He stared at her for a moment. “Wanna have sex? That’ll take your mind off things.”
She glared at him.
He chuckled. “I was just joking.”
“No, you weren’t.”
He grinned. “You’re right, I wasn’t.” He beckoned her over, pointing at the screen. “What does that look like to you?”
She climbed onto the bed and peered at the image, one of several dozen he had found in Arban’s email, stored locally on his computer. “A hand?”
“That’s what I was thinking. And it’s just bones, so it’s old, right?”
She nodded, Mai the archaeologist of the pair. “What are these photos of?”
He shrugged, zooming the photo out, revealing a long table with what appeared to be tubes of rock laid out in sections, one part revealing something entirely different for half a dozen feet. “It’s kind of weird. What does that look like to you?”
She pursed her lips for a moment, their predicament evidently forgotten. Her eyes widened. “Core samples!”
“Huh?”
“Core samples. They essentially drill these long hollow pipes into the ground, then they pull it all out and open them up. It allows them to see what’s under the ground for as deep as they want to go. Scientists do this all the time. These look like the types of samples they would take at a mine site to see what minerals are underneath.” She pointed at the void. “It looks like they found something other than rock or sand at this point.”
“Well, all the photos on Arban’s computer were of this section at various angles. From the metadata attached to the phone, and the timestamps of the emails, I think he took the photos, immediately emailed them to himself, then several hours later, sent that text message to the Doc.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Then what happened during all that time?”
“Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good.” He tapped the screen. “And it probably had something to do with this.” He turned to Mai. “What would normally happen in a situation like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re at a mine site, taking core samples, and you find some old dude’s hand mixed in with your rocks. What would happen?”
She tapped her chin several times. “I don’t know about Mongolia, but in a lot of places, drilling would stop until the find could be investigated. If it turned out to be nothing, or something that could easily be moved safely, then drilling would continue after that was completed. If it turned out to be significant, it could stop the project entirely.”
Tommy chewed his cheek. “Sounds like something someone wouldn’t want to risk.”
She stared at him. “You mean you think this entire thing could be about keeping a mining operation going?”
He shrugged. “You’ve got a better theory?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s just kind of terrifying to think people might kill over something like that.”
Tommy jutted his chin toward the window. “Take a look outside. We’re not exactly in Kansas anymore.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Kansas? We live in Maryland.”
He chuckled. “Never mind.”
A knock at the door silenced them both. Mai stared at him, her eyes wide with terror. He rolled off the bed as stealthily as he could then tiptoed toward the door and peered through the peephole.
And sighed in relief, unlocking the door and opening it. Acton and Laura entered silently, and Tommy locked the door behind them as Mai leaped from the bed and into Laura’s arms.
“I knew you wouldn’t leave us!”
Laura hugged her, kissing the top of her head as Acton gave Tommy a more manly greeting. “Of course not. But what are you doing here? Didn’t they call you when the plane was ordered out of the country?”
Mai shook her head. “Nobody called.”
“You never left your room?”
She shook her head again. “Not for a second.”
Tommy cleared his throat. “That’s not actually true. We did leave for maybe five minutes.”
Acton frowned. “Why? We told you explicitly not to leave the room under any circumstances.”
Tommy’s stomach flipped as if he had been chastised by his father. “It wasn’t our fault. It was that idiot flight attendant. She got drunk and started hammering on our door, then passed out in the hallway. We couldn’t leave her there.”
Mai agreed. “We took her to her room and made sure she was okay, then came back.” Her eyes widened. “Do you think they could have called us while we were doing that?”
Acton shook his head. “Who knows? You’d think they’d try more than once. I have a feeling the pilots were collected and taken to the airport. They wanted that plane gone and didn’t care about the rest of the flight crew.”
“But why would they do that?”
“To trap us here.”
“But why?”
Acton shrugged. “Haven’t the foggiest.” He nodded toward Tommy’s laptop on the bed. “Any luck?”
Tommy grunted. “Now that you mention it, we did find something interesting, but aren’t quite sure what to make of it.” He grabbed the laptop and placed it on the table in the corner. The two professors sat, flipping through the images.
Laura pointed at one. “Core samples. Looks like from a mine.”
“That’s what Mai thought.”
“Hello! What’s this?” Acton zoomed in on the photo Tommy had been examining earlier, revealing the skeletal hand. “Looks like they found something.”
Mai scratched her arm. “Something worth killing for?”
Acton shrugged. “If Mongolia has the same type of rules we do, a discovery like this could bring the entire mining operation to a halt, and could even kill the project.”
Laura folded her arms. “Funny you should use that word. Whatever is going on, somebody seems willing to kill to make sure this information doesn’t get out. Are we sure this is why they targeted Arban?”
Acton leaned back in his chair. “No, but do you have a better idea?”
Laura frowned. “No, I guess not.”
Tommy pointed at the image. “And the timestamps support the theory.”
