The Continent of St. Louis: The Final Answer

By J. L. Reynolds

September 23, 2005

Trouble had appeared to be Vince Daviss middle name. it had seemed like to hardly anything had gone right for him during his second time around in 2005. He had been a fugitive from justice after having escaped from a mental institution where he had been misdiagnosed and treated badly while being wrongfully confined. He had straightened out that wrong as well as several other trying and sometimes daunting problems with help from his co-workers and the backing of the San Diego Police Chief.

With the fear of arrest and re-committal to an institution gone from his mind the stage had been set for him to prove to the world that what he had claimed he had experienced in 2009 wasnt something he had conjured up in an effort to get attention and that he wasnt crazy although he was beginning to doubt his own sanity at times. Then, his entire world collapsed and came tumbling down around him like a house of cards, which would prove to be more difficult to dig his way out of than anything that had come before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468549386

J. L. Reynolds

   J. L. Reynolds was born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1939.  He lived and worked in the Kansas City area untill he retired from T.W.A in 1994. He was never trained as a writer, but has written many poems and songs over the years, none of which have been published.     This novel is his first attempt at serious writing. The completion of this novel marks a new path he has chosen to follow.  At the time of this printing, he has written three other novels that will complete the story of The Continent of St. Louis.  The subsequent novels that complete the story will be published and released in the months to come.    His philososphy on life is that a person is never to old to try something new or different.  Success, he feels is not what others may say or think regarding your work, but rather the satisfaction the individual gets completing something they have started.       

Book preview

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

FORWARD

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LAST CHAPTER

EPILOGUE

FOR THE RECORD

STATUS QUO

IN THE NEWS

Dedication

I dedicate this, my third novel to my three children, Jim, Debbie and Kelly, and my five grandchildren, Adam Turner, Ashley and Brandon Reynolds, Jack and Henry Fortman.

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank Kelly Carter for her imaginative color artwork and skill in creating the dust jacket for this novel and my two preceding novels. Kelly’s other work can seen be at www.madspiderstudio.com

FORWARD

SAN DIEGO… SEPTEMBER 23, 2005… TROUBLE

TROUBLE had appeared to be Vince Davis’s middle name. It had seemed like hardly anything had gone right for him during his second time around in 2005. He had been a fugitive from justice after having escaped from a mental institution where he had been misdiagnosed and treated badly while being wrongfully confined. He had straightened out that wrong as well as several other trying and sometimes daunting problems with help from his co-workers and the backing of the San Diego Police Chief. With the fear of arrest and re-committal to an institution gone from his mind the stage had been set for him to prove to the world that what he had claimed he had experienced in 2009 wasn’t something he had conjured up in an effort to get attention and that he wasn’t crazy.

More than ready to take the next step in that direction and also ready to test the new seismic equipment his boss, Dr. Leyland had designed, he had gone along as an observer in a Marine training jet furnished by the commander of Miramar Air Base in San Diego. Although the initial test run had been a complete success he had experienced one side effect he hadn’t expected. During the flight he had been encouraged to take the controls of the jet and had foolishly subjected himself to an excessive amount of g-forces and had blacked out in the cockpit. Not wanting to admit to the seriousness of what had happened to him he had been joking about the incident with his pilot after their return to the base, but in truth he had been barely able to walk back to his temporary quarters where he had collapsed exhaustedly onto his bed with the feeling of not being physically ready to make the final test flight. Not long after he had fallen asleep he had been awakened by his pilot and the base commander, General Haskell, and told that the final run scheduled for the next day had been scrubbed. Thinking someone had noticed his unsteady gate after the flight, he had assumed the cancellation was due to his weakened condition and had offered to train Marine personnel for his job, but he had been wrong. It wasn’t his physical condition that had caused the final run to be scrubbed—it was military officials in Washington who had issued an immediate order to shut the mission down forcing the base commander to comply.

To say Vince was disappointed would have been a gross understatement. He had been more than disappointed and then angered by General Haskell when he had given no explanation for Washington’s decision and then had said he could do no more for him other than to offer him a ride back to UCSD. Although he had continued to be angry on the ride back, he had also been thinking of ways that he and his co-workers could continue testing the equipment on their own, but as he soon learned, that wasn’t going to happen. Upon entering the lab, he had been told that he and his two co-workers had been fired, and making matters worse, Dr. Leyland had been charged with misappropriation of state funds and would soon be facing arrest, but it hadn’t ended there. All of the records and equipment for their project had been confiscated as well, which in effect had shut down the project permanently. As their well planned endeavors fell down around them like a house of cards, Vince refused to accept what was happening to them and had decided to test the mettle of the security guard who was attempting to rudely usher them out. After being threatened with arrest, Vince had relented and had grudgingly picked up his box of personal belongings and had left the lab with his co-workers.

Upon leaving the building, Vince had learned that a fledgling seismologist from Cal-Tech named John Willard was taking over as director at the lab. Willard’s senseless appointment had only added to the insult and injustice of what was happening to him and his co-workers. None of it had been fair and he had no idea who could have made such inconsiderate decisions regarding their dismissals and the cancellation of the project. Although no one had known for certain where Dr. Leyland had gone, Vince had an idea where he might be and had made the decision to find him before the authorities arrested him. What Vince hadn’t known was that his decision to find Dr. Leyland was exactly the decision Willard had hoped he would make. Willard and the guard had watched them as they drove away and were listening to their conversation being picked up by a listening device the guard had planted in Vince’s laptop. A confident and smiling Willard had then radioed his boss to give him what he thought was good news, although at the time neither Willard nor his boss or the officials in Washington responsible for making the decision to scrub the project and fire all of them, had known Vince Davis or what he was capable of.

