Kaden put his head over the side of his bunk to look down at Ash.
“You said you had a younger brother, is he here too?”
“Jason? No he’s back home still on the streets, probably. I hope he’s okay. Have any of you come across a young guy, would be fourteen by now, goes by the name of Jasper?”
Kaden nearly fell out of his bed.
“He’s the one who found me when I got mugged and brought me to the shelter. I was in a bad way,” he glared at Tuck as he said this.
Ash shot out of bed, stood in front of Kaden and just as the lights went out, grabbed him by the shoulders.
“Tell me everything you know about him, his health, where he stays. Is he taking care of himself?”
Tuck and Kaden assured him that Jasper was well able to look after himself and he shouldn’t worry about him.
“Ash, where you in the Soup n Sleep shelter when you were taken?” Tuck asked.
“Me and all the other guys here. I was one of the first to disappear from that place. That was about two years ago. There were a few already here when I arrived but they were worn out. They told me they were just taken off the streets, usually while sleeping. That was before the shelter opened. Anyone notice how healthy you become on the food dished out by the Soup n Sleep?” asked Ash.
“So they nourish you and get you fit, then pick the strongest to come here and work as slaves” said Kaden, “Surely they can’t keep that a secret for long, it’s illegal.”
“Who is going to bother about a bunch of street kids going missing?” Ash said, yawning.
“I’m not homeless. I was taken by mistake.” Kaden filled him in on his background.
“Whatever you do, don’t let them know who you are, they’ll kill you for sure,” Ash said and yawned again. “We had all better get to sleep now, or we’ll pay for it in the morning. Anyway, I’m beat. We can talk some more tomorrow.”
Ash climbed wearily back into his bed.
Kaden couldn’t sleep, he was thinking about his family and knew they would be searching for him. His father was connected to the shelter, but he couldn’t possibly know what was going on there. He would never have condoned anything like that. Kaden thought about the Brubakers and how they must have been involved as it was their charity. They set it up in the first place. Amelia was always over at their house. If they knew he had been abducted Kaden felt sure they would try to get him back. Jake Matthews would definitely try to find him, he was like family to Kaden. These thoughts made the young man feel much more positive, allowing him to drift into a deep sleep.
******
Alarms ringing woke the boys up and there was a mad scramble for the bathroom. The only two to take their time was Harley and Ash. In fact, they went straight to the dining table as soon as the door to their room was unlocked and swung open, the smell of a cooked breakfast wafting in.
Once they had eaten and put on their warm clothes and boots, the boys were marched outside, accompanied by four armed guards. The air was freezing. In the darkness, light from the stars reflected off the surrounding ice covered hills. The crunch of their boots breaking the silence, it didn’t seem to take too long until they reached the mine shaft. The entrance was protected by huge, electronic doors.
Going down was scary for the new arrivals. The lifts, there were two of them, held ten at a time. There were thirty four boys, plus the guards, two of which went with the first lot and the second pair with the last group. The air got warmer as they got lower. When they reached the bottom, everyone took their outer padded gear off and hung it near the lifts.
The boys were cold at first, just wearing thermals, but as they worked their bodies heated up. In no time they were sweating. Every once in a while, an engineer came by to supervise the work. The gold had to be extracted with picks as it was embedded in solid rock. No explosives or heavy machinery could be used as that might result in damage to the ground surrounding the subterranean lake. If that should occur then the mine would lose its license to operate.
The lake could not be contaminated at any cost. A new strain of beneficial bacteria had been discovered in the pure water two decades before, and it was the only place on earth that it could survive, which was why the area was protected by a conservation order.
The boys worked for four hours. They were given a fifteen minute break in which to eat one of the protein bars they carried in their backpacks, and quench their thirst. After another four hour’s work, there was a ten minute break, then four more hours until another fifteen minute break, when they were allowed eat another protein bar and drink some water.
At the end of the last four hour stint total exhaustion had set in. Kaden and Tuck had to help Smokes into his warm clothes and even put his boots on. They half carried him to the lift. Putting one foot in front of the other was so tiring, the walk back to base took longer, even with the guards yelling and threatening them for not walking faster.
The meal that evening was eaten in silence. The weary teenagers showered and put on some clean clothes that were stored in a locker in the bunk room.
When Tuck and Kaden came out of the wash room they found Smokes struggling to climb up onto his bed. Ash was already lying down.
“Now you know why nobody wants the top bunk. Getting out of it is easy, but heaving yourself up there after a day in the mine takes way too much energy,” he said sleepily.
Smiling, Ash closed his eyes and turned to face the wall. Kaden and Tuck hoisted Smokes up onto his bunk, then dragged themselves wearily onto their own beds. Even before the lights went out they were all fast asleep, exhausted from such a long, hard day.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
As soon as the aircraft’s door opened a rush of hot, dry air filled the cabin. Even though the rainy season was on its way, the weather was still warm and dry in Mexico compared to Illinois. The Brubaker family with their guest in tow, stepped from the plane onto a small runway, where a vintage white Mercedes was waiting. The driver opened the doors for each of them and the two girls giggled, feeling like celebrities.
