Elly's Ghost by John R. Kess Page A

Derek
West?”
    “That’s the one.
I’ve spoken with his boss, and he’s been authorized to help you on this one. I
also have a meeting set up with the engineering department of Big Sky Aircraft
in about forty minutes. I want you to find out everything you can about that
plane. Specifically, how the door could have come off. Got it?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “There are very
few details about what happened yesterday, but they know Wittenbel got on the
plane in Baltimore, and they know her cell phone was on the plane when it
passed over Seattle. This one has bad news written all over it. Just find out
what you can and quietly turn in your report.”
     
    * * *
     
     
    The air was
cooler than the day before, and Jay hoped that meant they could cover more
ground. He was happy the hiking was also easier, with less underbrush and tall
trees providing good cover. Elly seemed to be having an easier time as well. They
hiked for two hours before stopping to take a break in a grove of pine trees.
    “Are you from
here originally?” Elly asked.
    “Yes, I am. What
do you think of our beautiful state of Montana?” Jay smiled, then said, “You
know you’re getting the deluxe tour. Not just anyone gets this tour.”
    “When is the
tour over?” Elly returned his smile.
    “It’s hard to
say. I have a feeling we’re just getting started. After all, it’s a rather
large state.”
    “And does anyone
else live here, or is it just you?”
    “Oh, there are
others, but seeing other people isn’t part of the tour. That’s part of our
super-deluxe package.”
    “Can I upgrade?”
Elly asked.
    “Sorry, no
upgrades once the tour has begun. Company policy. In fact, we had to
temporarily suspend our ‘no pop singers’ policy just for you.”
    “Oh, you did?”
Elly said.
    “Why do you
think they sent a Marine as the tour guide?”
    “It certainly
wasn’t for his charming sense of humor.” Elly said playfully, then swatted at a
mosquito buzzing near her ear.
    Jay yawned and
then closed his eyes.
    “I’m sorry
you’re tired,” Elly said. “I didn’t mean to make you sleep outside last night.
It’s your tent, after all.”
    “It’s okay. I
wasn’t really sleeping.”
    “What were you
doing?”
    Jay opened his
eyes. “Guarding our position.”
    Elly stared at
him. “You really are a Marine.”
    “Well, I barely
stayed awake. But it did give me a lot of time to think about what happened
yesterday. There’s something you should know—” Jay stopped. He jumped to his
feet and looked back in the direction they had come. A low thumping sound was
growing in volume.
    “What is that?”
Elly asked.
    “Helicopter,”
Jay said.
    Elly stood up
next to him. It appeared on the horizon just above the trees heading toward
them.
    Elly waved her
cuffed hands above her head. “Over here!” she shouted.
    Jay grabbed her
by the arm and pulled her under a pine tree.
    “What are you
doing?” she screamed, trying to pull away.
    Jay didn’t answer.
Instead he grabbed the chain on her handcuffs and held her arms down. He did
his best to get between her and the approaching helicopter, hoping his
camouflage shirt would conceal them. The thumping noise grew louder.
    “What is wrong
with you?” she demanded as the helicopter buzzed over them.
    Jay remained
silent, watching the helicopter to make sure it kept going. He let go of Elly,
who pulled away from him. She stopped and stared at the helicopter retreating
into the distance. She let out a huge sigh.
    “Why did you do
that?” Elly demanded.
    Jay was mad, but
he knew Elly didn’t realize what she was doing. He tried not to show his anger.
“Who is in that helicopter?”
    “I don’t care,”
Elly shouted.
    Jay raised his
voice. “Who is in that helicopter?”
    “I don’t know.
How can you—”
    “If you don’t
know, then that helicopter is our enemy.”
    “It could have
been anybody.”
    “Including our
enemy. You do not reveal our position under any circumstances. I