, even if she was pissed at the way things had ended between them.
Next, he called Dr. Williams. It was possible the doctor had asked her to consult with him up in Page, but the receptionist said neither Sky nor the doctor were in the office but promised to track down Williams and have him call Kane back. That call came less than five minutes later. Williams said he hadn’t heard from her, but that he’d tell her Kane had called should she contact him.
Another dead end.
He snapped his fingers and dialed the office.
“Savory, PD, how can I help you?”
“Harriet, it’s Kane. Sky’s not home, but I’m thinking she might be with her friend, Earl.”
“Why would she do that? She’s supposed to be at work.”
No way would he tell her there was an underground military base right outside of Savory and that Sky most likely wanted information on it from her alien expert friend. “You have that number?” His leg bounced up and down.
“Sure. It’s 928-555-2948.”
“Thanks.” He disconnected before she could ask any more questions.
Earl answered on the second ring, and Kane introduced himself then asked about Sky.
“She was here last night, all right. I’ve been telling her all along about how the government don’t like people to know what they’re up to. That’s a fact.”
“Did she seem agitated?”
“Some. She hates people lying to her.”
At least he hadn’t lied. “Don’t tell me she wanted to do more investigating of the base after she was run off the road.”
Earl sucked in an audible breath. “I’m afraid so, and no matter what I said, I couldn’t talk her out of it. Said she wanted to ask some questions but promised not to go inside.”
Damn her. “I appreciate the intel. Let me know if she contacts you again. I need to speak with her.”
“You betcha.”
Damn Sky. The strong-willed woman would get herself killed for real this time. He’d expected her to have a bit more sense.
With the obvious options exhausted, Kane took off for the factory, hoping the three Hummers were nowhere in sight. While he carried a concealed weapon, he couldn’t go against an AK-47 and win. Less than twenty minutes later, he pulled into the nearly empty parking lot. When he spotted her orange VW parked on the far end of the lot, his heart hitched, not sure whether to be happy or royally pissed.
Inside, the same, tall brunette met him, and he asked about Sky.
“No, sir, I haven’t seen that lady cop.”
He didn’t believe her. “Her car’s in the lot.”
“Maybe she’s on a tour.”
Not likely, but he’d check it out. “May I speak with Mr. LeFloch?”
She didn’t blink. “He’s not here.”
Obviously, she wasn’t going to provide him with any information. He’d have to investigate on his own and hoped no one would interfere with his snooping. He figured any kind of scandal in broad daylight would not be good for their secret project.
Before he left, he found the tour, but Sky wasn’t part of it. Now he was pissed. Thinking cameras were watching his every move, Kane walked out, forcing his feet to keep a steady pace.
He pulled out of the drive and headed south, driving slightly under the speed limit so as not to attract attention. Yesterday, he’d parked at a desolate area that contained a few trees and hiked back to the factory, doing reconnaissance of the layout. He returned there now. About four hundred feet behind the factory was a ravine, half the width of the Grand Canyon and nearly as deep. The Colorado River had carved the canyon as it wove its way past the factory, emptying up north.
There was probably a tunnel from the river into the military base for the workers to get in and out of unnoticed, though from where he’d stood yesterday, atop the ridge, he hadn’t seen anything to prove his theory.
If he had a small boat, he could have confirmed or denied his suspicion by traveling up the river. Without the craft, however, he’d have to rely on his trusty binoculars to figure out how the workers entered and exited.
He stuffed two power bars, a flashlight, emergency blanket, two water bottles, a hand line, and his phone into a backpack and strapped it on, all the while praying he could find Sky before anything happened to her.
From his vantage point, he spotted a small ledge about five feet wide and fifteen feet long, approximately four feet below ground level jutting out of the side of the ravine. Within two minutes, he reached it, hopefully without being detected.
He eased down to the ledge and then rested the binoculars at ground level. Either no one was aware he was there, or they didn’t want to make a scene. He found it odd that he neither saw nor heard any movement from the hundreds of personnel that might be below him. At least Sky’s car remained clearly visible, though he wished she’d leave. It would make him feel a lot better.
After three hours of surveillance, and two power bars later, he needed to take a leak. Stakeouts sucked from that standpoint. Since the area had no trees or any other natural barricades, he decided he’d be unseen if he peed over the ledge, watering the craggy red rocks below.
Once he finished, he popped his head up over the rim to return to his stakeout position, only to find a man in fatigues standing over him, rifle in hand, and aimed right at him. Oh, shit.
Chapter Seventeen
Kane held
up his hands in surrender. “Mind if I get up on level ground?” The army man wouldn’t shoot him, at least not in broad daylight. Kane’s only apparent offense had been to take a leak over the rim of a canyon.
The soldier motioned with his gun for Kane to proceed carefully. So as not to show he was a threat, Kane pulled himself halfway up, then let go, purposefully landing on his butt. A thin layer of dust rained down on him, and he moaned for effect. The sun slipped out from behind a cloud and speared him in the eye, and he squinted for effect.
The man stiffened, and Kane gave him a good-ole-boy laugh. “Not to worry.” Kane rose slowly, dusted himself off, and tried again. This time he made it to the top, forcing air in and out of his lungs.
The soldier towered over him. “What the hell were you doing down there?”
Kane sat up with planned deliberation and placed a hand on his chest. He deserved a medal for his acting skills. “I wanted to get a little closer to the Colorado River, but I found out I couldn’t get down there from here. Does this go to the Grand Canyon?” He waved a hand. Clearly, the guard wasn’t buying his story. “Okay, I had to take a leak and was too lazy to go inside the factory.”
A small smile crossed the soldier’s face. “Done that before.” The soldier’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “You’re crazy, you know. If you’d fallen, you’d be dead.”
Or perhaps, if he’d gone down a little farther, he’d have found an entrance to the underground military base. “Yeah, I know that now.” Kane eased to his feet and sneezed. “The dust around here will kill me faster than any fall.” He cleared his throat. “Can I take a picture of you? My wife won’t believe I was held at gunpoint by a real military man.” He added a little southern twang to throw the guy off.
He could have sworn the man’s chest stuck out another inch. “It’s against regulations.”
Clearly, the man was taking his orders from the military and not from some perfume factory owner.