CHAPTER 17
Stallion's Gate
1600
Al had been running bombing scenarios with Ziggy most of the afternoon. Although he would never say so aloud, he was glad that NSA security was on the premises. Both PQL personnel and the NSA group seem to be working under the assumption that the bomb will explode in the early morning, tomorrow. Given this scenario, it's most likely that the bomber will use the cover of the party to plant the explosive device at Stallion's Gate.
Reed and Ramsey stopped by the Admiral's office at 1600 to present their security arrangements for the evening's festivities. The plan was as tight as could possibly be; with NSA troops and PQL guards, paired, at the perimeter of the grounds and inside the facility.
After the two security chiefs left, Al realized that he hadn't checked in on Parker for a while. He made his way to the Waiting Room before beginning his personal preparations for the glad-handing ahead.
As Al entered the Waiting Room, SammiJo stood up in attention. For all its informality, Project Quantum Leap was a military project Frank noted with both admiration and amusement.
"Why don't you take a break, Dr. Fuller?" the admiral suggested.
SammiJo smiled and said, "Thank you, Sir. I'll be back in ten."
Just as soon as the door slid closed behind SammiJo, Frank began to fire questions at Al. "Have you located the bomb yet? What's happening with the congressional dance? Has Dr. Beckett ruined my life yet?"
"Slow down, kid, before you hurt something," Al verbally restrained him. Then he filled Parker in on the security arrangements for the dance tonight and the status of the search for the bomb. He had barely finished the recap when the Waiting Room door slid open yet again.
"What is this, Grand Central Station?" the Admiral barked at the doorway before looking up to see who had entered.
Christina Martinez-O'Farrell's face clouded over, two steps into the room. "Excuse me, Admiral," she said, "I didn't realize you were in here. I was looking for Dr. Fuller." Her voice was strained and over-polite.
"She's on a break," Frank supplied.
"Thank you," said Tina and she left the room quickly.
Frank Parker turned his attention back to Admiral Calavicci. "So how long have you been in bed with members of congressional committees?" he asked the older man pointedly.
"What?" For a moment Al thought the NSA man was talking literally about his affair with Tina.
Frank went on as if Al hadn't said anything, "Why are congressional aides roaming freely in your halls, Admiral, and fraternizing with your physicists? What is Lyla Hobkirk doing here?"
Warm relief flowed over Al as he realized that Frank had mistaken Tina for her sister. "How do you know Lyla, Parker?" he asked.
"She's the one person who survived," Frank replied.
"Admiral?" a disembodied voice called out.
"Yes, Ziggy?"
"You are needed in the Control Center. Dr. Fuller is on her way back to the Waiting Room."
"Thank you," Al spoke to the air. Then he returned his attention to Frank. "That wasn't Lyla Hobkirk," he said with a smile. "That was Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell, one of our staff members. You were in her quarters during your first escape attempt," he finished.
"But she was in the bar..." Frank began.
SammiJo breezed into the room. "I'll take it from here, Sir," she told Al.
Once again, confusion and frustration reigned in the mind of Frank Parker as he watched Admiral Calavicci stride out of the room.
CHAPTER 18
Wednesday, February 9, 2000
Stallion's Gate
2000 Hours
The upper conference room at Project Quantum Leap had never looked so festive. Small round cocktail tables were scattered around the perimeter of the large room, a jazz trio was playing in the far corner, and a small dance floor had been designated in the center of the room. A buffet table was laid out along side the bandstand and the bartender was very busy fixing drinks at the other end of the buffet.
Although less than fifty people populated the room, Nate Ramsey had to look carefully if he was to locate any one person. The four congressional members were there, each escorting or escorted by a member of their staff. Admiral Calavicci, in full dress uniform, was escorting Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell. She stood out most effectively in a flaming red tango dress. The only other bright spot in the sea of black clothing was Olga Vukovitch in an electric blue metallic sheath so form fitting it appeared to be painted on.
Nate watched the movement in the room. Admiral Calavicci and Dr. Elesee separately worked the room, lobbying the congressionals for continued funding. Craig Donovan was going out of his way to avoid Dr. Beeks and as usual, Frank Parker was at the bar. He seemed unusually interested in the band. They were doing all right for themselves seeing as they were all PQL staffers and not professional musicians. Nate didn't recognize all the band members but the bass player was none other than Dr. Gershowitz, the computer genius.
From his vantage point at the bar Sam could observe the whole room. He watched with awe how Al schmoozed with the congressional brass and reminded himself how fortunate he was to have Admiral Calavicci as his partner and friend. He just wished his partner would meander over to the bar so they could chat. Then as if he heard the silent wish, Al came over to the bar.
