Flight to Destiny (A Samantha Starr Thriller, Book 2)

by S. L. Menear

  “I know the admiral. I’ll give John a call. You’d best go and prepare for the mission.” Duncan stood and walked Ross out. “Thanks for stopping by. We’ll get this sorted. Keep me in the loop.”

  “Aye, you do the same. Thanks for the whisky.”

  When Duncan returned to the great hall after calling the admiral, Loren showed him a map on her phone. “Ley lines in Scotland. MacLeod Castle sits on a major intersection.”

  Duncan shook his head. “Life is never dull around the Starr women.”

  Petra

  I fell into a dark abyss, landed in a deep warm pool, and fought my way to the surface. Gasping for air, I swam to the side and struggled to pull myself up on the ledge with the backpack and weapons weighing me down.

  I collapsed on the smooth hard surface, slipped off my pack and MP7, and pulled off the pistol holster in case I had to jump in and rescue someone. My NV-binoculars helped me see in the dark, but the others would need light. Jack had my flashlight.

  Jack surfaced and swam toward me. “Take my weapon.” He handed me the flashlight and an MP7, pulled off his backpack, and shoved it onto the ledge. “Take the light and shine it on the pool.”

  “Help! All this heavy shit’s pulling me down!” Rod sputtered and coughed, struggling to keep his head above water.

  Jack swam to him and took his weapon. “Catch this.” He tossed it to me.

  “I’m going down!” Rod sank.

  Jack grabbed the strap on Rod’s backpack and towed him to the ledge. “Here, take this.” He handed me Rod’s pack. “I’ll push and you pull him.”

  As Jack shoved Rod from behind, I dragged him out of the water by his arms.

  Rod coughed and gasped, catching his breath. “Thanks for saving my ass.”

  “Happy to help.” Jack sat beside Rod.

  Loud splashes heralded the arrival of Pete and Inga as they dropped into the pool. Moments later, they joined us on the ledge.

  Lance and Carlene splashed down.

  “Hey! Somebody take this heavy-ass weapon.” Carlene held the MP7 in front of her as she treaded water. “Good thing I’m naturally buoyant.”

  Lance took the weapon and tossed it to Jack, then boosted her up to Pete.

  “Thanks, boys. It’s good to be on dry land.” Carlene sat down beside Rod. “You okay?”

  “I almost drowned. Now I feel nauseous. So much for a fun day in friggin’ Petra! If we ever get outta here, I’m never going on another tour.”

  Inga glanced at the flashlight. “I can’t believe the light still works after being in the water. My cell phone’s dead.”

  I stood the flashlight on its end and pointed it at the rock ceiling. “It’s actually a mini dive light. I keep it in my handbag with my Leatherman tool and butane lighter. I like to be prepared, and I scuba dive when the layovers are long enough.”

  “Uh, Sam, I think we should check for yellow critters.” Lance picked up the light.

  “Good idea. You scan that end, and I’ll look over there.” I turned and pulled on the NV-binoculars. It didn’t take long.

  Lance motioned me away from the group. “No scorpions, but we have another problem. I shined the light across the hot spring and looked everywhere. There’s no way out. We’re trapped.”

  “Maybe not. Could be another hidden door, but I need to rest a bit before I start looking for it.”

  “Good thing it’s warm in here. It may take a long time to dry out. Let’s have a snack.” Lance walked to his backpack and sat down.

  I stood in front of the group. “All right, everyone, time for a little snack and some rest before we press on. Your backpacks will dry faster if you empty them. Try to get comfortable.”

  “Good idea, Captain.” Rod started emptying his pack. “My ass is worn out. I’ve had more exercise in Petra than I normally get in a year. Let’s chill awhile.”

  Everyone ate in silence and sipped their warm water. We sat close together for emotional support. No one mentioned our dead friends, but they had to be on everyone’s minds.

  “I’m ready for a nap. Snuggle next to me, honey buns.” Carlene looked at Lance and patted the ground beside her.

  “Right, we should pair up for warmth and safety.” Jack moved toward me.

