The Oracle Philon Read online

  “But you wouldn’t have it any other way,” the male answered in a knowing tone.

  “Are you saying that I’m a dominant woman? That I require the upper hand?”

  “Well, you do wear lots of leather,” the man behind and above her responded. “Oh, and did I mention that you attempt to boss me around whenever you think you can get away with it. Yes, you deliberately try to dominate men.”

  “Uh-oh, you’re breaking up,” Kaley Wells said into her earpiece. “I can’t understand what you just said,” she responded playfully and tapped her earpiece. “Can you repeat it?” She and Malcolm Short often traded indelicate innuendoes when they were working together. It made their efforts less stressful. It did provoke Malcolm in a different way.

  “Do you ever take anything seriously?” The much older Malcolm asked. He was over forty.

  “Only when there are a lot of zeros involved,” she quickly answered. “But, don’t push any more of my buttons right now, okay. I’m going to have to use the rope that was tied around me and rappel down to the car. This could take some skill and I need to concentrate.”

  Malcolm left the chugging engine of the rented boom crane running and jumped down out of the cabin. He rushed to the edge of the sinkhole in the middle of the abandoned Winn Dixie parking lot. He wanted a clearer view in case Kaley needed some help. But then he thought, who am I kidding, she never needs my help. It’s like she anticipates everything.

  He dipped under the yellow crime scene tape that surrounded the huge hole before any of the guards could protest. He knew that it was dangerous to get too near the wet edge, but he had to keep her in his line of vision. This mission had to go smoothly. The pair was allowed into the unstable sinkhole area only because their boss had promised the mayor of the city that he would pay for the filling in of the hole.

  The rain had stopped as abruptly as it had begun ten minutes earlier — it was southern Florida after all. As he looked into the sinkhole, the looming questions were: how much bigger would the hole get before it stopped growing, how much deeper would the three cars be buried. He hoped that Kaley could get there before they disappeared in the soft earth. Malcolm figured she had only a few minutes left. He didn’t like her chances.

  “Keep the rope tied to your waist in case I have to drag you out of there,” he said into his earpiece knowing that she probably wouldn’t listen to him, she never did. She would do whatever she wanted. Kaley was strong willed in that way. She had total disregard for any concern voiced by anyone else. When she was focused on making money that’s all that mattered and she was remarkably successful.

  Malcolm knew that if one of the cars hadn’t contained a valuable artifact, Kaley wouldn’t be facing imminent danger. But, one did, at least according to the owner anyway, and Kaley, the untamable daredevil, was after it.

  Malcolm had been lucky and thrilled at the beginning of the assignment. He looked forward to working with the alluring Kaley again and maybe making some extra money to boot. But she scared the hell out of him with her antics and kept him and everybody else around at an arm’s length. Nobody knew much about the secretive beauty. It was part of her mystiquee and she kept it that way. He knew very little about her.

  Kaley told Malcolm that she had been fortunate to be working the case. She had been only about twenty-five miles away from the sinkhole. She had actually been soaking up some Palm Beach sun on the local beach when she got the call from Simon Stone. He was the CEO of Aurora Insurance Company. She promised him that she would get to Jupiter, the next town over, as fast as she could and would be prepared to go directly to work.

  Malcolm knew that Simon was aware of where all of his freelance field researchers were located at all times, especially his captivating charge Kaley Wells. He told her it was an emergency and he needed her there within the hour. She agreed and hung up the phone.

  Kaley was one of his four special researchers who tracked down antiques and antiquities that had gone missing or stolen. The Aurora Insurance Company held the policies for many artifacts. The policies were all worth at least a minimum of a million dollars. When one of the insured articles went missing, at least one of the special field researchers was sent after it. In addition to their salaries, they earned a ten percent recovery fee. It was a lot of money and because of the potential income the researchers were all uniquely skilled.

  This artifact, which, was allegedly in the trunk of a car in the sinkhole in Florida, was insured for fifty million dollars. That explained why Kaley was risking her life while nearly naked to get it back. And time had become a grave limitation.