The ranch was only a short drive from the private airstrip and as the entrance came into view, Megan’s excitement escalated. Her grandfather spoiled her and she knew he would have a big surprise waiting, being the generous man that he was. The car pulled up outside a terracotta coloured, adobe house. The villa blended nicely with the surrounding landscape.
Megan jumped out almost before they had come to a halt, running into the arms of a tall, tanned white-haired man.
“Pops, it’s been ages. Why don’t you ever come visit us?” she said.
Her grandfather laughed and squeezed her tight.
“Oh you know I’m not a city person. Besides I have to look after the ranch - now that I have something very precious belonging to you here.”
“What is it, can I see? Come on Amelia.” Megan grabbed her friend’s hand.
Lydia frowned at her husband, but he just shrugged his shoulders.
“Don’t look at me, I didn’t have anything to do with it. You know how he likes to buy her stuff,” Grant said as he helped the driver carry their luggage from the car.
Waking through the large house on the cool marble floor, Amelia remembered how much she had enjoyed her last visit. She had particularly liked swimming in the huge pool and picking flowers in the beautiful gardens. As they reached the back patio, Megan could see her grandfather’s ranch hand outside, holding onto a handsome black stallion. His jet black coat glistened in the sun.
Henry Brubaker smiled as he kissed the top of his granddaughter’s head.
“He’s all yours, Megan.”
Lydia held on tightly her husband’s arm.
“Do something about this, Grant,” she hissed. “She’s not ready for a horse like that.”
Stepping forward and easing his way between Megan and her grandfather, Grant rested his arms on their shoulders.
“Well, Father, you surpassed yourself this time. He’s a fine looking animal, I’ll give you that. When the ti
me is right and you can handle him, it will be a pleasure to watch you ride that horse, Megan.”
The girl smiled up at her father then glanced over at her grandfather, who was scowling.
“Dad is right, Pops. My riding instructor back home would go mad if I even sat on that horse right now. But I love him already and I am so grateful for such a wonderful gift. Please keep him for me until I’m a better rider. I promise to work really hard to improve.”
This melted the frown from her grandfather’s face.
“Okay, sweetie pie. I don’t know what I was thinking, but he is so amazing to watch in a gallop, I got carried away and bought him. He is still your horse, even if you can only walk and groom him for now. You will have to give him a name, we’ve been calling him Buddy, but that’s not really appropriate for such a fine animal, is it?”
The horse stood tall before them, head held high.
“He is very regal, Pops, how about we call him Pharaoh? I think it suits him, don’t you?”
Megan was stroking his neck and as she looked back at her family the horse nuzzled her hair.
Her grandfather gave a hearty laugh.
“Well, he seems to like the name, so Pharaoh it is.”
******
After dinner the men retired to the study while Lydia and the girls went for a walk around the ranch. Grant watched his father pour both of them a drink. Henry Brubaker was a surgeon, scientist, businessman, and self-made billionaire. His self-discipline had ensured the success of all his ventures.
Taking a sip from the whiskey his father had given him, Grant smacked his lips together.
“So how old is this one, Dad?”
Checking the bottle, Henry read the label.
“Fifty years of age, son. Older than you, and more mature I have to say. What on earth do you think I can do about this missing boy? Can’t you see how risky it would be to bring him home? Do you think he’ll keep quiet about everything he’s seen? Of course he won’t, he’s his father’s son. I can imagine what Lloyd Seager would do with that information.”
Grant stood up and walked over to the mantelpiece, above which a polar bear’s head was mounted - a trophy completely out of place in a room with Mexican furnishings.
“We have to come up with a better solution than the family thinking their son is dead, and Kaden spending the rest of his life as a prisoner in that god-forsaken place,” Grant said.
He shook his glass at the animal above the fireplace as he spoke, spilling some of his drink.
“Calm down, son. Stop wasting good liquor. What do you suggest we do? I’m willing to listen to any rational plan you might have, as long as it doesn’t endanger our operation.”
Grant rubbed the back of his neck. He had no idea where to start, so he just threw out a suggestion.
“As far as we know, Kaden still has amnesia. You’re the scientist, is it possible to erase the last few weeks from his memory?”
Henry laughed at this.
“You’ve been watching too many movies. It can be done on a temporary basis, but the memories will come back. Unless you are prepared to risk bringing him home brain-dead, that’s not an option. Any other ideas?” he asked, taking a swig from his glass.
“What if we could get - no, that wouldn’t work. Or maybe if…” Grant was desperately trying to come up with something his father would approve of.
Henry stood in front of his son and shook his head solemnly.
“Grant, there’s nothing we can do but be thankful the boy is alive. I’ve been in touch with the base and he is definitely there. But he hasn’t said anything to the guards or asked any questions of anyone, so far.”
Taking a phone from his pocket he keyed in a code and a photo of Kaden appeared. Grant recognized him instantly, even though he seemed to be asleep and his face was cut and bruised. His stomach went into a knot.
