by JC Ryan
“Let’s get your luggage,” said Ryan. Daniel was bone weary, but alert. However, Sarah was beginning to droop. Their day had started before eight a.m. in Manhattan, and it was now two a.m. in Denver, twenty hours later. Emma persuaded Sarah to sit in the back seat of the car with her for the forty-minute drive to Boulder where they lived. Maybe she could nap. That would give Daniel a chance to begin the explanations that Ryan would need before they would be able to form a plan.
As they drove away from the terminal, Daniel started right in on the story, skipping everything that he knew Sarah had shared already. Ryan knew that their research involved the Great Pyramid at Giza, and some odd coincidences that made Daniel wonder if the Egyptians of 3500 BC had actually built it. He knew they were looking for an elusive code hidden in the construction methods, the measurements or something, but the events of the past couple of weeks had moved too fast for an update. When he heard that a linguist had actually been able to decipher a message, he was astounded.
Glancing into the back seat to find that both Sarah and Emma had nodded off, he said quietly, “Sarah said that the man who was working with you was murdered last Sunday.”
“Yes sir, our friend, Mark Simms a mathematician, was murdered. But he didn’t decipher the message. He calculated the values and sent them to someone in the linguistics department. It was that guy who deciphered it. I’m afraid he’s in danger, too, but we don’t know his name.”
“How can that be?”
“I guess we were so excited by the message itself that we didn’t think to ask. And Mark was killed before we did think of it.”
“You don’t know how much he might have said before he was killed, or whether Sarah is in danger?”
“Sir, I’m operating on the assumption that everyone who had anything to do with the project may be in danger. But keeping Sarah safe is my first priority.”
“I’m glad to hear it. What’s your plan?”
“If you don’t mind, sir, I’d like to have Sarah involved in that conversation, and we’re dead tired. Can we sleep on it and take it up in the morning? I’m sure we weren’t followed here.”
“That sounds sensible. We’re almost home anyway.”
Four sleepy people made their way into the house, where Emma told Sarah her old bedroom was ready for her, and showed Daniel to the guest room. He would have liked to be able to hold his Sarah and make her feel safe as she went back to sleep, but he respected her parents too much to blatantly sleep with their daughter in their house. He just hoped Sarah felt safe because she was at home. Morning was going to come much too soon, in any case, so he made himself as comfortable as possible in the strange bed and dropped off instantly.
Ryan had spent about half an hour thinking about the situation before going to sleep. His judgment of Daniel was that he was a solid man, not given to flights of fancy or bombast. If Daniel thought there was genuine danger, he, Ryan, would proceed accordingly. He had a few ideas along those lines, but he wanted to discuss it, both with Daniel and Sarah and with his brother, before he did anything. Ryan set his alarm for eight a.m. It wasn’t enough sleep, but on the off chance that Daniel and Sarah had left a trail, they needed to be prepared.
When his alarm went off, he left Emma sleeping and knocked softly on Daniel’s door. Ryan approved when it was answered immediately. Good, the boy was awake and alert. His opinion, already high, notched up a bit.
“There’s coffee in the kitchen if you want it. I’m going to wake Sarah.”
“Yes sir, thank you.”
Daniel had both his and Sarah’s coffee ready when she appeared trailing Ryan. “Thank you, honey.”
He risked a chaste peck on her cheek, though he wanted to hold her tight and kiss her properly. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Mr. Clarke, I didn’t know how you like yours, I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry, of course you didn’t. And please, call me Ryan.”
Fortified with their coffee, Ryan signaled that he would like to talk outside. The crisp October morning held just a hint of fall but the snow-covered peaks nearby spoke to the imminence of winter. Sarah, who had come out in her nightgown, robe and slippers, went back into the house for a shawl to throw over her shoulders. When she returned, Ryan spoke first.
“Sarah, how much of Daniel’s story did your mom hear last night?”
“I’m not sure, Dad. I think just the part where he reminded you of everything I had already told you. She went to sleep before I did, and I was asleep before we hit 87.” She was referring to the highway between the airport and Boulder.
“Okay. Until we figure this out, please don’t alarm her. She knows something’s wrong, but not the extent of the danger.”
Daniel interrupted, “So you agree that there is danger.”
“Absolutely, and I’m afraid even you aren’t aware of what you may be facing. I suggest we have breakfast, and then we should go visit your Uncle Luke, Sarah.”
~~~
When they went back inside, Daniel called the office, since he was already late for work and wouldn’t be making it in.
“John, I need another couple of days.”
“You’re pushing it, Rossler. What is it now?”
“You remember about Mark Simms, right? Sarah Clarke’s friend that got killed and we got picked up for it before they checked out our alibi? He was buried on Saturday, and I have to stay a few more days to support Sarah and also Martha Simms, the widow, who has no family.”
”Ok take a few more days, but I’ll see you on Wednesday.
Thank you, I’ll work from here so my column won’t be late, okay?”
~~~
After the breakfast, which was heavy enough to make Daniel want to go back to sleep, but delicious for all that, he and Sarah cleaned the kitchen and then they were ready to go. Ryan had been pacing for the past fifteen minutes. While they cleaned the kitchen, Sarah filled Daniel in on her Uncle Luke and Aunt Sally, for whom she was named.
