THE SWORD AND SICKLE

PART TWO DECEPTION:

CHAPTER-SIX

CASSINI-2, part 10

©2017, Olan L. Smith

The team gathered their things and left the room. Outside the area, Director Alton asked the team. Where is Dr. Santos? I've been calling her to get her thoughts on this news release, and I haven't been able to reach her."

Gibbon responded, "Sir, all I know is she left after the images were processed and went home sick."

"Did she call in sick this morning?" the director asked.

"No, sir, she did not. Perhaps she is at a relative's recuperating."

"Gibbons, call around and see what you can find out. I would like to talk to her. Do what you have to do to find her, and then call me immediately." The director left them as they huddled together.

Gibbon asked, "What are we going to do? She never fails to call in if she is sick. You heard the reporter hint that they have her in St. Louis."

Aspen replied, "He's a kook; don't believe him."

"Then first, I am going to knock on her door, and if she doesn't answer, I am going to ask the neighbors what they know, and if they don't know anything, then I am going to call the police so they can open her door and let me in. Hell, I will even check the morgue to see if there's a Jane Joe that matches her description." Stated Gibbon.

Aspen asked, "How about the hospital?"

"I've already checked them and found nothing; so did the FBI."

"Don't you think they haven't already asked the neighbors?"

"I am sure they did, but I don't trust them to ask the right questions. The way I figure, I have an IQ of one hundred and forty, and they have an IQ between ninety and one hundred and ten. Besides, I know her better."

"When are you leaving, because I am going with you?" Said Aspen

Julie said, "Me too."

"No, this is my assignment. I want you two to find out what you can about this kook who says they have her. If they wanted the real images, then perhaps they did kidnap her." Stated, Gibbon.

"I will see you in the morning," said Julie, and the three-headed man looked out in different directions.

Gibbon arrived at Santos's house around sunset. He found her car parked in the driveway. That is funny, he thought; the FBI said nothing about that. He walked to the front door and knocked; there was no response. He walked to the picture window and peered in; he could see all her furniture exactly in its place. Aloud, he said, "Huh." He went over to the next-door neighbor's house, identified himself as her boss, and said that he was worried about her because she didn't show up for work.

The elderly woman responded, "Is that why those men came last night? The last time I saw her was when she slammed the door on her car and woke me up. I was concerned, so I went to the window and saw her as she opened the door. I saw her turn on her living room lights and sit down on the couch. Then I went to bed, but I did notice a bright light come on later. It was so bright that it lit up my room. I just assume it was something she was working on for you guys."

"Did those men come to your house?" Gibbon asked.

"That is the funny thing about it. They came in a helicopter, and the light and noise woke me up again. You know it is hard for you to sleep when you are my age. They walked into her house and didn't even talk to her; the sounds travel very well, you know, around here. They just walked through the house, turned on every light, and looked in every room. Then they just left. In the morning, these fine men came back and did the same thing. It's funny, isn't it? Her car has not moved since then. You don't think those men harmed her, do you?"

"I don't know, ma'am. But I am going to find out. You don't think she left in the early morning hours. Maybe she called a cab or something."

"Oh no, I'm a very light sleeper... I know everything that goes on around here; you can't be too safe these days with all this telepathic stuff."

"Well, I am certainly happy she has such a concerned neighbor."

The neighbor woman continued, "I've been worried about her ever since her husband died. You know she never brings a man home with her. When you all were here for that party, it was the most activity I've ever seen around there."

"Good day, ma'am."

"Just call me Aunty Mae; everybody else does."

"Thank you, Aunty Mae."

Gibbon walked back to his car. "What a nosy old woman, but I am glad she is; now I've got more questions than I do answers." In his car, he picked up his cellphone and called 911.

"What is your emergency?" was the response on the other end.

I am concerned about one of my employees, Dr. Alicia Santos. I believe she may be hurt or dead. Could you send the police and an ambulance to this address? As soon as possible."

"Why do you suspect this?"

"She never misses a day without calling in, and her neighbor reports men visiting her house last night. Her car is in her driveway, and I saw her cell phone in her car."

"Yes, sir, I have her name and address; please stay on the line. Sir, may I have your name and cell phone number?"

"Yes, I am Bob Gibbon, and my number is 885-555-1211."

After a few minutes, the woman said, "You should be able to hear the sirens soon, sir. Would you like to stay connected?"

"I hear them. Thank you very much." Bob hung up the phone. The police arrived first in force. Three cars drove up. They had their hands on their weapons as they got out of their cars.

The officers surrounded him, and the lead officer started to ask questions. "What is your name and concerns?"

"I am Dr. Robert Gibbon, and I work for NASA. Dr. Alicia Gibbons works under me on the Cassini-2 project. She did not show up for work, and the director of NASA is concerned for her welfare. We had a news conference this afternoon, but she didn't make it. This is very unlike her. In five years, she has never failed to show up for work without first calling in sick. For her to miss a news release is not like her. Her car was in the driveway, and when I knocked on the door, she did not answer. I went to her neighbor, and she reported a helicopter and men entering her house early in the morning hours, and they left the house without her, according to her neighbor, Aunty Mae."

The officer replied, "May I see some ID?" They looked at his ID and then at him. The officer looked at it very carefully, and he returned it and said, "What do you want us to do? Would you like to fill out a missing persons report?"

"I'd like for you to do a wellness check because I believe someone has harmed her, officer. I would like for you to open the door and see if something has happened to her."