The goons in Mexico, Skyler thought. He handed the card back but jotted down a note to have Mickey Gates do a background check on Cartagena I&E. “So anyway, tell me about Niagara Technologies.”
“Not much to tell. They did a lot of government contract work during the fifties mainly plating microscopic scientific instruments. They pioneered a new technique using the mineral you mentioned.”
“Korium?”
“Yeah. They got a huge government contract and were bringing a shipment in by air cargo but the plane went down in a blizzard somewhere in the North Atlantic. It was never found, and since there was no other source of the stuff, eventually they went out of business. Couldn't fulfill the contracts.”
“Where did it go down?”
“Greenland, I think.” He went to a file cabinet. Sorting through it, he pulled out a folder and returned to his desk. “Yes, Greenland. A two-week search was conducted but no trace of the plane was ever found. The flight originated in London with a stop in Iceland to pick up the ore. Entire shipment was lost.” He took out a cargo manifest and handed it to Skyler.
“How did you get this?”
“We kept all of Niagara's old records.”
The yellowed paper had Arctic Air Cargo printed across the top. As Skyler read, the total weight notation caught his attention — five thousand pounds. “Could I get a photo copy of this?”
“Sure.” Nighthawk buzzed his secretary and asked her to come in. She took the page and left.
“So Iroquois Metals bought Niagara?”
“Right. My dad was running Iroquois at the time and when Niagara folded, he decided to make them an offer for the property and machinery. All he really wanted was the land. He auctioned the hardware and tore down the buildings. Sold the property ten years later for a sizable profit. There's an outlet mall there now.”
“Can you tell me anything more about the nature of the work Niagara was doing for the government?”
“Not really. Like I said, it was mostly scientific research stuff. The few people I knew that worked out there never talked about their jobs. But there is someone who can tell you all about it. Fellow by the name of Harry Penn. He was a government scientist who managed the place.”
“Where can I find Mr. Penn?”
“He's retired now, owns a small hotel near the Falls. Penn and his wife run the place. It’s called the Colonial Inn. You should drop by and talk to him.”
“I'll be sure and do that.” Skyler stood as the secretary came back and handed him the copy of the manifest. “Thanks again for your time, Mr. Nighthawk. If you're ever in Key West, give me a call and we'll go out on the flats hunting bonefish.”
“Count on it,” Nighthawk said, and they shook hands.
Once Skyler left, Nighthawk picked up the Niagara folder to return it to the cabinet. A small piece of paper fell out and he bent to pick it up.
A memo.
Like the manifest, it was yellowed and faded. He didn't recall seeing it before. He read it, returned to his desk, and read it again. Then he looked at his watch. Five hours difference, he thought. He hesitated, then picked up the phone and dialed. There was a slight hiss from the overseas connection. Three rings later a young female voice with a heavy British accent answered, “Gordan Insurance Company, London branch.”
“Hello, I'm calling from New York. Do you possibly have a Mr. Walter Smyth there?”
“Oh, you mean Chief Inspector Smyth. One moment and I'll connect you.”
There was silence and then a voice said, “Smyth, here.”
“Ah, yes, Mr. Smyth, I'm sorry to bother you. My name's Jimmy Nighthawk and I own Iroquois Metals in Buffalo, New York. I'm not sure if this applies to you but I recently came across a document in our company archives. It's from a Walter Smyth dated April 6, 1971. It says that if anyone ever inquires about the lost Arctic Air Cargo flight, we should give Walter Smyth at Gordan Insurance a call. Does any of that make sense to you? I mean, have I got the right Walter Smyth?”
There was a long pause and a heavy sigh. Then the voice said, “Yes, you've got the right man. I've waited a long time for this call, Mr. Nighthawk.”
THE SERVANT
The General Secretary gazed across the table in the private dining room at General Cho. They had finished their meal and were ready to discuss business. A servant had removed the dishes and offered both men green tea. He then stood by in case either man requested anything else.
“So they have found another source of the ore?”
“Escandoza says it looks promising, Beloved Leader.” Cho had arrived from Bogota only a few hours before and came to report personally to the General Secretary of the People's Republic of North Korea.
The long hours of travel the last few days had taken their toll on Cho, the General Secretary thought. The old soldier looked tired. “So he wants us to send our scientists to Colombia to finish the project?”
“Correct. And as long as Dr. Thorpe is under his control, I see no other way to proceed.”
The General Secretary brooded as he stared across the room at the post-war Korean tapestries. Having the lab within the borders of North Korea would have made the korium devices assembly go quick. Now he must turn over the operation to a bunch of pirates and drug smugglers while the West is breathing down his neck to renew weapons inspections. Fortunately, they have no idea what the whole story is. They suspect he is building a weapon but they don’t realize to what ends he will go to use it. Still, the setback gnawed at his gut.
He was running out of time. Each day, the South relied less and less on the Americans for protection. And because of the new trade agreements, their economy grew ever stronger. South Korea was becoming just another arm of the West. And he knew there were many in his own government that would never allow him to develop the korium device. They were brainwashed by the moderates and their American friends. They called themselves Communists, but in reality they were soft and weak, corrupted by the West. Just like the Russians and the other former Eastern Bloc traitors. Just like the Vietnamese, now wallowing in a capitalistic quagmire, forgetting the lessons of the past.
He was not going to allow this to happen to his beloved Korea. He would seize the opportunity to place a firm grip on his leadership before his enemies could harm him. With the money he would raise from the sale of the korium devices, and the power he would wield from possessing the deadliest weapon ever made, his enemies would stand back and tremble. But he must be cautious, there were those who would want him dead or at the least, locked away. He must remain totally in charge, possessing a power that the entire world would respect and fear. The korium device would give him the power he needed to unite the two Koreas.
“My sources tell me that the individual who witnessed the offloading of drugs onto the submarine is probing into places he should not be digging.”
“Escandoza has promised to eliminate the leader of OceanQuest. But precious time is slipping by while we wait for the drug dealer and that renegade colonel to find the second source of korium.”
“There will be enough time, Comrade General. Be assured that when the Americans finally realize what we are doing, it will be too late. We and our comrades-in-arms around the world will have our new weapons placed in the heartlands of America and its allies. They will have no choice but to step aside and let us do whatever we desire.” The General Secretary studied the tea leaves in the bottom of his cup. “The clock is ticking, Comrade General. The day is soon coming when there will be one Korea — a Korea united under a common flag, the flag of Communism. It will be a sweet victory indeed.”