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  Dawson had added a nice intro, but something still felt wrong, missing, or out of place. Unfinished business.

  When Hasan came on, Geri spoke up.

  “Don’t you think we should go check on Hasan?”

  “He should be safe at the plantation, right?”

  “Blake is with him.”

  Cooper whipped his head around to look at Geri.

  “Exactly,” she said.

  “Miki, we need to borrow your car.”

  She threw Cooper the keys and they dashed out the door.

  “How far do you think the plantation is from here?” Cooper asked as they got in the car.

  “Too far for us to get there in time. Blake is gonna flip when he sees that video!” Geri said.

  “Then we’ll have to fly.”

  “Even if you went a hundred miles an hour, it might be too late. We should pop.”

  “We’re too far from a transport station. I meant… Never mind.”

  Cooper sped out of town, made a few turns and ended up on a dirt road. He took a left down a long drive with two large barns off to the right of a two-story farmhouse.

  As they parked, an older man in overalls stomped out of the front door with an old-fashioned buckshot shotgun.

  “What’s your business?” he shouted.

  Cooper yelled out the window.

  “It’s me, Silas! Hold your fire!”

  “Cooper? I didn’t know you had a car. What’s all the fuss?”

  Cooper and Geri got out and walked quickly over to Silas.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t have time to explain. I need to borrow your plane.” Cooper didn’t wait for Silas to answer. He pulled on Geri and they jogged over to the larger barn. Silas followed close behind.

  “Since when are you a pilot?” Silas asked. He helped Cooper open the doors.

  “Since forever. She’ll be safe with me. I promise.” Cooper patted the nose of the single-engine Cessna. He opened the door and helped Geri climb in.

  “Hunh,” Silas said. He stood scratching his head as he watched Cooper taxi the plane out of the hangar, onto the mowed grass runway strip, then take off.

  PTI Corporate Offices, Atlanta, GA

  12:00 p.m., Saturday, July 27

  ay Saffioti paced in his office, waiting for Vivienne and Charles. They were coming over to discuss the implementation of the new procedures. Ray wasn’t ready to pop the champagne just yet. He wanted to get back to the plantation. Apparently, there was a standoff. Manny had reported that two guards stood outside the lab door, pounding to get in, while inside, the FBI agent made threats to keep them out. Ray had to get over there!

  Every moment that passed added heat to the already boiling situation. Ray told Manny to have the guards ease off and hold back from agitating the agent, which could risk harm to Hasan or the lab. Who knew what that half-cocked agent might do, after the stunt he pulled earlier with one of his own people.

  In the background, Ray’s wall imager showed the Money Channel. Ray glanced over at it from time to time, paranoid of hearing the words, “PTI stocks plunge.”

  Then it happened.

  The imager fuzzed into a video of Representative Dawson Cooper. Ray’s heart stopped. As if in a terrible dream, he heard the condemning announcement he had feared for two years. As the message played, Ray froze, unable to tear his eyes away from the bone-chilling sight. When his heart started again, it beat so fast he thought it would explode. He gripped his chest as Hasan’s face appeared. Ray’s eyes popped to twice their size. His brain throbbed. He had to hold his head to slow the pulsing beat ramping into yet another mind-numbing migraine.

  Lurching over to his desk to look for his Valium, he got an idea, noticing the door to his private transmission dock. Hasan has that code to make pops untraceable. I could disappear.

  Ray’s dock was specially designed. He could send himself anywhere, without needing assistance from a technician or medical staff. Lumbering into the chair, still clutching his head, he punched in the codes for Hasan’s lab. He lay back and gave himself the shot, then pushed the transmit button on the arm of the chair.

  Pop!

  Vivienne and Charles burst into Ray’s office.

  “Ray!” Vivienne’s voice reverberated around the empty room. He was probably hiding under his desk.

  “Ray?” Charles asked, cautiously looking around.

  Get a backbone, Charles.

  Vivienne saw the open transport room door, with the lights on inside.

