by Mark Donovan
Dimitris Barbas was relaxing and soaking in the sun on his 125 meter luxury yacht. It was anchored a quarter mile offshore of Cinnamon Bay beach on the west side of St. John Virgin Island. Though nearly 75 years old, Barbas still looked amazingly fit and youthful. He had once been married, however, he had been a widower for the past twenty years. His wife had died in a freak accidental pool drowning at their home, even though she had been a star swimmer on her university’s swim team during her youth.
With his billionaire financial status, and relatively good looks, he had felt no compelling reason to remarry. Too many hassles, excuses, and apologies would have been required over the years. This said, he always had at least one woman beside him at most times. Today was no different. A beautiful blond woman 40 years his junior lie beside him dozing in a chassis lounge chair on the top deck of his yacht. He had met her three years earlier at a conference on solving world hunger. They had hit it off well at the conference and she had become one of his off and on companions since then. They had an open relationship and they both preferred it that way.
Dimitris was just swallowing the last remnants of his tropical Rum drink when his cell phone started vibrating on the table next to him. It was Christos Grivas calling him. He had been anticipating the call.
“Hello Christos,” said Dimitris as he answered the phone speaking in Greek. “So what have you learned about this Ms. Cogswell and more importantly the source of her tape?”
“Well first, she’s agreed to Jeff to turn over her additional copies of the video,” replied Christos. “It was agreed to with the understanding that we were still evaluating the legitimacy of the video before deciding to run with it, and that we also wanted to be assured exclusivity. She apparently saw the rationale of our request.”
“Good, I like hearing about my employees doing the right thing,” commented Dimitris. “So how about the source of the video? Were our friends able to help us out with that?”
“Yes, we’ve been monitoring Ms. Cogswell’s work, home and mobile phone services since she came to us with the video,” responded Christos. “We’ve also been able to get listing reports of all her placed and received phone calls, on all three services for the past month. As a reporter she makes and receives a lot of phone calls, however, it appears that a phone number located out in west-central Idaho could be of most interest.”
“What makes you think so?” questioned Dimitris.
“Because it is the phone number of a Mr. Dave Henson,” responded Christos. “He had called her three days before she received the video, and more significantly she called him shortly after her first meeting with Jeff on the video.”
“Interesting,” responded Dimitris. “But what besides coincidental timing makes you suspect this Dave Henson could be a person of interest. As you said, Ms. Cogswell, as any investigative reporter, places and receives many phone calls each day.
“Because Mr. Henson is a high tech genius originally from Silicon Valley,” explained Christos. “More importantly he runs a company that he founded three years ago called NSurv, Inc. The company produces nanotechnology surveillance sensor products. I believe you may even be familiar with him through some of your previous business dealings out in the San Francisco bay area.”
“You’re right,” said Dimitris in a hushed tone as he stared out at the Caribbean Sea. “The name did sound vaguely familiar. I think we need to pay Mr. Henson and NSurv an unexpected visit. How soon can you have a couple of your guys head out to Idaho?” questioned Dimitris.
“The wheels are already in motion,” responded Christos. “I have Lazaro and Cristian enroute to Idaho to do some investigating, and if appropriate, to deliver a message.”
“Excellent, let me know as soon as you hear back from them,” said Dimitris. “In the meantime, I’ll make a phone call to the White House and remind them to put a shorter leash on their dog, before I permanently have to muzzle him.”
Dimitris hit the off button on his mobile phone and looked over at the scantily clad lithe woman still dozing next to him. Regrettably he was going to have to leave her for a few days. He was headed for San Francisco on Friday for a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, but he first wanted to personally pay a visit to the White House to discuss the Vice President. After further consideration after hanging up with Christos, he decided a phone call to the White House wasn’t going to be a strong enough message. He needed to look the U.S. President in the eye to make his message crystal clear.
