The Phoenix Agenda: A Thriller (A Rossler Foundation Mystery Book 6)

by JC Ryan

  “I will have them before that time sir.”

  When the phone went dead, Jason was more stressed and depressed than before. How the hell was he going to fine-comb more than 500,000 square miles in two days with four people? Even with the help of all the police in that area, it would take weeks. What the hell was with this seven days all of a sudden?

  Jason and his crew decided first to search in a straight line from Farmington to Boulder, as that is where they ‘knew’ the chopper was heading.

  They also knew that the helicopter could have had some engine trouble and therefore immediately arranged for air searches to look for the chopper as well as setup of roadblocks, in case the Rosslerites were in cars or on foot.

  They followed Brideaux’s instructions, dressed up in their FBI disguises and visited police stations demanding their help, which they got without a single complaint or argument. In fact, everyone was expecting them by the time they called or arrived in person.

  ***

  A long silence of shock and doubt descended upon Alison and Owen when Daniel reached the end of his clarification.

  Owen looked at Daniel and Mark in turn and said, “What do we do first? Say the word and we’ll do it.”

  Daniel asked for the rest of the men to be brought into the house. After that, the most important of all was to move that chopper out of sight before dawn.

  Owen went with Daniel and Mark to collect the rest of the team and brought them to the house, where Alison was preparing a lot more coffee, sandwiches, and snacks. They all arrived back, and while they were devouring the food and coffee, they decided how they were going to hide the chopper.

  Owen had a tractor and a 4x4 truck that they could use to tow the chopper into one of the barns. They all agreed that was the best temporary solution, until they could fix it or make another plan. Whatever they did, it would have to be done within the next 24 hours, as that was the time they thought they might have before the police or Brideaux’s people turned up there. Now Daniel understood Raj’s frame of mind, since he was now paranoid that Brideaux had the capability to read his mind and find him anywhere he went.

  While Roy and JR stayed behind with Alison, the rest of them went and towed the helicopter into the barn, stacked bales of hay around it to hide it completely, and also covered all the barn windows with bales of hay before locking the door. Early the next morning Owen would get on his quad bike and round up his cattle to herd them over all the tracks created by the chopper and towing vehicles.

  When they were satisfied they had done all they could, Owen walked them to the log cabin about a mile away from the main house. It was well hidden amongst the trees and bushes, not at all visible from the main house. Owen explained that he sometimes used the cabin when he wanted to be alone to write. There was no electricity, but there were enough lamps and candles.

  Max checked the wounded, changed dressings, and gave them another dose of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories as they all found a place to sleep.

  The lack of sleep, stress, and the grim events that had started more than thirty hours before took its toll on all of them as they fell asleep. None of them woke up until about midday.

  Just cut a hole in the wall

  Soon after they were back on the road, Ben asked Sarah if she by chance also had some information about the Rabbit Hole’s layout stored on her tablet.

  “Yes, I have quite a lot on there. It’s in a folder called ‘RH Plans and Images’, I think. “

  Ben found the folder and looked at the pictures and drawings, commenting that he could see there was plenty of space, enough potable water sources for them, and even some heated pools inside the caves where they could swim and relax. It was the perfect place - so remote as to be unknown, yet with sufficient space for the group and many more if necessary to live there for many years. They’d soon be out of sight, and after a few years, hopefully out of mind.

  Ben said that from what he could see so far, once they got there, he could put heads together with anyone else that had the skills or the inclination for that sort of thing and come up with plans to change the place into a comfortable living space for all.

  “That’s good news,” Sarah replied. “You know the idea of living underground usually triggers thoughts of dark, damp, and cramped spaces, and I suspect our group will not be any different. So making the place less intimidating would help a lot.”

  “Whoever was responsible for these photos and drawings did an excellent job,” Ben remarked.

  “That honor belongs to Robert and Raj. They produced that after their exploration trip to the Rabbit Hole quite a few months ago. You remember them?”

  “Yes, I do. I’ve met Raj a few times. Robert only once, though, at JR and Rebecca’s wedding. He and JR are good friends I believe?”

  Sarah smiled “Yes the two of them are like the biblical David and Jonathan. The unbiblical part is the shenanigans they can sometimes get up to, given the slightest opportunity.”

  Ben also smiled, “That’s JR for you. He’s been a mischief-maker from his first day.”

  Sarah remembered an interesting conversation she and Daniel had with Robert and said to Ben, “You should also have a look at that sub-folder in there about a place called ‘Coober Pedy.’ Not sure, about the correct pronunciation, but it’s all about a modern underground city in Australia that Robert told us about. Apparently he’s been out there a few times.”

  “Weird name isn’t it?” Ben replied, He quickly found the folder Sarah referred to.

  She laughed, “Yes it is. According to Robert it has its origins in the Aborigine language and means, ‘the white man’s hole.’”

  She continued to give Ben more details about the conversation they had when Robert and Raj returned from their trip to the cave in Montana. He’d told them that with Roy’s laser tools at their disposal, they could turn that Rabbit Hole into America’s Coober Pedy.