"Welcome to Stallion's Gate," Al said as he offered his hand to Sam.
"Frank Parker, Admiral. NSA," said Sam reaching to shake the proffered hand, "Nice band."
"Yeah, they're all right," Al agreed, "but you should hear them when Dr. Beckett adds his piano to the mix. Then they really swing."
Sam and Al drifted out the side door of the room. Al nodded clearance to the security on the outside of the door and the men found a quiet room in which to talk.
"Parker had a bizarre reaction to seeing Tina," Al said. "He wanted to know why Lyla was roaming the halls of Quantum Leap. He said quote she was the one who survived unquote."
"He must have confused Tina and Lyla," Sam interrupted.
"My thought exactly," Al agreed. "So I had Ziggy run some scenarios focused on Lyla. I hate the thought but the one with the highest odds had..."
"Lyla as the bomber." Sam finished Al's sentence. The older man stared incredulously at his partner.
"But," Sam continued, "Why, what's her motive? Who's her target?"
Each man considered for a moment. Simultaneously they spoke.
Sam said, "Tina."
Al said, "Angelo Martinelli."
"Huh?" they questioned each other.
"Jealousy," each responded. They stared at each other.
"We've got to stop doing this," Al finally said in exasperation.
"Why the congressman?" Sam asked.
"According to Tina, they're lovers. Or at least they were. Tina said they had some kind of huge fight lately. He won't leave his wife. Maybe she figures if she can't have him, no one else can either," Al reasoned. "Why Tina?"
"Sibling rivalry?" Sam fished. "Tina is brilliant and beautiful." Al began to respond but Sam couldn't resist a small dig at his friend, "And has an unmarried lover."
"Cute, Sam, real cute," Al complained. "Our project is about to be blown to smithereens and you're cracking jokes."
"Sorry."
"I'll do some more searching," Sam offered.
"You can't. NSA personnel don't have free access and you're wearing Parker's face," Al reminded Sam.
"O.K. then you..." Sam began.
"I can't either. If I disappear from the party for too long it will be suspicious." After Sam nodded agreement Al continued, "I also can't keep Lyla in sight. If I pay too much attention to her..."
"Tina will castrate you," Sam finished Al's thought.
"That was her last threat," Al said.
"Dr. Beckett? Admiral?" Ziggy's voice softly said. "I can do the search of the facility and grounds. Captain Reed has already asked me to inspect everyone and everything that has arrived since 1800 hours."
"Good. That takes care of the search," Al said, the relief in his voice plain.
"And I'll keep an eye on Lyla," Sam promised.
Downstairs in the Waiting Room, Frank was getting bored and itchy. He checked the clock that Dr. Beeks had provided for him, 2250 it read. SammiJo was running out of light conversation and the ever-present threat of explosion was weighing heavily on her.
"I wonder what's happening upstairs," Frank mused for the fourth time this hour.
"Me, too," intoned SammiJo, also for the fourth time. She sat bold upright, as if struck by inspiration.
"What?" Frank questioned.
"We can see what's going on upstairs," SammiJo replied. A smile began on her face as she added, "Come with me."
SammiJo led Frank out of the Waiting Room and down the hall. At the junction leading to the elevator they were met by nurse Ohara.
"Dr. Fuller, I really must protest..." he began to speak.
"Protest noted," SammiJo responded. "This is on my personal authority, nurse. Back off." He stood aside and allowed the pair to pass.
"Level four?" Frank questioned as he watched her push the elevator button.
"Security main office." Then seeing questions on the Visitors face SammiJo continued to speak, "Look Parker, do you trust me or not?"
The elevator glided to a stop. The doors opened. In answer to the question Frank Parker stepped over the threshold first. SammiJo lead him a few doors to the left and into the office.
"Hola, Paulo," SammiJo greeted the security officer behind the desk.
The young Hispanic man greeted SammiJo with a broad grin. "Hi yourself, Esjay. What's shakin'?"
"We're bored. Can we check out the party upstairs?" she asked. Paulo hesitated. "Please?" SammiJo implored. "I'll share my mom's oatmeal cookies with you."
Paulo's eyes lit up. "The ones with the raisins?" he questioned. SammiJo nodded. "O.K.," he relented. "Just for you, Esjay."
He led them to a side room with a wall of monitors, each showing a different view of the compound. Then he returned to his post.
"Ramsey'd wet himself to see this," Frank said appreciatively. SammiJo shot him a quizzical look. "Just someone I work with," Frank answered.
SammiJo began manipulating the controls on the table in front of them. "Here, the conference room is on these three monitors."