“I’ve given strict instructions that if the boy should start causing a fuss, wanting to be released or giving them trouble, they are to contact me immediately. I’ll handle that if, or when, it becomes a problem,” Henry said. “That’s the best I can do for now.”
Grant walked from the fireplace to a large window that looked out over the ranch.
“What about his family? They are going to keep looking for him, I would if it was my child,” he said. He waved at his daughter, who had seen him watching her as she walked towards the house.
“Kaden is not the problem, he can’t escape and he will be treated well. That’s the best option for everyone right now. No, the problem is his father. We must convince Lloyd that his son is dead. If a vital organ compatible with his son’s DNA should turn up, sent by the supposed kidnappers, it would do the trick.
Grant was horrified.
“That’s barbaric, what will you do FEDEX it? I can’t believe you could be so callous, father.”
“It would be sent to the police, of course. They would do a DNA test on it and everyone would accept the tragic death of a young man. The family would grieve and, in time, get on with their lives. There would be no corpse to find. The case would get filed away, unsolved and eventually forgotten.”
“And what happens to Kaden. What kind of life is he going to have?” asked Grant.
Henry sighed deeply before answering.
“You’ve never had a problem before with this set up. What do you think happens to the others who end up where Kaden is?”
There was no response from Grant. He just sat down and stared into his glass.
“They are all in the same boat, you know. You saw the facilities before we even sent one boy down there,” Henry continued, “I distinctly remember you commenting on how luxurious their quarters were, particularly the bathrooms. Now, all of a sudden, it’s become a horror chamber. Those boys have an honest day’s work, good food, warmth, recreation and great medical care. They are living a more purposeful life than if they were still on the streets being a threat to society - ending up killing someone or being killed themselves. Look what happened to your mother.”
Henry’s wife, Rebecca, had been run over by a homeless boy in a stolen car. Grant was only five years old at the time. She died from her injuries in spite of the surgeons doing everything in their power to save her. For the first time, Grant questioned his father’s sanity, wondering if he was in some way getting revenge for the death of his wife every time a street kid was taken.
“But, Dad, Kaden isn’t homeless or a threat to society,” he said quietly.
“I know, Grant, I know. But he IS a threat to something that will be of great benefit to mankind, and I can’t take a chance on him destroying all those years of hard work. It’s a sacrifice that has to be made. I’m sorry.”
Patting his son on the back, he walked out of the room, leaving the door open.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The phone call from the boss made it quite clear what was to be done. The doctor at the base wondered why the young man had not made a fuss about being held against his wishes. The only reason he could think of was that Kaden had not regained his memory. It didn’t matter either way. There was a job to be done and they would do it, to the last detail.
As the alarm signalled the beginning of another exhausting day’s work, Kaden eased his aching body down from his bunk. Two men came into the room and grabbed hold of his arms pulling him, struggling, towards the door. Tuck jumped in front of them but an armed guard nearby, nudged him in the back with his rifle. Kaden calmed down as he didn’t want anyone getting hurt on his account. He was taken to a room that he presumed was the sick bay, judging by the trolley full of medical instruments and what looked like an operating table in the centre.
“I’m not sick, why have you brought me here?” he asked, his heart beginning to pound in his chest.
“Just relax, you won’t feel a thing,” the doctor said.
It was the same man who had given them their lecture when they first arrived. He signalled for the guards to lift Kaden up onto the table, which was under a h
uge light. They strapped him down and no amount of struggling prevented a syringe going into a vein in his arm. A drip was wheeled in place beside him and the doctor’s face became a blur as Kaden passed out.
“I don’t know why they can’t get rid of him altogether, nobody would suspect a thing. They could dump his body somewhere and that would be the end of it,” said one of the guards, who was assisting the doctor with his task.
“It seems this young man has connections in high places, lucky for him. Mind you, it must be worth keeping him alive. This is a very expensive procedure, as you well know.”
When Kaden came round he was in a dimly lit room, a drip connected to a shunt in his arm. The doctor was sitting on a chair just inside the door. He had been watching his patient as he slept.
“If I were you I would take this opportunity to rest. You will feel a little better tomorrow, but you won’t be fit enough for work until next week. The other boys will be so jealous. Will you answer a question for me?” he asked, leaning forward.
Kaden never said a word, he just stared at the ceiling.
“We know who you are, how come you never told us? Don’t you want to go home?”
A crease of his brow was the only sign that Kaden had heard anything. Closing his eyes, he remained silent.
The doctor left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. There was a loud click and the young man knew there would be no point in trying to get out, the room was windowless and the door was locked. Besides, he was too weak to sit up, never mind walk anywhere.
The small sample of heart tissue that had been taken from Kaden was well preserved and sent off to a clinic in Mexico. The doctor was only following orders and wasn’t given too much information, except that the young man was not to be harmed. He could guess the rest. The son of a Chicago city councillor had gone missing and it had been all over the news. Nobody had paid much attention to it at the base, after all names were never recorded on the boys’ files - all they needed was a number. For all the doctor knew it might have been arranged to keep the politician’s mouth shut about something.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Finding 01 Finding Kaden Page 11