Chapter 20 (March 5, Wednesday 8:00am Mountain Daylight Savings Time)
Although it was early March, and officially still winter for another couple of weeks, it was a beautiful and balmy morning in west central Idaho. The temperature was a comfortable 40oF, there was no wind, and the sky was an emerald blue with not a cloud in sight. It was the perfect morning for taking the Aviat A-1C-200 Husky out for some back-country flying. Though it was a regular work day at NSurv, Dave had asked Ron to join him for a morning flight down to Boise. The trip involved a bit more than sightseeing, however. Dave needed to pick up several new special VHF radios that they were going to need while out in San Francisco over the weekend. These particular radios weren’t your standard VHF radios. They included unique customer programmable encryption features that ensured secure communications between only intended parties.
Ron drove up to the parking area adjacent to the hanger in his Ford Explorer and used his pass key to open the chain-link fence gate that gave him access to the airport’s flight line. He walked over to the open hanger where Dave had just finished completing his pre-flight of his Husky two-seater tail dragger.
“We’re taking this toy down to Boise,” exclaimed Ron, as he looked at the rag and tube aircraft.
“What do you mean toy,” Dave responded feigning insult. “With its 200 horse power engine, this bird cruises at 143 MPH and can climb at 1,700 feet per minute. Moreover, it has a range of 828 miles with a maximum useful payload of 880 lbs. But more importantly, it has phenomenal Short field Take Off and Landing (STOL) performance. It can take off in as little as 265 feet and has a landing ground roll of only 398 feet. How dare you call this aircraft, a work of engineering art, a toy?” questioned Dave as he smiled at Ron.
“It may be all you say,” replied Ron as he looked at the Aviat Husky. “But it isn’t any Boeing 757, something most civilized people are used to flying in.”
“You call commercial aviation civilized,” retorted Dave questionably. “Squeezed in like sardines and fed doggy biscuits for snacks. You call that humane and civilized treatment? Heck, I’ve got a bridge to sell you if the airline industry has successfully convinced you they’re doing you a great service.”
“Nah, they’re all terrible,” said Ron. “I’m just not too excited about jumping into this little thing.”
“Don’t sweat it,” replied Dave. “You’ll love the experience and trust me, it’s an extremely safe and rugged plane. Like its predecessor and competitor, the Piper Super Cub, this aircraft is used all the time in business applications. For example, oil companies use these aircrafts for inspecting their pipelines. Similarly, it’s used for federal border control monitoring, ranching, and various other utility missions.”
“Fine, fine, just tell me how to get into this thing,” replied Ron as he approached the Husky.
Dave showed Ron how to work his way into the rear seat of the aircraft and then got in himself. He then started up the aircraft and taxied down to the departure end of Runway 34. After completing the Husky’s run-up checklist he transmitted his intentions over the aircraft radio for departing Runway 34. He then taxied the aircraft out onto the runway and aligned the nose of the Husky aircraft with the runway’s centerline. As soon as he applied full throttle, the small aircraft instantly began accelerating down the runway. Less than 10 seconds later the plane was off the ground and climbing fast up into the Idaho skies. Two minutes later the aircraft was on a southerly heading, cruising at 140 MPH at 3,000 feet above ground level.
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br /> Dave flew the Husky towards Boise, Idaho pretty much following Rte. 55, which worked its way southward to Boise. However, when he approached the northern tip of Lake Cascade he dropped down to 500 feet AGL to see who and what was out on the still frozen lake. Lake Cascade is a long and large 47 square mile manmade reservoir lake that is nestled in the mountains of Idaho. Other than a few caribou and a couple of die-hard ice fisherman the lake was pretty desolate.
“It’s certainly not an exciting place this time of year,” commented Dave.
“Nope, but it is God’s country,” responded Ron as he sat staring out the Husky’s large windows marveling at the beauty of the lake, mountains and sky all around him. He had to admit, flying in the Husky was definitely more exciting and interesting than being in a Boeing 757.
“We should be on the ground in Boise in about 15 minutes,” responded Dave. “So just sit back and enjoy the rest of the flight. I’m going to pop us back up to 3,000 AGL and start making preparations for our arrival and landing.”
