“I know a place where we can hole up for a while,” Rob said.
“What did you have in mind?” Randall asked.
“I have a place on an island nearby. It’s pretty isolated and only a few close friends know about it. We can stay there until we figure out what to do.”
“Sounds good, we should probably get going right away,” Randall said.
“Hold on Nick, before we go, I need to get something from my place,” Jamie said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We have the government and Dumond both looking for us,” Randall replied.
“I have something that might help us find Shaw.”
“What is it?” Randall asked.
“I have a file with contact information he provided: phone number, email address, name of his company. Maybe we can use it to track him down.”
“If he’s with some branch of the military or government, chances are his contact information is bogus. His name probably isn’t even Shaw,” John said.
“You’re probably right, but it’s all we have to go on at this point,” Jamie replied.
“How far away is your place?” Sam asked.
“It’s not far, just a few miles. I can make it there and back in an hour.”
“I’ll go with you,” John said.
“Okay,” Jamie said.
Randall sighed, his eyes bouncing between Jamie and John.
“We’ll be okay dad,” John said.
“Alright, go pick up the file, and be back here in one hour. No later,” Randall said, folding his arms across his chest.
“We will dad. See you all in an hour.”
“John,” Randall said.
John turned to look at him.
“Be careful.”
Chapter Eighteen
The midday sun hung almost directly overhead as John drove the rental car down a quiet street lined with tall, narrow, colorfully painted buildings. The bright daylight bounced off of the vibrant facades, hurting the eyes of anyone not wearing sunglasses.
“Turn here,” Jamie said.
John swung the car onto her street and slowed down.
“Which building?”
“The white one about three quarters of the way down on the left.”
John pulled the car to a stop well short of Jamie’s building and on the opposite side of the street.
Jamie furrowed her brow. “Why are we stopping here?”
“After what happened to me the other day, I’m not taking any chances,” John said, his eyes scanning the street for signs of trouble. “Is it usually this quiet?” he asked, not seeing anyone else on the sidewalks.
“I don’t know. I’m usually at work at this time of day.”
John exited the car, went around to Jamie’s side, and opened her door.
“Ma’am,” John said, extending his hand to Jamie.
“Thank you, kind sir.” Jamie took his hand and stepped out of the car.
As she did so, John noted for the first time how beautiful she was. Her sandy blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail, exposing bright blue eyes that twinkled as she watched John’s face while she exited the car. Her crooked smile was warm and hinted at a humorous side that she had not displayed back at Rob’s house. Even in worn jeans and an old t-shirt, she was attractive in a natural manner. So much so that John found himself staring at her.
The two moved casually toward the building, walking at a leisurely pace.
“How long have you lived in Bermuda?”
“Three years. I had a job offer out of college and decided it would be fun to see a new part of the world.”
“Where are you from?”
“Santa Barbara.”
“Sounds like a nice place.”
“It’s beautiful. Right on the Pacific Ocean. My mom, dad, and older sister are all still there. I’m the only one who left the nest.”
“Do you miss them?”
“Yes. I love the adventure of traveling, but I do miss home. They’ve come out to visit me a couple of times and I usually head home for the holidays. I’m supposed to be going back next spring for my sister’s wedding.”
“Congratulations to your sister. How did they meet?”
“In school. They were taking classes together and got to know each other over study sessions at the library. He’s a really sweet guy.”
John nodded and smiled. “How about you? Anyone special in your life?”
Jamie wrinkled her nose. “No, I guess I’ve been too busy with work. Besides, I haven’t met the right guy yet.”
“Oh, and what would he be like?”
“He’ll be smart, but not full of himself, and he’ll have a good sense of humor. I like someone who can make me laugh. He’ll also be warm, you know, someone who’s close to his family. They say you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat their family.”
As they talked, John noticed Jamie walk a little slower and move closer to him. They stopped outside of Jamie’s building.
“This is it,” Jamie said.
The building was bright white with black, wrought-iron fencing. Each unit had a small balcony, some furnished with chairs and small tables for their residents to enjoy the warm weather and beautiful views.
“Which one is yours?”
“Come on, I’ll show you.”
The two walked around the side of the building and up a flight of stairs, stopping at unit 201. Jamie took her keys from her purse, opened the door, and went in. John followed closely behind her.
“The file’s in my office, I’ll be right back.”
Jamie disappeared into another room as John waited in the living room. The room was bright and airy, with a small dining table with four chairs sitting under a large window that looked out over the ocean. In the middle of the table was a picture of Jamie and her family. Her parents looked surprisingly young for a couple with two adult daughters. John walked over to the table and picked up the picture. As he did, the front door burst open.
Caught off guard, John spun to face the door, the picture dropping from his hand and shattering on the hardwood floor.
“Dr. John Randall, I presume.”
“Who are you and how do you know my name?”
“Family resemblance. Search the rest of the apartment.”
