USSR Hoax

14 LOST SECRET

Damn it, where are you? Tom’s stomach churned as he started rummaging desperately through his desk drawer in a mad search for the canister, hoping for a small miracle; that it might appear.

An unexpected poke in Tom’s back caused him to jump. He swiveled around to see David towering over him empty handed, not ready to leave. He had a peculiar smirk.

“What are you doing, Tom?”

Tom tried to keep his cool. “Nothing.”

David gave the impression he was trying to peer over Tom’s shoulder into the drawer. “Did you see anything in there?”

That was an odd question from his suddenly nosy friend. Did David see the canister earlier? Nervously, Tom pushed in the drawer behind him. “In where? The drawer? No, why?”

“Then what are you doing?”

Why the twenty questions? Something was up. Tom answered with a logical response. “I’m looking for my keys so I can get you to the tire shop by 5:30.”

David continued to search around Tom’s desk.

Tom cocked an eyebrow. “What are you looking for?”

A sudden upset expression appeared on David’s face. He said, in an uncharacteristic grumble, “Nothing. I need to get something off my desk before we leave. I’ll meet you at your car.” Then he stormed off.

Rubbing his chin, Tom was convinced David’s strange behavior probably involved the canister.

Of the handful of desks near Tom, only a few were occupied. After a final unsuccessful search of his drawer, he quickly scrambled around asking those astronauts close by if they had seen anyone around his desk. They all answered “no,” but one said it with a sly grin. Something was going down, and Tom hoped it was just an innocent joke. Regardless, he had to come up with a plausible story of why he was in possession of a sealed LRL canister. He noted the time was 5:25. David was probably his best source for answers. He quickly snagged his keys and hurried to his car. If David didn’t have any insight, Tom was in trouble.

Tom hustled over the hot asphalt parking lot in the early evening heat toward his blue Stingray. David was already standing by the car, looking restless, rocking on the balls of his feet. Tom observed a cardboard box on the ground next to David.

Impatiently, David called out, “Tom we’ve got to get going. It’s already 5:30.”

With the magnitude of what was going on, getting his friend to the tire shop was the least of Tom’s concerns. “I’ll have you there in five minutes. I’m sure you’ll still be able to get your car.”

Sweating bullets within his flight suit, Tom jumped in and immediately started up the engine. He attributed the perspiration to his frayed nerves as he cranked on the air conditioner full blast. David entered and set the medium-sized box on his lap.

Tom noticed cut holes along the sides of the cardboard container. He rolled down his window. “What’s that?”

“It’s my son’s pet snake.”

Maybe this was part of some practical joke and why the canister is missing. Tom arched an eyebrow. “What the hell are you doing with a snake?”

“It was supposed to scare the shit out of you. I wanted to get you back for building that damn brick wall at my front door.”

Right away Tom had a good inkling where the reptile’s ultimate destination was to have been. He kept his cool as he checked his rearview mirror and backed up the car. “Where were you going to put it?”

“In your desk drawer. I’ve been planning this for weeks. But Dusty screwed it up.”

Tom’s hunch was right, and hopefully Dusty had the canister. He pushed in the clutch and jammed the stick shift into first gear and headed out of the parking lot. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. At the last minute, Dusty got called away from his desk. He asked Chris to deliver the snake while I escorted you out. But for some reason, the idiot didn’t do it.”

Hearing Riddick could have the lunar material caused Tom to tighten his grip on the steering wheel. He did his best to stay calm. “Did Chris go to my desk?”

“No, he gave me some lame excuse why he forgot. I think he’s full of shit. I don’t know why he didn’t do it, but it was a major challenge to get this snake out of the house. My son begged me not to take it. Joan even complained. So I pretty much blew my one opportunity.”

Tom was now certain Chris had the canister and probably didn’t put the snake in his desk so as to avoid leaving any evidence someone had opened the drawer. Tom couldn’t come across as being upset. He casually rolled up his window once cool air from the vents hit him in the face. He cracked a smile. “That would have definitely shocked the hell out of me. Too bad it didn’t work. I hate snakes.”

“I know.” David looked out his window. “Chris is an idiot.”

The Corvette’s engine roared as Tom pressed the pedal to the floor, racing across NASA 1 toward the tire shop. He had to get back to the office before Chris smuggled the material off the grounds.

