A Dubious Race: The Phoenician Stones (A Colton Banyon Mystery Book 14)

by Gerald J Kubicki

  “There are also two people from the accounting department stationed at your office door,” Mandy informed him.

  “Oh!”

  “They need you to sign checks.”

  Chapter Two

  It took Banyon more than three hours to sign the checks demanded by the accounting people. He then responded to all the messages. He was beginning to have some sympathy for Bart. The job of running the company wasn’t easy. After he was done, he leaned back and put his feet up on the desk in an attempt to plan out the rest of his day. But he heard a beep in his Bluetooth earpiece. Everyone at Dewey & Beatem wore a Bluetooth whenever they were in the office. It made for improved communications.

  “Colt, are you free?” Mandy breathed into his ear.

  “Don’t tell me that there are more checks to sign,” he half-growled.

  “No, nothing like that,” she responded sweetly.

  “Then what is it that you want?”

  “You have a call. Should I take a message or do you want to talk to her?” Mandy was an efficient receptionist. She did her best to protect Banyon’s time.

  “Who is it?”

  “She says that her name is Professor Lisa Lange,” Mandy replied. “I’ve heard her name before, I think. Do you know her?”

  Banyon was shocked and immediately sat bolt upright in his chair. He did know Lisa Lange, but he never expected to hear from her again. He struggled to think what he should do. He certainly didn’t want to talk to her on an office phone. All calls were recorded. He wondered if she might be in trouble. Why else would she call?

  “Get her number and tell her that I’ll call her back in five minutes,” Banyon ordered.

  “Will do,” Mandy immediately replied.

  Banyon sat in stunned silence. He began to wonder why Lisa Lange would call him. He knew she was a full professor of history at UNLV in Las Vegas. She was also the head of a very secret society called the “Vril Society”. Banyon and his team had helped to save her life, and also found the lost book of Vril over a year ago. It had been a dangerous adventure with lots of bad guys. In the end, it was necessary to make everyone involved in the mystery forget what happened — or face bloodshed.

  Fortunately one of the many secrets in the book was a hypnotic process developed by Sigmund Freud himself. It made people forget selected information. It was a form of post-hypnotic suggestion. He had developed it in the nineteen-thirties, when he still lived in Austria. Freud never published the process because he was afraid that the Nazis would use it to dominate the world. He wasn’t too sure about the allies either.

  Freud had told only one person about the process, and they had recorded it in the book. The person was Lisa’s great-grandmother who used it to escape Nazi Germany.

  Banyon had visited Lisa after the crisis had ended to make sure that she didn’t remember the conflict. He had offered her his card and a copy of the book of Vril. She accepted both, but showed no sign of recognizing him. What has changed? Is the hypnotic spell weakening? Mandy had said that she thought she knew the name. Mandy had been one of the people that had been “Freud-a-sized”, it was the term used by his team to make people forget. Was this evidence that the people we Freud-a-sized would soon begin to remember? This could be a huge disaster. Banyon decided that he needed to get advice from Wolf.

  Before he could ask Wolf his question, Banyon noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Banyon’s second story office included a small curved patio separated from the inside by large, clear, glass doors. The patio overhung the inside reception area. It was directly above Mandy’s station. Rather than navigate the long corridors of the building, Mandy often used her athletic abilities to leap up on to the patio to access Banyon’s office. He turned his head in time to see a bare-footed Mandy vault over the railing in her hiked-up short skirt, flashing lots of leg. He was not the least bit surprised, she had done it before.

  She struggled, but soon pulled open the big glass door. She grinned as she sprinted towards him and skidded to a stop, placing her small bottom on the corner of his desk. She let her bare legs dangle inches from his chair.

  “Special delivery,” she announced and showed him the pink slip with Lisa’s number written on it.

  “There was no need to rush, but thank you,” Banyon responded and snatched the message from between her small fingers.

  “How do you know her, Colt?” she quickly asked. “Is she a client? Will this be my first case as a member of the team? Will I have to dress up? Do you want me to act slutty like the Patel sisters?”

  “Whoa, slow down Mandy,” Banyon beseeched her. “Yes, I do know her. The question is do you know her?”

  “Well that’s just it. Somewhere in the back of my brain, I see a tall blond older woman, but I can’t remember where I met her. Is that her?”

  Holy crap, Banyon thought. She just described Lisa, except she was actually only in her mid-thirties. Of course, anyone over twenty-five is older to Mandy. “Can you remember anything else about her?”

  “Why are you asking me these questions, Colt?” Mandy fidgeted nervously on the edge of Banyon’s desk.

  But that didn’t stop him. “Well do you?” He demanded.

  “I’m not sure about what I said,” Mandy quickly replied. “Maybe it was just what I pictured her looking like from her voice on the phone. Did I do something wrong? Is she an old girlfriend?”

  The answer didn’t surprise Banyon. Mandy noticed and categorized every woman that he had contact with, or even looked at. But on the other hand, Lisa’s voice may have triggered a memory. He needed to find out. “I’m going to call her right now on my cell phone. I want you to listen in, okay. Then I’m going to ask you some more questions,” Banyon said.

