Lucifer’s Semi-Final Conclave -- Part 35
The RV park, Pahrump NV
Hussy was shaking. Nearby RV guests were looking for the cause. It was not at all what they at first surmised… Phil, Christy and Danielle had finished 25 minutes of jawing a minute ago. Danielle was just happy dancing and kissing Phil occasionally. Her mommy and best friend Jennifer was coming out for a while. Saturday, to be exact. The day after tomorrow. Oh, and Christy too. Actually Christy was the whole bit anyway, and Danielle and Phil were the reason… And Jennifer was the cover. SpaceForce was very interested in what they knew about Rocksense West, what they had endured, and wanted to know what they knew, suspected, and find maybe a new contact to place there as well. Well, what they knew was not really bunches, but it was sure infinitely more than SpaceForce did for now. What they suspected was even greater. It would be a great time for a couple of days. They needed it as much as SpaceForce did. Jennifer was actually cover for the visit, Christy said, but it was sure a great idea They would be flying directly Via Gulfstream 2, a 10 seat semi scheduled AF Jet Courier, Direct Nellis AFB from IAD - 4 hours 12 minutes TT.
Christy said they would be waiting at the clubhouse of the Sunrise Vista Golf Course on N Nellis Road just south of the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd some where between 12:30 and 1 local time.
Danielle and Phil thought a bit more: First they had to call Buffy and make sure it would be OK for Jennifer and Christy to stay overnight there. Phil and herself could sleep in the camper no problem. Second, Hussy did not really have a full sized back seat, per se, comfortable for 100 miles for her Mom, so either they would have to borrow Buffy’s SUV, or rent a car in searchlight.
Finally, they could not take a chance that Jim would have to spend the night, so they would just have to follow him there tomorrow in hussy, rather than ride with him. So they could be in searchlight early Saturday. In the next 6 minutes they had solved them all.
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Bethesda, MD
As Christy was just finishing her breakfast oatmeal, There was a knock on her door. Looking through the peephole, she saw a man in a white shirt with embroidered name tag and a small white van by the curb in the background. Ms Christine Bales? He asked, Yes she said… he offered her a package and a clipboard for signature.. She opened it after closing the door. There were several items. First was a pair of MD Driver licenses. The first one she looked at had all her correct name, address and ID data for her, but it was not her picture. The second was ditto for Jennifer. But it was not Jennifer’s picture either. The second was a pair of round trip tickets in her and Jennifer’s names for a one stop SW flight to Mobile, AL via Birmingham, leaving Saturday AM with open return dates. Then there was a pair of unsigned VISA cards in Her and Jennifer’s names. Then there was an envelope, that contained an AF travel document authorizing a round trip special courier flight for a Ms Christine Bales and a Ms. Jennifer O’Dannan from IAD direct Nellis AFB leaving Saturday, 0800 hrs. There was also a second AF travel document in their names for travel from Nellis to IAD with open dates, and a sticky note with an 800 number to call for schedule. Finally, there was a brown envelope containing contact info to use at IAD, and written instructions. She smiled, tucked them in her safe place, and left for work.
She was not her usual 5 minutes early this morning, but she was still pretty much on time. After her morning coffee and hello’s, she walked to #4’s office. The Personnel director. He welcomed her expectantly, expecting her agreement to one of their various offers but he was soon disappointed. As she smiled and said, I have been thinking it over .. he smiled… and I feel like I need to go home for a few days to my parents to discuss it.. the smile faded…So, I am leaving tomorrow, and will be taking vacation for maybe a few days next week… Take all the time you need, Ms Bales… The company wants what is best for you… its an important decision, I know…
Oh, I JUST Bet, .. she thought as she left.. The rest of the work day until lunch she spent anticipating her volunteer work and taking a long lunch with Jennifer to finalize plans.
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Pahrump, NV
The desert was exceptionally cooler this evening, in the mid 40’s. They had set the heater to maintain a more comfortable sleeping temperature of mid 60’s. They had gone to bed early, soon after completing their planning session following Christy’s call. Danielle’s sleeping position was on the inside, snuggled between the large window and Phil‘s warm body. She was enamored with the sky view through the narrow horizontal window-- the myriad stars brightened even their dark woolen blanket.. she felt happy, warm, secure and safe. As she closed her eyes, she searched for the last time she had had this feeling. It was over four years ago, she admitted, when she and Phil were living their 9+ years of great marriage life in their home in Bethesda.
Just as she began to dream, it dawned on her that this very night is the first time that they had slept together in a home of any kind of their very own for more than 4 years…
She opened her eyes early. The sun was just beginning to send it’s warning as the eastern sky was barely brightening. This first morning calls for something special, she thought. She carefully crawled over Phil, Found her robe, and began. When they had stocked hussy with supplies, Danielle had made a special point of including the ingredients to make Phil’s favorite breakfast… her ’famous’ pancakes… As she put on the morning coffee and mixed the batter, Something was missing, though. She did not have her ancient Griswold cast Iron griddle. It was at Phil’s home in Bethesda.
