by J. K. Scott
I contemplated her plan for a moment. The opportunity to finish the project was foremost. When I met Adam, I’d determine if I could trust him, but more important, I needed to control the images. To placate Kisha, I said, “Okay, I’ll meet Adam with the images.”
Kisha expressed surprise. “Dak, I need to be sure this meeting goes smoothly.”
“I understand your concern. We need to trust each other.”
“You’re right; we both want to solve these images. Adam has loyal insiders at Palm Frog making sure this goes smoothly.”
“Kisha, does Palm Frog know about you and Adam?”
“No. We are very careful. We are friends. We pass coded messages by Office Scope through a private server. We avoid being seen together.”
It was already after two in the morning. I stood to release the tension in my legs.
Kisha said, “I need to pack the bag for Adam.”
I passed the video film to her as she lingered, holding my hand.
She looked at me. “Plans are moving quickly to discredit me. That’s why it was so important I saw you immediately. I had to know what you knew.” She let out a sigh and released my hand.
The warmth of her hand stayed with me as she walked over to the computer.
I said, “I’ll copy the video film.”
“Thank you for the offer, but Adam gave me special instructions to copy it onto the Office Scope for the lab staff,” Kisha said.
“Have you been talking to Adam while I’m here?”
“Yes, while you were in the bathroom. I use one of Adam’s phones. My calls are protected by Adam.”
I underestimated the depth of this meeting. I watched Kisha make a copy of the film video onto the worn and marred Office Scope. She firmly said, “We will not open the video film or Mylar disc until the lab transfers it to the document-management system. The computer lab is skilled to manage this task.”
Kisha carefully packed the bag to deliver to Adam.
I asked, “When and after you’re discredited, will Adam continue his work?”
“I’m not sure about our future. The past two years, I’ve provided Adam with evidence to bury Palm Frog to protect him and his friends.”
I asked, “How does Adam have access to a lab of computers?”
Kisha shook her head. “He will explain.”
Kisha continued, “When I met Adam years ago, we discussed the risks of exposing Palm Frog in the future.”
I asked, “What about you, Kisha?”
“There’s a Kolbrin quote in the Book of Scrolls, chapter thirteen, paragraph seventeen: ‘Man may believe he knows his destiny, but he cannot be assured with certainty; in no other way can he fulfill it. In this way alone can his soul be properly awakened to flower with its full potential, this alone he may know: the purpose of all human life is a goal so glorious it surpasses all earthly understanding.’”
The prophetic words swirled in my head. I closed my eyes to absorb the words and my meeting with Kisha when she interrupted my thoughts.
“Dak, there’s something else. Tell me what you’re holding back,” Kisha said.
I sat upright. “What do you mean?”
“When I was holding your hand, I sensed you had more to say but couldn’t.”
“I was thinking about your implant.”
“No, there was something else.”
I left my chair to think about her question and stepped behind the kitchen counter for a glass of water to collect my thoughts. I had purposely left out the messenger visit. I wondered if Adam was recording us. After drinking the water, I returned to the couch. Kisha had her eyes on me with anticipation.
I said, “The day before I left Cascade, I had a dream warning me to solve the images for survival.”
Kisha’s eyes widened. “That means you have the ability to solve it.”
I hoped she was right. We were more agreeable as we exchanged ideas about the repercussions of what we didn’t know.
Within a few hours, I’d be leaving to meet Adam, and I felt exhausted. Kisha left for the bathroom. I assumed she was sending a message to Adam. I stretched my tired body on the floor’s plush white carpet to escape the confinement of the chair.
Relaxed, I thought about Kisha’s quote from the Kolbrin. She would continue to lecture on the possible perils of Planet X to those willing to listen. She had far more passion about her interests than I’d had lately. My focus seemed to be saving my credibility and avoiding Cascade.