When Tom returned to Building 4, he quickly vaulted up the stairs two at a time to the third floor level, where the astronauts’ offices were. He first stopped off at his desk to pick up his briefcase, ensuring he had a way to sneak the container from Chris’s office if he in fact had it. With his case in hand, Tom rushed down the corridor. A silhouette burst around the corner holding a briefcase. Once the man entered the brightly lit hallway, Tom could see it was Chris. Tom’s heart skipped a beat knowing he had almost missed the man.

Chris approached, a composed expression on his face. “Hey, Tom.”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Tom tried to keep his emotions in check. “Chris, I need to talk to you for a moment.”

Not stopping, Chris said, in a quiet, yet frank tone, “Sorry, buddy, I’m late for an appointment. Can it wait until tomorrow?”

Tom grabbed Riddick’s arm and wrapped his fingers tightly around it as he passed, halting him dead in his tracks. “This can’t wait.”

Chris sighed. “Okay, but please make it quick.”

Seeing an empty conference room across the hall, Tom shoved Chris in that direction. “Let’s go in there.”

Chris reluctantly entered the room. Tom closed the door behind them and placed his briefcase on the conference table.

Chris looked unnerved. “What’s this all about?”

Riddick’s relaxed body language had Tom guessing whether the ass actually had the valuable treasure. Either he doesn’t have it or he’s one cool customer. Tom was blunt, saying in a strong and direct tone, “Do you have something of mine?”

The smug look on Chris’s face disappeared. Suddenly he came across as a kid who just got his hand caught in the cookie jar. “What are you talking about?”

The abrupt change in demeanor convinced Tom this was his man. “Did you take something out of my desk?”

Appearing to toy with Tom, Chris tried to cleverly turn the tables on the space veteran. “Why? What are you missing?”

Not biting, Tom assumed the material was in Chris’s briefcase. He took a calculated gamble. “I was told you went to my desk to put a snake in the top drawer, but instead you took something out. I want it back.”

Sticking out his chest arrogantly, Chris started moving toward the door. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I need to get going.”

Tom thrust out his hand, blocking the man’s path. Tom wanted proof. “You aren’t going anywhere until you open your briefcase.”

Jerking the hand down, Chris challenged Tom’s authority. “Who are you to search my briefcase? I don’t have to answer to you.”

By sheer force of will, Tom kept himself from snapping. He took in a deep and calming breath as he folded his arms across his body. “You’re right. I don’t have the authority, but I can still alert security and insist they check it.”

Chris stepped back. “You’re bluffing.”

With that comeback, Tom knew he had his guy. He stared directly into Chris’s eyes without blinking. “Try me.”

Not saying a word, Chris turned and walked over to the conference table. He calmly laid his briefcase down and took a seat. Resting his arms on top of the case, he said in a cocky tone, “Yes, I do have the LRL canister.”

“Give it back!”

Chris patted the seat next to him. “Sit down, Tom. Let’s discuss this.”

Taking any kind of direction from this asshole was the last thing Tom wanted to do. But he sucked in his pride and took a seat. “You don’t want to get involved in this. Give me the canister and I’ll forget you took it.”

“Not until I get some answers. What the hell are you doing with moon rocks anyway? I’m pretty sure it’s a felony offense and you could go to prison.”

Tom had prepared a story. He drew in a sharp breath. “The canister is empty.”

“Bullshit. I know that when these things are sealed with a small weld they contain lunar samples. Besides, the label on the side is officially signed, stamped and dated, stating the rocks are from Apollo 11. You can’t fool me.”

Tom was caught. He never had a chance to study the canister. He had to come up with another story, and quick. “Okay, you’re right.” His mind started racing. “Yes, it has lunar material in it.” He inhaled deeply as he looked toward the front of the conference room, trying not to stumble over his words. “Someone in the lab owed me a favor and got me the sample in secret at my request.” Suddenly a light flipped on in his head. He turned with confidence. “I have been dying to know if there is water on the moon, and I’m not convinced NASA will make the information public. So I wanted to inspect a small sample with my microscope at home. I planned on returning the material early tomorrow morning to my friend so it won’t be noticed missing.”

Chris studied Tom for a moment. He didn’t look convinced. “I doubt you’re telling me the truth, and to be honest, I really don’t care. I tell you what. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you back your precious canister and won’t say anything, on one condition.”

Tom was stunned Chris was trying to proposition him. The man was in no position to negotiate. Tom fought the impulse to raise his voice in anger. “What’s that?”

Chris sat back. “You split whatever is inside with me.”

What? Chris is asking to steal moon rocks? Tom was shocked. How could a NASA astronaut be thinking of such a crazy scheme? “I can’t do that—you know they keep track of all the lunar material down to the milligram. They will know some is missing, which will lead to a major investigation. There is no way we could get away with it.”