CHAPTER ONE

THOUGHTS OF RETRIBUTION

DURING THE RIDE BACK to Donna’s house after being fired, Vince had been thinking over her warning about going to Washington to kill Clemmons. She was right—he realized he wouldn’t stand a chance of getting away with it if he tried to go to D.C., carrying his gun. But in his current frame of mind his first inclination had been to go to there and kill Clemmons, even though he had never met him until that day in 2009 when he had been forced to kill him at Lambert Field. As they rode in silence, Vince could still see Clemmons with his face twisted into a snarl as he had drawn his gun in an attempt to kill him and had instead wounded Dana.

He felt his pulse quicken as he remembered shooting Clemmons and seeing him clutch his chest and gasp for breath as he fell dead to the tarmac. A wispy smile, unnoticed by the others, crossed Vince’s face as the feeling of vindication for killing Clemmons raced though the re-enactment in his mind. It was then, at that very moment, he realized for the first time that he had in fact enjoyed killing Clemmons and would enjoy killing him again if he got the opportunity, but he also realized things were not going the way they had during his first experience in 2005 and he was beginning to wonder if they ever would. He didn’t like it, but he was going to have to keep quiet about his feelings and wait for the perfect opportunity when Clemmons would come to him, which for some unknown reason, Vince was sure he would.

LATER AT DONNA’S HOUSE

NOT LONG AFTER ARRIVING at Donna’s house, Vince had called Chief

Brewer and told him they had all been fired and that a warrant for Dr. Leyland’s arrest had been issued. Brewer had first thought Vince was joking, but was soon convinced otherwise and told Vince he would order radio surveillance of county and state police bands and would notify him if Dr. Leyland was apprehended. Vince was sure Dr. Leyland had left town and before hanging up, he told Brewer that he thought he knew where Dr. Leyland was and that they were working on a plan to find him and would need his and the police departments assistance the next day.

With Brewer’s cooperation assured, finding Dr. Leyland was now their number one priority, and Vince had lied and told Brewer that he thought Dr. Leyland might have gone to Mexico in case someone was listening in on their conversation. Vince had no idea if his conversations were being tapped or surveilled, but the truth was that he knew Dr. Leyland’s family had owned land in Nevada containing an old silver mine and also knew the mine was located somewhere near the city of Austin and suspected that if Dr. Leyland wasn’t found at his apartment, having nowhere else to go, he would have gone there for refuge. Vince calculated that Austin would be a two day drive from San Diego and made tentative plans for a trip to the Nevada property in the next day if Leyland was not apprehended locally.

With that decision made, the next topic was Vince’s suspicions of Willard, the guard and the possibility of his laptop being bugged. Jim thought he might be overreacting because of the rude slap in the face they had all gotten, but Vince had said it wasn’t that. In explanation, he based his suspicions on the fact that Willard’s appointment as director had made no sense whatsoever. In addition to that, there had been three other things that hadn’t added up. First, was the fact that there had never been a security guard at the lab, yet there had been one on duty when he had walked in and it was he that was passing out their dismissal notices. The second thing that bothered him and hadn’t made sense was the fact that they let Vince keep his laptop when Jim and Donna’s had been confiscated. The last thing that seemed wrong was the fact that Willard had came to the door and had been talking to the guard as the three of them had driven away, then they had seen Willard talking to someone on the guards radio as if he was reporting in and verifying that they were gone. After discussing Vince’s points, they agreed with him and came up with a plan they hoped would throw anyone off their trail that might be watching or try to follow them when they left the next day to find Dr. Leyland. After thoroughly discussing the part everyone was going to play, Vince sent Jim on his way to carry out the initial part of the plan before going on to his apartment. Next, Vince went to a pay phone and called Brewer, bringing him up to date on their plans and filling him in on the part he needed the Police Department to accomplish if Dr. Leyland hadn’t been found by the next morning. After that there was nothing left to do but go back to Donna’s and wait until morning to carry out the rest of their plan, but waiting had never been one of Vince’s best attributes, and still wasn’t. After talking to Brewer, the reality of what had happened to them and what could still possibly happen to them started soaking in. He felt a vulnerability he had never felt before and didn’t like the feeling. The last thing he wanted was for something bad to happen to Donna or Jim, but he had to find out who was behind their dismissals, the scrapping of the project and losing any chance of proving he wasn’t crazy or delusional at best.

