An Unlikely Hero (1)

by Tierney James

  Tessa frowned at her lack of comprehension. “I don’t understand.”

  Chase ran his calloused hand across his face. He rolled his shoulders to remove a kink as if he’d been sleeping the wrong way. “Essid tried to take out the reactor at Oak Ridge and Los Alamos where we’re able to produce medical isotopes. Fifteen months ago there was a problem at the facility in Canada where a third of all isotopes are produced. They went off line until this past May. The shelf life of isotopes range from twenty four hours to six months. It didn’t take long for there to be a six month waiting period for valuable isotopes in order to complete treatment of sick patients. Because they never came, in some instances, doctors were forced to do exploratory surgeries and just guess at possible solutions to treatment.”

  “I had no idea,” Tessa said despondently. “Why am I just now hearing about this? I’m a news junkie, I read all the news magazines and yet I knew none of this.”

  “Because, Betty Crocker,” Sam snipped, “people are more interested in how some drug induced celebrity is doing in rehab than the real life drama that is playing out every single day in this country. The news media downplays the characters that would harm us and the dedicated soldiers and civilians who are trying to make a difference.”

  Tessa met Sam’s hard stare head on. “I’m not one of those shallow people, Sam.”

  Sam rolled her eyes flippantly but kept further remarks to herself after noticing Chase glare at her angrily. What was it with him and this insignificant housewife? This keep the innocent civilian safe crap was beginning rub her the wrong way. “There’s another problem,” Sam said tearing her eyes away from Chase to look at her boss.

  “Sam?” Benjamin Clark arched one eyebrow in anticipation.

  “According to this intel,” Sam tapped her folder, “someone has been buying and stockpiling all the Molybedenum-99. It’s very possible that Essid’s primary goal is to corner this unusual market and be a powerhouse, the likes that OPEC has never seen.”

  Vernon let out a whistle. “Screw the Russians, the Americans and make a few bucks on the side. Gotta hand it to him, he’s one smart…” his eyes went to Tessa Scott before dropping one of his colorful nouns, “terrorist.”

  Benjamin nodded to Sam. “Thank you, Sam. As always your insight is refreshing.”

  Sam leaned back in her chair and smiled over at Tessa as if waiting for her contribution to the situation. “Any questions?” she said narrowing her large round eyes at Tessa in contempt.

  Meeting Sam’s eyes with bewilderment, Tessa didn’t dare ask anything that would continue to show her ignorance of national security, terrorists, isotopes and the world of Enigma in general. No wonder they called this organization Enigma; no one was who they seemed, scenarios were riddled with mystery and complexity, and there always seemed to be more questions than answers.

  “As a matter of fact I do. Where are Mr. Crawley and Dr. Haskin’s boys? Have they been found?” Tessa took note of a sudden chill in the room. Something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong?”

  “Essid still has Dr. Crawley, Tessa. We are moving in on that even as we speak. As for Dr. Haskin’s boys, we’ve located them and have sent a team to Tahoe to extract them and will send them to the same safe house as their parents.” Ben’s forced smile was followed by his casual rise from his chair. “Now, Tessa, if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it if you’d wait outside with Ms. Coleman while we go over a few items that doesn’t concern you.”

  “Of course,” Tessa said as she stood up, coffee cup in hand. Carter circled the table and refilled the cup. She thanked him, still in a little awe that here stood the famous astronaut she’d admired for so long. His charming personality, good looks and incredible brain power, had the ability to make Tessa feel a little tongue tied. As hard as she fought the reaction, a warm blush began to spread across her neck and up her face. Carter took note and smiled wolfishly at her before opening the door for her retreat.

  “Didn’t know hot housewives lived in Grass Valley,” Carter chuckled as he poured the last of the coffee in Chase’s cup. “And where did she spend the night, oh honorable captain?”

  “With him,” Sam said tartly as she folded her arms across her chest.

  “Really?” Carter slapped Chase on the shoulder. “And how was that stuff?” Carter nudged Vernon as he returned to his own chair.

