The Mayan Apocalypse (15 page)

“I was worried.” Janie rocked from side to side, something she did when nervous.

“You guys worry too much. I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself.”

“So…what? I'm not needed anymore?” Donny feigned hurt.

“You know what I mean. What was the guy going to do to me in my own office?”

“He could do plenty.” A muscle in Donny's neck twitched. “You shouldn't have sent me from the room.”

“You can't attend every meeting.” Morgan sank back into his chair.

“Your other meetings are planned, and you know the people around you. This guy was a stranger, and I'll bet a year's salary he's up to no good.”

“You might lose.”

“I doubt it, boss. I doubt it.”

“Well, aren't you going to tell us what he wanted?” Janie stopped swaying.

“Nope. It was for my ears only.”

“That's not fair.” Janie paused. “Okay, I know it's none of my business, but it's all so mysterious.”

“Sorry, Janie, I trust you with almost everything, but some things have to be kept under wraps for now. Just know that I'm not in danger or being blackmailed or being forced to sell plastic kitchen products.”

“Pity,” she said. “I could use a new spatula.”

“You need to fill me in, boss, and not me only, but the rest of security.”

“Why?”

“You know why: Oil execs like you get kidnapped all the time. Colombia. Russia—”

“We're in the US, Donny.”

“I know, but we're also in the age of homegrown terrorists. CEOs make great targets. I don't know what this guy said, but he could be setting you up for something unpleasant.”

“Feel free to investigate him. He gave us his name and that of his real business.”

Donny ran a hand over his head. “After he lied to us.” He hesitated. “Besides, I did a quick check on him.”

“And?” Morgan leaned over his desk.

“No criminal record. His company seems to be real. He does have a police record—”

“He's been arrested?” Janie raised a hand to her chest.

“I didn't say that. He has a police record because he used to be a cop in San Francisco.”

Morgan lifted an eyebrow. “And how did you learn that?”

Donny shrugged. “I know a guy who knows a guy who—”

“—who knows a guy. I get it. Ask you no questions so you'll tell me no lies.” Morgan pulled at his lower lip. “So no criminal record. That's good.”

“That doesn't mean anything. There are thousands of criminals with no record.”

“I suppose so. Well, it was only a meeting—nothing more. And there's nothing for you two mother hens to worry about.”

“I've got a bad feeling,” Janie said.

Donny agreed.

Morgan turned to Janie. “Anything new on my schedule?”

“No.”

“Okay, I need to do some thinking. Cancel the rest of my day.”

Janie looked surprised. “Things are starting to back up.”

“I'll work late tonight. For now, I need to noodle on a few things. Let's go, Donny.”

“Where we heading?”

“The gym. I think best when I'm sweating.”

“Eww.” Janie grimaced.

Morgan snickered, rose, and started for the door.

“Oh,” Janie called after him. “I almost forgot. That Lisa Campbell called again.”

“Did you take a message?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now shred it.”

G
arrett Vickers strode into the offices of the
Christian Herald
like a man with no cares.

“Oh, you had better have a good reason for showing up three hours late.” Lisa cast a stern look at the young man and crossed her arms. Red rimmed his eyes.

“Late? Am I late?” Innocence hung on Garrett's face like a mask.

“You know you are. Your second day, and already you've ticked off the boss.”

“I'm related to the boss, remember?”

“I wouldn't play that card right now if I were you. He might make you put salt on it and eat it.”

“Did you just use a poker metaphor?”

Lisa tried to remain stern. “There are many other card games, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. Anyway, this is the age of technology and information. Just because I'm not physically present doesn't mean I haven't been working. Truth is, I've been working all night.”

“You look it. Aren't those the same clothes you wore yesterday?”

“Maybe.”

“No maybe about it. You do have other clothes, don't you?”

“Yeah, I got plenty of gear. Not to worry.”

“You might want to worry. Your uncle didn't look too pleased when I told him you hadn't come in.”

Garrett looked aghast. “Why would you tell him that?”

Lisa frowned. “First, because he asked, and second, because— well, you were missing in action.”

“I just told you I've been up all night.”

Lisa could believe her ears. “News I could have used when this day started. How am I supposed to know you're working from home? In fact, who asked you to?”

“I'm showing initiative.”

“Is that what you're showing?” Lisa stood. “If I were you, I'd pay a visit to your uncle. And don't blame me for you choosing to pull an all-nighter. I know I gave you a lot of material to read, but I didn't give you that much.” She moved out of her work space.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“Away.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I take my job seriously.” She started for the lobby.

“I take my job seriously. Why do you think I stayed up all night? I have stuff to show you.”

She looked over her shoulder. “Later, kid. I don't want to miss my flight.”

She heard him say something but didn't bother to process it. Her mind was already in Oklahoma.

Every stride on the treadmill made Morgan's back ache a little more. He wasn't worried about injury. He knew himself well enough to differentiate between pain caused by injury and pain caused by tension. Some people carried tension in their necks, and others got headaches. Morgan's lower back tightened whenever the weight of life pressed him down. Exercise was his elixir.

He read the red display on the treadmill. He had put in only two miles. He was dogging it. But then again, his mind was racing. At least something was working at speed.

Even though it was the middle of the workday, the Rockpoint
Fitness Gym was busy. It was always busy. Many execs struck deals on the golf course. Others, especially the younger junior execs, preferred to exchange ideas while sweating.

The emotional stew bubbling inside him decreased to a simmer. What was happening?