As Dave prepared for bringing the plane into Boise, Ron just stared out at the Idaho scenery and contemplated their trip to the Bay area on Friday. What a far different trip that would be. Instead of enjoying the natural beauty of this gorgeous back country, they’d be covertly stepping into the den of some of the most devious people on the planet. People that publically claimed to care for the masses and the health of the planet, but who more often than not, held their own personal self-interests in higher consideration. It was a dangerous endeavor that Dave and he were pursuing, but it was a danger that was well worth the risk. This group was taking the country back to a different place. A place not so different than the countries that so many of our nation’s immigrants had originally fled from. They needed to be stopped fast and it was NSurv that would do it.
Chapter 21 (March 5, Wednesday 11:00am Mountain Daylight Savings Time)
Lazaro and Cristian had stood near a vehicle at the edge of the McCall airport when Dave and Ron had departed earlier in the morning in the Husky. Lazaro had already confirmed that NSurv had had a hand in the video down in Argentina. Through friends in high places they were able to confirm that NSurv had purchased airline tickets last month to Buenos Aires and that a number of phone calls had occurred between a hotel in Buenos Aires and NSurv here in Idaho. Consequently Cristian and he were going to send Mr. Henson a not so subtle message on their return to the airport. Lazaro had spoken earlier with Mr. Henson’s secretary and he had been able to ferret out of her that Mr. Henson and Mr. Blackwell would be returning to the office around 11:30am.
There was a gentle four knot northwest wind blowing down the length of Runway 34 at McCall airport. It was just past 11:00am. Lazaro and Cristian had rented a snow machine and driven off-road about a quarter of a mile away from the approach end of Runway 34. Dave and Ron were expected back any time. Lazaro and Cristian stood in 12 inch deep snow and just under the cover of some large evergreen trees. Lazaro held in his hands a 12 gauge shot gun loaded with birdshot ammo, and pheasant hunting wasn’t on his agenda.
Fifteen minutes later Dave was flying the Husky on the left downwind leg of Runway 34 setting up for his landing back at McCall airport. He was in slow flight, flying 1,000 feet above the ground. He looked over his left shoulder and saw the end of the runway as he began his turn on to left base. As he did so, he saw a bright flash from the ground at his 11 o’clock. A second and third flash immediately followed. As they did he felt the plane slightly jolt, as if it had been hit by something. It only took Dave a fraction of a second to realize his aircraft was being shot at and had been hit. He instantly snapped the stick over to the right as he gave the aircraft full throttle. He needed to get them out of the line of gun fire immediately and regain some altitude.
As the aircraft climbed he retracted the flaps and assessed the aircraft’s systems. He was having a little difficulty with the aileron controls, but the rudder and elevator controls appeared to be working normally. He then looked at his gauges and noticed the Husky’s oil pressure was dropping fast. The oil pan must have been hit he thought. They were going to need to get down fast before the engine seized up.
After firing several rounds at the Husky aircraft, Lazaro and Cristian jumped onto the snow machine and took off in a southeasterly direction away from the airport. Their message had been sent, and based upon Mr. Henson’s abrupt action with the aircraft after the shots were fired, their message had been received.
We shall see now if Mr. Henson understands and heeds our message thought Lazaro as he raced through Idaho’s backcountry on the snow machine and towards his waiting vehicle. It was time to report back to Christos their findings. NSurv was much more than just the guilty party associated with recording the unfortunate incident in Buenos Aires. NSurv appeared to have science fiction type surveillance technology that any government would pay a fortune to have access to. Mr. Grivas would be impressed with their findings he thought, and both Cristian and he would be well compensated for their efforts.
As Dave fought to keep the Husky’s wings level after doing a 360o steep right turn, and turning back onto the left downwind of Runway 34, he could see a snow machine racing away towards the southeast. Based upon its direction of movement away from the airfield he knew the two men riding the snow machine had something to do with the gunshots and the damage to his aircraft, however, there was nothing he could do about it at the moment. He had to bring his plane down quick if Ron and him were to walk away unscathed from this incident. They were fortunate that they had not been hit themselves by the gunfire.