“They never had any children, so when my sister and I visited they spoiled us shamefully,” she said, smiling fondly at the memories. “It was always exciting when they took us to the Smithsonian or the Baltimore aquarium or the National Zoo.”
Daniel was puzzled. Sarah was talking about people who lived near Washington, DC. Luke had to live nearby. Seeing his confusion, Sarah explained that her uncle had been employed by the government, something to do with Foreign Affairs, she thought, although she wasn’t clear on exactly what he did. On retirement, he and his wife had moved to the area to be nearer Luke’s only family, his brother.
Now he lived on a little hobby farm, about fifteen miles out of town. He and Sally led a quiet life, gardening, raising chickens and keeping a couple of cattle, a few pigs and some horses for riding. Uncle Luke always said that when the zombie apocalypse happened, he’d be ready to head for the hills and be independent. Daniel snorted when she said ‘zombie apocalypse’. He didn’t think she paid any attention to pop-culture stuff like that. His Sarah never ceased to amaze him.
Meanwhile, Ryan had called Luke and told him that Sarah was in town and would like to see him. Exercising caution that would have made Raj proud, he didn’t mention any of the trouble. Luke said he and Sally would be overjoyed to see their niece and her friend. He made a joke about making him disappear if he wasn’t up to snuff, and Ryan laughed with him, but then said he was sure this one was a keeper. They made arrangements to have lunch and then spend the afternoon there, pending Emma’s approval. Ryan had no doubt that she would approve, once he was able to bring her in on the real reasons for Sarah’s visit.
In due course, they arrived at Luke’s farm and introductions were made all around. Sally offered coffee, and Daniel was particularly grateful. He and Sarah were operating on less than four hours’ sleep, not counting the cat naps in the plane and on the way to Boulder from the airport. Ryan waited only until he could see that Daniel had finished his coffee before he suggested that Luke show them the newest foal. The three men ma
de their way outside, while the women stayed behind to gossip. Sarah wanted to see the foal, but she knew Aunt Sally was dying to ask her about Daniel.
“He’s a dreamboat, honey,” Sally said, smiling fondly at her favorite niece.
“That he is,” Sarah agreed.
“So, how did you meet him? What does he do? Tell me everything.”
Sarah was certain that her mother would have already told Aunt Sally much of what she wanted to know, but she was more than happy to talk about Daniel.
“He’s a columnist for the New York Times, in archaeological subjects, and that’s how we met,” she said, going on to explain the original story project and how she became involved.
“So how did it go from that, to you two being involved?”
“Well, the more I worked with him, the better I liked him. He tells these outrageous jokes. Quips, really. Like, he’ll start out with a well-known saying, and by the time he’s finished it’s all twisted around and makes a weird kind of sense that just makes you laugh.”
“Oh, I love a man that can make me laugh. That’s what has kept Luke and me together through thick and thin, even when it got rocky.”
Sarah’s mother looked surprised and interjected, “I didn’t know you and Luke ever had problems. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Oh, Emma, it was all about his work, and you know I can’t talk about that.”
“Of course.”
This exchange piqued Sarah’s interest greatly. “You mean, Uncle Luke’s work is classified too?”
“Yes, dear, some of it. But that’s all behind us now. Since his retirement I haven’t had to worry about that. Tell me more about Daniel.”
Sarah prattled on, talking about Daniel’s interests that intersected with her own, especially the hiking they both enjoyed. She also told what she knew of his family, and that she was sure he was closer to his paternal grandparents than to his own folks, though he seemed to love his parents. She talked about his grandfather’s career, and how sweet his grandma was. By the time she wound down, Emma and Sally felt they knew him almost as well as Sarah did. And they liked him, very much. He seemed perfect for Sarah.
“I hope he’s good in bed, dear. Otherwise he seems perfect.”
Sarah was thunderstruck. Of all the subjects to bring up, this wasn’t one she would have expected, especially from the normally circumspect Sally. Sarah wouldn’t have answered, but she noticed her mom was looking at her expectantly.
“Really, Mom, Aunt Sally. You can’t expect me to answer that!”
Emma said, “I’m sure Sally feels the same way I do, honey. We just want you to be happy.”
Her cheeks flaming, Sarah muttered, “I’m happy, okay? Jeez.”
Sally laughed and said, “I knew it!” To Sarah’s utter amazement, the older women shared a high five. She just hoped Mom wouldn’t blab to Dad. He and Daniel were getting along so well.
While the women were having this interesting conversation, Ryan brought Luke up to speed with a succinct recitation of the events that brought Sarah and Daniel to the area. Luke had a lot of questions, but to Daniel’s surprise, they centered not around his research or the message they found, but around the police questioning, and especially his observations of the mysterious James Jones. It worried Daniel that Luke’s face took on more and more concern.
“Luke, I can’t help but see that you’re worried about this. Mind telling me why?”
“I have some ideas about who that might be, but I’m going to need a few days to run it down. Suffice it to say, I’m certain you were right to come here, and that there is some danger. I can’t say more.”
