At least for your crappy cell phones John said to himself.
“You won’t have a signal until we get to Vegas. Your phones will work great in Vegas.”
“You mean we’re stuck without a phone until we get to Vegas? How long will that be?”
“If we didn’t stop it would be about three hours. But we’re stopping outside Barstow to pick up the wave runners and wait for our parents, so probably 5 or 6 hours if our parents don’t get held up.”
“Five or six hours without a cell phone? I can’t do that.”
“You don’t really have a choice. This isn’t New York City.”
“No it’s more like hell. How hot is it out there?”
John looked at the thermometer on the dashboard.
“About 107. Does that seem hot to you?”
“Did you say, 107? That’s ridiculous. How do you live like this?”
“Oh. This isn’t that bad. It often hits over 112 at the lake in July. That’s when it gets really hot.”
“I still can’t believe we’re going there for a week.”
“You at least get to spent one night in Vegas with all the shows and shopping.”
“But it’s only one night. Then we have to go to the lake.”
“Well, we like vacations like that. Sure they’re a lot of work, but you get to spend all day in the sun. You can cool off by jumping in the lake. You don’t mind swimming with fish do you?”
“You’ll never see me in that water.”
“How will you stay cool then? We don’t run the air conditioning during the day. Everyone’s in the water all the time. It would be too hot to even stay inside.”
“You don’t run the AC during the day?” Ellen asked incredulously.
“Of course not. Everyone is outside all day in the lake. Why would we run the AC? Besides, it can’t keep up when it is 112. We just run it at night. It’s too hot to stay inside during the day even if the AC was running.”
Ellen stared at John.
“I don’t believe this. What do you mean by this vacation being a lot of work?”
“Well, generally the guys take care of the houseboat, ski boat and wave runners, while the girls do all the cooking and washing dishes. It’s a small kitchen and everyone eats a lot because we get so much activity. Ellen, you like to cook don’t you?”
“I never cook. Who do you think I am?”
“I guess you and Sarah can do the dishes and clean up, while our moms cook. You can at least get your hands clean every day. It’s hard to get very clean just by swimming.”
“What do you mean by swimming? Don’t you have bathrooms?”
“Of course we do. We just don’t have showers. We actually do have showers, but you only get to use them once a week or we would overflow the waste tanks. The rest of the time we just swim.”
Cody thought, I can’t believe they’re buying this. Not running the AC during the day and not taking showers. They’ll think we live like animals.”
Cody chimed in, “Don’t worry; it’s not so bad at night. It cools off to about 85 degrees. You usually stop sweating a lot by midnight. Did you think this was going to be like Vegas?”
“It sounds more like living like the homeless.” Ellen retorted angrily.
“It’s not that bad. At least you get to text your friends every couple days for a few minutes.”
“What do you mean for a few minutes? We text all day long.”
“Not on the lake you won’t. We always keep the houseboat in a canyon. The only place you get cell service is in the middle of the channel in certain areas. We only go out there every couple days for a few minutes to check messages. You’ll have a week without texting. It’s not like staying in Vegas.”
Ellen looked at Sarah almost ready to cry and said,
“I can’t believe this. We’re leaving Vegas to go to that for a week.”
John jumped in. “Do you mean you would rather stay in Vegas than live on the lake for a week?”
Ellen said, “I would do anything to be able to stay in Vegas instead of going to the lake with you.”
Cody looked at both girls. “You sound like our cousin Blake who lives in Vegas. Her brothers love to come to the lake with us and she complains like you do when she goes. All she wants to do is stay in Vegas and go to shows and shop.”
“How old is Blake?”
“She’s 17. She used to be fun at the lake. Now she is just into fashion and how nice she looks. She spends all day texting like the two of you. It’s too bad you couldn’t just stay in Vegas. You could hang with her and send the boys with us to get them out of the way. You probably would have more fun with her than at the lake.”
Ellen whispered to Sarah, “Do you think we could? Stay in Vegas instead of going to the lake with them.”
“I don’t know. Do you think we could talk Mom and Dad into it?”
Ellen looked at John and Cody. “What do you think about us staying in Vegas with Blake and sending your cousins to the lake? Do you think we could talk our parents into it?”
“Maybe, if you brought it up. If we suggested it, our parents would think we are just trying to get out of going to the lake with the two of you. I think they might agree. When we get cell service again, you can call Blake so she can work on it from her angle. I have her number.”
“What do you think? Will this work? I’d give anything to stay in Vegas instead of going to the lake.” whispered Ellen to Sarah.
“I think we can convince them. I can’t live with the thought of spending a week with them in a houseboat.” She whispered back.
Cody nodded at John. I think we did it.
Chapter 18
The parents were sitting in a booth waiting for their food. Nancy grew concerned as she watched Ruth.
“Ruth, are you alright? You look white.”
“I’m fine, just having a bad day.”
