Storming the Kingdom (18 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY - EIGHT

Three Days Ago
Morning

T
he trip from the Bay Lake Towers to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge was a short one. The guest resorts sit side by side, although most guests never know it because of the ingenious way Walt Disney World is designed. Riding in Juliette’s car, Hawk talked as she drove, catching her up on the activities of the previous night. Taking a left, she approached the security stand at the entrance of the Wilderness Lodge, where a cast member saw her identification badge and waved her through the gate toward the parking area. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is a Disney Deluxe Resort hotel. Inspired by the Great American Northwest National Park lodges at the turn of the twentieth century, this architecturally inspiring resort is a work of craftsmanship and artistry. For Hawk, the beauty and workmanship of this themed resort was always breathtaking. It also had a fantastic backstory, created by the Imag-ineers, which explained the entire resort with depth and detail that most people would never take the time to explore. The Silver Creek Springs, bubbling up in the lobby, transform into Silver Creek, which flows from the lobby to the outside and empties into the Silver Creek Springs Pool, always crowded with guests.

“Why are we here?” Juliette asked as she parked her car in an area reserved for resort staff.

“This is the next clue,” Hawk informed her as they got out and headed toward the lobby.

She nodded and followed him through the doorway. They were instantly transported, at least in environment, to the American Northwest. Massive totem poles, a huge fireplace, and a plush, rustic seating area surrounded them as they strode through the common area. Taking a right past the gift shop, they exited through a set of glass doors and took the gently sloping sidewalk away from the main building. Hawk informed Juliette they were going to the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, an official Disney Vacation Club property opened some six years after the main lodge was completed.

Early morning found the sidewalk crawling with guests moving to catch buses to their resort destinations of the day. Hawk kept a brisk pace, Juliette followed closely, and if anyone noticed or recognized them, there was no indication. The concrete path ended, replaced by a wooden planked walkway. Their footsteps echoed as they moved toward the entrance of the Villas. The automatic doors slid open, and then as they closed behind them, the noise and motion of outside melted away into the rich surroundings of the rustic resort.

“Notice how quiet it got?” Hawk smiled.

“Yes, it’s amazing the difference walking through those doors made.”

“That’s one of the things I like best about this place. More than any of our other resorts, it’s like entering another world, and there’s always a hushed kind of calm here.”

“Every so often, a hushed calm is kind of nice,” Juliette offered.

“No kidding.” He exhaled loudly.

Hawk slowed as they stepped into the octagonal five-story atrium lobby, a tribute to the railroad industry’s roundhouse, which moved rolling stock in train cars from one line to the other. The Villas at Wilderness Lodge was created to be a railroad hotel, which historically would have provided lodging as guests traveled into the new frontier. Glancing around the lobby, Hawk pointed toward the furniture. Juliette turned her gaze in the direction of his gesture as he spoke.

“Notice how everything looks like it was made from natural elements. Sticks, wooden poles, carved planks…” He gestured to an example of each. “A lot of the furniture seems to be mismatched. The fabrics, the styles, and the hodgepodge appearance are here on purpose. When settlers made their way west, they left most of their belongings behind back east, and as they started new lives, they had to piece together everything needed to make a home fresh and new. So their furniture didn’t always match. We recreated that here.”

He then pointed to the cozy fireplace in the lobby. It was set back into the wall with room for only two chairs in front of it with some short, one-seat benches carved into the walls on either side. Stepping in front of it, he spoke in a hushed tone.

“Farren said,
‘
I want you to go to our favorite inglenook. Sadly, I can’t be there to sit with you and swap stories this time.’” Hawk placed his hand on the back of one of the rocking chairs and gently rocked it back and forth. “This is what he was talking about.”

“An inglenook?” Juliette spoke as quietly as he had.

“They are also called chimney corners. They look different now in modern architecture, but designers still use them today. This is Farren’s favorite.”

Juliette smiled sympathetically as she notice that Hawk had used
is
instead of
was
. In all of the turmoil of the last few days, she knew there was a storm of grief headed their way that no one had yet had time to start battling.

“ We would come here and sit in these rockers and stare at the fire. Farren would just start talking. He would tell me stories about Walt, about working at the studios, or about how something was built. He would ask questions about life, about what I was thinking, or sometimes…” Hawk’s eyes grew misty and he wiped them with his hand. “Sometimes we wouldn’t say anything, we would just rock.”

