Long Blonde Hair, Sky Blue Eyes Pt. 10

Long Blonde Hair, Sky Blue Eyes C10

With Chapter 11 written, it's going to take another to end this story; it's complicated.

I won't even apologize - it is what it is - but I hope you won't have to reread more than chapter 9 to remember this story, and I hope you enjoyed 'You're Always 17.'

For those of you who asked, I'm doing well now. BP is controlled, the new knee is functioning better than the old, and my wife has me catching up on all the chores I didn't do for two months. Plus, it's spring in Texas and I'm having to mow our acre yard every week, so I'm testing my knee and BP.

Hope you're all doing well.

****

The trancelike state from last night persisted while they got dressed, but they made the walk to Miss Hattie and were ready when the bus arrived at 9:40. The buffet breakfast was pure southern, with pancakes and waffles, biscuits, gravy, grits, and plates mounded with scrambled eggs, bacon, and ham. Erik saw the look cross Annika's face as she searched for the fruit and yogurt. Resignation set in, and then she whispered, "Fuggit! I need my calories after yesterday and last night! I'll diet when I get to Cali, and they can let out my clothes if need be!"

They filled their plates, chugged the potent coffee, and washed it all down with full-strength milk. Hanna laughed at her friend, saying that was probably the first whole milk she'd had since she was five years old, and that she had seen her eat fewer calories in a week! Ha'lina teased that she needed a lot of pounds spread across all that length anyway, and maybe she'd grow some boobs if she gained weight.

Annika took it in stride, knowing that Hanna was right and that a robust woman like Ha'lina would never understand the cockamamie demands of modeling and acting anyway. Ha'lina was as beautiful as she, but in a very different way, and Hanna dieted as much as Annika, although her calories were more compactly arranged on her shorter body.

Bill Hammer checked in for 'Seal Team Seven' at eleven fifteen to ask when she would be ready to fly out from Sholes International. She needed to be in LA tonight by 8, it was a private jet supplied by the producers, so she had adequate time; she opted for 2:15, wanting to spend all the time she could with Erik.

The same Erik that got a message on the ride back to the Saunders' and called as soon as they got off the bus. "Cavo! How are you?" he asked their home remodeling foreman.

"Depends on whether you're stopping by here," he responded, "Something has come up that requires your direction, Boss, but I really need to show you."

"I wasn't planning to but can. Annika can't; she's leaving for Los Angeles. Do we need her?"

"No, I'll say this is a 'you' issue. When will you get here?"

"Leaving after I drop her off at the airport here around 1:30. Our friends are catching rides to Bush Intercontinental with other flyers, so I should be there by 4:30. Meet at the house, right?"

After their clothes were packed, they used the time to cuddle, review revised plans, and say goodbye to their hosts. KJ was to accompany Cassie to Minnesota tomorrow before heading out to commitments, and the Greenlight Innovations admin team would meet Thursday.

'Seal Team Seven' it wasn't, but Andi, Rhonda, Arney, and Miguel made a strong detachment, especially with Security First LA doing prep and providing oversight by air. Erik was pleased, and their goodbye was kisses and promises rather than tears. He waved until they turned off the taxiway onto the runway and then returned to the SUV.

A panel van was sitting beside the SUV. Ray was standing beside the passenger seat of the SUV and a large man Erik didn't know was driving. Ray gestured to the second row and held the door for Erik. After a quick handshake, he demanded, "Give me your phone."

Though puzzled, Erik did as told. He watched his phone be placed into a black bag, and then he and Ray took their seats. He started to speak, but Ray held up his hand, did something under the dash, and then turned around in his seat to face him.

"Much has happened in the past 24 hours, and Captain Hammer will begin to update you in just a moment. Annika's phone was also taken, so your methods of communication will have to change for the next few days; the same is true with Hanna, Johnny, Cassie, and KJ. We're taking you to an important meeting in Smithville and then on to Canyon Lake, but it will be late when we get there."

His confusion growing, Erik started to ask a question, but Ray held up his hand. "Save your questions for Bill; he will be calling on this encoded satellite phone as soon as he's finished with Annika's call."

