After being recognized as a benefactor to an institution, such as Palomar Observatory, he was able to meet, and subsequently investigate, its employees. He would usually find one with a weakness or need and lure that person onto his special payroll, like he had with Walter Adams. The result of this plan was an international network of eyes and ears in every corner of the scientific and astrophysical communities.
Sometimes he was given valuable data, more often the information was worthless, but occasionally, years of unrewarded patience paid off with one enormous score, like tonight.
He made it a practice to listen personally to an agent's initial report and, depending on its worth, future reports might be delegated to one of Underwood's assistants. He was greatly relieved he had been the first to hear Adams' news. Goose flesh rose on his large bald head as he considered the possibilities presented by the appearance of an extraterrestrial, right here in California, exposing himself for the good of the planet. It was a dream come true for the billionaire.
He refused to consider the asteroid as a serious threat. A magnificent future awaited. The power he knew that would one day be his had not yet come to him. It was not his destiny to build an empire only to have it wantonly destroyed by a freak act of nature.
Adams had not even finished his report before Underwood's mind clicked off the conclusion. The person who could tap the alien's mind would have access to the information he had come to offer, before it could be presented to the scientists. The bargaining power achieved by such a move staggered the imagination. There would be those who would accuse him of extortion at the risk of global destruction, but Underwood considered it taking advantage of an opportunity.
The woman with Romulus sounded like insignificant decoration and was an earthling besides. She was probably just glad to be back in her own world. As a man who covered every angle, however, Underwood decided to have her followed to see where she went when she discovered her companion missing.
By the time he was back in his office, Underwood had written a detailed list of people to call, arrangements to be made and questions to be answered by the alien... for the good of The Underwood Institute. He had not felt so exhilarated in years.
* * *
Two men in waiter uniforms pushed a long, tablecloth-covered cart along the third floor hallway.
"Where the hell you been, Wink?" the shorter man complained in a hushed voice. "I was wondering if you were ever going to show up."
"One of the kids was throwin' up and the old lady was bitchin' about my goin' out tonight. She just don't understand business. Is it ready?" Wink asked, blinking several times.
"Yeah, and I almost didn't make it. Geez, I hate these last-minute rush jobs. I barely finished drilling the hole when the two of them walked up to the door."
"The hell you say! Did they see you?"
"Naw. They were too busy making goo-goo eyes at each other. Hold it. This is the room." Cooper glanced up and down the corridor in his usual cautious manner, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night and the floor was barely occupied. Reassured, he placed his listening device against the door.
"Well? Are they asleep or what?" Wink blinked more rapidly as the time for action drew closer.
"It's quiet. Go ahead insert the hose."
Wink lifted the cloth and unwound a thin hose, carefully feeding one end through the tiny hole in the bottom of the door. He attached the other end to a small tank on the bottom shelf of the cart. When Cooper nodded at him, Wink opened the valve. The gauge indicator dropped as the colorless, odorless gas escaped from its container through the connecting tube. As soon as it read empty, Wink retrieved the hose and plugged the hole.
Five minutes later, Cooper efficiently picked the lock. His lanky partner pulled out the bolt cutters and the chain was split in two. They both donned gas masks and sped the cart into the room, closing the door behind them.
These men were professionals, accustomed to performing their assignments unemotionally and competently. The sensuous scene on the bed momentarily delayed them both. On their sides, the man was cradled in the woman's arms. Cooper and Wink pulled the naked man out of the woman's embrace.
While Wink securely tied the man into a fetal position, Cooper pulled out a huge laundry bag. Spying the clothes on a chair, he stuffed a man's outfit into the bottom of the bag.
"What the hell you doin' now?"
"The orders were to treat this guy like royalty. I don't think he'd appreciate our leaving him without any clothes."
Their victim weighed considerably more than either of them and it took some time to stuff the unconscious body into the bag and hide him on the shelf under the tablecloth.
"What about her?" Wink's eyes twitched rapidly.
"We ain't getting paid to do anything with her."
"Damn, nobody'd have to pay me to do anything with her."
"You're a sick bastard, ya know that? The damn broad's unconscious in case you didn't notice. You been married too long. Let's go! We're already behind schedule."
Reluctantly, Wink helped Cooper push the cart on its way.
Chapter 20
The loud trill of the class dismissal bell vibrated through Aster's head. After four rings, she realized it was not a raucous dream about school but the telephone next to her bed. She clumsily grabbed for the receiver to stop the noise.
"He-hello?" Her raw throat impeded her speech.
"Miss Mackenzie? Aster, is that you? This is Kate Houston."
"Yes," Aster pressed her palm against her other ear in an effort to hear better. She had not yet dared to raise her eyelids to let in the piercing morning light.
"I finally heard from David. He's leaving London immediately. I've reserved a room at Le Parker Meridien in New York and I'm taking the ten o'clock flight out of San Diego. We should both be at the hotel by seven tonight. You will be able to make it, won't you?"
