The Rowen (A Rossler Foundation Mystery Book 7)

by JC Ryan

  “Its full name is Raven Rock Mountain Complex or RRMC. It was once an underground military installation designed during the Cold War to function as something like the Pentagon and an emergency operations center for the military during a nuclear strike. It was built as a secret project authorized by President Truman in the early 1950’s.

  “A huge hole was blasted out inside a granite mountain, and five three-story structures were built inside… office-building type structures.

  “In its heyday, it was a small city that had nearly everything people in hiding could need: living quarters, a fitness and medical facility, dining hall, chapel, store, its own underground water reservoirs, a waste water treatment plant, hell, it even had its own barber shop. It had two power plants and could sustain a population of 3,000 for 30 days in a complete lockdown situation.”

  JR whistled. “So where is this place and can we still get to it?”

  “It’s near Blue Ridge Summit in Pennsylvania,” Luke said. “Its last use was during the 9-11 crisis of 2001.

  “After that, due to the expense required to upgrade the facility, it was decommissioned, and the four access portals were sealed up from the cave side by filling them with nearly a mile of concrete and then collapsing them the rest of the way to the entrance. There’s no way anyone is going to get in there now.”

  “Too bad,” JR sighed. “It sounded so perfect. As you all know, we love living and working in caves; it’s our specialty.”

  “Actually,” Nigel interrupted, “Luke is not entirely correct. See the thing is, although the site was officially decommissioned years ago, as Luke said. Much more than what was ‘officially’ said was left intact should it ever be needed again. It remains accessible from the underground rail system Laurie and Daniel used to reach Andrews. Also, the tunnels were only filled with concrete for the first 300 feet from the roadside, and the tunnels were not collapsed.”

  Luke’s chin dropped. “I didn’t know that!”

  “You’re kidding!” JR exclaimed. “You mean we’re going to set up shop in another cave again?”

  Various other expressions of surprise erupted around the table, and everyone began talking at once.

  “I know you’re all excited to move into another cave but let’s hear the rest of it before we start packing.” Daniel said loudly and turned to Nigel asking, “How sure are you?”

  Nigel grinned, “One hundred percent sure. I’ve seen it myself!”

  “You and who else?”

  Nigel’s grinned widened. “Esther. Do you know how hard it is to be truly alone when you’re President of the United States? I found out about it and Esther and I went there occasionally—to be alone.”

  “Sounds like we should change the name to the Presidential Love Nest.” Sinclair chuckled to the amusement of everyone.

  “Does it have anything like cells or secured rooms?” Jack asked.

  “Not that I saw, but I didn’t explore the whole facility.”

  “We need to get a look inside that mountain, Daniel,” Jack commented.

  “I agree, Jack. You, Peter, and Nigel put your heads together and figure out a way to get there and get in.

  “JR? I want you and Raj’s team to start looking through all the classified documents we recovered from Brideaux’s servers. Find every scrap of information on what was in that site and estimate what might still be usable and useful to us.

  “If we’re lucky, we may have just found a secure place for the prisoners and a safe refuge for our people in DC.”

  “Nigel, what do you think about the idea of getting hold of Elize and asking her to help us? She saved our lives with her knowledge about that hidden tunnel to the museum. She grew up in the White House and may know more about it than anyone. She might know of some more tunnels and passageways that no one else has discovered. Should we ask her if she’s willing to help us and if she is, should we bring her on board?”

  “Well, she has more than proven her value during your escape I would say. If everyone agrees I’ll get in touch with her right away.”

  Everyone agreed and began speaking excitedly again.

  Daniel raised his voice, “Let’s meet back here in six hours and see what we have to work with.”

  “Yes, Mr. President!” came a chorus of replies as if they have been practicing it.

  Daniel just smiled at the lively antics of the group; we could get our country back on its feet with a group like this he thought.

  Sarah and Rebecca assisted him back to his bed for more rest and medication.

