The Hermetrius Conspiracy Page 11

  “Because if they keep taking us out one at a time using a similar method, someone will get suspicious. But if Tom’s death looks like a terrorist act, then it will break the pattern. I’m going upstairs and plan our departure.”

  #

  “So here’s the plan, Lynn. Let me know what you think. We’ll pack up my truck and your Jeep so we can leave here as soon as it’s dark enough. We may have to leave earlier if the snow starts to get too deep. Do you know a way to get us out of here the back way, over the ridge to Silverton so we can pick up the highway to Grand Junction?”

  “”I’ve already been thinking about that. Here, look at this Forest Service map. . . . We can take this hunting road from behind my place up to Forest Road 172, then connect with F.R. 113 that goes through this pass to F.R. 241. That will take us right down into Silverton. From there we can take U.S. 550 over Red Mountain Pass to Grand Junction.”

  “How deep does the snow have to get before they close the pass?”

  “They have huge trucks with snow blowers on the front. Once it starts snowing they’ll run them continuously as long as they can. But sometimes in a blizzard they don’s have enough visibility to see the road so they close the pass.”

  “What are the chances that this storm will bad enough to close the pass?”

  “It doesn’t usually happen this early in the winter, but the weather service said this storm is going to dump two to three feet of snow before it leaves tomorrow afternoon. It will be risky.”

  “We’ll have to chance it. If we stay here they might show up at any time.”

  #

  By four that afternoon they had everything packed. When Jack brought his rifles out from under the bed Lynn looked surprised. “Why did you bring those in the house? Did you think we would need them?”

  “Mostly I wanted to keep them from getting too cold to function, but I wanted to be prepared in case we needed to defend ourselves.”

  “So you knew from the moment you walked into my house that we could be in danger! You could have said something like ‘Let’s have lunch, Lynn and oh, by the way, can I came fully armed.’ I just don’t know if I can ever trust you Jack . . . What’s that sound?”

  “It’s a motor of some kind. Maybe a snowmobile?” Jack peeked between the curtains and saw two snowmobiles at the edge of the trees. One of them had stopped and the driver was looking at the house through binoculars. “They’re here already, Lynn. I can only see two of them, and I don’t see any guns, so they may be just the scouting party. I think they’ll wait for dark to make a move on the house, but they will be watching us.”

  “Should we leave now, Jack? Before they make their move?”

  “Not unless we see more of them. I want it to be dark enough so they don’t see us going up the hill to the hunting road, and snowing heavily enough to cover our tire tracks pretty quickly. If we time it right, the snow will be deep enough to keep them from getting up here with their Suburban, but not too deep for the Jeep and my truck to get over the ridge to Silverton. Do you think you can get us up to the first forest road without headlights?”

  “I know the road pretty well so I think I can do that, but we’ll have to take it slow. Do you want to eat before we go?”

  They ate some sandwiches and made a couple of extra to take with them. Lynn filled two thermoses with hot coffee and they sat down to wait.

  #

  The snowstorm hit with full force about an hour later. It wasn’t dark yet, but with the visibility through the snow limited to a hundred feet or so, Jack decided it was time to go. They bundled up against the wind, put O’Malley on a leash, and quickly went to the garage. Jack had pulled a couple of walkie talkie headsets out of his truck so they could carry on a running conversation between the two vehicles. Jack opened the garage doors so Lynn could bring the Jeep and Truck outside, then he closed and locked them. With Lynn leading the way, they headed up the slope. Jack had to stay close behind her just to see the Jeep. The Jeep’s tires spun a couple of times, but the four-wheel-drive on both vehicles was keeping them moving.

  Jack heard Lynn through the headset: “We’re turning right onto the hunting road now, Jack. Are you still with me? I can’t see your truck.”

  “I’m right behind you, but if I lose sight of you, I’ll let you know.”