My eyes were closed when Kisha knelt next to me on the floor. She slid beside me, whispering that she was glad I’d stayed. The aroma of her scent filled me with breathless desire. Softly, she blew her sweet breath upon my neck as her other hand slowly moved between my inner thighs, emanating an intense warmth. I delayed an eruption by imagining myself immersed in cool water. She slowly undressed me, and I gazed upon her spiritual beauty of nakedness. She whispered, “Let’s remember this moment together.”
Overcome by a deep, sensual yearning, she moved closer and parted my lips with her tongue, and every cell in my being ached. My heart pumped with a swelling euphoria as I enveloped Kisha in my arms. Deep kisses gyrated into a fevered entanglement that created a vast inferno of rapture. I held her svelte body even closer as I pulsed inside her. Soaring among the waves of ecstasy, we were engulfed in the void of stillness that stretched beyond space and time.
18
WITHIN THE SHADOWS of dawn after only three hours of sleep, I left Kisha with the Office Scope and my bag. With a heavy heart, I couldn’t shake an underlying malaise about Kisha. Although we’d shared a passionate moment, I wondered why she’d decided to be intimate with me. When it came to women, I lacked intuitive insights, having been raised in a male household. I wondered why this special moment with Kisha happened.
I drove south on Ben Franklin Drive to the island’s park to soothe my restlessness. I parked at the Sand Castle Resort and hid Adam’s bag under my camping tent, which was still in disarray from being packed hurriedly. It was too early for breakfast, so I strolled barefoot along the white sandy beach as the rolling waves lapped at my ankles. Waiting for the easterly sunrise, I assumed the bag had a sensor inside. It would be a matter of time before Adam found me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but whatever developed, I’d take it from there—on my terms.
I sat on a bench in front of the Lido Key Tiki hut. In the shadowy light, I watched a man sweep the sandy dunes, searching for precious metal. My alone time was interrupted as the man passed me and said, “Good morning. Are you waiting for Peter or George to open the bar?”
Not wanting to disappoint my greeter, I said, “Yes, I’m waiting to order a tequila sunrise to welcome the day.”
The man pulled out a pint and offered me a slug. I said, “Thank you, but I’ll wait for the Tiki bar to open.”
Fortunately, the man’s wand began clicking. He bent over to sift through the sand. I took the opportunity to move on. Walking toward the end of the island, I viewed the budding sun that ambled over the eastern horizon. I collected the Office Scope from my jeep and returned to the hotel. The restaurant patio overlooked two turquoise swimming pools that glistened in the rising sun. Greeted by the friendly waitstaff, I chose the breakfast buffet. I heaped my plate with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and sliced fruit, and as an afterthought, I took a slice of quiche. After my feast, I calmly waited for Adam to join me. While on my third cup of coffee, I saw a striking young man with short dark hair arrive. He was wearing a white collared shirt and denims. He carefully glanced around. I was certain Kisha had described me. She was probably furious I hadn’t shown up at Starbucks.
Adam wasn’t smiling as he approached the table. He wore an angry expression and firmly asked, “Dak?”
I didn’t dare stand to acknowledge him; he looked ready to slug me with tightened fists. I didn’t want to add
to his irritation. I politely said, “Join me.”
He hesitated and looked around as if he might be recognized. I waited for him to pull back the chair and sensed his uncertainty.
Adam quietly scowled at me as he sat. “What in the hell are you doing?”
“I needed to talk to you. I preferred to choose the meeting place.”
“I want the Office Scope,” Adam said tersely.
The Office Scope bag hung across the chair in plain sight.
I said, “I don’t intend to keep the Office Scope or the images, but I need a few answers. Kisha’s trust in you doesn’t cut it for me.”
“I’m not convinced that I can trust you either. I’ve read the hiker’s report, and his accidental death seems suspicious to me. And your bullshit dream about solving it seems bogus to me.”
“So Kisha told you everything?”
“Yes. And no offense, but I question the skills you claim to possess,” Adam said and then clammed up, waiting for the waitstaff to approach our table and pour him a cup of coffee.