  The captain leveled a dangerous look at Carter Johnson, the daredevil and Don Juan. Frowning he let his eyes cut to Sam who smiled teasingly. “That ‘stuff’ as you call it is married. You’d best remember that. Wouldn’t want another incident to tarnish that super hero reputation of yours.”

  Carter slapped his hand over his heart. “Oh, that hurt, Chase. Not my fault I’m popular with the ladies.”

  Zoric had remained quiet, carefully watching his friend Chase, from the time he’d sat down at the table until now when he appeared to be uneasy at the teasing. Normally, Chase ignored Carter’s jabs, but today Chase’s tone could be perceived as a feeling of guilt. “She stayed with you?” Zoric tried not to smile.

  Chase turned his head slightly to glance briefly at Zoric. “Yes. She stayed with me, everyone!” Hearing Ben clear his throat, Chase switched his focus to his boss who looked at him with disapproving eagle eyes. “I slept on the couch.”

  Everyone erupted into laughter except for Ben who rattled his papers a bit and nodded for everyone to settle down. “We have other business to attend. I thought it best if Tessa,” he seemed to catch himself, “I mean Mrs. Scott, not be privy to this next bit of information. After all she may still be of some use to us.” Ben glanced at Chase with controlled amusement. “If she knew everything I’m afraid she just might escape, go to the press, call the police or heaven forbid,” he smiled but for an instant, “injure the captain permanently this time.”

  Laughter again broke out at Chase’s expense. This time he smiled in spite of himself. You had to know when to lighten up. “I thought you were above this kind of harassment, Ben.”

  Ben raised his head and appeared to look down his nose at the entire group. Clearing his throat of a possible laugh, which no one had ever heard, Ben waved a hand, signaling an end to the joking. “I have my moments Chase. Now,” Ben reopened his folder, “unlike Mrs. Scott’s folder you have a few extra pages. It concerns Mr. Scott and the children. However impossible it sounds, the Haskin boys are indeed in the area where the Scotts are vacationing. They were spotted this morning hiking near the Ponderosa Ranch.”

  “So what are we waiting for?” Zoric said as he began cleaning his fingernails with a dangerous looking knife he’d pulled from his dark pants.

  “There’s an FBI team on the way. Helicopter experienced some problems and had to return to Sacramento twenty minutes ago.” Ben leaned back in his chair.

  “Didn’t you say we had someone in place to assist if necessary?” Zoric said returning his knife to his pocket.

  Ben took a second to survey his team calmly before speaking. “True. We’ve had the Scott family under surveillance since their arrival. It seemed prudent after the botched intrusion at the Scott house in Grass Valley. When the pieces started to fall into place it appeared our eyes on the ground needed to keep it close and personal.”

  Captain Chase Hunter stiffened with a gut feeling he was about to hear something to make his job harder. “Just who did you send, Ben? I assured Mrs. Scott her family was safe.”

  Ben reached into his folder and pulled out two pictures and shoved them out into the middle of the table. He hadn’t expected Sam to inhale so quickly or Chase to drop such a look of disdain on him.

  “Are you insane?” Sam questioned as she grabbed the picture, gave it a glance then passed it over to Zoric who motioned to have a look. “Honey Lynch is a psychotic killer and should never be around kids! For God’s sake, Ben, what were you thinking?” Sam stood and placed her hands on her hips. “I can’t believe you’d use her. She can’t be trusted! How do we know she isn’t playing us? It wouldn’t be the fi
rst time.” She reached for the second picture. “Who’s he?”

  Captain Chase Hunter growled a response. “His name is Mansur. He’s Essid’s brother. God help us.”

  Chapter 17

  Robert Scott felt that terror grow in the pit of his stomach like a cancer eating him alive. His eyes narrowed as he shaded them against the morning sun all the while scanning the horizon for his sons. Gently he lowered Heather to the ground. He swallowed so hard one of the Missouri parents asked if there was something wrong. Although he tried to sound nonchalant, Robert’s heart beat rapidly as he explained that his boys had disappeared. Leaving Heather in the capable hands of the Missouri mom, several of the visitors volunteered to help him which he gladly accepted. Even the singing cowboy mounted his horse and joined in the search. Each chose a different area to begin and several were given walkie talkies the cook carried on his chuck wagon for emergencies. They all had cell phones and quickly took Robert’s number. The cook, Bill, said he’d ring the dinner bell for everyone to return if the boys were located or came wandering into camp.

