CHAPTER 43
James stood looking at the evidence that the man, his father, had asked him to speak with gave him. This couldn't be right, even though the file stated otherwise. The man had dug through their archives upon hearing the pilot's name. He was a senior DSS agent where his dad had worked too. They always had information about everyone. They couldn't trace anybody. But what he was starting at now wasn't even possible. "I still can't believe this."
"You'd better do. Thomas is going to have a fit for sure." The man said sadly. "But that man right there was on the Smith's payroll."
"But he died. Why would he give up his life just like that?"
"It bothers me too. Something really smells funny in there. But wait, I've got an idea. There's a friend at DSS headquarters that I can speak with." He dialed the friend's number while James waited impatiently. He held his hand up for James while he placed the man on speaker. "Please, I need information about a certain Nicholas Dickson. He died in a plane crash in Miami years ago. I'll send his picture now." He sent the picture to the man on the other end. "Seen it?"
"Oh. Yeah. He's here." The man said instantly, "He's alive."
"What?" James stopped staring at the file to look at the man. "He's alive?" He whispered. The agent echoed his question to the other man on the phone.
"Yes. We've been keeping a tab on Nick because he's involved in so many shady deals here in Washington, murders too. We stumbled on his recent victim, and it's how we found him. He wasn't the man who died. According to the record, he was the pilot that day. But he didn't pilot the plane. He was out at the last minute. The public record says he died too."
James could see the 'but' coming. He stilled himself for it.
"But we dug into the case. His co-pilot took over when he got down at the last minute complaining of a heavy stomach upset. There was no time to change the record. So, everyone just assumed he died in the crash. Whereas..."
"He was never in." The man completed getting the trick Nicholas Dickson had played on everyone.
"For clarity, was there a bomb or anything to indicate foul play?" The agent asked the man on the phone.
"No. In fact, if we didn't know what to look for, we would have missed it too. It was a mechanical issue that causes the crash. But we found out the engine wire had been chipped off. It only had to roll a few times to cut off, and boom... Crash."
James released a rush of air on hearing that. He started pacing the room as the two men chatted briefly on the phone before ending the call. When he hung up, James thanked him and asked to take pictures of the file. Given the go-ahead, he snapped the photos and stood to leave. They shook hands, and the man walked James out. "You're telling your father, right?" He asked.
"Not now." James said, and the man smiled. He had been one of the men Thomas had stalked when his wife died. He had almost been shot once by the brooding man. He sighed. "This could drive him over the edge. Better to keep him in the dark a little."
"I'll take your advice. I don't want more pressure. Not now, with everything going on. I might have to send him off to his brother far off the county."
"That's better and safer for everyone. Him too." The man conceded. They were at the car parked at the entrance of the DSS office. James shook hands with the older man and took his leave.
As James drove past the heavy Miami traffic, he hurried to get to the office. He called Sam while driving into the office to leave the stakeout and meet him at the office. They needed to strategize and bring in more hands. And so, the security team for the Valdez went for a meeting to get fully armed and prepared to protect their boss.
The next evening came slowly for Adriana Swiss. She would have preferred Noah leaving without the kids being involved. But he had come up with this line that seemed sensible at the time. Now, she wasn't sure this was the best tactic to it. He had agreed to move out even though he didn't do anything his wife accused him of. To this, Adriana had scoffed and asked what he wanted.
"Nothing." he told her, "But I think we should keep the kids out of the drama."
"And how do we do that?"
"Let them see me leave. We can tell them I'm travelling and will be gone a while."
"You think that's the best for them?"
"Yes. I think so."
And here they were, the twins stood hugging their father. Ethan clutched his leg while Elizabeth was being carried off. Adriana shook her head, not enjoying the scene one bit. They were always like this whenever he travelled, and they'd cry themselves to sleep afterwards. She wished she hadn't listened to this insane plan.
"Kids." she called at them, "Come down and let daddy go. He'll be late." She just wanted him gone...for now. She was hurting, and it was a pain to even look at him.
Ethan let go of his father's leg reluctantly, but Elizabeth hugged him tighter. "You'll call?" She asked.
"I always do." He replied but looked pointedly at their mother. Adriana shrugged, not getting his unspoken question. "I'll call." He repeated so she could understand. Adriana picked, he was asking if he would be allowed to call. She agreed, of course. They had a right to that. She wouldn't deny them that, despite the pain that numbed her.
"And you won't stay longer than two weeks?" Elizabeth asked again.
"Hopefully." He answered. This time he didn't look at his wife. He knew the answer to that just as she did. Whatever was going on, two weeks wouldn't cover the event about to unfold. But he couldn't tell his kids that. He looked down at Ethan, who was pulling his trouser gently. "What's up, buddy?"
"The Spiderman costume you promised me. You have to get it this time."
"Okay, buddy." He said, still holding his sister, "I'll get you that and get Elizabeth a...."
"Elsa's costume too." The young girl told him cheerfully
Noah looked at his wife lost. "What's that?"
"It's her favorite character in Frozen."
"I'll look for one and send it, okay?" He said before he realized what he just said, but Elizabeth caught on
"Send? No, bring them with you when coming back. You don't intend staying longer than two weeks, do you?" She asked again.
"I'll try to get everything all wrapped up early." He replied, saying as much as he could promise
"Family hug," Ethan called. Adriana lifted him and hugged Noah with Elizabeth. Noah brushed a kiss on her forehead and the kids'. It was only then that Elizabeth came down. The three stood as he closed the boot where his luggage was, and he waved as he drove off. They watched him go before the twins ran inside and their mother followed sadly. As they ran happily inside the house to scatter their rooms, she wished she could have someone to speak with. She reached for her phone and dialed her sister.
"Why the hell aren't you in Miami?" She asked Evangeline.
"I'm coming this weekend. Need to tie up some loose ends here." Evan told her, "Hello to you too."
"I want you here, please." She pleaded, "Noah left."
