"No, sir. He is supposed to be on sabbatical outside the country, but returned stateside a month ago, without any contact with anyone. But there is more."
"Please Continue."
"He appears to have a cadre of graduate students who have worked with him, one of whom is also a top-level engineer with the expertise required to design our devices. His location is also unknown at this time. We are looking closely at other grad students and colleagues of Dr. Shallenger, especially for those with a military background that could have provided the expertise required to handle the radioactive materials."
"Yes, the military would be the connection to look for," Agent Goodwin said, "especially anyone with in-theater experience."
"We have a short list in place, and we should have another update later this evening."
"Thank you, Agent Graham,” Dasilva said. “People, it sounds like we are making progress. Let's keep our eyes on the ball and push things as hard as we can, without letting something slip through the cracks.
"Excuse me Agent Dasilva," Emily said, "I have additional from the ARG. "
"Of course, go ahead."
Emily gave everyone a brief summary of what she saw and heard while looking at the big screen with the glowing objects. As she ended, Colonel Goodwin spoke, "I'll tell you one thing, those birds they fly have hardware that can find anything someone might hide. Even sitting under three feet of mud and eight feet of water, those helicopters will fly right down on the deck and show us what's there."
"Hopefully, nothing at all," Dasilva said. "Ok everyone, we'll meet again at..." Dasilva stopped as Colonel Goodwin's phone interrupted. Goodwin answered, and then spoke.
"The ARG follow-on team has just found another container at the Grammercy Bridge; apparently another canister from inside the device."
"How much radiation?" Emily asked.
"That's the thing; there is no radiation other than some residual from being near the other containers. This canister is actually designed differently than the others we have found. Very differently. They are looking at it now to figure out just what it is."
"Don't anyone ask 'what’s next.’ Just don't do it." Emily shook her head and walked to the door.
Chapter 40
The helicopter moved inches above the water as it turned for another pass under the Highway 84 bridge at Natchez. The river was wide here, so it took a total of five passes before it began the journey downriver toward the Audubon Bridge north of Baton Rouge. It would have normally made a direct line south to the bridge, but their orders were to stay on the river and side-scan any towboats it found along the way. It was not as effective as a full-bore, direct scan, but it would do the job, and the boats would never know they were even noticed. They passed three boats before coming to the curve at Natchez Island, where they saw another four or five boats ahead.
Focusing on the boats, the helicopter crew didn't see the fishermen backing their aluminum flatboat into the water on the western bank across the levee from Morville. The fishermen loaded the large cooler into the boat and then stopped to watch the sleek helicopter pass by.
"Sure is quiet, ain't it?" one fisherman said.
"Yeah, think they're looking for us?"
"Well, not us yet, no. But they're starting to figure things out. I guess I'd better make a call."
They put the big bag in the boat and slid it under the seat, fired up the outboard, and slowly pulled out into the current. The man in front began stringing a rod and reel, just so things looked right, while the man running the motor punched numbers on his satellite phone to let them know there was a bird in the air and it was coming their way.
"Hell of a nice night, though, isn't it?" he said after putting his phone away.
"Beautiful. Sure is getting dark earlier now, too. Hard to believe it’s only six thirty."
"Yeah, won't be long until we get snow back home."
Chapter 41
The leader and doctor stood in the galley door watching the helicopter pass by in the growing darkness. The leader smiled as he thought about the side scan, and how cocky the ARG people were about being sneaky.
"What do we do now?" the doctor asked.
"What do you mean? We just keep going. It’s all been accounted for doctor; nothing has changed."
They went back inside.
Charlie watched the lights of the helicopter hug the shoreline as he guided the boat out of the curve above Natchez Island. Frank stood looking out the pilothouse stern window. Neither man had spoken since they watched the small fishing boat deliver the last device about fifteen minutes ago.
"Frank, I decided to surprise our guys with something a little special tonight."
"Do you mean what I think you mean?"
"Absafuckinglootly. We may have to put up with these assholes, but that doesn't mean we can't eat good. I radioed up ahead and ordered us a shit load of Bar-B-Q from Lamar's."
"Natchez's finest."
"Yep, it would be a sin to go by without it. They should be meeting us up here shortly before the bridge. In fact, that looks like them coming out now.”
The small cabin boat pulled alongside, and seconds later began moving back toward the shore. It was only a matter of time before someone would walk in the door with a bucket filled with ribs, pulled pork, and pieces of Lamar's honey cornbread.
"I guess that's why you are the captain Charlie, hell, you're so damn smart."
As they watched the Highway 84 bridge pass over their heads. The thought of the device being lowered into the water was almost overshadowed by the thought of the Bar-B-Q. They both turned as they heard the pilothouse door open.
It wasn’t ribs.
"Captain, you're needed down below. They're about to throw Smitty in the river."
"Well, shit, why the fuck not." Charlie nodded to Frank to take the helm and headed down the stairs to the stern of his boat.
