The agent returned to his car, flashed the headlights three times. A black SUV with the clean-up crew moved up the hill from the farm house below.
Chapter 7
At WTCX-TV Channel Eleven in the nation's capital, Keri, given name Kerianne Winslow, stared somberly into the camera as the floor manager said, "Clear, good show."
In a late bulletin at the close of the six p.m. news, she had reported on a four car accident on Highway 1 that left two people dead. With the cut to the commercial, her expression remained serious. Turning to her co-anchor, Chance Patton, she said, "If you've got a few minutes, I'll buy you a drink across the street."
He smiled. "What's the occasion?"
She removed the clip-on mike from her navy single-button suit, her voice low. "I got a tip before we went on the air that might add something to the missing VIP scuttlebutt."
The smile faded. "That's all it is, Keri, pure speculation, nothing verified. I'd rather not play the rumor game."
"I may have something new, only a drink's worth though. I'll meet you outside." They went to their respective offices to pick up coats. Chance was waiting for her at the side door, and held her arm down the sidewalk and across the slushy street.
Keri was tall and slender with shoulder length honey-blond hair and dark blue eyes. Stocky, preppie Chance with contrasting dark hair and eyes, was a pretty boy with a well-modulated radio voice. Keri had heard his real name was Cecil but never asked him about it. She was in her early thirties, Chance ten years older. They had worked well as the early evening anchor team for the past year. Neither were married. The brief conversation from station to bar was on the early snow and Mark Games' "it's only going to get worse" weather report.
Finding two stools by the door in the sparsely crowded bar, they ordered a draft beer. "And fill up the peanut bowl," Keri said as she slipped out of her all-weather coat and folded it on her lap. Chance kept his on. "Now what's this about a hot tip?"
She leaned close. "The first we heard about the disappearances was in the newsroom a few days ago when something came in on the wire about Merriam Livingston-Vance, our UN Ambassador. Right?"
Chance rolled his eyes. "Another example of someone getting carried away, pardon the pun. The report said she was missing and the authorities had been called in. Then later a correction came through, said she and her husband had quietly left town for a well-earned rest in New Hampshire, that the wire service should have checked it out before stirring things up."
The drinks delivered, Keri popped a peanut in her mouth. "Yeah, but it makes you wonder why there was such an initial hullabaloo for something that could be explained away so easily." She held up her beer. "Here's to finding out why."
They clinked their glasses and took a sip, Chance adding, "And to professional reporting."
Keri continued. "And yesterday we hear a couple of the guys talking about Senator Obrey and Justice Ellenberg. Seems someone got a tip that the cops were looking for them. Foul play was suspected because they weren't where they were supposed to be. But a follow-up produced nothing; they weren't lost after all. Then this morning the buzz was that Secretary Matthews' limo was found with the motor running, doors locked, no one inside. Weird. And during make-up before we went on the air, I received a phone call."
He nodded. "Finally we're getting to the ever-thickening plot. Another missing person?"
She retrieved another peanut and chewed it. "It was a man, wouldn't give his name. He said that for some reason, which is our job to determine, our esteemed decision-makers are on the run with carefully planned no-trace escapes from the city. He said as of mid-afternoon today, a dozen top people left suddenly, including members of Congress and the Court, Cabinet officers, and key military personnel.
"When I started to quiz him, he hung up." She paused when she saw a bright flash of light in the mirror behind the bar, realized it was a reflection of headlights from a passing car. She smiled inwardly. A new light. That's what was needed in solving this mystery, a different approach to finding the truth. She would think about it later.
Chance touched her arm. "And?"
She glanced in the mirror again, gathered her thoughts. "Then I phoned the president's press secretary for confirmation, and he laughed at me. Harley said it was nothing but previously scheduled out-of-city meetings, yearly physical exams, and vacations. Roland at AP said he'd heard the reports but hadn't been able to get any corroboration. He's still digging, and so will I, until I have something to take to the boss."
Chance set his glass down gently on the coaster. "You know, Keri, I really can't get excited about his. They were probably just given time off for good behavior."
She brushed aside his attempt at humor and brought up the caller again. "I thought the voice sounded familiar, but I can't put a face or name to it yet. Maybe I'll call everyone in my book for a voice check. Anyway, I know someone from one of the networks assigned to the White House. He may be able to shed some light on this. He's in New York for a couple of days for a meeting of network correspondents. I'm having dinner with him tomorrow night."
"Are you talking about Phillip Lansing?" Seeing her nod, he let out a sigh. "Lansing won't know anything substantial before we do. Why don't you just leave it alone. This isn't the first time the big dealers have skipped out for some R and R. I think you're overreacting."
Keri straightened up, her voice cold. "Whoever made that phone call wasn't someone playing games. He knew more than he said, and the very fact that he called me means something. No, I'm going to stay on this until I have something to go with."
Chance motioned for the bartender, a totally bald heavy-set black man with an eyebrow ring and love is the answer tattooed on his right arm. "Avery, have you heard about anything unusual going on in town?"
Avery picked up a towel and wiped the counter. "Sure, and I wondered why you people didn't say anything about it on the six o'clock news."
"We're known for responsible journalism," Chance said, "nothing but the facts."
"Avery, what do you know?" Keri asked.
He glanced at the other patrons and spoke softly. "From the Supreme Court building to the Washington Monument, security is tighter than on inauguration day. But what I hear, most people won't notice it. No uniformed cops."
Keri asked casually, "What do you think is the reason for the concern?"
The bartender threw the towel over his shoulder. "The word is some top bureaucrats and military people are being abducted by terrorists of the domestic variety."
Chance shook his head. "Yeah, with a whole lot of other people just standing around watching."
Keri kicked his foot. "Where did you hear this?"
"My wife waits tables at the Jockey Club over at the Ritz-Carlton. She overheard it at lunch today when she was pouring coffee for a couple of bigwigs. Then at another table she heard someone say that dozens of officials are missing. Some are probably hiding. But you know what I think?"
"I can't wait to hear," Chance said.
Avery ignored the sarcasm. "The way I see it is some radicals got hold of that antimatter device the government's been keeping under wraps for years, and they vaporized our people."
Chance roared with laughter. "Oh my God, you can't be serious!"
"Sure am. That thing reverse the electrical charges in matter and annihilates it, turns matter into energy, the kind found in gamma rays. It literally dissolves people on the spot without even a puddle on the floor. Kind of spooky, if you ask me. Wonder who'll be next?"
Chance had his head on his arm, still shaking with laughter. "Avery, we've never had such a thing. Where did you get this nonsense?"
"Read about it a few