  “Okay,” she said with hesitation. “Is this some kind of test?”

  Banyon ignored her and dialed the number on the message slip, then hit the speaker button. Lisa picked up on the third ring.

  “Lisa Lange,” she said in a clear cultured voice.

  “Professor Lange, this is Colton Banyon. You called me?” Banyon watched Mandy for any reaction as he spoke.

  “Yes, Mr. Banyon, I did. You might not remember me, but you gave me your card and said that if I ever needed your help to call you,” she quickly said into the phone. He sensed urgency in her voice.

  “How can I help you professor?”

  “First of all, please call me Lisa. You know, it’s funny. Why is it that I feel like we are old friends?”

  “And please call me Colt.” Banyon responded with a level of panic beginning to rise in his chest. Lisa had also been Freud-a-sized. Is the spell wearing off?

  “I’ll get right to the point…Colt,” she said. “I have done some research on you and I think that you can help me find something that was stolen.”

  “I don’t know what you have found out about me, but I usually only look for artifacts that are very valuable,” Banyon replied.

  “Oh, this is a valuable artifact alright,” she answered with a throaty laugh. Banyon now sat up in his chair and motioned for Mandy to take notes.

  “What can you tell me about the artifact?”

  “As you know, I am a professor of history at UNLV. One of my students brought me a picture and told me that the artifact in the picture had been recently stolen from his grandfather. The artifact is a stone tablet with writing on it. I have been attempting to verify the language and what was written on the stone. I’m hoping that you could meet me and go over my findings. I think you’ll want to help me.”

  “I’m not in Las Vegas at the moment,” Banyon said.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you that I’m here in Chicago at Northwestern University. I came here because a friend of mine is an expert on ancient languages. Are your offices near here?” She asked politely.

  “Was he able to read the words on the tablet?” Banyon asked.

  “Yes and the implications are earth shattering,” she replied. “I’m going to visit with another friend o
f mine while I’m here to fill in some more blanks.”

  “Can you tell me what you have discovered?” Banyon was now curious.

  “If we can authenticate the stone, it will change our knowledge of who discovered America,” she said. “But there is much more.”

  “Let me put you on hold for a second,” Banyon said.

  “Alright.” She said with disappointment.

  Banyon turned to the wide-eyed Mandy. “I want you to collect Steve and Heather and be back in my office in five minutes. I have something to tell you,” Banyon told her.

  “Yes, sir,” she yelled and saluted, she was already going out the door.

  Banyon hit the mute button and once again began talking to Lisa. “Do you have transportation to get you here?”

  “I’ve a car. I can GPS your location,” she responded.

  “Good,” he gave her the address of the office. “It should take you about an hour from the university.”

  “I’ll see you then,” she replied.

  “I do have one question first,” Banyon said.

  “What is your question?”

  “So who really discovered America?” Banyon asked.

  “It was the Phoenicians, of course.”

  Chapter Three

  Professor Lisa Lange clicked off her phone. She was comfortably seated in an overstuffed chair in one of the many lounges at Northwestern University. “Damn,” she yelled out to no one in particular. She knew that she had made a mistake. I should not have acted like I knew him, she thought. Several people in the lounge turned and looked at her. Now I have embarrassed myself. I wonder if he suspects anything.

  She decided she had to think a minute before moving on to her next appointment. Lisa Lange was about five feet nine inches tall, far-skinned, blond, and quite beautiful. Today she was dressed to impress her colleagues. She wore a tight designer dress, the color of wheat, and matching shoes. The colors complimented her bright blue eyes. The dress was long and almost touched the floor, but a slit ran up the left side, almost to her hip. It was her usual attire for lecturing her students. It kept them interested — especially the males.

  As she sat thinking, she unconsciously crossed her legs and like many “A Type” personalities, her leg began to bounce while she thought. She soon realized that many of the men in the lounge were staring at her long bare legs. She abruptly stood up and headed for the door. She decided to skip her next appointment and head directly to Banyon’s office. She hoped to catch him before he had time to discover her secret.

  She truly wanted to help Joey Brownwater, her student at UNLV, find his lost artifact. But she also realized that if the artifact was real, she would become world famous. A discovery so significant was worth the risk of Banyon discovering what she knew.

  She dialed her phone as she headed for her rental car. It was immediately answered by a young man. “Native American Studies,” he said into the phone.

  “This is Professor Lisa Lange. I’ve an appointment with one of your professors in a half-hour, but I’m going to have to postpone the meeting. Can I reschedule my meeting for tomorrow?”

  Chapter Four

  Colton Banyon glanced at his Movado watch and realized that he had a few minutes before Mandy and the others were due in his office. He decided to find out what Wolf could tell him about Lisa Lange and her quest.

  Wolf was Banyon’s mentor and the reason that Banyon could find things quickly. Wolf was actually a spirit. He lived in a limbo like world and he and Banyon could communicate. Banyon had to ask questions out loud, but he could not ask about the future. Wolf would reply inside his head so no one else could hear.

  Wolf could see anything he desired in real time. He also could track history using the energy trail that everything left to locate items and people. He just needed a place, a time, and a person or thing to begin tracking. He could also watch several people at one time. Wolf continuously watched over all of Banyon’s team and more.

