A phone on his desk rang.
Roth picked it up, “Yes?”
“Sir, Mister Hamid is here to see you,” said his personal secretary from the other room.
Roth glanced at the time. It was nearing eleven at night. “At this hour? What does he want?”
“He didn’t say, sir.”
“Well, whatever it is, I’m sure it’s important. Let him in.” Roth ran a hand through his hair and straightened his housecoat.
The doors to Roth’s office opened. Hamid entered the room, accompanied by two armed men, each carrying 9mm pistols with suppressors on them.
Roth’s heart began to race. “Hamid, what is the meaning of this intrusion?”
Hamid looked down at Roth and adjusted his red silk tie. “Mister Roth, the other members of the Aurora Group have asked me to take charge of our operations.”
Roth’s face flushed. “You can’t fire me, goddammit. My parents built this company from scratch. You’re all just minority stakeholders. You don’t have enough clout to force me from my company.”
“We’re not asking you to retire. This is a hostile takeover.”
“You have no right to do this.”
“Yes, I do. As soon as you decided to jeopardize the identities of the other members of the group with your foolish crusade against the men who may or may not have been behind your brother’s death, you put us all at risk. After your expedition to Bolivia, the American State Department began an investigation into you and your activities. I’m sorry, Peter, but you brought this on yourself.”
Before he could open his mouth to object, the two armed men stepped forward and fired three rounds each into Roth’s chest and head, killing him. The gunmen slid their weapons inside their jackets and hauled Roth’s body from the bed before dumping it on the floor.
Hamid took out his phone and took a picture of Roth’s body before sending it to the other members of the Aurora Group. At the door, he looked over at Roth’s terrified secretary. “Call the police and tell them there’s been an attempted robbery. Unfortunately, Mister Roth died trying to stop the thieves.”
“Yes, sir,” replied the secretary. “But what about the surveillance tapes?”
“What about them?”
“They won’t show a robbery; they’ll show you and your men in Mister Roth’s room.”
Hamid smiled. “Don’t worry about that. As we speak, the original recordings are being replaced by ones showing a man breaking into Roth’s office and murdering him.”
“What about me, sir?”
Hamid patted the secretary on the arm. “I have no intention of having you killed. I need you here next week to act as my personal secretary. Understand?”
The man nodded.
“Good. I can see us working well together in the future. As a token of my sincerity, you’ll see a bonus in your pay tomorrow if things go well with the police later tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well. I suppose I’m done here. See you next Tuesday.” Hamid, flanked by his bull-necked bodyguards, walked out of the secretary’s office, leaving the secretary to run for the bathroom to be sick.
63
Charlotte, Montana
Grant glanced up at the rearview mirror of his rental car and smiled. Susan was fast asleep in the backseat. Snuggled in her arms was a stuffed rabbit Elena had bought for her at the airport.
“I wish I could fall asleep like that,” said Grant.
“She’s exhausted from all the traveling,” said Elena, checking on Susan.
“I doubt she and her grandmother are going to get much sleep tonight.”
“No, probably not. Do you think she’ll remember what happened?”
“Yeah, I do. She’s a unique little girl.”
“Don’t you think she’ll be traumatized by what she saw and experienced?”
Grant shook his head. “Not at all. In fact, I think she’s going to be okay.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Something in my heart tells me Susan will do just fine without us watching over her from now on.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” Elena pointed at a road sign. “The turnoff to Rebeca’s place is coming up.”
“Got it,” said Grant, signaling that he was about to turn off the highway.
“Did you get a chance to speak with James before we left the airport?”
“As a matter of fact, I did. He said Staff Sergeant Wright has been brought onboard as the first member of our newly established security section, and that he and Doctor Collins will also form the nucleus of another field team.”
“I bet Jeremy was ecstatic to hear that.”
“Probably.”
Grant slowed down as Rebeca’s house came into view. He could see her standing on the porch. He could imagine the flood of emotions running through her heart. Grant brought the car to a stop and turned off the engine. “Time to wake up, sleepyhead.”
Susan sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. In an instant, her eyes widened, and she scrambled to unbuckle herself. Before Elena could open her door, Susan was out and running for her grandmother. Rebeca scooped Susan up and held her tightly in her arms.
