AFatBoyisMissing

by A Fat Boy Is Missing (v1. 0) (lit)

  "Damn it Jake, you know the mind of the military. You are told to stand, march, shit and screw. You don't question orders and you certainly don't look in crates that the manifest says are sandbags. No one bothered. But as for the details of the flight that's another thing. The pilot said it was a normal flight. His navigator was a replacement, but according to the pilot he was regular air force.

  The only thing that was different was having the radiation technician on board. But that was part of the new orders. He was to check on the safety of the bomb or bombs and had the ability and orders to take any action including jettisoning the bombs if the flight was in danger. As you know he was never found.

  The only queer thing that the side gunner reported was that the new bombardier went nuts and started to attack the crew. He was lost when he fell out the open bomb bay after the radiation technician jettisoned the bomb when the captain told the crew to abandon ship. The side gunner said he was too busy with getting the crew to the rear that he didn't see what happened to the radiation technician. He said he had rescued him after the bombardier had hit him with a hammer, but in the confusion as the plane headed down in a final dive, he didn't see the technician eject."

  "I didn't tell you that Sarah and I found her father's parachute harness up in a tree near the site where part of the wing became detached. So maybe he did get down. Maybe he and that stranger, that unknown man from intelligence were on the plane when it miraculously regained height and flew north!"

  "Jesus Jake! What the hell happened on that flight? I was just speculating about the missing bomb. But if it was that new prototype, it was our latest bomb. If the Soviets got hold of that well they'd give us a run for our money. There is no doubt about that!"

  "Well, something happened on that flight and I need to get into the records. If someone screwed up big time or was a Soviet spy, no wonder my informant tells me that there are some people who want that secret to go to the grave. I just don't like the idea that anyone I care about may be put in that grave too!"

  "I'll say amen to that!" Betty said, as she finished her drink in one gulp. "Jake, I thought this would be a nice visit. I didn't think you'd come and endanger our lives!"

  "Betty, I'm as surprised as you are. I thought it was just an innocent inquiry. I had better get hold of Sarah. If people are watching us, then maybe her life is in danger too."

  Chapter Thirteen - The Proposition

  So far Jake had only succeeded in getting a little information. The other source that had provided the warning was also trying to find out what had happened over 20 years ago. But any inquiry might generate an angry response so it had to be done in such a manner that no instant retribution would flow back to the questioner.

  Belinda had gone back to her mansion after warning Jake to be very careful. She too had a sinking feeling that somehow his question and his attempt to address a secret to ease the concerns of a girl who had stepped into his life was an event that might cause catastrophic effects in certain people's lives. Those people wouldn't be the lowly foot soldier or an average citizen. Those who wanted the secret of 20 years ago kept were now in government, or in the offices of some of the more powerful American companies. They had a vested interest in silencing anyone who threatened to expose their past and maybe their disloyalty. She knew that even with all her friends and contacts her life would be thrown away without a care to save the reputation of some people.

  She phoned Jake, but from a phone booth almost a mile from her home.

  "Jake, we need to talk. Remember when we met recently there is a little diner on that street? Can you come for about 7:30?"

  Her caution was infectious. Did she suspect that her phone was tapped or his might be?

  The restaurant was just a small hole in the wall. 'Rupert's Family Diner'. He looked at the grungy cubicles and smiled. If he had a family this would be the last place he'd taken them.

  A few minutes after Jake settled down into a booth a down and out bag lady came in. Jake ignored her as she shuffled past his table. "Now Jake is that any way to treat a lady?"

  Her voice took on the deep laugh that he knew so well.

  "You sure are being careful. If I had known how serious you were I'd have come in my Rip Van Winkle costume." he replied.

  "Jake, one does what is necessary. I have a bad feeling about this whole thing," she said, as she sat down.

  "The commander who was responsible for that B-36 flight is our Joint Chief of Staff. I understand that he doesn't want any questions raised about a missing bomb or your mystery flight."

  "Why is this all so secret? Do you know what happened? Was there a second bomb on board?"

  She looked behind her and bent closer so her voice was just a whisper. He had to strain to hear her.

  "That bomb was the most modern piece of weaponry we had. When it disappeared off the New Mexico base security clamped down, no one really knows how it was stolen.

  Your flight is another strange case. All the surviving crew were re-assigned to isolated spots around the globe. They read the riot act to them that if so much as a word got out they'd be thrown into Levonworth or some other prison.

  The pilot died in an air accident the following year and would you believe it nearly every one of those men died within a year of the crash," she sighed.

  "Jake I don't like it. Someone is walking on my grave. I may have a lot of ammunition in case someone tried to shut me up, but even that may not protect me. If the Soviets got that bomb it's not part of the official record. But there was something else. A Soviet submarine was found while in Canadian waters at that time."

  "Jesus, are you saying that a Red submarine came in and collected that stolen bomb?" Jake whispered.

  "I'm not saying anything. I'm not even here. I don't have any answers. It might still be up on the mountain that you and your girl visited a couple of weeks ago. My contacts couldn't get access to the report on what was found there. Maybe in it are the answers you need."