Laura looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“These photos were taken and immediately sent to his email. My guess is they have a good Internet connection at the site, probably a satellite uplink, and have a Wi-Fi network set up for the workers. Arban must have used that to transmit the images, then a few hours later, he sent you that text. It’s too much of a coincidence to not be related.”
Acton sighed, his head bobbing slowly. “I agree. If only we knew where this was taken. We could find out who’s behind this, and get that to Dylan. He might be able to have the folks back home apply some pressure on the Mongolian government.”
“We do know.”
Acton’s eyebrows shot up. “Huh?”
“The GPS coordinates are embedded in the images.”
“They are?”
“Yeah, most phones are set to automatically record the location of any photo that’s taken. When you send the photo or upload it, that metadata is preserved unless you explicitly tell your phone not to.”
Acton cursed. “Another reason to hate the Internet.”
Tommy shrugged. “I like it. I can park my car anywhere, take a photo, and never worry about not finding it.”
Acton eyed him. “Most of us just remember. It’s why millions of cars aren’t lying around the country abandoned.”
Tommy grinned. “If they’re all parked nicely, how would you know?”
Acton chuckled. “Okay, I’ll give you that one.” He pointed at the image. “Can you show us where this was taken?”
Tommy extracted the GPS coordinates and plugged them into mapping software he had already downloaded onto his computer in the event they didn’t have a speedy connection. He pointed at a flag on the screen. “We’re here, and this image was taken here.” He indicated another flag outside of the city in the middle of
nowhere. “That looks like it’s a couple of hundred miles from here.”
Acton agreed. “Yeah, and who knows what the roads are like. It would take at least a few hours. The message was sent about four hours after the email. Maybe he managed to get here before he was captured.”
Laura whistled. “That would be one hell of a chase.”
Acton pursed his lips as he stared at the map. “It would all depend on the vehicle and the driver. The fact he was caught suggests he never really lost them. They might have been in his rearview mirror the entire time.”
“How terrifying!” cried Mai.
“Tell me about it.” Acton sat forward. “Okay, we need to get out there and see what there is to see.”
Tommy’s jaw dropped. “Are you crazy? Isn’t that like jumping into the sarlaac’s pit?”
Acton smiled. “I think Boba Fett survived.”
Tommy hissed with excitement. “Wouldn’t that be awesome?”
Acton reached for his phone then cursed. “Forgot, it’s at Arban’s.” He gestured at Laura. “Can you upload the coordinates into Laura’s phone? The GPS will still work without a cell connection, right?”
Tommy nodded. “Yes. I set up both your phones a while back to have the maps stored locally, so you’ll be good to go.” Laura handed over the phone and Tommy went to work. He handed it back a few moments later. “You’re all set.”
Mai put a hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “Are we coming with you?”
Laura vehemently shook her head. “Absolutely not. Stay here until you hear from us, or the travel agent. She’s supposed to be booking tickets for us on a commercial flight. I want you on the first flight out of here, no questions.”
Tommy frowned. “But we can be of help.”
“No, this is too dangerous. We never should have brought you in the first place.”
Tommy drew a breath, squaring his shoulders. “It was our choice, and if you hadn’t, you wouldn’t know where to go now.”
Acton put his hand over Mai’s, still resting on Tommy’s shoulder. “You’re right, we wouldn’t, and we’re grateful. But there’s nothing else you can do to help us. You’ve got all the data off his computer, and you’ve found us a location to start looking for Arban. Get Mai out of the country and to safety, so we don’t have to worry about you. Remember, Dylan knows we’re here, but he doesn’t know you’re here. If he arranges something, it’s likely going to be fast, and for two.”
Tommy sighed. “You’re right. Okay, when she calls, we’re out of here.”
Acton pointed a finger at him. “First flight.”
“First flight.”
“Good. Now, stay in the room and make sure at least one of you is always within earshot of the phone. Text us when something happens. We’ll eventually get the message, I’m sure.”
“Okay.”
Hugs and handshakes were exchanged, and the two professors left the room, Tommy locking the door behind them. He turned to Mai. “I can’t believe we’re going to leave them here.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not leaving, not until we know for sure Dylan can save them.”
Tommy’s eyes shot wide as his heart hammered. “Are you nuts?”
She stared at him. “After everything they’ve done for me, for us, you can ask me that?”
He sighed. “Then I better get to work.”
He grabbed his laptop and hopped back onto the bed. “How the hell do you reach a CIA secret agent?”
She shrugged. “Call M?”
“Wrong country. But it’s not the worst idea.”
26 |
Sinai Hospital Baltimore, Maryland
Sandra Milton’s entire body ached from sobbing, and from standing in a constant vigil from the moment she had arrived, someone she had never met calling to tell her what had happened and where he had been taken. She wasn’t sure what was going on, though she had little doubt it was related to their good friends, Jim and Laura.
And at this moment, she’d smack him in the face for getting them involved.
