Chapter 7 - A Dubious Rescue Mission
Lee spent the next hour telling the Admiral about his week, excluding highly personal details. Nelson listened attentively, fighting off numerous urges to interrupt and question.
"I don't suppose you have any pictures of Dr. Simon?"
"I'm sure I can rummage up one from my files, but I can't imagine who else it could be. Can you?"
"No, I'd pretty much concluded the books were hers before I left. I just didn't know who she was."
Nelson turned his chair away from Lee, rolled it two feet to the right of his credenza, and stopped in front of a four foot tall locked filing cabinet. Lee knew this to be Nelson's personal cabinet. Nelson unlocked it, reached into the third drawer, and pulled out a newspaper clipping of Dr. Anne Simon and Dirk Christie, which he handed to Lee. After a second's look, Lee nodded affirmatively.
"Well, Lee, what do we do now?"
"Do?"
"She's got a brilliant mind that going to waste. It's ridiculous."
"She's a grown woman, Admiral. If she wanted to be elsewhere, she would go."
"Oh, bosh. She just doesn't realize she has other options, real options. Besides, with Christie on the loose, she's in grave danger."
"She obviously knew that. That's why she wouldn't let me stay another day, even though the roads still weren't clear."
"We can help her, Lee."
"She doesn't want our help."
"How do you know?"
"Because I left the door open for her too. She hasn't called."
"What about this?" Nelson slammed the letter from her on the desk.
"That's not a request for help. She's helping us."
"So I have to take her help and not return any? Don't be absurd."
"Admiral, this didn't work the last time you pursued her. Maybe there's a lesson there?"
"Lee Crane, sometimes you are the biggest stick in the mud!" Nelson lit a cigarette and paused. "And speaking of sticks in the mud, you have a wreck that you're obligated to remove from her property. Don't you think you should do that sooner rather than later?"
"Sure, sir. Why don't we take the Seaview there to help while we're at it?"
The Admiral sighed loudly in frustration. "Go on home for the rest of the day, Lee. We'll talk more tomorrow. Let cooler heads prevail."
"Yes, sir." Lee left wondering if Nelson was referring to his own head or some imagined conduct of Lee's he'd use to justify his own wants. It wouldn't be the first time.
Lee had a fair inkling of the Admiral's intentions when Chip called him later that night. "What's up, Lee? The Admiral called and told me to show up first thing in the morning with a bag packed for a few days, for someplace colder than here. When I asked him if you were coming, he said he didn't know."
"Hard to know if you don't ask."
"He didn't call you?"
"No, he's busy pretending to me that he's thinking before he acts."
"So you know what it's about, Lee?"
"More or less."
"That's all you're going to tell me?"
"Yes, I'll see you in the morning."
"With a packed bag?"
"Someone's got to handle him. Goodnight."
Lee had difficulty falling asleep, troubled by several things. First, he'd left Kate when she was in danger. Had he known or understood, he wouldn't have gone, or at the least he would have hovered nearby. Given that, he wondered why he argued with Nelson against going to help her. Was it really out of respect for Kate's wishes, the true motivation for which he did not know when he'd left? Or was Lee somehow troubled by the underlying relationship between Kate and the Admiral, a relationship about which he knew Nelson was not being honest? After all, he kept clippings and a file about her in his personal cabinet, not the Institute's. Then there was the puzzling question of why he kept a file on Anne Simon in the drawer marked "N-R".
Lee arrived at Nelson's office at 5:45 a.m. He hoped that being early would get him a private audience with the Admiral. Lee knocked on the door.
"Come in, Lee."
"How'd you know?"
"Only time you're not early is if you've been kidnapped or taken over by an alien."
"I want you to reconsider this."
"No."
"Look, the Justice Department knows about Christie's escape. The U.S. Marshals will take care of her security if she's in the Witness Protection Program. We don't need to get in their crosshairs."
"True, the Department is aware of the situation, but their resources in Maine are quite limited, especially so given the situation in the Carolinas. They indicated they would be delighted if we could provide her with private security."
"She won't react well to your bull in the china shop act. I don't know the details, but I have a good hunch she didn't the last time."
"Then when she's safe, she can tell me to stuff my job offer. This is something I need to do."
"Why do you feel so strongly about this?"
"I told you yesterday, she has one of the finest scientific minds of your generation. Is that not enough? What's the matter with you? Why don't you want to help her?"
"I'm just trying to respect her wishes."
"I'm just trying to give her the protection her government promised her."
"There are things you're not telling me, Admiral."
"Nothing that we can't cover as we travel."
Lee knew he'd been outmaneuvered by the old man yet again. He could not help but laugh inwardly at the fact, even as he harbored serious doubts about what they were about to do.
"Anything special we need to take?"
"Your sidearm. I've taken care of everything else."
"What does everything else include, Sir?"
"Sharkey and Kowalski will be meeting us there."
"If we're going on the Institute's plane, why wouldn't they go with us?"
"They'll be bringing the Flying Sub."
"What the devil? Why, Admiral?"
"I have my reasons."
"Do you know how many UFO sightings will result?"
The Admiral smiled coyly. "It's been a dull week in the Midwest."
"You are going to explain it to me?"
"Later," Nelson sighed in relief as Chip and Will Jamison arrived, bags at their feet, puzzled looks on their faces.
"What's this all about, Admiral?" the doctor asked.
"All in due course."
"Captain, your leg is taped. What's wrong with it?"
"Do you have x-ray vision or something, Doc?"
"I can tell by how you're moving."