A mountain of a man made his way past the first, heading straight for the office where Jamie had gone only minutes earlier. A third man joined them.
“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your father and sister, but this is truly a treat. I didn’t expect to find you here today.”
“Dumond,” John said through gritted teeth.
“Very good, Dr. Randall. I see my reputation precedes me.” Dumond motioned for his assistant to approach John. The man did as ordered, pointing a gun at John’s chest.
“What are you looking for?” John asked.
“Your friend, Jamie. I understand that your father has an interest in her, and if he has an interest, then so do I. By the way, where is your father? I’m dying to see him again.”
“He’s gone. I knew he wouldn’t be safe here so I told him he needed to leave the island.”
“You’re as poor a liar as your father.”
The large man who had gone into the office reappeared alone.
“She’s not here, Mr. Dumond.”
Dumond’s eyes narrowed for a moment and then he smiled, turning to face John. “I saw the two of you enter this apartment. Where did she go?”
John shrugged.
Dumond walked over to John, stopping inches from him. He studied John’s face. “Well, we have the next best thing. Dr. Randall, would you care to join us?”
Dumond’s assistant pressed the handgun into John’s ribs, pushing him toward the door.
Chapter Nineteen
The NASA remote tracking station at Cooper Island is little more than several trailers and an antennae dish. Opened in 2012, the facility was built to support launches from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. A
t least that was the purpose of the facility as far as the public was concerned.
Colonel Shaw entered the mobile facility and walked straight into the meeting room.
“Status update on targets,” Shaw said.
“Sir, we have been unable to obtain the assets at this time, but believe we may have found them,” responded a man dressed in street clothes and wearing a NASA badge.
“Where is Captain Fredericks?”
“He’s in the situation room, sir.”
Shaw walked briskly down the short hallway. There were no windows in the corridor, but the bright LED lighting washed over the ultra-white walls, creating the illusion of daylight. Shaw stopped at a solid, windowless door and pressed his right hand against the biometric scanner. The device silently identified him and granted access. The air door slid open, revealing a room with a bank of computers not unlike mission control in Houston.
Captain Fredericks was seated at the far left side, studying something intently. He briefly glanced up upon hearing the door open. “Colonel,” Fredericks said, not getting up from his seat. His eyes were locked on the computer screen, which displayed still images of a snowy white plateau.
“What have they been doing?” Shaw asked.
“It’s difficult to say. As you know, every time we get a satellite within range to take reconnaissance photographs, they jam it. We’ve been unable to upload commands and take the surveillance pictures,” Captain Frederick replied.
“Are the satellites permanently incapacitated?”
“No, just a temporary blackout. Once the satellites are out of their range, they resume normal operations.”
“Do we know how they’re doing it?”
Fredericks shook his head. “Our scientists theorize that they’re utilizing some type of energy beam, possibly an electromagnetic pulse, to temporarily shut the satellites down. Unfortunately, they’re using technology we’ve never seen before.”
Shaw removed his hat, ran his fingers through his short, gray hair, and let out a sigh. “We’re running out of time,” he said, looking into the distance. “What’s the status on apprehending the Randalls?” Shaw demanded.
Fredericks hesitated. “Our men were unable to secure them,” he responded, not making eye contact with his superior officer.
Shaw set his jaw. “How did they elude our men?”
“Lieutenant Sanders said that Randall’s party used some sort of weapon to sink their boat. That’s all I was able to get from him.”
Shaw grasped Fredericks by the collar and jerked him to his feet, holding him in his gaze. He said nothing for a full ten seconds and then growled. “First you screwed up the intelligence gathering mission at the FBI, and now you’re telling me you still haven’t been able to locate and apprehend John or Nick Randall. I’m losing patience with you very quickly. You have twenty-four hours to capture them or I’ll have you sent to a place where no one will ever see or hear from you again. Understood?”
Fredericks could only manage a curt nod, at which time Shaw released his grip on him. Shaw placed his hat back on his head and strode toward the door. He opened it and stopped in the doorway, facing outward.
“Twenty-four hours Fredericks, the clock is running.”
He walked out the door, leaving the captain to his thoughts.
Chapter Twenty
John stood with his eyes blindfolded and his hands tied behind his back. Although he couldn’t see it, he could feel that he was shackled to a large metal pipe. By touch, he determined that the diameter of the pipe was approximately three inches—far too large to break. He could also hear the sound of water lapping against something solid nearby. The sound seemed to come from over his head, giving him the unpleasant sensation that the room could become inundated with water at a moment’s notice. If that happened, he would be unable to escape and would drown. John tried to push the thought from his mind, but being blindfolded only added to the uncertainty, allowing his mind to paint the unnerving portrait in sickening detail.
