Alpha Threat
Page 40
Armed with the information Dane and Hugo provided, the Brazilian army mopped up the area around the site of Fortress Alpha where the threat existed. They found few remnants of the once large complex. On the site stood a five hundred foot cinder cone created when the volcano under the Fortress erupted due to Hugo’s explosives expertise. A scant few Germans who survived surrendered without further injuries. Most were in no mood to fight anymore. The hard core Nazis followed the path of the leader of the Third Reich and took their own lives.
The U.S. government along with INTERPOL and several Nazi hunting groups scoured the U.S. and the world for the Nazis’ contacts. Armed with information from Dane and Hugo along with information from Nathan Nader, the FBI joined in the hunt. Hundreds of arrests were made, including the persons responsible for the death of Klaus Nader back in Miami.
The FBI and the Federal government also struck an agreement with Lily and Nathan Nader ensuring them a comfortable lifestyle for the remainder of their lives. With Nathan Nader’s help the FBI cracked the gold trafficking scheme in Miami, uncovering secret information that lead to the capture of those traffickers around the world. Governments in Japan, Switzerland, Germany and several other Asian countries cooperated fully. Both Albert Jackson and Dieter Blocher had been caught trying to flee to Cuba via Mexico.
Everyone was happy… except the Germans. The two governments involved put a cap on the information surrounding the scheme. The media was oblivious to most of the story although they had picked up and reported on several of the arrests. The Naders were safe and well. Dane and Hugo were very, very rich men. It goes without saying that Princeton received a hefty endowment and Dana and Randall’s work was fully funded for many years to come. Ben, Tim and Lee would only accept the paltry sum of $500,000 each after Dane and Hugo threatened them with their lives. It seemed both of them were very happy to live out their lives in the Amazon they loved. Lee decided to stay with her brother Ben in Cotriguacu, Brazil, her new home.
Miami Beach was still hot. Even for Florida in August. A full five weeks since they left the Amazon, Hugo and Dane drove up Ocean Drive and pulled into the parking lot of the Beach Patrol in Hugo’s jeep parking under a palm tree. Hugo rubbed his side. His wounds were healing well but still bothered him a bit. During the past weeks they had been debriefed by the CIA, FBI, the State Department, representatives of the United States Joint Chiefs and threatened with all manner of ills by the United States and Brazilian governments. But they survived them all and were back in Miami.
“Damn, I never thought I would be so glad to be back here at work,” said Hugo loudly. “Yes!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. Dane laughed. The door of the Beach Patrol headquarters burst open and Sherrie Knowlton and Wayne Johnson came running out to meet them.
“Dane, Hugo!” yelled Sherrie. “Thank God you two are back. Dane, how are Dana and Randall?” She said all of this in one breath. She ran around to Dane’s side of the jeep as he stepped out. “Is it okay for an employee to hug and kiss her boss?” she asked, not stopping for an answer. “Oh, hell, why ask.” Sherrie grabbed Dane around the neck, gave him a warm hug and planted a nice wet kiss on his lips. Her smile was huge. “You have no idea how glad we are to see you guys,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“That,” said Dane, “was the best welcome back I could ever have.” He showed his appreciation at being back at home with a broad smile. “Dana and Randall are fine. A little beat up but nothing a nice vacation can’t fix.”
“And what about you two?” asked Wayne, shaking Dane’s hand vigorously.
Hugo stood up in his jeep. “We, ladies and gentlemen, are very fine!”
“He hasn’t changed a bit,” cried Sherrie, running around to Hugo’s side of the jeep. “He’s still my kind of man.”
“Yes, Miami Beach, U.S.A. The ladies still love me!” yelled Hugo, jumping down to the parking lot and embracing Sherrie and giving her a big Texas-sized kiss.
Dane walked around and all four of them stood beside the jeep. Dane removed his dark glasses, closed his eyes and raised his face toward the bright sun. “There is no place like home. I actually got tired of looking up and seeing nothing but trees in the jungle canopy. This sun feels great. I can’t wait to hit the beach!”
Wayne was the first to ask what everyone wanted to know. “How was it, really?” he asked quietly. Dane’s smile eroded to a concerned look. He paused as if he were literally going to some other place.