The more he thought about it the angrier he became, which resurrected old memories of double-crosses and back-stabbings, filling him with a desire to find and even the score with his enemies. It wasn’t that he felt sorry for himself or the others—they all could get another job—but being fired without reason or justification and having not been given an opportunity to face the culprit behind their dismissals as well as losing any chance to restore his credibility had personally incensed him leaving him with an overpowering desire to fulfill his retaliation toward the perpetrator. As the desire for revenge boiled over inside him, he realized that Clemmons couldn’t have personally given orders to officials of Cal-Tech or law enforcement agencies in San Diego or California. The only person that would have had the authority to do that was Governor Turner, but he had dismissed that thought immediately because General Haskell had said the order had come from Washington. He had then re-considered Clemmons remembering that David Lindsey had been in town snooping around because of the discs he’d taken off of their bodies at Lambert Field, but that didn’t prove he was there on behalf of Clemmons or that in fact, Clemmons was involved even though Lindsey was working for Clemmons in 2009. To make matters worse, he knew he couldn’t confront Turner either. Like him or not, he was the Governor of California and there was no way for an ordinary citizen to approach a person of his capacity. But even if he could, he had nothing more than suppositions in his arsenal and he knew that his claims of personal injustice would most likely fall on deaf ears or be considered the complaints of a cry-baby state employee who had lost his job. Breathing an unheard sigh of exasperation, he had then thought of contacting Carter Lemming, the Governor of the State of Washington to see if he would be interested in helping him find out who had been behind sacking the project, but then he remembered that although Lemming was interested in the project and showed belief in his story, he had stopped short of backing him and said he wouldn’t go to bat for him or put his credibility on the line in Washington D.C., so Lemming’s help was out of the question.

Just then the phone had rung and Jim was on the line. He had accomplished his mission and the rest of the plan was now a go for the next day. Despite Jim’s certainty of a complete success of their plan for the next day, Vince couldn’t shake the funk that had come over him and began pacing the floor as his mood deteriorated and his thoughts grew darker. Although Donna had known Vince only for a short time, she had seen this type of behavior from him once before and had reasoned with him and talked him out of the mood, but this time it was different. He had shrugged of her efforts to console him and told her he wasn’t looking for her sympathy or pity. Fighting through the urge to lash back at him, Donna fought back with logic saying they were all in the same boat so he might as well get over it and go to bed since they needed to get all the rest they could an early start the next day. She thought she had gotten through to him when he agreed and she had seen a faint smile curl up the corner of his mouth meaning he had come to his senses and realized he’d been acting foolishly, which in fact wasn’t at all what he had realized. He was glad she was there with him and encouraging him, but he knew then more than he ever known before that he needed help, but not to accomplish the tasks that lay before him, he needed someone to explain how and why all of this was happening to him now as well as all of the unreasonable and unthinkable things that had happened before.

As Donna and he turned in, Vince felt uneasiness setting in along with a feeling of insecurity and loneliness similar to what he had felt when he was in Gifford. Despite the fact that Donna’s warm body was lying next to his, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being alone as he tossed and turned while his tightly wound brain kept spinning and thinking of the latest curve ball that he’d been thrown. He wanted to talk but he knew they both needed sleep and also knew they needed to get up early the next morning if he was going to carry out their plan to ship his presumed, bugged laptop to the Seismic Center in Mexico City. In doing so, he was hoping to send whoever was looking for Dr. Leyland on a wild goose chase, giving the trio an opportunity to slip out of town unnoticed, but that’s what he hoped to do, he didn’t know if it was really going to happen or not or if he was dreaming again and he would wake up and find out they were all safe and still working at the lab. He crossed his fingers in the dark like a child would have done while hoping the latter alternative was what would really happen. He held on to those thoughts as he rolled over and at last slipped off to sleep, but as sleep can sometimes go, he wasn’t going to find comfort or relaxation in what should have been the warm solitude of sleep. Instead, he instantly began dreaming he was back in Gifford locked in his depressing room surrounded by the impregnable concrete walls, locked door and barred window. Unknowingly, he cringed and shrunk back under his covers as the feeling of confinement and hopelessness swept over his sleeping and now tortured mind. Although he uttered no audible sound, his mind was screaming out without response against the confinement and destitution he had experienced while confined to Gifford and was now experiencing again in the dream world his mind was creating for him. Pulling all of his will into play, he rose from the bed in his dream and went into the bathroom with an assured feeling of, ‘I’ve been here before and know the way out’, and looked up at the ceiling of the shower knowing he would see the ‘escape hatch’ as he had come to think of it, but it wasn’t there. Instantly he felt the insecurity and loneliness returning that he had felt and had been his constant companion while confined at Gifford. This can’t be! Was the first thought that entered his mind. Through unbelieving eyes he saw that the ceiling was solid and looked freshly painted as if the opening had been recently covered to prevent further escapes. He heard movement behind him and turned to find Dr. Woitasczyk standing behind him with a glowing look of satisfaction on his face as he snarled. What are you looking for, Aaron?

Woitasczyk’s angry voice and sinister look caused Vince to re-coil. Feeling trapped, he replied defensively. There’s been some mistake! My name’s not Aaron and I don’t belong in here!

Is that right? Well I’ve got a few surprises for you this time, boy! You’re not in the same room as last time and you’re not going anywhere, so don’t get your hopes up! Woitasczyk hissed.

This is a dream and you’re dead! You died in an auto accident on the south bound 5! Vince countered.

Do I look dead to you, Aaron? I damn sure don’t, do I? Woitasczyk asserted and then went on. You’re parents are dead because of you and you’ll never be released if I have anything to say about it! So, you may as well get used to it and quit telling your ridiculous world ending disaster story and while you’re at it, you’d better take a look at a calendar!

No—you’re the liar! Everything I said was true! Vince countered.

Is that so? Well listen up smarty pants! I’ve had plenty of time to run a thorough background check on you and you’ve never worked in the Seismic field! You’re just a goddamned, sniveling loser and a hellacious liar who’s been play acting as his big brother! Woitasczyk roared in defiance.

