The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

Industry of Intrigue

By: Sapphire

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Chapter Two: Revealed Past

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Location: Quest Compound, Rockport, Maine

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"What have you kids been up to?" Race asked as they came into the kitchen for lunch that afternoon.

"Maze Demons," Jessie replied. "You know, Maggie isn't half bad for a beginner. Even Jonny thinks that she's good."

"Well, fur on a catfish. That is something," Race said laughing, "Jonny usually has something else to say about other players' abilities."

"No, really, Race," said Jonny, "She's good."

"You said that I couldn't really get hurt," said Maggie, "so it's easy to be reckless and take chances."

"I would not be so sure of that," Hadji stated. "Strange things have happened in Questworld. Though, only when someone has tampered with the programming."

"You see," continued Jessie, "the reason you can't get hurt in Questworld is because it's programmed not to harm anyone. If it can be programmed not to harm, it can be programmed to harm."

"I think I understand," Maggie said slowly.

"It's more than that, though," Jonny said. "She's got unbelievable reflexes. And she's fast, and she's flexible. Almost like an athlete." Maggie started to laugh.

"Good deduction," Maggie commented. "I am an athlete, or was. Skating lessons, remember?" Jonny nodded uncertainly. "Figure skating," Maggie clarified. Jonny suddenly understood. "I was getting really good, too. But I didn't have the ambition for serious competition, though my coach tried really hard to convince me I should." The conversation was interupted by the ringing telephone. Race answered.

"Quest residence, may I help you?" he paused a moment for the reply. "Just a moment. Maggie, it's for you."

"Me?" Maggie was surprised when he handed the phone to her. She took it. "Hello?" she said into the receiver. She went pale and started shaking all over when the person on the other end began speaking. "Mom!? Don't-" She stopped mid-sentence. A look of sheer disbelief crossed her face. Then, suddenly, the dial tone was heard. Whoever it had been, they'd hung up.

"Maggie, who was that?" Jonny asked in concern. "Was that your mother?" Maggie could only shake her head. "Who was it then?" Maggie took a deep breath.

"Bring Dr. Quest in here right away. He has to hear this." Hadji ran from the room to get him. They were back faster than Maggie had expected.

"What is it?" asked Dr. Quest.

"That phone call, that guy has seen my mother!" Maggie said in a rush. "He told me that 'they' were after the papers. Then he said 'they' knew where I was and I should leave right away!"

"Did you talk to your mother?" Dr. Quest asked with urgency.

"No, but the guy on the other end said 'Silver Bells.' My mother sent him to give me that message!" Maggie exclaimed.

"Silver Bells?" asked Jonny in confusion.

"In Toronto there was a store at a mall called Silver Bells. Every time my mom and I passed it, we'd start to sing that song. When we moved away, Mom said that if there was ever an emergency, we could get word to each other, and 'Silver Bells' would be our signal that the message was legit. The guy on the phone was a messenger from my mom." Maggie could see no one doubted her.

"What did he say?" Race wanted to know. "Try to be exact."

"He said, 'Silver Bells, Maggie. I'm helping your mother. She wants you to know they're after the papers. She said they know where you are. You need to leave. Get out of there before they get you- for all our sakes.' Then he hung up." Suddenly Maggie gasped. She looked at Dr. Quest. "She's still alive," she breathed.

"That confirms it," Dr. Quest agreed. "And whomever is responsible for her disappearance is apparently targeting you. Did the caller say who 'they' were?" Maggie shook her head. "No matter," Benton said decisively. "In any case, they know you're here. More than likely, they also know your mother is my half-sister, which means we're all at risk." He exchanged a glance with Race. Race nodded briefly. "Go pack a small bag everyone. Then meet at the garage. Race, call ahead and make sure the Dragonfly is prepped when we arrive. We're going to the Florida Compound."

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Location: In flight, aboard aircraft Dragonfly

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"Did you bring everything with you?" Dr. Quest asked Maggie. "I have to be sure that you forgot nothing. Whatever the kidnappers want, it appears you have it."

"I brought everything," assured Maggie. "But I don't understand. What do they want? I only brought some clothing and toiletries, and a few photographs. Everything in the envelope the sheriff gave you is available through public records, except my mother's will."

"I was hoping you knew what they wanted," Dr. Quest admitted thoughtfully.

"I'll bet that whatever it is, it's hidden in your stuff," said Jonny.

"It is possible that Maggie does not have it at all," Hadji pointed out. "It could be anywhere."

"That's true," replied Jessie, "but it doesn't hurt to look. If it is here, that's great. If not, then that's one less place it could be."

"Go ahead and look," Maggie sighed as she pulled her bags from the storage compartment she'd stowed them in. The passengers of the Dragonfly were quiet as they cut apart her bags, checking in the linings, and looking through her things. Maggie took the backs off the two framed photos, looking for hidden slips of paper.

