USSR Hoax (Hoax Trilogy Book 3)

by Paul Gillebaard

  When they reached the door, Gerald turned around, rubbing his hands together. “Gentlemen, you are about to see something amazing and special—moon rocks brought back by Apollo 11. Please check that your caps and gloves are on properly.”

  Tensely, Tom adjusted his cap as he tried to figure out what he should do. The senator suddenly piped up with a question about the containment procedures. Both Lloyd and Walter moved toward the senator to address the query. This was Tom’s chance to get a private moment with Gerald. Tom shuffled over and looked both ways before leaning in close. Without saying a word, he wiggled his eyebrows up and down before flashing a thumbs-up sign.

  Gerald tilted his head slightly before nodding with a grin. He put a firm hand on Tom’s shoulder and whispered, “You’re right, all is going to plan.” The manager pulled away with a quick wink.

  Tom let out a sigh of relief, having found his accomplice. He took the comment as a statement that everything was still a go. He was about to quietly confirm his assumption and ask if he should go through with the heist when, surprisingly, Gerald followed up his comment with, “The senator does look happy.”

  Tom jerked his head back. What? Did Gerald think my signal was about the tour and what the senator thought? Tom was back to square one. Damn! He forced a smile as he disappointedly stepped back and double-checked that his gloves were secure. Once everyone was ready, Gerald typed in the code on the door keypad. Hearing the loud opening sound of the latch echoing down the empty hallway caused Tom to shudder. He still had no idea what he was going to do. He stepped aside to let the others enter, looking each in the eye in his last-ditch effort to establish who was in on the plan. After they all passed, he shook his head in disappointment. He had no clue. As he followed dejectedly, he figured if any workers were in the lab, the caper was off. If not, then he would make his decision when the senator was escorted out for the phone call.

  Tom passed through a small work area before entering the lab, getting his first look at the gleaming, round-the-clock, sterile room. His heart skipped a beat when he saw no scientists inside. He maintained his composure as he scanned the area filled with white surfaces, cold metal, glass panels and the unearthly presence of nitrogen tanks. As nonchalantly as he could, he searched for the black safe.

  Dr. Brooks, in front of Tom, pointed proudly to one of the clear glove boxes filled with protective nitrogen that had a moon rock sitting inside. “This laboratory conducted the preliminary testing of the Apollo 11 rocks, verifying they were free of any contamination. We of course will be doing more detailed testing and research later in the operations room. I should point out that this facility had to go through a rugged three-month trial period before it was certified by the ICBC. I’m pleased to say we passed that rigorous inspection with flying colors.”

  The doctor was embellishing a bit. Casually, Tom looked along the perimeter of the room trying to spot the safe.

  The senator stared at the glove box and said, with a sense of authority, “What if a deadly organism is brought back from one of the other missions?”

  Dr. Brooks answered calmly, “We’re positive that won’t happen, especially after the astronauts and lunar material from the Apollo 11 mission were tested and cleared. However, we will still take the same precautionary measures on all future missions until otherwise advised.”

  The senator persisted, wanting an answer to his question. “What if something deadly is found on a later mission?”

  The doctor folded his arms as he shot the senator a frustrated look. Bluntly, he said, “In the worst case scenario, this building would be buried under dirt, sacrificing all the lives inside.”

  Hearing that harsh reality from the director caused Tom to stop for a moment. Wow, kill the returning astronauts. Though Tom was convinced no such deadly organism existed, being exterminated to avoid spreading contagion from outer space was still a scary thought. He shook his head as he resumed his search. He peered around the side of the last glove box. He swallowed hard when he saw the black safe sitting on the floor in a well-lit corner of the room. It was about the size of a small refrigerator. It seemed to be summoning him. There you are, you little rascal. While the men continued talking, Tom studied the surrounding area, trying to figure out the best way to carry out the heist. He discreetly undid a few buttons on his lab coat, allowing easy access to one of the large pockets of his flight suit.

