coming by way of our sensors. Make them comfortable in the detention center until we can interrogate them.”
“Yes, sir. We have surveillance systems in operation now, ground sweep radar and sensors at a hundred yards.”
“That’s fine. However, we are dealing with a Special Forces intruder. I would feel better if you had another sensor line out at least another a hundred yards.… Okay, thanks.”
The security officer picked up the phone, barked a few orders into it, and reassured the colonel the sensors would be in put in place.
Chapter 4
Arrival
Bakersfield, California
May 28
Late evening
Tork and Cal had stopped in Bakersfield for food and fuel and to make a plan. Problem? Yes. Tork did not know any more now than he knew when Cal called him. He had no idea what was going on or why two men were after Cal. None of it made any sense. Cal had no idea either. He just made a bad turn because of car trouble. Now two armed men were after him.
While Tork was not sure what was going on, he did know only the military, drug dealers, crooks, and police carry guns and go looking for people. Both of them thought Cal had mistakenly stumbled into a drug drop off. The new asphalt and the long run it made convinced Cal it was being used as an airstrip for small planes. It made sense to him; it was drug runners trying to shut Cal up.
Tork said, “When we find the new road you spoke of, we’ll park off the road out of sight. I brought a tarp to throw over the Jeep once we’ve hid it. We’ll pack in and follow the road for about ten meters so we have time to duck if any vehicles are roaming around. Also, they may have sensors monitoring the road. Any vehicles passing may set them off. That may have been how they spotted you the first time.”
Cal was uptight with enthusiasm and ready to go. They ticked him off about the chase and he wanted to get even for the licks Tork had taken for him.
“I’m ready. Let’s go get them. I don’t care how bad they are. Let’s go.”
Tork and Cal finished by fueling the Jeep, and Tork picked up a few specialty items that Cal couldn’t figure out why.
“What are you doing, Tork?
“Oh, just a little insurance policy,” replied Tork.
Chapter 5
Command Concern
Orinda, California
May 28
Diana Richmond had just returned home from shopping at the Pleasant Hills Mall. It had been a fruitful shopping spree, and she was looking forward to sharing her booty with her mother. She had planned to go with Marion this morning, but he had called saying Cal was in trouble again and he and Cal would be going to Southern California for a few days. He said he would call when he returned or sometime tonight if he got the chance to.
“Mom, I’m home!”
“Oh, hi, darling. Thought I heard you come in.”
“Hi, Mom. Come and see what I have bought Marion.”
Cheryl Richmond knew how much Tork hated the name Marion. Nevertheless, he loved Diana, so she was the only one that could call him Marion.
“Where is Tork today, Di?”
“He and Cal went to the desert for a couple of days. Cal has gotten himself in another bind, and Marion is helping him out. He’s supposed to call me tonight sometime. If he does call and I’m not home, get his number and the name of the motel they’re staying in. Okay, Mom?”
“Well, all right, hon, but aren’t you staying home this evening?”
“Yes, I intended to but I may be going down to Lafayette. Carol has to pick up her car from the dealership. I told her I would take her down if she went, and if I’m not back when Marion calls, I want to make sure I can call him back later. Remember to get his number please. He should have his cell phone with him, and I don’t have his new number yet.”
“Okay, darling. I’ll get it for you, if he calls.”
With that, Diana called Carol.
*****
“Cal, turn off at the truck stop or whatever, okay? We need fuel and I have to call Di and let her know we’re on our way.”
“Count on me. I could use a pit stop myself.”
“If you’re getting tired, Cal, I can pick up on the driving,” Tork replied.
“Thanks, Tork, but I’m all okay. A cold cola would be great though.”
Cal continued thinking quietly and then said, “Tork, I’ve been thinking and I just can’t figure out why they were after me. There wasn’t enough moonlight to see anything. The car’s headlights only picked up the road, and I was too occupied with the engine to pay attention to anything else. Just why they came after me really bothers me. If they were drug runners, why didn’t they shoot?”
Tork shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know, Cal, but if they wanted you dead, they had the chance to do it. I don’t think it was a drop, and if I were, there should have been some kind of activity going on, you know, plane, trucks, cars, or something. Cal, you didn’t see anything out there.”
“But they came on me fast and without lights on. Then they followed me all the way to the main road. I didn’t figure it.”
“Well, chances are they were using night-vision devices and could follow you all the way to the highway. Oncoming headlights would have blinded them if they continued after reaching the road. So they backed off. Too big a chance of having an accident. It gave you a little edge, but it looks like they caught up with you anyway. I suspect they got close enough to get your plate number. With help from friends, police, or whatever, they were able to track you. That’s why they caught you in Sausalito. Chances are, all they had to do was monitor your movements until the time was right to pick you up. That was when I stepped in at Mo’s Place. It looks to me like it’s a ‘government’ job and on a large scale. We’re going to be walking on those proverbial eggs before it’s all over. Just what have you done to piss off the government enough for them to chase you?”
Cal looked at Tork, a little bewildered, and said, “Tork, I’m sure you’re aware of what you’re doing, because I’m not.”
Tork replied, “Look, the very first thing we do is look for any unusual rocks, posts, or plants that are out of place. We find that and we find sensors. We find sensors and I’ll lay you odds it’s strictly a government operation. Could be you fell into a sting operation and they wanted you on ice until it’s over. If that’s the case, no problem. If it’s a top secret operation, we might have a real opportunity on our hands. Best we can do is to wait and see and hope.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. They could have just killed me at Mo’s, right?”
“Well, Cal,
