The picture suddenly changed and they were looking at a long, pewter colored cylinder. Starting at the flat end, the round exterior of the device was covered with hundreds of dark dots along the outside before reaching the pointed end of the device.
Alex looked at Joshua. “Can you estimate the dimensions?”
“It’s approximately twenty-feet-long and perhaps two-feet in diameter. Like I said, writing this program was a rush job.”
No one spoke for a moment, and when Alex looked around the table, all eyes were on him. “I don’t know any more about this than the rest of you. I’m just a geologist, remember?”
Dieter remained leaning against the wall and tried to conceal his excitement when he saw the device. He had seen one before, but not in the water. Now it is time to get rid of Cave, he thought.
“Rumor has it, you are more than a geology instructor, Professor. From what I have learned about you, it would seem you are more the tough, fighting type of geologist. Perhaps you would be more at home on dry land.”
Alex was caught off guard and wondered how much Dieter knew about his past. “Honestly, I don’t have the answers you’re looking for. Whatever that is, it’s forcing the Cascadia fault line apart somehow.” Alex looked at each one of them. “Did any of you turn on the ultrasound while we were down below?”
They all shook their heads no, and from their expressions, had difficulty believing that someone would do it on purpose. He paid close attention to Dieter’s expression. He looked directly back at him and lightly shook his head, no.
Alex did not like where this was leading. “If nobody turned on the ultrasound, what made it go off?”
“Maybe it was the vibration from the drill?” Lisa offered. “Or maybe the light from the optical lens?”
Mike stood and looked at the group. “I had them bring the optical cable out of the tube. I’m taking the motorboat over to see what happened to that lens.”
Lisa immediately asked to go along, as did Rita.
Alex noticed Lisa was still holding the gauze pad and disinfectant. “I’ll take that offer now.” He leaned over next to Lisa.
Lisa smiled, poured the liquid on the pad, and then patted the dried blood away. “It’s not as bad as it looks. You might have a little scar above your eye, but I can see you’re already used to that. Are you going with us to look at the lens?”
Alex had no desire to look at the lens. That was for the engineers. Right now, his only concern was what to do about that device. “No, thanks.”
He had left his jacket on the back of a lounge chair before going down in the sub and heard his phone beeping from the pocket. He grabbed his jacket and walked out of the room, to the stern.
He entered the code and listened to the urgent message from Wesley to call him. Undoubtedly, Wesley had recorded the event and he needed to see the information and find out how big it was. Now that he had seen the device, he needed to verify his suspicions. He turned when he heard Okana’s voice.
“You have that faraway look in your eyes, Alex. What are you thinking about?”
“Can I get a ride back to shore?”
“I’m sure Mike will have the helicopter take you back. I think he’s just as worried as we are.”
“Thanks. What about you?”
“I’ll do what I can from here and be your contact on the ship.”
“Could you call your contact in the agency and find out more about Dieter? I want to know how he found out about my past.”
“My thoughts exactly. I’ll call Carl and let him know you’re coming over for a ride. Do you think he turned on the ultrasound?”
“No, and that’s what worries me. I doubt it was the drill, either. If that thing is going off by itself, we’re in big trouble.”
Alex walked into the ship to grab his bag, and then returned to the stern while Bartram and Harrison set the motorboat into the water. He stood off to the side and called Wesley. “What happened?”
“That last disturbance did some major damage, Alex. It shook Whidbey Island and caused a lot of landslides.”
“Damn. Okay, I’ll fill you in when I get to your cabin.”
Alex turned off the phone and joined Okana, waiting near the motorboat. “Make sure that thing doesn’t go off again.”
“I know. I have a feeling you’ll be back, Alex.”
Alex shook Okana’s hand and climbed into the boat. Mike was sitting behind the steering wheel, and Lisa and Rita were sitting behind him. Alex sat in the empty seat, next to Mike.
“I didn’t think you were interested, Alex.” Mike said.
“I need a ride back to shore, Mike. I hope you don’t mind?”
