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Chapter 7

Kidnapped

Lafayette, California

Diana Richmond had just left Carol at the local Ford dealership and had started home when a light-colored van pulled in behind her and followed her. She pulled into a supermarket to pick up a few things for her mother and was getting out of the car when the van pulled up beside her. As she moved to the back of the car, the van driver got out and moved in behind her when she turned toward the market entrance. The back doors of the van opened, and another man stepped out, grabbed Diana, and pulled her to the open van doors. The first man grabbed her, and between them, they pulled her into the van, hands clamped over her mouth to stifle any cries. They slammed the van doors; a waiting woman inside reached over, and before Diana could move, she thrust a needle into her arm. Dianna slid silently into unconsciousness. No one had seen a thing, and in less than several seconds, it was over. The van backed out of its parking place and drove away.

The two men were in the front of the van while the women remained in the back with Diana. They drove up the freeway and headed east toward Walnut Creek and then went south toward San Ramon. Several miles down the road, the driver turned down onto a back road and went several miles. He turned left into a secluded pasture, pulled up under an old oak tree, turned off his engine, and waited. Both men and the women remained silent, each to their own thoughts. Suddenly from the radio, a load and sharp voice spoke, “Alpha One, this is Apple Jack 4. Over.”

Maps reached over, picked up the mic, and replied, “Alpha One. Over.”

“Alpha One, we are two minutes from touchdown. Do you have the assigned cargo? Over.”

“Roger,” Maps replied. “The cargo is ready to be loaded. Your turnaround time shouldn’t take more than three at the most. Over.”

“I have you in sight, Alpha One. Over.”

The sound of a chopper slowly became louder as it descended and touched down. Maps and Stew picked up Diana and carried her to the helicopter. The woman opened the side door and they laid Diana down and strapped her in, and the woman entered and sat beside her. The bird slowly lifted up off the ground and departed.

Apple Jack 4 was airborne—their destination, a small airport fifteen minutes from its pickup point where a Falcon executive jet was waiting for them.

Stew and Maps went back to the van. Stew picked up the cellular phone and punched in a number. The phone rang only once.

“Northern Control,” came the answer.

“The cargo’s airborne. Alert Duncan. Out,” Stew responded. He turned the phone off and they headed south toward home.

The bird was airborne a short time when the pilot radioed ahead, “We’re coming in. ETA, twelve minutes. Is the Falcon ready for transfer? Over.”

“Roger. Everything is ready. Over,” he replied.

Colonel Duncan and Senator Forthright had just sat down to discuss the update they had received from the Council Command Center when the call came through. Colonel Duncan picked up the phone and listened, hung it up, and spoke to the senator. “They have the girl and are on their way. Should be here in a couple of hours. Maybe now we can find out where our elusive friends are and what they are up to.”

The senator nodded in approval. Both then returned to the message received from the council.