  Tom snapped to attention hearing a crackling voice blare out of the intercom speakers above. “Dr. Brooks, there is an urgent call for Senator Olson. He can take it in room 33.”

  The cue gave Tom goose bumps. He looked over to see who was going to escort the senator out, eliminating him as his accomplice.

  Surprisingly, Gerald spoke up. “Senator, follow me. I’ll take you over to where the phone is.”

  The senator looked peeved. As he turned to follow Gerald, he said, “Damn it. Sorry about this, gentlemen.”

  As the men left, Tom looked over to the doctor and Walter, both standing in awkward silence, staring right back at Tom. He did his best to flash a relaxed smile even though his heart was practically pounding out of his chest. With the clock started, his ride to the moon hung in the balance. He needed to make a move, but he couldn’t with two men in the room.

  Finally, Dr. Brooks broke the stillness as he rubbed his gloved finger along one of the white counter tops. “Walter, are there any sterile gloves in here?”

  Walter pointed toward the entrance. “I think there are some in the other room.”

  Tom darted his gaze nervously back and forth between the two men, trying to figure out who was working with him.

  Without saying another word, Dr. Brooks turned and exited.

  Was Walter his man? He was the last one Tom would have suspected. With the senator returning soon, Tom had to know. He wiggled his eyebrows in Walter’s direction hoping for some kind of a signal. The man looked amused as he simply smiled before wheeling around on the heels of his shoes, positioning his back toward Tom.

  Wow, he turned around. Maybe he is in on the plan. Tom shifted nervously on the balls of his feet. It was now or never if he wanted to walk on the moon. I’m doing this. As he turned toward the safe, Dr. Brooks called out from the other room.

  “Walter, can you come in here a second?”

  Tom abruptly halted. Is it Dr. Brooks? He was now totally confused.

  Walter answered, “Sure.” He left the room, never looking back.

  It didn’t matter who was in on the plan, the room was empty and this was Tom’s only shot. He leaped to the floor in front of the safe and clutched the handle, yanking down hard. The damn thing didn’t budge.

  Shit! Not this. If the safe didn’t open, his moon mission was lost.

  Tom held his breath as he rotated the lever in the other direction. A deep sigh of relief escaped him when the handle easily turned, unlocking the safe. He hurriedly opened the metal door, frantically searching through the various shelves for the small, silver metal cylinder. Within seconds he located the one labeled RD and snatched it. The senator’s voice in the other room indicated the men would soon be returning. He hastily pushed the heavy door closed and sprang back to his feet. He took a few steps away, turning his back toward the entrance. He bent over, and ripped open the Velcro flap of a large pocket on his left leg and quickly slipped in the canister before sealing the pouch. As he straightened up, he heard footsteps entering. Not having enough time to button his coat, he instead coolly slipped his hands into the pockets and moved his hands together, covering up the unbuttoned portion of the coat. He turned casually as Dr. Brooks led the group back into the room.

  The doctor said excitedly, “Senator, let me show you where we store the rocks.”

  Tom smiled in their direction, realizing they were coming over to inspect the safe. When he looked over to the black box, he went into a sudden state of shock seeing the small door was slightly ajar.

  Damn it! I didn’t close it all the way!

  The open safe was a
security breech. The standard procedure for such an incident was to put the whole building into lockdown mode, requiring everyone, no matter who they were, to be physically searched. Somehow he had to close that door before it was noticed, or he was doomed—but how?

  He looked back over to see the men less than eight feet away trucking right at him. He fought the impulse to panic as his mind began spinning, trying to figure out what to do. Suddenly it hit him. As Dr. Brooks approached, Tom shuffled his feet backward to get out of their way then purposely tripped over his own feet, appearing to fall awkwardly backward toward the safe. He intentionally extended his arm behind him to make it look like he was trying to soften the blow. But instead, as his body hit the ground hard, his arm slammed onto the vault door, closing it shut tight. He brushed the handle with his arm as he fell past, re-latching it.

  Dr. Brooks and Gerald rushed around the corner to help Tom up. “Are you okay?”