  Robert quickly reached the tree line, pushing through until the forest opened up into another meadow. Stopping to catch his breath, he could hear the other visitors calling out the boys’ names in the distance. He now was living a nightmare that could very well destroy his life. In his heart he prayed so hard for his boys to be safe that he nearly missed seeing two small figures wave at him from some one hundred yards away. With his pounding heart in his throat he could do nothing but wave back at his sons in large circular motions until he saw something black raise up behind them.

  “Dear, God! No!” he choked seeing the black bear sniff the air. Two small bears tried to stand with their mother. “Boys! Don’t move!”

  Robert pointed behind them and they turned to see the large bear nearby. Instinctively, the boys began to back away, holding to each other like a life line. Later, Robert thought he had heard Daniel cry out, but couldn’t be sure as the mother bear let out a growl that made his skin crawl. The boys panicked and began to run toward their father who screamed for them to stop. Sean Patrick tripped and fell, causing his little brother to fall over his sprawled body. The bear began running toward them, swinging her head and crunching sticks, and leaves beneath her feet.

  Robert felt frozen in time, his legs made of logs that would not move fast enough to reach his boys. Just then he heard a sharp, ear piercing whistle that caused the bear to stop and sniff the air. The boys scrambled up and darted toward their father. Robert rushed toward them even as he witnessed Honey Lynch appear some twenty five yards from the bears. Honey whistled again, and then began yelling at the bear all the while lifting her rifle and taking deadly aim at the mother. The first shot staggered the mother but the second brought her down just as Robert scooped his boys up into his arms. A sob escaped his throat but the boys never noticed as they buried their heads and tears in their father’s shoulders.

  As he hugged his boys Robert watched Honey turn the rifle toward him and smile cynically. In that instant, he saw a dangerous woman toying with his sanity, wondering if the next time she pulled the trigger it would be at him. Suddenly, she slightly turned her rifle toward the rise of the hill where two hikers moved leisurely along a path on the ridge. She reloaded slowly, methodically. Robert thought he saw her straightened her shoulders just before she pulled the trigger twice. His mouth opened in astonishment as the two hikers fell. When he turned his eyes back to where Honey stood, Robert saw that she had vanished.

  Setting the boys on the ground, they quickly grabbed their father’s hands and pulled him forward toward the breakfast crowd. When they broke through the trees a cheer went up from the rest of the visitors followed by a loud ring of the chuck wagon bell. Everyone talked excitedly as the three rejoined them. The boys quickly told how their father had saved them from a bear. Robert quietly mentioned to the singing cowboy about a woman ranger named Honey, shooting the animal in the nick of time. The cowboy didn’t know anyone by that name but wasn’t that lucky for them? He also mentioned about the hikers which concerned him even more.

  “Maybe it was those convicts you were talkin’ ‘bout!” the cook broke in. “I’ll be sure to call it in to make sure. Now you folks don’t worry any.” He patted the air with his stubby hands. “There won’t be any bears at the old west town of Virginia City where we’re takin’ ya now! Now wasn’t that excitin’?”

  Robert thought he could do without that kind of excitement and just wanted to get back to the cabin. But the terrorized boys appeared to have gotten their second wind and couldn’t wait to see the gunfight coming up on Main Street in about two hours.

  Ms. Coleman took out pictures of her college age kids to show Tessa, since she asked about her family. She found Tessa an easy target to chat with about her life. No one at Enigma seemed all that interested. Why should they? After all, thanks to the librarian, Claudia, her life was an open book. Part of the job, she told herself. Nothing too personal around that bunch of killer brains, as she liked to call them. Deep down Ms. Coleman wondered if any of them had enough common sense between them to come in out of the rain.

  “That’s right, Tessa. Dr. Cordova, or Sam,” she said rolling her eyes in contempt, “teaches advanced economics here at the university.”

  “You’re part of the university?” Tessa asked in bewilderment.

