Storm Surge

Chapter 7

Chapter 7THEY TALKED THROUGH the afternoon and into the evening, glad to be able to share stories and feelings that both had kept in check. When Ashley asked about Linda, Fritz said he had stopped calling. He'd called daily through July, but she'd never answered, or returned his messages. Being in such close contact with her father had seemingly driven her further away. “After all that's happened, she should be able to explain to him how important the portal has been.” He shrugged. “I only call once a week now. But I miss her and TJ.”

“Why don't you go get her? Do the caveman thing and drag her out by her hair, toss her in the car and go.”

“Her father would have me arrested. I really don't like that guy.”

“Then use the portal. I'll go with you. Give TJ to me and you grab Linda.”

“I've tossed that around, Ash. Believe me. Look, if she wants to come home, she'll come. If not, I'm sure Tim will make sure I get divorce papers delivered, sooner or later.”

Ashley changed the subject and asked if Fritz had discovered anything new about the Caballeros. Fritz said he had reviewed Jane's files, including bank transactions that had occurred around the two ship bombing attacks, the summit in Geneva and the attack on the White House.

“Did you tell anyone?”

“I told the president, but by the time I figured out what she found, the Caballeros went up in smoke. It's what Linda's father had warned. Rich guys manipulating markets.”

“She was hunting for links to Richter. None of that surprised her. She told me she had a feeling.” Jane's feelings regularly alerted everyone that something was amiss, or some action imminent. Ashley brushed his eyes and poked at the newspaper, still on the table since breakfast. “Looks like the development plan is going ahead full bore.”

“They have so much to do. The president told me that men are coming from all over the region to get work. Training schools for construction and the trades have opened, the water plants, the harbor and acres of solar farms are going up. Pipelines for water, a new electrical smart-grid. Declercq's ships are all being used. No wonder they want him in the Caballeros.” The Caballeros. Back to them again. Then his phone rang. “It's Tony,” he said. “Hi, what's up?”

“Hi Fritz. The president wants the portal. To get Declercq.”

“Now? It's four in the morning in Europe.”

“He said to call when we're ready. He told me to call you.”

“That's weird, but sure. See you in a few.” Ashley jumped up and they were out the door.

They waited a few minutes for Tony's arrival. When Tony pulled up, Natalie got out. Ashley said, “Hi Nat.”

“Oh my God, Ashley. Is that you?”

“Nope.” Fritz laughed, as the hatch opened and Tony pulled the generator out. Ashley told Fritz to get the door, and he gripped the other handle.

“You're a hot mess, Ashley,” Nat continued.

“What? You don't like my Middle Eastern disguise? I've been assigned as a spy.” Fritz couldn't help but grin at the return, in part at least, of his friend's wisecrackery.

“Uh-huh.” She followed the generator to the open door. “Looks more like you have a Halloween assignment—scaring the kids.”

“Enough, you two,” said Fritz. “Let's get the president.”

The president stopped in his tracks as he stepped through the portal, and Mel Zack had a gun pointed at Ashley before a word was said. “That's a hell of a greeting,” Ashley said.

The president squinted, and then stepped to shake his hand. “I hope you aren't planning on playing basketball like that.”

Fritz asked, “Where to?”

“Hang on a second, Fritz. General Beech is coming. He was finishing up with Florian.”

“It's almost five o'clock over there. What's happened?”

“We need him here to find out.” As the general walked into the hallway, the president asked, “Where is he, Jim?”

“I was printing it. His London office.” He passed the sheet to Fritz. “He's waiting here.”

“This looks like a closet,” said Fritz.

“It's a secure room, like a bank vault. We can talk about it when he's here,” the general said.

The portal opened, revealing a man, with tense features and angry eyes, standing in a closet. Declercq looked around, shook the president's hand, and nodded to the others until he looked at Ashley.

“What's happened, Florian?” asked the general. Declercq told them that one of his ships exploded, just outside Ashdod. The crew was safe, he said, but the ship sank, blocking the channel. “The Israelis are furious. Nothing can get in or out.”

“What were you carrying?” asked the president.

“Solar panels and wind turbines, production from your American suppliers. My largest ship.”

“No weapons or explosives?” asked Beech.

“No, Jim, none. It may take months to clear the wreckage and reopen the channel. A crane alone would be incapable of lifting those turbine blades from the water.”

“Do you have a description of the explosion?” asked Fritz, glancing at the president.

Declercq told them the ship had been anchored close to port with docking planned for sunrise. After the explosion, the crew had barely enough time to float the inflatables. “The captain said it felt like the bottom blew out, all at once.”

