The Nigerian Incident

By C. A. Mattay

Ted Landson, a troubled oil company CEO, is thrown into a bizarre chain of events when his private plane is shot down over Colorado. Three single professional people backpacking in the mountains save his life. Heather, a Dallas programmer, finds herself thrown together with Ted. They travel to Nigeria, Africa where they must deliver secret papers to the Nigerian President. They are kidnapped and held for ransom. Their efforts to elude their captors put them in the middle of an elephant stampede as their friends in the U.S. fly in to rescue them.

Back in the U.S., Ted discovers a bitter enemy as he exposes an international crime organization. Also, much to his surprise, he becomes increasingly attracted to his beautiful young companion. Lawsuits, attacks on his integrity, and a SEC investigation caused Ted to resign from Lawtex Oil Co. The loss of wealth and power cause him to reexamine his priorities in life. When a second hostage situation involving both his companion and his ex-wife, Angie takes place, Ted is forced to rethink his loyalty and love for Angie and his extended family. Ted's integrity and his love for both women tear at his heart forcing him to make a tough decision.

Encouraged by Heather, Ted remarries his ex-wife in the hospital and begins a healing process with his family. Two months later Angie dies from her wounds. Heather, ignored by Ted and heart broken from the loss of her new friend, yields to her convictions and accepts a teaching position at a mission school in Nigeria. There is a heart-rending scene, as two people, deeply in love, struggle to control their feelings for each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 26, 2004
• ISBN: 9780595767816

C. A. Mattay

Carl Mattay is a veteran of the US Army. He served in Korea and is a graduate of University of North Texas. He later worked in the banking and insurance industries as well as a Computer Systems Engineer for 5 years. He is married with four children and eleven grandchildren.

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CHAPTER 1

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THE UNEXPECTED

CASTING A MOVING SHADOW on the snow-capped Sangre De Christo mountain range, the Lone CESSNA-180 hummed along at one hundred and twenty knots and a twelve thousand-foot altitude. The pilot’s gaze turned to a herd of elk grazing in an alpine meadow near a stand of golden aspen some two hundred feet below the snow line. There was no getting around it—the scenery, the smooth sound of the well-tuned engine, and the smell of the leather cockpit were exhilarating.

An unforeseen updraft caused the plane to suddenly gain altitude, then ratcheted the small craft down in a swift loss of five hundred feet. The pilot, calm and determined, quickly regained control and smoothed out. Soon the plane resumed a comfortable, steady flight.

Suddenly, a small, black aircraft appeared on the horizon, unseen at first to the Cessna pilot, but soon picked up on his radar as an approaching blip. Looking up and back to the southeast, he recognized the outline of a Cobra helicopter gun-ship. Strange, he thought, don’t see many of those in these parts. Must be doing a hundred and eighty knots or better. Has to be military or police.

The pilot banked the plane to the left to get a better look. Then, suddenly, out of the blue, a fiery trail of tracer bullets flashed past the nose of the Cessna.

Momentarily stunned, he shouted, What tha—! Those idiots are shooting at me! Kicking his right rudder and nosing the plane into a dive, he frantically tried to radio the Colorado Springs airport. More tracers! In spite of his skillful evasion tactics, bullets flew into the prop and engine, making a loud snapping sound ending in a clank-clank-clank of a loose piston rod. The oil pressure gauge plunged rapidly quickly mirrored by a sinking feeling in the pit of the pilot’s stomach. He winced at the smell the oil as it splattered on the windshield. It was getting hard to see and he knew that turning on the wipers would only make it worse. Pressing the transmit key on his mike, he yelled, Mayday! Mayday! My ship has been hit! Lost the engine! I’m going down! Position is about 20 miles Northwest of Westc-liffi He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Lord, I’m in trouble, he prayed. Guess it’s going to be up to you to get me out of this. Feeling the adrenaline rush, he nosed the plane downward desperately looking for a landing area. Wait, what is that? he thought to himself. He spotted a small lake in a clearing on the side of a mountain. My only chance! Okay, baby we’re going in!

*       *      *      *

The girl was weeping—looking at her image in the clear water. No matter how hard she tried, the hurt just wouldn’t go away. The cruel words that Chad had yelled as he forcefully clutched her face still echoed in her ears.

She could still hear his voice—you ‘re a no-good lying slut—the sorriest excuse for a human being that I have had ever met! You’re worthless—incapable of keeping your word! You damned bitch!

All she had said was that she wanted to postpone their wedding. She needed to resolve some issues that had come to the surface during their premarital counseling. She could still feel the pain of the moment, the disillusionment, and the shock. He had never shown her this dark side of him, the uncontrollable rage. After all, he was the man she thought she loved. He had rescued her from a life of loneliness and boredom, and she had given herself to him freely. Now this

Heather splashed some water onto her face then backed away startled. The water numbed her face from the ice cold melted snow.