No! It’s not true! I don’t have a big brother! Vince’s mind screamed as he also bellowed the words aloud, waking and startling Donna.

Jesus Christ! What’s wrong? She gasped, catching her breath.

What? Where am I? He shouted out, not sure of where he was.

Right here in bed! You yelled out and woke me. She grumbled.

Damn! He said feeling foolish, now realizing where he was and knowing what had just happened was the latest in his long line bizarre dreams.

Are you okay? She asked.

Yes—I was just having another stupid dream! I’m sorry I woke you—go back to sleep. He replied in embarrassment and thought. This is the pits! Why the hell do I have such stupid dreams involving Woitasczyk and his ridiculous accusations?

He looked at the clock and realized he had only been asleep for a half hour. I’ll probably never get back to sleep now! He thought, but he was wrong. Soon after his eyes closed he was off into another dream, but this time he was back at their camp at the motel outside of the destroyed St. Louis area, which pleased him. He was happy as he saw himself standing outside of the office watching the work that was being done by those he had come to think of as his staunch allies. They had gained his respect and admiration as they had went the grueling distance with him during their daunting 35 day struggle in 2009. As he dreamed on, he felt secure seeing and knowing that they were all safe and obviously still loyal as they had always been during those battles against the forces of nature and scheming government officials.

I’m back where I belong! He thought ecstatically as he resisted yelling out his joy of finding himself back among his people. It was all a dream! I was never back in 2005 and I was never in Gifford! What a relief! I’m not losing my mind! I never was!

That thought brought an unknowing smile to his face as he dreamed on and saw the progress that had been accomplished at their modest camp. He was pleased still further as he saw the camp occupants making preparations for the long winter that lay ahead. Some were still repairing the motel, while others were returning with food and other necessities of life. It was good to see the smiling faces of the camp members who seemed upbeat, despite the fact they were now surrounded by water and alone on an isolated land mass. He felt relieved but proud as he saw the confidence and energy in the familiar faces he scanned across until his gaze caught Donna’s face as she walked toward him. A feeling of familiarity erupted inside him as he imagined he could sense her smell and closeness as she approached. He was exhilarated beyond words. Now everything was complete as he happily waved at her and called her name, but she didn’t seem to see him or reply. He stood dumbfounded as she walked past with a cold and lost look in her eyes and kept going as if she was in a hurry. He called her name again—this time she turned and shouted. Who’s there? I know someone’s there—answer me!

It’s me—Vince! He replied as she stared right through him, and then turned shaking her head as she walked on.

Why can’t she see me? He wondered as he called out to her again, but she didn’t answer or look back and that’s where the happiness he had seen in his dream was replaced by a feeling of foreboding as she slowly faded and then disappeared completely.

Wait—come back! He yelled after her as a feeling of panic set in, but she was gone and somehow without reason his dream suddenly changed. He now saw himself standing before the crumbled Arch with Jim and Donna and he heard Donna ask him. What do you think?

About what? He asked.

You know! Jim’s idea for a name for this place. She replied.

He started to reply, but suddenly felt a sinking sensation and at the same time heard a buzzing and spinning sound in his ears causing him to feel a downward, spiraling sensation of being caught up in a whirlpool that was sucking him down. The harder he fought against it, the faster he spun and was sucked down until everything turned black and silence filled his ears making him think he had lost consciousness until he faintly heard a woman’s voice.

Is he waking up? She asked.

No—I think he’s still dreaming. A male voice answered.

Shit! Am I still dreaming? Vince wondered as he heard their voices. How can I be dreaming and know I’m dreaming? He questioned himself without answer as his dream took him to the face of Dr. Lucas, the medical doctor who had joined their rag-tag group and had saved his life while they were at Taum Sauk.

You’re not going to make it this time, boy! Dr. Woitasczyk and I will see to that! Dr. Lucas jeered and threatened, while looking at him with loathing in his eyes.

Vince became anxious and began to squirm as he saw the face of a changed man before him. The face he was now seeing no longer resembled the face of the concerned or caring physician, which Dr. Lucas had been when he had joined the camp. The face now appeared to be sinister and threatening. Vince tried to move, but he felt restrained. He looked down at his wrists as he struggled and saw they were strapped down.

That’s right! You’re strapped down you bastard and you’re going to die that way! Dr. Lucas hissed directly into his ear.

Why—what for? What did I do? He moaned as if in denial of what he was hearing and seeing in his dream.

Because you deserve it, Aaron! You know what you did you little bastard! Dr. Lucas snarled back as Vince cowered down, seeking relief from the piercing eyes and harsh tone of Lucas’s voice.

Leave me alone! I didn’t do anything! Vince countered hoping the harsh words and image of Dr. Lucas would disappear and almost as if he had willed it so, Dr. Lucas and his hate filled words slipped away as Vince stirred and rolled over in his sleep. Finding comfort again, his dream went on, but it got worse. He now saw Donna and Jim leaning over him with frantic looks on their faces as he lay motionless on the ground in front of the Arch. One moment he was looking at them from the side as if he were and observer, the next he was looking up into their eyes as he laid on the ground before them, the apparent victim of some type of physical impairment. In both cases as he observed, he could see their mouths moving, but there was no sound coming from their lips.

What are you saying, goddamnit? He yelled out as he sat straight up in bed.

What the hell? I didn’t say anything! You must have been dreaming again! Donna retorted, knowing full well she hadn’t uttered a word.