  It took 30 minutes to get to F.R. 172. They could finally turn their headlights on, and the road was wider than the hunting road, which made Lynn’s navigating job easier. Two hours later they finally found the next forest road. Lynn had to get out and dust the snow off the sign to be sure it was the right one. The snow was up past Lynn’s knees and falling faster than ever.

  As they climbed the last forest road the jeep was having trouble making much headway through the snow. Jack thought about taking the lead, but the Jeep’s snow tires were better than his all-season tires. Jack was worried about what would happen if the snow stopped them completely. They would probably freeze before the night was over.

  “Jack, this is Lynn … over.”

  “I’m here. … over. We can do away with the pilot talk – over, roger, out, and all that.”

  “Hey, stop being a party pooper. I was having fun with it.”

  “Roger that. So what’s up?”

  “Other than the fact I have to pee, I’m not sure how much farther the Jeep can keep going in this snow Jack. But there’s nothing else to do but keep going until we can’t. If we freeze to death up here, at least I’ll get to die in your arms.”

  “Always the romantic, Lynn.” Jack saw Lynn’s Jeep drop lower in his view. “What’s wrong! Are you off the road?”

  “No, it’s good news. We’re starting downhill into Silverton. We should get a little help from gravity now.”

  The snow wasn’t as deep here. They were on the leeward side of the mountain and the wind was blowing the snow straight out from the ridge. Forty minutes later they rolled into Silverton.

  “Great driving, Lynn. Let’s see if we can find a gas station so we can fill up and you can pee. O’Malley probably needs a walk also. I don’t want us or our vehicles to be seen together, so you get your gas and your other business done, then leave and wait for me up the road. I roll in a few minutes later. Do you have some cash for the gas? I don’t want us to use credit cards – at least not our own.”

  “I have enough for a tank of gas and a cup of coffee, Jack, but that’s about all.”

  “Whenever we stop for the night I’ll give you some more money. I always travel with lots of cash so I have access to money when I need it. One of the first things police do when they are trying to locate fugitives is to monitor their bank accounts and shut down any transfer that looks suspicious.”

  Chapter 22

  They made it over Red Mountain Pass just before it closed and continued on to Grand Junction. They chatted now and then on the walkie talkies just to keep each other alert.

  “Where do we go from Grand Junction, Jack?”

  “We’ll get on I-70 east through Denver and drive until we’re too tired to keep going. Then we’ll find a local motel and get some sleep.”

  “Will we get a single room or two Jack?” Lynn asked suggestively, with humor.

  “We’ll check in separately to separate rooms so they don’t see us together.”

  “How about adjoining rooms?”

  “No, they would figure that out and know we’re together.”

  “Well … can I at least come to your room for awhile to cuddle?”

  #

  They drove for another 11 hours, stopping for gas, restrooms, and walks for O’Malley, before they had to stop for the night in Salina, Kansas. Jack led them a few miles off the freeway to a local motel. He drove on past and stopped up the road with Lynn right behind him. Jack gave her $300 and told Lynn to put on a hat to cover up her red hair and go check in. He waited several minutes and did the same. His room was four doors down from where Lynn was parked, so he didn’t expect to hear from her tonight.

  He s
tripped down to his boxers and tee shirt, brushed his teeth, washed his face and fell into bed. Then he heard he voice over the headset on his night table: “Come in Jack, come in Jack. This is Red Fox One … over.” He sighed and picked it up. “What’s up, Red Fox?”

  “Can I come over and play? … Just kidding. I would like to see you for a few minutes before we go to bed. We haven’t seen each other all day.” Jack answered “Ahh … O.K. But make it quick because I’m fading fast. I’m in room 124.”

  Lynn took a quick shower, brushed her teeth, and combed her hair. She put on some flannel pajamas, sneakers, and a parka, and headed to Room 124.

  She quietly turned the knob and pushed the door open. There was Jack, sprawled on the bed in his T shirt and boxers, sound asleep. She turned to leave, but thought ‘If I cuddle up for a few minutes, he’ll never know.’ So she pulled up the blanket to cover him and crawled in herself. She softly cuddled up and pulled his arm around her shoulders.

