Transparency: Bio-Tech Cavern Secrets Untold (14 page)

Halliday awoke after sunrise in an unfamiliar bed. The sun’s rays diffused through angled slits in the high covered windows. They caught his eyes no matter which way he turned. In the background a lonesome cowboy wailed a tune that would incite a dog to howl.

Halliday’s head throbbed while his side ached. He cursed himself for ignoring the angry cowboy. Even Rich Gladstone wouldn’t have left himself open to a blindside attack.

The buxom bartender named Gina leaned in the doorway. She gave him a sideways glance. “Did you get any sleep partner?”

“A couple of hours. Thanks for looking after me this morning.” He grabbed at his sore side. “Now I know why cowboys wear pointed boots.”

The glee in her eyes yielded. “Are you gonna be all right, detective?”

“The name’s John Halliday.”

She offered her hand. “Gina Rowling.”

He shook her hand.

“Well, John, I don’t know what the hell you said to bring out the fight in those cowboys. It’s a good thing I heard all the commotion.”

“I told the short one he should take a bath and trim his mustache.”

This time she did laugh. “When I pulled my shot gun out from beneath the bar those two cowboys hightailed out of here like the devil was chasing them.”

“Do they come in here often?”

Gina’s face soured. The conversation had shifted from casual to official.

“They drop by occasionally. Billy thinks his friend is missing. You gonna arrest them?”

“I’ll want to talk to them first. Do you know their full names?”

“Billy Haskins and his partner Roy Vickers haul produce all over the San Joaquin Valley. Billy, the short one, just got out of the slammer over at Redwood Bluff for drug possession. The judge dropped the charges because of insufficient evidence.”

“You know Burt Hooten, the missing person they spoke of?”

“Word going around is that Burt Hooten ran off to avoid a jail term. They say he was growing marijuana in his backyard for local sale. Burt’s an entrepreneur.”

“You think there was foul play involved in Hooten’s disappearance.”

“Detective, I wouldn’t give much credence to anything Billy said last night. You just happened to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve never seen them surly drunk like that.”

“Does Hooten live around here?”

She shook her head. “Drop by the Redwood Bluff PD. Sheriff Barnes will give you the poop on Hooten.”

Nope, he wouldn’t go there.

Gina went on. “A cowboy told me Burt’s selling used cars in Stockton. He also said that green-skinned aliens were invading Redwood Bluff.”

Although Halliday grew curious about the green-skinned aliens, right now his head wasn’t up to asking. “What time is it?”

“A quarter till seven. I’m late for my chores.”

“Are you the owner here?”

“Yeah, not much goes on here during weekdays. Tomorrow, things will pick up a bit. Friday a C&W band plays. Saturday, the place will be packed with an NRA group who’ll be in town. I have four girls from Redwood Bluff who come in on the weekends.”

With an effort he pulled himself up and rested on the side of the bed. “I have to get to the office soon.”

Her frivolous look pandered to his weakened state. “Sure you don’t want to stick around? I’ll make pancakes.”

“I have some explaining to do.”

“Heck, I’ll vouch for you.”

“No, it’s in regards to something that occurred before I arrived here.” The right side of his face throbbed.

“You should see a doctor. Your face looks bad.”

“There’s nothing broken although I could use something for the pain. That Billy owns a rock hard fist.”

“You want some Tylenol?”

“Double dose and extra strength if you have it.”

The mirror didn’t lie. His right eye was swollen, accompanied by a plum colored cheek. He should stop off at the hospital ER. It would have to be later, after he returned to the PD.

Before he left the
Deer Spot
bar he ventured out back behind the barn where Gina stood beneath pine trees hefting an axe.

Halliday watched her split the wood. “You have a good handle on that axe.”

“Winter will arrive before you know it,” she said. “Electricity costs are going through the roof.” She gave him an amorous look. “Don’t you just love to sit beside a cozy log fire with the snow a’ fallen?”

They were of similar age. She deserved good company, but he wouldn’t rest until he solved the Laurel McKittrick case. “Where are you from, Gina?”

“Casper, Wyoming. Father named me Virginia. I prefer Gina. He owns a big ranch outside of Casper. I grew up around horses, farm animals, and honest folks.”

“Why did you come to California?”

“Ranch life bored me to tears. I couldn’t wait until the weekend to hit the town. We’d tote a few beers and have some laughs. Dad never understood that. I came out to California seven years ago carrying one piece of luggage. In San Fran I saw an ad in the newspaper titled REDWOOD BLUFF BAR FOR SALE. I paid cash for this place. As they say, I bought it ‘lock, stock, and barrel.’”

“I bet you’re as good at investments as you are at splitting wood.”

She gazed out across the expanse of the property. “Billy hit the nail on the head, you know.”

She brushed her hand across her sweaty brow.

“The animals
have
disappeared since Genevive arrived. Before, deer would stop by to eat out of my hand. Never see them anymore. It’s sad.”

“What makes you think Genevive Labs is involved?”

“There are rumors of secret experiments involving a menagerie of animals, mostly cattle. The trucks arrive in the morning while everyone’s asleep. I’ve seen tire tracks on the back of my property. Wait a second. Let me show you something.”

She walked over to the porch and plucked something out of a planter.

“You know what this is?”

It looked like a hi-tech tranquilizer dart.

“It’s a newfangled tranquillizer dart. I found it at the back of my property. I’ve own ten acres that extend back into these woods. There were tire tracks.” Gina added, “They threatened my neighbor down the street, Lester Cates. A few months ago he shot the tail light out of one of their trucks at two in the morning.”

“Was it a white pickup?”