"And by Mr. Morton's big mouth," Lee said casting a glance at his friend. "It's just a mild calf strain, no big deal."
"Well, I'll have plenty of time to make that determination myself over the next few hours, won't I?"
Once on board the plane, the Admiral opted for a nap instead of talking. Chip followed suit.
"Pull up the pant leg," Jamie demanded.
Lee rolled his eyes.
"Don't mess with me, Lee. I have a gown in this bag and if you don't cooperate, I'll insist on a full exam."
Lee huffed and pulled up the pant leg. "Honestly, Jamie, besides a couple of cuts and bruises, I got a mild calf sprain."
Jamie untaped Lee's leg, moved it around a little and re-taped it without saying a word.
"I told you it wasn't serious."
"History has taught me to discount your self diagnoses, although I'll concede that you're right this time."
"No compliments on my taping skills?"
"With all the practice you've had, I've come to expect a level of excellence. Lee, I'm worried about the Admiral. What's really going on?"
"He's not being forthcoming with me either, Jamie. There's something very personal going on."
"Stop whispering about me you two. Get some shuteye. There won't be a lot on the other end."
Two hours later, the Admiral woke Chip and Jamie for the promised powwow. Lee did not appear to have rested, but to have spent the time staring at the Admiral.
"Our goal is to find Dr. Simon and bring her back to Santa Barbara."
"Whether or not she wants to come?" Lee asked pointedly.
"For now, yes. It's a matter of national security."
"How? It's been years since she had any access to any classified data," Lee argued.
"It doesn't get old that fast."
"Then what do you mean 'find her'? I'm unaware that she's missing."
"According to our source, Lee, she left her home shortly after you departed, ostensibly to report to a safe house. Our source believes she intends to return, however."
"Mr. Gurney?"
"Yes, he is her contact in the Witness Protection Program. He's a retired policeman."
"What does he think?"
"He said that she was very torn up when he gave her the news. He wasn't sure that she was going to comply, and frankly, at the time, he wasn't sure how she was supposed to comply. The roads were still not entirely passable."
"We had to leave the car a few miles outside of town."
"Mr. Gurney offered his car, but she wouldn't take it. Then he arranged for a friend to clear the way from her house with a bulldozer."
"So do we know if she left?" Chip asked.
"Yes, Mr. Gurney saw her car pass through later in the day. That said, he wasn't convinced she was going to report to the safe house."
"Why?" Lee asked.
"Because she did not ask him to look after the chickens."
"With due respect, Admiral," Chip offered, "an escaped felon may be coming after her for revenge and chickens are relevant?"
"I'll field that one. Yes, Chip," Lee said.
"Care to explain that to me?"
"Let me try, Commander Morton," the Doctor interrupted. "Can you imagine someone who - for whatever reason - always places other's needs and welfare above their own?"
Lee glanced crossly at the doctor.
"We're talking chickens, here," Chip said. "You know, you can just open the coop doors and let them out to forage for insects. They've managed to feed themselves without human help for thousands of years. Organic, non-grain fed, cage free, delicious. The birds and their eggs."
"All true, but I think we have to presume that Mr. Gurney knows her better than we do," said the Admiral.
"That and the fact that she has yet to report to the safe house, correct, Admiral?" Lee half asked, half stated.
Nelson's eyes narrowed at Lee. "Yes, that's correct."
"Meaning the Justice Department has bowed out - since she's violated the terms of the Witness Protection Program?"
"Did you make your own inquiries?" Nelson accused Lee.
"No, I just know how the game is played."
"So what's the plan and why am I along?"
"Hopefully just for good cheer and company, Doctor," Nelson answered.
"Right. I brought my bag — the big one — just in case."
"Good. When we get to Brunswick NAS, we'll be splitting up. Will and Chip, you'll be flown to a private airfield near Bar Harbor. A car will be waiting for you. You'll check from Ellsworth north as far as Machias, following up on Mr. Gurney's theory that in lieu of following the Department of Justice's order to report to a safe house, she went on a supply run. Be discreet as we may not be the only ones looking for her. I've packed a briefcase for you with more details and a DynaTAC since most of the phone lines in the area are still down. Use the battery judiciously."
"Sounds like we're looking for a needle in a haystack, Admiral," Will said.
"Maine's just a series of small towns."
"Filled with people who don't like to talk about other people's business," Lee added. "So what about you and me?"
"Lee, you don't need to be running around on that leg. We'll be going to Anne's house. Kowalski and Sharkey will meet us there with FS1. "
Crane withheld the myriad questions he had. He knew Nelson was holding back, but he didn't want to push him in front of Chip and Will. From experience, he knew that could end badly. The others must have sensed the same thing, because no one asked any follow up questions. Indeed, there was little conversation relating to Kate for the rest of the journey.
Moments after the plane arrived in Brunswick, a naval lieutenant boarded and handed Admiral Nelson a manila envelope bearing "Confidential" and "Urgent" stamps. "Welcome to Brunswick NAS, Admiral. The plane you requested is standing by. There's been a slight delay in the helicopter's arrival, however."
The Admiral looked slightly exasperated. "Will, Chip, run along. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Contact me immediately if you learn anything."
Both Chip and Will looked puzzled. This was hardly a job for which either was well-qualified. Nevertheless, they acceded to the Admiral's wishes. Personally, Chip relished the opportunity to eat cold water lobster as much as possible on the way.
The lieutenant continued: "Any time you are ready, Admiral Nelson, I'll escort you to HQ."
Lee peeked outside and saw a jeep, complete with a master-at-arms. "Escort, huh?"
The Admiral looked just as confused as Lee.