The blast of what sounded like a backfiring engine caused her to look up. Jim, Laurie, She yelled. I think that plane’s in trouble. It’s heading this way!"

Heather’s friends glanced up toward the sky.

The plane was coming in fast. It slowed when its landing gear snapped off the top branches of a tree and then it flew between two trees at the edge of a beaver dam. There was a wrenching sound of tearing metal as one of the trees ripped a wing off the plane. Another tree gripped and held on, causing the aircraft to spin into the lake tail first. It instantly took in water and started to sink. An oil slick appeared on the lake’s surface and the smell of aviation gas permeated the air.

Heather, waving her arms and pointing, shouted frantically to Laurie, The plane is sinking! Do something!

Six feet tall with red hair, a freckled face, and an athletic build, Laurie didn’t hesitate. She immediately dropped her pack, plunged into the water, and quickly swam toward the sunken craft. It’s ice cold! Laurie yelped before the water took away her breath. Paramedic training and two summers as a lifeguard allowed her to respond instinctively to emergency situations.

Her friend Jim was close behind her, all six-foot-four of him. His dark brown eyes were intently focused on her as they swam out to the plane.

Taking a deep breath, Laurie dove down clutching at the cockpit door handle underwater. She could see the man’s arms struggling with the seat belts before he suddenly went limp as if to surrender. Laurie kept jerking on the door handle, which refused to come loose. She was panicking, torn between her need to go up for air and her determination to rescue the drowning man in the plane.

Suddenly, Jim was at her side, and between the two of them, they finally manage to rip the door open. Laurie untangled the man from his safety harness, pulled him out and shoved him to Jim who grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him to the surface. Laurie burst up out of the water gasping for fresh air then caught up with Jim. The two of them swam like mad toward the shore, fully realizing the great danger of hypothermia, as each stroke became more difficult.

Laurie’s teeth were chattering and her arms were turning blue from the frigid water.

Gritting his teeth, Jim stuttered, We’ve got to get out… faster… swim faster! He then shouted to Heather. G-G-Get the fire going!"

Heather sprang into action, throwing fresh firewood on the previous night’s campfire.

Dragging the injured pilot behind them, Laurie and Jim fell totally exhausted onto the shore.

Heather looked at the man. He’s not breathing! Do something quick! Oh my God! Is he dead?

Laurie struggled to get her breath back. Help me roll him over. Put a backpack under his stomach. We’ve got to push on his back and get the water out of his lungs.

Some foul-smelling water gurgled out of the man’s throat and nose as the two girls worked on him.

Roll him over. Do you know CPR? Laurie had set her jaw in determination. Answer me! Do you know CPR?

Heather nodded.

Laurie continued, He’s still not breathing. I’m going to give him mouth-to-mouth while you compress his chest. Hurry!

Heather and Laurie worked fast, synchronizing their efforts to save the unknown man. Counting and breathing hard, they repeated the procedure several times.

God help us, Heather cried. Please! My God, PLEASE!" Heather cried.

Finally, after six cycles of compression and breathing, Laurie put her ear to the man’s chest and looked up at Heather. He’s breathing!

Heather let out a deep sigh of relief.

Jim, finally recovering from the shock of the cold water, came over to help them.

Laurie rushed over and jerked her sleeping bag loose from her backpack. Rip off his wet clothes down to his boxers. Hurry up!

Heather worked on the man’s jacket and shirt while Jim pulled off his shoes, belt and pants. When they were done, Jim gently rolled him into the dry sleeping bag.

Laurie looked at Jim who was still shivering from the cold.

Jim hurriedly looked the other way, sensing what was coming.

She turned back toward Heather. The only way this guy’s going to make it is for us to get his body temperature up! You’re going to have to get inside the sleeping bag with him to warm him with your body. Do you think you can do that for about thirty minutes? Laurie was shivering as she spoke. I have got to grab a blanket and get by the fire. Jim, you need to get by the fire too.

Jim hurriedly snatched up a blanket and headed toward the fire, a look of relief clearly written across his face.

Heather didn’t like the idea of jumping into a sleeping bag with an almost naked stranger, but she respected her friend’s life-saving knowledge and she wasn’t about to let the man die due to her own embarrassment. She took off her jacket and slid into the sleeping bag with the unwelcome guest. She pulled him against her body and vigorously rubbed his back. Brrr! You’re one cold pilot fish, but we’re going to save you whether you like it or not, Heather murmured. Hey, Laurie, get a frying pan ready to bop this guy in the head if he wakes up and starts getting amorous ideas.

*       *      *      *

He dreamed of oil wells and black Cobra gun ships. Angie and the kids were grieving in front of his open casket with a pair of elk antlers mounted on the bottom half of the lid. His son-in-law was smiling, already punching a mini-calculator, probably figuring his take on the old buzzard’s estate.