  Jack awoke promptly at seven, stirred by his internal alarm clock. Like most people in a strange bed, it took him a few moments to remember where he was. That was when he felt Lynn cuddled up to his back, sound asleep. He was about to jump up and scold her, but this felt so nice he decided to enjoy it for awhile. The next time he woke he felt her stir against him as she tried to sneak out of bed and return to her room. He let her get as far as the door before he said sternly “And where have you been all night, young lady.”

  “Oh! You scared me Jack. I thought you were still asleep. I’m so sorry. I just meant to snuggle up to you for a few minutes but I fell asleep.”

  “And I didn’t even get to enjoy it! Were you just going to sneak out and never tell me?”

  That got Lynn flustered. She didn’t know if he was mad at her or not. “I … uh … I probably would have told you someday, Jack.”

  “Well, to be truthful, I woke up an hour ago and just laid here and enjoyed it.”

  “In that case, why don’t I just slip back under the covers and …”

  “Oh no. It’s not like we’re naked, but it’s too close++ to that for me. Go back to your room, get dressed, and let’s get on the road. We’ll find get some fast food at a drive-through on the Interstate. Don’t forget your walkie talkie and your hat. We’ll talk when we’re back on the road.”

  “You mean when we have a safe distance between us.”

  Before they left Jack got into the bed of his truck and pulled out a forged driver’s license, license plate, and registration to match the name and description of a real person. He had to go through several in his stack to find one who looked enough like Linda to pass. He gave Lynn the driver’s license and registration. It wouldn’t match her driver’s license name, but they would have to take their chances with that. Jack drew up a handwritten bill of sale for the Jeep, and signed a phony name. If they got stopped Lynn would say she just bought the Jeep.

  When they were back on the Interstate Lynn called on the headset. “Where to today, Jack, over … I love this spy stuff!”

  “We’ll continue on I-70 to Indianapolis. It’s about a nine-hour drive, so we won’t get in too late.”

  #

  Just before they hit Indianapolis, Jack repeated the procedure from the night before, looking for a local motel a few miles from the Interstate. Lynn called him on the headset.

  “You just passed a small motel back there, Jack. What was wrong with that one?”

  “It didn’t have block walls.”

  “What’s that got to do with it?”

  “I’ll tell you the story someday” Jack said with a grin that Lynn couldn’t see.

  They found another that met Jack’s criteria a couple of miles farther on and went through the separate check-in procedure. While Lynn was checking in and walking O’Malley Jack went to get some carry out for supper. He called her a few minutes later on the headset and told her to wait until it was dark and come to his room. When she got there he had his computer set up and was looking at some maps. She came over and stood behind him, looking over his shoulder at the screen.

  “What am I looking at here, Jack?”

  “This is our destination, at least for now. A neighborhood in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I’m going to break into that house right there and see if I can find James Foreman’s CYA file with another offshore account number. This alley that runs behind it will make things a lot easier.” He switched from map view to Google Earth view and the neighborhood sprang to life. “And over here is a public park. We’ll park your Jeep there and take O’Malley for a walk – around the block and up the alley.”

  “Now you’re freaking me out again, Jack. Fill me in.”

  “That’s all. On the walk with O’Malley we case the joint, see how I can get in, and look for someone else watching the place. I’ll come back after dark and break in, look for Foremen’s CYA file – if he has one – and bring it out with me.”

  “Where will I be while you’re risking your life?”

  “I haven’t decided on that yet, Lynn.”

  “I’d better be there right there beside you! This is my first chance to be a spy and I don’t want to miss it.”

  #

  Just before Lynn went to her room for the night, Tom Gutierrez called.

  “I’ve come up with a plan for getting into Energy Resources, Jack. The approach I used the first time won’t work because they have upgraded their security. This time, I’ll go in the front door with a forged copy of an employee’s badge who is on vacation. I’ll go in near the end of the work day, and disappear at closing time.”

  “What about security cameras? Won’t they see you sneaking around the hallways?”

