Bear's War, Book #5 of the Asps Series - Patty getting help with the problem of having two terrorists on her plane.

Today’s excerpt is from Bear’s War, Book #5 of the nine-book Asps Series.  Patty, with two terrorists aboard her charter service plane, continues the ruse of flying into heavy winds.  She then let’s Jim know when to expect her, and gives him info that requires the help of Hector Garcia, and Dan and Janet Orf.   Enjoy and have a wonderful day.

m.j.

 

Patty was doing quite nicely, thank you.  After about two hours of flight, she would dip the plane and bring it back up to her cruising altitude, sometimes quite violently.  Once, over the beginning of the Rocky Mountains, she did such a good job of it that, once she was straightened back out, Rolfe came to the cockpit and asked, “Is everything all right up here?  I mean with the problems you seem to be having.”

Patty laughed.  “I wouldn’t say everything is fine, but nothing I can’t handle.  I’ve made a turn to the north and will change course again shortly, in an attempt to get around the worst of the turbulence.  We’ve been skirting a major thunderstorm to our south and west.  The only real problem we’ve got is fuel.  Fighting this headwind and changing course from time to time is burning off a lot of it.  I think I’ll make a refueling stop in an hour or so.  Depending on the course I’m on at the time, I may stop at a small private strip, where I can at least get fuel cheaply.  A guy and his wife run a small plane service operation there.  They don’t advertise, but help out anyone in trouble.  I’ve known them for some time since I flew with the airlines.  Met them through a mechanic at the last airline I worked for.  Good people.  May not need to make the stop, but don’t want to risk getting too low on fuel.  I’ll figure it out in the next half hour or so, and see if the stop is really necessary.  I thought of stopping at their place if it’s necessary, because we won’t waste too much time on the ground.”

Rolfe nodded and swallowed.  “Err on the side of caution, please.  If you think there is any chance of running out of fuel, please do stop.  A short time on the ground would be appreciated, however.  We are being met and don’t want to be too late.  How late do you think we’ll be, as it is…with the headwind situation and all?”

“Not too late.  I factored in a slower trip than normal, due to the forecast I had about the weather conditions.  In fact, I might be able to make up most of the time we’ve lost so far with the route I’m now on.  I can feel in the controls the wind seems to be dying down quite a bit, since the last little gust we hit.  With the stop I’m thinkin’ about making, we should be able to get down and back in the air in less than half an hour.  I’d suggest you call whoever is to meet you and tell them we’ll be about forty-five minutes later than we thought…but hold off on that until after we refuel just in case it takes longer than it normally does at this place.  I guess you’re right…we should go ahead and play it safe.  I’ll call ahead and tell them I’m on my way in, and ask them to be ready to refuel us, as time is important due to being met in Los Angeles.”

“Thank you, Patty.  I’ll go on back and wait for further word on what to tell the people meeting us in Los Angeles.”

Patty just nodded as Rolfe left, and breathed a sigh of relief when he re-shut the door to the cabin area.  She quickly called Jim and went through the process of identifying herself and asking if she could land for a fast refueling.  She explained the need for a fast turn-around, since her passengers were to be met in Los Angeles.  During the conversation, she casually mentioned which airport she was going to land at in Los Angeles.  She also gave Jim her estimated time of arrival, then got off the phone, knowing she had now given Jim something else to worry about.  She was just a little mad at herself for not telling Jim about the fact the two aboard would be met at the airport and which one it was, when she had first called him.

Jim, for his part, got on the phone to a friend in Los Angeles as soon as he finished talking to Patty.  The friend Jim called was an old comrade in arms, retired Marine Master Sergeant Hector Garcia, father of Billy Garcia, and former Janitor.  Jim explained the situation—including the probability that there were less-than-upstanding citizens waiting to meet whoever it was Patty had on board her plane.  When he finished, Hector asked, “You want me to round up Dan and Janet, and try to do what?  Grab these guys? And, if so, do what with them…bring them to you?”

“Sounds good.”

“Okay.  We nab them—I’ll tell you when to expect us in Montana.”

After Jim thanked him and got off the phone, Hector pushed an intercom button to the office adjoining his.  Dan Orf and his wife Janet ran a detective agency out of a building owned by Hector.  While one of Hector’s businesses was a protection/detective agency, he and the Orfs didn’t compete—in fact, in several cases, they worked together.  Dan was a former Navy SEAL…now retired…and former Janitor.

Janet, also a former Janitor, poked her head into Hector’s office.  “Dan’s on the phone—be right over.  You need us for something?”

“Yeah.  Jim called.  I’ll wait until Dan comes in, too, and only explain the deal once.  Come on in and have a seat…I’d rather look at you and your lovely red hair than look at Dan anyhow.”

“Flirt.”

“Don’t tell Rosa.”

“Your secret is safe with me…plus which, I don’t want your wife on my case.”

Dan walked in and asked, “Rosa on your case about what, honey?”

“Hector flirting with me.”

“Good taste, Hec.  What’s up?”

 

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