Juliette patted Hawk on the back of his hand where he had placed it on the rocking chair. Waiting for him to take a moment and return from his moment of recollection, she patted his hand a second time to bring him back into the present.

“And what about the rest of the clue?” she asked.

“He said, ‘Keep going and take the fair weather route. Walt spent a lot of time here in Holmby Hills. You can’t wait until the cows come home, but you can see where they’ve been and you’ll know where to roam.’”

“Do you know what it means?”

“Yes, I think it is here, right behind this wall.” He motioned toward the fireplace. “Behind this wall is the Carolwood Pacific Room.”

“I’ve heard of that.” Juliette frowned. “Why would I have heard of that?”

“Because you’re a fan of Walt Disney.” Hawk motioned for her to follow him. They stepped off to their left past a glass case that featured train memorabilia. Hawk stopped at the entrance to the room and pointed at the sign on the door. As he did, he grinned and shook his head.

“I know we’re in the right space. I have seen this sign, I dunno…maybe a hundred times but never noticed what it said.” He touched the circular metal sign. Colored in green and red, the sign featured the outline of a golden train and was highlighted with golden letters, which read, Carolwood Pacific. He touched the lettering in the center of the sign. It read Fair Weather Route, just like in the clue. “Fair weather route…Farren made that part of the clue pretty easy for me.”

They stepped inside. The room was free of people. Tables at one end, plush leather chairs scattered about the room, a large fireplace with a train designed into the fire screen, and trains everywhere. Model trains, pictures of trains, pictures of Walt Disney with trains, and paintings of trains united the theme and decor of the room.

“The Carolwood Pacific was the name of the train that Walt built. It was a miniature train, but big enough for him and other adults to ride. It was in his backyard… right?” Juliette now remembered.

“Exactly. Walt Disney loved trains so much, he built a one-eighth scale railroad in his backyard on Carolwood Drive in Holmby Hills, California. He called it the Carolwood Pacific Railroad.” Hawk looked at the room around him. “The clue said, ‘Walt spent a lot of time here in Holmby Hills,’ which of course was his home, and this was his hobby.”

Juliette had moved toward the large display located next to the window. She read the plaque explaining what it was. She turned back toward Hawk and pointed toward it. He followed her and stood next to her, still working on a portion of the clue. Encased under Plexiglas were two of the actual cars from Walt Disney’s miniature railroad.

“Hawk, what did the clue say about cows?”

“’You can’t wait until the cows come home, but you can see where they’ve been and you’ll know where to roam.’ Why?”

“Look at this. This is a gondola car and a…cattle car from Walt’s original train. Cattle car…‘You can’t wait until the cows come home, but you can see where they have been.’” She clapped her hands together. “Cows ride in the cattle car.”

Hawk was already inspecting the car before she finished speaking. Moving along the clear casing that protected the trains, he was trying to look inside the cattle car through the opening of the miniature door and through the slats. Pressed up against the plastic, he strained to see.

“It looks like there’s something inside.” Hawk motioned for Juliette to look.

“It does.”

He began to look for a way to get into the case without destroying the display. Hawk moved around to see the back of it, which ran along the exterior window of the room. Gently tracing his hand along the wooden casing at the bottom of the display, he felt nothing. Returning to the front of the case, he knelt down to inspect it closely—and then saw it. A keyhole. He pulled the kingdom key out of his pocket and placed it in the lock. A click and a turn of the key released the locking mechanism of the large case.

Sizing up the task that loomed in front of him, he said to Juliette, “I’m going to lift this side of the case. I think I can lift it high enough for you to reach inside the cattle car and get out whatever is there.” He placed both hands on the base of the Plexiglas. Ready?”

“I’m ready.” She leaned in, ready to quickly extract what they had both seen.

“Let’s go.” He lifted—and groaned, as it was heavier than he had imagined.

Slowly the case rose, and Juliette reached underneath it. Her hand slid into the small cattle car and grabbed what they had both seen. It was a folded piece of paper. She freed it and her hand from the case, and Hawk let the case ease back down to its base.

By the time Hawk had made sure everything was back in place, Juliette had already unfolded the paper, which Hawk recognized instantly as a map of the Magic Kingdom. Juliette studied it as Hawk moved next to her and started doing the same. It was a typical guest map that was available in a variety of languages to any guest who entered the park. It gave basic information about where to go, where to eat, where to find restrooms, and where to shop. Juliette handed it to Hawk and pointed to the one thing on this map that made it different from any other guest map at Walt Disney World. On this map, following the line of the train track surrounding the Magic Kingdom, between the Main Street Train Station and Adventureland, there was a black
X
with one handwritten word beside it:
desperation
.

