The 22nd Secret Read Online Free PDF Page A

back to. He knew he could hide her from the authorities for a few days. That would give her a chance to relax and make everything easier. Maybe she could make a new life for herself.
    “Paula, I have an idea.”
    Her eyes slowly opened and she smiled. Jim was transfixed by her. It was like she knew he was about to deceive her and she accepted it. As quickly as his mind and body had been frozen it was released again.
    “What idea?” Paula asked.
    “I’ll radio Bill and tell him about the plane and the two dead guys. Tell him the luggage had been gone through and there were footprints leading away from the crash. Tell him I followed the footprints as long as I could but the storm and darkness made me head home. I hide you out. I got a place. The CIA or whoever comes up here. I show them the plane. They find what they want. They don’t really care about you so they leave. This thing they’re looking for, do you know what it is? Is it still on the plane?”
    “I have no idea what it is, but I guess it’s still on the plane. All I know is the Chinese want whatever it is real bad. They were supposed to meet somewhere up here, somewhere called Otter Bay.” Paula sat up excited to think Jim may actually help her.
    “You think it will work?”
    Jim was lost in thought.
    “Oh, Jim. I don’t what to go to prison. I didn’t do anything.”
    “Whatever it is, it better still be on that plane, because if these guys don’t find it, they aren’t just going to go away and let us live happily ever after.”
    Jim got up and went to the laundry room behind the kitchen next to the dining room and returned with a couple of blankets and pillows. He took one blanket and gently spread it out over her. When he lifted her head to slide a pillow under, she rose up just enough to give Jim a kiss on the cheek.
    “Thank you, Jim. I’ll make it worth it for you, I promise. It’s just I’m so tired and weak right now.”
    Jim kissed Paula softly on the forehead.
    “Get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She rolled into the back of the couch and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. Jim put some logs on the fire and sat in one of the leather chairs next to the couch. He stuffed a pillow behind his head and pulled the blanket over him. He was tired too but had to wait until he was sure Paula was asleep before he could radio Bill. He was going to report the crash and tell him that the sole survivor was here with him.
    Pam closed her eyes and pretended to sleep for the fifteen minutes until Jim got up and walked to the radio. He didn’t know how he’d explain all this to his friends. He knew Kim would be hurt and humiliated when it got out. It definitely would. Bear Breath was a small community. Everyone knew everyone’s business.
    He sat down at the radio. He never thought anything like this could happen It was like he was living out a romantic fantasy. He didn’t care who they were or what Tino was to her or what they were going to sell to the Chinese. He wanted Paula and he knew he was going to get her. That was all that mattered now.
    As Pamela Koller lay there listening to Jim report the crash, she knew within hours the CIA would know Patty Lawrence had mysteriously walked away from the crash. She hoped Tom would figure out where she was and manage with Hank’s help to get her to Otter Bay before the entire plan fell apart. But the thoughts that she fell asleep to were not of her mission to China, they were of Jim Mitchell. She wondered if this could all be true. Could she be falling in love so quickly with the irresistible man who had rescued her from the plane crash and was now telling his friend, Bill, about the footprints that led away from the crash?

     
    The Anchorage airport was closed due to weather but the FAA tower was still manned by a skeleton crew. Alice Hudson was watching the storm in the airport lights when the phone rang.
    “FAA tower Anchorage, Alice Hudson speaking.”
    “Yeah, this is Bill Keller. Sheriff