  Chapter 46- My lips are sealed

  On board the Trepang, inside his makeshift cell, John Brideaux lay on his bunk considering his circumstances and despising those responsible for putting him in this tin can. He needed a way to gain control of the contraption and get off it. He needed allies; he needed an ‘inside man,’ he needed out of this prison… prison! That’s it!

  Folding his hands behind his head, he closed his eyes with a smile and began plotting his escape. By the time his guard knocked on the door announcing it was time for dinner he was ready.

  “On your feet Brideaux; chow time.”

  Brideaux growled obscenities under his breath but put a smile on his face and announced, “Ready.”

  The door opened with the usual caution, one man pushing it open, a second pointing a gun in his direction, ready to fire.

  He held his hands in the air, “Thank you, boys! I really appreciate you letting me out.”

  “Come on Brideaux, shut up and get moving.”

  “No, really,” he said as he stepped across the threshold. “You two are my favorite guards. You’re much more efficient than the others. They aren’t consistent like you two. You know, they sometimes let things slide a little, yes, they do. But not the two of you; nope, I always know what to expect with you. Spit and polish, no-nonsense; you do your jobs well. Why, if I were your commanding officer, I’d see you got a promotion!”

  When his guards didn’t respond, he knew he had them. These ducks are going down easier than I expected, and they’ll take the rest of their crew with them! He thought with glee.

  Upon reaching the mess, the younger of the two guards took a seat across the table from him while the other moved to the door, both of them keeping a weapon trained on Brideaux.

  “You know; it is a little disconcerting to eat while you’re staring down the barrel of a gun; gives me severe heartburn.”

  “Shut up and eat, Brideaux,” the guard at the table said, but Brideaux noticed he allowed the tip of his gun to drop and move to the side slightly.

  When they stopped at the bathroom on the way back to his bunk, saying he felt grungy, he persuaded them to give him an extra minute for personal grooming.

  The next day when their shift came again, and he was seated in the mess hall with the young man, he continued his ruse. “So, Lieutenant, what is your job on this fine ship, aside from guarding me.”

  The boy’s face reddened. “It’s Ensign; I’m not a lieutenant… and this is a boat, not a ship.”

  “Ensign, Ensign. Sorry, my boy, I didn’t mean to promote you too fast, although I’m sure you deserve it! Look at what a fine job you’re doing of guarding me. Do you know I heard one of the other guards saying what a fine job you’re doing and that he tried to emulate your example?”

  The boy reddened further, “just eat your food and shut up.”

  Later that evening, though he was loath to do it, Brideaux begged the boy to give him an extra bathroom break saying he wasn’t feeling well and really didn’t think he could hold it.

  For the next few evenings, Brideaux tried to engage the boy in conversation and although it was mostly one sided, he did glean some information. He knew he was on a Virginia class nuclear-powered submarine that had been awaiting dry-dock time for conversion to conventional engines at the time when the Beast was destroyed.

  He also learned that its 16 Tomahawk nuclear-tipped missiles had not been converted to conventional warheads
yet either as that was also scheduled to be done during the engine conversion. The imbeciles couldn’t even work fast enough to have at least had THAT done, he thought with disgust.

  A few nights later, when the boy was pulling the door closed after returning from dinner, John commented. “You know, I sure wish I had something to read in here, something to help me pass the time. Do you think I could have a book to read?”

  “We’re not supposed to give you anything, Brideaux.”

  “Oh, I know, I know. I’m sure you’re not supposed to give me anything that’s dangerous, but do you really think that applies to a book?

  What harm could come from a book?

  Couldn’t you just slip one in to me, something to help me pass the hours? No one else would have to know; it’d just be our little secret, I promise!”

  “I suppose a book wouldn’t hurt. Alright, I’ll see what I can find, but you can’t tell anyone.”

  “My lips are sealed,” Brideaux said with a wink.