  Wolf had arranged to be Banyon’s eye in the sky by having a Shaman named Abu Patel place a curse on him when he was alive and known as Walter Pierce. Banyon had no knowledge of the curse or of Walter Pierce, AKA Wolf, until after his first adventure. At first he was afraid of the spirit, but over the years Banyon and Wolf had solved many mysteries. Banyon and his team had become very wealthy along the way. Now Banyon saw Wolf as a researcher who provided the information needed to solve problems. Although, sometimes Wolf answered Banyon with what he wanted him to hear and not necessarily what he was asked.

  “Wolf, are you there?” Banyon called out to the empty room.

  “I’m here,” an older refined voice replied in Banyon’s head.

  “Does Lisa Lange remember anything about us helping her find her great-grandmother’s book of Vril?”

  “I can’t read her mind,” Wolf replied. “But I will research her recent history to see if I can discover anything.”

  “How long before you can tell me something? She is due here in about an hour.”

  “It will take a couple of hours. Check back with me then.”

  “Is there anything else new?”

  “Yes, there is,” Wolf replied sadly. “But it will wait, Colt. Your people are at the office door.”

  Chapter Five

  A knock on his door came as soon as Banyon finished talking to Wolf. “Enter,” he called out sounding like a boss.

  The door swung open, Mandy was the first person to enter. Banyon recognized a different attitude in her lately. Mandy had agreed to act professionally around other people as a condition to be accepted on to the team. She appeared to be holding up her part. She was added to the team because she was a world class athlete, a marksman, and an accomplished pickpocket. Because of her youthful look, she was also very good at undercover work. She smiled weakly at Banyon as she demurely placed herself on a couch.

  Next person through the door was Heather Vance. She was the office manager at Dewey & Beatem and had a degree in Psychology. She had strong physical abilities and the brains to use them wisely. She was also a good undercover agent because she was able to alter her look and was always distractingly sexy. The fact that she had been a pornography star also helped her to understand how to handle men. Heather flowed into Banyon’s office like liquid sex. She wore a red tube top and short miniskirt. She dropped onto one of Banyon’s two couches like she was ready to work.

  Finally, Steve Pellegrino strutted into the office like he owned it. Steve and Banyon had known each other for many years, ever since Banyon’s second mystery. Steve had been a cop then, but was now the head of security for Dewey & Beatem. Steve was an accomplished martial arts and knife fighter and was dressed in a black-belt karate outfit. He had clearly been working out. Steve had a big crush on Loni, Banyon’s companion, but had recently hooked up with Heather. He plopped on the couch next to her.

  The three people on the couch were the new members of Banyon’s team. They were added because Banyon and the other members decided they needed more youth in the organization. Each was given stock in LCH Detective Agency, LLC when they joined. They would now share in the abundant profits of the organization.

  The rest of the team consisted of Loni and the Patel Clan. They were the three granddaughters of Abu Patel, who had placed the spell on Wolf. Their names were Previne, Pramilla and Maya Patel. The fourth member of the clan was Eric Grey, who was the husband of Pramilla and also Wolf’s grandson.

  Banyon’s team was a highly clandestine and tight knit group. They held many secrets which the new people had not been exposed to — at least not yet. Banyon was about to reveal one of their secrets to them.

  “Please understand this,” Banyon started as he stood near the back wall of his office. “Each member of our team has a say in anything we do. If you don’t like something, sing out. Is that clear?”

  “We know this already,” Heather said through pouty lips. “Just tell us want you want to tell us, Colt.”

  “You have also all agreed to never
divulge any of our secrets to anyone else. Do you remember that?”

  “Or we lose all rights to any profits, we understand,” Steve quipped.

  “Okay,” Banyon quickly replied and nodded his head. “Our organization has many secrets. We have not yet shared most of them with you, but I’m going to tell you about one of them right now.”

  “I’ll bet it has to do with Lisa Lange,” Mandy quipped as she fidgeted on the couch. The two other people looked at her with a questioning look. They had no idea who Mandy was referring to.

  “Yes and no,” Banyon responded. “Lisa is the symptom, but there is a potentially bigger problem to deal with.”

  “I don’t understand,” Heather said with a tilt of her head.

  “Do any of you recognize her name?” Banyon asked as he stared into each of their eyes.

  “Only what I told you about this morning,” Mandy uttered. “And I’m not sure about my description.”

  “Well, Mandy you actually described her perfectly,” Banyon explained.

  “And that’s a problem why?” she asked.

  “You should not have been able to remember anything about her,” Banyon explained.

  “You mean I’ve met her before?” Mandy asked with concern.

  “You all have met her before,” Banyon responded.

  “How could that be?” Heather asked as she pulled on her long hair. Something she did when she was nervous.

  “I’ll explain,” Banyon told them. “Do any of you remember anything about the training exercise you attended on Lake Mead in Las Vegas last year?”

  “We did some rock climbing and sailed around in a big houseboat,” Steve answered. Both Mandy and Heather nodded their heads in agreement.

  “Well, that’s not what actually happened there,” Banyon said and then watched their stunned faces.