"Maybe something we can't see is printed over a picture," Jonny thought when the search turned up nothing. "Maybe we could scan them into Questworld and have Iris run some schematics. And the documents from the folder, too."

"Good idea, Son," Benton said thoughtfully. "The documents from the folder are just copies that were faxed to Sheriff Olson, but the pictures might hold a clue or two." He turned to Maggie. "Iris can do things that we cannot."

"We can use this laptop," Hadji said, pulling out the portable computer, "however, it would be easier to wait until we reach the Florida Compound."

"Maybe we should rethink our plans," Maggie said slowly. "The phone call this morning bothers me. He said 'they' knew were I was. That means 'they' must be keeping tabs on me. If they found me in Maine, they could trace me to Florida."

"Particularly so, if Dr. Quest was correct when he suggested they may be aware of your family ties," Hadji observed.

"They might even get there before us," Jonny theorized.

"You know, Jonny," Jessie said, "Sometimes you actually put that bleached head of yours to good use."

"What do you think, Race?" Dr. Quest asked.

"I vote for a change of plans," Race replied from the pilot's seat.

"Then let's consider our next logical step," Benton thought aloud. "Perhaps we should pay a visit to Washington D.C.. What better place to research Jack Hardy's connection to the CIA?"

"Washington, huh?" Race said. "We'll be at the Florida landing strip in forty-five minutes. It'll take at least that long to get clearance for a flight to D.C.. We'll need to refuel, too. One way or the other we're going to have to land in Florida."

"That's all right, Race," Dr. Quest said. "As long as we don't go to Palm Key."

"Sure thing, Doc," Race replied. "That definitely doesn't sound like the best thing to do right now, all things considered."

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Location: Washington D.C.

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The Dragonfly eventually landed in Washington without mishap. Dr. Quest had a hotel suite already arranged before their arrival. They left the airport by taxi, and went straight to the hotel to plan their next move.

"A search will be easier if we had an idea how far back in the records we must search," Hadji said, trying to work out the specifics of the problem at hand. "When would your father most likely have been actively working with the CIA?" Maggie thought for a moment.

"Dad was working for a newspaper when I was born," Maggie said. "At least, that's what my mother told me. I suppose that could have been a cover."

"It was a good one, too," Race interjected. "A newspaper man is convincing in almost any situation when you're doing that kind of work." Maggie looked at him quizzically, not quite sure what to make of that statement. She couldn't quite figure Race Bannon out.

"Well, why don't we just focus on the five years leading up to the day Maggie was born," Jessie suggested. "I think it's a good bet, and I'm not sure if we'll be dealing with computer files, or old-school paper files."

"It's an excellent starting point, Jessie," Dr. Quest agreed.

"I just have one question," Jonny announced. "How the heck are we going to get into the CIA files in the first place?" That garnered some blank stares. "We could always try to hack our way into the computer files, but maybe there's an easier way. How about it Pop? Do you know anyone who can get us access?"

"Yes… I think so."

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Location: CIA Headquarters, Washington D.C.

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The following morning, all six of them were sitting in the office of Agent Clara Parcell. The office was extraordinarily neat and organized, completely free of personal effects. On first glance, someone might think the office was vacant. The only indication that it was not was the agent sitting behind the desk.

"What can I do for you, Dr. Quest?" Agent Parcell asked.

"I need some information on one of your agents, from about twenty years ago," Dr. Quest began. "We were hoping we could search the files for Jack Hardy's service records."

"That's a big favor," Agent Parcell said seriously. Dr. Quest nodded.

"This young lady," Benton continued, gesturing to Maggie, "is the daughter of my half-sister. My sister recently disappeared, coincidently twenty years after the same fate befell her husband, Jack Hardy. We have reason to believe he was an agent with the Agency. We're hoping we might find a clue that will lead us to my sister, and perhaps answer questions about her husband." Agent Parcell looked dubious. "You do owe me a favor, Clara," Benton reminded politely.

"If you're calling in that favor," Agent Parcell said, "then I might be able to help you. But I can't guarantee anything."

"I understand," Dr. Quest said. "Thank-you, for whatever assistance you can provide." Agent Parcell nodded.

"I have a meeting in ten minutes. No one will disturb this office before I return from the meeting. I can give you that long to search the files," Agent Parcell allowed. "You can search anything I have clearance for. Just use this password when the system prompts you," she continued, grabbing a note pad and writing out an odd combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. "I'll change my password after you leave." She looked up at Dr. Quest. "That's the best I can do, and that much will cost me my job and my reputation if you get caught."