  Inga grabbed his hand. “Sleep by me, Jack, I’m scared.” She pulled him down next to her.

  “I’m scared too. You’re sleeping next to me, Captain.” Rod reached for me. “I feel safer when I’m with you.”

  “I’ll stand the first watch,” Pete said.

  I motioned for him to join us.

  “Don’t bother. Nothing to watch for here. I’d rather have everyone rested.”

  I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep, even though I felt exhausted from all the stress and drained by the heat of the hot spring.

  The last thing I remembered was Rod snoring into my ear.

  Twelve

  Dundee, Scotland

  After returning from Duncan’s castle and receiving orders, Ross faced the seven SAS soldiers he had chosen for the mission, including his friend and second-in-command, Lieutenant Derek Dunbar.

  “We have our orders directly from Admiral John Stone. His son, actor Jack Stone, served in the Royal Navy and is one of the missing VIPs in Petra. My girlfriend, Samantha Starr, is the pilot for their charter flight. She vanished with them.”

  “Sounds like déjà vu from last August. She did a lot of vanishing then too.” Derek shook his head. “Don’t forget to wear a helmet this time.” His emerald-green eyes danced with mirth.

  “Aye, and plenty of body armor. Took me two months to heal after the last mission involving Sam,” a soldier said, rubbing the scars from his bullet wounds.

  “Missions involving your girlfriend are more dangerous than fighting the Taliban,” another soldier said.

  Ross’s Special Air Service team were top soldiers in the British Special Forces. His men were close and never missed a chance to tease their leader. He knew they would follow him through the gates of Hell and win the fight.

  “If you’re done busting my balls, we have a mission to plan. Unless we receive new information, we’re operating under the assumption Sam led her people inside the mountain. We can’t gain entry the same way she did. We’ll need plenty of explosives. No telling how many rock doors we’ll have to blast open to find her.

  Ross pointed at a diagram of the Petra site. “We have the king’s permission to do this as long as we don’t damage tombs and historical areas. I intend to do whatever’s necessary to rescue them and ask for forgiveness later.”

  “How did Sam enter the mountain?” Derek asked.

  “Recent evidence suggests Sam’s body energy may be the precise electromagnetic frequency required to activate ancient door mechanisms.” Ross kept his tone serious. “This is no joke.”

  “How reliable is your intel?” Derek asked.

  “Solid enough to convince me.” Ross paused. “Sam’s copilots are both military men. They could be assets if we get in a firefight with the kidnappers.”

  He briefed his men on the Black Sun, the previous attack in Agra, and the unknown sniper. “Like last summer, there are multiple unknown players. Wheels up in fifteen. With the time difference, we’ll be jumping in early daylight.”

  The team packed their backpacks, checked their weapons and parachutes, and boarded the military jet that would fly them to the drop zone over Petra.

  Ross led his team into the narrow crevice where the pith helmet had been found. At the dead end, his heart quickened when he spotted the gold square with the trident and inverted pyramid indents.

  Looks similar to what I saw last night in the castle’s chamber.

  “This could be it, lads. Place the explosives a few feet below this symbol.” Ross hoped Sam had survived the attack and was able to open rock doors.

  A few minutes later, the blast revealed a dark passage. The team donned their night-vision gear and climbed over the rubble.

  “Follow me, lads.” R
oss jogged down the passage as his men trailed in close quarters.

  Thirty minutes later, they reached the waterfall and pool feeding into the stream. Ross nimbly led his team along the narrow path around the pool. When they reached the wide rock floor on the other side, they found entrances to three tunnels.

  “Bugger! Check twenty feet into each passage for signs of foot traffic.” Ross entered the left tunnel.

  Moments later, Derek called out, “Here! Scuff marks in the one on the right.”

  Ross rushed into the tunnel and took the lead. A hundred yards in, he signaled a stop.

  “Look at this, burned yellow scorpions, a lot of them. These buggers are deadly. Stay sharp in case there are more.”

  Ross slowed his pace. His senses were tuned to every sound.

  The team walked past a hole on the right side.