A meteor strikes an Arizona mechanic's workshop, a volcano erupts with unexpected force, and now I get an unsettling visit from a man who seems to be more than he's telling.

Morgan glanced at Donny, who stood to the side, his suit perfectly aligned and covering a well-muscled body. Sometimes he threw the iron around with Morgan, but today he declined the offer. He had made several passes through the open expanse of the gym and the upper floor. The guard/chauffeur was edgy. Morgan could sense it on the drive over. Donny fidgeted in the driver's seat, changed lanes more frequently than usual, and checked his mirrors every few seconds. Morgan also noticed that Donny took a different route. Paranoia seemed to reach a new high.

Morgan increased the treadmill's speed so he was jogging faster than normal. The pain in his back finally gave way and he could enjoy the exertion.

He wondered about his sanity. Yes, he thought there was something to the 2012 date. Yes, he believed the Mayans had somehow been able to make astronomical observation well beyond the skill and technology level of their time. He had no idea how they did that, but the evidence was clear. The fact they had done what no other people of their time could do was compelling enough for him—so
how
they had done it mattered little to him. And the fact that other indigenous people separate from but living in the same region had made similar predictions only made the whole concept more reasonable.

He stared at the glowing red numbers on the treadmill's console but read nothing. His mind had charted a course of its own.

How things had changed. Some would suggest his interest in the Mayan predictions stemmed from the loss of his family. It didn't. He
had always been interested in those concepts that bordered science. It was true that his interest increased in the months that followed the tragedy. It gave his mind something else to focus on other than this blazing grief.

Still, he had changed. He loved his work less and loved being gone more. He had to force himself to come into the office, make himself listen during meetings, and mentally whip himself to lead his company. More and more, he found himself longing for his days in the field, working for his father as a geologist. Those days were gone. And if the Mayans were right, they would be gone forever.

The image of Jasper Kinkade came to mind. Morgan was an astute judge of character. He could spot a liar across a crowded room. He knew within moments of meeting someone if he wanted to do business with him. Kinkade struck Morgan as honest…or at least someone who believed the story he was telling.

Not long ago, he would have refused to meet with someone using Kinkade's approach, and once the person admitted to lying, Morgan would have chucked him from the office. He was a man who loved his privacy, and knowing that people had been investigating him made him furious. But at hearing Quetzal's name, Morgan had set aside his usual caution. Quetzal was going out of his way to help people see and prepare for the coming cataclysm. Morgan admired that.

Still, it was an odd way of making contact. He didn't imagine that Quetzal could make personal visits, not with the scores of speaking engagements Morgan had seen on the man's website.

It felt so real. Would Quetzal really call him? What would he say?
Why me? Didn't Kinkade say there were thousands who wanted my seat? So let them have it. Whatever a seat meant.

Morgan couldn't let go. He had until the end of the day to decide, but decide what? Kinkade hadn't given him enough information to make a decision. That made the man more believable. A truthful man never laid everything on the table all at once. Deceivers never stopped talking. Kinkade acted as if he didn't care if Morgan
warmed to
him
or the
idea
. That made everything all the more intriguing.

Sweat soaked Morgan's shirt. His lungs burned. His calf muscles complained. He was having a great time.

Jaz Kinkade returned the rental at the airport and walked to the terminal serving charter flights. One hour later, he was airborne and on his way to Texas.

“So what'd she say?”

Necco's voice sounded distant and sleep-deprived over the cell connection.

Garrett paced the employee break room. “Nothing. I didn't get to talk to her. She told me I was late and that I should go see my uncle. Then she took off for the airport.”

“Where's she going?”

“How should I know? She tossed me off like I was a dirty shirt.”

Necco chuckled. “Sounds like my boy is in love.”

“Yuck, dude. She's old. Gotta be mid-thirties.”

“It's a wonder she doesn't need a cane.”

“You know what I mean, man. She's too old for me…still, she is pretty hot.” Garrett heard keyboard keys clacking over the phone. Necco never gave up.

“What'd your uncle do to you?” More tapping keys.

“Nuthin'. He never yells, but he can make you feel like three-week-old garbage with just a glance. He looked disappointed. That's what bothers me the most. He's a good guy.”

“But you still have your job?”

“Yeah, but I'd better not screw up again, or I'll be baggin' groceries. Jobs are still hard to find.”

“Tell me about it.”

Garrett laughed. “You live with your mother. When was the last time you held a job, or even looked for one?”

“I'm not a cubicle gofer like you. I need my creativity—my space.”

“The FBI has another name for what you do.”

“I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a pure-hearted geek…Oklahoma City.”

“Sure you are—what?”

“Oklahoma City. That's where your new girlfriend is going.”

“I told you she's not my girlfriend. She's old enough to be my—older sister. Besides, I've only known her a little more than a day.”

“Love at first sight is always the best. Why would she go to OC?”

“That's where that Morgan guy lives.”

“The guy you had me research last night.”

“Yeah.”

“You know you owe me big time, right?”

“I fed you and gave you a place to crash.”

“Yeah, right,” Necco said. “I haven't had a chance to crash yet.”

“Since Lisa is gone, you might as well get some sleep.”

“I came up with a few more things. I e-mailed them to you. This Quetzal guy has got it going on. He's got several offshore accounts. Is that legal for a nonprofit?”

“I don't know. I'll find out. Now get some sleep. I may need you later.”

“Nighty night.”