“Now I've heard everything.”
“No, you haven't. Last fall, they invited Robert E. Lee to dinner. Remember that Geneva attack when they reported the president had been killed? Fritz and some of his friends went and got him. From the school.”
“Now you are pulling my leg.”
“I've been through it, Jim. Honest Injun. We had Thanksgiving last year at the White House. I'm telling you, it's real. That's how the nuclear program in Naria was destroyed. Any news story that doesn't make sense, add the ability to get there in an instant, and all of a sudden, it makes sense. I've been looking for commercial traffic that might be a tip-off. I'd have a bunch of money invested if I'd found anything.”
“In all the years we've been friends, that is, by far, the weirdest thing you've ever told me. I'll go back and look.”
“You should. We can talk about it next week. Jim, promise me you won't say anything.”
When he hung up, James Sapphire leaned back in his chair. And laughed.
* * *
FRITZ SCRATCHED behind his left ear. “You have a feeling?” He imagined an empty house again. “Every time someone has said that, some kind of disaster reared its head.” As soon as the words left his mouth, his phone buzzed. He looked at the caller's name and let the call go to message. “Tim.”
“At least listen to the message. Maybe I'm right,” said Emily.
“I'm glad you've been here. But I'm just not in the mood to deal with him. I'll check it later.”
Her phone rang, but she didn't feel like going upstairs to retrieve it. Then another call interrupted their evening.
“What do you want, Tim?” Fritz asked. His shoulder muscles tightened as he sat up.
“Didn't you listen to my message?”
“No. What do you want?” Just short of yelling, Fritz said, “I really don't have anything to say to you.”
“Well, smartass, you…” Fritz hung up.
* * *
“SIR, YOU HAVE a call. He says it's an emergency. A man named Tim Miller.”
The president sighed. “Put him through.” He picked up the phone. “Yes, Tim, what can I do for you?”
“You can call Fritz and tell him to take my call. Linda's gone missing.”
“Hold on. What do you mean?”
“I came home a little while ago. She wasn't here.”
The fear in Tim's voice resonated, but the president told him to call the police.
“Look, you don't get it. She's not home,” Tim yelled.
“Tim, call the police. They handle missing persons.” He disconnected. “Ms. Crispin, if he calls back, tell him I'm busy.”
* * *
WHEN HIS PHONE rang again, Fritz picked it up and shouted, “What?”
“Mr. Russell, this is Ms. Crispin. I do hope I'm disturbing you. The president wants to talk to you.”
“Sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
“Well, I'm not. Hold on.”
“Hi, Fritz. I just got a rude call from your father-in-law, so I didn't pay him much mind, but you should call him. He said that when he got home, Linda wasn't there. He sounded worried.”
“Thanks for calling. He's a pain and right now I don't want to talk to him. When Ms. Crispin called, I thought it was him again. Please apologize for me. How did the cruise go?”
“I have a meeting in about twenty minutes. I'll call tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I'll talk to you then.”
“What's the matter, Fritz?” Emily asked.
“Tim called the president. He said Linda wasn't home when he arrived.”
Emily grimaced. “Give me your phone. Either something's wrong or he's lost his mind.” Fritz took his plate to the sink and headed out of the kitchen, but Emily told him to wait.
“Say that again slowly, Tim.” Fritz shuddered when she hung up and told him Tim's side of the conversation. “He thinks TJ is dead. I should go home. I'm the only one that can get the whole story from him. He's not saying everything. I can tell.”
Every nerve crackled with contradictory emotions as Fritz decided what to do. His anger at Tim would have to wait until later. TJ needed someone who cared, and Linda had disappeared. “Emily, we're going to Ohio.”
* * *
DECLERCQ OPENED the door to Room 417 of the Willard Hotel and carried his bags to the dresser. Two men stepped out from the bathroom behind him, blocking the exit. Drained and tired, nothing could have surprised him more, even knowing that it would happen, than seeing his doppelganger in the bathroom doorway.
“General Beech sent us, Mr. Declercq. Please come with us. We're taking you to safety.”