Yes you did! I wasn’t dreaming! He insisted. We were at the Arch! You and Jim were talking to me, but I couldn’t understand you!

The Arch? Jim went home for the night, remember? She asked.

Shit—what? Oh damn—you’re right—I was dreaming again! He moaned, feeling more foolish than before.

What were you dreaming about this time? She asked.

Some more of the same stupid crap! He replied, not wanting to tell her about the dreams he’d had or for that matter any of the dreams he’d had lately and especially the one he’d had after the test flight at Miramar.

I haven’t been able to sleep since you woke me a while ago. She said.

I’m sorry for that. He replied, and he truly was, but he knew she wouldn’t understand his dreams any better than he did if he told her, although the last had been one of the best he’d ever had until Dr. Lucas had showed his face and worse yet, he couldn’t tell her he wished he was still there and hadn’t woke up in her bed. Instead he asked. What’s bothering you other than me waking you up?

I’m worried! I don’t want you to go to Washington and get caught trying to kill, Clemmons! You know they’ll catch you and then what will we do? She asked.

He was relieved hearing she was concerned for his well being instead of his stupid on-going dreams, and said. You don’t need to worry anymore because I’m not going. I know I’d never get away with it, but if someone doesn’t kill him, none of this will ever end for any of us. As long as he’s alive, he’ll send his men to hunt us down, and you know what the results of that will be!

Listen to yourself! That nonsense is coming directly from what you said happened to you in 2009! We don’t even know who was responsible for us losing our jobs! It may have just been Turner who did it out of spite because of the meeting you had with him. Is that what you were dreaming about? She asked.

No—that wasn’t what I was dreaming about. He replied truthfully and went on, not wanting to discuss the dream any further. It must have been Turner who had us fired, but he didn’t shut the project down. General Haskell said the order to shut us down came from Washington and that’s where Clemmons is and that’s why I think he was in on it.

Well there’s nothing you can do about it at this time of night. Let’s lay back down. She suggested.

No—I’m getting up and get my laptop ready to ship. I couldn’t get back to sleep now, even if wanted to. He replied.

All right—I’ll help you. She said as she rolled back the covers.

As they were getting up, Vince’s cell phone rang. He looked in the view screen and saw it was, Jim and answered. What’s up, Jim? Did everything go all right? He asked.

Yeah! That’s not what I’m calling about! Turn on your TV, Vince! Jim blurted out.

What for? Vince asked.

Your real estate lady was found murdered in your house! It’s on every channel!

Goddamn! I’ll call you back! Vince replied and told Donna to turn on the TV.

What for? I thought we were getting up. She said.

Jim said Judy Rizzo was murdered in my house. Get a news channel on!

*

When Jim had left earlier in the evening, he had driven Vince’s clunker to a bar on Moreno Boulevard, and had purposely parked the car in a no parking zone on the street in front so it would be towed. He had then sent a text message to Brewer giving the address of the bar before going inside to have a drink or two. As he drank, he had made idle conversation with a drunk sitting next to him, while complaining about losing his job just in case anyone other than the drunk was listening. An hour later, seeing emergency lights flashing outside and feigning being drunk, he had staggered out the door and into the arms of a waiting policeman, who promptly cuffed him and shoved him into a cruiser as a tow truck pulled up to tow Vince’s clunker. Two men who were sitting in a black SUV across the street who had been watching Vince’s car and waiting to see where Jim would go when he left the bar, had then seen what they were supposed to see. As the cruiser pulled away with Jim inside, the tow truck began hooking up to Vince’s clunker and as it did, the SUV had pulled out and headed away.

Thirty minutes later, the cruiser Jim was riding in had dropped him off behind his apartment and he had went inside, turned on his TV and had seen the report of the murder of a female real estate agent at Vince’s house and had called him.

As Vince and Donna watched, the anchor confirmed what Jim had said, but didn’t mention the name of the individual who had been murdered, only saying that the victim was female and a representative of Coastal Realty, and then went on with the story.

Officials of Costal Realty have confirmed that one of their representatives had been showing the house earlier in the day, but would not reveal the name of the representative since the murder is still under investigation. We did learn however, that this is the same house where another murder and suicide was committed not long ago.

As the anchor was about to go on, Vince’s cell phone rang. Thinking it was Jim again he answered and said, We’re watching it, Jim.

This isn’t Jim, Vince—it’s Chief Brewer. I’m sorry if I woke you, but you need to know that Judy Rizzo was murdered in your house sometime yesterday.

We were already awake. Jim just called and told me about it. I’m watching the news report about it on TV. Vince replied.

Well he couldn’t have told you this—it looks like David Lindsey murdered her! Brewer said.

What? I thought he was back in Washington! Vince replied.

So did I, but I checked. When he went back to Washington, he resigned under duress. He’s not working for the Secret Service anymore. His boss had no idea he had come back to San Diego, but he’s here somewhere and he had an appointment to look at your house. You know damn well he wasn’t interested in buying it, so he must be looking for you and murdered Ms. Rizzo in the process! Brewer said.

Jesus—that’s terrible, but what makes you so sure Lindsey did it? Vince asked.

