Ancient Echoes

CHAPTER 59



“SHOULD I GIVE HIM more propofol?” Bob asked Phaylor.

“No. I want him lucid when we reach Idaho.” Phaylor gazed, bored, out the window of the Cessna Citation X. They neared the Montana-Idaho border, but he only saw a cloud bank below. They would be landing soon. He squeezed the bridge of his nose wearily.

The nurse nodded, then leaned back in his seat.

Phaylor had decided to go to the twin spires himself. The two teams of mercenaries he sent out there, plus the university group Vandenburg sent had been able to find them, so he should be able to as well. Once found, however, why did no one leave them? Was the world they offered so wonderful men chose to stay? Or did they die? He needed to see it for himself, to learn the answer. He was close to death, so he didn’t fear going there the way a young man like Bob might. But he needed Bob’s help. Promises of unimagined wealth bought Bob’s loyalty.

When he finished this, if he survived, Phaylor would take back his company. With his newly created gold, he’d buy back the stock and make the company private once more. He couldn’t wait to get rid of Milt Zonovich and fire that entire stupid board of directors.

With his plans in place, Phaylor-Laine Pharmaceuticals would become so wealthy it truly could have world domination. And he would be at its helm forever.

He would create his own empire, and soon, his own world. One world order. And all his.

Chinese alchemists used a term, lien tan, or “pill of transformation.” His pharmaceutical soul liked that. Whatever means delivered immortality, he would market it as a pill. Also, he would make it clear that one pill alone would not help, but a pill needed to be taken every year—a placebo, of course, but who would know that? And who would risk challenging it? Yes, that way, money would continuously flow into PLP's coffers. He already planned his contracts with American billionaires and oil rich Arab sheiks. Immortality wouldn’t come cheap.

Jianjun opened his eyes, and fought to clear his head. “He's going to kill you, Bob, as soon as he doesn't need you anymore. You know that, don’t you? Think about it. How could he leave you as a witness to murder and kidnapping and everything else he’s planning? You would have too much power over him, too much knowledge. I know you aren't smart, but at least you should have some sense of self-preservation. Even a slug knows enough to try to get out of danger.”

Phaylor chuckled. “I'll make you so rich, Bob, I have no worries. You'd never tell because you'd lose your fortune. Don’t listen to him.”

Bob smiled. “I don’t. But I'll be glad when he's dead.”

“You are a fool!” Jianjun shouted. “And a killer. Security cameras monitored Vandenburg’s building. Are you sure you avoided every one of them? They’ll see you entering her apartment, and then taking me out of there at gunpoint. They’ll know who the murderer is.”

Bob's face flushed. “It won’t happen!”

“You know it’s true. You know the old man set you up!” Jianjun raged.

Bob punched him in the mouth. Jianjun’s head snapped back and he tasted blood. The sound echoed through the plane.

Phaylor chuckled, but a phlegm-filled cough got in the way of his enjoyment.

All were quiet as the plane began to descend. They landed at an airfield near Sun Valley. There, they would transfer to the helicopter Milt Zonovich ordered soon after his talk with Phaylor.

The Cessna no sooner landed, however, when armed Blaine County deputies, Idaho State Police, and Homeland Security officers surrounded it.

The pilot opened the plane’s doors.

The lead deputy boarded the plane, followed by others. He quickly drew his gun. “Drop your weapons,” he ordered.

“Weapons? What is this?” Phaylor demanded. “There must be some mistake. I’m Calvin Phaylor! Do you have any idea of my influence? My power?”

Officers placed Phaylor and Bob under arrest.

“John Lee?” the deputy asked, untying Jianjun and noting his bruises. “Are you all right?”

“I am, now,” Jianjun said. “Yes. I am fine. Very fine. So, Homeland Security sent you?”

“That’s right, although their intel said you might be here or you might have been murdered. Glad to see it was the former, and we’re able to free you.”

“Thank you!” Jianjun exclaimed, giving himself an inward cheer that his plan worked. After discovering that, shortly after talking to Phaylor, Milt Zonovich ordered a Cessna out of Teterboro, New Jersey, and then a helicopter in Sun Valley, he put two and two together. Phaylor planned to go to Idaho to find the gateway himself. Jianjun feared Phaylor might decide to take him along to help—or kill him so there would be no witness to Phaylor’s involvement.

For that reason, he wrote a number of carefully worded and completely untrue emails filled with buzz-words and scenarios sure to excite terror specialists. He then sent all of them to his most reliable first cousin, Waymon Li. He asked Waymon to release them to specific people in Homeland Security if any four hour period passed and Jianjun hadn’t sent him a text that he was alive and well. Fortunately, his cousin watched the clock.

“With all the bigwigs who have homes or come here for vacation,” the deputy said, his face beaming, “we’ve trained for situations like this, but this is the first time we’ve actually used it! Pretty exciting, I must say. We heard that you’re the son of some muckety-muck in China. No need for this to become an international incident.”

“I am much relieved to be rescued.” Jianjun stood and bowed many times while trying not to chuckle over what his father, who worked as an accountant in Canada, would think of this story. “Very relieved, but I must go, now.”

“I don’t think so. We’ve got lots of questions, like why kidnap you? What were they planning to do? Also, considering who we just arrested”—he looked over at Phaylor—“I’m sorry to say Homeland Security is going to need a lot of answers.”

Jianjun nodded. If the authorities were confused now, just wait until they found Jennifer Vandenburg’s body. Having used the police to free him from Phaylor, he needed to escape them. He wasn't worried. Given all he and Michael had been through over the years, doing that would be a piece of cake.

But after that, how was he going to find Michael?