  “Ross, double-time it!” Derek yelled from the rear. “Hundreds of the yellow buggers just rushed out the hole.”

  Ross broke into a run. When he rounded a corner, he almost fell into a stream where the path ended. “Halt!”

  His men gathered around him.

  “Look for a gold symbol marking a hidden door. It could be on the floor or walls.” Ross searched for the path Sam must have taken.

  “Ross, they’re almost here!” Derek yelled as he turned and faced the horde.

  “Light flares and burn the bastards,” Ross commanded.

  The men switched off their night vision before the white-hot flares ignited. Brilliant light whitened the passage. The flares burned the first scorpions and forced the horde back to their hole. The light confirmed Ross’s suspicion that the stream was the only exit.

  “Right, lads, prepare for a water egress.” Ross tightened the straps on his pack and secured his weapons.

  Soon the team was racing down the waterway that Ross hoped Sam’s group had taken. They covered a long distance in just minutes. Ross slid around a sharp turn and shot out into the air. He glanced down into the dark abyss.

  “Brace for impact!”

  Fifteen Minutes Earlier

  Sore and hungry, I sat up and checked my watch. We slept all night! The rest of the group stirred.

  “Rise and shine, intrepid travelers,” I said in a cheerful tone.

  “What time is it?” Rod asked, rubbing his eyes.

  “Time for breakfast. I’m hungry,” Pete said.

  “I’d kill for a latte.” Lance took a sip of warm water.

  “Fried eggs, ham, and grits would be better,” Carlene said, rummaging through the goodies she had emptied from her pack.

  “What the dickens is a grit?” Jack asked.

  “Grits are a sickly yellow color and real slimy, but they taste good. Not sure what they’re made from.” Rod bit into an apple.

  “Grits are made from cornmeal. Come to Texas, Jack, and I’ll make you some.” Carlene grinned and tore open the wrapper on an energy bar.

  “First we have to find a way out of this bloody mountain.” Jack paced as he ate an orange.

  Lance leaned in and whispered, “Any ideas?”

  “Good thing the wrappers were waterproof on these health snacks.” I ate the last bite of mine. “My pack and my stuff are dry, except my leather purse is damp, the tissue is useless, and my phone is ruined. I should have bought a waterproof model.” I shoved all the stuff worth keeping back into my pack.

  Lance sighed. “I meant do you have any ideas about getting out of here?”

  “Oh, right, that was next on my list. I’ll start feeling around for tingly places.” I stood.

  “Find us a way out of here and I’ll make you tingle like you’ve never tingled before.” Lance kissed the nape of my neck and winked.

  “Uh huh, I bet you say that to all the girls.” I walked to the wall and slid my hands along the smooth rock.

  “Looks like our captain’s doing her magic shit again. We’ll be out in the sunshine in no time. I got faith,” Rod said.

  I felt along the wall from the floor to as high as I could stretch. The rock walls met at right angles near one end of the pool. My hands found a spot in the corner that triggered faint jolts of electricity. No soft dirt, though, and no indentation.

  I fingered the pendant hanging from my neck while I strained to solve the puzzle. The pendant’s diamond pyramid shot a light beam into the corner, penetrating a tiny crack. A low door of solid rock swung open.

  “Well, hot damn! You did it again, Sam.” Lance picked up my flashlight and shined it into the opening. “Looks like the way out. Everybody, grab your gear and get moving.”

  Lance packed his backpack and pulled it on, slung the MP7 over his shoulder, bent through the door, and lit the way with the flashlight.

  “Pack up all the good food and water. Don’t forget the weapons. Let’s go. Jack, I need you up front again to check the cave.” I pulled on my pack, clipped the pistol holster to my jeans, and slipped the MP7 strap over my shoulder.

  Inga strapped on her pack and carried a submachine gun as she followed Pete to the door. I was the last one through.

  “Wait! I left my bracelet on the ground.” Inga started back through as the door swung back.

  Just in time, I yanked her into the chamber by her backpack strap. She dropped the MP7 in the doorway. The rock door crushed it and left the butt sticking out toward her.

