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~*~*~ Buried Jewels~*~*~* ---Part Six--- *Blue* |
--------Buried Jewels---------
***~Part Six~***
------The Stranger------
CHAPTER XI
Greg finished his dinner, while Julie got ready. She wanted to run out to Alpha Amburgey’s before it got any later in the day. It was already after 4:00pm Greg helped her into the truck. The drive out uneventful, there was a companionable silence. Amburgey was there at his house sitting on the porch.
Greg helped Julie out as they stepped up on the porch. Alpha got up, welcoming she and Greg. “What did you do to yourself?” He asked her. Alpha Amburgey was a heavy-set man. Julie remembered him, after introducing herself, yet waited allowing him to mention her brother. “Your Frank’s daughter, well it sure is good to see you, I wondered when You would get here, I didn‘t know if you would figure that code out or not.” He said. Julie was relieved. “Did you find every thing that You will need?” Alpha Amburgey asked her.
“Yes, I have.” She stated. “I’ll be going with you, Your father also left a ticket for me, we need to leave within two months, get over there, meet the contact and get your brother out of there, then get out.” He said.
Julie was overcome with emotion soon she would be reunited with her brother. When Greg spoke up. “You will be going with her, but so am I.” Greg said. Alpha expected as much.
“There are only two tickets, but I am sure you are aware of this, therefore I need not remind You that You will be paying your way, when I say this, I want you to know, I don’t mean one thing by this.”
“ So please don’t take it as an insult, but the tickets and accommodations are not cheap, we will be staying one night in Ho Chi Minh City, we will meet with the contact, we will make the exchange, give them what they want for Frank’s son and we will get out of there as quickly as possible .” Alpha stated. “Of course, no offense taken, Mr. Amburgey.” Greg stated.
“But in exchange for what?” He added. It was Julie who spoke next. “In exchange for 2.5 million dollars.” “What!?” Greg was dumbfounded. “These people, are promising a delivery, it is a legitimate guarantee that Mike is alive.” Alpha Amburgey said.
Though he chose not to divulge the latest news he had heard from his son; Charles. Instead he chose not to tell Frank Tracy’s daughter; she had already been hurt, been through enough, he just didn’t know for how much longer her brother would be alive.
Greg had thoughts of his own, he didn’t want to say, that this could be a set up, the perfect opportunity for greedy corrupt crooks to prey on innocent unsuspecting bereaved families. Yet Julie needed to know she needed to be prepared in the event it was bogus and there were those attempting to extort money from her family.
He excused himself, going out to his truck for a few minutes while Julie and Alpha Amburgey continued to discuss the details of their trip. He wasn’t sure whether he could fully trust Alpha Amburgey, something just didn’t seem right, didn’t feel right, something didn’t mesh, he made a couple phone calls from his cell phone.
He walked back in the house, when Julie looked up at him. “Are we ready to go for now?” He asked her. “Sure, she said this Greg. “Mr. Amburgey, I will be in touch with you tomorrow?” “I will be expecting you around, say 2:00pm.” Alpha Amburgey said. “I will see you then.” Julie replied.
Julie was quiet on the drive back to the farm. “Do you feel up to eating out somewhere?” Greg asked her. “What do you say we drive down to the beach and watch the sun set, grab something from one of the restaurant’s along the Boardwalk?” He suggested.
“It sounds nice, but let’s run by the house; I would like to freshen up, check on the dogs.” She stated. Greg could see that Julie’s mood had taken a turn, she was highly tense. He waited in the truck for the phone call he was expecting, while Julie checked on her dogs.
The phone rang. “Hello?” “You called“? The voice stated. “Yeah, I did, I need to talk to you sometime time tomorrow if at all possible, preferably alone.” Greg stated.
“What’s going on?” The voice asked. “I’ll tell you about it when I see you, I’ve got company right now.” Greg finished. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” The caller hung up. Greg clicked off his cell phone, putting it back in the compartment of his truck. When Julie opened his truck passenger door.
“ Hmm, Don’t you smell like a fresh flower in Spring time.” Greg teased. Taking note of the Royal blue blouse and cream colored slacks, she had changed in to. “How are the pups and mama?” He asked.
“I fed them, and took them to the pen, I don’t want them running loose while we’re gone.” She said. “No, even though you are far enough off the highway, not to be too concerned, but they could wander down the road and you don’t want that.” He stated.
