Sidney Sheldon - Are You Afraid Of The Dark

Tanner said, "No. We have everything." And he knew that it was true.

In the distant sky, there were more flashes of lightning.

"I hope there isn't going to be a storm," Pauline said. "I-I hate flying in rough weather." Tanner said reassuringly, "Don't worry, darling. There's not a cloud in the sky." He thought of something and smiled. "We don't have to worry about the weather. We control it." He looked at his watch. "Prima's about to blow up." Sudden drops of rain began to pound against the plane.

Tanner held Pauline closer. "It's all right. It's just a bit of rain." And as Tanner said it, the sky suddenly began to darken and tremble with loud peals of thunder. The huge plane started to bounce up and down. Tanner was looking out the window, puzzled by what was happening. The rain began to turn into large hailstones.

Tanner said, "Look at-" The realization suddenly hit him. "Prima!" It was a cry of exultation, a look of glory in his eyes. "We can-" At that instant, a hurricane hit the plane, bouncing it around savagely.

Pauline was screaming.

IN THE REDBRICK building at KIG, Andrew Kingsley was operating Prima, his fingers flashing over the keys in remembrance. Watching his target on the screen, he could see an image of his brother's plane being buffeted by three-hundred-mile-an-hour hurricane winds. He pressed another button.

AT A DOZEN branch offices of the National Weather Service, from Anchorage, Alaska, to Miami, Florida, meteorologists were staring at their computer screens in disbelief. What was happening seemed impossible, but it was happening.

WORKING IN THE redbrick building, Andrew was grateful that there was still one thing he could do to help make the world a better place. He carefully guided an F-6 tornado he had created-up— up-higher and higher…

TANNER WAS LOOKING out the window of the wildly tossing plane when he heard the telltale freight train sound of the approaching tornado over the roar of the storm, traveling 320 miles an hour. Tanner's face was flushed, and he was trembling with excitement, watching the tornado spinning up toward the plane. He was ecstatic. "Look! There's never been a tornado this high. Never! I created it!

It's a miracle! Only God and I could-"

IN THE REDBRICK building, Andrew moved a switch and watched the screen as the plane exploded and pieces of wreckage and bodies were hurled into the sky.

Then Andrew Kingsley pressed the red button three times.

KELLY AND DIANE were finishing getting dressed when Grace Seidel knocked at their door.

"Breakfast is ready whenever you are."

"Coming," Kelly called out.

Diane said, "I hope our little stunt worked. Let's see if Grace has a morning newspaper." They stepped out of their room. To the right was the recreation area. A few people were gathered around the television set. As Kelly and Diane started to pass it, to go to the dining room, a television anchorman was saying:

"And according to reports, there were no survivors. Tanner Kingsley and former senator Pauline Van Luven were on the plane, along with a pilot, copilot, and a steward." The two women froze. They looked at each other, turned, and walked up to the television set. On the screen were pictures of the exterior of KIG.

Kingsley International Group constitutes the largest think tank in the world, with offices in thirty countries. The weather bureau has reported an unexpected electrical storm in the South Pacific area where Tanner Kingsley's private plane was flying. Pauline Van Luven was the former head of the Senate Select Committee on the Environment.

Diane and Kelly were listening, fascinated "… And in another piece of the puzzle, there's a mystery here that the police are trying to solve.

The press was invited to a dinner party, to visit Prima, a new weather control computer that KIG developed, but yesterday there was an explosion at KIG and Prima was completely destroyed. The fire department found the body of Andrew Kingsley in the wreckage and believe he was the only victim.

Diane said, "Tanner Kingsley is dead."

"Say that again. Slowly."

"Tanner Kingsley is dead." Kelly breathed a deep sigh of relief. She looked at Diane and smiled. "Life is sure going to be dull after this." "I hope so," Diane replied. "How would you like to sleep at the Waldorf-Astoria Towers tonight?" Kelly grinned. "I wouldn't mind." When they said their good-byes to Grace Seidel, she hugged Kelly and said,

"Anytime." She never mentioned the money that she had been offered.

IN THE PRESIDENTIAL suite in the Waldorf Towers, a waiter was setting a table for dinner.

He turned to Diane. "Did you say you wanted it set for four?" "That's right." Kelly looked at her and said nothing.

Diane knew what she was thinking. As they were sitting down at the table, Diane said, "Kelly, I don't think we did this alone. I think we had a little help." She raised her glass of champagne and said to the empty chair next to her,

"Thank you, Richard, darling. I love you." As she lifted the glass to her lips, Kelly said, "Wait a minute." Diane turned to her.

Kelly picked up her glass of champagne and looked at the empty chair next to her. "Mark, I love you so much. Thank you." They drank their toasts.

Kelly smiled and said, "That felt good. Well, what's next?" "I'm going to the FBI in Washington and tell them what I know." Kelly corrected her. "We're going to Washington and tell them what we know." Diane nodded. "Right." She said thoughtfully, "I think we did a good job. Our husbands would be proud of us." "Yeah," Kelly said. "We've solved this. And look at the odds against us. You know what we should do now?" "What?" "Start our own detective agency." Diane laughed. "You're kidding." Kelly gave her a long, slow smile. "Am I?"

AFTER DINNER, THEY watched television, and every channel was carrying the story of Tanner Kingsley's death. As Kelly watched, she said thoughtfully, "You know, when you cut off a snake's head, the rest of the snake dies." "What does that mean?" "Let's find out." Kelly walked over to the telephone. "I want to place a call to Paris." Five minutes later, she heard the voice of Nicole Paradis. "Kelly! Kelly! Kelly!

I'm so glad you called." Kelly's heart sank. She knew what she was going to hear next. They had killed Angel.

"I didn't know how to reach you."

"You've heard the news?" "The whole world has heard the news. Jerome Malo and Alphonse Girouard packed their things and left in a hurry." "And Philippe and his family?" "They are returning tomorrow." "That's wonderful." Kelly was afraid to ask the next question. "And Angel-?" "I have Angel in my apartment. They were planning to use her as bait in case you wouldn't cooperate." Kelly felt a sudden glow. "Oh, that's wonderful!" "What would you like me to do with her?" "Put her on the next Air France flight to New York. Let me know when she'll arrive and I'll pick her up at the airport. You can call me here at the Waldorf Towers." "I'll take care of it." "Thank you." Kelly replaced the receiver.

Diane had been listening. "Angel is all right?" "Yes." "Oh, that's great!" "Isn't it? I'm thrilled. By the way, what are you going to do with your half of the money?" Diane looked at her. "What?" "KIG put up a five-million-dollar reward. I think it's coming to us." "But Kingsley's dead." "I know, but KIG isn't." They laughed.

Kelly asked, "What's your plan after we go to Washington? Are you going to start painting again?" Diane was thoughtful for a moment. "No." Kelly was watching her. "Really?" "Well, there is a painting that I want to do. It's a picnic scene in Central Park." Her voice broke.