  “Sorry, Captain, thanks for saving me.” Inga stared at the mangled metal and took a deep breath.

  We gathered in a circular room where an open door on the opposite side led to a dark passage. Two moonstone statues holding crystal pyramids faced each other on a stone pedestal in the center. The statues looked like the golden-haired goddess Solraya from the artifact I found in Hong Kong. They also looked exactly like me.

  Focused on the passage out, the group didn’t notice the faces on the statues.

  The walls were covered with images of an ancient city bordered by huge pyramids and giant sphinxes. Longboats were moored in the harbor, and airships were flying around.

  I felt a compulsion to touch the statues’ crystals. When I caressed one, it filled with light and projected a hologram of the ancient city in the throes of disaster. A volcano on a nearby island exploded and half the mountain crashed into the sea. A tsunami raced toward the city and buried it underwater before the image faded.

  “Whoa, awesome video!” Rod said.

  “I wonder where that happened,” Carlene said.

  “It may have been Atlantis.” I touched the other crystal.

  When I did, it filled with light and projected a different hologram. Atlantis rose from the sea and pushed massive waves in every direction. The image faded.

  “We’d better get moving before another door closes on us.” I waved everyone forward. “Jack, lead the way down that passage. I’ll bring up the rear.”

  Lance handed the flashlight to Jack and ushered the group into the passage. The moment I walked through the opening, a door dropped down from a slot in the ceiling and sealed the room behind us. We followed the passage to where it ended in about a hundred yards.

  “Sam, come and find the door.” Lance leaned against a side wall.

  I squeezed through the group and searched the wall at the end. I felt a square indentation six feet above the floor in the center and wiped away a light coating of dirt. I found a square gold lock identical to the one at the end of the crevice near the holy spring.

  “Finally, something easy!” I stuck my pendant into the lock, and the door opened into sunlight.

  I hesitated while my eyes adjusted and everyone exited. When I pulled out the pendant, the door closed behind me.

  I walked around a boulder. Was my imagination playing tricks on me? A private Boeing 727-100 airliner was parked a hundred feet below at the nearest end of a long, dry riverbed between the mountains.

  The distinctive whine of the auxiliary power unit roared as it provided electricity and air-conditioning to the parked aircraft. A fuel truck pulled out from the far side of the jet a
nd drove away.

  Two armed guards walked around the aircraft in opposing circles. They met at the rear and entered through the aft airstairs.

  I grabbed Lance and pointed at the jet. “I found us a ride out of here, but there might be some gun play.”

  Lance looked down at the Boeing 727. “Why do you think we’ll have to shoot our way in?”

  “I saw two armed sentries. They entered the aircraft after the fuel truck drove away. We have to think of a plan in a hurry. Looks like they’re leaving soon.”

  I scanned the area and tried to visualize a scenario that ended with us flying the jet.

  Lance stood with his hands on his hips. “Sam, we can’t take these people into a combat situation. Now that we’re out of that damn mountain, hit the emergency button on your DARPA watch and wait for your Highlander hero to rescue us.”

  “I told you, there’s no signal, and they don’t have SAS or SEAL teams here. We’re on our own, but I have an idea.”

  I asked Pete, Jack, and Carlene to join us and outlined my plan.

  “Sam, there’s no friggin’ way we’re using you as bait.” Lance gave me his angry alpha-male glare again. “What if that airplane belongs to the Black Sun? They’ll grab you and fly out of here.”

  “I saw the guards. They’re Arabs, not Germans. My plan will work.” I gave him my stubborn alpha-female stare.

  Carlene touched Lance’s arm. “Sugar, I think when it comes to bait, two babes are better’n one. Besides, I’m faster on the draw than Sam. Those A-rabs will be so focused on our bosoms they’ll never expect us to pull pistols out the back of our pants. This’ll work, darlin’, don’t you worry none.”

  Lance glanced from Pete to Jack. “The loud jet engine in the auxiliary power unit will help. What do you guys think?”

  Pete scanned the airplane. “They’ve got the window shades down to keep the airplane cool. They won’t see us coming, and that APU will cover any noise we make.”