  She remembered how Robert explained with pride about the ingenuity of his countrymen and how the Australians had turned an old opal mine in the Outback into an underground town. It was a place where more than nine people carved out very comfortable homes, and in fact an entire town, complete with underground hotels, restaurants, bars, an underground church, and a golf course. All in the middle of a harsh desert.

  She chuckled when she told him how Daniel was quick to point out to Robert that he, of all people, should know better. The Australians were not the first to come up with such a plan. The idea of cutting residences in rocks and underground belonged at least to the 8th Cycle people and after them many others all over the world who have, for ages before his countrymen, been digging into rocks to create living spaces for themselves.

  Robert told them that the ‘building’ work was done by tunneling machines. In their case, in the Rabbit Hole, it could be accomplished with Roy’s laser tools. Need another shelf or walk in closet? Another room? Just cut a hole in the wall.

  One of the interesting facts she remembered from the time when she had a quick glance through the information Robert provided, was the inhabitants and visitors reporting that the climate and humidity underground were excellent, irrespective of the outside temperature.

  “Robert was quite diligent in assembling and collating all the information he could get his hands on and from his recollections when he visited the place. He gave it to Raj to store on the servers. There could be a lot more information about how they did it that might be of interest to you and the ‘public works department,’” Sarah said.

  ***

  Shortly after Owen gave the men a place to hide, about eight hundred-some-odd miles to the north, Sarah and Ben finally arrived at the Rabbit Hole, to the relief of everyone already there. Little Nicholas, ecstatic to see his mom again, had his arms around her neck, hugging and kissing her.

  Sarah immediately noticed that Daniel and the others weren’t there. “They haven’t arrived yet?”

  Salome shook her head, and Sarah’s heart dropped to the floor, while
Ben suddenly looked older. “We have no news about them either.”

  Sarah knew she couldn’t dwell on that disappointment too much - she had to take the lead and get the people settled in as quickly and as efficiently as possible. As soon as they’d said all the hellos, she called together Luke, Sinclair, Salome, Ben, Ryan, and Rebecca. She’d decided they would be her core group for now. Little Nicholas was still clinging to her and would not let go.

  As soon as they were all assembled, she spoke. “Ben and I have been making notes along the way, as, no doubt, have you. I guess everyone agrees that security comes first?”

  They all nodded their heads in agreement.

  “Salome and Luke, this is your beat. What have you got in place already, and what else is there to do for now?”

  Salome explained that they’d already gathered everyone together and instructed them on the basics. Those were don’t leave the caves under any circumstances, no fires, and they’d double-checked again that no one had a cellphone. All computers, laptops, tablets and anything that could produce a wireless signal had been handed over to Stuart Harding, Raj’s sidekick. He removed, uninstalled, or disabled any wireless capabilities before he handed them back to the owners.

  “Sarah, everyone is still a bit shell-shocked, as can be expected, but they all seem to understand our perilous situation and have been cooperating very well,” Luke explained.

  “Thanks Salome, Luke and everyone else. I couldn’t wish for a better group of people to be at my side during the days, weeks, and maybe even years ahead.

  “My next biggest concern, and I guess everyone else’s, is the whereabouts and safety of our husbands.”

  Salome brought some painful reality when she said, “Sarah, I share your concern for our men. Roy is among them, of course. There’s just no way of knowing their fate until they walk into the Rabbit Hole safe and sound. All we can do is keep our hopes up, maybe cross our fingers, and of course, pray.”

  Sarah shook her head and shoulders in a motion to get rid of the feeling of misery threatening to take control of her before she continued. “If everyone agrees there’s nothing else that can’t wait ‘til tomorrow, I must check on everyone else here, let them know that Ben and I have arrived, and make sure they’re all ok.”

  Before they all left for their places, Sarah asked them all to go around to everyone in the cave and ask them to write up a résumé of sorts that very night. “We need to know about everyone’s skills, experience, hobbies, and interests.”

  Sarah anticipated they’d need the information when they started their planning session the next day.

  Don’t shoot!

  While the men in the cabin were more or less in a state of unconsciousness within half an hour after their arrival, Owen and Alison were on the edge of panic and despair. The full impact of the dark reality facing them became apparent while they were still busy assimilating what they’d heard from Daniel and the others throughout the night.

  “Owen I know we’re in this now up to the hilt, but I have no idea where to begin and what to think,” Alison said as she moved into the comforting arms of her man.

  “Ali I’m as worried as you are. The one thing I do know is that we have to help them. My mind has been racing at a thousand miles an hour, but I don’t have an answer yet. I think for now we start by hiding and feeding them and keeping them out of the claws of that psychopath. They’re very intelligent guys. Once they’re rested, we’ll put all our heads together. We’ll be able to work something out, I’m sure.”

  Although Owen’s answer did not provide a solution, Alison found some comfort in it.

  Later in the morning, Owen went over to the cabin to check on their guests but found them all fast asleep. He thought it best not to wake them. These guys had been barefoot through hell already, and there was no end in sight yet.