  Though Tom felt a little dazed, he couldn’t have been happier. “I’m fine, just a little embarrassed, I guess.”

  As Gerald helped Tom up, he overheard the senator saying in a patronizing voice. “That’s one of our astronauts?”

  Tom just smiled.

  TOM LET OUT a deep sigh as he reached his desk, relieved to have the lunar sample safely in his pocket and to be free of the senator. He looked at his watch. It was 5:10. Taking David to the tire shop was the perfect excuse to leave the office and put the stolen container securely in his home safe. He figured he would return later to meet with Dick and inform his boss of the successful heist.

  Tom’s best shot at sneaking the metal canister off the grounds was putting it in his briefcase, but he first had to get it in there without being seen. He scanned the other desks to check if anyone was looking in his direction. Satisfied the coast was clear, he set his briefcase on his desk and lifted the lid. He then opened his desk drawer and grabbed some paperwork to help cover up the container when he removed it from his pocket. He took a final look around before bending down and pulling open his pants pocket flap. He slowly pulled out the canister, ensuring it stayed hidden behind the paper. As he slowly rose, he was startled by David’s voice from behind.

  “What’s ya doing, Tom?”

  Without thinking, Tom set the container in his desk drawer with the paperwork on top and quickly closed the drawer. He spun around with a determined look. “Getting ready to go. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten I’ve got to get you to the tire shop.”

  David appeared irritated. “Where have you been?”

  Tom didn’t blink as he looked David squarely in the eyes. “I told you this morning, I had to show a senator around. But I’ll be ready to leave in a second.”

  “Stu has a quick question for you about his spacewalk. Do you have a moment?”

  Stu Bailey was the CMP on the same backup crew as David. Since their crew was probably rotating into an “I” mission, Stu would be required to do a deep space EVA to retrieve the scientific cameras on the outside of their spacecraft. Since Tom was one of the few astronauts to have done a spacewalk, Stu probably felt Tom could answer his question. Frustrated, Tom had to close his briefcase without the canister in it. He took a quick glance down at his desk drawer ensuring it was shut tight. “Sure.” He would try transferring the canister again when he finished with Stu. Tom followed David down the hallway.

  When Tom returned to his desk ten minutes later, he was anxious to get the container into his briefcase and get the stolen property off NASA grounds. David had walked over to his own desk to retrieve his belongings so the two could leave together. Tom whisked through the exercise again. He opened his briefcase and took a quick glimpse around to verify it was safe to transfer the container. Certain no one was looking, he opened his drawer.

  Tom’s heart stopped as he froze in shock. No lump lay under the paperwork.

  Frantically he lifted the paper, which only substantiated his fears. The canister was gone. What! Where the hell is it?

  14

  LOST SECRET

  Damn it, where are you? Tom’s stomach churned as he started rummaging desperately through his desk drawer in a mad search for the canister, hoping for a small miracle; that it might appear.

  An unexpected poke in Tom’s back caused him to jump. He swiveled around to see David towering over him empty handed, not ready to leave. He had a peculiar smirk.

  “What are you doing, Tom?”

  Tom tried to keep his cool. “Nothing.”

  David gave the impression he was trying to peer over Tom’s shoulder into the drawer. “Did you see anything in there?”

  That was an odd question from his suddenly nosy friend. Did David see the canister earlier? Nervously, Tom pushed in the drawer behind him. “In where? The drawer? No, why?”

  “Then what are you doing?”

  Why the twenty questions? Something was up. Tom answered with a logical response. “I’m looking for my keys so I can get you to the tire shop by 5:30.”

  David continued to search around Tom’s desk.

  Tom cocked an eyebrow. “What are you looking for?”

  A sudden upset expression appeared on David’s face. He said, in an uncharacteristic grumble, “Nothing. I need to get something off my desk before we leave. I’ll meet you at your car.” Then he stormed off.

  Rubbing his chin, Tom was convinced David’s strange behavior probably involved the canister.