His, was the only name on Ms. Rizzo’s appointment calendar, but that’s not all. One of the neighbors is a neighborhood watch captain and she saw a man arrive with Ms. Rizzo in her car, and then sometime later she saw the same man drive off alone in her car. She became suspicious because Ms. Rizzo had an appointment with her and her husband to sign papers to list their house. Ms. Rizzo didn’t keep the appointment so she and her husband went over to your house looking for Ms. Rizzo and found her dead on your kitchen floor. She was shot once in the head, but no one heard the gunshot.

Was it Larry and Cindy Williams who found Ms. Rizzo? Vince asked.

Yes it was—she’s already identified Lindsey as the person who arrived with Ms. Rizzo and then drove off in her car. Lindsey’s ex-boss furnished me with Lindsey’s I.D. photo. I’ve got an APB out on him. Brewer replied.

Jesus Christ—he’s still at large? Vince questioned.

I’m afraid so. We don’t know where he was staying or how he came to be back in San Diego. His name didn’t come up on any arriving flights and we checked back for two weeks. He didn’t take a train or a bus either and he didn’t rent a car in D.C, so he must be driving his own car. I’ve got the plate numbers, but he won’t be easy to find, this is a big city with a lot of places to look. I was going to ask for your help since you would recognize him on sight. Brewer said.

I don’t think I can, Chief. You know the mess we’re in. Vince replied and went on. We have to find Dr. Leyland before they do. Vince replied.

I know—you told me that. Why is his disappearance worrying you? Do you think he may be suicidal over losing his position? Brewer asked.

No—it’s nothing like that—it’s his safety I’m worried about. Vince replied.

His safety? Was he threatened? Brewer asked.

I don’t know—but he must have felt threatened—why else would he have left before I got there? Vince asked.

Maybe you’re just jumping to conclusions. Brewer said.

Maybe—but I don’t think so and here’s why. We’ve never had any security guards at the lab, but there was one waiting there to fire me when I got back.

Why would that make you suspicious? Brewer asked.

It wasn’t because he was there—I became suspicious of him when he asked me where Dr. Leyland was. He wouldn’t have had any reason to do that unless he was working for Turner.

Why would a security guard be working for Turner? Brewer asked.

I’d like to know the answer to that, Chief, but I don’t. What worried me was that he said they would find Dr. Leyland with or without my help and I didn’t like the look in his eyes when he said it. Vince replied.

Did you get the guards name? Brewer asked.

No—he had a badge—but no I.D.

What about the company he worked for? They always have a company patch on their sleeve. Brewer said.

I don’t think he had one, but I’m not sure. I was too pissed to think straight when I found out we were fired. Vince replied.

Well—that’s understandable—but if I knew what company he worked for, I could run him down and ask him some questions. Brewer said.

I’d like to ask him some questions myself. Vince replied.

Maybe he wasn’t working for Turner at all. Think about it, Vince. The lab is on state property. If Turner was behind your dismissals wouldn’t he have sent a CHIPS officer over to see to it you didn’t cause any trouble? Brewer asked.

You’re probably right—a Highway Patrolman should have been there doing the job if Turner was behind it. Vince replied.

I’ll check with the Highway Patrol and see if they know who the guard was if you want me to. Brewer said.

I don’t think you’ll learn anything, but you can check if you want to. Vince replied.

What a hell of a mess! I’m getting ready to retire and now this comes up! Brewer said and went on. Ms. Rizzo was our real estate agent also, so I don’t know where we stand now in regard to selling our house. To make matters worse, the news media is already putting out the fact that there have been two murders committed in your house. You’ll have to take it off the market for now—it’s been impounded again as a crime scene. Brewer said.

Yeah—I’ll take care of it. Vince replied.

Do you want me to have Rowland start looking for Dr. Leyland? He can find him if anyone can. Brewer said.

No—not unless I can’t find him in a couple of days. Vince replied.

What in the hell are they charging him with that would make him run? Brewer asked.

Misappropriation of state funds is what I was told. Apparently he used state money without authorization to buy the supplies he needed to build his equipment. Vince replied.

Well—that sure as hell is a chickenshit charge! He was the director, wasn’t he? Brewer asked.

Only for the San Diego area—he had a boss named Sandra Beatty in L.A. Vince replied.

Oh yeah—seems like I remember you mentioning her name. What can I do to help you? Brewer asked.

Check and find out who filed the complaint and requested the warrant for Dr. Leyland’s arrest. I still think the request came right out of Turner’s office. Vince replied.

I can do that—anything else? Brewer asked.

Can you get me a police radio? Vince asked.

Sure—why? Brewer asked.

I want to monitor any calls regarding Lindsey’s whereabouts. Vince replied.

No problem—I’ll have Rowland drop it off. Are you still at Miss Stevens’ house? Brewer asked.

Yes—and we’ll be up for a while. Vince said.

Where are you going, exactly? Brewer asked.

We’re headed south, but I’d rather not say exactly where for now. I don’t know who’s listening. Vince replied.

Who’s listening? For Christ’s sake, you sound like think your phones been tapped. Brewer exclaimed.

It could be and I’m being cautious. All of this goes higher than Turner, you can count on that. If Lindsey was looking for me then he’s here looking for Dr. Leyland also, and he’ll kill him if he finds him. I’m fairly certain that Clemmons is behind all of this, Chief.

Goddamn, Vince! Why would you think that? Brewer retorted.

Find Lindsey and you’ll have that answer. He was Clemmons adjutant before he was with the Secret Service. Vince replied.