* * *
IN THE LOBBY of the Willard, the man looking remarkably like Florian Declercq watched the door and the bar entrance, checking for any strange behavior. She had had ample time to have arrived, but he didn't dare call, or leave the hotel. No one had told him what had happened on the boat, and he was beginning to worry. Two men entered the hotel, one remaining by the door, the other walking to the concierge. When the concierge pointed to him, he tensed. As the stranger approached, he stood, a book in his right hand. The other man closed in from the hotel entrance.
“Mr. Declercq, come with us, please.”
“No.”
“Sir, we can't talk here.”
“Who are you? What do you want? Tell me or I will make a scene.”
“General Beech sent us. You're not safe here. You're being watched.” He knew that the general hadn't sent them. The general had sent him.
“I'll call him to verify.”
“Not here, please, sir.” The man reached for his arm. Florian stepped forward and the binding of the book crashed into the man's nose. When the other drew a gun, Florian smashed it with the book. The discharged bullet shattered a lamp and lodged in a far wall, knocking a picture to the floor. Hotel security ran into the lobby. Outside, sirens echoed down the avenues.
“Sir, please come with us.” The security guard pointed his gun.
“I will not. Those men attacked me. Take them.”
Two linebacker-types grabbed his arms and dragged him toward the door, as a police car pulled in front. “Sir, you are under arrest.”
“For what? Those men attacked me.”
“For now, disturbing the peace.” The policeman recited his Miranda protections and then shoved him into the back seat. Before he lowered his head, he caught a brief glimpse of two men, whose photos he had seen, watching from across the street.
* * *
“HE SAW US,” said Hammersley.
“Doesn't matter,” said Joe. “Now you've seen how the Caballeros take care of snitches and murderers. Your girlfriend will be avenged very soon, Mr. Hammersley. We saw the footage of him pushing her overboard after he strangled her. We didn't want to announce it. But we take care of our friends.”
“You mean he killed her? Why?”
Down Fifteenth Street to Constitution Avenue, the siren screamed. Pedestrians ran out of the way when the police car raced through red lights. When the car reached the Potomac, the siren stopped, but the car continued into Virginia, and headed south on the George Washington Parkway.
* * *
GENERAL BEECH'S phone rang. “Sir, our man was just arrested. Something's not right. Sorry, sir. The police took off with him before I could catch up. The hotel security guards pulled him out of the hotel. Then they disappeared.”
“Get to the police station. He's not a criminal. He was on a mission for me. Go. Now.” The general called the president with the report.
“Mr. President, I got a report that police arrested him and dragged him to a car. No one can find where they went. Hotel security gave him to the cops.”
“I don't have a good feeling about this, Jim,” the president said. “Didn't the locator work?”
“It hasn't moved. It's still at the Willard. The agents who were bringing Brie back haven't called. And no one has seen her either.”
“Keep me advised. Linda Russel
l has disappeared too. Jim, we need to hear what happened on that boat.”
Chapter 32
FRITZ AND EMILY met Ashley and Tony at the school. Emily handed Fritz the picture they'd found on a real estate website. Without an interior photo available, Fritz dragged Emily through the portal, up the driveway to the front door. Normally composed, Tim opened the door with his shirt collar unbuttoned, his tie pulled down three inches, and his hair looking like he'd been a Frankenstein experiment.
Without a greeting, Fritz barged by him, his phone in hand. He took a series of pictures and ran back out. The fluorescent rectangle glimmered barely hidden in the tree-lined driveway. To get in the house without strangers seeing the portal, he needed the indoor photos. “Hurry back,” said Emily. “Now, Tim, tell me what the hell is going on. I want it all.”
ASHLEY took Fritz's phone and transferred the pictures to his computer.
“This is the best one,” said Ashley. He printed it, and handed it to Fritz. One jerk on the door and he was back in Ohio, Ash right behind. Two men with pointed guns faced them.
“Fritz, these gentlemen are FBI agents,” Emily said.
“Show me your ID,” Fritz said, “and where's TJ?”
