She wiped the tear from her face. “I thought you had.”
“Really? Why?”
“From the look on your face every time someone mentions the city.” She paused. “Did you love her?”
“Yes. Yes I did.”
The pilot announced they were at cruising altitude, and if they needed to move around they could. David Weston walked back. The plane bounced a bit, and he grabbed a cargo strap to steady himself. He first glanced at Maria then fixed his eyes on Caden. “The Governor would like to talk to you.”
Caden realized he was still holding Maria’s hand, but did not pull it back. “I’ll be right there.”
Weston walked away.
Caden frowned. “I am sorry about…well, everything.”
“I know,” she said with a nod.
He felt the keys in his pocket press against his leg. “I should have given my car to the Millers.”
“I did.”
“What?”
“I gave them the spare key you gave me and told them if I didn’t come back, the car and everything in it was theirs.”
They both laughed.
“Go on,” she took her hand away, “don’t keep the boss waiting.”
As Caden walked aft, the Governor retrieved a briefcase from under his seat and stood. He motioned for Caden to follow him, and together they moved toward the rear of the plane.
“David gives you high marks for logic and analysis and I’ve come to trust his opinion.” The governor sat near the rear of the plane and Caden took a seat leaving one between them.
The Governor opened his briefcase. “I’ve asked my staff back in Olympia to start a special background investigation on you, but considering the current chaos, who knows when that will be completed.” He pulled out a folder marked SECRET in bold red letters. “I know you were Military Legislative Assistant for Senator Stevens.” Setting the folder on the briefcase he paused. “I spoke with him several times regarding foreign policy. He appeared very knowledgeable.”
“Yes, he was smart, well read and,” Caden smiled, “he had a good staff.”
The Governor grinned. “I’m sure he did.” His eyes drifted away and the smile left his face. “He seemed like a good man.”
Caden nodded. “He was.”
Monroe took a deep breath, then exhaled. “So many have died.” He shook his head slowly. “You were also in Special Forces. Both those jobs require a clearance.”
“Yes.”
“Thankfully both NSA and CIA headquarters have survived and the intelligence community is functioning. Homeland Security stopped the terrorists in New York and Detroit.”
The last news Caden had was that no bomb had gone off in Detroit, but he hadn’t heard that the city had been secured. “The terrorists in Detroit—they’ve been caught?”
The Governor nodded and handed the folder to Caden. “I’d like you to look at some intelligence and give me your analysis.”
Caden carefully read the stack of news stories, handwritten notes and classified documents. Many of the newspaper articles were ones David had already shown him, or he had read earlier, but he was vigilant to review the details. Finally, he glanced at his watch, put down the last sheet, and looked at the Governor. “No terrorist organization has the money or expertise to assemble and transport these nuclear bombs.” He looked the Governor in the eye. “This kind of attack takes money, a large covert network, and extensive planning. This is state sponsored terrorism, but it is bigger than North Korea or Iran.”
“Who?”
The plane shuddered and Caden grabbed the seat webbing. “Like I said to David yesterday, I’m certain North Korea, China, Iran and maybe someone else are all working together. We know that North Korea supplied the plutonium.” He paused. “I can’t prove it, but my guess is that North Korea is a pawn of China. This isn’t the end game, this is mid-game maneuvering.” Caden paused then asked, “Are we repositioning troops in prelude to an attack on North Korea?”
“I don’t know. Iran sponsored a Security Council declaration that allows United Nations inspectors, along with the Chinese army and technicians, into the North to dismantle all nuclear installations.”
“I read that it had been introduced.” Caden thought for a moment. “Did it pass?”
The governor shrugged. “Last I heard it was before the Security Council.”
“I believe it will pass—the Chinese won’t veto it.”
The Governor’s eyebrow shot up. “Why would China use North Korea and then help us?”
“They’re not helping us. They’re covering their tracks.”
Reflecting on his words Caden was certain he sounded like a conspiracy nut, but he couldn’t put all the parts together. He rubbed his chin. “I need more information about what China and Iran are doing right now. Do you have current intel?”
“Yes, back in Olympia.”
“Then can we resume this when we get there?”
Putting the folder away the Governor nodded. “Certainly.”
Back in his seat beside Maria, Caden did what he always did on flights; he slept. Only when the pilot announced they were on approach to JBLM did he awaken.
“How do you sleep in these web seats?” Maria asked.
“Years of practice,” he said stretching sore muscles. “I'm glad you are here.”
“I knew you were a good man even before we met.”
“Huh?”
“I was watching the day the two guys tried to rob you.”
“What has that got to do with staying with me or…”
“You were trying to figure out how to change diapers.”
Caden smiled. “Yeah, so?”
“Bad men don’t change diapers.”
He laughed.
“Then, later that night, when you told me Adam wasn’t your son, that his mother had died in an accident and you were caring for him—only a good man would do that.”
Caden smiled and gently squeezed her hand.
“I’m glad you wanted me to come.”
Maria held on to his hand, looked at him and smiled.
His feelings for Maria grew stronger by the day, but it angered him. Becky was alive a week ago.
White light shot from the cockpit momentarily filling the plane.
“What was that?” Maria asked.
The plane lurched to the right, then abruptly to the left.
Luggage, blankets and boxes flew about.
Someone screamed.
Alarms blared.
Adam wailed.
Maria grabbed the straps that held Adam.
Caden tightened Maria’s belt.
The plane rolled to the side.
Caden hurtled across the fuselage.
Chapter Eight
There was a vague awareness of self. Images of fire, mushroom clouds, scarlet blood and black death stormed through the mind and then melted into pools of oblivion. An indeterminate time later a sweet voice flowed into the void. The words gave comfort, but like voices heard in the distance the mind could not grasp the meaning. The mind cried out to reach the gentle sound without knowing how or why.
Gradually images of a family mixed with dreams of Maria and a toddler named Adam. Once again he heard her and strove to comprehend. When the melody of her voice stopped, he fought against the darkness to reach her.
His head ached, like someone pressing hard against the side of his skull. As if for the first time he became aware that his eyes were closed. A constant beeping annoyed him. Someone turn it off.
Slowly he opened his eyes. Plain white sheets were pulled neatly up to his chest. Wires ran from various places on his body to a monitor that continued to beep and irritate him. Metal railings lined either side of the bed. A simple nightstand was beside him and a gray metal chair stood near a door. In the corner sat a cot with a rumpled blanket.
Gently he rubbed his bandaged head. Shifting slightly he looked out the window. The sun was not visible from his position, but the sky was clear blue and light flowed into the room. Where am I? A plane, I was on a plane. What happened?