  Of the handful of desks near Tom, only a few were occupied. After a final unsuccessful search of his drawer, he quickly scrambled around asking those astronauts close by if they had seen anyone around his desk. They all answered “no,” but one said it with a sly grin. Something was going down, and Tom hoped it was just an innocent joke. Regardless, he had to come up with a plausible story of why he was in possession of a sealed LRL canister. He noted the time was 5:25. David was probably his best source for answers. He quickly snagged his keys and hurried to his car. If David didn’t have any insight, Tom was in trouble.

  Tom hustled over the hot asphalt parking lot in the early evening heat toward his blue Stingray. David was already standing by the car, looking restless, rocking on the balls of his feet. Tom observed a cardboard box on the ground next to David.

  Impatiently, David called out, “Tom we’ve got to get going. It’s already 5:30.”

  With the magnitude of what was going on, getting his friend to the tire shop was the least of Tom’s concerns. “I’ll have you there in five minutes. I’m sure you’ll still be able to get your car.”

  Sweating bullets within his flight suit, Tom jumped in and immediately started up the engine. He attributed the perspiration to his frayed nerves as he cranked on the air conditioner full blast. David entered and set the medium-sized box on his lap.

  Tom noticed cut holes along the sides of the cardboard container. He rolled down his window. “What’s that?”

  “It’s my son’s pet snake.”

  Maybe this was part of some practical joke and why the canister is missing. Tom arched an eyebrow. “What the hell are you doing with a snake?”

  “It was supposed to scare the shit out of you. I wanted to get you back for building that damn brick wall at my front door.”

  Right away Tom had a good inkling where the reptile’s ultimate destination was to have been. He kept his cool as he checked his rearview mirror and backed up the car. “Where were you going to put it?”

  “In your desk drawer. I’ve been planning this for weeks. But Dusty screwed it up.”

  Tom’s hunch was right, and hopefully Dusty had the canister. He pushed in the clutch and jammed the stick shift into first gear and headed out of the parking lot. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. At the last minute, Dusty got called away from his desk. He asked Chris to deliver the snake while I escorted you out. But for some reason, the idiot didn’t do it.”

  Hearing Riddick could have the lunar material caused Tom to tighten his grip on the steering wheel. He did his best to stay calm
. “Did Chris go to my desk?”

  “No, he gave me some lame excuse why he forgot. I think he’s full of shit. I don’t know why he didn’t do it, but it was a major challenge to get this snake out of the house. My son begged me not to take it. Joan even complained. So I pretty much blew my one opportunity.”

  Tom was now certain Chris had the canister and probably didn’t put the snake in his desk so as to avoid leaving any evidence someone had opened the drawer. Tom couldn’t come across as being upset. He casually rolled up his window once cool air from the vents hit him in the face. He cracked a smile. “That would have definitely shocked the hell out of me. Too bad it didn’t work. I hate snakes.”

  “I know.” David looked out his window. “Chris is an idiot.”

  The Corvette’s engine roared as Tom pressed the pedal to the floor, racing across NASA 1 toward the tire shop. He had to get back to the office before Chris smuggled the material off the grounds.

  When Tom returned to Building 4, he quickly vaulted up the stairs two at a time to the third floor level, where the astronauts’ offices were. He first stopped off at his desk to pick up his briefcase, ensuring he had a way to sneak the container from Chris’s office if he in fact had it. With his case in hand, Tom rushed down the corridor. A silhouette burst around the corner holding a briefcase. Once the man entered the brightly lit hallway, Tom could see it was Chris. Tom’s heart skipped a beat knowing he had almost missed the man.

  Chris approached, a composed expression on his face. “Hey, Tom.”

  Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Tom tried to keep his emotions in check. “Chris, I need to talk to you for a moment.”

  Not stopping, Chris said, in a quiet, yet frank tone, “Sorry, buddy, I’m late for an appointment. Can it wait until tomorrow?”

  Tom grabbed Riddick’s arm and wrapped his fingers tightly around it as he passed, halting him dead in his tracks. “This can’t wait.”

  Chris sighed. “Okay, but please make it quick.”