  Chapter Two

  It had been only three hours since the CEO of Aurora Insurance Company had called Malcolm into his office. He said that he had just hung up the phone with a seemingly frantic client by the name of Ben Brown. Malcolm didn’t recall him.

  Stone said the client related a version of what had happened. However, Simon Stone didn’t like the client’s explanation of how the artifact went missing. Something seemed out of place and shady, but nonetheless he needed to take action.

  “Investing a few million dollars to save fifty was a logical choice for us,” he told Malcolm “Once we secure the artifact and return it to Ben Brown, I’ve decided to cancel the client’s policy,” he added. “I never want to do business with any questionable characters.”

  Malcolm Short was one of the company’s lawyers at the corporate offices in Atlanta, Georgia. He was usually in charge of writing the complicated policies for clients and sometimes he served as a logistic person for a recovery. Simon Stone wanted his high priced researchers working and not worrying about how they were going to get someplace.

  Stone explained what they were looking for with whom he would be working.

  “Can you handle it?” The CEO asked with his bushy eyebrows raised.

  “Hmm,” Malcolm responded. “I don’t recall a policy on the item you described.”

  “I’ve got the policy right here,” the CEO said as he pointed to a file in the middle of his desk. You’ve read it.”

  An old voice inside his head told Malcolm to not press the issue and agree. The voice had been right many times before.

  “Yes, sir,” Malcolm responded as his heart beat faster in his chest, mostly because he knew he would be sent to the location in Florida and Kaley would be there.

  “Who do we have near Jupiter, Florida?” the executive demanded even though he already knew.

  “I believe Kaley is vacationing in Palm Beach,” the lawyer responded expectantly.

  “Okay, I need both you and her to get to Jupiter as fast as possible. We need to find the artifact. If not, we could be facing a fifty million dollar loss here.”

  “If I took the company jet, I could be there in about two hours,” Malcolm replied.

  “Hmm,” the old man responded as he considered the option like he hadn’t thought of that already.

  “What’s going on?” Malcolm inquired. “What’s the rush?”

  Instead of answering, Simon picked up his phone and tersely told his assistant to have the plane warmed up for Malcolm. He told her to find a rental place near Jupiter that specialized in construction equipment. He also needed the name and phone number of the mayor of Jupiter. He told her to be in his office with the information in ten minutes.

  “What’s going on?” Malcolm repeated. He was already standing and was halfway to the office door when he asked. His senses told him to be wary.

  “Something is not right. A valuable artifact is missing, but our client’s explanation of how this item disappeared has a lot of holes,” Simon Shoes responded.

  “It wouldn’t be the first time,” Malcolm snorted. “What did he say happened?

  “He claims that someone stole the artifact in broad daylight. He said that he and some men chased the bad guys. They parked his stolen car in the middle of a vacant lot near two other cars. The artifact was in the trunk. Suddenly a sinkhole opened up and swallowed all three cars. He’s looking
for us to pay out the policy right now.”

  “And he thinks that we can’t get to it in the sinkhole to verify that it’s for real. Sinkholes are notorious for swallowing things up and never giving them back. He believes we will have to pay off the policy, right?”

  “That’s what it sounds like to me,” the old man replied. “You’ll need to interview the client after we attempt to find the artifact.”

  “Is he stupid, anyone can see that this is fabricated?”

  “Hardly,” the CEO responded with a look of concern. “He claims that they had the trunk open and the robbers were taking pictures of the artifact when he arrived at the site. Suddenly the sinkhole developed and sucked the cars inside. It was all recorded on the client’s cellphone.”

  “Hmm,” Malcolm the lawyer responded and rubbed his chin. “Can he send us the video? We’ll need some forensic people to analyze it.”

  “It’s already being emailed to me.”

  “How convenient,” Malcolm the lawyer said sarcastically. “I’ve got a lot of questions about that story.”