As he came around the corner, he saw Smitty in the dim stern lights, hanging over the foam churned from the boat’s massive propellers, his feet just touching the water, his eyes as wide as he's ever seen them, his neck firmly in the grip of Bear, the biggest of the bad guys.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Charlie asked as only a Captain can ask.
"Bear! Put him down." The Leader walked up, "Here, on the deck. Put him down. Now!"
"He tried to send a message, so Bear stopped him." The doctor was standing in the door to his workspace, watching the event with what appeared to be calm satisfaction.
"I don't care what the fuck he did," Charlie said, "you put his ass back on this deck right now. Do you hear me?"
Bear looked at the leader, then slowly turned and lowered Smitty until his feet find their place on the deck. Smitty looked at the Captain, "I'm sorry Charlie" squeaked out of his throat.
"Ok, now what the fuck is going on here?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, doctor, please explain what this all about." The leader said.
"Certainly. That boat came out to deliver the food the captain ordered. While Bear and the others were unloading it, this man came out to help and tried to slip a note to one of the people in the boat telling them about us. Bear found out about it, and that led to what you saw here."
Charlie started to ask Smitty if it was true but got the answer simply by looking at his eyes.
The leader sighed, "Captain, I suggest that you ask your crew to join us in the galley for a conversation. Let's say in about twenty minutes?"
"What for?"
"I believe I can resolve this little situation and can give you some information that should make everyone feel much better about our mission at this point. Twenty minutes, ok?"
"Well shit. Fine, twenty minutes."
Everyone went back to their work, leaving Charlie and Smitty standing on the tail deck.
"Charlie, I'm really sorry."
"Smitty, what did I just tell you last night? What the fuck did I just tell you?"
"But, I just..."
"Smitty, one mor
e word. Just one more word and I'll throw your ass in the river myself."
Smitty tucked his head and walked round the corner toward the galley.
Charlie walked to the pilothouse to relieve Frank and eased back into his chair. As the boat slid under the twin spans of the Natchez highway 84 bridge, he reached for the bottle of chalky stuff to try and calm his ulcer. The ribs would have to wait.
Chapter 42
Emily grabbed a burger on her way back to the staging area and the nine o'clock briefing. She really wanted a Gyro, but it looked like a long night ahead, and she didn’t need to spend it arguing with her stomach. After all, you can't really enjoy a Gyro without the Tzatziki sauce and onions, now can you? Just to make it more disappointing, her fries were soggy.
Hoping to avoid a call later, she stopped by to check on her dad. Maybe a few minutes now would help him settle in for the night. Besides, she had something she wanted to ask him; if he was actually there.
He was sitting in his wheelchair in front of the nurse’s station, unshaven and uncombed, but seemed to be in a pretty good state of mind.
"Hi, dad."
"Well, looky at what the cat dragged in. What brings you out to the poor side of town?"
"I just wanted..."
"And did you bring my ice cream?"
Fortunately, she had gotten three boxes when she stopped for gas. "You bet."
"Well stick 'em in my fridge in there; they don't like 'em when they're soft you know."
She walked into his room and put the boxes in the small freezer compartment of his mini-fridge, which was empty except for four candy bar wrappers. He wheeled in behind her.
"Is that all that's left of the candy?"
"Well hell, a man's gotta eat, doesn't he? They don't feed you enough around here to keep a bird alive."
Nurse Linda smiled from the doorway. "Now Captain, you left food on your plate tonight."
He spun his chair toward the door, "Couldn't finish that crap; nobody could. I don't know how anyone can do that to a chicken."
He turned to Emily, smiled the smile she knew so well, "You gotta keep them in their place, you know. It really wasn't all that bad, but don't tell her that."
"Ok, you're the captain,” Linda said. “Emily, if you need anything I'll be at the desk."
"Thanks, Linda, I'm sure we'll be fine." Emily moved the stack of papers from the chair and sat down, as dad rolled his wheelchair to the middle of the room facing away from the television and stared at his shoes.
"Dad, I have a question for you."
"Always use protection. That's the best answer I've got."
"Ok dad, thanks for that. But I've got a boat question for you, about..."
At the mention of the word boat, his head popped up, "Them sons a bitchen boats. I don't know why I ever got started with those..."
"Wait dad, hang on a second. I really need your advice on something. Its about work."
"Work? You don't work on boats."
"No, I know that. But I'm just curious. If someone on a boat wanted to sneak something onboard with no one knowing, how might they do that?"
"What do you mean nobody knows? If its my boat I'm going to know about it, that's for goddamn sure. What is it they're supposed to be sneaking onboard?"
"Let's say it’s like a box. Small enough to carry, but too large to hide in your suitcase or something like that."
"What's in it?"
"That doesn't matter. How could they sneak it on?"
"It sure the hell matters to me! Nobody sneaks a big box onto my boat, and I'm going to know what the hell is in it, and that's for goddamn sure!"
And with that, he was gone.
"That's the whole problem with this damn boat I'm on now; none of these assholes follow the rules, and the home office won't do anything about it. If I had my way, I'd throw every one of their asses off at the next lock and make the home office send me some people who know how to follow orders!"