"We'll be discreet," Dr. Quest promised. Agent Parcell nodded. Then she got up to leave for her meeting. Once she had gone, Hadji and Jessie connected the laptop to the Agent's computer terminal. Dr. Quest sat down at Agent Parcell's console while Hadji sat down at the laptop, ready to download whatever they found.

"Start with a past personnel file search on Jack Hardy. That will give us a good start on his history," Race suggested. Dr. Quest brought up a search method and typed in 'Jack Hardy.'

FILE NOT FOUND

"Try 'Hardy, Jack.' Most files go last name first," said Maggie.

FILE NOT FOUND

"How about a middle initial?" asked Jessie.

"I don't know if he has a middle name. No one else in my family does," Maggie said. "Maybe his real name was Jackson. I'm not certain Jack was his given name. I think it was, but…" Maggie shrugged. Dr. Quest typed in 'Jackson Hardy.'

FILE NOT FOUND

They tried nearly twenty names and came up empty handed. They tried a closest-match search. Still, they found nothing. After an hour of searching, they were running out of ideas, and time.

"Maggie, it seems your father never worked for the CIA. If he did, files pertaining to his work are highly classified, or they have been erased. They simply don't exist," said Dr. Quest.

"There has to be something," Maggie argued in frustration. "I saw that CIA document. His name was on it in black and white."

"You did say you saw it some time ago. Perhaps you read it wrong," Hadji said. "Perhaps it was not a CIA document at all, but something entirely different." Maggie adamantly refuted that suggestion. She knew what she had seen.

While everyone argued with Maggie about the document, Jessie had a sudden thought. She sat in the chair recently vacated by Dr. Quest and reopened the search option and typed in the name 'Laura Hardy.'

FILE NOT FOUND

Jessie was not to be deterred. "What was your mother's maiden name again?" she asked Maggie.

"Franklin," Maggie answered absentmindedly. No one took particular notice of what Jessie was doing. Jessie typed in the name 'Laura Franklin.'

FILE FOUND

"Bingo!" she said. "Hey guys! Look at this!" The others crowded in around Jessie. "I had a hunch and put in Laura Franklin, and jackpot. It was Maggie's mother who worked for the CIA, not her father."

"Wow," Maggie said as she watched the pages of her mother's CIA history scroll past her on the computer screen. "I had no idea any of this ever happened. Stealing Russian documents during the Cold War, money laundering crackdowns, sabotaging South American drug lords..."

"Some of this stuff is amazing," said Jonny. "I'll bet that even Race hasn't done things quite like this." Race gave Jonny a sideways glance, but the sixteen-year-old paid no attention to him.

"Are you downloading all of this, Hadji," Dr. Quest. Hadji nodded. "We can read through it later at the hotel."

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Location: Hotel Suite, Washington D.C.

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Later that night, in the hotel suite, Maggie and Dr. Quest sat before the laptop reading through Laura Franklin Hardy's service records. Jonny, Jessie, Hadji, and Race were watching a late night movie on TV. Bandit sat on Maggie's lap, content to let her pet him absentmindedly.

"I just don't know what to make of all this," Maggie sighed. "I never knew about any of this. Mom never said a word. It must have taken years to build a record like this."

"Yes, I quite agree," Dr. Quest replied. "When did she start with the CIA?"

"She probably started right after college," Maggie reasoned. "It says here she began training when she was 22," Maggie read off the computer. "She was at the top of her class, and was put into a special operations training after one year."

"This is interesting," Dr. Quest commented, paging through the computer records, pausing suddenly. "This report was filed 15 years ago. Maggie, you were five years old."

"What? You mean she was still working for the CIA after I was born?" Maggie asked, shocked.

"It looks that way," Dr. Quest replied. He contemplated the information on the screen for a moment. "This explains why you moved constantly. Your mother had assignment in every city you named the other night." Benton sat back and leveled a satisfied gaze on Maggie. "I believe we've just found a major lead."

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Laura Franklin Hardy was the topic of conversation over room service early the next morning. Maggie was struggling, trying to come to terms with her mother's secret life, and trying to adapt to the implications it held for her own life. Nothing she knew was really what it had always seemed, and there was precious little time to adjust to the changes. She let Dr. Quest explain what they'd learned.

"Basically, every city Maggie's ever lived in was somewhere her mother was assigned," Jonny observed during a lull in the discussion. "And every assignment was completed within seven months- except one. Minneapolis." Jonny had found the lead they'd been looking for.

"Jonny's right," Race said. "Judging by her case records, Laura Franklin specialized in domestic espionages. As far as I can tell, she was real good at what she did. So why'd it take her so long in Minneapolis?"

"Assuming, of course," Hadji put in, "that there was an assignment at all."

"Good point," Race said. "If Laura was off of active duty for some reason, she might have stayed put as long as she could for Maggie's benefit."