  Chapter 47- In two days’ time

  With another 12-hours of rest and medical care from ‘the Confederate of the Evil Sisterhood,’ as Daniel now called his sisters-in-law, he felt like a new man. His shoulder still reminded him to take it slow every time he made a sudden move, but his mind was clear, the fever was gone, and the infection stopped in its tracks.

  Aaron was instructed by the ‘evil sisters’ to build a wheelchair for his President-brother and, being married to one of them, he complied without arguing.

  Although he was fully capable of walking on his own two legs the ‘evil sisters,’ supported by Sarah, would have none of it. He was unceremoniously told that he had a choice, he could stay in bed or get pushed in the wheelchair; and they left him no doubt as to what would happen if he didn’t comply, when Cyndi produced a syringe, still in its wrapping, and placed it on the bedside table.

  Daniel wanted to visit Roy’s and Raj’s technical division before the next leadership meeting. Sarah had sent word about Daniel’s impending visit, so the two teams were all assembled in Roy’s lab when Daniel was rolled in on the homemade wheelchair. The chair sported, on both sides, a Ferrari emblem complete with a black prancing horse on a yellow background and the letters RHSF for Rabbit Hole Scuderia Ferrari below it.

  “Good morning Mr. President,” they all echoed like a class of first graders greeting their teacher first thing in the morning.

  “Now listen, you bunch of propeller-heads. I have been Daniel to you since the day I met every one of you, and that’s how it’s going to stay. Are we clear?”

  “Yes, Mr. President!” Came their practiced chorus again. They all started laughing hysterically when they saw the look of disgust on his face.

  Daniel, first looked at Sarah, she shrugged her shoulders in a ‘don’t look at me; I didn’t put them up to this.’ Then he caught the grinning exchange between JR and Jack who were also present.

  “I’ll deal with the two of you in due course.” He said in a feigned serious tone before turning his attention to Roy and Raj.

  “Now please show me what you have been working on, spyflies and everything else. I heard a rumor; it could also have been a dream, about something called a spyder.”

  Daniel’s wheelchair was pushed closer to the table and a mug of coffee placed in front of him. Roy started by giving Daniel a run-down on the new features added to the flies, the development of the spyders, and their plans to ‘haunt’ the Whitehouse.

  “Look at your coffee cup.” Roy said when he finished his explanation.

  “I don’t see anything,” Daniel said.

  Just then his coffee mug started to move slowly across the table away from him. Daniel pulled his hand away in alarm. “What the hell? How did that happen?”

  “Okay, look carefully now, keep your eyes on the bottom of the mug, Daniel.”

  There was a bit of movement, and a small black spyder materialized out of thin air. Then another one appeared and crawled around the side of the mug and joined its compatriot on the edge of the mug.

  Sarah and Daniel gasped in surprise. “That’s impressive Roy!” Daniel exclaimed.

  Raj had a big grin when he held his hand up to get attention. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” He nodded at one of the technicians.

  Across the table from Daniel, in one of the lab chairs, Nigel appeared—smiling. Daniel and the others blinked their eyes, then looked around as if to say, where did he come from? There was only one entrance to the lab; they were sure Nigel didn’t hide under the table until now. How did he get in there? None of them said anything, assuming they must have somehow missed his presence when they came in. What other explanation could there be?

  “Ah, mhh, Nigel, sorry I didn’t see you earlier. How are you?”

  “I’m good Daniel. I trust you had a good rest and are feeling better?”

  “Yeah, thanks to the unscrupulous attention of the evil sisterhood, I am on the mend.” He chuckled.

  The next moment Nigel’s seat was empty. Daniel and the others blinked, their eyes gawked at the chair and then darted around the room. JR bent down to look under the table—nothing there. He and Jack had previously seen the disappearing act and heard the voice projection of the spyders. They instinctively knew that this had something to do with the other feature Roy and Raj had been talking about, but how did it work?

  “What is going on here Roy, Raj?” Daniel demanded.

