Tomb of Zeus (Atlantis) (33 page)

“Helena, do you have any idea just how crazy that sounds?” Javi said.

“I know it sounds crazy, but have you ever heard of the Society of Arae?”

“Admittedly, no,” he confessed.

“If a society of people have been able to remain secret for thousands of years, all the while rising to some of the world’s highest positions of power, don’t you think they might have the resources to pull off what they’re planning? And even if they can’t pull it off, can you imagine the world havoc they’ll wreak while trying?”

While the three regarded her first claim of ‘world takeover’ as fantasy and nonsense, the last claim of ‘world havoc’ created deep worry within them. They knew that bad men with money and power had the ability to disrupt whole societies if they chose to do so. It was already happening with the drug cartels of Latin America. They realized this new society could do the same.

Jack shook his head in shock and stared at the table. He stood up and took off his jacket, then laid it on the table, casually covering Helena’s items.

Sitting back down again, he said, “This is bad, this is
really
bad. You need to do something.

“No Jack,
we
need to do something. We need to get to that scepter before they do,” she stated adamantly.

“We?”
Duni responded mockingly.

“Yes Duni,
we
,” she shot back confidently. “I can’t get into that chamber after what happened earlier, but I am allowed to move about freely. Because of that, I might be able to distract one of the guards and sneak one of you in,” she said, now staring directly at Jack.

All eyes focused on him.

“Why me?” he asked in feeble tone, already knowing the answer.

“Javi’s too old, Duni’s to weak and you’ve demonstrated you’re resourcefulness by surviving at sea,” she responded bluntly.

“Well hell, Helena, don’t sugar coat it. Please tell us what you’re really thinking,” Duni shot back, now insulted.

“Sorry, but I don’t have time for niceties and games. I have to state my case quickly and convincingly,” she responded.

“I’m convinced. I’ll do it,” Jack said resolutely.

Javi and Duni sat stunned. Jack’s response seemed too
impulsive for logic.

“What’re you thinking? You’re actually going to trust her? Don’t you want to hear more of the story before you walk into the lion’s den?” Du
ni asked incredulously.

“I have to agree with Duni
xi. I’m not comfortable with the little information we just received. I think you should hear more before accepting the task, Jack. This could be a life or death situation,” Javi reasoned.

Jack stood up and grabbed his jacket. He walked over to a small refrigerator and took out a bottled water. He took a long drink, then replaced the top. Leaning casually against a desktop, he stared back at Javi and Duni.

“I appreciate your concern guys, but my mind is made up. I’m doing it,” he said, decisively.

Javi and Duni both exhaled a sigh of exasperation and shook their heads in disapproval.

“Thank you, Jack,” Helena responded. “You won’t regret this.”

“I might regret it, but I don’t have much choice,” he responded. “So when do you want to do this?”

“Around six this evening, that’s when the changing of the guard occurs. I’ll distract the guard at the entrance and you can sneak in during the confusion. Ron Cotterman’s goons all dress the same, so I’ll get you a change of clothes. If anyone sees you, they’ll think you’re one of them. At that point, you rush in, grab the scepter and rush back out again. Once the scepter is in our hands, we can simply hide it. When they enter tomorrow for the first time and find only Zeus, they’ll think the scepter never existed. After that, the society will simply continue on with their lives as if the event never happened.”

“Ridiculous! Do you really think…”
Javi started.

“Javi, it’s ok. I’m doing it and that’s the final word on this,” Jack
blurted loudly, cutting him off in mid-sentence.

Jack turned to Helena. He softy r
ubbed her shoulder and smiled flirtatiously.

“I think you better go now,” he said softly.

Helena smiled back, seductively. As she stood up, Jack stepped closer and stared deeply into her eyes. He reached behind him, grabbed the clipboard from the table and handed it to her.

“H
urry back,” he said, once again in flirtatious tone.

She smiled, then turned and headed out the door.

“You can’t still like her after what she just did to us, can you?” Duni shouted, in disbelief.

Jack turned and
rushed over to the desk by the refrigerator, then lifted his jacket. Holding up Helena’s satellite phone, he smiled coyly. His face then became serious.

“We don’t have much time. Javi, start your computer and bring up Inspector DiApopolus’ email address. Duni, stand by the window and shout out if anyone’s coming,” he said in grave tone.

Duni rushed by them as Javi sat down at his computer. Jack opened the phone and searched through its data base. Two minutes later, with his computer finally running, Javi opened his contacts and searched through the list of names.

“Got it, Jack,” he shouted.

“Great, now open and email browser and add his name,” Jack said, still fumbling with the phone’s confusing file management system.

“Come on!” he growl in frustration, still unable to find the files he needed.

Suddenly Duni called to them.

“Guys, she
’s coming back. Whatever you’re doing, you better hurry,” he said, his voice now growing worried.

“Shit! We’re not even close,” Jack said in surprise. “Lock the door and hold the handle. When she tries to get in, tell her the handle’s frozen.”

“Frozen? Jack, she’ll never buy it,” Duni shot back in disbelief.

“Dude, just do it,” he ordered forcefully.

Turning back to Javi, he said, “As quick as you can, write an email to the Inspector. Tell him we’re being held hostage. Tell him to send help by tomorrow or we’re all dead.”

“Way ahead of you. Almost done,” he replied, typing frantically.

A loud knock sounded from the door.

“Hey guys. Let me in. I forgot something,” Helena shouted from outside.