She had borrowed a heavy Cast Iron frying pan from Buffy, though.. and it would have to do. And it did… quite well, in fact…Just ask Phil..
A wet bright eyed redhead emerged from the camper’s shower ’thingy’ with a towel and a big smile… Not bad at all, she said. As she dressed, a much larger bodied Phil had his turn. He emerged saying.. Well that could be somewhat debatable, hon…
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At home:
Buffy had just seen Ken off to work, and was preparing for her day when her cell lit up. It took a while for her to answer, because she was following the sound, searching for it. She was elated when she found it. It’s display read… BREE… after the first few minutes of happy home week conversation, Buffy said of course they can, Penny.. Uh.. Bree.. And certainly you can use my car to pick them up.. You don’t even need to ask … shame on you, she teased. .. Sure have, she replied to Bree’s inquiry… I’ve been good, I promise, Buffy said.. I even keep the chain right by my chair to remind me. We will be looking for you guys… Tell Phil Hi… Can’t wait to hear it all, Buffy said… You made my day, as usual… Clive and Ken will be excited…. Bye, love you..
??Penny?? mused Danielle as she hung up.. Buffy has an armored vault she needs to empty to someone like Clive did…. and , so what.. so does most everyone else, actually, she thought. I’ll have to think on it further, nature’s healer Brighid said to herself…
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Pahrump, NV
Phil had removed all the RV park hookups from hussy, and they were waiting out front when Jim drove up loaded and ready… They explained their need to be in Searchlight early Saturday, and couldn’t be stranded should he need to stay overnight, so they would just follow him down. No problem, folks, Jim said… Ready?
The work site was in the Table Mountain wilderness, not too distant from the CA border. It was slightly more than halfway between Pahrump and Searchlight via some of the same back road route that Marcy uses on Sundays. Phil had noted 35.4 miles via hussy’s odometer when Jim turned east on a gravel road. They continued for another 6 miles to an area with small canyons and a few scattered houses. Jim stopped as 3 men motioned to them.. As they got out, they noticed 4 other men who were standing and watching as several vultures circled above a long canyon about 500 yards away. The eastern rim of that particular shallow canyon was the very place Jim had selected for the solar panel location.
Phil and Danielle both recognized their excited utterance of the word ’chindi’ in their otherwise English conversation. They and Jim walked to the edge of the canyon, but only one of the other men went with them. Their Shaman.
As they reached the canyon rim, The vultures’ interest became obvious. On a large flat obsidian/granite boulder, merely 75 feet below them, a man’s body had been stretched from each arm and leg, in a X pattern by ropes. The ropes extended over the boulder and were anchored to iron rods which had been forced, and obviously by some unknown great force, into the rocky ground. The early morning sun cast a now shortening shadow from a separate, tall. up right stake on the east, the shadow of its tip pointing to the sacrifice. They forced them selves to look further over the grizzly scene. The Shaman held his staff horizontally between all and the site. The man’s body had been sliced open through the sternum, and breast bone from his neck to his pelvis, and his rib cage had been pulled apart. The now blackened blood covered the bolder. Even from this distance it was easily determined that the heart and lungs had been removed. There were blade like shards from a shattered obsidian rock, some shards evidently being the tools which had done the deed. All were horrified by the scene. Danielle was utterly aghast as well, but.. after a moment she regained her composure. She reached for the binoculars Jim had just used to look closely, and Phil had finished with.. She was sick with the horror, but as she looked at the man’s face. She dropped to her knees and sat down, because she had quickly recognized the victim… It was Bill Meacham.
Two Paiute men shortly came up with shotguns and stationed themselves on the canyon rim 50 feet to either side of the site to frighten the circling vultures away until officials could arrive.
Most crimes on reservations are minor, and are judged/punished solely by the tribal council and are strictly off limits to interference by State/ Federal statutes. This one was obviously murder and certainly did not qualify. It required a complete scene investigation, from forensics and coroner, to the fullest treatment of all law enforcement agencies and procedures, State and Federal.
The two men with the shotguns were local representatives previously appointed by the tribal council, the closest thing the settlement had to “police”. They had reported it to the council an hour and a half ago… they were doing their duty to preserve the crime scene, as grizzly as the work was, and just waiting like everyone else. It would take a while…
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32 Miles east of Pahrump, Nevada
Anu, George said… How the hell could your troops do this at a place so damned close by…. and especially NOW? Rocksense will surely be implicated…
George, Anu replied, you forget -- it is not Rocksense that owns us, but the other way around, you know.. Yes, perhaps you should have been advised of our plans earlier, but better late than never, I suppose. The Masters plans will be implemented. As for Bill Meacham, it was you and #2 that ordered him eliminated, you know. But Anu, George replied, it was Danielle who last saw him, alive and in excellent condition right damned here in my office… Once the body is recognized as his, she will know exactly who did it.. And bring great heat both here and in the east.