  “Oh my, yes! They all have second jobs. We don’t just go around saving the day all the time.” With that she gave a little giggle that made Tessa smile as she pulled up a chair alongside the glass topped desk.

  “And the others? I mean if it’s okay for you to tell me.”

  Ms. Coleman clicked her tongue. “Seems to me you’re in it up to your eyeballs, sweetie. You can go online anytime and see what they teach.”

  Tessa’s eyes widened. “They’re all teachers?”

  “PHds!” she giggled again. “That means piled higher and deeper, you know.” She laughed at her little joke and Tessa joined in for the benefit of milking her for more information. “Dr. Zoric teaches art. Looks the part don’t you think?” She shivered. “That one scares the life out of me, what with those bloodshot eyes, greasy long hair and switchblade he’s always flicking out.”

  Tessa continued her plastic smile. “And the others?”

  “That astronaut teaches astrophysics or something like that. Way over my head.” Again she rolled her eyes upward with a breathy giggle. “Vernon manages the computer systems around here. Trust me, that’s a huge job. I believe last semester he taught a class called Government Conspiracies: Truth or Dare.” She leaned in closer to Tessa. “Those Pentagon types drop by sometimes and they usually get in a shouting match. He’s loose cannon if you ask me.”

  “What about Captain Hunter?” Tessa ask casually. He was the one that really interested her.

  Ms. Coleman smiled wickedly and winked. “Now isn’t he a peach! Always says ‘hello, Ms. Coleman, how are you today, is that a new hairdo, makes you look so young. If I were a few years younger I’d set my cap for that one,” she laughed. “He’s solid.”

  “Does he teach here too?” Tessa said off handedly.

  “Sure. Renaissance literature and the romance languages. Dr. Hunter is a popular professor; always has time for his students.” Another giggle. “The women in his department are pretty fond of him too. Seems to me he has a new lady friend every couple of months. Never lasts very long.”

  Good to know, thought Tessa trying to imagine the warrior teaching literature and escorting a lady to dinner. “And Benjamin Clark?”

  At this Ms. Coleman sobered. “He heads Enigma. That’s enough.” She pushed her chair back suddenly and stood. “I need some refreshment. Anything?”

  “Water?”

  “No problem.” Ms. Coleman disappeared into another room, leaving Tessa alone at the desk.

  Tessa started to stand when she accidently caught her sleeve on a folder, pulling it to the floor. The contents spilled out and she bent down quickly
to pick it up, not wanting Ms. Coleman to think she’d been rummaging through her things. When she came across a memo that said, leave out of T. Scott’s folder, her curiosity got the best of her.

  Ms. Coleman returned to see Tessa sitting quietly at her desk. “Here you are, Tessa.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Coleman.”

  “Oh please, call me Glenda.”

  “You know I drank so much coffee that I really need to use the ladies room, Glenda.” She stood and made a movement that made her knees knock together. “It’s that time of the month too. Is there anything…”

  Ms. Coleman smiled in understanding and pointed to the door. “Just outside there to your left. You’ll find everything you need in there. Need some change?”

  Tessa backed toward the door. “No thanks. I put some in my pocket before Chase locked my purse in the car.” Tessa pulled out a flat wallet from her pocket about the size of a coin purse and held it up in the air. “Thank you, Glenda.” Tessa smiled sweetly and casually opened the door.

  The gunfight turned out to be very entertaining for the Scott family. Although still shaken by the events of the morning, Robert too, enjoyed the activities at the Ponderosa Ranch and town. The boys easily ate a Hoss burger, but Robert had to finish Heather’s. After that he longed for a nap. Souvenirs, horseback riding and warm summer sun eventually wore the children down. All three were asleep before they ever left the park. Knowing that he shouldn’t talk on his cell phone with the children in the car, Robert pulled over at a scenic overlook to try and reach Tessa one more time. He just didn’t understand why she wasn’t picking up. By the sound of her voice two nights ago, Robert had thought she’d forgiven him and Tessa would soon be joining them. How was he going to tell her about the bears? He shuttered to think what might have happened if Honey had not come along.