"But sadly, not," Jessie countered. She was sitting in front of the laptop, scrolling through the documents they'd taken from the CIA files.

"You found something, Jessie?" Dr. Quest asked.

"I'm looking right at a file that has Laura Franklin Hardy on assignment in Minneapolis, Minnesota." Jessie typed a command into the computer. "Iris says there are more, lots more files listed for Minneapolis," Jessie continued. "The dates are spread out. There was something there, and for several years."

"Jessie," Hadji said, joining her at the laptop, "access every file pertaining to Minneapolis."

"Got it," Jessie said. "What did you have in mind next?"

"Compile a search on common factors: names, dates, places…" he replied.

"I think I know what you have in mind," Dr. Quest said thoughtfully. "If I'm right, we're going to pay a visit to Minnesota."

"That would be my thinking," Hadji said. He turned to Maggie. "What did your mother do while living in Minnesota?" he asked her.

"All I know about it is that she worked as a secretary," Maggie said. Then she sighed. "But that was probably just her cover."

"This is interesting," Jessie announced a moment later. "I've already got a list of matches, and someone named Connor Hovand III appears in nine of the files alone- no, ten. Iris is still searching the files."

"Who the heck is he?" asked Jonny, turning toward Maggie. "Have you ever heard of him?" Maggie shook her head.

"Never," she said. "What do the files say about him?"

"I'm looking," Jessie said, Hadji reading over her shoulder.

"Not much," Hadji said with a shake of his head. "Only that he is the owner of a large corporation called Hovand Industries. It appears your mother was assigned to investigate the company."

"I think that might be where she worked as a secretary, at Hovand Industries," Maggie said thoughtfully.

"What was she supposed to find out?" Jonny asked.

"It states 'investigation for unusual activity'," Hadji replied.

"So, when do we leave, Doc?" asked Race.

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Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

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It was well before noon when the Dragonfly landed in Minneapolis. Maggie had an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. It had been some years since she had last seen the city, but it still felt like home. She was quick to point out landmarks as they drove from the airport into the city.

"There are so many places I could take you if we were here on a pleasure trip. I'd probably take you to Duluth on the shore of Lake Superior. It is one of the most beautiful spots in the state," Maggie said. "The camping up there is great."

"Did you go there with your mom?" asked Jonny. Maggie nodded, smiling.

"For a week every summer. It was so much fun," she said.

"Do you know where Hovand Industries is?" Race interrupted as they reached downtown. "It's early enough, we could still catch this Connor Hovand III before business shuts down for the weekend." Maggie shook her head.

"We'll have to look it up in the Yellow Pages. I don't remember, and even if I did, they could have relocated," Maggie said. They stopped at a gas station phone booth to find a listing.

"Here it is," said Dr. Quest, locating the listing in the Business pages. He showed Maggie the address.

"If we head toward the river, we'll find one street," she said after consulting the street sign on the nearest corner. "I'm not sure of the cross street, though."

Maggie's knowledge was accurate, and it turned out the one-way street took them in the right direction. Race parked the car in the nearest ramp, and then they made their way into the Hovand Industries building. They approached the receptionist and waited in line to see her. After twenty minutes they got their turn.

"Can you tell me if Connor Hovand is in the building today?" Dr. Quest asked the middle aged woman behind the desk.

"Mr. Hovand? Of course he is," she said in irritation. "Why do you ask?"

"We would like to see Mr. Hovand. You may tell him that Dr. Benton Quest and party would like to speak with him."

"I can't do to that. You'll have to call his office and speak with his secretary," the receptionist said in a haughty voice. "Everyone important knows that."

"Then please connect me with Mr. Hovand's secretary," Dr. Quest requested patiently. He stood there, staring at her, waiting until she picked up her phone. She dialed a number and waited for an answer.

"Yes, Miss Trencher, I have a Dr. Benton Quest here at the reception desk who wishes to see Mr. Hovand." The receptionist waited for a reply on the other end. "I didn't think so." She listened for a moment. "I don't believe that these people will go away without a word from Mr. Hovand directly. Perhaps you should buzz Mr. Hovand and ask him. It would eliminate a security personnel hassle." She waited while the secretary spoke again. "Thank-you, Miss Trencher." The receptionist pulled the receiver from her ear. "Miss Trencher will speak to Mr. Hovand, but he is a very busy man and I have no doubt that he will send you people away."

"We shall see," said Dr. Quest confidently.

"Oh, Yes Miss Trencher. That's what he said. Dr. Benton Quest and party." The receptionist looked surprised. "Of course. I'll send them right up." She hung up the phone and turned to the group. "Mr. Hovand will see you right away. Take the elevator to the twenty-sixth floor. Miss Trencher will meet you when you."

"Thank-you," said Dr. Quest, turning toward the elevators.

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To be continued…

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