Mike nodded and started the engine. “Let me know what you find out.”
“I will. Thanks, Mike.”
When they reached the stern of the Discovery, he stepped onto the deck, where Carl was waiting. He reached down and helped Lisa and Rita out of the boat. “It was nice meeting all of you.”
“Will you be coming back?” Lisa asked.
“I’m not sure. Be careful with that ultrasound, Lisa.”
Lisa watched Alex and Carl climb the stairs to the top deck and disappear. Mike was suddenly standing beside her and she looked at him. “Do you think he’ll come back?”
“Hard to say. Let’s go see what happened to that lens.”
Alex and Carl walked up to the helicopter on the top deck, where Alex noticed the rows of orange hose stacked on the other side of a twenty foot hole, just forward of the landing pad. They climbed in the helicopter and Carl immediately began flipping switches. The turbine engine began to whine, and a few moments later, the helicopter leapt off the deck.
“I appreciate this, Carl. Can we detour down to Whidbey Island on the way?”
“Mike’s instructions were to do whatever you need, Alex. Let’s go take a look.”
Thirty minutes later, Alex stared out the window and shook his head at the destruction to Whidbey Island. Several large portions of the bluffs had slid into the water and dozens of crumpled homes, furniture, and personal belongings now clogged the waterways and hindered shipping traffic from going in or out of Seattle. He saw several people clinging to anything that would float while waiting for the Coast Guard boats to work their way through the debris.
“I’ve seen enough, Carl. Thanks.”
“Do you think it will reach Seattle next time, Alex?”
Alex stared out the front window as the mainland swept by beneath them. “The events are working their way east, so, with any luck, it won’t reach that far south. I think the biggest concern right now is what will happen with the volcanos. If they erupt because of the earthquakes, they will kill thousands of people here, in Washington, and affect millions of lives across the United States, just like Mount Saint Helens did back in 1980.”
*
Okana knew he had to be discreet with his inquiries about Dieter, and looked around to make sure he was alone before he called his contact at the CIA. For now, Lisa and Mike were the only ones on the ship he could trust. He gave his contact the fax number for Lisa’s laboratory, then turned off the phone and slipped it into his pocket. When he turned to walk back inside, he noticed Dieter standing at the railing up behind the bridge, and, for some unknown reason, he looked happy. Whatever his agenda, Dieter did not like having Alex onboard.
* * *
Chapter 13
MOUNT VERNON AIRPORT:
On the flight back from the Mystic, Alex decided his problem with his father was no excuse for not stopping at the ranch to see his nephew and niece. He could have died in that submarine, and if there were such a thing as heaven, his spirit would never rest in peace if his stubbornness kept him from seeing them when he had the chance. For now, he would not tell them the magnitude of what was happening. There was nothing they could do about it anyway. He just hoped Robert had not turned them against him. Especially Derek.
Forty minutes later, he drove over the crest, down into the valley, and turn
ed right off the highway and over a bridge to the ranch. He drove past a row of large fir trees on his left, and white wooden fences and six Appaloosa horses grazing in the pasture on his right. The asphalt road changed to gravel, and fifteen minutes later, he could see the tan colored corral and barn, and the four-bedroom rambler-style house where he grew up. He turned onto the circular driveway, stopped in front of the back porch, and recognized Kristy, sitting in the porch swing.
Kristy did not recognize the vehicle, but knew the man who climbed out and smiled. “Uncle Alex!” She leapt out of the chair, ran across the porch, and then leapt over the two steps to the ground. “You’re here! I knew you would come.” She reached up and Alex bent down, then they hugged each other warmly.
Kristy released him and grabbed his hand as he straightened up. “Did you feel the earthquakes in Montana?”
“No, but I’m doing some work here in Washington, so I thought I’d stop by.” He turned as a motorcycle approached.
“Derek’s home, Uncle Alex. I told him you would come out and see us, but he didn’t believe me.”
