James was taken aback. “Are you sure?”
Hans had been cleared of all personal charges in the terrorist attack, but their lawyer advised him to stay at home and avoid doing anything their opponents could use against them.
“Yeah. He’s gone. But I know where he went.”
“How?”
“Well, I’m not supposed to do this, but because he’s gone missing I read through his mail. I want to show this one letter to you.”
“Hold on.”
James went back down to the front office and requested their fax number. Minutes later, the receptionist handed a piece of paper over, and James read a short letter addressed to Hans.
Richard Warden
Red Dune Caves
October 25th, 2009
Dear Mr. Donitz,
Let me be the first to congratulate you on your successful acquittal from the crimes of your compatriots. Your remarkable ability to deflect blame coupled with your knowledge obtained while in the terrorist ranks makes you an invaluable asset to me. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind visiting me at the Red Dune Caves, on the outskirts of the Nevada Deserts, to discuss some services you could provide for me.
Please don’t involve anyone else. It would be a shame if others (say, your son) were brought to this.
Sincerely,
Ricky W.
“This doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s dated from a week ago,” said Werner. “He must have been worrying about this for a week and finally decided to go to protect me.”
“Hmm.” James crossed to the public access computer in the lobby. “The Red Dune Caves are at the edge of the mountain range, across the desert from Pelvanida and Carson City Camp. It’d be tough, but he could get there by foot.”
“We need to go find him!”
“Agreed,” said James. His heart sank. Time to drive all the way back to Nevada.
“I’ll make some calls, and we’ll see who else is available,” said Werner. “Thank you so much for helping us here.”
“Don’t worry about it. What’s a team for? I’ll cal you back.” James hung up and immediately called Zachary.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Zach.”
“James. What can I do for you?”
“I’m wondering if you’re available sometime in the near future.”
“No. The next two weeks begin the trials on the surviving Dragonstorm scientists. I’m working with the Equestrian Scientific Union to give testimony against Dr. O’Neill. What precisely do you need?”
“I don’t feel comfortable discussing it over the phone.”
“Then you shall have to fill me in at a later date. Good luck.”
“Thanks, Zach,” James furrowed his brow. Somehow he’d always assumed Zach would be available whenever there were missions to go on.
Zach seemed to pick this up. “However,” he continued, “this might not be a completely bad thing. Remember, Aisha is your assistant now, not me. Perhaps you should call her.”
“That’s actually a great idea. I’ll do that. See you, Zach.”
“And you, James.”
James used the operator to call Carson City Camp.
“I’d like to speak to Aisha Tennes. See if she’ll accept a call from Dr. Zanasiu.”
After verifying his identity, Aisha was put on the phone. “ ëS pretty late, James,” she muttered sleepily. “Is something going on?”
“I don’t feel comfortable mentioning it over the phone, butó”
“Hold on.” James heard a click, and the sound quality of the call drastically cleared up. Aisha came back on. “Alright, security tele-monitoring turned off. It’s just the two of us now.”
James wondered who else had been on before now. “Hans has gone missing. Werner and I have location, somewhere in the Nevada deserts, where it seems he’s been coerced into joining some Richard Warden. We’re going to see if we can figure out exactly what’s going on and help him out if he needs it.”
“Cool. I can supply the weapons and a Jeep. When are we going?”
“James was surprised at her readiness to guarantee transportation and arms. “Your dad won’t clear this mission. It’s completely off the record.”
“I’ll tell daddy it’s for a date. To a hunting lodge or something. That’s worked before. What time?”
“You’re supplying all the stuff. What time would work for you?”
“Quickest I could get everything ready is tomorrow, 11 o’clock. That good?”
James formed a map in his head. A drive from Santa Barbara to Carson City would take about eight hours. He’d be getting up early. “That’s great.”
“Our Jeeps have room to fit 4 comfortably,” Aisha yawned. “If that’s it, I need to get some sleep now so I can prepare for our ëdate’ tomorrow.”
“ ëNight. And thank you.”
James counted off the personnel in his head. Werner, Aisha, and himself. That left one slot left.
But Kerzach didn't pick up. James also noticed the messaging system had been taken off. Odd.
He dialed another number. It also had been disconnected, but James knew the government had done it months ago. Luckily, he checked his Instant Messaging system on the hotel computer and saw the person he wanted was online.
James: Shelton, are you on?
Shelton: By law, all scientists have to be online at least 17 hours a day. What’s up?
James: I was wondering if you had time to go on a trip tomorrow.
Shelton: What?
James waited. He assumed Shelton was slowly realizing what James meant.
Shelton: Oh. Yeah, I’m free.
James: You sure? Not everyone I invited can make it.
Shelton: Lemme check my schedule. . .still blacklisted. . .still disinherited. . .yeah, I’d say I was pretty free.
James: You’re still disinherited?
Shelton: Dear sweet mom hasn’t gotten around to changing the paperwork yet.
James: If you say so. 11 o’clock at Carson’s place.
The reference was to Carson City Camp. James hoped Shelton got the reference.
Shelton: c o soon!
The typo was deliberate; Shelton was referencing the periodic symbol for cobalt, showing he understood. James logged out of IM and recalled Werner.
“Zachary’s busy, but I got Aisha, and she’s going to provide transportation to the location. Shelton is coming too.”
“That’s good. Cale would like to help as well.”
“Cale?” That wasn’t a name James expected to hear. “How did he find out about all this?”
“I told Bailey, who was running the phone line at Pelvanida. He said Cale had received a similar letter, but ignored it. He patched me through to Cale, who feels if he had done something about Ricky when he learned about it, Hans wouldn’t be in danger. He feels obligated to make up for this.”
“He doesn’t have to do that.”
“I’ll tell him that if you like, but I don’t think he’ll listen.”
“No, we can use all the help we can get. Aisha wants all of us at Carson City Camp by 11 o’clock.”
“I’ll tell Cale. We’ll be there. James,” Werner suddenly said, “I just want to remind you that even if we do rescue Hans, the government is going to find out about this, and they won’t be happy.”
James knew. That’s what he’d been thinking about since the first call. “Since when have I cared what they think? We’ll get Hans back, Werner. Don’t worry.”
James hung up and trudged slowly back to his room. All the ground he had covered since leaving Nevada, and now he has to drive all the way back. In one night.
In his room, he eyed the goody basket again. His stomach was still growling.
“Aw, hell with it.” He grabbed a bag of cookies and started stuffing his face.
