"Skipper, something, I don't know what it was, jumped us and blew Wade's plane out of the air. The whole thing happened in a matter of seconds, literally. Whatever it was disappeared at a speed that had to have been at least eight maybe Mach ten or more."
"It?"
"Yes, sir."
"Could you see what kind of shape it was, you know, what kind of wings it had?"
"Sir, this thing, whatever it was, it wasn't an airplane." A long silence ensued.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying…" Justice trailed off. "Sir, it, whatever it was, made turns at warp speed. It looked like a gigantic Frisbee, and it could accelerate faster than anything I've ever seen."
The CO stared at Justice for a long moment and then patted him on the shoulder. "Let's go see the fighter doc, then we'll have a chat while everything is fresh in your mind."
"Sir, I'm not crazy."
"Todd, no one is accusing you of anything."
There was a sudden tension between them.
"I just want the doc to see you before we talk to anyone."
"Skipper, I'm telling you the truth. Something shot him down, something unlike I've ever seen before."
Another awkward silence followed until a synapse finally took place in the recesses of Todd's brain. "Skipper, as God is my witness, I didn't accidentally shoot him down. You can check it out, sir. I still have all my ordnance — nothing's missing."
Flounders Chowder House on Pensacola Beach was crowded with tourists when Jackie and Scott were seated at an outdoor table. The bright, warm sun was high in the clear blue sky and tiny waves gently lapped the shoreline of Santa Rosa Sound. Scott unfolded his Pensacola News Journal, glanced at the headlines, then turned the page and froze.
1 MISSING IN NAVY JET CRASH
Pilot lost during routine flight
Associated Press
YOKOSUKA, JAPAN — A U.S. Navy F/A-18C jet crashed into the Strait of Taiwan during carrier exercises Monday night, Pentagon sources said. The pilot was missing and the cause of the crash was not known. The name of the pilot is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Hornet disappeared at 10:48 P. M. local time while conducting routine flight operations from the USS Kitty Hawk approximately 45 miles southwest of Taipei, Taiwan. An extensive search is currently under way, said Comdr. Audrey Satterwhite, spokeswoman for commander, naval air force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The armed fighter plane was taking part in joint exercises when it went down 60 miles from the carrier. The pilot was a member of Strike Fighter Squadron 195, based at Naval Air Field Atsugi, Japan.
The crash came seven days after another F/A-18 Hornet was lost off the southern coast of California, killing its two crew members. Anonymous sources close to the Pentagon admit both accidents were similar in nature and happened under very unusual circumstances. Five members of Congress plan to hold hearings early next week in an effort to unravel the mystery surrounding both crashes.
Absorbed in the article, Scott was startled when his satellite phone rang. He shoved the paper toward Jackie. While he took the call, she ordered lunch for them. Jackie carefully studied the people in their immediate vicinity and around the perimeter of Flounders's outdoor seating area. Satisfied that no threat existed, she divided her attention between the employees, the other patrons, and the article about the F/A-18 crash.
"That was Hartwell." Scott placed the phone on the table. "We're officially on the case."
"Interesting. What's the latest news?"
"He wants us to meet him in D. C. — actually at his home."
"When?"
"As soon as we can get reservations."
"I'll take care of the tickets."
"Hartwell will give us a complete brief tomorrow afternoon."
"Has he met with Secretary Adair?"
"He just left a meeting with the president and SecDef. They're giving this Hartwell's euphemism was `mystery'— the highest of priorities."
"It must be getting warm in the White House and at the Pentagon."
"According to Hartwell, the president considers these unexplained crashes a definite threat to national security."
"Did Hartwell say anything about the crashes?"
"Yes. He said they're trying to keep a lid on the 'events' until they have some firm answers. They don't want to create mass panic." He leaned closer. "Besides the two Hornets that have gone down, the air force lost a Cobra Ball over the Bay of Bengal."
"How?"
"Apparently to the same thing, or kind of thing, that brought down Sammy — it's really eerie."
"You're kidding."
"That's what he said. The Cobra Ball's mission commander was in direct communication with the White House and the State Department when they lost all communications and data links from the airplane."
Scott glanced around the immediate area. "But not before the mission commander described the same kind of object that Merrick Hamilton talked about, right down to the bluish-white color and the same kind of high-speed, abrupt maneuvers."
"That's really hard to comprehend. It doesn't make sense. This whole thing — from southern California, to the Taiwan Strait, to the Bay of Bengal — is beginning to sound like something from the science fiction channel."
"I think you're right," Scott said. "When the Cobra Ball crashed, the mission commander was describing the object and the crew was taking photos. Then, all communication with the Ball ceased."
Jackie waited until the waitress had served their lunch. "Did you discuss the details of our conversation with Merrick Hamilton?"
"No, I didn't. I'm going to stick by my word. Her backseaterwhat's his name, at the Pentagon?"
"Lou Emerson."
He's shuffling papers in the Puzzle Palace, and I'm sure they have the whole story straight from him."
"Ah, yes. The female pilot obviously would've been too hysterical to remember all the details accurately."
"Easy," he said, allowing the word to roll off his tongue. "I'm just reporting what I think the facts are, ma'am — nothing more."
"Sorry. It's another one of those gender spikes I warned you about."
"No problem. Just put the bayonet away."
Jackie tapped her finger on the F-18 article in the newspaper. "Coincidence? I don't think so."
"Yeah, sounds suspicious to me."
After lunch they went to their room at the Hampton Inn to pack and book a flight to Washington, D. C. With their bags ready to go, they started for the door and both stopped at the same time. They were looking down at a note card that had been slipped under the door. To preserve any fingerprints, Scott picked it up by the edges, read it, then silently handed it to Jackie.
You were lucky yesterday. Very lucky. Perhaps not so lucky next time. P. S. The lady is a good driver.
"Well, we're dealing with someone who likes the challenge of playing cat-and-mouse," Scott suggested.
She studied the card. "Someone with very precise, neat penmanship. I don't know about you, but I think it looks feminine."
"I'd say that's a fifty-fifty shot."
"Then again, it could be a red herring." Jackie handed him the card. "'Perhaps not so lucky next time.-
"We may be reaching, but it does have an Oriental ring to it."
"I think so."
Scott studied the card. "Z Y?"
"Who knows?"
Dalton placed the note card in his shirt pocket. "We'll get this to the FBI — see if they can trace our joker."
"Somehow, I don't believe they'll find any prints."
"I doubt it," he said.
"He, if it is a he, likes to taunt his victims, make them jumpy and nervous so they'll make mistakes."
Scott looked around the room. "Well, he or she made a gross miscalculation this time."
"Yeah, but they don't know it yet."