“He's fine, Fritz. He was sleeping. I've already checked their identifications.”
“I want to see them myself,” he said, staring at their guns. “The president told me that people are missing that he was supposed to meet with.” Ashley stepped in front of Fritz and asked for the IDs. Both agents had open mouths, still shocked at the sudden appearance of two men out of thin air. They held the guns, ready to shoot.
Fritz called and gave the agents' names to the president. He asked him to verify that they were the ones who were sent. The uneasy silence between Fritz and the agents broke when Emily offered them sodas. “You do have soda in the house, don't you, Tim?”
“It's probably somewhere. Linda did the shopping.”
“Have you had anything to drink in the last three months? Honestly, you are the most helpless man I've ever met.”
Both agents chuckled in spite of the strange standoff. Ashley handed their IDs to Fritz. One asked, “Sir, may we have them back?”
“When the president calls, if you're who these say, you'll get them back. Not before.”
A few minutes passed, everyone still standing. Fritz yanked his phone out when it buzzed. “Mr. Russell, the president said to tell you the agents are Reid and McConnell.” She read descriptions of each man.
“Thanks, Ms. Crispin. I'll talk to you later.” He placed the phone on the table, apologized and handed their wallets back. “Now, can you help me find my wife?”
They all sat at the dining room table, Emily providing diet soda to them all except for the bottle of beer she had for herself. “Answer their questions, Tim. And tell them everything that happened.” She took a long swallow.
Tim's glance questioned if he had ever seen this woman before. “What has happened to you?” he asked. Tim retold the short story of arriving home. He said he called Linda, but she didn't answer. “I didn't see the baby anywhere. That's when I started calling.”
“Who did you tell about the portal?” Fritz asked.
Tim's temper, always short with Fritz, exploded. “Don't you accuse me in my own house.”
Emily jumped in. “Who did you tell, Tim. It's important.”
He hung his head and took a deep breath. “No one. Well, not really. I was talking with Jim Sapphire like I do every Monday.”
Fritz turned to the agents. “Do you have traffic cameras or anything like it around here? If you do, you need to start looking. Emily, give them a picture of Linda, a current one. The one we sent with her and TJ at Christmas.” He called the president again.
“Mr. Russell, he has a few problems of his own right now.”
“Ms. Crispin, I need his okay to do something. I'm not a cop. I need him. Please.” She exhaled loud enough for him to pull the phone away from his ear.
“What do you need, Fritz?” asked the president.
“I need James Sapphire. Tim told him about the portal. It's the money connection. I'm sure of it.”
“That's a tall order. He's hard to pin down. I've tried a few times myself.”
“Sir, I need these agents to come with me, or Mel Zack, or someone. I have no authority, but he knows who he told. I'll beat it out of him if I have to.”
“Fritz, let's do this. Take the agents and Tim to the school. Come get Mel, and go get Sapphire. I'll come too if I'm done here. We think we may have found Florian.”
“I'll be there in a minute.” He looked at his father-in-law. “Where does Sapphire live?”
“His residence is private. He likes it that way.”
“Tell me.” Barely holding his temper, Fritz yelled, “Call him.”
Tim Miller's rage filled the room. “Don't you give me orders.”
“You're an ass. Your ego is more important than your daughter. And she's mad at me.” Fritz shook his head. “I wonder what that says about you as a parent. Or what it says about her judgment.”
Tim was on his feet, pushing past the agents. Fritz raised his fists. Before Tim could get close enough, Emily yelled, “Stop, Tim. Now.” As though he'd walked into an invisible wall, he pulled up short, bouncing backward. “Now,” she said, “call Jimmy and tell him we're on our way. Get an exact address, floor number, apartment, whatever. Do it now.”
Tim removed his cell phone from his pants pocket. His deep inhale held his rage in check, but he glared at Fritz. He punched the numbers and waited. “Jim, this is Tim Miller. Call me ASAP. Linda's been kidnapped. I need to talk to you.” Tim bared his teeth at Fritz. “Left a message.”