“Are you worried about the kids? I know I’m complaining that Russ let them go, but that’s just being a mother. John’s really a responsible driver. I know they are safe.”
Robert said, “Ruth, you don’t look good at all. Can I get you something?”
“I’m fine. I just want to go to the ladies room. Don’t worry about me.”
After Ruth went to the ladies room, Russ, Robert and Nancy were talking at the table.
“Okay, tell me what’s going on. I know you better than this. Something’s wrong.”
Robert gave Russ and Nancy a resigned look.
“Ruth will kill me for telling you this, but she has cancer.”
Russ and Nancy exclaimed in unison, “What! She has cancer. How bad is it?”
“Bad. The doctors say about six months. We have been to every specialist and they are all agreed. There’s nothing we can do except make her comfortable. She remembers me talking about our family trips to Lake Powell when I was growing up, and she wants to see the red rock canyons before she dies. That’s why we pushed to come on this trip.”
Nancy stared at Robert. “This is incredible. There is nothing we can do?”
“There is an experimental program for her cancer in Irvine California. We are considering moving to California and trying it.”
“Why is there any doubt? Why aren’t you trying it for sure?”
“Because there is almost no chance it will help her. Do we spend her last six months in a program or spend her last six months enjoying life with our family?”
“I don’t even know how you could make a decision like that. Do your daughters know?”
“Yeah, they know. She didn’t want you to know because she wants this to be a happy trip, not a mourning trip because of her. I just thought you needed to know because she has bad days and doesn’t like being asked every hour if she’s feeling well. It reminds her of the cancer. She just wants to be happy and enjoy everyone’s company.”
“She’s coming back. Just act normal.”
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Nancy smiled at Ruth. “You look better. Your color’s back. Are you feeling better now?”
“I’m good. Look. There’s the AAA truck. Let’s pay the bill and get out of here.”
Russ and Robert went over to talk to the AAA driver. The man said, “It looks like the fuel pump. I need to tow it. Where do you want to take it?”
“I guess our mechanic. Do you know how long this will take to repair?”
“Why don’t you call your mechanic and give him a heads up so he knows we are coming. You can all fit into the towing truck if you squeeze. I’ll have it loaded in about 10 minutes.”
Robert repeated. “I told you it was the fuel pump.”
Russ talked to the mechanic for several minutes then looked at the group. “He says it won’t be done until tomorrow morning. The pump is in the fuel tank. It’s a several hour job.”
“Russ the kids are in Barstow by now. I knew we shouldn’t have let them go.”
“Nancy, they’ll be fine. They can stay at the ranch tonight, and we will be there by noon. Nothing ever happens in Barstow.”
“I’m calling them. I am so mad at them for not answering the phone. I must have called them 7 or 8 times.”
Chapter 19
Jensen Ranch
Joseph was restlessly pacing at the compound thinking of anything that could still go wrong. He said to Abdul,
“Let’s go for a ride. I need to get out. I want to check on that house near us that the attorney Mr. Brown owns and make sure no one is there.”
“The real estate agent said they only come in the winter when it’s cool to ride ATV’s. We’ve checked it every day.”
“It won’t hurt to check it again. Let’s go.”
Chapter 20
Homeland Security Headquarters
Arlington Virginia - June 2011
Sandra Collins sat at the conference table looking around at all the other Deputy Directors. This is one of the most boring meetings I have ever been in she thought. This agency spends so much time playing politics it’s amazing they can actually accomplish anything. Everyone is so afraid to make a wrong decision they can’t make any decision at all. There has to be a better way to run a large organization. It’s even worse for a female. They say there is no discrimination, but it’s there and hidden. I need some kind of a crisis to show what I can do. The only crisis we have had since 911 is boring everyone to death. And now they are talking more about how it’s wrong to profile. That has to be close to the dumbest thing I have ever heard. All our terrorist threat comes from the Middle East but we aren’t allowed to target Middle Eastern men. We treat 30 year old Middle Eastern men the same as Catholic nuns. It’s asinine. We need to follow Israel’s way of doing things. We look close at suspicious people and barely glance at everyone else. If they don’t like it, then don’t fly in America. If I was in charge of this agency we could actually make America secure. I just need a chance to prove myself. I need a crisis when all these politically correct sheep are out of the office or preferably on vacation and unavailable. At last this worthless meeting is over. As they filed out one of the other deputy directors started a conversation.
“So what are your plans over the Fourth of July? Are you staying around here?”
“Yeah, I’m the lucky one that is on duty for the entire holiday weekend.”
“Ouch! That’s a lousy way to spend the fourth. I think you will be the only one left in town. I hope there isn’t a crisis. You’ll be by yourself. The senior staff are all going to be out of the country.”
“They are all leaving at the same time?”
“The director called for a retreat at some remote resort. They can get on a plane and be back in several hours. So it’s all yours for the long weekend. Have a good time. I’m not on call so my family is going camping with the families of several of the other deputy directors.”