The president's almost imperceptible head shake warned Fritz to be silent. “It will be daylight soon, Florian. I'll call the Prime Minister. He'll have the Israeli navy on site by now, and I'll send some divers. They'll have an idea of what to look for.”

Declercq considered the comment. “What to look for? The same people did your Navy ships, too?” The president nodded and told General Beech to call Admiral Davis, get the divers set, and get the reports sent to the Oval Office.

“General, have him meet us at midnight at my office.”

The general walked into the hallway.

“Florian, I have a question. Why were you in the vault when we came to get you?”

“I often work in there. No one disturbs me, and no one can get in. I wasn't sure how long I would be here.”

“Have you decided what you're doing about your invitation?”

“I had intended to call Mr. Seymour today. I had planned to decline.”

“And now?”

“I understand why you want me to go, Mr. President. But frankly, this frightens me. Aside from the distraction, if these people are as dangerous as you have said, how safe will I be?”

“Florian, we are on the verge of major changes in the world, if we succeed. If not, I believe the world will fall on dark times which may take centuries to reverse. None of us will be safe. Our children and our grandchildren will ask why they are carrying this load when we could have ended it.” The president rubbed his head. “I have an idea, Florian. I may have a way to keep an eye on you. But you'll have to be part of them first. If you go, you'll be able to see who else is involved.” The president checked his watch. “We'll call, Jim will, in two hours. Does the room have a phone?” When Declercq said it didn't and he couldn't get reception inside, the president asked him to inform the general if he resolved to go. “When Jim calls your office, just say yes or no. He'll call you back. We'll meet here again later. Jim will tell you when. I need to go now and call the Israelis. I'll have information for you and I'll get your crew home safely.”

Fritz reset the portal and Declercq dashed through to London. The president told Fritz to get him home, but before he stepped into the Oval Office, he said, “It could be a long night. Do you mind?”

Fritz said, “I don't. Jane would say to look at videos. Those bombs could have been planted before the ship set out. And I'm guessing they were detonated by someone on shore, not by a timer.”

“Good analysis. Thanks. I'll ask Admiral Davis to get the ship's itinerary, and I'll talk to the Prime Minister about the area around the explosion. If Declercq agrees to go, we'll need him here again in about three hours. I'll call you.” He turned slightly, and said, “Welcome home, Ashley.”

When the door clicked shut, Tony began packing the generator. Ashley took one side as they walked through the silence. With a quick glance behind him, Fritz envisioned the noisy hall only a few days away. “Silly to go home,” he said. “Why don't you guys come to my place?”

“Linda's not going to be happy,” said Nat.

“She's not home,” Fritz said, in a tone with points like needles.

* * *

BACK AT THE kitchen table, Fritz said, “I feel like a gerbil on one of those wheels.”

Ashley leaned on his fists, hands beneath his beard. “I'll bet the president wants to use the portal to raid the meeting.”

“If he does that, he blows any protection I have. He can't arrest anyone, even Richter.” Fritz grimaced. “I hope Declercq has the courage to step up.”

They didn't have to wait long to find out. When the president called, he said Declercq had agreed, but needed to be on a plane to New York. “Fritz, we'll need the portal this afternoon. If I'm not mistaken, his room won't be safe.”

Nat and Tony left but Ashley lingered. Fritz told him he could stay if he wanted. Ashley said he wanted a drink and asked Fritz to join him. He grabbed the bottle of Jack, usually full and dusty, now with only enough for a couple of drinks.

“You've been busy.”

“That's about the fifth or sixth one since Linda left. I have an evening cocktail. Sometimes evening comes early.”

“Then let's kill this sucker.” Ashley plopped two glasses on the table. “We'll get more tomorrow. Thanks for staying up.”

“What's on your mind?”

“I've had two months pretty much alone. I've considered asking you to let me go back so I could stay with Jane.”

“We've been on the same track. I considered retracing my conversation with Linda's father that set her off. I can't help but think that we've overused the portal. It's taken over my life. I've considered going back to our meeting last fall, and telling the president I wouldn't help. But that would change history for sure.”

“But would it change it? Or put it back the way it was supposed to be?”

“What was supposed to be, Ash? Maybe I was supposed to find the portal, and use it like we have. You remember our visit with Lee's wife. Maybe we were supposed to tell her that people still remembered him to make the end of her life better, happier. She died not long after we visited.” He emptied his glass.

“I've never seen you drink like that,” said Ashley.

“Things are different around here now. Quiet. So quiet, I can hear every little sound.” He picked up the empty glass. “This helps me sleep. I don't wake up now when TJ cries, or when Linda goes downstairs. I don't smell lasagna at four in the morning.”

Ashley shared Fritz's solitude. In his head, he felt the wind rushing past his face during the many hours on the highways. He downed the remaining bourbon.