  Charles had stopped moving, fixated on the imager, jaw dangling. When the video showed the disintegrated body, he grabbed his chest, lost his balance, and crashed to the floor.

  Vivienne rolled her eyes, unfazed by the sight. But when she realized what Ray had done, she shrieked.

  Stomping over to the transport room, she looked at the code.

  “That bastard! He went to Hasan’s lab. Well, he’s not the only one getting out of this.”

  Vivienne picked up another syringe of tranquilizer. Settled in the chair, ready for her departure, she looked over at Charles on the floor.

  “Nice knowing you, Chuck.” She gave herself the shot and pressed the button.

  Pop!

  Beasley Hills Plantation

  12:10 p.m., Saturday, July 27

  Hasan’s receiver buzzed.

  “Who could be calling at this hour?” The little jokester went over to the receiving station.

  “Well? Who is it?” Blake asked with a scowl. He was pissed about missing Geri and tired of babysitting this annoying kid. To add to his frustration, Ed had just informed him the video was playing on every satellite channel. Blake was to stay with Hasan and not let him out of his sight. Better not be for long, or he might have to kill him.

  “It’s from Ray’s office. My boss. I mean, I’m his boss, but he treats me like… Anyway. The pop is coming from his office dock. Which doesn’t surprise me. He’s the only one with this code.”

  “I know who he is. Why would he come here?” Blake asked. Why didn’t the guy just pop out of the country. Ray Saffioti was in deep shit.

  “I don’t know. Should I receive him?”

  Blake didn’t want to, but he could handle Ray.

  “Go ahead.”

  Hasan pushed the receive button. Ray started to form. Ding. He was done.

  Blake watched as Hasan went over and opened the door.

  Just in time to see Ray poof into dust.

  Blake freaked. He opened his mouth and leaned forward, not believing his eyes. Shaky hands pulled out his electrogun and his knife, not sure what to do.

  Hasan stood mesmerized by what happened and didn’t see Blake’s panicky response.

  “Cool! I mean, oh my God!”

  “What is that?” Blake asked, pointing with his gun, already knowing the answer.

  “The remains of Ray Saffioti, I presume.” Hasan bent down to examine the particles. “This is the problem I was fixing. He has probably had some severe headaches lately. I wonder if they can identify…”

  “Shut up!” Blake screeched.

  “But this is…”

  “Shut up!”

  Manny came on over the lab speaker.

  “Everything okay in there, Hasan?”

  “Uh, sure. Well, no. I mean I guess. We just received…”

  Manny cut him off.

  “Turn on the satellite.”

  “What channel?”

  “Any channel.”

  Hasan ran over to the lounge area and turned on the imager.

  Blake stayed at the transmission station, tapping his knife hand on his head, trying to decide what to do. Or get his brain to jump-start back to normal. Representative Dawson Cooper’s speech rattled on.

  “Oh, good! They put it up! Come here, Blake. I’m on after Congressman Cooper!”

  Another buzz startled Blake. It was the receiver again.

  Excitedly focused on the broadcast, Hasan didn’t hear it.

  The receiver buzzed again.
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  Blake shut his eyes and covered his ears.

  “Make it stop,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “Blake! Watch!”

  The receiver buzzed again.

  “Make it stop!”

  “Make what stop?”

  The receiver buzzed again. This time Hasan heard it.

  “Oh, that’s the receiver. The only way to make it stop is to receive the transmission. But we can’t…”

  Blake punched the receive button.

  A warning alarm sounded. Hasan rushed over to the computer and pushed codes.

  “Turn it off!” Blake howled.

  “I’m trying. You pushed receive before we cleaned up Mr. Saffioti!” Sparks shot out of the open dock. Hasan’s fingers flew on the flatboard. “Your knife must have damaged it earlier. It’s overriding the safety procedure. I don’t think I can stop it! You better back up!”

