“First, let’s get you out, I have an idea.”
Sally bounced me back to San Francisco. I began to fret. “What are they doing?”
“The police are waiting in their car, just watching.” Sally placed a disc monitor in the air, showing the cottage and the two police cars by the curb. My rental car was in the driveway. “You better sit down Jo-el.”
I was taken aback by her serious tone, I sat down gingerly, wondering what she was going to do.
“No fingerprints, right? Whatever!”
I sensed this was going to get ugly, but what choice did I have? I nodded my agreement at Sally. A devilish grin caught the corner of her mouth. She was watching the monitor, also.
Suddenly my rental car exploded. The shock flung me back into the sofa, my hair stood on end and my whole body sprang a leak. Sweat began to pour from my forehead down into my eyes. My right foot whipped up and kicked the coffee table and the remnants of my drink flew into the air and landed on the carpet. I wiped my eyes on the back of my sleeve and choked.
“What the hell!”
Before I’d finished the last word, the cottage caught fire in a cloud of flames. It was spontaneous combustion. Unbelievable. “What the hell did you do?”
Sally didn’t answer at first, we continued to watch the monitor. The two police cars had moved away from the curb, obviously their occupants were okay. I thanked God for that. Killing police officers was not on any agenda I carried.
“I pierced the car fuel tank and all the fuel lines, then just added a spark,” she grinned. “Piece of cake! In the cottage I ripped holes in every gas line and the propane tank in the backyard. Add a flame and hey-presto.” She raised her hands in the air and laughed. “Sweet, huh!”
I continued to watch the flaming mess that was once a cottage in Rodanthe. The sound of fire engines was now audible. My brain raced around in circles trying to think of anyway that the forensics people could find a trace of Dave Murphy. I was at a loss.
“Can they find out it was me,” I stammered at Sally.
Sally went over to the armchair and sat down. She crossed her legs and placed her hands together on her knee. The image of the burning cottage and car filled the room. “Well Jo-el, the FBI and CIA and Homeland Security will know it was you. Bit too obvious with your former girlfriend blabbing her mouth. Whether they share that information with the local police, I don’t know, but honestly I doubt it, bit too difficult to explain.”
She was right. Pippa had already told Alberton where she had been. But what would the repercussions be? They wanted to arrest me for a myriad of crimes, destruction of property was just another for the list.
“You’ll have to dump the cash-card. I’ve changed the address on Steve Braces’ account back to his original address and erased everything pertaining to you. They’ll find out who rented the car but I can’t see a link. I’ve had a better idea for getting cash.” She smirked again. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I was thinking about the little old lady in Durham, whose cottage I’d just burnt to the ground.
I cleaned up the coffee stains and made another cup. I was calming down, but upset. Every turn I made was wrong. I couldn’t trust anyone and I was bewildered by the attitude shown toward me. I thought I was a good thing for the world, why did they think I was so evil?
“Alberton showed his hand,” I said to Sally. “Why did he do that? He might have been able to play the ‘Pippa’ card a while longer?”
“She called him as soon as you left her at the condo in DC and told him that I can review every conversation and just by speaking to him I would know she was working with him. They had an opportunity to discover who you really are and had no idea I could destroy all the evidence so easily.”
“They know a lot more about me now, too. I told Pippa so much stuff. I’m trying to figure out how they will react to it all.”
“I’m afraid that’s going to prove a little difficult. Pippa went straight to the basement. I don’t know what they’re saying.”
“We’ve got the bug.”
“If they don’t find it.”
“Why should they bother to look, she’s on their side and they think I have powers up the wazoo, why would I need a bug?”
“Well, we won’t know until she comes out.”
“What’s the National Security Council up to?” I asked Sally.
“They meet underground.”
“Since when?”
“Yesterday.”
“With all the shit I can do and these guys can still thwart my progress. Incredible. I think it’s time to try a new tack.”
“Seems to me you keep trying new tacks.”
“Yea, well I’m new to this Superhero thing, I’m learning as I go along, so give me a break.”
Sally raised her hands in front of her in an apologetic fashion. “You’re the boss, Jo-el.”
Chapter 37
A NEW TACT
“It’s time to wick-it-up, Sally and I think you’ll like it.”
“I’m all ears.”
“First, I need an update of what’s happening? What are the Brits doing?”
“They’ve rounded up all the criminals you gave them but they haven’t told the press how they found them. The Americans are still pressuring them to keep your involvement hidden for the time being.”
“What about the media in the US?”
“All the agencies have so far refused to speak to the media.”
“I can’t see how that can last. What about Congress, there must be a lot of unanswered questions?”
“It’s all being swept under the rug of National Security.” I frowned and wondered how long that could last.
“How’s our friend in the Marines doing?”
“Ah, General Kale, he’s now on a sub-committee to find you. He’s one of the lead figures that believe you’re a threat to America and should be shot on sight.”
“What’s his reason?”
“You’re incredibly dangerous and out of control. All I have is what he’s said before joining the various groups who only talk underground. He still thinks you’re a Chinese or Russian plant and reckons the things you did at the meeting in the hangar were magic tricks.”
I thought about that for a while and I could see his point. Illusions at magic shows often can’t be explained, all we know is they must be tricks.
“I just wonder how much of Pippa’s report they will believe? The fact that I can review everything that’s happened on earth since man’s conception and there’s this other race on a faraway planet who are so far ahead of us.”
“The Alien Theory. I’ve heard quite a few people bandy that around.”
“What do they say?”
“Simple, you’re an alien. Answers everything.”
“So, why don’t they want to meet me?”
“They do, but on their terms.”
“Which are what?”
“Under lock and key.”
“What’s the President of the US saying?”
“In public, nothing. In private he wants to meet you.”
“So, I should pay him a visit?”
“His entourage won’t allow it. The Secret Service say they can’t keep him safe.”
“But he could over-rule them?”
“I think he might.”
“Good! Well, let’s do something to encourage him.”
Sally’s face broke into a broad smile, she clasped her hands together and lent forward in her chair.
“First, I want you to send a list of all terrorists in Europe to the various agencies in each country. You know, with current addresses and how about videos of any atrocities they were involved in. Then send a list of all pedophiles and kidnappers to all the remaining countries in Europe.”
“Okay, but pretty boring so far.”
“Two more things. Send an email to a big-wig producer at CNN and tell him or her that I want some air time with one of their lead presenters, as soon as possible. Also, tell them they need to advertise that I’m going to be on the show. I need it to reach as many people as possible.”