“No, and they do wander, so I thought it a good idea. I put them all four in the pen.“ She laughed. “I had a little bit of a problem getting the little male inside though, he tried to follow me whimpering and whining, he had to stay behind.”
Greg laughed. ‘I think You are going to have one heck of a dog there.” Greg said. “Yes I think so too, I’ve not seen one like him since Jonah; a shepherd my brother and I grew up with.” She replied.
They drove on in comfortable silence; the beach about a hour drive away. He checked his watch. “We are going to be just in time, I think we’re going to make it.” he said. Julie eased out of the truck, the soreness still evident in her leg but not so bad as it was earlier in the day.
CHAPTER XII
The sunset was beautiful.” Julie commented as they headed back to the farm. Greg agreed, although he seemed a little preoccupied more then usual. “What’s wrong, Greg?” Julie asked looking over at him while he was driving. He didn’t know whether to tell her that he didn’t fully trust Amburgey, it wasn’t that he didn’t trust him, he just didn’t believe the man knew what he was talking about, he didn’t care how many servicemen he knew.
He felt he should just wait, until he talked to the man he was going to meet tomorrow, then he would decide whether to let her know his suspicions. “Nothing is wrong, why?” He answered her question with a question of his own. “What do you think about getting a dozer up there and re- doze the drive bringing it all the way around to the back and bringing down that rock wall dividing the garage entrance and the back lawn?” He glanced at her briefly.
“You think I should do that? It looks fine the way it is now, besides I have the dogs, the pups won’t be little forever, as far as I know, Dad never had any problems, with any one, I see no reason to mar the land for a road around the house when, it‘s really fine the way it is.” She stated.
“I just thought maybe You would feel safer that’s all, it was only a suggestion.” He stated. “I understand that and I appreciate it, but you are avoiding my question.” She said. “What question is that?” He feigned surprise. “The question I just asked you, You seem preoccupied what is wrong, was it something Amburgey said?” She asked him.
“What did he say, I wasn’t thinking about Amburgey, I know and am well aware, it is not going to be safe in a foreign country especially with a foreign country Americans fought with and there needs to be every measure of caution taken.” He said.
Julie was silent.
It upset him, she was allowing her love for her brother to blind her of the potential risks and dangers here, throwing caution to the wind. It angered him that there are such out there who would get their thrills out of something like this, heartless vultures, preying on others pain. “ All I am saying is., Do you know we are going there without any type of assistance at all from the government, and if there were any problems, any problems at all, the United
States’ legal hands would be tied in a whole lot of red bureaucratic tape? Do you know what kind of chance you are taking here, Julie?” Flying to a foreign country in search of your brother who was classified MIA over twenty-five years ago!?”
He didn’t mean to sound so harsh, he didn’t intend to mention it at all, but she kept pushing, pushing.
“Stop the truck!” She yelled. “What?! He yelled back “I said stop the truck!, stop the truck or I am going to get out right here and now!” “What are you talking about!?” He asked. He slammed on the brake, the pickup sliding to a halt. She jumped out of the truck and began walking. If she wasn’t the most stubborn woman he’s ever met!
‘What is wrong with you!?” “ Will you stop!?” “ Can I not speak my mind, tell you how I feel, how I see this thing, don’t you want the truth, this is the real world, Julie, there is a chance that your brother may not be alive, it kills me to tell you that, but it’s the truth, there may be a chance that he is not alive, do you not realize that, don‘t you think, has it not
occurred to you, that this could be another dead end like it was for your father?!” “ How much money, how much money, Julie did your dad spend hiring investigators, so-called Specialists, Navy Seals and other ex servicemen who were in Nam to try to locate Your brother!” “How many!?” He grabbed her shoulders. “How many, Julie!?”
“Your dad couldn’t let him go, You can’t let him go, but let me tell you something, you need to prepare yourself, in the event that he is not coming home.” He abruptly stopped. She stood looking at him. ‘Are you finished?” She said calmly. “Yes.” He replied. Watching her. “I want you to pack your belongings when we get back to the farm and I want you to leave.” She said quietly. “What?” He asked incredulous. “You heard me and I mean it.” She stated.