John strained to hear additional noises, trying to capture any sound that might help him identify where he was. He thought he heard the sound of a boat engine strumming in the distance, but the lapping water made it difficult to hear anything clearly. His heart jumped when he heard a door open on squeaky hinges and the sound of boot steps approaching him. Worse, he heard the unmistakable sound of splashing water as the stranger approached. There was water on the floor of the room, he was sure of it now. The steps grew louder and he could sense someone getting closer. Suddenly the steps stopped, and there was silence again. John cocked his head back and to the side, trying to hear anything, but whoever was here wasn’t speaking.
“Is someone there?”
There was no answer. John waited a minute and tried again.
“Is some…” He was cut off by a wave of water crashing over his face, the liquid forcing its way down his open throat in mid-sentence. John convulsed in response, gagging on what seemed like gallons of water, which burned his lungs. He coughed uncontrollably and turned from his visitor. After a few moments, he regained normal breathing.
“Who are…?”
More water rained down on him, once again flooding his throat and lungs. He felt like he was drowning. Unable to breathe for what seemed an eternity, he coughed reflexively, struggling to rid his lungs of the water. John dropped to his knees, the metal cuffs biting into his wrists. Searing pain issued from the ragged wounds, caused by the metal tearing into his flesh. The salt water added to his suffering, burning his wrists as he struggled to breathe.
He cursed internally, unable to force the words out. Finally, the coughing subsided.
He thought about addressing his captor, but his instincts kicked in. He forced his jaw shut and turned his head down and away from whoever was dousing him with water.
“You learn quickly, Dr. Randall. Good for you.”
John stood again, careful to keep his head turned away from the voice that was addressing him.
After a few moments, his captor spoke again. “What is your father’s interest in Jamie Edmunds?”
John recognized Dumond’s voice, but stood motionless.
“Again,” Dumond said.
A torrent of water rained down on John’s head. This time, though, he prepared himself, forcing his mouth shut and tilting his head down to minimize the amount of water that entered his lungs. His strategy was met with strong hands forcing his head back, making it impossible to keep the water out. John struggled to breathe, coughing uncontrollably. After a moment, he composed himself again.
“I’m waiting, Dr. Randall,” Dumond said in a singsong voice.
“What’s your interest in her?”
“I will indulge you for a moment. I understand that Ms. Edmunds and I may have shared a common experience and I would like to hear more about what she has gone through. Now, why has your father sought her out?”
“You mean you’ve been abducted?”
“I’m losing my patience. What is your father’s interest in her?”
“Same as yours. Since he returned from Peru, he has been having nightmares.”
“Go on.”
“The nightmares have involved abduction at the hands of some creature he’s never seen before,” John said, carefully choosing his words.
“But why his interest in Ms. Edmunds? He could have seen a psychiatrist, astrologer, or any number of people. Why did he come here to Bermuda and seek her out”
John didn’t reply.
“Again,” Dumond said. Once again, a strong set of hands forced John’s head back and a torrent of water hit his blindfolded face.
“We can do this all day, Dr. Randall.”
The sensation was overwhelming. John forced out the water, coughing spasmodically.
“She was in his dreams. Dad was experiencing the abductions through her.” John forced the words out.
“Fascinating. So your father is somehow connected to Ms. Edmunds. Perhaps telepathically? Exactly what h
appened when your father met the creatures in Peru?”
“I don’t know,” John replied, sucking air in big gulps. “He said he communicated with them and they told him Sam was in danger.”
“Where are Ms. Edmunds and your father now?”
“We were supposed to meet some time ago at her office, but we knew you were near and when we didn’t show up, they left,” John lied.
“I made a mistake by not killing your father and sister when I had the chance. I won’t do the same with you. By now I’m sure you’ve heard the sound of the ocean from your cell. This is a special room I had designed for negotiating with my enemies. There is an open-grated window several feet above your head. It keeps out the rising ocean until high tide, which will occur in two hours and thirty-two minutes. Enjoy your stay.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Randall paced the floor of Rob’s room, frequently checking his watch. It had been over two hours and there was still no sign of John and Jamie.
“Something’s happened to them,” Randall said.
“We don’t know that for sure. Let’s give them a little more time,” Rob said.
“You don’t know John the way I do, he’s always been very punctual. Even as a kid he hated being late for anything.”
As Sam was about to comment, the door to Rob’s room opened and Jamie stepped through the doorway. Her face was flush and she was out of breath as she leaned on the door jamb.
“They have John,” she managed to say between breaths.
“Who has John? What happened?” Randall replied, helping her to a chair.
“We were in my apartment and I went into my office to get the folder. Three men burst through my front door and grabbed John.”
“How did you get away?”
“I had opened my window and thought about climbing out, but didn’t have time. I threw a lamp out the window and I hid behind a chair in the corner of my room. They heard the breaking noise and thought I had escaped. It was Dumond! He’s looking for you, Nick!”
The Bermuda Connection (A Nick Randall Novel Book 2) Page 10