Daniel gazed at him steadily, trying to read what was behind the mask of Luke’s poker face. He was about to ask a specific question, when Ryan said to Luke, “I think he deserves to know.”
At a nod from Luke, Ryan explained. “My brother is ex-CIA. If he thinks he knows who this Jones character is, chances are its black ops stuff.”
“I was afraid of that,” Daniel responded grimly. “Rather, that Jones wasn’t on the level. Sarah said that you were involved in something classified, Ryan, but she didn’t mention her uncle’s background.”
Luke broke his silence then. “There was never any need for her to know. She was just a little girl, and then I retired. I was an analyst, and I still do a little consulting. Obviously I don’t know everything about what’s going on today, but I have some contacts. I think I can find out.”
“I’d be grateful,” said Daniel. “We can’t keep running, this is disrupting Sarah’s life too much. She has a tenure hearing at the end of the semester.”
“What about your own work?” said Luke.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll work it out. But we have to make things safe for Sarah. I’m so sorry I got her into this mess. Thank goodness she has a light teaching load this semester, so we could cover for her being gone for a couple of days.”
Ryan put his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “From what I can see, son, she walked into it with eyes wide open. No one could have predicted this. You did the right thing by bringing her home, and we’ll help you keep her safe. But, you’d better stay safe, too. She’d never forgive me if we managed to protect her and not you.”
“Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”
Luke observed this exchange with satisfaction. He was happy for his niece that she had found a good man to love and who loved her. Now he spoke up. “What’s the plan? Do we need to tell the women?”
Ryan said, “I think we have to. Everyone needs to be careful for the next little while, even out here in Colorado.” Daniel sincerely hoped that he hadn’t led trouble to the door of these people. Not only were they Sarah’s loved ones, but he liked them a lot himself. They headed back to the house, without ever getting to see the foal.
They found the women setting out a lunch fit for an army. Daniel remarked to Sarah that they’d better get some hiking in if her mom and aunt insisted on stuffing him full of delicious food like that. Sarah arched her eyebrow at him and responded that he wasn’t being held at gunpoint to take such large helpings.
“A reporter marches on his stomach,” he quipped.
Luke waited until lunch was over and cleared away before signaling that they should all join him in his study. Sally frowned at his manner, as he had turned very serious and was making small talk that had nothing to do with his actions as he herded them in. The last thing he did before joining them was open and then close the back door, as if they had gone outside. Now Sally was on alert. This was too much like old times, including the small device on his desk. What was going on? She didn’t have long to wait.
Ryan began. While Sarah booted the laptop that she had brought in unnoticed earlier, Ryan once again summarized the project. When he was done, Sarah demonstrated the technique that had resulted in the message being translated by the linguist. Emma and Sally attended carefully, although they were still clearly puzzled by Luke’s behavior. After they exclaimed excitedly over the message, Luke took over the narrative.
“Shortly after their colleague and friend Mark Simms showed them the message, he was brutally murdered.” He had to pause while Emma and Sally cried out. “They were implicated because they had been there only minutes before,” this time Emma moaned, overcome with belated fright for her daughter. When she had brought herself under control, Luke continued. “Fortunately, they had an alibi and were cleared, but we have reason to believe that the message or whatever other message lies coded in those stones, is of interest to someone who doesn’t mind killing to keep it from being made public.”
Sally had grown very quiet, knowing what this would mean, but Emma’s little scream of protest took her husband to her side to comfort her. Determined, Luke plowed on. “I’m going to call in some favors, see who this James Jones character is, and get whatever information I can from the division that studies ancient history for modern implications.”
At this, Daniel looked at him sharply. This was new to hi
m.
“Yes, Daniel,” Luke went on. “Very likely this group has been monitoring your research. They know there’s information that has been lost over time, and periodically it turns up. If it would be dangerous to the US for others to discover it, they’re tasked with covering it up.” Daniel’s jerk of surprise didn’t faze him. “They keep track of researchers and archaeologists to get warning when anything like this turns up and looks like it might lead to more. I have no knowledge of how they make sure it doesn’t get out these days, but as I said, I have some contacts that can probably help us.”
“What’s our role in this?” Daniel asked.
“I think the best thing would be for the two of you to go back to work and pretend that you have given up the research. If you want to work on it, make sure you do it in such a way that your tracks are covered. I’ll give you some pointers before you leave. Meanwhile, I’ll look into it and get back to you.”
It wasn’t an entirely satisfactory plan as far as Daniel was concerned. For one thing, it left Sarah on her own with no physical protection. He said so.
“Sarah’s an excellent shot, and if I’m not mistaken, she still has a pistol I gave her on her eighteenth birthday,” Ryan remarked.
Sarah made a ‘told-you-so’ face at Daniel, who was still not certain he approved of a gun anywhere near his beloved, even if it were hers.
In the end, they decided it was the only practical solution. If they disappeared from work, not only would it raise suspicion among the very people they hoped to avoid, but their funds would soon run out as well. Besides, it would only be a few days, they thought, before Luke could get some information.