“The doc tells me that other than a few bruises and a little dehydration, you’re okay.”
“Rick, I didn’t know what to do. They made me get in their van, took my pistol, and then put tape …” Rebecca’s voice trailed off. Rick’s heart felt like it was being squeezed when he saw the haunted look on her face.
“Baby, this made me realize something. I mean, we’ve only known each other for a week, but I don’t want to lose you. I'm not letting you out of my sight.”
Her eyes grew moist. “I knew this was more than a casual relationship, but … but I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“No chance, love. You’re stuck with me, as long as you’ll have me.”
“You know, Rick, that would sound corny coming from anyone else, but I think you’re serious.”
His face took on an earnest expression. He took her hands, looked her in the eyes and said, “I love you, Rebecca Riggs. Would you … go steady with me?”
Their laughter rang across the E.R., as the nurses came running in to shush them.
* * * * *
Rebecca was released an hour later. Rick offered to drive her home, but when they got outside, it was snowing heavily again.
“I don’t think you’re driving me back to Palmer today,” she said. “You could, I suppose, but there’s no point in pushing our luck. Traffic will be bad, and you’re not really used to driving in this stuff.”
“I’ve had a little more experience than you think,” he said, and told her about his brief attempt to get away from that blue sedan. By the time he finished, she was laughing out loud.
“No, seriously, a laser pointer? Really? What did you hope to accomplish by pointing it at them?”
Rick assumed an indignant air. “I hoped it would blind them so they couldn’t see me.” He broke into a grin. “Besides, they ticked me off.”
She wiped her eyes and said, “But a laser pointer? Oooh, you’re just a dangerous kinda guy, aren’t you?” and started laughing again.
They decided it was snowing hard enough to stay in town, so they stopped at a couple of stores for Rebecca to buy a change of clothes, and headed back to Rick’s hotel. She went to the front desk and arranged for a room while Rick walked into the café for some hot drinks.
“… and they just came in, sir. I’d better go now.” The barista hung up the phone and turned around to see Rick standing at the counter. She blushed and began to stammer, “Uh … good morning, Mr. … uh…”
“I heard that. So how long have you been telling the Ngs about me?”
She looked like she was going to cry, but said, “I used to work for the old man. They fired me because they thought I took some money from the bookkeeper’s desk. I didn’t, honest! But after I started working here, his daughter called and said she’d have me arrested unless I called her when anything interesting was happening downtown. When I heard you were asking about real estate deals, I told her – and she said I had to let her know when you went in and out, or if you met with anyone here.
“I'm sorry, honest.”
Rick kept his temper – barely – and said, “At least you’re being honest about it now. Is there anyone else here doing that?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Tell you what: how ‘bout you keep on calling her, but I tell you what to say?”
The girl smiled slowly and said, “I could do that.”
* * * * *
“So the wait staff was ratting on you? That’s not right!” Rebecca was indignant.
“Just the one girl, as far as I know, but I had an idea that might work in my favor.” Rick told her what he’d said to the barista, and Rebecca smiled, too.
“That could be … fun,” she answered.
* * * * *
Hatch’s flight arrived on time. Rick brought him back to the hotel, but left him standing in the lobby for a moment while he spoke to the girl in the café.
Back in his room, he introduced Wayne to Rebecca. Hatch shook her hand, then whistled. “Boy, Maxy wasn’t kidding when he said you were cute. Rick, she’s a looker!”
Rick blushed, Rebecca laughed, and Hatch said, “Uh-oh, old buddy. You didn’t tell me you were actually in love with her.” Rick stared at his old friend, mouth agape, while Hatch laughed.
Rebecca said, “I know. Did you think I wouldn’t?” Hatch laughed even harder, while Rick turned several shades of purple.
She turned to Rick and said sweetly, “I think your buddy and I are going to be good friends.”
Rick turned to Hatch. “You be careful, or I’ll tell her about that girl in Sousse.”
His friend’s laugh suddenly became a cough. “Uh, I’d really rather you didn’t,” Hatch said.
“Seuss?” asked Rebecca, looking amused. “Like Dr. Seuss?”
“It’s a city in Tunisia. Back in ‘74, there was this drunk Australian girl we met on the beach, and Hatch dared her to...”
Hatch interrupted loudly, “I think we should talk about the Ng family, and what you need me to do.”
This time, Rick and Rebecca laughed harder than ever. “You guys are fun!” she said.