"Of course," Aster managed to whisper a second before her stomach lurched involuntarily. "Please hold on a moment," she pleaded urgently. She dropped the phone on the bed and ran for the bathroom. Although she instantly noticed Rom's absence, it was secondary to her desperate need to reach the toilet.
The contractions in her stomach convulsed into a fist and the remains of last night's dinner shot forcefully up her throat. This was worse than the one hangover she had had when she was a teenager. Even the inside of her nose hurt. Back in Outerworld one day and she'd picked up a virus! So much for the protective beam. She hoped Rom was okay, but realized if he felt as bad as she did, he would still be in bed or at least here in the bathroom with her.
Aster struggled to make her brain function through the pain in her head. Perhaps he went out to get breakfast while she slept in. That didn't sound right. Even in her debilitated mental condition, she did not believe he would have left the room without waking her. If only she could get some aspirin, she was certain she could think clearly again.
Suddenly she remembered the telephone and staggered back to the bed. "Kate? Are you still there?"
"Yes. Is everything all right?"
"I seem to have picked up the flu. I'm horribly sick and Rom's, um, gone out for breakfast. Could I call you back?"
"I'm sorry to hear that. Don't call back. I'll be gone in five minutes. Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Don't worry. We'll be there if I have to bring an airsick bag along with me."
Aster said good-bye and laid her head back on the pillow. She would rest a few minutes until Rom got back.
It was mid-morning when she forced her eyes open again. She felt no better and Rom had not returned. An internal alarm was clanging in her brain. He would never have left without her! Her stomach threatened to revolt again if she moved, but panic began to worm its way into her disoriented mind.
Fighting against her nausea and headache, she dragged herself out of bed to get dressed. Waiting for Rom to return made no sense. Unfortunately, she couldn't think past how awful she felt. She decided that if she made her
self feel better first, she would then figure out where he had gone and why.
She found the desired medication in the gift shop and went to the dining room to look for Rom. When she did not see him, she ordered plain toast and black tea to go, and headed for the front desk. Aster realized her condition improved steadily while she walked around.
As she had in the restaurant, she asked the front-desk clerk if he had seen a man matching Rom's description and was soon convinced he had not come by there either. Next she went out to the parking lot on the remote chance he had taken the car. The Prius was where she had left it. Growing increasingly agitated, she hurried to the pool area, hoping he had been drawn there but Romulus was nowhere to be found.
Something was very wrong. Sitting on a lounge chair, she gulped half a bottle of thick pink liquid. She then forced herself to swallow the dry toast and washed down four aspirins with the strong black tea. The cool crisp air and warm sunshine seemed to help. Aster tried to let her intuition control her thinking. She must not panic. She had to think. Where could he be? She returned to their room, praying they had crossed paths.
This time she noticed his new slacks and shirt were missing but his sweater, shoes and socks were still there. Confusion blended with anxiety and she was aware that the throbbing in her skull was rapidly returning full strength. On impulse, she went back outside and soon felt better again. She recalled stories about poisoned houses and wondered if she might be having a reaction to something in the room. Concerned about drawing too much attention to herself, she decided against reporting the problem in her room.
She returned and stood outside the door. Her watch told her an hour had passed since she started her search. Drawing a deep breath, she held it while she reentered the room. Quickly, she snatched up a shopping bag, filled it with their belongings and escaped the deadly chamber.
Aster's mind ran amok. What if he went back to Innerworld without her, leaving her behind? Maybe he never loved her at all and this was the ultimate goodbye. No! He does love you and need you as much as you need him. Besides, he certainly would not have left his shoes.
She analyzed and rejected every possible excuse for his disappearance and knew she was wasting time. She should be doing something. Terror threatened her sanity. Had they not rehearsed what she should do if they ran into trouble? Aster worried if sufficient time had elapsed to warrant pushing the panic button. Suddenly she was afraid she had waited too long.
Hurriedly at the cashier's desk, she exchanged several bills for a handful of change and found a pay phone. Her shaking fingers missed their mark and her coin clinked to the floor. Ignoring, it she shoved another then several more into the slot. Punching in the Santa Monica telephone number she had memorized, she tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for a response. On the fifth ring, a woman's voice said, "Yes?" Aster then carefully pressed the series of numbers that would tell the party she needed help.
"Hold on," the abrupt voice ordered.
Aster paced back and forth in front of the telephone. Her heart ached from pounding so hard and she had to keep wiping the perspiration from her upper lip. It seemed forever before a man's voice came on the line.
"The Chargers are playing the Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego this afternoon. Enjoy the game." Then she heard a click.
Aster stared at the telephone in shock. He wanted her to go to a football game? He had not been specific about who would meet her or where. Then she remembered that her ring would act like a GPS for the emissary to find her.
After checking out of the hotel, she got a map of San Diego and vague directions to the stadium from the front-desk clerk, along with a warning to expect heavy traffic getting there. Although she did not believe he would ever read it, she left a message for Rom at the front desk.
