Ancient Echoes

CHAPTER 67



THE NEXT MORNING the governor dispatched a private plane to Salmon City to pick up the students, media, and anyone else who wanted a quick trip back to Boise after the grueling ordeal.

Jake went to the airfield to see them off. Rachel’s and Devlin’s parents met them there, having ridden up as part of the governor’s group. Brandi’s parents flew in on their own plane to take her home with them. All the thanks Jake received from parents made him uncomfortable. He looked for Charlotte and Michael, but found neither.

As quickly as he could, he said his good-byes, got hugs from the students, and hurried to Salmon’s emergency medical facility. All the survivors had been brought there to be checked over when they arrived late the night before. The doctors insisted Michael stay, while the state provided the others motel rooms with baths, clean clothes, and lots of food. After Jake’s gunshot wound had been tended to, he spent the entire night being debriefed, and pretty much cut off from everyone else. He worried that Michael may have taken a turn for the worse.

Instead, he learned no one knew where Michael went. His doctors expected him to transfer to a hospital in Boise, but a mysterious young Chinese fellow showed up and whisked him out of the medical center before dawn. By the time a furious Homeland Security agent arrived, they were both long gone.

Charlotte hadn’t been seen at the hospital either. She might have left with Michael, but Jake found it hard to imagine her leaving without at least saying goodbye. He went to the motel only to learn she hadn’t used her room the night before.

It made no sense. He could only think of one other place she might be, if still in the area. He drove like a crazy man out to the Forest Service cabin Simon Quade used.

She closed the trunk of her rental car as he skidded to a stop on the driveway. She was alone.

She looked happy to see him, but at the same time troubled. He limped toward her, the bullet wound mending but still painful. “You aren’t taking the plane back?”

“No. Fortunately, Michael’s friend, Li Jianjun, found me as I left the clinic last night. He advised me to stay out of sight of any law enforcement types until everything involving some murders in Israel was settled. He’ll see that the FBI receives some evidence that implicates Calvin Phaylor. I don’t mind hiding out for a month or two. I was tempted to stay here, but I’m sure the Forest Service will come back to it eventually. You won’t turn me in, will you, Sheriff?”

He stood close, one hand on the top of the car to help support himself. “Not to worry. I've said all I have to say on this subject to the authorities, the press, and everyone else.”

“I know what you mean.” She gave him a lopsided smile. “Ironic, isn't it? I've found the story of a lifetime for both US historians and anyone interested in alchemy, and I can't tell it. No one would believe it, and it isn't the sort of thing I want the parents of all those students to have to live with, or Melisse's little daughter.”

He nodded. “True.”

“Years from now, when you're old and gray and living in these mountains and no longer care if you're called a crazy old sheriff, you'll certainly have a story to tell.”

“If I stay,” he said, and glanced out over the mountains. “It's beautiful here, but the winters are long and lonely. At least that's what I'll remind myself when people start throwing blame around for so many deaths. Especially since I won't be able to tell them what really happened, I might not even have a job when it's all said and done. Maybe I'll leave before they ask me to.”

“So many deaths,” Charlotte said. “So many lives taken, and the lives of those who loved them forever shattered.”

Jake nodded. “The public will never know.”

“It’s for the best,” she said, and walked to the driver’s door, car keys in hand. Before she opened it, she faced him. “I’m sorry it turned out this way for you.”

He shrugged. “I came up here to retire from the world, from people. And look at what I walked into.”

“You'll do well wherever you go,” she remarked, her face as serious as ever. “Where will you go, Jake?”

“I don't know. A part of me hates the idea of leaving. No matter what, this is home.” His gaze swept the area, then returned to her. “What about you, Charlotte? Back to Customs?”

“To look for art and antiquities forgeries after I've found the ultimate antiquity treasure? It's going to be very hard to do my job after that. So, I don't know either.” Her troubled blue eyes met his, and she stepped closer to him. “I guess I could return to Jerusalem to finish my Ph.D., but academic life no longer holds any appeal, I’m afraid. It would be finishing what I started, which makes sense, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel that would be going backward, not forward.”

Washington D.C. or Jerusalem. He could never compete with all that, and knew better than to try. “I have never known a woman so serious or so focused on what’s logical, scientific and rational. Tell me, what you would most like to do?”

“What I’d most like?” She thought a moment. “To what purpose?”

He shook his head, and grinned at her. “For the purpose of, I don’t know, who you are? What you’re all about? Maybe even your very own brand of happiness?” He turned serious, and placed his hands on her arms as he quietly added. “You deserve it, you know.”

That took her aback. “Well, in that case,” she said, regarding him closely, brows furrowed as she contemplated his question, “I think that to be somewhere with a big soaking tub, a soft bed, good books, and lots of peace and quiet would be rather pleasant.” Her expression eased, and with some hope in her voice, she added, “It might even be a place to begin to build some new memories. Good ones.”

He saw the shine in her eyes, heard a lilt in her voice, but didn’t want to believe it. He dropped his hands. “That's all you want?” he asked, wary now.

“Isn’t it enough?” Her voice caught.

His mouth went dry. “There's a house in Salmon that has that. My place. You can use it if you'd like. I mean...I've got a guest room. I'm not suggesting...not that I wouldn't want...I mean…” He stopped then.

The two studied each other but said nothing as they held their respective breaths.

She spoke first. “The long winter is just about here,” she said, still serious. “And two bodies are warmer than one. That could save a lot of money on the heating bill, especially if we're both unemployed.”

A grin played on his lips. “Charlotte Reed, did you just make a joke?”

A slow smile spread over her face, one that broadened as she threw caution aside and put her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “I think I could get the hang of this ‘fun’ business.”

“So do I, Charlotte, so do I.” As their lips met, her arms tightened and he crushed her to him. He had no idea if what they had found would last, but knew they would take it day by day, build on what they shared, and value those areas where they differed. Finally each could put aside the ugliness of the past and move toward the future. He hoped with all his heart they would face it together.