  Jake drank the remains of a coke the waitress brought. It gave him some time to think.

  "Damn it Mabel, you've raised more questions than answers. I also know that you are taking risks for me. Now go back to your role as the most beautiful mistress on the Potomac and Hudson Rivers. Don't take any more risks for me. But I appreciate what you have done."

  Mabel reached over and touched his arm. "Jake, I always thought you were special. I'll keep my head down on my

  pillow and if I hear anything, I'll let you know. Take care and don't do anything rash."

  She left as she had come and her outfit let her blend into the depressing atmosphere.

  Jake sat for another 30 minutes and tried to figure out what to do next. He had to see Sarah. That was only thing he knew for certain.

  * * *

  The telegram that arrived on the weekly supply truck was not expected and Sarah reread it for the third time.

  Dear Sarah:

  First things fi rst, I miss you terribly! Can you meet me in LA or San Fran Thursday this week? We need to talk. It's safer if you meet me in a neutral place.

  Love Jake

  She put the telegram down and then picked it up again. Where did he want to meet? Where exactly in LA or San Francisco? What was Jake up to? She just didn't know. Did it have something to do with his trip to New York? Could his old girl friend still have a claim on him? She didn't enjoy those thoughts and it changed her mood of happiness to that of fear, sadness and doubt.

  Damn him, he had a way that always left her on pins and needles, but then she remembered their special times together. He had never brought up his old flame. It was only a comment from Jake's father that had planted that unwanted bit of information. No, Jake's message must have to do with his promise to find out more about her father's flight, but why all the secrecy?

  "Sarah are you ready to go out to the site?" Peter asked.

  She hadn't even heard him approach. She looked up and tried to put on a smile, but that didn't come easily. Was Jake in
trouble? Had she put him in danger by asking questions that the military had refused to answer?

  Peter can you do me a favour? Can you take the supply

  truck and send out a telegram for me?"

  "Sure. Is the message ready?"

  She quickly scribbled it down. It was short and to the

  point:

  Jake Yes. Name the place and time and I'll be there!

  Love Sarah

  She handed it to Peter and knew that now at least here in the camp they would know that she had someone special back home.

  "Congratulations! This guy Jake is a lucky guy."

  Peter's voice had a sad ring to it. Was he disappointed that she cared for someone else?

  "Peter, I really appreciate you doing this for me. Wait for an answer, too, please."

  Jake telegraphed that he'd be flying in San Francisco from New York the night before and would book her a room at the Hilton, the one closest to Fisherman's Wharf.

  She wondered what it was all about. Then another thought occurred to her. What sort of arrangements would Jake make? Would he assume something about their relationship that was still not settled? She wasn't prepared for that sort of pressure. She hoped he wouldn't make a single booking

  for the two of them. She wanted to see Jake again and she wanted to feel his strength when he held her in his arms.

  Life was getting complicated. Being here on her archaeological site and doing what she loved was what made her happy. Now her life was being pulled in different directions. She knew that her visit to B.C. had started something. She had to find out what happened to her father, but she had stumbled across love as well. That was what was causing her concerns. Yet ever since she had returned she had felt lonely, as if a part of her life had been left in the little village where The Fat Lady was now up on blocks.

  Jake's flight landed in San Francisco at 3:45 p.m. and he took the shuttle to the Hilton.

  "I have reservations in the names of Sarah Redbourne and Jake Dorchet. Did you manage to get the rooms across from each other?"

  "Let me check. No, I'm sorry but we did get you on a ninth floor where the rooms are side by side. I hope that is acceptable?"

  "Yes, that will be fine. " Jake said as he finished signing in.

  "Can I help you do anything else?"

  "Is there a flower shop nearby?"

  "We have one on site, but there is a larger one three blocks down on your right. They do a very nice centerpiece and the like. If you go there tell them that Brad recommended them to you, they might even knock off a few dollars."

  Jake thanked the clerk and took the elevator to his room. Sarah was due in at 11 the following morning and would have to deal with the time change tomorrow.

  He took off his coat and threw it on the extra bed. He wished she were here right now. He was tired and worried and it was probably good that he could get a full night sleep first. He hoped he wouldn't dream of spies and hidden agendas that were fast becoming reality in his search for the truth about Sarah's father.

  He put his head on his pillow and fell asleep. When he woke up it was 1 a.m. He had come into his room a 5 p.m. and passed out. Well at least he got some sleep. He had been burning the candle at both ends in New York.

  He felt stale and took the rest of his clothes off and got under the covers. In only a few hours Sarah would be here. He was looking forward to being with her and had been happy to receive her telegram.

  He was waiting for her when the plane landed. There was a full load of passengers and then he saw her. She was dressed in a light green blouse and matching skirt and she looked fabulous. In fact it was the first time he had seen her in a skirt. While she had been up in his neck of the woods, jeans were her normal attire, but when he saw her now, it only reconfirmed that she was a very attractive woman.

  He waved to catch her attention and she returned his greeting from the customs line. As the customs officer had her open her luggage. Jake saw her curse under her breath. He laughed at her look of discomfort, as the officer felt around in her carefully packed clothes and personal belonging.

