Tarizon: Desert Swarm Read online

Chapter 10

  Deputy Lawson

  After the Army took over security for the Bat Mountain Site, Deputy Curt Lawson left and went back to the sheriff’s substation. He had promised Reverend Little that he’d check out the Bat Mountain Corporation. He figured whoever picked the name had looked at a topographical map and seen that there was a Bat Mountain not too far from the site and picked that name because of it. Bat Mountain had a GPS location of N 36.33384 and W -116.51588 and stood 4,221 feet above sea level. Presumably Bat Mountain got its name from the many bats, perhaps the legendary Lone Pine Mountain Devils, a large, furry, multi-winged creature with razor-like talons and multiple layers of deadly, venomous fangs, that were often seen by miners and pioneers in the area. He picked up the phone and called Libby Martinez, one of their best investigators, who worked out of the sheriff’s office in Bishop.

  “Oh, Curt,” Libby said. “How’s the crowd control going?”

  “It’s over for now. We’ve been relieved by the Army.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Three helicopters full of them.”

  “Wow. The Pentagon must be worried.”

  “Well, I don’t blame them. This is some weird shit.”

  “Hmm. So, does it really look like aliens landed?”

  “Kind of, but it could easily have been staged. A couple bulldozers and a flame thrower could have produced the circular landing site.”

  “Were there any tracks into the area?”

  “Nothing heavy. A few Jeep and pickup tracks that Jack Carpenter probably made.”

  “What about the cathedral? Is it really growing?”

  “It’s definitely getting bigger, that’s for sure.”

  “Wow. So how can I help?”

  “There’s a corporation that recently bought up the land around the area—a Bat Mountain Corporation.”

  “Seriously? Bat Mountain?”

  “Yes, there is a peak named Bat Mountain close by actually, so it makes sense.”

  “Okay. I’ll check with the Secretary of State but it might be a foreign corporation or even an offshore entity, perhaps.”

  “Find out for me and get me some names of officers or directors that I can contact. The owners of this company must know what’s going on.”

  “Okay. Will do. Give me a few hours.”

  As Deputy Lawson was going through his telephone messages he found one from Angela. He called her immediately.

  “You’re back early?” she noted.

  “Yes. Saved by the U.S. Army.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “I don’t know. I guess your ex-husband’s discovery has gotten the Pentagon upset. You don’t think Jack had anything to do with this, do you?”

  She laughed. “Jack? No. He’s way too wrapped up in his work to get mixed up in any kind of conspiracy like this.”

  “Well, I’d like to talk to Jake, if you don’t mind. I’ve got to cover all the bases.”

  “Good. Why don’t you come over? I’ll fix you supper or we can go out after you talk to Jake.”

  “Yeah. Sounds good, but I’m waiting on a phone call. How about seven? I should be able to get out of here by then.”

  “Great. See you then.”

  Curt didn’t really think Jack had anything to do with what was going on at the Bat Mountain Site, but he didn’t like Jack much since Angela obviously still had feelings for him. Fueled by an inexplicable jealousy, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to disparage him. Even if Jack was innocent, he could cause him a lot of grief simply by conducting an investigation and asking the right questions. A few hours later Libby called him back.

  “It’s a Nevada corporation formed in March 1958. The only name on the certificate is an attorney, Paul Bradford out of Las Vegas.” She gave him the contact information. “I tried to call him but his answering service said he was out of town for the rest of the month.”

  “Wonderful. There are no names of directors or anything?”

  “No. I checked with the comptroller and a no-tax-due franchise tax return was filed and Bradford was the only officer listed on the return.”

  “Okay. Thanks. Maybe I’ll run over to Vegas and check out this answering service. They must have some records on this attorney. Perhaps someone there actually knows him.”

  “Right. I checked with the Nevada Bar Association already and this is the address they have for him too. He didn’t graduate from law school–just took the California bar and passed. Unfortunately, they don’t have a photograph.”

  “Hmm. . . . Okay. Let me know if you dig up anything else.”

  Curt hung up and started clearing his desk to leave. Twenty minutes later he was pulling up in front of Angela’s house. He was surprised to see Jack’s car there. He went up to the front door and knocked. Angela opened the door wide so he could come in.

  “Right on time. Jack is going to take Jake for the evening so we can be alone.”

  “Oh, good. Can I talk to them first? There’s a few things I need to get straight.”

  “Sure, I’m sure that will be fine.”

  Jack walked into the room with a beer in his hand. He nodded at Curt. “What do you need to get straight?” he asked.

  “Oh, some things in that newspaper article.”

  Jack sat down on the sofa. “Like what?”

  “Like, it said after your car went off the road, it rolled several times but managed to right itself before it got to the bottom.”

  “Right. The truck was rolling and then hit something that changed its trajectory. I was surprised when it finally settled on all four tires. Lucky for me.”

  “And you weren’t hurt at all?”

  “He suffered a concussion,” Angela interjected.

  “True. Nothing serious, though. A few bumps and bruises—a little disorientation.”

  Angela sighed. “It was a serious concussion the doctor said and you were very disoriented. That’s why you ended up wandering around in the desert.”

  Curt looked at Jack skeptically. “So, have you ever heard of Bat Mountain Corporation?”

  Jack nodded. “Not until last week when I discovered they owned the Bat Mountain Site.”

  “How about the incorporator, Paul Bradford?”

  Jack shook his head. “No, but I was going to see if I could track him down.”

  “Why does that interest you?”

  “The same reason it interests you. I want to find out what’s going on. I’m a curious person.”

  “It’s part of my job, but it shouldn’t concern you.”

  “It shouldn’t concern me? Are you serious? Some bizarre structure made of an unknown substance is growing on my back door and I shouldn’t be concerned. Aliens may be landing nearby but I should turn a blind eye to it?”

  “Yes. Leave it to the professionals,” Curt said strongly.

  “Well, I’m sorry. I don’t trust the federal government to be honest with the public about this, should they get lucky and figure it out. They’ll try to cover it up in the name of national security and you’ll go along with whatever they decide to do. So, I’m going to figure this out on my own.”

  Curt let out a frustrated sigh. “Well, just be careful you don’t interfere with my investigation and if you find anything out, I want to hear about it.”

  “Will you let me know if you find anything out?” Jack asked, amused.

  “No. Obviously not.”

  “Then don’t expect any calls from me,” Jack spat.

  As they were talking Jake walked in. “I’m ready to go.”

  “Good,” Jack said. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Jake looked at Angela expectantly. “Don’t ask,” she said. “Have a good night, honey.”

  Jack and Jake left and Angela glared at Curt. “Why are you picking on Jack? He didn’t do anything.”

  “You buy his story he was just wandering in the desert and found the Bat Mountain Site?”

  “Yes. Of course, I do. Why wouldn’t I?”
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br />   “Because it makes no sense. I think Jack knows more about this than he’s letting on.”

  Angela shook her head. “I have known Jack for ten years and he’s got his faults, but one thing is sure, he’s as honest as the day is long.”

  Curt shrugged. “Well, for your sake, I hope you’re right.”