“Really? I couldn't tell.” Fritz's sarcasm struck agent Reid, whose laugh ended in throat clearing. Fritz turned to him and said the president wanted the agents to accompany them to get Sapphire.
“We'll need to get an okay,” said McConnell.
“You have one. From the president. You don't want to argue with him right now. Emily, will you stay with TJ?”
“I'm coming, Fritz. Jimmy knows I mean business, so he'll help. We'll take TJ with us. Tim, your phone will work there. Let's get a move on.”
With Emily leading, they all walked through the portal, back to Riverboro High.
* * *
WHILE THE STARTLED agents examined their new location, obviously a school hallway, Fritz told Tim to call again.
“He'll call me when he can.”
“Fine, don't call. I'm going for the president.” He opened his classroom door. As he stepped through, he hissed, “Asshole.” A moment later, the Oval Office came into view. Mel Zack led the president and General Beech into Riverboro High. The president kissed Emily and reached for Tim's hand.
“Have you reached him yet?” he asked.
“I left a message,” said Tim, looking at the outstretched hand. “He hasn't called back.”
“Call him again. Tell him it's an emergency. Are you calling the right number? I'm sure he has more than one phone.”
“Of course, it's the right number. What do you take me for?”
The president's jaw tightened and his brow furrowed. “For now, a source of assistance. We'll talk about your sworn oath later. Call him.” Tim left another message. “Keep calling all his numbers.”
Holding the door to the Oval Office open, Fritz said, “Mr. President, we should get the people on that boat. They were witnesses to what's going on. But I'll need images or pictures. Someone knows.”
“Ms. Crispin is working on that now.”
“Do you think she could find Sapphire's? I don't have one.”
“I'll be right back,” said the president.
The two agents spoke with Mel Zack, waiting for the president's return. One looked around and asked where they were. She said she couldn't tell them but that the president would speak with them before they went home. “Well, it's a school for sure. Who are these people?” asked McConnell. “All we we
re told was to check out a missing person. Unless this place is invisible behind the Miller house, we just did a 'beam me up, Scotty' kind of thing.”
Ashley said, “You'll never guess who Captain Kirk is.”
At Emily's prodding, Tim continued to call, to no avail. Fritz asked if he was calling a cell phone. Tim said he was. “Does he have a home phone?”
“I'd never call him on that number.”
“You're not only an egotistical moron, but you're stupid. His cell could be charging and turned off.” He took a step back. “Mel, can I borrow your gun?”
“Why?” She reached into her jacket.
“I need to shoot that dumb son of a bitch.” Ashley started laughing. “I mean it, Ash. The world won't miss one moron.” Tim started toward him. “Don't move. Don't say anything. Or so help me God, I'll blow your head off.”
“I warned Linda about you. You've always been a bit off. I'm glad she stayed away.”
As the president stepped in the hall, Fritz said, “Mel, give me the gun.” The president looked from one to the other, and asked, “Did you reach him?”
“Not yet,” Fritz said.
“Fritz, here's his home. Ms. Crispin is getting phone numbers for all these.” Fritz paged through the pictures of the homes of the Caballeros.
“What about Richemartel?” Fritz asked.
“He's invisible. Just like Thomas Richter.” To the general, he said, “Jim, our man is dead. His fake ID was in his wallet.”
Ms. Crispin stepped through into the hall, with a handful of paper. “This is just weird,” she said. “Every time I see you, Mr. Russell, I wonder if I've lost my mind.” She handed him a photocopy. “Here's a picture of the Sapphire's apartment interior from a magazine story a few years ago. I hope it helps.” She glanced up and down the hallway, shook her head again, and returned to the Oval Office. Ashley let the door close.
Tim had called Sapphire's home phone. “Jim, sorry to disturb you. It's Tim. I've been calling your cells.” Sapphire told him that he never brought them home. “Oh. Anyway, Linda's been kidnapped. We need to come see you.” Tim's response told them the question. “Well, the president. Oh sure. Hang on. He wants to talk to you.”
Storm Surge (Quantum Touch Book 5) Page 17