Mountains of Dawn

For the third time since the chopper had left Vermeil, Malcolm asked, "What is the problem with this relic? Is that all the power it has? Can't it go any faster? It's already two in the morning!"

"Maximum speed, Mr. Clark," the pilot replied for the third time, in the same calm tone.

"How much longer until we get there?" Malcolm asked.

"One hour. Calm down, Malcolm," Detective Warner replied. "Unfortunately I had to clear out our operation with the local police. It took some time."

"Yes, yes, I know. I can't contact Paul through his cellular phone. Something must be wrong with it." Malcolm groaned. "And Kevin never had the phone hooked up at the cottage."

"You can't imagine I bad I feel, Malcolm. We've had a tail on Joe Halliday for two days, but we lost him yesterday afternoon. We wanted to catch him in action."

"I understand. You needed more evidence against him than simply the fact that he's Caltabieni's nephew."

"Well, we do have that. The company in France, the subsidiary of the Norwegian plant which produces Telgex and sells to individuals, has confirmed three shipments of material to Joe. So, Joe is involved in criminal activities. Let's hope whatever or whoever his target might be, it isn't Tanya."

Kevin woke around three o'clock in the morning, a strange sound echoing in his ears. The noise seemed to come from downstairs. He reached across the bed, between the sheets, until he felt Tanya's warm body beside him. She slept deeply with a soft, intermittent snore.

He slid from the bed and opened the door quietly, then descended the stairs on silent feet. He followed the feeble light coming from the kitchen. Someone was arranging dynamite sticks on the kitchen table. As quietly as he could, Kevin retraced his steps into the bedroom.

"Tanya! Wake up!" he murmured. He lifted her from the blankets and off of the bed. "Up, up, girl! Quickly! We're in danger."

"What…? What's the matter? What's happening?" Tanya struggled to keep her eyes open.

"Out. Out of the house, now…" Kevin pulled her and shook her to be certain she would stay awake. "Someone is going to blow this place to splinters. Be very quiet…" He put his velour jacket over her shoulders and dragged her onto the balcony. "Sit here," he said in a whisper and placed her on the balcony's edge, her legs over the side. "You have to jump slightly to the left. There's a shed underneath us. Then you have to drive away from here…" Tanya tried to protest, but he wouldn't listen. "Let go. I have you. I'll lower you to the shed."