As she made her way onto the freeway, awareness exploded within her. One blatant clue had eluded her. The chain on the door had not been taken off. It had been cut! She had seen it, but hadn't seen it, until now.
Think, Aster, she prodded herself. They had not eaten or drunk anything in the room, so they probably had not been drugged. Yet she was positive that she had blacked out after they had—
Her foot hit the brake and she swerved off the edge of the highway. She ignored the screeching brakes and honking horns of the cars behind her.
Someone had rendered them unconscious, had entered their room and abducted Romulus. That someone had looked at them, had handled Rom's naked body. Her stomach roiled and she pushed the door open just in time to vomit on the ground. It must have been some kind of gas. That would explain her illness this morning and her burned nasal membranes.
But what had happened to Rom? Only Doctor Houston knew what they were doing there and she felt sure the woman would not have betrayed them. Walter? A definite possibility considering his behavior. Was someone watching her? She had not paid the slightest attention to anyone looking at her, since she was so busy searching for Rom.
She needed the emissary's help, but Rom had impressed on her the importance of keeping that man's identity a secret. She would have to be extremely careful for all their sakes. Pulling back into the traffic, Aster stayed alert for any sign of a car following her.
She soon suspected a gray Audi two cars back. It had been on the side of the road about a mile ahead of where she pulled off, and when she passed it, it reentered the slow-moving traffic behind her. When she exited the interstate and drove toward the stadium, the gray car followed. As she searched for a vacant parking place at the stadium, several tours around the same blocks later, she knew for certain the Audi was tailing her and appeared to have only a single occupant.
Now she understood the wisdom of choosing a meeting place as enormous and congested as the stadium during a game. Even if the person in the Audi was an expert, he would have trouble keeping an eye on her once she was inside. That is, if he ever found a parking space after she did. Finally locating an available parking spot, Aster ran as fast as she could to buy her ticket at the front gate, hoping to take advantage of her tail's predicament.
She hurried to her seat, confident that she had lost him for the moment and pretended to watch the game. After halftime, she began to panic. What would she do if the emissary did not show up by the time the game was over?
She was brought out of her gloomy thoughts by the wildly cheering crowd. The Raiders fumbled on their first down in the third quarter and the Chargers recovered, bringing them within yards of scoring.
I'm here. What do you need?
Aster turned her head from side to side to see who had asked the question. The people around her were jumping out of their seats to get a better view of the exciting play. None of them showed any interest in her nor had they spoken to her.
What's the matter? Am I not coming in clearly? Is your device not functioning properly?
Her device? Aster whirled around again in every direction. Someone was using the homing device in her ear. The problem was she had no idea how to respond.
If you can hear me clearly but can't answer, wave at the hot-dog vendor with your ring hand.
A few rows behind her, Aster caught sight of the vendor coming slowly down the stairs. He was an elderly black man stopping occasionally to sell his food. Aster raised her hand to get his attention, flashing the Innerworld ring in the process.
Put your hand down. Will you please concentrate? I'm not reading anything but a muddle. Holy stars! You're a Terran!
With agonizing slowness, the vendor worked his way closer to her. "You be wantin' a hot dog, missy?" His voice was subservient, but the deep wrinkles in his dark brown face were tense and his black eyes bore into hers. Aster recognized the opal ring on his finger and let out a sigh.
Buy a hot dog. When I hand you your change, drop it. I will help you pick it up. You must let me touch you. It's the safest way. Try to concentrate on the problem.
Aster ordered her food and dropped the change. The man sitting on the aisle next to her did his best to assist her,
his clumsy efforts helping to cover what was transpiring. Swiftly, the emissary's calloused fingers grazed her temple. When he pulled his hand back, she had an idea and blurted it out.
"Can you get Falcon for me?" She realized her mistake as he rolled his dark eyes heavenward and turned his back on her.
The man next to her looked at her quizzically. She shook her head at him and glanced at the vendor's back before returning her attention once more to the game.
The emissary was beyond frustration. The woman's mind was as crowded as the stadium. Through her highly charged emotional state, he gleaned something about Romulus being taken. Her verbal request could have jeopardized both of them if she was being closely watched. He tried another tack.
Do not turn around. I am going to ask you questions. If the answer is yes, tap your ear with the homing device once, twice for no. Do you understand?
One tap.
Has Romulus been abducted?
One tap.
Do you know by whom?
Two taps.
Is Falcon an Innerworld tracker?
One tap.
Do you believe he can help you find Romulus?
One tap.
The emissary relaxed a little. At least he would not have to get involved personally in the hunt. He quickly calculated how long it would take to get Falcon out to her.
Aster was perspiring again, in spite of the cool weather. It was more than nerves. The fever was building inside her and only one thing cooled it. But she couldn't think about that now. She wondered if the emissary had abandoned her when she heard his voice again.
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