I know that, you’ve told me that before, but it’s hard to believe that one of the Chief’s of Staff would be involved in something as trivial as this. Brewer said.

Murder’s not trivial, Chief. Vince countered.

I wasn’t referring to the murder! I was talking about the three of you losing your jobs. Someone in Clemmons position wouldn’t have had any interest in the three of you or Dr. Leyland! Brewer countered.

I’ll believe that when I see the proof. Vince said.

Look Vince—I know you said he was your enemy in 2009, but he’s in Washington. This is San Diego and this is 2005 not 2009. Brewer maintained.

I’m well aware of all of that, Chief, but if I were you, I’d check on the MATS flights. I’ll bet Lindsey hitched a ride on one of them when he came back to San Diego, and you know who could arrange that for him.

Okay—I see your point. Rowland’s got the radio and he’s leaving now. I’ll keep in touch, and you do the same, but you can’t go back to your house for now. Brewer said.

I wasn’t planning to, but here’s what you need to do for me in the morning if you would. Vince said, explaining what he needed and finally getting Brewer’s agreement before hanging up.

7 A.M. THE NEXT MORNING . . . THE RUSE BEGINS

Vince was not in a good mood as he set his laptop’s media player to play his extensive list of songs at a low volume level. Lack of sleep and the doubts Brewer had cast on his credibility in regard to the parts he was sure Clemmons and Turner were playing in their dismissals had soured his disposition. He was grumbling under his breath as he placed foam between the screen and the keyboard of his laptop keeping it from closing and going into hibernation. I should just wash my hands of all of this and go back to Missouri! He thought as he carefully packaged the laptop in a large box surrounded by more foam padding. Other than Donna, I’ve got no reason to stay here now. If Dr. Leyland had stayed it might be different, but he didn’t and now Brewer’s beginning to question me as if I don’t know what I’m talking about! He thought, mumbling the last words under his breath as he closed the flaps and listened. Hearing no sound from inside, he removed the padding, checking to make sure it was still playing, then replaced the padding and sealed the box shut.

What were you mumbling about? Donna asked.

Vince hadn’t heard her walk up and said. Nothing—I was just thinking out loud.

You better get a move on or we’ll be late. She replied.

Okay—I’m ready, but, hold your voice down until the box is in the trunk. He replied.

Do you really think your laptop’s bugged? She whispered.

There’s no way to know, but it was out of my control long enough for anyone to have planted a listening device in it and I’m not taking any chances. He whispered back.

You could have just left it here. She said.

Are you beginning to doubt me too? He asked after he put the box labeled for UPS delivery in the trunk.

No—I guess I just don’t understand. We can still pull off the ruse without shipping the laptop to Mexico City. What benefit do you hope to derive by shipping it to Mexico City? She asked.

It will buy us a lot of time if it s bugged. If someone is listening and tracking it, all they’re going to hear is music and probably nothing else until the battery dies. By then it will be a long way down the road to Mexico City and well be on the way to Austin. He replied smugly, although he didn’t know who, if anybody might be listening, but if someone actually was listening he hoped the ruse and ploy would send whoever it might be off on a false trail.

Donna said nothing in reply as she placed her bag in her car. She was more than worried. She had seen a dramatic change in Vince since he had returned to the lab and found out they’d been fired. He hadn’t explained his dreams from the night before, but she assumed they were as bad as or worse than the ones he’d had a while back when he was ready to give up. She wanted to know what they were about but didn’t want to pry. As they pulled out onto the street, she asked.

What’s wrong? You’ve been acting strange all morning.

I’m pissed. He replied.

At me? She asked.

No—it’s Brewer that’s pissed me off. He thinks I’m going out on a limb accusing Clemmons and Turner for what happened to us and Dr. Leyland. He replied.

He’s a policeman and he works with facts and proof and you don’t know for sure who’s behind it, do you? She asked.

No I don’t—but who else could it be? Have you got a better idea? He snapped back.

His curt reply indicated he was still on edge and Donna thought it better not to push him further and said. No I don’t—why don’t we drop the subject for now?

Fine with me! He replied as they drove on in silence to a pre-arranged, enclosed parking garage. Once inside, Vince pulled out his police radio and depressed the button and said. We’re here—we’re on our way up—we’ll see you on level four!

Rowland popped the trunk on his undercover car and watched as Vince and Donna came up the ramp and pulled up behind him momentarily, while Vince transferred the box to the truck of the undercover car and then traded keys with Rowland.

Good luck! Rowland said as he slid behind the wheel of Donna’s car and continued on to the upper levels.

Get in and duck—someone’s coming up the ramp! Donna yelled to Vince.

They ducked down just in time as the same black SUV that had followed Jim the night before came up the ramp at a fast pace, and continued on. As soon as it was out of sight, Vince started the car, drove down the exit ramp and onto the street. He had no idea the black SUV had been following them as he hit the gas and headed for the police impound lot.

As the SUV reached the top level of the parking garage, the driver heard a beep and looked at his tracking device, and said. Jesus Christ—they’re on the move again!

That’s impossible! We didn’t see them going back down! His passenger replied.

I’m telling you we missed them! They’re back down on the street heading east. The driver countered as he slammed on his brakes and started to turn around.

Hold on goddamnit! There’s their car! His partner yelled, pointing to a roll-back tow truck, which was winching Donna’s car up onto the bed.

It can’t be! It’s another car that looks like it! The driver exclaimed.