“You don’t have to believe me,” I said bluntly, hoping the coffee would change his mood.
Adam took several sips of his coffee. “Kisha told me that the video film wouldn’t make any sense to me. And I have to depend on you for the analysis.”
“That’s right. I need a supercomputer to finalize the project since Cascade had only a couple of frames. The hiker and friends passed on insufficient frames. In fact, the print shop in Tempe tampered with the images and set them on timers,” I explained, suspecting Adam wasn’t interested in the details.
Adam said, “Well, we have your supercomputer.”
With authority, I said, “Adam, I’ve been up front with Kisha. I need to know who you work for.”
Adam caught my drift as he stared at the white cumulus clouds forming in the distance. I patiently waited for his response, curious what he was thinking.
Adam finally said, “I work for Palm Frog and an unknown company. I do undercover work, and Kisha explained how we work together.”
Guests with three kids left behind us. We were almost alone.
I asked, “Where is this unknown company located?”
“We’re located in several states, including Arizona. And I’m aware of Cascade,” Adam replied.
Taken aback, I paused and wondered if Adam worked for Beyond Black Borders or other government agencies. I said, “Do you need a clearance to work for these companies?”
“Yes. By the way, you were vetted for sensors in the doorway. However, Kisha’s implant doesn’t even respond to most RADs,” Adam said.
“Isn’t there any resolution to deactivate her implant?”
“We’re working on it. We are testing on cadavers to reverse her implant as well as decoding it. We are hopeful.”
Regrettably, Kisha was right; she had few options under Palm Frog’s control.
I said, “You’d better be the master with the videos, because I’d hate to think Kisha is at risk due to our meeting.”
Appearing incensed by my comment, Adam leaned closer. “You’ve known Kisha for one day, and I’ve known her for years. Don’t you accuse me of placing my best agent and friend in peril without protecting her! And by the way, I didn’t appreciate tracking you dillydallying on the beach with the Office Scope while I waited for you at Starbucks.”
“Point well taken,” I said, preferring not to admit I risked carrying the bag.
Adam said in a terse voice, “Don’t ever underestimate me or cross me again.”
“Likewise, don’t misjudge me either,” I said, hoping we weren’t broadcasting to those nearby.
In a more agreeable tone, Adam said, “Now that’s over with, I need to tell you there’s a warrant for your arrest for stealing from Cascade. You are in deep trouble.”
Adam’s words sucked the air out of me. I had an unknown force to confront with only Ronzo covering for me.
I said, “Adam, are you going to work with me? Or do I need to move on?”
“That depends on if we can work together. Also, you know we will be colluding to work on your stolen images.”
“Not really. I bought them from the hiker.”
“That argument might not hold water in court. Be aware we won’t come to your defense if push comes to shove, so you’d better cooperate.”
“Don’t threaten me if you plan on working with me!” I barked.
“I declined a vote to work with you, but my staff is curious if there’s a connection to Planet X,” Adam said in a sarcastic voice as he looked around.
“What’s the plan?” I asked, preferring to analyze the forms and then move on.
“My staff will transfer the images when I deliver them. Meet me at six at Bill’s Seafood Grill. It’s located north of here on the Tamiami Trail, next to the windmill tower. I tend bar there.”
I was surprised that Adam’s cover included bartending. Plus, he was a video specialist and an agent for an unknown company. I suspected he worked for a contractor for BBB or possibly worked for them.
Adam stood to leave. “Be on time.”
“For sure,” I replied passing him Kisha’s bag. I watched him leave. I had kept the Mylar disc and stowed it in the jeep. I paid for breakfast, anxious to call Ronzo and request additional cash for future options. My life had become totally chaotic, and I needed to talk to Peter. He had to know about the situation with Cascade’s warrant for my arrest.