* * * * *
Rick went quickly through everything that had happened since he came to Anchorage. Even talking rapidly, it took about 15 minutes to run it all down.
Hatch asked a few questions about the car that had been following Rick. Maxwell told him about the girl in the coffee shop, and how changing cars hadn’t worked because the Ng offspring were waiting for him when he went to Corbett’s office. Obviously, since they’d seen what he was driving now, it wouldn’t do any good to sneak out; they’d just follow his blue Trailblazer.
Hatch walked to the window and pulled the curtains closed. “We don’t need them watching us all taking together in here. Why is it dark already?”
Rebecca reminded him about far north he was now, and he nodded. “Okay, then, let’s look at what we know. You’ve both seen the blue sedan, and we know the girl downstairs has been telling them what you’re up to … at least in general terms.
“It’s probably also safe to assume that there’s at least one more person reporting to them. For now, let’s proceed on the assumption that they’re watching the front door of the hotel.”
“What about my phone here in the room?” Rick asked.
Hatch shook his head. “I’ve had my gear energized since we came indoors. If there were any active listening devices in here, the magic box would have let us know.”
Rebecca looked puzzled. Before she could ask, he went on. “I’ve got a bug sweeper in my gear box here, which Rick always calls ‘the magic box.’ I think of it more like Felix the Cat’s bag of tricks.” His grin faded when she continued to look confused.
He sighed. “Getting old sucks. Okay. Felix the Cat was a cartoon show back in the Fifties and early Sixties, see? He had a bag that always produced some sort of miraculous device or contraption when he needed one.”
She nodded slowly, and said, “Kind of like Mary Poppins’ carpet bag?”
“Yeah, just like that. A bottomless source of just-in-time stuff he could use to get out of a jam. So I kinda have this reputation for coming up with things, the same way.”
“What do you have for us right now, Hatch?” Rick asked.
“Well … you’ve done part of my job for me, since you busted the chick in the coffee shop. That simplifies things.”
“It does?” Rebecca said.
“Yeah. We know they’re getting their info via telephones. Their desire to listen in on the city’s wireless transmissions represents a big step up for them, technologically. And that means their current methods aren’t nearly as sophisticated.”
“Which makes it easier for us to intercept…” Rick said slowly. “Or mess with.”
Hatch grinned. “Now you’re getting it. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten how we roll.” Rick grinned back. “Nope. Just thinking things through.”
They heard a metallic clink and turned to see Rebecca disassembling her pistol on the spare bed. “You guys are talking gizmos, and I have one of my own. Just making sure it’s ready,” she said.
“I like you, lady. I really like you,” Hatch answered.
Rick said with a smile, “Stick to your bag of tricks, Hatch. She’s spoken for.”
Rebecca laughed again. “Now, now, boys, don’t get all worked up. We have work to do. Oh, and Rick? Did I mention Jamie and Bobby are meeting us for dinner?”
Rick shook his head. “Hatch, I think you’re going to like those two folks. Remember that pilot I told you about?”
Hatch looked back and forth between the two of them, smiling. “Cool. This is already more fun than I’ve had in a while. Let’s talk about how we’re gonna take this fight back to the enemy. I like to call it ‘Dazed and Confused’.”
Rick grinned. “Now you’re talking.”
* * * * *
Hatch said, “Okay. We know they’re communicating by phone. Whether that’s land-line or cell phones doesn’t matter. So we disrupt their ability to receive intel. I’ll start by using the latest TCSM equipment here, then we’ll move a compact unit to the café downstairs.”
Rebecca asked, “TCSM?”
“Technical Surveillance Counter Measures. I'm talking RTSA/DPX equipment … sorry. Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer and … Look, the bad guys can use cellular bugs, GPS trackers, digital recorders, RF burst transmitters, and all sorts of tiny devices that can be hidden in packs of gum, telephones, laptop computers, under car seats, chairs or tables – the list goes on and on.
“I'm going to use a TALAN – a telephone and line analyzer, among other devices, and a frequency domain reflectometer.” He paused. “Is this too much information?”
Rebecca said, “I'm going to assume that you know best, and will be doing your best work to help Rick. And that’s good enough for me.”
Hatch looked at Rick. “I told you, buddy – she’s a keeper.” Rick nodded, and said seriously, “That’s my intention.”
Rebecca just kept reassembling her pistol.
To be continued ...
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