James Acton 01 - The Protocol by J Robert Kennedy

Department?” Milton motioned toward the chairs in front of his desk. “To what do I owe this honor?”
    “It’s about the archaeological team you have in Peru,” said Jasper as he sat down. “I’m afraid there’s been an incident.”
    “Incident?” Milton froze behind his desk, his fingers spread across the blotting pad there more for decoration or the occasional scratch pad for numbers rather than its original purpose. Incident. Not accident. “Are they okay?”
    Jasper took a deep breath. “I’m afraid not, sir, they’re all dead.”
    “They’re dead?” Milton collapsed into his chair, his mind reeling at the news. “All of them? How? How did it happen? When? Who did it?”
    “It appears that there was a rebel attack on the camp. There were no survivors however Professor James Acton is missing. Have you heard from him?”
    “They’re all dead?” Milton shook his head, trying to come to grips with what he had just heard. “All of them?”
    “Except the professor, sir. Have you heard from him?”
    Milton took a moment to compose himself. “Yes, just last week, his regular weekly check in. He sent me a Blackberry message from Lima once a week. It was cheaper than a phone call. There was no service where their dig was so he drove into the city once a week. The expedition was on a shoe-string budget so there was no money for a satellite phone.”
    “Did he mention anything unusual in his last message?” asked Jasper.
    “No, he said the dig was going well and that there were some interesting finds, ancient Incan I believe.”
    “Anything in particular?”
    “No, nothing. What does any of this have to do with their deaths? I thought you said rebels did this?”
    “Nothing, sir, just routine questions. Perhaps if the rebels had thought they had found something of value, it may explain why they raided the camp. As it is, they took all the supplies and vehicles, but not before killing everyone.”
    Milton placed his forehead in the palm of his hand and massaged his temples. “The families. Have they been notified?”
    “Not yet, sir. We can take care of the notifications for you,” replied Jasper.
    Milton shook his head. “No. They were all students here, it should fall on me. The bodies?”
    “They’ll be arriving in Houston this afternoon. We’ll then coordinate with the families to have the bodies sent to the appropriate locations.” Jasper rose from his seat. “Here’s my card, sir. If you hear from Professor Acton please contact us immediately.”
    “Yes, yes I will.” Milton shook his head in disbelief. Jasper placed the card on his desk, then he and his partner left.
     
    “Is it done?” asked Jasper.
    “Yes, while you were talking to him,” replied Lambert as they exited the administration building. “We now have complete audio, video and electronic surveillance of his office. Any phone call, email, anything, and we’ll know it.”
    “Excellent. Now we wait.”
     
    Lima, Peru
     
    Acton peered around the corner of the dilapidated warehouse. The dock bustled with cranes loading massive containers onto even more massive ships, forklifts and transport trucks moved around in organized chaos, and crew chiefs yelled at their teams in their quest to keep the docked ships in port no longer than necessary. It had taken him hours to get here, his Peruvian driver having abandoned him on the road outside the camp out of fear of the rebels Acton said had committed the massacre.
    Despite there being hundreds of people in sight, he figured none would notice him if he acted with purpose. He strode briskly toward the gangplank of a massive container ship he had confirmed earlier was heading to Mexico and with one final look around he raced up the stairs. He cringed with each step as the entire structure swayed and scraped against the hull, making a noise that, if it hadn’t been for the incredible din coming from the loading docks, would have been heard by everyone. Once at the top he again