Free Fall

Sixty-Seven

Weld County, Colorado

Veyda and Seth’s SUV cut across a desolate stretch of the high plains.

They’d left Denver, heading north on Highway 85. After passing through Greeley, they were now traveling east.

“Not too much farther,” Seth said.

While he concentrated on the GPS and his laptop, Veyda took in the miles and miles of flat, arid land. The farther they drove, the fewer cars they saw. It was spiritual here, she thought, loving how the sky met the horizon on even terms. She couldn’t help but think of her father’s video.

Veyda, sweetheart, this is your father. Whatever you’re doing or thinking of doing, please stop… I’m begging you… You will always be my daughter and I will always be your father. I love you…

Her eyes stung and she shook her head.

You’re not my father and I am not your daughter. She remembered how her mother had died. No, you’re not my father and I’m not your daughter.

She saw her father’s face, the kind face she’d once adored, saw his pain.

I’m begging you… I will always be your father. I love you…

She wiped her eyes.

No, I won’t let you stop me.

She gritted her teeth, standing hard against the waves of sentimentality rising within her. Her knuckles whitened on the wheel, her blind determination killing any notion of doubt.

“Turn left at that gate post,” Seth said.

He guided her along a secondary road that after several miles became an earthen path. Soon the main road had disappeared behind them in the small hills. The path was akin to a trail, undulating several more miles along a dry, uninhabited extent of treeless land.

“Slow it down. We’re nearly here.”

The SUV continued, gently twisting over the soft, grassy trail until they crested a gentle slope that swept down to a winding river and panoramic expanse.

“Stop-this is it. Let’s get to work.”

No other people or buildings were in sight as they unloaded their laptop computers to a thick patch of grass near the car and switched them on.

Their high-powered systems were equipped with wireless satellite technology, giving them optimum online access. For the next twenty minutes, Seth carefully entered coordinates, codes and other data into his system as Veyda watched over his shoulder, double-checking the process. Occasionally, they’d pause to discuss a code sequence, but their work proceeded swiftly.

Seth turned to Veyda.

“Ready?”

“Ready,” she said.

A soft click sounded when Seth pressed the enter key, unleashing their greatest operation.

“It’s done. It’s in motion,” he said. “Nothing can stop it. Soon everyone on the planet will be speaking our names.”

Tears rolled down Veyda’s face as she and Seth kissed, celebrating what was to come.

The gun waited on the grass beside them.