Emily stood for a moment and watched her father disappear into this imaginary world once again. She thought of all the times he has been the one to have the answer for her problems and realized tonight wasn't going to be one of them. She leaned over and gave him a hug, which he didn’t seem to notice. "I'll see you tomorrow dad. I love you."
He stared at his shoes.
"Well, you tried," Linda smiled as Emily came out of the room.
"Hopefully I didn't stir him all up for you."
"Nah, he'll be asleep in a few minutes and probably go through the night."
"Ok, good. Call me if..."
"We will. He'll be fine. You go get some rest; it looks like you need it."
Emily smiled a weak smile and walked to her car. It was time for another meeting.
Chapter 43
A crew on a towboat works and eats in shifts, so the galley is not large enough to hold the entire group at one time; like this one was trying to do tonight. Half of the group was unhappy about being dragged out of their sleep, while the other half was almost relieved to get a break from their work on deck. As they gathered, they were all thinking about the first meeting in here when Danny was shot. The mood was tense.
"Thank you all for being here so promptly." the leader said.
There were a few grunts.
"And I am sorry for having to wake some of you from your rest. I'm just sorry that Frank is not here to share it with us, but someone must keep the boat moving. I will not keep you long, and I do believe you will be pleased with what I have to say to you."
No one appeared to be willing to be pleased about anything at this point.
"First, I know you are concerned about your Smitty, and his, well, shall we say, unfortunate attempt to become a hero."
More grunts and grumbles.
"I'm sure you recall the conversation we had when we began our mission, and you remember the simple rules we agreed to follow at that time."
"Agreed?" the Captain said.
"I’m sorry, the rules that we put in place at that time. Is that more to your liking Captain?"
"You mean these bracelets?" one of the crewmen asked.
"Yes, the bracelets were a part of that, of course. Well, I am pleased to inform you that the rules have changed as of now."
One of the leader's men stepped forward.
"Thomas here will pass around a pair of scissors, and you are welcome to remove those bracelets if you would like. You'll notice that we have already removed ours."
A mix of "It’s about time," and "Now we can..." echoed around the room.
"But before anyone misunderstands, this does not mean that you now have the option of throwing us off the boat. All it means is that we no longer need to worry about you trying to inform anyone of our mission."
"You mean you're finally giving up?" the Captain asked.
"Oh my no, Captain, not at all. It means that we now have things in place to protect our mission completely, regardless of what you or anyone else might try to do. And because of that, I'm sure you will be happy to hear that your families are no longer of concern to us as well, so our people watching them have moved on to other activities."
Lots of nods, and looks of relief.
"As for Smitty, he apparently did not believe me when I said that we had taken every precaution to protect our mission. When he handed his note to the person on the boat with the food, the person he handed it to was one of our people. We are very familiar with your routines gentlemen, even ordering Bar-B-Q."
"Just what are you going to do to him?" the Captain asked.
"Nothing at all. As I said, the rules have changed. Smitty is free to go about his duties as usual, though I do suggest he not make any further foolish moves. He can't possibly stop us, but if he becomes too much of an annoyance we will have to do something to, well, avoid the distraction."
"Then what's to keep us from leaving?" the Captain asked, "or letting everyone know what you are doing here?"
"Oh, we will be found; that is unavoidable. We kne
w it from the beginning. In fact, I'm sure you will soon learn that we have already been located. But, it makes no difference now."
"Located, when?" a crewman asked.
"It honestly doesn't matter. It changes nothing. Let me explain. As you know, we now have devices placed under every bridge from New Orleans to Natchez. One has unfortunately been removed, but that actually provided us with the opportunity to demonstrate the potential of the rest. What you are not aware of is that all of these devices are linked together, monitored by a computer in the room behind you there." He nodded to the group leaning against the wall.
"So you can tell it to blow the things up?" the Captain said.
"Well, yes, Captain, that would be possible. But the computer is actually there to make sure we can complete our mission; to protect us from anyone attempting to stop us before we are finished. I won't concern you with the details right now, but just understand that if anything happens to us, or to this boat, the results will be immediate. We need to do nothing at all. But on the positive side gentlemen; you can be sure that no one will do anything to threaten the safety of your boat or anyone on it. Not now. So, why not get back to work, or back to bed, and enjoy the rest of your evening."
From the look on their faces, it appeared that everyone in the room felt screwed.
Chapter 44
Agent Dasilva looked at his watch for the third time. The group was gathered around the conference table, except for two members. One was Colonel Nichols of the Corps of Engineers, and the other was Agent Emily Graham. The book was very clear about promptness, and Dasilva made a mental note to raise that issue with her later.
"We might as well get started," Dasilva said. "I appreciate you altering your schedules to be here at ten o'clock, rather than nine as originally planned. Agent Graham said it was important for us to reschedule. Unfortunately, it now appears that she has..."
There was commotion behind Dasilva as the door opened and Emily entered along with Lennie, Colonel Nichols, and Commander Reyes from the ARG.
Disruption: A River Of Secrets And Betrayal Page 13