19
I RETURNED TO THE Tiki bar to occupy my time, since it was too early to make an emergency call to Ronzo. A muscular middle-aged man with curly black hair who introduced himself as George busily stocked the bar. I sat next to the man wielding the metal detector.
I asked the treasure hunter, “Did you find any valuables?”
“Sure did—enough to buy a couple of beers. When George is ready, I’ll buy you a beer.”
I thanked him for his generosity but insisted I’d buy. After a few minutes, George passed us two beers, which meant I had to skip the tequila sunrise. George referred to the treasure hunter as Bad Dog. I didn’t ask about the nickname, assuming it had to be a long story. Instead, I asked about Lido Key, and I learned that only 20 percent of residents stayed through the summer months. The Sarasota coastline seemed to be protected from most of the hurricanes, similar to Key West. After gleaning trivial facts, I moved on to personal questions.
They didn’t recognize the description of Kisha, and George had never heard of a company called Palm Frog that protected endangered species. Bad Dog’s interests consisted of the metal ping that paid for his beer. I dropped my questions, accepting that Kisha kept a low profile and that Palm Frog wasn’t known among the beach crowd. I bought Bad Dog another beer and left, encouraged that beach drifters were generous and happy.
I drove past Adam’s building, surmising which building across the street was Kisha’s residence. I hoped she understood why I had to change the plans. I wondered if I’d ever see her again. Heavy thoughts left me in a sober mood.
I maneuvered my jeep around St. Armand’s Circle and crossed over the two bridges to the mainland, following the signs to Sarasota’s historic district. I parked on Palm and Main Streets to call Ronzo. Ashley’s sweet voice answered, and I identified myself. She took in a deep breath and said professionally, “Please hold.”
Seconds later, I was transferred to Anthony.
Anthony advised, “Mince words,” meaning our conversation would be encrypted; lengthy words delayed transmission.
I spoke slowly and clearly. “I’m good. Any messages?”
After a pause, Anthony said, “Rustler called. Harmony is protected. Call her.”
Relieved by the good news, I regretted I’d dragged both of them into the fray and was curious why Harmony wanted me to call her. I withheld questions about Palm Frog and Adam under the mince-wo
rds command, but I needed more funds, especially if I had to leave town quickly.
I asked, “Any resources?”
After a few seconds, Anthony said, “Ashley’s on it. Wait.”
I estimated my expenses as I waited. My debt to Ronzo kept multiplying. If I couldn’t get cash, I’d have to consider midnight requisitions to siphon fuel and climb over fences for fallen fruit or live on the beach with Bad Dog.
After a long pause, Anthony slowly said, “Arnie at Poet’s Antiques, Pineapple Street, at hang time.”
“Confirmed,” I enthusiastically said, knowing that hang time meant three o’clock in the afternoon.
Anthony said, “Enough.”
“Yes,” I said, knowing it would be $3,000.
Anthony said, “Ciao,” which meant to call when I could.
Ronzo had become my lifeline. Anthony would transfer money to Poet’s Antiques’ account and supply me with the cash. Ronzo had a bartering and transfer system with trusted long-term members.
I paid a discounted $50,000 annually for membership, plus my incurred expenses. Other members paid far more, depending on their special circumstances. Plus, I had the option to build credit by performing special services. The past year, I’d harbored several young couples and singles at my father’s vacant furnished house. Also, I’d transported two VIPs to the Flagstaff airport via back roads. Without Ronzo’s specialized services, I wouldn’t have lasted for more than a few days. Cascade would be monitoring my bank accounts. I had private accounts but couldn’t take the risk.
I stopped at Patrick’s Restaurant on Main to call Harmony. I was careful that my call couldn’t be triangulated; however, I didn’t have Harmony’s number. I ordered a beer and tipped the bartender to look up the metaphysical number in Sedona. I left the bar to make my call. I had only thirty minutes left on my burner and knew I was at risk if my location was identified. I reminded myself to keep buying new burners.
