Special Agents William Pierce and Melanie Sanders were not pleased to learn there were two more murders connected to the Bat Mountain Site. They had made very little progress on Colonel Martin’s murder and had barely begun their investigation of Randy Perkins bizarre death when they got the call about the explosion at Deputy Hanson’s place. When they got to the scene of the crime all they found was smoldering debris. The fire had been so hot that almost nothing was left of the Hanson’s home or furnishings. They tried to interview the children but they were so distraught that nothing they said made sense. The ERT spent the entire night sifting through the debris looking for evidence but found little if anything.
The fire inspector determined that escaping gas from the kitchen stove was the cause of the explosion but the children couldn’t offer any knowledge on how that happened as they hadn’t been in the kitchen that morning. Neighbors confirmed that the structure had somehow been sealed up so that the Hanson’s couldn’t get out. Several men told the agents they had diligently tried to get into the house, but couldn’t do it even with crowbars and axes. There was very little of the crystalline substance that had survived the explosion and fire so it was hard to determine exactly how the home had been so tightly sealed.
“I’m at a loss, Bill,” Agent Sanders said in despair. “How could someone do this? Did they spray this substance on the doors and windows? If so, wouldn’t Deputy Hanson have heard them doing it? You’d have to have some kind of machine and it would need power.”
“If it was electric it wouldn’t make a lot of noise, a paint sprayer maybe.”
“Still, they’d have to get in the house unnoticed, spray the interior without anyone seeing them, then go outside and spray the outside as well.”
“I know. It seems impossible, but the other option isn’t very realistic either.”
“What do you mean?”
“That this rock contained an organism that somehow went into the foundation, then moved through the walls and eventually sealed up all the doors and windows.”
She rolled her eyes. “Right. The Bat Mountain Monster theory. It seems pretty ridiculous.”
“Yet, that may be what happened, considering we know the walls are growing, so whatever is in them can move through solid objects.”
As they were talking a Chevrolet Impala drove up and a man dressed in a dark blue suit stepped out. He wore sunglasses and a poker face. When he noticed them he walked over.
“Agents Sanders and Pierce?” he asked.
They nodded. “I’m Jimmy Malone, CIA,” he said and showed them his badge.
They looked at it and then back at Malone. “Okay, what can we do for you?”
“General Thornton asked me to let you know that the Army will be taking over the three murder investigations involving the Bat Mountain Site.”
“Why?” Malone asked.
“Because the President asked them to. I’d be happy to explain it to you but it’s classified. You can call your bosses to confirm it if you want. The FBI Director has been informed.”
Agent Sanders looked at Agent Pierce who shrugged. “Well, this is one case I won’t miss,” Agent Pierce said with a smile.
“What about the evidence we’ve gathered?” Sanders asked.
“Where do you have it?” Malone replied.
“At our evidence warehouse in Vegas.”
“General Thornton will send someone over there to pick it up. I’ll make sure they call you in advance so you can do the proper paperwork.”
Agents Pierce and Sanders and the ERT packed up their gear and drove off. As she drove back to Las Vegas, Agent Sanders wondered what was going on. In her ten year career with the FBI she’d seen some strange things but this was by far the most bizarre. None of the three murders made any sense to her and being forced to walk away from them without figuring out who was responsible bothered her. But of even greater concern was the possibility that whatever was buried at the Bat Mountain Site was alive, had a mind of its own and would do anything to protect itself including killing human beings. She just hoped the Army could handle it.
When she got back to her office she wrote up her final report and personally delivered it to her supervisor, Joe Spencer. “I think it’s a mistake to take us off this case,” she told him.
“Probably, but it’s not our call. I got confirmation from Washington that we’re to back off.”
“But what if that thing kills more innocent people? I don’t think the Army has a clue how to contain it.”
The telephone rang and Joe picked it up. “Yes,” he said and listened. “Yes, sir. I understand. I’ll take care of it.”
Joe hung up the telephone. “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully. “I guess you’re not the only one who has concerns about the Army’s ability to handle the Bat Mountain site. The director wants the investigation of the three murders to continue, unofficially.”
“Unofficially? What does that mean?” Agent Sanders asked.
“Well, Melanie. It means you’re taking a few weeks’ vacation, except you’re not going to Hawaii.”
Agent Sanders sighed. “So, how can I conduct a murder investigation without the Army knowing about it.”
“I don’t know. Maybe you can team up with the Sheriff’s office and work in the background.”
“I got a better idea. The guy who discovered the site knows as much about it as anybody, plus he refuses to back off even though the Army has assured him they have it under control. Perhaps I can team up with him.”
“What’s his name?”
“Jack Carpenter. He’s been working with a geology professor, George Palmer.”
“What’s their angle? Why won’t they back off?”
“The professor is interested in the site for scientific inquiry and professional notoriety, I’m sure. As for Carpenter, I’m not sure—maybe because he stumbled on it in the first place and thinks it’s his responsibility to figure it out.”
“Okay. Get going and keep me posted. The director wants a daily report on what’s going on.”
“What about Bill?”
“It’s just going to be you. As far as Bill and anyone else is concerned, you’re on vacation.”