Yet it wasn’t their fault. Whoever had done this had come looking for Acton and Laura, which meant they didn’t know that they were already in Mongolia. Whoever had done this to her poor husband was here because of the text message that had been sent, so would have come regardless.
And if they hadn’t gone, yes, Greg wouldn’t have been there to check on the house, but that would have only meant the same would have been done to her friends, including Laura, something she couldn’t fathom wishing for.
There was only one person to blame for this.
The person who had done it.
And the phone call she had received from an anonymous woman assured her the man was in custody, and was no longer a threat.
She hoped that meant he would die a slow, painful death for what he had done.
She stepped away from the door as the doctor emerged. “How is he?”
He frowned. “I won’t lie to you, Mrs. Milton, he’s in bad shape. He’s got several cracked ribs, internal bleeding, and significant trauma to his spine. With his history, this is concerning.”
She didn’t care about that. She would gladly take care of him for the rest of his life. All she cared about was that she be given the opportunity. “Will he live?”
“Barring any complications, yes, I think so.”
Her legs wavered and he reached out, catching her as she gasped in relief at the news. He guided her into a seat on the opposite side of the hallway, then knelt in front of her. “We’re taking him into surgery now. We should know in a few hours.”
She reached into her purse for a package of tissues. “And his back? Will-will he walk?”
The doctor frowned. “I just can’t say. He seems to have no feeling below the waist at the moment. It could simply be swelling. Time will tell.”
Her shoulders shook and she took a deep breath, holding it, as she struggled to maintain her composure. Her phone rang in her purse and she ignored it. She stared up at the doctor. “I know you’ll do your best.”
He patted her on the shoulder. “You can count on it.” He rose as her husband was pushed out of the room on the gurney. She jumped to her feet and rushed to his side, taking his hand as she walked with him.
“I’m here, honey. You’re going to be okay.”
He managed a weak smile and squeezed her hand with barely any strength. “Hug Niskha for me.”
The mention of their daughter had the tears flowing freely. “I will. We’ll both be here when you come out.”
He shook his head. “No. Don’t let her see me like this. She’s too young.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
A nurse blocked her from continuing. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t come any farther.”
The gurney continued and she let go of her husband’s hand. “I love you!”
A weak thumbs up was given, and as the doors swung shut, any confidence she had in the hospital staff was forgotten as she collapsed into a ball in the corner, certain she had spoken to her beloved husband for the last time.
And her damned phone rang yet again.
27 |
St. Paul’s University St. Paul, Maryland
Rita left another message on Sandra Milton’s phone then hung up, not sure what to do. The phone call she had received from one of the university’s students sounded like a prank call, but the earnestness in the boy’s voice soon had her convinced it was real.
Two students, trapped in Mongolia, their professors, including one who taught at this university whom she knew well, trapped with them.
And apparently, Dean Milton, her boss, was the only person they could think of that might be able to help.
And he wasn’t answering, nor was his wife.
There was a rap on the doorframe as Professor Damiani poked his head inside. “Is the Dean in?”
She shook her head. “No. I’ve been trying to reach him, but he’s not answering.”
�
��Well, I thought he should know that something’s happened at Jim Acton’s place.”
Rita’s heart leaped into her throat. “What do you mean?”
“There was some sort of home invasion, I guess. Dave Kelley lives on his street and said there were police and an ambulance there earlier. They took someone out on a stretcher. Looked pretty bad. I’m guessing it was Jim. Do you know where Laura is?”
Rita’s eyes widened as she processed the information. Acton and Laura were in Mongolia, which meant that whoever had been taken out on a stretcher wasn’t one of them. She gasped as she realized who it had to be. “Oh my god!” She grabbed her purse and rushed out the door.
“What?”
“It’s not Jim! It’s Greg!”
28 |
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
“You’ve lost them?”
Stander didn’t need to be an expert to tell Conrad was pissed. “For now. They’ll show up. There are not a lot of places for them to go. We’re watching their hotel and the airport, and our government contacts have put them on a watchlist. They won’t be getting out of the country.”
“It’s a big country.”
“Yes, but with almost nobody in it. We’ll find them eventually.”
“And what about that text message?”
“I’m still waiting to hear from my man in the US. At the moment, there’s no evidence it went beyond the professors.”
“I’ve got a file on my desk that says these professors are very rich.”
“So?”
Conrad growled. “So? People with money who disappear pose questions, questions that demand answers. That little bastard reached out to probably the only people who can actually hurt us.”
Stander stared at the decrepit rowhouse Arban called home. “Maybe that’s why he chose them.”
“I doubt it. These people don’t flaunt their wealth from what your background check shows. I think he just got lucky. You’re sure that email he sent wasn’t forwarded?”
“Yes, but somebody pulled the data off his hard drive. We found a phone and a newly installed USB card hooked up when we searched his house. The phone traced back to Professor Acton.”
The Tomb of Genghis Khan Page 8