I’m telling you that’s their car! The goddamned license plate numbers are the same!

Shit! They must have switched cars! If we’ve lost them, the boss is going to have our asses! The driver replied.

Then get going, goddamnit! We can’t let that happen! His partner shouted.

*

When Rowland had reached the top level, he had parked Donna’s car and told the pre-arranged tow truck driver to begin loading it. Then he hurriedly took the elevator down to the street level and joined a waiting patrolman for the quick ride back up to the top level. They saw the SUV turning around and the patrolman turned on his emergency lights as he drove up behind the SUV blocking them and giving a blast on the siren. Hold it right there! Wait until the car is impounded. He shouted over his loud speaker.

As the roll back slowly winched Donna’s car up, Rowland ran the SUV’s license plate numbers through the computer and learned it was a private use vehicle owned by the State of California assigned to the Governor’s office. Something fishy is going on here! Tell Unroe to get up here and back us up! He said to the police officer.

Not suspecting they were being surveilled, the SUV passenger said. Shit! What are we going to do now? That cop has us blocked in!

I’m going around them! The driver said as he put the SUV in gear.

Hold on, goddamnit! You’re going to get our asses in a bind if you try to go around them! The passenger warned.

Before they could move, Unroe pulled up in his patrol car behind Rowland, keyed his radio and asked. What the hell’s going on?"

That’s what we’re trying to find out! Rowland replied, and then asked. Do you have your vest on?

Hell yes! I learned my lesson over at Woitasczyk’s house! Unroe replied.

Well—we don’t! I’m going to give them an order to step out of the vehicle with their hands showing. Get your riot gun and cover them when they get out.

Unroe went to his trunk and retrieved the riot gun and then depressed his lapel radio transmitter indicating he was ready. Rowland then got on his loud speaker and ordered the two to step out of the SUV with their hands showing.

What in the hell? The SUV driver said pulling his gun out.

Don’t do anything stupid! Put that goddamned gun away! His passenger hissed.

I can’t let them I.D. me or we’ll be going down! The driver retorted.

Cool down and put that gun away before you get us both shot! They’re not going to do anything to us when they run the plates and find out whose car this is. His passenger replied.

Rowland called out to them again, this time, giving them ten seconds to comply.

Hoping to avoid a confrontation the passenger gave the driver an order. Put your goddamned gun under the seat and I mean now! We’re getting out with our hands in the air!

Screw you, Lindsey! The driver bellowed back. I’m going for it! He opened the door quickly, jumped out, and fired a hail of bullets in the direction of the two police cars as he took off running. Unroe returned fire with a round from his riot gun hitting the man in the back jolting him forward and down to the pavement, his gun clattering to the concrete as he fell.

Rowland and the patrolman jumped from the cruiser and covered the passenger as he sat in his seat with his hands in the air.

I’m not going to tell you again! Step outside of the vehicle with your hands showing! Rowland ordered.

Lindsey had no choice. He slowly stepped out of the car with his hands clearly showing above his head.

Rowland was shocked to see that it was Lindsey he was confronting, but calmly said. You’re under arrest, Lindsey. Get down on the pavement face first, you know the routine.

Do I know you officer? Lindsey asked, not recognizing Rowland in his plain clothes.

Shut up and do as you’re told. Rowland spat back.

Lindsey complied. Rowland cuffed him and then brought him back up to his feet, saying. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be…

Yeah—yeah! I know it by heart! You don’t have to…

Just as Lindsey was about to tell Rowland he knew the rest, his head snapped sideways as a slug ripped through his temple, blowing the other side of his head open. As he pitched sideways from the impact and then fell, Rowland realized what had happened and yelled to Unroe and the patrolman. Get down, goddamnit! Lindsey was shot by a sniper!

From a helicopter two blocks away, a man put a second shot in Lindsey and the man Unroe had shot as they lay on the pavement. He then watched momentarily through his scope making sure both men were dead before giving the signal to the pilot to leave. As they slipped away he pulled out his cell phone and sent a text message saying. ‘police trap—asset Z panicked—started shooting—Z down and out—L taken out—no sign of quail’

Clemmons read the message and frowned after realizing they had lost Davis and worse yet, Lindsey was dead. He knew something had gone seriously wrong to warrant getting rid of Lindsey. A person of his loyalty would be hard to replace even though he had screwed up lately, but orders were orders and the hit-man had been ordered to take them both out if anything went wrong, and obviously it had. A disgruntled Clemmons then forwarded the shooters message to Turner after adding. ‘do something fast-we have to find them’

THE TRIP TO FIND DR. LEYLAND BEGINS

Chief Brewer was waiting at the impound lot as Vince and Donna arrived. He had picked Jim up at the back of his apartment complex on the way and the two stood waiting beside Vince’s clunker as Vince and Donna got out.

No one followed us, Vince. Jim said.

Good—the box is in the trunk, Chief. Come on, Jim—I want to get as far away from San Diego as soon as possible. Vince replied not wanting to mince any words.

Wait—Vince! Brewer said. Rowland just called and said Lindsey and some other goon followed you into the parking garage.

Lindsey? Did Rowland arrest him? Vince asked.

Hell no—Lindsey’s dead! He was shot by a sniper before Rowland could read him his rights! Brewer shot back.

What the hell did Lindsey do to cause a police sniper to shoot him? Vince asked.

"It wasn’t a police sniper—it was an assassin who shot