Chapter Twenty-Nine
When they arrived at the designated intersection, the KWLP van was stationed on the road next to the perfume factory drive. “I wonder if the Hummers will run us off again.” Sky zipped up her jacket, ready for the confrontation of her life.
Kane pulled behind the news truck and cut the engine to his Jeep. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
She wished she understood how he could remain so calm. It would be easy for the military to grab everyone and shove them in cells for the rest of their lives. Even though Lapahe knew where she’d be, she wondered if he’d bother to save them.
Two more cars pulled up behind them. From the way they rolled to a stop instead of sliding to a halt, Sky figured they were part of the station’s team. If not, they all were in trouble. Lauren exited the passenger’s side of the van, and Sky jumped out of the Jeep. She met her friend halfway and they hugged.
“Everything ready?” Sky asked. Despite the dry, cold air, she began perspiring. She used to be so cool under fire, but her abductors must have removed her nerves of steel.
Lauren nodded to the cars behind the Jeep. “We have Rick and Phil from MUFON, along with Joe, who’s a big UFO fan, in the other car. He’s an off-duty cop from Page. I called his precinct, but they didn’t want anything to do with this.”
“That works for me. My chief and one of the deputies know where we are, but they won’t be here—not that they have any jurisdiction anyway.”
Kane handed Sky a bulletproof flak jacket. “Put this on.” From his stern tone, she figured it was better not to argue.
All the people assembled in a circle. Rick blew into his hands, while Phil rocked back and forth. Besides Kane, only Joe seemed in control.
Huddling near because voices traveled far in the clear night, Kane addressed the group, giving them the instructions and what to expect. “Let me go first. You’re going live, right?” Kane asked.
“Yes.” This came from the cameraman.
“Okay. Let’s do this.”
Sky was relegated to bringing up the rear. While she didn’t like the end position, she understood why Kane put her there. With a deep breath, she followed the group along the road and up the drive to the factory. To her surprise, no Hummers were parked in the lot. Most likely, they’d stationed themselves around back. Kane motioned with his hand for the group to proceed.
Sky glanced around, expecting a guard to walk around the corner at any moment and stop them. Only no one appeared. In fact, no one seemed to be about. Even the light above the shed was off, and her belly tingled. Something was definitely not right.
Lights from the camera lit up, and Lauren stepped in front. With a microphone in hand, she faced the camera. “We are in the back of the Fleur de Paris perfume factory where it is reported a secret underground military base exists.”
Using a red filtered flashlight, Kane trotted toward the shed door, swiped the card, and pulled it open. Sky expected a siren or some shouts, but nothing other than the gurgling of the river below reached her, along with a few birds squawking overhead. Kane motioned them inside. As previously agreed, one cameraman would stay outside in case military personnel appeared. The KWLP employees had walkie-talkies to warn those inside should they be spotted.
The air was still inside the shed, and no noise came from below. Kane motioned they follow him down the ramp. A camera was mounted in the corner where she was sure none had been before. Those in charge had to know they were there, so why was there no resistance? The bad feeling in her stomach worsened, but she followed the group downward, keeping an eye out for anything else suspicious. Kane pressed the dead man’s finger against the door and the familiar click sounded.
“We’re inside the military base,” Lauren announced with the camera rolling. “So far, we’ve not seen anyone.”
When they reached the long walkway next to the rails, their footsteps echoed off the walls, but no one said a word. Lauren motioned the cameraman to keep filming. At the doorway to the stairs, Kane halted.
“From here on out, no talking. Be vigilant. Let’s go.”
While they didn’t speak, their footsteps sounded like a hundred high school students racing down the steps. When they made it to level 2, the door was propped open. Kane raised his hand and caught Sky’s eye. Something was going on. This was where they did human experiments, like mind control.
“Stay here.” He whispered the command, but she suspected their stealth wasn’t required.
Kane ducked inside while they all waited in silence. A minute later, he returned. “They’re gone.”
“Gone? Can we go in?” Lauren asked.
“I see no reason why not.”
For the next half hour, the crew explored the levels. Other than the kitchen, where plates and dirty dishes sat on the counter, there was no evidence of humans or aliens.
“Kane?” Sky ran a hand down his back to get his attention. “I want to check the library.”
“We go together.”
She didn’t argue. Deflated, they made their way up from level 2 and then back to the level where the library was housed. Only a few books remained on the shelves, most of which were physics books. The treaty that had been encased in plastic and housed under glass was also gone.
Lauren stepped next to Sky. “Do you think the Savory PD tipped them off?”
“I’m not sure. Could it have been the Page PD?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea.” She turned to Joe, the off-duty cop. “Do you think your boss would have called this in?”
“No. We’ve discussed the possibility of a Base existing somewhere around here, but he’s not a believer. Besides, he wouldn’t know who to call.”
“Well, someone let them know.”
General Stentfield might have been pressured by some higher up to tell them if another breach was about to occur, but Sky wasn’t about to suggest Kane’s boss betrayed them.
Kane turned to Lauren. “You have enough footage?”