Stallion's Gate
1600
Al had been running bombing scenarios with Ziggy most of the afternoon. Although he would never say so aloud, he was glad that NSA security was on the premises. Both PQL personnel and the NSA group seem to be working under the assumption that the bomb will explode in the early morning, tomorrow. Given this scenario, it's most likely that the bomber will use the cover of the party to plant the explosive device at Stallion's Gate.
Reed and Ramsey stopped by the Admiral's office at 1600 to present their security arrangements for the evening's festivities. The plan was as tight as could possibly be; with NSA troops and PQL guards, paired, at the perimeter of the grounds and inside the facility.
After the two security chiefs left, Al realized that he hadn't checked in on Parker for a while. He made his way to the Waiting Room before beginning his personal preparations for the glad-handing ahead.
As Al entered the Waiting Room, SammiJo stood up in attention. For all its informality, Project Quantum Leap was a military project Frank noted with both admiration and amusement.
"Why don't you take a break, Dr. Fuller?" the admiral suggested.
SammiJo smiled and said, "Thank you, Sir. I'll be back in ten."
Just as soon as the door slid closed behind SammiJo, Frank began to fire questions at Al. "Have you located the bomb yet? What's happening with the congressional dance? Has Dr. Beckett ruined my life yet?"
"Slow down, kid, before you hurt something," Al verbally restrained him. Then he filled Parker in on the security arrangements for the dance tonight and the status of the search for the bomb. He had barely finished the recap when the Waiting Room door slid open yet again.
"What is this, Grand Central Station?" the Admiral barked at the doorway before looking up to see who had entered.
Christina Martinez-O'Farrell's face clouded over, two steps into the room. "Excuse me, Admiral," she said, "I didn't realize you were in here. I was looking for Dr. Fuller." Her voice was strained and over-polite.
"She's on a break," Frank supplied.
"Thank you," said Tina and she left the room quickly.
Frank Parker turned his attention back to Admiral Calavicci. "So how long have you been in bed with members of congressional committees?" he asked the older man pointedly.
"What?" For a moment Al thought the NSA man was talking literally about his affair with Tina.
Frank went on as if Al hadn't said anything, "Why are congressional aides roaming freely in your halls, Admiral, and fraternizing with your physicists? What is Lyla Hobkirk doing here?"
Warm relief flowed over Al as he realized that Frank had mistaken Tina for her sister. "How do you know Lyla, Parker?" he asked.
"She's the one person who survived," Frank replied.
"Admiral?" a disembodied voice called out.
"Yes, Ziggy?"
"You are needed in the Control Center. Dr. Fuller is on her way back to the Waiting Room."
"Thank you," Al spoke to the air. Then he returned his attention to Frank. "That wasn't Lyla Hobkirk," he said with a smile. "That was Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell, one of our staff members. You were in her quarters during your first escape attempt," he finished.
"But she was in the bar..." Frank began.
SammiJo breezed into the room. "I'll take it from here, Sir," she told Al.
Once again, confusion and frustration reigned in the mind of Frank Parker as he watched Admiral Calavicci stride out of the room.
CHAPTER 18
Wednesday, February 9, 2000
Stallion's Gate
2000 Hours
The upper conference room at Project Quantum Leap had never looked so festive. Small round cocktail tables were scattered around the perimeter of the large room, a jazz trio was playing in the far corner, and a small dance floor had been designated in the center of the room. A buffet table was laid out along side the bandstand and the bartender was very busy fixing drinks at the other end of the buffet.
Although less than fifty people populated the room, Nate Ramsey had to look carefully if he was to locate any one person. The four congressional members were there, each escorting or escorted by a member of their staff. Admiral Calavicci, in full dress uniform, was escorting Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell. She stood out most effectively in a flaming red tango dress. The only other bright spot in the sea of black clothing was Olga Vukovitch in an electric blue metallic sheath so form fitting it appeared to be painted on.
Nate watched the movement in the room. Admiral Calavicci and Dr. Elesee separately worked the room, lobbying the congressionals for continued funding. Craig Donovan was going out of his way to avoid Dr. Beeks and as usual, Frank Parker was at the bar. He seemed unusually interested in the band. They were doing all right for themselves seeing as they were all PQL staffers and not professional musicians. Nate didn't recognize all the band members but the bass player was none other than Dr. Gershowitz, the computer genius.
From his vantage point at the bar Sam could observe the whole room. He watched with awe how Al schmoozed with the congressional brass and reminded himself how fortunate he was to have Admiral Calavicci as his partner and friend. He just wished his partner would meander over to the bar so they could chat. Then as if he heard the silent wish, Al came over to the bar.