Duni held the doorknob tightly. Looking back toward Jack, his face was consumed by fear.

Jack rushed behind the computer, he ripped a USB cord from a nearby accessory, then plugged one end into the phone and the other into the computer. Racing around to the front, he grabbed the mouse from Javi and hurried through several layers of menus.

“Come on… where the hell is it?” he said, now frantic.

Beads of sweat formed on his brow. His heart beat wildly as he searched.

“Jack, let me in,” Helena shouted, now banging on the door.

Duni continued to hold the knob, then shouted, “Hang on Helena, I’m trying to open it. I think the knobs frozen or something like that.”

“Frozen? What the hell are you talking about? I just left from here and it was fine,” she countered.

“Well maybe it’s just stuck. Let me jiggle the knob a little,” he responded.

Looking back, he whispered in panicked tone, “Hurry guys. I can’t keep this up for long.”

Jack’s face filled with dread. His eyes scanned rapidly and the mouse clicked faster with each second that passed. Frantically, he searched as the knocks at the door became louder and more violent.

“This is Sergeant Reynolds. Open the door now or I’ll break it down,” the guard shouted.

“Shit Jack, hurry,” Duni pleaded.

Jack continued his search. His focus was now extreme. He blocked out the noise around him, concentrating only on his work.

“Yessss, found it,” he whispered in relief.

He clicked fast and then watched the lower screen for an internet connection.

More banging sounded from the door.

“Jack, they’re breaking it down. Hurry!” Duni shouted, his tone near hysterical.

“Got it. We’re connected,” Jack said.

“Great, now send the message,” Javi said, his own voice now filled with fear.

Jack opened another file manager application. As he clicked through the various files, Javi stared in disbelief.

“Jack, what are you doing? Send the damn message,” he shouted.

Jack ignored the demands and blocked out the pounding at the door. Swiftly, he moved through several layers of programing. Seconds later, the mouse hovered over a file titled:
“contacts”. He clicked on it and attached it to Javi’s email. He moved down and clicked on one more file titled: “Arae”, attaching it also the email.

“Jack, for the love of Mike, send the damn file,” Javi shouted, now consumed by fear.

Jack hit the send button. The front door began to give way. Duni hung on, but was losing his grip and his nerve.

“Come on you pile of garbage, finish,” Javi yelled to the computer.

Jack looked over to Duni, then back to Javi.

“Stand near Duni and block their view of the computers when they come through,” Jack ordered.

Javi burst from his chair and positioned himself next to Duni. Jack’s eyes were glued to the computer screen.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Duni fell
backward. He jumped to his feet as the guard took a step inside. Jack spun around and faced the entrance. With one hand behind his back, he unplugged the phone, then casually stepped toward the doorway.

“Phew, you guys got it open. I thought we were going to be stuck in here forever,” Jack said, talking over the tops of Javi’s and Duni’s shoulders.

As he moved forward, he placed the phone back on the table near where Helena had been sitting. He pressed the off button, then took another step.

Helena rushed in, shoving the guard and Javi out of the way. She spotted her phone and swiped it off the table. Quickly, she turned it on and scanned through her phone calls and messages. A wave of relief swept over her face.

“Ma’am, you left your phone it here?” the guard asked in shock.

“Yeah, but only for a minute or so. Not enough time for them to call anyone,” she replied.

He held out his hand.

“May I?” he asked.

“Certainly,” she responded, placing the phone in his hand.

Quickly, he
searched her calls and messages, just as she had done. He then opened the phone’s internet browser and search through the history files. He nodded in satisfaction, then handed it back to her.

He stared at Jack, Javi and Duni for a moment, then said coldly, “It’s a good thing the phone’s clean. You’d be dead in less than an hour if it wasn’t.”

He turned and stepped outside. Helena smiled back to Jack, then followed the guard. Duni’s eyes widened at Jack, signaling his relief.

“Hey, what about our door? It’s busted,” Jack said to the guard.

He turned and stared at Jack with indifference.

“Your problem,” he responded.

Duni shut the door as best he could. Looking back, his faced was filled with concern.

“Well?” he asked.

“Yeah Jack, did you get it sent?” Javi asked equally concerned.

Jack shrugged.

“I don’t know. My back was to the machine. I never got a look. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if the cavalry shows up tomorrow,” he said.

“So are you still plan
ning on helping Helena get that stupid scepter?” Duni asked.

“You heard her. Some of the most powerful members of Arae will be here. We need to find out who they are. If we can expose them, their organization will be through,” Jack replied.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Javi asked.

Jack shook his head in confusion.

“Like what?” he asked.

“Like finding a way to escape. Exposing the men w
ill do us no good if we’re dead,” Duni responded.

Jack smirked wryly and answered, “I’m still working on it.”

Jack looked down at his watch. The time read 5:45pm.
Staring out the window, he looked for Helena’s snowmobile, but all looked quiet. Moments later, he heard the high pitched whine of her snow machine. He looked out the window once more and watched her pull in front.

“I guess this is it,” he said to Javi and Duni, watching nervously from the table behind him.

“Jack, I really wish you would reconsider,” Javi asked.

“Now where would be the fun in that?”
he teased.

“This is no laughing matter, Jack. This mission you’re on is nearly suicidal, especially with someone so unbalanced running the operation,”
Javi added.

Jack turned and faced the two.

“With all I’ve been through, I’ve learned one unshakable truth: I’d rather die controlling my own destiny, than to live as a puppet while someone else controls it for me.”