“Yep, that’s it. Lester missed. I think he was aiming for the rear window. Anyway, he’s been receiving threatening phone calls since then.”

“From who?”

“Oh, they never say.”

“Anyone ever call the police to report these incidences?”

“Hell, nothing ever happens. The police come out, we file a report, and they go away. That’s it.”

“Do you remember the names of any of the cops who came out to investigate?”

Gina said, “Although uniforms all look the same, I believe it’s usually the same officer, from Santa Reina PD.”

“Any sightings of large black vans or SUV’s?”

“Yeah, Sierra Contractors. My neighbor Lester says they’re CIA.”

Halliday nodded. He needed to involve Rich Gladstone. “Listen, I’ll look into all this. I have to get going.”

“Do you want to keep the dart as evidence?”

“No, it’s safer hidden in your planter. If I need it I’ll come back.” He handed her his card. “Don’t mention the dart to anyone, including the police, until you talk to me.”

“Fair enough.”

Halliday left Gina Rowling to her wood chopping.

In the security of his car he found his phone lodged in the front seat. There were five voicemails, one an unlisted number. Despite his splitting head, he checked the unlisted voicemail.

“Detective Halliday, I was worried when they drove you away in the truck,” Laurel said. “Please let me know that you are safe. Leave a comment on my blog under ‘Caving and Canoes,’ as before. I underestimated the security force at Genevive this morning. It put you in danger. I’m sorry. I thought it would be a good test. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

Halliday grabbed his head. The throbbing pain had returned.

“Did you inform Brad of my intentions on the 31
st
of October? Please let me know by leaving a comment in my blog. I look forward to our next encounter. I have an unusual story to relate to you.”

A loud noise in the background of the recording preceded Laurel’s cautious voice. “I must go. Tomorrow’s a big day.”

She hung up. “Tomorrow’s a big day.” Those were the exact words Agent Judy Solvano had murmured that evening over three years before.

# # #

Bangkok’s Central World shopping complex attracted visitors from across the globe. During the Christmas season locals along with troves of tourists descended on the mall. Tasteful decorations hung from the mammoth Christmas tree that ascended through several floors.

Halliday knew of the Madame Secretary’s proclivity to shop at the tail end of details. The petite lady from Ames, Iowa treated her DS protectors as family. Last Christmas Halliday had received an assortment of shirts and ties from the
Kaufhaus des Westens
or
KaDeWe
in Berlin.

Tomorrow at Bangkok’s Central World shopping complex the Madame Secretary would go shopping. Agents Halliday and Solvano were the advance team charged with scoping out the venue. As professionals, they made a great team. Personally, they had gotten off to a rocky start. However, true to the saying, love had indeed found a way.

They addressed each other by their last names during protective details. Neither had ever let their personal life intervene with professional duties. Alone during this advance, they loosened up.

So what? Halliday thought. They were in love.

“Halliday, I love that powder blue outfit,” Judy said, standing outside
Forever Twenty One
.

“Okay, Solvano, I’ll see if I can get the Madam Secretary to purchase it for your Christmas present.”

“That would be so sweet of her,” Judy said, eyes fluttering. “It would be a major improvement over this black
uniform
.”

He grabbed her around the waist.

“
Agent
Halliday, behave yourself.” She gazed around them. “We’re on duty.”

“Okay, back to work, but you belong to me tonight.”

He saw her lose her breath. It could have been for a second or an eternity. Halliday imagined the planets aligning while the small breath escaped her mouth.

They spent the next few hours going over the predetermined routes that the Madam Secretary would take. Solvano chattered into a micro-recorder. Halliday took notes in his memo pad. Together, their observations would serve as the basis for their advance security report. Judy’s attention to detail worked well with his intuitive nature.

Just as they finished their route, a shiny chime bracelet caught Halliday’s eye in a jewelry store window. He walked over to get a closer look.

She eyed the bracelet with a kind of whimsical skepticism. “What are you up to now, Agent Halliday?”

“See the tiny bells. I could keep track of you.” Halliday caught the attention of the cashier. He pointed at the bracelet. “May I see that?”

The Thai cashier’s dancing eyes sensed a sale. She held up the bracelet for Judy.

Halliday heard the subtle ring of the chimes. He watched while the cashier attached it on Judy’s slender wrist.

“One hundred percent Sterling silver,” the salesgirl said, smiling.

Judy flapped her arm.

“I’ll never lose you when you wear that.”

“I couldn’t wear it on DS details.”

“Sure you can.” He said to the cashier, “We’ll take it.”

After they met with the Thai security team they took a taxi back to the Conrad Hotel on Wireless Road, near the U.S. embassy. When he touched her arm the chimes would ring Halliday would seek solace in Judy’s eyes.

They finished the advance report by 7:00
p.m.
The AIC held a two hour briefing for the DS team at the control room, followed by cocktails at the Conrad Hotel bar. Later they snuck away, allowing a hotel driver to whisk them off to an open air restaurant atop a Bangkok skyscraper.

Halliday ordered a bottle of wine. They devoured a sumptuous Thai meal recommended by the waiter. He gave the waiter a five dollar bill for a request that a songstress sing,
Fly Me to the Moon
. The
only
thing they had in common was their love of the classics.

Halliday had placed the ring in his inside suit pocket when he left Washington D.C. ten days ago. During their dinners in Tokyo, Manila, and Jakarta he had felt his jacket to ensure its presence. Tonight there was magic in the air. The opportunity to pop the question shone with possibility. The sparkle in Judy’s eyes told him to go for it.

Her phone rang. Judy hurried to a quiet corner to answer it.