“Dave, did you see that snow machine racing away from the airfield?” yelled Ron into Dave’s headset. “One of them was holding a shot gun.”
“Yes I saw them, but I’ve got to get this plane down before the engine seizes up,” replied Dave. “I’m also having trouble keeping the wings level, so hold on.”
Dave had just completed his sentence when the Husky’s engine began to sputter out. The engine was seizing. He was back down around 1,000 feet over the ground and abeam the numbers on Runway 34. After shutting down the engine and cutting the fuel supply off, he immediately swung the stick to the left and applied left rudder for a quick coordinated turn onto left base. As he straightened out on to left base, he applied 20 degrees of flaps and then again swung the stick left and applied left rudder. He was lined up perfectly centered with the runway but was coming in high. He couldn’t afford to overshoot the runway. With no engine, a go-around was not an option on this landing.
To lose altitude quickly and ensure that he would not overshoot the runway he did a forward slip. Simultaneously, he applied hard left rudder and pushed the stick hard over to the right and slightly forward. The heading of the aircraft yawed in the opposite direction to the lowered right wing, but at the same time the aircraft maintained its track with the centerline of the runway. In the process the aircraft bled off altitude quickly.
A few seconds later, and about a third of the distance down the runway, Dave removed the aircraft from its forward slip and leveled the wings for a perfect three point landing.
Once the plane came to a complete stop Dave opened the door to the aircraft and stepped out. Ron was sitting in the back seat looking in shock, but none the worse for wear. After Dave helped Ron out of the cockpit the two pushed the aircraft off of the runway and onto the adjacent ramp area.
They walked around the aircraft inspecting the damage. Shotgun birdshot had torn a hole in the left wing and had damaged the aileron control wire. The control wire was frayed and barely hanging together. Underneath the cowling area, engine oil pooled on the ramp. It appeared the plane had been hit two or three times based upon the amount of birdshot holes they counted.
“This was no accident or prank by a couple of foolish morons,” commented Ron. “This was purposely done.”
“I agree,” replied Dave. “I think we just got our message on whether or not our video of the Vice President was going to be aired.”
“It would seem it was not received warmly by ABO and its friends,” responded Ron.
“I’ll call Dana later today and explain what happened to us,” commented Dave. “Though I don’t want to frighten her, I think it’s important she fully appreciates the types of people we are dealing with here, and to what levels they will go to protect their allies, no matter how deviant they are.”
Dave and Ron then wheeled the damaged Aviat Husky back to the NSurv hanger. It was going to need major repairs, but Dave would have it operational again in short order. Nothing was going to keep it or NSurv grounded for very long. Today’s incident only helped to strength his resolve in exposing the political corruption permeating the country today.
Chapter 22 (March 7, Friday 11:00am Pacific Daylight Savings Time)
Dave, Ron and Dan landed at San Jose International airport in the Cessna Citation M2 an hour before noon on Friday. The flight had been uneventful. After the incident on Wednesday with the Husky, Dave had kept guards posted in the McCall Hanger 24/7 to ensure that there would be no more acts of sabotage with their aircraft. Dave had also called Dana to explain what had happened to Ron and him on their return trip from Boise. Dana had been shocked by the news, and had threatened to go talk to Jeff Kolosky about it, but Dave had told her that it was best not to say a word about the incident. Telling Jeff would only put herself and the folks at NSurv at even more risk. Dana begrudgingly accepted Dave’s advice, and said she would plan to come out to NSurv the following week for a few days R&R and to hear how things went out in San Jose at the Secretary of Commerce’s business leaders meeting.
They had a lot to do in preparation for the big event tomorrow. Though Dan had already been out to the International Regis Hotel earlier in the week and done a complete reconnaissance of the facilities where the business leaders meeting was to occur, they still needed to prep the place for the delivery of the nano-dust. In addition, they had to set up their own hotel room with their field lab equipment. Once the nano-dust had been released into the air conditioning system of the hotel, they were going to need to quickly isolate the targets of interest, construct their ingested nano-dust into the optical and acoustic biological sensors, and then begin monitoring the targets.