  “I got a copy of their building plans from city hall and found a place to hide down the hall from the contracts department. I hacked into the security camera control system and I can blank out specific cameras with my smart phone as I move past them.”

  Lynn said “What about the door lock to the contracts department?”

  “I’ve been monitoring the overhead security camera as a few people punched in the combination, so I have that covered.”

  “It sounds like a good plan, Tom. Call us as soon as you get back out and let us know how it went.”

  Chapter 23

  Tom Gutierrez walked into the employees entrance to Energy Resources and up to the turnstile. He ran his forged ID card through the slot. There was a pause, then a red light started flashing. The security guard stepped up and said “Excuse me sir. Having trouble with your badge?”

  “It would appear so,” Tom answered.

  The guard told him to try it again and again the red light flashed.

  “I’m sorry sir, you’ll have to step over to the security desk.”

  Tom’s mind was racing. ‘What did I do wrong’ he thought. The card was a perfect forgery, including the information on the magnetic strip. He started to sweat as he moved up to the security desk. “There seems to be a problem with my ID card. It won’t scan properly.”

  “Let me have your card and I’ll check to see what’s wrong.” The guard ran the card through the scanner on his computer. Tom leaned over to one side with his elbow on the counter to get a peek at the computer screen. There was a photo of the employee whose card he forged! He had picked an employee with physical characteristic similar to his, and had added stick-on long sideburns to match those of the employee. He even bought a pair of glasses that were an exact match. Was his disguise good enough up close? He was only three feet from the guard.

  “Mr. Walker, according to this you are supposed too be on vacation until Friday.”

  “Yeah, I had to come back early. My supervisor called and told me to ‘get my ass back here ASAP’ to deal with a production problem. So here I am.”

  “Who is your supervisor?”

  Tom almost panicked. He had looked up the supervisor’s name, but was the guard going to call him to check his story? Tom gave him the name and crossed his fingers.

  The guard picked
up the phone and dialed a number. Tom got ready to run for it if necessary. “Mildred, this is Fred down here at the security desk. I’ve got an employee, ID number 2007-237, who returned from vacation early. Would you please update his record to show he’s back at work? . . . O.K. I see the change now. Thanks. It will let you through now, sir.”

  “Thanks.”

  As soon as he was inside he went up to the second floor to the supply closet he planned to hide in. He pushed a preprogrammed button on his smart phone to blank out the security camera while he slipped inside. He jammed a wedge in the door just below the lock so if anyone tried to open the door it would seem like the dead bolt lock was engaged. He sat back in a corner against some shipping foam and took a nap.

  #

  Lynn asked Jack if he wanted to come back to her room for a glass of wine. He was trying to think up an excuse when she said with a laugh “Come on, I promise to be a good girl, Jack.”

  Jack did enjoy being with her but didn’t want things to get past his defenses . . . and he wasn’t sure how strong those defenses were right now. “O.K., but I’ll hold you to your promise.”

  In Lynn’s room they sat on the couch with a glass of wine in their hands. Things were quiet for a few minutes – more of that discomfort they felt the morning after the kiss.

  Lynn broke the silence with an irrelevant question. “Do you know all that secret agent Judo stuff, Jack?”

  “It’s not really Judo. It’s a combination of the best parts of hand-to-hand combat from several different disciplines, including bar room fighting when it’s needed. Judo and the other formal fighting disciplines have rules, moves, and counter moves that have to be followed in a defined pattern. You can’t reach out and poke your Judo opponent in the eyes.”

  “How about special weapons, like knives, nun-chuks, and garrotes?”

  “I’ve had some training in those areas, but it was mostly about how to defend against them using my hands. Before I retired I was required to keep my training current in those things, but since then I’ve let it slip. The theory is that the training makes our moves automatic – pure reflex – but I don’t know how long that lasts. Hopefully it’s like riding a bicycle – the muscle memory never leaves.”

  Another silence. It was Jack’s turn to fill in the gap now. “Will your ex-husband be concerned with your absence?”