  At about eleven o’clock, Owen and Alison got the fright of their lives when they saw a police car coming up the roadway to their house from about a mile and a half away. Was this just coincidence? Could it just be the police out on a normal patrol and dropping in to say hello? That was something they occasionally did. Or, were they out looking for their friends? That helicopter in the barn!

  “Let’s try and remain as calm and friendly as humanly possible,” Owen said as he got over the effects of the initial adrenaline. “If they ask, yes, we saw the news, and yes, we know Daniel and Raj and their families. We should stick to the truth about everything except last night. Remember we haven’t seen them or had any contact with them for months. We’re shocked by the news. Those are our friends, and we can’t believe what we’ve seen on the news.”

  Alison nodded her agreement and understanding.

  When the police car stopped in front of the house, Owen was already waiting for them on the front porch. He walked down to welcome them and recognized both of them. They were from the Montrose County Sheriff’s office.

  The eternal joker, he stuck both hands in the air and shouted, “Don’t shoot! I didn’t do it! I am not guilty!”

  This little act had the desired effect on the two officers as they played along, “Okay, put your hands behind your back, turn around, and spread your legs. You have the right to remain silent … ” was as far as they got before they both exploded into laughter at the antics of one of their town’s famous inhabitants.

  “Come on in,” Owen invited them. “Alison already started the espresso machine, and she’s been looking for someone to share some of her home baked cookies for days now.”

  Owen dropped his usually loud voice to a whisper behind his hand. “To tell you the truth, you’ll do me a big favor if you eat all of it. The stuff has been giving me heartburn lately, but I don’t have the courage to tell her.”

  Montrose County had a few things to be proud of– the wild and beautiful Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, Gunnison Gorge National Recreation and wilderness areas, Uncompaghre National Forest lands, and some thought the best sweet corn in the world was grown in the little town of Olathe.

  The tiny Paradox Valley town of Nucla boasted a fiercely independent population, a gun ordinance that required the head of every household to own one ‘for general safety’, and, in the last few years, the famous writer of a very popular science fiction TV series had taken up residence in their midst. The police officers were not going to let up on the chance to have a coffee with their town’s world famous writer.

  Alison saw and heard what Owen was up to, and she rushed to get the espresso machine ready and got the home baked cookies out on the table. By the time the men walked into the house, they were all in a jovial mood.

  Soon after they’d settled, Officer James cleared his throat and said, “We’ve been sent out this way to ask you a few questions.”

  Owen knew what was coming and was ready for it with another gag, “I told you I didn’t do it.”

  James smiled, but it was obvious to Owen he wanted to be serious, “I take it you’ve seen the news about the people of the Rossler Foundation? We were told that you know some of them and that you could perhaps help us find them. Can you tell us about your friendship with them?”

  Owen realized the time for joking was over, and he had to play this very well or it would raise suspicion, putting all of them in grave danger.

  He ran a hand over his face, expressing his distress at the news “Yes, we saw the news, and let me tell you, we’re shocked beyond belief. You’re right; both of us have known Daniel and Sarah Rossler, as well as Rajan Sankaran and his wife Sushma for many years now. Alison, Daniel, Raj, and I worked together at the New York Times. We met their wives when they were still dating, and we have been guests at both their weddings. We met Daniel’s brother JR and his wife Rebecca at their wedding a few years ago, but we don’t know any of the other people mentioned on the news.”

  Owen’s explanation immediately put the officers at ease as it correlated with the information they were given by the sheriff of Montrose County before they’d been dispatched
.

  Owen continued, “Over the years, since we all left the Times, we only stayed in touch with Daniel and Sarah. We’ve visited each other a few times.”

  The officers seemed to be more at ease as Owen, with Alison joining in, continued to give them more information stacking up with the information they’d been given.

  “When was the last time you had contact with them?” James asked.

  Owen looked questioningly at Alison, “What would you say Ali? Maybe three months or so ago, when we stayed at their place in Boulder for a couple of days on the way to your parents?”

  “Yes that would be right,” Alison confirmed.

  James said, “Oh, one more thing. Will you please contact us immediately if you hear anything from them or if you can think of any place where they could be hiding?”

  “You can bet on that,” Owen replied.

  The two police officers got up. “Thank you very much for your honesty and hospitality. We have a few more stops on our way back to the station, so we better get going again. Thank you for the coffee and the cookies. We enjoyed them.”

  Owen walked them to their car while fishing for more information. “You know Alison and I can’t make head nor tail of this whole thing. It’s just mindboggling to think you know people so well and for so long, and then all of a sudden their faces appear on the news accused of such horrendous crimes. Do you guys perhaps have more information than what we saw and heard in the media?”

  “I wish we did. Your shock and disappointment is very understandable, but unfortunately we know no more than you do,” James replied. “There’s an enormous manhunt on the way at the moment. Air and land searches, roadblocks, and that sort of thing. I’m sure they’ll be apprehended soon.”

  The two happy and honored police officers waved as they drove away from a very relieved couple whose adrenaline levels had been at absolute peak for the past hour or so.