“If I get a major crisis like we run out of paper clips I’ll send you a text.”
“Good luck with that. There is no cell service where we are going. That’s what I meant that it’s all yours. You’re on your own for the weekend.”
Chapter 21
Joseph and Abdul got back from checking the Brown house to make sure no one came to it unexpectedly and called everyone together.
“Is everyone ready to go over the plan? We need to confirm everything is on schedule. Uday, you start. Is the gas ready?”
“Yes, Joseph. We went over all of this a couple hours ago.”
“And we are going to go over it again and again. Does anyone have a problem with that?” Joseph demanded as he stared at everyone.
Uday spoke up.
“The final shipment is now here. The tanks are secure. The transfer pumps and hoses have been checked. The containment suits are here although we don’t plan on using them, and we have more than enough antidote. The pilots are standing by at the airports. The planes are there. They have full gas tanks and empty insecticide tanks. We will get them about 10 p.m. after the airport is closed. They will be in Barstow, ready to be fueled and loaded with nerve agent by midnight.”
“Good. Let’s go over the flight paths.”
“Kasam will leave first, at about 3:00 a.m. He will fly southwest and come over the mountains near Burbank and then head south to Santa Monica and then to LAX.
“Good, what about Aarif?”
“He will leave at the same time and come over the mountains into Azusa and then continue south all the way to Long Beach.”
“Haman will leave next. He will head toward Pomona and then fly south ending in Newport Beach.”
“And Ali in the fourth plane?”
“He will spray this area where our base is and the 40 and 15 freeway junction to trap everyone in the LA basin, then fly south and come in over Pasadena and continue south through downtown. I just don’t understand why we are spraying random areas and leaving others alone?”
“Our sponsors won’t tell me. They supplied the nerve agent and this base with all the equipment we need. They told us where to steal the crop dusters and they smuggled us into the country. After this they are letting us take all of the credit. They must have another agenda, but I still have no idea what it is.”
He looked perplexed. “Do the areas they want us to spray mean anything to you?”
“The only similarity I see is all the areas we are spraying are military or wealthy areas. They are leaving the poor areas alone except for the mostly black areas. The only areas that seem to be spared are the mostly Mexican areas.”
“What group that has that much money and resources would be tied to the poor Mexican immigrants?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea. But as long as they supply all the resources and money and then allow us to take the credit, I’ll keep using them. It’s a great deal for us. We just need to keep our eyes open. So far I haven’t seen a down side for us. They even set up an escape route. They say they have more work for us. And they’re paying us $20 million for what we are doing, and we still get the credit.”
Chapter 22
Brown house - Jensen Ranch
The kids drove into the dirt driveway at the ranch. John got out of the Explorer and turned to Cody.
“Look at that dust going over the hill. I think a vehicle just left here. I thought I saw something drive away as we came over the hill, but I wasn't sure.”
“I wonder if those people that bought the main Jensen ranch are here? Maybe we should ride over and introduce ourselves.”
“I don't think we have time now. We have to get the wave runners ready. Our parents are right behind us.”
Cody turned his cell phone back on.
“Ah... John. Mom just texted. They’re not exactly right behind us. They’re still in Orange County. I guess the car had a problem and they are getting it fixed.”
“Why didn’t they call us?”
“T
hey tried. There are eight missed calls on my phone.”
“Why didn’t you answer? Is Mom pissed?”
“No, she was pissed an hour ago, now she’s going ballistic” Cody said as he read the text messages from his mom.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“I was listening to my I pod and had my phone on vibrate on the seat. Why didn’t you answer?”
“I had the music up loud, and then I turned mine off too. What does Mom want us to do?”
“Would that be before or after she kills you?” Cody replied as he kept reading the texts.
“Why me and not us?”
“You are the responsible one that was driving. I’m just the 14 year old along for the ride.”
“You are such a loser. I’m calling her.” John stated glaring at Cody while the girls watched amused.
“Hi, Mom.”
He could tell his Mom was talking through tight teeth. “Don’t hi Mom me. I’ve been calling you for two hours. We are still at home. Our fuel pump went out and it won’t be fixed until tomorrow morning. Why didn’t you answer?”
“Ah… We were having a really interesting conversation with Ellen and Sarah and the phone was on vibrate on the seat. You know they’re really interesting. I’m glad you let us drive together. We’re getting along really well. I was wrong about them.”
“Don’t change the subject. We’re still in Orange County and the four of you are at the Ranch in Barstow.”
“So what do you want us to do? Do you want us to drive back?”
“No, you’ll have to stay at the ranch until we get there tomorrow. Get something to eat and try to stay out of trouble.”
“It’s not hard to stay out of trouble here. Nothing ever happens in Barstow. It’s the most boring place on earth.”
Her temper had abated by now after she realized they were fine. “Make sure it stays that way. Here, talk to your father.”