The white panel van was cruising a short distance behind, and a similar van was situated a quarter mile ahead as they blew up I 45 headed for I 10.

"Good morning, Erik! How are you this fine day?" Bill asked in a way that was more provocative than friendly. He knew his godson was fit to be tied by now.

"Morning, Sir. I guess I'm mostly confused this fine day; want to help me with that?"

"Son, let me ask you a question or two, and then I'll help. Right now, as of this moment, what would you say is the most important asset Greenlight Innovations has? Before you answer, let me ask another: what do you think your government believes is the most important asset?"

"The SEAMM, which isn't even a working model, maybe? They like to believe every potential innovation is the next great thing."

"Wrong, young man! They believe the most important asset of Greenlight, and a critical American asset, is the mind in which the SEAM lives and is evolving! Given that belief, they become quite concerned when that national asset is - let's see, 'cavalier' is the word they used, I believe - with his life!

"That goes double for parents and godparents and fiancées and friends, of course, but the government would like a word with you tonight after your foreman enlightens you on what he's found. Oh, hell yes they know; we know, and god knows who else will know if you remain so 'cavalier' with your security!

"Word is out, Mijo! Your days of anonymity are done, and your security is soon going to rival a senator's. We can help you moderate that and give you at least a modicum of the privacy you crave, but until SEAM is a module in production, or disproven, your butt is in a tight crack!"

Erik sat quietly for a few seconds, mulling the, what, warnings?

"So, who called? I'd like an idea of who or what I'm dealing with."

"Let's just say a box of highly protected sat phones were delivered last evening, and then a call was received on the one with my name affixed. They are all up in your business now, as you'll learn in few hours.

"The good news is, you can quit worrying about funding your buildings and projects. The good news/ bad news is, your security contingent is growing by leaps and bounds as we speak, in ways you never envisioned. And the worst news is, you don't have any say in that decision. It was made on Pennsylvania Avenue."

"Before you ask me more, read what I just sent to the highly secure email account your government set up for you, have your meetings, and I'll see you tomorrow at the lake."

The meeting with Cavo would easily have been the highlight of his day, week, or month, without all the other stuff. The interior designer used builder's plans to order a rug, but it was too large for the actual space. That set off a chain of events leading to the discovery of a system of false walls with escape routes running between floors, a hidden underground room, and to tunnels that branch out to unknown exits on the property.

"I'm a volunteer fireman / first responder in my spare time and head up the search and rescue team. I 'rented' and used our ground-penetrating radar to discover most of this, but you and I, the previous owner, and the builder are the only ones who know about it! None of this is shown in plans, which must have been for maintaining secrecy!"

They were in the basement talking; Ray had been roaming around upstairs after setting up a secure area down there, but soon rejoined them. The other members of the security team were set up in the vans parked nearby, which were filled with electronic gear.

"I think I found most of the listening devices, but I've ordered a thorough sweep from one of Bill's specialty teams. Also, there are ears and eyes in the sky that aren't ours, but I suspect they will identify themselves soon enough. We don't identify them bad actors in the normal sense, and they are closing in.

"How about all this," Ray asked, "do you want us to explore and map your find, or what?"

Cavo nodded: "Yes, you do, Boss. I'm not a spelunker or cartographer, and this ain't no little cave; it's going to take people and time."

****

The meeting at Camp Swift with a roomful of officials from various agencies and service branches was mercifully short, but both complex and compelling. He needed to consider and consult; shit had gotten real in a hurry, and they weren't offering many options.

That Annika was on Pacific Time allowed their conversation to take place while Erik was heading to Canyon Lake, but it was fraught with worry on her end and consternation on his. They agreed to a longer, more informed discussion tomorrow evening, at eight central time. He promised information on the sudden security interest, and she promised an update on the filming.

After Annika, Erik put Carl on notice and got an immediate response; apparently, he was in the loop and would be at Bill's by ten am.

Third cup of Costa Rican shade grown in hand, Erik faced his elders. From left to right around the table, were Milly, Bill, Carl, Johnny's dad Lukas, and Alex, Erik's dad.