Derek was surprised to see his uncle standing in front of the house, as he parked in front of the porch. He wondered what to say as he shut off the engine and climbed off the motorcycle. He hung his helmet on the handlebars and walked over to him. “Hi, Alex. I’m glad you’re here.”
Alex wasn’t sure what to expect and reached out to shake his hand. “It’s good to see you, Derek.” When Derek accepted his hand, he knew things might be still be okay between them.
“I told you he would come.” Kristy blurted. “The earthquakes must be really bad if you came all the way out here to see us.”
Derek noticed the change in his uncle’s expression. “This is bad, isn’t it?”
“I have some people working on it, and we’re fine for now.”
Kristy squeezed his hand “Grandpa’s in the house watching television, Uncle Alex. He’s going to be surprised that you’re here. I’ll get him.”
Here we go, Alex thought.
Kristy turned, ran up the steps, and into the kitchen, and forgot about the screen door until it slammed shut behind her. “Sorry, grandpa,” she yelled as she ran into the living room. “Uncle Alex is here!” Robert remained seated and stared at the television. “What’s wrong, grandpa? Don’t you want to see him?”
Robert thought about it. It had been two months since the funeral and he wondered how he’d feel when he looked at him. He pushed himself out of the recliner and followed Kristy through the kitchen and out onto the porch. He and Alex stared at each other for a long moment. “What do you want?”
Alex did not expect a warm welcome, but hello would have been nice. “I only came because of the kids. I’m on my way to see a friend monitoring the seismic activity.”
A knot formed in Robert’s stomach looking at Alex. The resemblance to his older brother was too much, so he turned away and walked back into the house.
Derek could tell there would never be peace between Alex and Robert, but things had changed since the accident, and they should at least try to get along. He noticed Alex was still staring at the screen door. “Is there anything we should do, Alex?”
Alex looked down at Derek. “Not really. I’ll call if I think it’s necessary.”
Kristy could tell her uncle was more worried than he was telling them. “Does that mean you’re not going to stay here with us, Uncle Alex? What if we need your help?”
Alex glanced at the screen door, and then back at Kristy. “I’m sorry, Kristy, but I can’t stay here. Mr. Patterson offered to let me stay at his cabin for the night. He lives up past the State Park.”
“I’m going with you.” Derek told him.
“I’m sorry, Derek, but Mr. Patterson only has one spare room and it’s a school night. Just stay here.”
“I’ll go on my motorcycle and I can sleep on the couch.” He could see the hesitation in his uncle’s eyes. “This is important to me, Alex. I really want to go with you.”
“Look, I don’t want to impose on Mr. Patterson. It’s better if you just stay here.”
Derek glared at his uncle. Why does he treat me like a child? I thought he was my friend. Maybe there’s a reason grandpa hates him. “Fine!” he snarled, stormed up the front porch and into the house, slamming the screen door shut behind him.
Alex stared after Derek and felt bad he had upset him. He looked down at Kristy. “I’d better go.”
Kristy grabbed his hand. “Just stay a little while longer.” She pleaded. “You just got here.”
“I can’t. I’m not going back to Montana right away, so I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.” Kristy held out her arms, and he bent down to give her a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stood, climbed into his car, and drove away.
Kristy felt disappointed that Uncle Alex was not staying at the house, and stared at his car until it disappeared down the road. Why was grandpa still so mad at him? she wondered. I never stay mad that long. Even Derek will only be mad for a little while. I don’t want to be a grown up, she decided.
She turned and started walking to the barn to see the new ponies. She always felt better when she petted their noses.
Back in the house, Robert stood contemplatively at the sink and turned on the water. He knew Alex was not telling him everything, and just the fact that he came all the way from Montana meant he was worried about the earthquakes. Not much anyone can do about it anyway, he thought as he leaned over the sink and began peeling potatoes.
Derek carefully closed the door to his bedroom and crept across the living room. When he saw that Robert had his back to the screen door, he quietly walked through the kitchen and eased the screen door closed behind him.