  “Well, save them up,” Simon ordered. “Our first priority is to get you and Kaley to the site. Call me from the plane so we can discuss your questions.”

  Chapter Three

  Two and a half hours later, Malcolm, still dressed in a business suit, peered into the dark sinkhole in Florida. He could clearly see Kaley hanging upside down and athletically sliding hand over hand down the nylon rope like a sensuous snake as she headed into the dark deep hole. Her firm ass cheeks were taut as her dancer’s legs wrapped tightly around the rope for support. It was quite a sight. Her blond hair was in a ponytail, she wore black gloves and almost nothing else.

  “Stop looking at my ass, Malcolm,” Kaley suddenly broadcasted into his earpiece. How did she know that I was staring?

  He was ogling her because as soon as she arrived at the site, she determined that she would have to go into the sinkhole to recover the artifact. She shed her expensive clothes so they wouldn’t get ruined. She handed the garments and her stiletto red high heels to the startled Malcolm with a smile that usually accompanied some sort of human torture.

  “Hold on to these for me will you,” she ordered rather than pleaded. “And don’t get anything on them or play with them. I’ll go bare foot.”

  Malcolm was flustered and amazed that she didn’t hesitate and simply stepped out of her dress while leaning on his chest with one hand. This woman is flat out crazy, he thought. It’s like she knew how I would react.

  Underneath her clothes she still had on a tiny black thong bikini. It barely covered her shapely body. Kaley next stooped over without bending her legs and rummaged around in a huge beach bag she brought. She took a medium-sized waterproof pouch from it and attached it to her arm using a Velcro tab. Malcolm stood mesmerized. This woman constantly surprised him. The pouch contained some tools and her cellphone. Then she immediately went to work tying knots and hooking ropes to the end of the large boom crane. She didn’t notice that all the men at the site were staring at her, especially Malcolm.

  When she was done preparing for her below ground adventure, she deliberately sashayed over to where Malcolm stood.

  “Is this the best you could do?” She said it as a challenge as she nodded towards the rusting boom crane. He knew that she would now try to belittle him further so she could gain the upper hand. She had done it many times before.

  “We only had a little over two hours to get ready,” he responded feeling slightly hurt. “It’s the best we could do. And Simon actually rented the machine.”

  Kaley didn’t care what other people thought or felt. She only cared about what they could do for her and how quickly they could do it.

  “You’ve barely enough equipment to get the job done,” she scolded her partner with an innuendo. “Good thing I’m so forgiving and can take it.”

  “You’re so gracious,” Malcolm said dripping sarcasm.

  “So what’s the story? What am I really after? The client’s story sounds phony.”

  “There’s supposed to be an ancient codex in the trunk of the middle car down there,” Malcolm explained professionally. “But the old man thinks it might be a scam. The insured artifact is worth fifty million and the robbers were video recording it when the sinkhole suddenly opened up and swallowed the cars. It’s all on tape, but it seems a little too staged for me. I’m guessing that there may or may not be anything in the trunk. And where are the witnesses?”

  Shock suddenly covered Kaley’s pretty face. “What? So, I…could…make…nothing?” she stammered as her hand went to her throat. Her dancer-like body visibly stiffened. The fire in her eyes quickly vanished. The statuesque woman suddenly seemed vulnerable, even though Malcolm knew she wasn’t.

  She stood five foot-five inches tall with only slightly above average bodily measurements, but there was something about her. She was incredibly enchanting. Men never wanted to disappoint her — and she never let them.

  “Simon said he will pay you even if you can’t recover the artifact,” Malcolm offered. “But we need to get going. The sinkhole might get bigger or collapse at any moment. Any more questions or comments?”

  He knew that she could not resist.

  She stared at him like he was raw meat and she was a hungry lioness. “First of all,” Kaley spat out and pointed her long slender finger at him. “Stop staring at my breasts. You’ve seen them before and you’ve seen me dressed like this too. If I had time, I would have bought some proper work clothes. It’s your fault Malcolm.”