“Yes. I might be able to use some of this to show the Base existed, but this is not a big story.”
“I’m sorry to have dragged you all out,” Sky said, working hard not to let defeat color her tone.
The group was quiet as they left. The cameraman outside told them no one had shown up. Kane wrapped an arm around Sky’s shoulder. “With the Base abandoned, at least Savory should be safe from any more abductions.”
That was some consolation. “I feel like I’m in the middle of that television show The X-Files where we never really know for sure whether aliens were responsible for what happened.”
“I think we can be assured it was the government in this case.”
“Maybe. I want to know who exposed our plan. It had to be the Chief, Harvey, Elmer, or the Page PD.”
“Or it could have been Harriet, Dan Joe, or any of the family members of the TV station crew who wanted to make sure they stayed safe.”
“It still sucks.”
* * *
The next morning, she half expected Kane to say he was heading out, but instead he suggested that they go to town for a good breakfast at EBE’s. She wasn’t sure of his agenda, but since she wasn’t in the mood to cook, she agreed. Being in town would give her a chance to tell the Chief about the closed Base. Whether he agreed to let her come back to work was anyone’s guess. There probably wouldn’t be a trial as those prosecuting her had left town and wouldn’t want to admit they existed.
Sky wanted to suggest to Kane they search for the Base’s new location, but she understood he’d be heading back to Phoenix soon since he wasn’t getting paid to stay in Savory. To add to her depression, Lauren had called this morning to say she wasn’t going to air her piece since they’d found nothing. Sky said she totally understood.
Sky twisted in the front seat to face him. “You know what sucks the most?”
“What?”
“We never did figure out who killed Randall Tyler.”
“You probably never will. I think you’ll agree that he was killed because his murderers needed access to the Base.”
“It’s gross to think they killed him for his eyes.”
“It could have been two workers from the Base who wanted more secure access, but they’d have to be pretty desperate if they were willing to kill a man for it.”
“I agree. Those men are probably long gone, and until they commit another murder, they’re going to get away with it,” she said.
“True.”
Kane parked in front to the restaurant. As she slipped out, her cell rang. “Uh-oh. It’s the Chief.”
“Sky. Where are you right now?”
“I’m about to go into EBE’s.” What did he care?
“I’m glad I caught you.” She hoped he didn’t think she’d flee town.
“What’s up?”
“A couple of things. Harriet told me what happened, and I wanted to thank you for risking your life to look for her. I also received a call from some General explaining everything about the Base. You’re off suspension. You can start work tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” Or not. She was enjoying the first vacation she’d had in forever, but if Kane left, she’d want to throw herself into her job.
“One other thing,” he said. “Harvey’s gone.”
“Gone?” Holy shit. Had there been another abduction?
Kane held open the café door, and she headed to her usual spot. The breakfast crowd was particularly noisy this morning, so Sky had to press her palm to her ear.
“Not gone, gone,” the Chief explained. “He quit the force. He couldn’t live with the lies anymore.”
“What lies?”
“You know Harvey’s son died several years ago?”
“Yes, he overdosed.”
“Harvey knew the drugs came from someone in his son’s unit, and ever since, he’s had a hate-on for the military. Harvey wanted to drive out their presence before they ruined anyone else.”
She tried to connect the dots. “Are you saying Harvey let the Base know we were coming?”
“Yes.”
“I would have thought he’d want the Base exposed. It would make the military look bad for hiding secrets.”
“I don’t think Harvey was thinking clearly. He knew their presence was bad and wanted them gone. He didn’t want anyone else harmed.”
“I never would have guessed. Thanks for letting me know.” She disconnected.
Kane sat with his back to the café wall. This time, Sky faced him, secure in knowing nothing could harm her with Kane there. “Harvey was the rat.” She told him why.
“Maybe he did us a favor.”
“Do you really mean that? I wanted to find aliens and help free any prisoners.”
“We have no idea if there ever were prisoners or aliens for that matter.”
She scrunched up her nose. “You might be right.”
Kane chuckled, and Cathy came over to take their order then left. He leaned back in his seat. “I have a proposition for you.” He had a twinkle in his eyes and that sexy dimple in his cheek appeared.
“I’m listening.”
“I have a feeling with Harvey gone and Carl probably returning to work soon, the Chief will hire someone else new, and your duties will once again be relegated to traffic tickets and bar fights.”
“Ouch.” She shrugged. “I think you’re right. We don’t get a lot of crime around here. Well, at least we didn’t before the Base stuff started happening.”
He grabbed her hands. “What about moving to Phoenix with me and starting a detective agency?”
The wind was knocked out of her lungs. “You want me to move to Phoenix? To start an agency?”
“Yes. There’s more. Move in with me.”
Her heart pounded so fast, she could barely think. “I’m speechless.”
“Can I take that as a yes?”
“Yes! Oh my God. I can’t believe it.”
His smile nearly made craters in his cheeks. “There is one stipulation.”
No way would he make her do something she didn’t like. “What?”
“You let me buy you the biggest, heaviest car made.”
She laughed and loved him even more. “It’s a deal.”
The End
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