  The dock proceeded with the receiving process. The incoming particles fused with Ray’s pile of remains in the chair. Transfixed by the horror of the mass forming before his eyes, Blake couldn’t move. It was a woman. Her feet and legs looked normal, but her arms shot out at weird angles in the middle as her torso combined with the bulk of the dust from Ray. Then her neck and head took shape. Her face distorted, eyes bulging in desperation. It was Vivienne Jones. She couldn’t open her mouth. She stared out at them, trying to breathe through her nose, but her lungs were misshapen and useless. She passed out and stopped moving.

  In the background, the video played again. Strong and clear, Dawson’s voice demanded the public’s attention.

  “Hello Citizens of the world. I am United States Representative Dawson Cooper. I have grave news of utmost importance. Pop Travel is being temporarily suspended. Evidence has been discovered that it is a danger to some travelers. What you are about to see may shock or frighten you. It must be shown. Please do not panic. The people behind the crime of callously allowing these accidents to continue, risking human lives, are being apprehended as we speak. The Creator, Hasan Rakhi, had no knowledge of the deaths of innocent people. Upon finding out, he has devised a solution and safety precautions that will allow pop travel to continue in the future, pending further intensive testing and would like to address you.”

  A hysterical Manny shouted over the speakers in the lab in a high-pitched voice.

  “There’s a plane trying to land on the baseball field!”

  “Wicked! Can we see it? Put it on the imager, Manny!” Hasan yelled to the camera.

  “That’s it. We’re outta here” Blake had finally recovered his bearings from the horrific juxtaposition of the two deaths and having his assignment flushed. He needed things back under his control. He was getting away and bringing Hasan with him. He grabbed the kid by the arm.

  “Aww. Where are we going?”

  “No questions, just come with me.” Blake yanked him along.

  “Why don’t we just pop somewhere?” Hasan asked.

  “No way!” Blake said, keeping his eyes averted from the mess. Never again.

  “That never happens. The transmission dock is fine. It’s perfectly safe. I promise!”

  “Forget it. Come on.” Blake pulled Hasan toward the door.

  “Where are you two going?” Manny yelled over the speakers.

  “We’re going for a walk. And I better not see any of those security droids,” Blake said and static-shot the camera, shorting it out.

  “Cool!”

  Blake opened the lab door and blinked at the sight of the guards still waiting there. Showing them his electrogun trained on Hasan, they let him pass.

  “Don’t even think about following us or he’s toast,” Blake said.

  “You better not hurt him!” one of the guards yelled as Blake and Hasan shut the door on them.

  Blake dragged Hasan out through the front door.

  “Do you have a plan?” Hasan asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Sure you do.”

  They heard the buzz of the plane closing in.

  “How cool is that!” Hasan shouted, putting up his free hand to shield his eyes and watch it.

  “Come on!” Blake yelled and gave Hasan a shove. They jogged through the yard over to the garage.

  Cooper circled the plane over the plantation grounds looking for a safe place to land. A small clearing past the outfield of the baseball stadium would have to do.

  “I see someone!” Geri shouted. “They just ran out of the house!”

  “I’m putting her down. Hold on,” Cooper said.

  Coming back around, he descended over the trees, skimming the tops. He came down outside the right field wall and slammed on the brakes after he touched down. The brakes gave no response as they bumped and skidded over the grass. The laser fence must have cut off the landing gear. Crashing through the wooden fence helped them slow down as they entered the playing field, and they stopped just short of the stands on the third-base line.

  “Whew!” Geri said.

  “You okay?”

  She nodded.

  “Let’s go!”

  Hurrying from the stadium, they bolted toward the house. Cooper saw Blake and Hasan running for the garage. Two live security guards were on their heels. Blake turned back and shocked one with his gun. The guard fell down in a fit of convulsions as Blake dragged Hasan into the garage. After checking on his partner, the other guard followed them in.

  When Cooper and Geri reached the door, they paused to listen. Silence. Cooper cracked it open and peered in. Sun shining in from the windows highlighted an amazing array of antique sports cars. As they slipped in, Cooper heard an engine fire up.