  Realizing that she had purposely attempted to put him on the defense, he responded. “It’s the tattoo,” Malcolm responded. “I never noticed it before.”

  “Oh, do you like it?” Kaley responded in a suddenly cheerfully voice. Her attitude had quickly changed. “I just got it yesterday. Do you want a closer look?” She reached up and pulled her bikini top aside to give him a better view. “You can look, but don’t touch.”

  The totally aroused and confused lawyer asked, “What’s it supposed to be?”

  “It’s an ancient good luck symbol from Greek mythology,” she offered and moved in close. “You know, I’m an archeologist by education, don’t you?”

  “You are many things,” Malcolm said as he tried to recover his dignity. “Most of them are conflicting. Now can we get going before the sinkhole gets bigger?”

  ***

  Ten minutes later, Malcolm watched as Kaley gracefully flipped over on the rope in the hole and let go. She landed softly on the roof of the middle car in the sinkhole. It was thirty feet down in the hole and partially buried in the sandy soil of south Florida. She assumed a striking pose like she was surfing for a few seconds as she adjusted to the tilt of the vehicle. It was pointed nose down and sunk up to the top of the front wheel wells. The doors were in too much mud to easily open.

  Malcolm watched the magnificent creature known as Kaley Wells through binoculars as she opened the pack attached to her arm and went to work.

  He observed, at close range, as she strutted, squatted, bent over and lay prone on the roof of the car while attempting to find a way inside it. The details of her body were available because of the magnification and it made him feel like a voyeur. How does she have the ability to turn me into Jell-O? I’ve known plenty of women, but this one completely charms and confuses me. Is it magic?

  Suddenly she looked up at him like she was reading his mind. “Pay attention,” she scolded him. “I’m going to have to break the back window to get inside,” she said into her earpiece.

  “Wait! The artifact is supposed to be in the trunk,” he quickly replied. “There should be no reason to go inside the car. Get the trunk open first.”

  “I see a suspicious looking bag on the back seat,” Kaley responded. “I need to see what’s in that bag.”

  Before Malcolm could respond, he heard two quick shots from the Berretta she kept in her arm pouch.

  “What the hell are you doing?” He ner
vously screamed into his earpiece. “The sinkhole is unstable.”

  “This will just take a second,” she responded sweetly as he watched her slither through the broken widow.

  Malcolm was suddenly beside himself with worry. How could she be so uncaring? He didn’t hear the low rumble building below his feet.

  He became aware of some of the people behind the yellow crime tape yelling and turned to find out what they were screaming, but it was too late — the ground under his feet gave way and he plunged into the dark hole. He was lost to the world as everything turned black.

  Chapter Four

  The first thing he heard when he regained consciousness was Kaley yelling his name in a loud voice. She was asking if he could hear her. He tried to open his eyes, but they were caked with sticky mud. When he went to brush the soft wet soil away from his eyes, he discovered that his arms were stuck. The wet dirt acted like quicksand. He was buried up to his arm pits and was slowly sinking into the quagmire.

  Malcolm managed to get one arm free, but sunk a few inches in the process. He cleaned his face by knocking away the loose earth. That was when he started to panic. He realized that he had fallen into the sinkhole. How will I get out? There is no one manning the equipment and then there was Kaley.

  “Kaley, can you help me?” he groaned.

  “Thank God you’re awake. Don’t move,” she screamed back at him. She was only an arm’s length away, but still out of reach. “Any movement you make will only cause you to sink further into the wet mud.”

  “What happened?” Malcolm asked as he tried to clear his foggy head.

  “The edge you were standing on gave way. You slid down the wall of the sinkhole like you were riding a sled and splashed into the overly-wet ground. I thought you were a goner until your head popped up.”

  “How long was I out?” he asked.

  “Only about ten minutes,” Kaley responded in a cheery voice. “I couldn’t reach you and anyway I’m not strong enough to pull you out. All that I could do was to wait for you to wake up. I knew that you would.”