“Evening, Rebeca,” said Grant.
“Oh my God, how did you find her?” asked Rebeca.
“It’s kind of a long story. Suffice it to say, I don’t think Susan will be going anywhere for a long time, and only if she wants to.”
“Please come in.”
Grant and Elena followed their host inside.
Rebeca picked up the television remote and switched it off. “Sorry, I’ve been glued to the TV all day long. It’s been a day of miracles.”
“How so?” asked Elena.
“I guess you’ve been on the go and haven’t had a chance to see the news. A bunch of sailors thought lost a year and a half ago when their submarine was reported missing have been found alive on an uninhabited island in the Indian Ocean. It’s amazing. A film crew landed on the island to make a nature documentary and found them.”
Grant and Elena traded a look.
“That is almost unbelievable,” said Grant.
“I know, but they also found some Chinese sailors on a nearby island, whose ship had gone down in a storm. I’m not one to believe in miracles, but you’ve brought my Susan back to me on a day when so many other people around the world found out their loved ones are still alive as well.”
“Well, you know what they say…good news always comes in threes,” said Elena.
“You two must be famished. Can I offer you something to eat?”
“We don’t want to be an imposition,” said Grant.
“Nonsense, I bet Susan would love some pancakes and bacon.”
“Yes, please,” said Susan.
“That settles it, everyone, take a seat at the table, and I’ll whip us up a late supper.”
After a filling meal, Grant volunteered to do the dishes while everyone else watched the news. When he was done, he glanced at his watch and saw it was getting late. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Elena and I need to get going in the next few minutes if we’re going to catch our flight back home.”
“Do you have to go?” said Susan.
“Sorry, hon, but we must be on our way.”
Susan got off the couch, walked over, and took hold of Grant’s hand. Teenaged Susan appeared in his mind. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me, Captain Grant.”
“I had to do what was necessary to make sure you’d never be bothered again,” he replied.”
“Will you keep in touch?”
“When I can.”
“I know I can’t ask for any more than that.”
“Susan, before you go, I have to know, what did Ben tell you about your sister?”
The young woman smiled. “He told me she lives among the stars, and that one day I would meet her.”
“Your extraordinary life is just beginning, Susan Dove. I envy you.”
“Go in peace, David.”
Grant looked down at Susan holding his hand and smiled. “Hey, sleepyhead, I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”
“I will when you’re gone.”
Grant bent down and gave Susan a big hug. Part of him didn’t want to leave, but he knew they couldn’t stay. He let go of her and stood up straight. “Time to hit the road.”
On the porch, Rebeca hugged Elena and Grant before stepping back inside her home to be alone with Susan.
Grant and Elena got into the car and drove off.
“I almost hate leaving her,” said Elena.
“I know how you feel,” replied Grant. “But she’s got another path to follow, and we have ours.”
After eating, Susan brushed her teeth and changed into her pajamas before climbing into her bed.
“Goodnight and sleep tight,” said Rebeca, tucking in her granddaughter.
“You too,” said Susan.
Rebeca kissed Susan on the forehead and then closed the door behind her. Susan lay in her bed, staring up at the ceiling for a few minutes. She wasn’t the slightest bit tired, so she kicked off her covers and got out of bed. Susan tiptoed to her toy chest and dug out her tea set. She sat on the floor and pretended to pour a couple of cups of tea for her new stuffed bunny and an old teddy bear.
She smiled at her imaginary friends and picked up a plastic cup to take a sip when she suddenly stopped what she was doing and placed her cup down. “I’m sorry, Ben, I didn’t know you were here,” she whispered.
“It’s okay,” replied Ben, taking a seat beside her.
Susan handed him a cup and smiled at her friend. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I’ll always be with you, Susan. Time and space mean nothing to me. All you have to do is think of me, and I’ll be there.”
“What shall I tell Grandma about you?”
“You can tell her whatever you like. I’m the only one who knows you, and that’s the way it will stay for the rest of your life. You have my word; no one will ever again try to take you away.”
“Thanks, Ben.”
“My family has always tried to look after yours. It’s the least a friend could do.”
END
The Founders Page 28