"Welcome to Stallion's Gate," Al said as he offered his hand to Sam.
"Frank Parker, Admiral. NSA," said Sam reaching to shake the proffered hand, "Nice band."
"Yeah, they're all right," Al agreed, "but you should hear them when Dr. Beckett adds his piano to the mix. Then they really swing."
Sam and Al drifted out the side door of the room. Al nodded clearance to the security on the outside of the door and the men found a quiet room in which to talk.
"Parker had a bizarre reaction to seeing Tina," Al said. "He wanted to know why Lyla was roaming the halls of Quantum Leap. He said quote she was the one who survived unquote."
"He must have confused Tina and Lyla," Sam interrupted.
"My thought exactly," Al agreed. "So I had Ziggy run some scenarios focused on Lyla. I hate the thought but the one with the highest odds had..."
"Lyla as the bomber." Sam finished Al's sentence. The older man stared incredulously at his partner.
"But," Sam continued, "Why, what's her motive? Who's her target?"
Each man considered for a moment. Simultaneously they spoke.
Sam said, "Tina."
Al said, "Angelo Martinelli."
"Huh?" they questioned each other.
"Jealousy," each responded. They stared at each other.
"We've got to stop doing this," Al finally said in exasperation.
"Why the congressman?" Sam asked.
"According to Tina, they're lovers. Or at least they were. Tina said they had some kind of huge fight lately. He won't leave his wife. Maybe she figures if she can't have him, no one else can either," Al reasoned. "Why Tina?"
"Sibling rivalry?" Sam fished. "Tina is brilliant and beautiful." Al began to respond but Sam couldn't resist a small dig at his friend, "And has an unmarried lover."
"Cute, Sam, real cute," Al complained. "Our project is about to be blown to smithereens and you're cracking jokes."
"Sorry."
"I'll do some more searching," Sam offered.
"You can't. NSA personnel don't have free access and you're wearing Parker's face," Al reminded Sam.
"O.K. then you..." Sam began.
"I can't either. If I disappear from the party for too long it will be suspicious." After Sam nodded agreement Al continued, "I also can't keep Lyla in sight. If I pay too much attention to her..."
"Tina will castrate you," Sam finished Al's thought.
"That was her last threat," Al said.
"Dr. Beckett? Admiral?" Ziggy's voice softly said. "I can do the search of the facility and grounds. Captain Reed has already asked me to inspect everyone and everything that has arrived since 1800 hours."
"Good. That takes care of the search," Al said, the relief in his voice plain.
"And I'll keep an eye on Lyla," Sam promised.
Downstairs in the Waiting Room, Frank was getting bored and itchy. He checked the clock that Dr. Beeks had provided for him, 2250 it read. SammiJo was running out of light conversation and the ever-present threat of explosion was weighing heavily on her.
"I wonder what's happening upstairs," Frank mused for the fourth time this hour.
"Me, too," intoned SammiJo, also for the fourth time. She sat bold upright, as if struck by inspiration.
"What?" Frank questioned.
"We can see what's going on upstairs," SammiJo replied. A smile began on her face as she added, "Come with me."
SammiJo led Frank out of the Waiting Room and down the hall. At the junction leading to the elevator they were met by nurse Ohara.
"Dr. Fuller, I really must protest..." he began to speak.
"Protest noted," SammiJo responded. "This is on my personal authority, nurse. Back off." He stood aside and allowed the pair to pass.
"Level four?" Frank questioned as he watched her push the elevator button.
"Security main office." Then seeing questions on the Visitors face SammiJo continued to speak, "Look Parker, do you trust me or not?"
The elevator glided to a stop. The doors opened. In answer to the question Frank Parker stepped over the threshold first. SammiJo lead him a few doors to the left and into the office.
"Hola, Paulo," SammiJo greeted the security officer behind the desk.
The young Hispanic man greeted SammiJo with a broad grin. "Hi yourself, Esjay. What's shakin'?"
"We're bored. Can we check out the party upstairs?" she asked. Paulo hesitated. "Please?" SammiJo implored. "I'll share my mom's oatmeal cookies with you."
Paulo's eyes lit up. "The ones with the raisins?" he questioned. SammiJo nodded. "O.K.," he relented. "Just for you, Esjay."
He led them to a side room with a wall of monitors, each showing a different view of the compound. Then he returned to his post.
"Ramsey'd wet himself to see this," Frank said appreciatively. SammiJo shot him a quizzical look. "Just someone I work with," Frank answered.
SammiJo began manipulating the controls on the table in front of them. "Here, the conference room is on these three monitors."