“You already stole some, which is supposedly impossible. I bet you and your friend could figure something out.”

Tom looked at Riddick like he was insane. “You’re crazy. It’s out of the question. Both my friend and I could go to jail.”

Chris’s green eyes stayed defiant. “Looks like you already took that risk, doesn’t it?”

Growing impatient, Tom said in a commanding voice, “Forget it. There is no way I’m doing it. Besides, if I were caught, I promise you, I would implicate you. So give it up and pass over the canister.”

Chris looked toward the chalkboard for a moment. “Okay, then you have to do something for me. Since your part of management, I want you to get me into the rotation. Otherwise, I’ll spill the beans.”

First Chris wanted to steal moon rocks, now he was threatening blackmail. Tom already had a low impression of the man, but the ass just hit an all-time low. Tom still had to make certain the sleaze didn’t talk. “Okay. You hand over the canister and I’ll talk to Dick and see what I can do. But you have to promise me not to tell anyone about this.”

“You have my word as a friend.”

Friend? Are you kidding me? You’re the last person I would call a friend.

Chris continued. “But I need to have proof you’re working on my behalf.”

“How do I know I can trust you? Especially after telling Anne about the blonde I took into my hotel room.”

A flustered look crossed Chris’s face and he said apologetically, “Sorry about that. It accidently slipped out when I bumped into her. She seemed to suspect it, and I tried to convince her otherwise, but she eventually caught me in a lie. I did my best to cover for you. Regardless, you can trust me. You take care of me and I’ll take care of you.”

Tom didn’t believe a word the man said. “I’ll talk to Dick and somehow you will get your proof.”

Chris opened his briefcase and slid the canister over. “Sounds like we have a deal.” He winked. “I’d be curious how your little study goes.”

Snapping up the cylinder, Tom shoved it into his briefcase. Just before leaving he turned and glared at the conniving man. “By the way, stay away from my wife.”

“DID YOU GET IT?”

Tom watched Dick walk back to his desk after locking his office door. “It wasn’t easy. Nothing went as planned.”

Dick fell back hard into his chair. “What happened?”

“There were three guys, not two.”

Dick shot him a surprised look. “Really? You should have called it off right then.”

“I considered it, but things eventually worked out. I have the canister in my safe.”

“Good, I knew I could count on you.”

“But we have a problem.”

Dick leaned forward. “What’s that?”

“Chris Riddick knows I have the canister.”

“How?”

“Long story, but he found it in my desk drawer.”

“Did he quiz you on it?”

“He did. I came up with a lame excuse, but I doubt he bought it. I don’t trust the guy.” Tom looked at the door before turning to his boss. “You should know he wanted to extort some of it. He even threatened me, saying he would tell if I didn’t give him half of the contents in the container.”

Dick’s eyes widened until they were as big as saucers. “You’re kidding me. Chris wanted some of the lunar material?”

“It shocked me too. I told him no way in hell.”

Dick looked out his window over a long, silent beat. He slowly turned back to Tom. “I can’t believe one of my men would seriously consider stealing from NASA. Are you sure he wasn’t joking?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then we do have a problem. I would fire him on the spot, but we can’t risk him telling anyone, and there is no way I am assigning him to a mission now.”

“Well, then you have another problem.”

Dick clenched his jaw. “What’s that?”

“I had to make a deal. I promised I’d talk to you about getting him into the rotation. Otherwise he said he would talk.”

Dick started shaking his head. “I can’t believe this. Man, he had me fooled.”

“You weren’t the only one.”

“How can I assign him to a mission now? I don’t trust the guy.” Dick swiveled his chair and looked back out the window. The soft taps of his fingers bouncing on his desk were the only sounds. Finally, Dick turned with a determined look. “I know what we can do. I just learned how we plan to pass over the stolen material to the Soviets. We’ll announce that a future joint space mission is being considered between the two countries. The plan is for you to meet with some cosmonaut in a neutral country to hype up the idea, and that’s where the transaction will take place. Maybe I’ll tell Chris he will be a part of that mission since I doubt it’ll ever happen.”

“So I’m going to pass the lunar material on directly to a cosmonaut?”

“That’s the plan. Now that you have it in your possession, I should be getting the full details soon.”

“Are you thinking of having Chris join me?”

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s a bad idea. He would have eyes on me the whole time.”

“You’re probably right. But if I assign him to the mission, he might wonder why he isn’t going.”

“I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”