“It was hell. Plain and simple,” he said in a monotone voice. “Good people died that shouldn’t have.” He stopped for a second to gain his composure. He put his sunglasses back on. “But we can talk about that later. Right now we both want to quietly savor being back safe and sound,” said Dane, trying to be a bit more upbeat. “I asked Dana and Randall to come down. They should be here any time.”
“Great! I can’t wait to see my sister,” said Sherrie. “Well, not my real sister but to me she will always be my sister.”
Wayne told Dane about Nathan Nader and his mom.
“That’s great, Wayne. I’m glad everything worked out for them,” said Dane. Dane didn’t mention the solution for the Naders was a key point in their government negotiations.
The warm breeze off of the ocean rustled the palm leaves above them. Dane looked up at the palms. “Now, that is music to my ears.” The group laughed.
“So how’s things going since we were gone?” asked Dane, surveying the beach.
“Same-o, same-o,” remarked Wayne. “Sherrie’s still the Queen of Baywatch and I’m simply one of her loyal subjects.” The group roared with laughter.
“After what we have been through there is nothing sweeter than being able to laugh along with you guys,” mused Dane.
Before anyone could add anything they all turned at the sound of a horn. A sweet, brand new Melbourne Red BMW Z4 35is roadster turned into the parking lot. It still had the dealer plates.
“And there they are now,” said Dane with a big grin. The car slipped in beside the jeep and came to a stop in the sandy lot.
“Hey,” squealed Sherrie, almost running over Hugo to get to Dana. Still weeks later, Dana still bore the scars of her ordeal. She had two teeth missing from her once beautiful smile and there was still a slight bruise visible on her right cheek. Sherrie’s smile vanished when she saw her. “Oh, my God, Dana, are you all right?”
Dana smiled widely, exposing her two lost teeth. “I sure am,” she blurted. “I and Randall is gonna try out for hillbilly parts at the picture show.” Sherrie looked at her and then at Randall, who smiled showing his missing teeth. Stunned for a second, Sherrie burst into laughter.
“Well, I would say you two would win that there part hands down,” she exclaimed. “Still, welcome back.” Dana climbed out of the car and gave Sherrie a big hug.
Dana’s smile morphed into pursed lips. Her eyes filled with tears. “Sherrie, both Randall and I are so, so happy to be here, thanks to these two guys.”
“Yeah, these two were like the cavalry coming at the nick of time,” added Randall, stepping out of the roadster. “I swear I always liked Dane, but when I saw his face when he came to get us, well, let’s just say I will never forget it.” Randall held out his hand to Dane and gave him a strong handshake, then a hug. “Thanks, brother.” He turned to Hugo and shook his hand and gave him a hug as well. “Thanks to you too. These two are the best in my book,” said Randall, patting both on the back.
“Mine too,” added Dana. “Well, maybe my dentist will be up there too when I get these teeth fixed.” They all laughed; one big happy family again. “Hey, where does a girl get a Diet Coke around here?”
“Come on in,” replied Wayne. “We have a cooler full of ice-cold ones upstairs.”
“Sounds like my kind of place,” quipped Dana. As the group walked toward the headquarters building, Dane and Hugo followed.
“Oh, hey, boss, we need to meet someone at three o’clock.” Dane gave Hugo a questioning look but said nothing
. “You know that investment friend of mine. We gotta do something with our newly found wealth.”
Dane smiled as he realized Hugo was right. They had a boatload of money now. Free and clear. Dane stopped in his tracks, thought for a second. “He can wait, Hugo. We don’t have to do anything for a while.”
Hugo grinned and nodded his agreement. “Damned straight, Boss…damned straight.” They continued their walk up the steps of the Beach Patrol headquarters. “Hey, Dane, let’s go look at the yachts this afternoon. I may want to pick up a nice boat.” Dane slapped Hugo on the back.
“All in good time, my friend, but first, all I want is a Diet Coke and a long vacation.”
About the Author
This is Ron Smoak’s first novel. Born and raised in South Carolina, he graduated from Clemson University and is a retired Information Technology professional living in Canton, GA outside of Atlanta with his wife Lee and cat Hobie. He is an avid traveler. His love of adventure novels led him to write his own.
Ron plans to continue this series with more adventures of Dane Skoglund and Hugo Winsor. Keep on reading!
Connect With Ron Smoak
To connect with author Ron Smoak,
Please visit www.ron-smoak-books.com
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
CHAPTER SIXTY
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER SIXTY- NINE
CHAPTER SEVENTY
EPILOGUE