Robert thought he heard the screen door close and turned around, but no one was there. “Kristy?”
She didn’t reply, so he let it go and continued with the potatoes. A moment later, he heard the motorcycle, and listened to the sound fading away down the driveway.
“Damn, fool kid.” he grumbled. “Where is he off to now?”
*
MYSTIC:
Okana walked into Lisa’s laboratory and noticed her frowning at the magnified image of the lens from the fiber optic drill. “Any idea what happened?”
Lisa spun her chair around and crossed her arms. “No, darn it. Something made it so hot it melted the glass lens. Because of the freezing temperature at that depth, I didn’t think that could happen.”
Okana leaned against the doorframe. “Huh. That is very strange. Tell me, how well do you know Captain Dieter?”
Lisa uncrossed her arms. “Not very well, really. The first time I met him was here on the Mystic, when I started working for Mike. Why?”
“I don’t trust him, and neither does Alex.”
“Do you think he turned on the ultrasound?”
Okana shook his head, and then sat in a chair in front her. “A friend of mine is going to be faxing you some information here, in your lab. For now, you’re the only one I can trust. Please don’t tell anyone else about this and be discreet when the fax comes in. If I’m not here, hide it someplace safe until you contact me.”
Lisa smiled. Her life was uneventful most of the time, yet since she started working for Mike, it had become a little more exciting. Ever since Alex came on board, she felt as though she was on a great adventure. “You can trust me. I’ve never liked the captain anyway.”
Okana reached over and gently squeezed her arm. “Thanks.”
“What’s the deal with Alex?”
Okana leaned back in his chair. “What do you mean?”
“For a geology instructor, he must have a lot of important friends to be able to take over this project.”
“He’s not taking over anything, Lisa, but you’re right. He does have a lot of connections.”
Lisa gave him a conspiratorial grin. “You guys sound like spies to me. Were the two of you in
the CIA or something?”
Okana leaned forward. “You really don’t want me to answer that, Lisa.”
“You mean, if you tell me, you have to kill me?”
Okana laughed. “No, nothing like that. You would simply disappear.” He winked at her. “I’m waiting for a call from Alex, so I’ll be up in the lounge if you need me.”
When Okana walked out of her lab, Lisa smiled as she thought about Alex, and swiveled back and forth in her chair. The idea that he and Okana might have worked for the CIA was fascinating. Alex was not only good looking, he was mysterious, too.
She spun her chair around and continued examining the recordings from the optical lens, one frame at a time. The last five frames showed the device for a fraction of a second before the brilliant blue flash and the screen went blank, then she noticed something strange happen to the ice during the flash.
She heard a beep and the printer ejected two sheets of paper. She rolled her chair over to her desk and looked at the cover page, and it was for Okana. She wanted to look at the second page in the worst way, but thought if it was CIA related, she might be breaking some law. “Oh, crud,” she whispered. She shoved them into an envelope and then slid the envelope between two folders in the bottom drawer.
She rolled across the floor back to the images, and transferred the first three and the last five images onto a flash-drive. Maybe Okana and Joshua could help figure out what was going on. When the transfer was complete, she stood and slipped the drive into the front pocket of her white nylon jacket, and then walked out of her lab and across the walkway to the lounge.
Okana and Joshua were playing shuffleboard on a long slender table near the windows, and she moved across the room to watch. “That’s game, Okana.”
Okana smiled at Lisa. “I’ll get him next time.”
Lisa removed the disk from her pocket and looked at Joshua. “Something happened to the ice that I can’t figure out, and I’m going to need your opinions.”
Joshua came around the end of the table and she handed him the recording. He walked over to his desk, sat down, and inserted the flash-drive into his laptop. He opened each file and put the pictures side by side on the large television screen. In each picture, they could see the device at the bottom of the fracture, except in picture number four. “What do you need, Lisa?”
The Alex Cave Series. Books 1, 2, & 3.: Box set Page 37