Now, George, you are getting the idea, It is Bridghid and her !Accursed!consort! that we have always have sought to sacrifice to the Master … you of course have been aware of that and helped us greatly in exchange for our technology and personal favors. .. George, the sacrifice of Bill Meacham was the perfect bait… for she will surely come very close to me now. The evidence to her and those that will come with her is quite plain to her now…
As for the sacrifice itself, Amok and his friends have long been complaining that far too much time has elapsed since they last feasted on a proper sacrifice… you know that --and hunger must be satisfied, you know as well. So if -- George, you are so concerned, I suggest you have a talk with #2... before you grasp something you may regret later. Recall what I told you yesterday about dangers of the human propensity to worry?….
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Bethesda, MD.
Jennifer was happy. Christy had called earlier and said she was taking a long lunch and that they would meet and pay for lunch at the mission and help out a bit there, and talk trip…
When she arrived at the rear parking area, Christy was just exiting the rear of the lingerie shop , swinging a bag. Whatcha got? Asked Jennifer… A gift for Phil, she replied… PHIL? From a lingerie shop? She asked… Well yes, but indirectly I guess… It is actually to be worn by Danielle, though… Its one of the latest concepts in ladies undergarments from Paris…
They laughed… Excellent, Jennifer said.. I must think on a gift as well.. Ok, said Christy as they entered the mission… But this gift is going be very hard for you to beat……..
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Marcy’s Place
Danielle had called her with the news of the day. Are you guys and Jim ok? Marcy asked. Yes, Danielle said.. A bit shook up of course, but fine.. Only moments ago did the advance State Police crew from Las Vegas arrive by Helicopter. Also, there’s several news helicopters being shooed away… Somehow those buzzards know immediately of evil…
Marcy said… Grandfather knew before anyone did, actually. He came out with the sun, which is very rare for him, and told us that today would be chindi, before he returned to kindle his smoke… It is still issuing now. I will wait until I can ask further.
Wow, said Danielle… anyway, I recognized the sacrifice. It was Bill Meacham, the man I married only a month ago. I last saw him alive at the Rocksense building there… I know for a fact that they are involved… Marci--you guys keep a close eye on the cliff, OK? Yes, Danielle, and thanks…I will call you when I have talked to Grandfather, and will be sure to tell him of your words… Stay safe…
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36 miles SSE of Pahrump, NV
Jim was not going to be working today… The Clark County sheriff has placed crime scene tape placing his solar panel installation area under lockdown. Only one of his local grunt crew had not retreated into his home… Jim backed up to unload his truck at a shed nearby. Phil helped Jim and the grunt unload the truck. Once done, they talked a bit to the Shaman who was still watching the events… This is not just a disaster to you, Jim, it is a very ill omen to this settlement. Already some are talking of moving closer to the town of Jean… The increase of sightings over the past 2 weeks has frightened them, and the large ships last night were frightful as well. Seldom are the large ships seen. I myself have seen only one. It was 10 months ago. I talked to the entity. He was very large and powerful, maybe 12 feet tall. He had 6 fingers on each hand. He talked to me in perfect Paiute. I heard but didn’t then understand when he said… “not now, but soon will it again come“. I see now what he meant. It has started. Chindi has arrived here now, and soon it will be many places.
It was now well past midday, and Jim decided to head back home, he led hussy to the main road, and gave Phil instructions to Searchlight. Just a bit further, he had said, and you can see the mountain city of Searchlight.. You will not have trouble from there…
They stopped for a bit in a brushy area with a single stunted cottonwood tree, and Daniele told them details of her call to Marcy. She prepared sandwiches and as they ate, Jim related further… That he would ask grandfather when he got home.
As they watched, two Clark county Sherriffs pickups passed their position, heading to the site of the sacrifice.
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At home:
Hussy arrived on 95 at the trace, just as Ken came from work. Clive saw them, and jumped on his 4 runner and followed. Danielle had rushed to Buffy immediately.. The ’sisters’ were good for a while, as they disappeared into the house. Phil and Clive were standing near hussy, and Ken had opened the hood and was intently wiggling stuff … 15 miles out Phil said, the CHECK ENGINE light started blinking intermittently. For the past 5 miles, it was on continuously. I did not notice any engine roughness, though.
Nothing obvious under there, said Ken. He then went to the cab and started the engine, and checked again under the hood as it idled. He went to the house for a clean paper towel, doubled it and had Phil hold it loosely over hussys exhaust pipe. He jabbed the accelerator a couple of times, then went to receive the paper. Dark carbon soot was evident. He cut the engine, and said… Stupid and unnecessary environmental control crap he said. Looks like one or both of her O2 sensors are faulty. They are bad about crapping out when they haven’t been regularly used for years. They need exercise like everything else. Oh, well, we can get them from Moes, tomorrow… They are a bitch to replace though.. I’m gonna need your hands, Phil… They are underneath, usually rusted in near the muffler, with a bunch of crap in the way… No problem, Ken… They walked into the house, washed up, and grabbed the offered glasses of iced tea, and joined in the conversation at the counter… Danielle was just starting her disgusting and highly animated talk on the sacrifice… She had not pitched the punch line yet though, even to Buffy… that she knew the victim intimately.
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To be continued:
The previous part 34 is here:
http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=116374