  Before Roy could start, Nigel walked through the door, laughing. “Amazing, isn’t it? I have no idea how these geniuses did it…”

  “Teleporting, like in Star Trek,” Jack babbled before anyone could answer “you know like, beam me over Scottie?”

  “Huh, what?” Daniel emitted.

  “Wait, wait, I know.” JR started. “Holograms! Is it not?”

  Roy and Raj were beaming. “You’ve got it, JR.” Raj replied. “We are using holographic telepresence technology we are…”

  “Bloody hell! Jack interjected as he could immediately see the possibilities of this powerful tool. “You’re telling me you can make anyone appear and disappear like that anywhere you want? And make them talk with their real voices?”

  Roy laughed, “more or less, yes, as long as we have a spyder or two deployed in the same place.”

  Roy continued and explained that holographic video conferencing was still very much an evolving technology in the rest of the world, but they borrowed some ideas from the Tenth Cycle Library to construct these phantom spyders and incorporated the holographic capability.

  Jack and JR looked like their smiles were tied behind their ears as their minds were racing with possibilities of what they could do with these new gadgets.

  “You guys are really scary sometimes,” Daniel said with proudness in his voice. “I’m glad you’re on our side! Well done team! This is excellent work.”

  A round of loud applause followed.

  ***

  A few hours later the leadership reassembled in the war room. The meeting was kicked off with a bamboozling demo of the new generation spyflies and the spyders. Those who hadn’t seen the new technology in action reacted with initial fright and bewilderment, and finally, rapturous excitement when they realized what powerful means they had been handed by the technology division.

  Roy continued. “These can be dispersed throughout the White House by Tectus while our team prepares Raven Rock for the arrival of prisoners and others. We’ll be able to see and hear what is happening in the White House both here at the Rabbit Hole and at Raven Rock. We’ll also be able to control the spyders and spyflies from either location.”

  Roy and Raj told them that they already had twelve the spyflies ready to go and would have another twelve ready in a couple of days. The spyders were a bit more complex, but they would probably have six of them ready to go in that time.

  Sam was shaking his head in amazement when he voiced the thoughts of the ex-spies in their midst, “These are the type of spy gadgets we couldn’t even dream of back in
my days.”

  Luke laughed. “And to think all those years Sam and every other spy boss in charge of me sent me on those dangerous missions while they could have sent one of these spyders instead.”

  “Yeah, Hayden’s going to have his ass handed to him,” Peter commented. The room erupted into excited chatter for the next several minutes.

  Salome and her psychological warfare team consisting of Sam, Luke, Rebecca, and herself were brimming with excitement. Rebecca started chanting;

  Ghosts will haunt you

  Invisible spyders will taunt you

  Undetectable flies will thwart you

  Oh my, oh my...

  Daniel let the good-natured talk flow unheeded for a few minutes and then brought the meeting back to order, “Okay people, let’s get back to the task at hand. What have we found out about Raven Rock?”

  JR responded, “From what we can tell, in its glory days, it was indeed a veritable city unto itself. Completely self-sustaining… they even had hydroponic gardens although not many people knew about that.

  “We’re still going through the records. But we already know that leaving it intact for possible future use suggests that the site was carefully shut down and preserved rather than being destroyed and haphazardly abandoned. The site was sealed up about twenty-five years ago, so as far as the power systems and technology go, they will be out of date, but they could still be functional.

  “Food and water could be a concern, but if the power systems are still working, then fresh water shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Excellent! Do you think the existing technology will be sufficient for our needs, and if not, can it be upgraded?” Daniel asked.

  “Since we’re just talking about housing people in a safe and hidden environment, the site itself should meet our needs well—we think.

  “As for the technology, if you’re planning to fight a war I’d say you’ll probably get your ass kicked. If you just need clandestine housing, communication, and observation, it will serve the purpose.”

  “That’s a good start. Thank you, JR.”

  JR nodded.