"I stepped in it this time, didn't I?" Erik asked blithely, offering a shit-eating grin to the grim faces across from him.

"You always was too big for your britches," Bill Hammer responded with a grin of his own.

"I'm glad you two can joke," Carl said rather forcefully, "but I agree; you did step off in it this time! You tell us you're going to celebrate Mardi Gras in Galveston with your partners and my daughter, and have plenty of security. Five days later I've got military brass in my office and security teams working every floor! Not just the floors you leased - every floor! What exactly did you do?"

"I'll answer that for you, Carl," Bill interjected. "He made sure your daughter was safe and well protected while taking personal chances my people warned him against! We knew we weren't the only interested party overseeing things, and we suspected government involvement rather than foreign countries or competing corporations because of the sophistication of their participation.

"I'm not sure what set them off, but it could have been the warning that he isn't her damn accountant and he'd do what he needed to do to take care of her, including taking on a guy twice his size who is known as Demon! Or maybe forcing three armed hooligans out of a hallway and onto the street using his pistola, before turning them over to my guys.

"Regardless, I'm confident you heard the term 'blatant disregard for his safety' from Homeland as many times as I did, but you didn't hear it from Erik and Annika's security team like I did. My guys admire Erik's courage and independence but doubt he understands what he's up against."

"Do you?" his dad challenged.

"Look, I'm Erik Swahn from New Braunfels. They seem to think I'm Robert Oppenheimer or someone like that. Or at least that's the way it came across last night. I have no intention of going into hiding in a New Mexican desert, or living off the grid while I TRY - TRY being the operative word - to tame the Japanese Monster that just keeps growing!"

Milly laughed at her godson, and then sternly warned, "Do you enjoy being around Annika? Your family and friends? Enjoy working with your teams, your partner, your new COO? Think y'all can accomplish more together than apart? Yeah?

"Then cut the shit! Right now, you are the only person with the complete vision. Okay, you aren't Oppenheimer, but they see you as someone who can prolong American leadership for years or decades to come.

"Why? Well, because we have the mightiest military in history; it runs on petroleum. We have more internal combustion engines than anyone, and we use more petroleum to keep our economy - easily the world's largest - working!

"We talk about EVs and a clean future, but we're decades from being able to charge and run EVs; heck, here in Texas we do good to keep the lights on during a cold or heat snap! Try plugging in millions of electric vehicles any given night and see what happens!

"None of us want to destroy earth, but if we can burn gas and gasoline cleanly and efficiently, with a self-analysis model driving continuing improvement at all levels, the necessity for immediate change diminishes. Maybe we will reverse the effects that are causing global warming and destroying the ozone layer. Who knows?

"And who knows what artificial intelligence can do with the right data in the right moment? Maybe we can not only operate more efficiently, but AI can also direct us toward new models that promote change geometrically, beginning with design and development and continuing with use!"

"The operative term right now, Son, is 'the greater good," Alex proposed. "Maybe you and I strongly disagree, but from the government perspective, making this thing work is as high a priority as they have. Save oil and gas? Save the automobile industry? Keep America's economy and military on top? Oh, yes, and save the environment too!

"That's what you're hanging out there for them to see, but then you don't seem to care about any of that - people mess with the bull, they get the horns! Nobody fools with you and yours, and you enforce that rule, help be damned! To them, that seems immature. Well, maybe to them, us, and the rest of humankind, it seems immature, given the stakes.

"So, based on the fun interviews I've had with them since Monday - and I'll give them credit for working with us rather than just disappearing you - you are going to become very well protected, whether at home, at work, or traveling, from others and from yourself. The sooner you accept that and get on with the development of your bright idea, the sooner your world will look like it did before your bright idea."

Erik sighed. "So, can we still get married? Live in our new home? Have kids, and dogs, and stuff? Or do I get stuffed in a basement and just work?"

"Whatever you do, expect to have a tad more security than Bill's been providing, and learn to control your instincts. This isn't only about you anymore."