  Sarah hadn't liked that and when she was given a clearance she was still fuming. But that was their job and maybe she had been selected as a likely candidate for trafficking dope. Well, that was one statistic that the customs were wrong about, she had never touched the stuff and would never. She had seen the results both back at university and on

  the streets of both big cities and smaller communities those vacant eyed youth who lived from one fix to another.

  "I'd have been here earlier if that officer hadn't wanted to feel around in my stuff," were her first words of greeting.

  "Go easy on him, Sarah. I've always want to feel around in your stuff especially when you are wearing them."

  She looked at him and laughed and it helped dispel the mood that had being growing in her.

  "Jake, I should have know you were in cahoots. He's probably giving you the records on all my sizes and intimate apparel."

  " Damn, I never thought of that. You look wonderful. I missed you. It seems months ago that you were bundled up in clothing that made you look like an Eskimo. Now I can see you in your tropical outfit. It's a good thing that Molly isn't here, she'd be giving you a hearty meal to get some fat on your bones."

  "Jake if I knew you were going to be so critical I'd not have come." But she didn't get a chance to finish as he put his arms around her and swept her into his welcoming embrace.

  "Now that's more like it! I was afraid you had forgotten those special moments."

  "No, I haven't forgotten any of them. Come on, let's get out of here. Did you want to check in or have something to eat first?"

  "I'd prefer a shower. I was sitting next to a lady who must have been wearing every type of perfume possible. It was rather overpowering and I feel like I reek with it. Then I expect you to wine and dine me and treat me like a princess."

  Sarah duly checked in and Jake carried her luggage to her room.

  "I'm bushed, I may just take a shower and get 20 winks, alright?"

  "That's fine, but I thought it was forty winks!"

  She smiled and said "yes, it is but I don't want to let you out of my sight that long. Where is your room?"

  He pointed to the room beside hers. I originally asked for one across the hall, but they only had these two together."

  It sounds fishy to me. You weren't planning on breaking my door in and taking advantage of me were you?"

  "No, that's not exactly the way I'd describe it. But you never know I might get the house detective up here and undo that lock on the door separating the rooms. Then you might be in trouble."

  "Jake, it's all talk. Give me a chance to have a shower and then you can help me relax. Do some of that bedside manner you practiced up at the motel."

  She laughed, "hey don't look at me like that. You're the one who held me and looked after me through storms and nightmares. I've just decided that I like that sort of treatment."

  Later Jake knocked on the common door.

  "Come on in, I'm just getting into the shower. Make yourself comfortable. If I knew you could swim better I'd invite you in. But the last time I saw you in the water you had a hard time doing anything!" she laughed and he growled and then laughed too.

  "Don't push your luck I might surprise you. Damn and I forgot the ice cubes."

  "Jake if you so much as touch an ice cube or toss it over the shower curtain then it's going to be curtains for you."

  He ignored her comments and took off his clothes and entered into the spray of the shower.

  Sarah turned and put her arms around him. "Jake, I'm glad you are into swimming lessons!"

  By the time they had both soaped and washed each other the bathroom was in a thick cloud of steam.

  "I think we had better get out. I understand the hotel has a policy on the amount of water we use at this time of the year. There is a real water shortage."

  "Well, we can always say that showering toge
ther was solely for the purpose of water conservation." She laughed again and Jake picked her up and placed her on the bed.

  "Sarah, you're lovely and I'm very much in love with you."

  "I sort of figured that out. When I flew back to Mexico I discovered how much I missed you. So I guess you'll have to become a professional hole digger and an associate archaeologist."

  "Now that might be something I can excel at. I wouldn't mind doing that too. Strange, I always had a interest in artifacts and now that I've got a teacher, heck who knows we may find the Yeti or something."

  "Jake, the Yeti is in Nepal. You need to find the Sasquatch. But I'm not sure I should let you down in the same hole as me; it's pretty confining and close work there."

  Jake smiled and drew her into his arms. "I guess I should practice and see if I meet with your approval. There are some situations where close work is essential."

  She bit his lip and got a protest.

  "Hey what was that for?"

  "That's so you don't think I'm a push over and do this sort of thing often. I just wanted you to know."

  He saw the laughter in her eyes and the seriousness as well.

  "Sarah, I know that and for me all that is important is what I hold in my arms. Now move over and I'll show you some other aspects of my bedside manner."

  They didn't go out to a restaurant, but stayed where they were for the most part. Jake ordered room service from his room and together they had a good meal and enjoyed the luxury of being together.

  That night Jake held Sarah in his arms and watched the light and shadows play over her face as she slept. It had been a long two-day journey for her, first driving from her dig site to the local town and getting a ride into the city that had a small airport. Then she got to Mexico City on a commuter propeller aircraft and then onto here. So two days travelling had cost her the last reserves of energy and with Jake's ardent attention she found that she was comfortable in his arms and fell asleep contented.

  It was dawn when a screech of a passing ambulance woke the slumbering figures.