Author's note: previous disclaimers and notes apply
Rescue and an Opportunity
Dr. Eli Stoddard stared down at the paper on his desk. A young lady from the legal department of one of the local companies had brought a photocopy of the handwritten contract into Rainier for translation, having failed to recognize the language. The linguistics department had shunted it to him because he was practically the only one on campus to speak the obscure tongue.
Now as he reread the words on the page, he marveled at the author's genius. By using the language of the native tribe, Jim Ellison had basically ensured that the contract would necessitate an outside translator. The fact that Blair Sandburg's name was also present made it that much more important. Both men were named as hostages and had disappeared from Cascade two years ago and most considered theirs to be a pair of cold cases, yet he now held the first ever solid lead. Quickly gathering up the photocopy of the contract as well as the recently completed translation, Dr. Stoddard headed for the door.
Captain Simon Banks of the Cascade police department's Major Crimes Unit looked up when his secretary knocked on his door. "Yes, Rhonda?" he inquired politely, knowing full well that one wrong step could and would result in a major delay in the paperwork exiting his bullpen. "There's a Dr. Eli Stoddard here to see you, Captain. He claims to have a clue to Detective Ellison's disappearance and claims that it's tied to another disappearance that occurred around the same time," Rhonda replied. "Send him in. At this point, any possible lead needs to be taken into consideration and looked into." Rhonda nodded and turned to someone just outside the door. "This way, Dr. Stoddard. The Captain will see you now."
Dr. Stoddard proved to be an elderly white man with an air of dignity about him. As he stretched out his hand to shake that of the imposing black police Captain on the other side of the desk, he knew he had made the right call.
"Dr. Stoddard, I'm Captain Simon Banks. My secretary tells me you have information on the disappearance of one of my detectives," Simon greeted the renowned anthropologist. "Indeed I do, if the contents of this contract are to be believed. According to this, two years ago your Detective Jim Ellison and my grad student and protégé, Blair Sandburg, were abducted to be used as hostages to ensure the cooperation of the Chopec tribe in Peru. The person behind this despicable act is the CEO of Cyclops Oil Co. here in Cascade. An intern from their legal department brought a copy of the contract to the university for translation. I recalled that Detective Ellison was under your command and thought it best to consult you on who to go to from here seeing as our men have been taken out of the country," the elder explained.
"Interpol probably, maybe FBI? Just a minute," Simon replied, reaching for his phone. Several phone calls later, they had contacted the necessary law enforcement agency and plans were being made to rescue the two men. As it happened the contract was the final piece of evidence needed in an investigation into illegal business dealings by Cyclops Oil. Within twenty-four hours of the contract being submitted as evidence, the CEO and several other higher-ups in the company had been arrested and a team was on its way to retrieve two U.S. citizens from Peru.
Simon and Eli watched from the treeline as the team quickly shut down the illegal operation. Because they each personally knew one of the hostages, Simon and Eli had been asked to join the rescue team but chose to stay back and observe at first. Once the clearing was secure they were beckoned forward and the team settled down to wait. The team leader informed the two civilians that there were five more mercenaries in the nearby village and they were due to swap out soon.
Blair Sandburg and Jim Ellison had been settled in the Chopec village for the last two years. The first year saw Blair undergoing Shaman training as Jim once again led the tribe's warriors. The second year had passed with nothing of note. There had been a constant foreign presence of a group of mercenaries the entire time, supposedly to ensure the Chopec's continued cooperation with their employer. The tribal leadership was of the opinion these hired warriors were also under orders to harm Enqueri or Yachachiq if they had to. So far there had been no need for violence and the tribe had enjoyed their day to day routine
Blair had been minding his own business, being pulled over to the fires to entertain the children, when one of the hired warriors menacing their home grabbed him. "You're coming with us kid," the mercenary growled. "Our relief is overdue and we don't want anyone causing trouble do we?" This last comment was accompanied by a sharp look at a group of warriors just returning from the hunt, Jim Ellison in their midst. Blair simply nodded and motioned for Jim to wait. A second group of warriors returned and quickly informed the tribal leaders of something that had Jim focused on them long enough for Blair to be marched into the jungle. "Chief, the operation was just shut down. Those mercs are walking right into law enforcement custody. I'm right behind you," Jim informed his Guide through their link. "OK, want me to tell them or keep quiet?" Blair asked. "Keep quiet for now but if it looks like there's about to be a shoot out, go limp," came the reply. "Gotcha."
Upon their emergence from the jungle the remaining mercenaries were quickly disarmed and placed with the rest of the prisoners. Jim and a band of warriors appeared immediately after and Jim quickly set about translating between the Chopec and the newcomers after placing Blair firmly behind him.
A bark of laughter caused the two white men to look off to one side and see the two older men looking at them in fond amusement. A blinding smile and cry of "Eli!" was Dr. Stoddard's only warning before he was nearly knocked over by his protégé. Simon laughed harder even as he extended his hand to shake Jim's, relief at seeing his friend unharmed and well obvious on his face.
"Enqueri, Yachachiq, *are these friends of yours?*" a man inquired as he approached the group. "*Yes, Incacha, the dark skinned man is a leader of those who protect the great city Cascade and I report to him. The other is Yachachiq's teacher, the one who taught him Quechua*" Jim replied, still smiling. The elder teacher inclined his head to show respect and spoke, "*We thank you for watching over our friends. I am Dr. Eli Stoddard and I study other tribes to better understand them and to preserve their honored traditions. Am I correct in believing you to be the head Shaman?*"
Incacha smiled, pleased that Dr. Stoddard was as respectful and wise as Yachachiq had said. "*Indeed, I am called Incacha. Yachachiq has completed his Shaman training under me and is considered a full Shaman among our people. Please see that this is acknowledged among yours as well. You will be welcomed back if you choose at some point to bring others to learn our ways.*" "*I am greatly honored and will try to return in a year's time.*"
"Will it take long to gather your belongings up? We would like to have you all on your way back to America by tomorrow or the day after," the team leader addressed Jim and the others. "Not long. We should only need half an hour to gather our things up and say our farewells,"Jim replied. There was a flurry of activity upon their return to the village as Jim and Blair set about changing into their modern clothes and gathered the few other items they had been gifted. Before they left, Incacha pulled Jim and Blair aside. "*Cascade is a great city, but it is not The Great City to which you belong. Listen with you ears and your hearts, she will call you home and you must be ready to answer.*" They nodded and were soon on their way back to "civilization".
As they rode back to the nearest city, Simon informed them that he planned on asking the department to bring Blair on as a consultant and Blair announced that he had made a decision on his dissertation topic. "I'm going to educate the general public on what the police department is truly like as a closed society. Many people assume cops are either all good or all bad and part of why it's so hard to prove corruption is because cops close ranks. If the citizenry could be shown how they can better support the consibulary, we may be able to improve relations between the two parties. I'm thinking The Thin Blue Line would be an appropriate title, what do you think?" he explained eagerly, looking from Jim to Simon to Eli. Simon just sat there stunned as the other two laughed. "I take it this is normal for the kid?" the police Captain enquired. "Par for the course," Jim and Eli replied in unison.