  Staying low, they scooted between the cars and peeked around to see which one had started and who was in it.

  As a red Lamborghini smashed through the center garage door, Cooper caught a glimpse of Hasan in the passenger seat. The guard pursued, crashing through another door in a black Bugatti. Hopping into the nearest car, a yellow Ferrari, Cooper and Geri took off after them through one of the openings.

  Blake sped down the road toward the exit. He must have forgotten about the laser fence, skidding in the gravel as he spun to avoid it.

  Cooper stayed close to the guard’s car following Blake as he sped between buildings and trees. Crashing through an iron fence, Blake crushed some ancient headstones in the cemetery, then squealed a sharp left at the boundary laser fence.

  Continuing to weave between trees and structures, Blake raced past the guesthouse and the pool. The guard and Cooper stayed right on his tail.

  Where does he think he is going?

  All the cars were equipped with video comlinks so Cooper could observe the guard as he called Blake’s car.

  “Hellooo?” Hasan answered as if he had been bored. “Oh. Hi, Sameel. Is Paris okay?”

  “Hasan, jump out! Get to Security!” the guard yelled.

  “Don’t you dare!” Blake said.

  Hasan smiled and shrugged.

  “Bye, Blake,” Hasan said.

  Cooper watched Hasan roll away from the car and the guard veered past him.

  Blake swerved just in time to avoid hitting a large oak head-on. It ripped off the open passenger door.

  “Go help him!” Cooper said to Geri and slowed down.

  Geri jumped out and raced over to Hasan. They ran for the house.

  Cooper hit the gas, feeling a rush of power, and heard the guard talking to Security.

  “Override the Lamborghini’s dashboard controls.” So Blake wouldn’t be able to turn off the laser fence or hear their conversations. Good. They must not have a remote control for it.

  “Got it.”

  Cooper jumped in on the chatter.

  “I assume you can’t shut off the car remotely?”

  “No. There’s a separate remote for that in the garage. Wait. Who is this?”

  “I’m Cooper. No time to explain! I’m helping Hasan! Listen, I have an idea. Tell me where the inner laser fence boundaries are.”

>   “It runs north of the stable fence, between the transport house and the security house. It stops short of the cemetery and goes west to the pool, then south in front of the baseball stadium and back to the stable.”

  “Okay. Sameel, is it? Help me corner Blake by the stable fence and we’ll turn on the juice.”

  “I get what he’s thinking. Let’s do it,” Sameel said.

  “I’ll loop around. You stay on him.”

  “You got it.”

  Blake drove around like a paranoid rat trying to escape from a maze. He had no way out. After he went around the whole stadium, past the outfield, he bumped his car along the fence to test it. The laser sizzled clean cuts into the remaining portion of the passenger side.

  Cooper turned in front of the stadium as Blake came around the other side. Blake smashed into Cooper, making him crash into an old kennel at the southern part of the property. Blake continued east, under the stable fence, with the guard right behind him.

  Cooper recovered and spun around to intercept them.

  He flinched when he heard a small explosion and saw smoke coming from one of the buildings.

  What was that? He hoped Geri and Hasan were okay.

  Refocusing on the chase, he drove north of the stables to cut off Blake.

  The guard pulled up on Blake’s right side.

  Blake had to make a sharp turn left to miss the stable.

  Cooper waited at the stable fence, so Blake had to make another cut north.

  “Now!” Cooper shouted.

  The laser fence blinked on. Blake never saw it. The top half of the car and Blake’s head were sliced clean off.

  eri and Hasan didn’t stick around to watch the car chase, though she could tell he wanted to. She had to drag him into the house to pick up his mother. Then all three of them jumped into a hovercart and drove it over to the transport house while everyone else was preoccupied with the speeding cars.

  When they passed the Infirmary, several security droids came out after them. Geri took off her ring and tossed it at them. In five seconds, it exploded, serving as a deterrent to the rest of the guards. Geri was taking care of Hasan now.