Greg threw up his hands. “ Alright Julie you don’t have to tell me again, you don’t have to prove one thing to me, You are Frank Tracy’s daughter and you have a head about as stubborn as he did and his stubborn attitude killed him.” ‘What did you say?” She asked him.
Greg didn’t reply, he simply walked away. “I’ll call you a cab.” He said back to her. “You come back here, this instant, Greg Williamson!” Greg stopped, turned around. “You are no longer my employer Julie Tracy; You just terminated my employment.”
He got into his pickup truck, turning the ignition, and backed up the truck, headed toward Roanoke. He stopped a mile up the road, to make a call; he’d talked to earlier that evening. Watching down the road to see if he could see her walking. Apparently she must have just sit down.
‘Well, I let my temper get the better of me, I told her there is a possibility that her brother may not be alive.” He said into the phone. “Do you think it was wise to tell her that?” The voice said. “Nope, it sure wasn’t she just fired me.” Greg replied. “Fired you!? What do you mean fired you!?” The voice on the other end of the line, asked. “I mean just that, she out and out fired me, she told me to go back to the ranch and pick up my belongings and be out of there, but she got out of my truck and I left her sitting a mile down the highway.” Greg finished.
“What!? You mean to tell me you left that girl sitting out on some deserted highway by herself, alone and not to mention, hurt!?”
“Woah, wait a minute here! She has just as much a temper. Look here, you told me she was this little gentle lamb, let me say right here and now, I don’t think we’re both talking about the same woman.
Don’t go jumping down my throat., she’s not some meek, mild defenseless kitten, either, this kitten has claws, You should have seen the look on her face, when I told her that her brother might not be coming back home, she went ballistic.”
There was silence on the line. ‘Are you there?” Greg asked. “Yes, I’m here, swallow your pride and do what you can to make amends.” The voice said. “You’ve got to be kidding me!? She fired me I tell you, I doubt if there is any possible way to make amends with her, she’s a Tracy remember?”
Again there was brief silence. “I know.” Was all that was said. “Let me know what you find out and I’ll get back with you this time.” The voice on the other end of the conversation said. “ I’ll try to do what I can.” He replied. “Good enough and Greg?” “Yes?” Don’t mess this up, I’ll talk to you soon.” Greg clicked off his cell phone, put his truck again in reverse and took off in the opposite direction, hoping he would find her.
He drove slow past where he thought she had gotten out. What a temper she has, he thought to himself. She didn’t realize but neither did she need to know, there was a whole lot at stake here.
He drove around down the dirt road leading beside an old abandoned farm house. Now, where did she go, he didn’t see her any where. Thinking maybe she had gotten a ride but there hadn’t been any one passing. Raymond Taylor lived a mile up the road. She had probably walked to his house to get a ride from him or one of his boys. Since he was a kid every one simply called him Jinx.
Not that he was a jinx; his dad gave him the nickname calling him Jinxie, when he was a child; the name stuck. Greg drove up and sure enough there she was sitting in the porch swing. From the look on her face, he would have rather tangled with a Grizzly. Jinx was the first to speak. “Hello, there Greg, been a long time since I’ve seen you, how you been getting along?” He asked.
“I’ve been doing well, Jinx how about yourself?” He replied while his gaze following Julie when she got up. “Oh we’ve all been getting along, well.” Jinx replied.
They talked for thirty minutes when Greg asked Julie if she was ready to go. She got up walked to the truck with him, they left heading back to the farm. Neither said a word. When Greg drove in, there was a man standing by the divider wall, apparently he had been there a while waiting for them. He was playing with LadyShira. “Some watch dog, she is” Julie observed. The man picked up his green duffel. Waving at them. |
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| Alias | Date | Reply |
| ky_bluebird |
3/17/2006 11:42:00 AM |
I just wanted to let those know, who have been interested in this story., I will be posting the Final Chapter within an hour, I cannot post it until after that haha, I just posted part five and six and you know how it is, we must wait if we have posted twice in an hour, Hope it has been interesting up until now :) |
| Epox |
3/18/2006 3:56:00 PM |
I don't know whether to trust Greg or not. The calls seem very mysterious... and I loved the cliffhanger. On to the final chapter... |
| ky_bluebird |
3/19/2006 1:51:00 AM |
Glad you like it Sweetheart....I Hope you enjoy the ending a lot better....~Love and Hugs~, Sis....Take/Care! |
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