He awoke with a start! Ouch! He could feel a painful jolt from his bruised ribs. His head pounded and his arms and shoulders were sore.

His nose twitched, Gardenias? No, it was more like perfume or some type of shampoo or soap, a clean wholesome smell. Then his bleary vision caught sight of the tufts of brunette hair right next to his face, and he felt the warmth of a body up against his. Finally, he noticed the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen staring into his. In spite of the soreness that rang throughout his body, he managed to grin. I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. Who might you be, my little angel? Incredible.

I’m Heather, and I’m doing my best to keep you from dying of hypothermia. You were in a bad way. My friends saved you from your wrecked plane.

Pausing as the memory came flooding back, he grinned and said, Well, my dear young lady, I think you have succeeded in your endeavor for which I am most grateful. Please unwrap yourself from me, lest I forget that I am a gentleman.

Heather blushed, feeling the blood run to her face, and quickly scurried out the side of the sleeping bag. Hey guys, she announced, The pilot is awake. He seems to be okay. He even kicked me out of his sleeping bag. Much relieved, she laughed as she put on her jeans and shirt. She turned and carried her backpack over to the injured man. Here, lean up against this. She pushed it under his back as he sat up.

Laurie moved over and took his wrist in her hand, holding the elbow with her other hand.

He instinctively pulled back.

Laurie leaned forward and looked into his eyes.

Don’t worry, she said, I’m a paramedic. I just want to check your pulse. She put her fingers on his wrist and looked at her watch. A moment later, she smiled. Your heart-beat is normal. She nodded toward the lake. We almost lost you back there. What’s your name?

Ted. Ted Landson.

Okay, Ted. She held up two fingers. "I want you to tell me how many fingers I’m holding up and follow them with your eyes.

Two. Ted replied as he followed her instructions, moving his eyes as she moved her hand.

Your vision seems to be okay. Do you have a headache?

Yes, but it’s not bad.

Laurie reached into her belt pack and pulled out a small bottle of Ibuprofen. She took two tablets into her hand, handed them to Ted, and then gave him her water bottle. You’re not allergic to Ibuprofen, are you?

No. Ted took the pills from her and swallowed them along with a drink from the bottle. He felt a tiredness and dozed off.

An hour later, he awoke to find Laurie checking his pulse again. Jim and Heather were close by.

I guess you guys are wondering what happened to me up there? He nodded his head skyward. I got shot down by a Cobra helicopter. I don’t know why or who did it. I was on my way to go elk hunting with my sons on a ranch near Gunnison—even hired a famous guide named Mike Bouchelle to meet us at the lodge on the Black’s ranch. I was fortunate to get Mike on short notice.

Where are you from? asked Jim.

I work and live in the Dallas area. My company, Lawtex Oil, has its offices in Addision, Ted responded. Ted sensed that Jim was growing uneasy, unable to keep the suspicion from showing on his face. He kept putting his hand in his backpack as he began questioning Ted.

Did that helicopter actually force you down? Who was flying it? You’re not running from the law, are you? He was careful to keep his hand out of sight. Ted assumed that Jim was gripping a weapon, perhaps a pistol or a hunting knife. His apprehension increased as he saw the outline of a cylindrical object move under the canvas material of the backpack. Ted raised his eye-brows. He couldn’t much blame the kid. After all, he was a stranger who literally fell out of the sky.

Will you please stop it! Heather exclaimed, her face red with concern.

Ted hurriedly replied. Take it easy there, Jim. I’m not a criminal. I told you, I have no idea who those people were. Maybe it was just a case of mistaken identity. I’m just a Texas oil man up here to go elk hunting with my kids.

How do we know you’re telling the truth? Jim pressed. Some Texas oilmen are the biggest liars on the face of the earth.

Ted pulled out his wallet and threw it to Jim. Here, see for yourself. I’m surprised that you didn’t go through it while I was sleeping.

Jim thumbed through the wallet. He studied Ted’s driver’s license, credit cards, and company ID. He was surprised to find that Ted was the CEO of the company. Satisfied, he tossed the wallet back to Ted. "Sorry, It’s just. I feel responsible for their safety. He nodded at the two girls.

It’s okay Jim, I understand, I’d probably do the same. Ted said as he picked up his wallet.

Men! Heather scoffed. You’re like a couple of dogs sniffing at each other’s back ends."

Laurie cackled. I can’t believe you said that.

Jim and Ted first frowned, and then both broke out laughing.

Heather blushed. Well, I just can’t believe that nobody trusts anybody anymore.

Jim retorted, That’s one of your problems, Heather. You’re too trusting.

Yeah maybe, but at least I’m not paranoid.

Will you two stop bickering? Laurie commanded as she stoked the fire with another log.

Jim scratched the back of his