****

Construction at the Bastrop County offices and manufacturing site paused for a few hours and the commercial construction crews were redirected to other jobs, replaced by highly efficient teams that worked day and night shifts.

Some of the stockpiled building materials were removed and replaced by different materials. Unusual equipment entered under cover of darkness, seemingly disappeared, and then the site became a quiet beehive of activity.

Six critical members of the SEAM development team, some recently hired, were suddenly implanted in the houses beside and down the street from the lake house, and work on identifying and scheming the extensive elements that would come into play began in earnest.

Meanwhile, on the Pacific Coast, Rhonda, Andi, and the other team members were busy protecting Annika. Not from the Russian mob or hired hitmen, but from the devious efforts of actors and series personnel to pry her loose from her vows to her fiancée.

If her beauty wasn't already enough, her celebrity made her THE Unicorn, and a miniseries actor with her on his arm would suddenly fetch a very nice per-picture monetary award, so it was well worth whatever action it took to seduce her. Didn't matter, she laughingly told Erik Thursday evening; she was immune to such efforts!

Granted, he was a bit distracted by the hullabaloo, and he wasn't sure what he could safely, or privately, share on the satellite phone provided by the government, but their evening affirmation fell short of its norm. Still, this is the woman he loves, and sometimes 'OK' is okay.

There was so much going on in Texas he had to remain focused, but he longed for his fiancée, who seemed distracted when they talked on Saturday afternoon, and again Monday. When queried she blamed it on script changes, the addition of characters, the shooting schedule, and the publicity demands. He reminded her of the strict provisions in her contract regarding publicity demands, but she indicated they weren't that bad, just more to do, and changed the subject.

By Wednesday evening Erik was certain her acting debut wasn't going well, or there was another problem. He then called Rhonda, who tried to reassure him but was far from forthcoming, as if she was being watched or knew whatever they said was being intercepted. He smelled a rat but refused to ask the government team to investigate his suspicions because it might well be them!

He didn't call on Thursday, and she was both hurried and harried in their Friday call, which she initiated about four California time. If he didn't know better...

She begged off their Saturday call due to the shooting schedule, but promised to call first thing Sunday.

The security contingent had established the need for daily briefings that worked both ways. The development team gave an update that provided information on their progress without overwhelming or disclosing protected information, and Mark and Danny of the agency security team provided information that might be germane to their work.

Bill was normally there, but he missed Sunday morning's update and Erik's astute identification and assessment of certain tidbits of information buried in the mountain made available for his security team's perusal.

As usual, rumors, news, and press releases regarding the functional use of AI dominated, but he had asked that anything regarding Annika's work on the west coast be included. As he scrolled, he spotted a teaser from the miniseries saying, 'A well-known star has been added to the cast for season three.'

'Same old same old' he thought as he scrolled on, 'just trying to build interest.'

A few minutes later, he came across a blurry photo of Annika in a limo with several other cast members he recognized, and a former A-List actor whose career had tailed off. A+B = C, so now he knew the identity of the new cast member. He wasn't pleased that the guy had a reputation for enjoying the company of rising young actresses, but that wasn't uncommon.

Had he not come across another picture from the Entertainment section of the Times, the previous bit of information would have been filed for future reference.

This picture was taken at the back entrance of a VIP club. None of the four men and two women exiting a limo could be identified among the chaos and a phalanx of bodies. They were shown with their heads down and obscured by some covering, apparently running to the back doors, which were being held open.

Their faces couldn't be identified, but the limo driver could, and Erik knew the legs of the second woman.

"Did we miss something?" asked Mark, seeing Erik's demeanor and level of alertness change.

Without answering, Erik took his coffee cup, filled it, and walked to the designated 'secure room' with his sat phone. It wasn't yet six am in LA, but he called anyway. No answer. He waited five minutes and called again; no answer. He returned to the dining table and resumed scrolling.

At ten, Danny and Karli led 'morning prayers,' and prepared to resume their efforts. "Not today," Erik said, "Today we fish, grill something, swim, soak up some rays, and relax. I'm tired, and you are too," he explained, pointing at his teammates.