Hawk said softly, “That is Farren’s handwriting.”

CHAPTER TWENTY - NINE

Three Days Ago
Late Morning

B
rilliant sun heated up the Florida morning. The blue sky was accented by periodic lines of ominous dark clouds that for now were swallowed up by the beauty of the bright morning; an unusual combination of all being calm countered by the threatening storm clouds. Florida weather was unique to be certain, especially during the peak of hurricane season. It was easy to understand how frightening hurricanes must have been in the days before advanced weather forecasting and detection. The beauty of the Sunshine State sky would quickly turn dark and the power of the storm would roll in. With no way of knowing it was coming, people were never prepared and the results were devastating. If the forecasters were right, this beautiful morning would be just a memory as the storm grew closer. Dark skies, squally weather, gusts of wind, and bands of rain would be on them soon. The impending storm created within him an even greater sense of urgency to figure out what Farren had wanted him to discover. Not that he needed another reason, but internally he could feel the storm forming. He was running out of time.

Hawk and Juliette had reentered the Magic Kingdom area through a cast member entrance and were driving along the backstage roads that encircled the theme park out of the view of guests.

“So does Kiran really have the third Imagineer?” Juliette asked as they pulled into a parking area behind Adventureland.

“I have no idea. I want to believe she is bluffing and trying to play me.” Hawk hesitated. A few years ago, Juliette had been kidnapped by Kiran and her accomplice, Jim Masters. “But we both know it fits her operating pattern.”

“And it seems she has stepped up her game and is willing to kill as well,” Juliette said with an edge as they exited the car.

“Just like before, she has inserted herself into this mystery and is trying to pull the strings behind the scenes.”

“But we know her now.” Juliette moved in step beside Hawk as they cut across the parking lot and through a backstage gate. “She fooled us all once. This time she doesn’t have that kind of power.”

Hawk nodded and once again looked at the map they had found hidden in the Carolwood Pacific room. The handwritten
X
with the word
desperation
could refer to only one place. In Hawk’s mind the clue was simple, but he was noticing a pattern once again in how Farren was telling him this mysterious story. He was using a variety of clues and methods of delivery. Just like he had done before, the clues had been given in various styles using new and old methods. Farren had explained it was more fun for him to create that way. The truth was that using a variety of clues offered in different ways made them harder to unravel, and the mystery was unpacked more like a scavenger hunt. Hawk ventured to Caribbean Way in the behind-the-scenes area and started walking toward the entrance to the theme park from this roadway.

This was a clue that was hidden in plain sight for any guest who wanted to notice it. Hawk figured the
X
marked the Desperation Outpost, visible to anyone who is riding the Walt Disney World Railroad. It is probably one of the most frequently seen things in the Magic Kingdom that no one ever remembers. This made Hawk smile; a detail hidden in plain sight was a great place to hide a clue. After you board the train at the Main Street Station, you leave the busy activity of Main Street, U.S.A. and are swallowed up by trees on each side of the train. The sounds of Adventureland fill the air. Although guests rarely realize it, they are actually traveling past the far end of the Jungle Cruise attraction. Less than two minutes into the train ride, riders come to a crossing signal that alerts them they are crossing over a road. That road is Caribbean Way, located on the west side of the park. At this crossing signal, because there is so little to see among the trees, the Imagineers created an interesting staging piece. A small shack with windows, sitting out all by itself just to the right side of the train track, greets the train as it chugs past. It is Desperation Outpost, created as a tribute to the danger and adventure that awaits you as you go deeper through the jungle and enter the Caribbean. As soon as you pass the outpost, you cross over the access road and head toward the Pirates of the Caribbean tunnel.

Hawk and Juliette were approaching it from the road. They stopped as they reached the train tracks. The shack was just across from where they stood. They could see the white sign, hanging askew above the window. Its bold black lettering said Desperation with smaller lettering on a line above it: Outpost. Listening closely for a train whistle, they looked back down the rails toward the curve coming through the outskirts of Adventureland. Seeing and hearing nothing, they crossed the tracks and approached the shack. Arriving at the shack, Hawk powered up his electronic tablet. As they stood waiting for it to come to life, in the distance they heard the whistle of a train heading their way. Moving around to the back of the shack, which is almost completely out of sight from the train riders, they continued to wait.

The touch screen began to glow, and the golden key icon appeared, but there was no update indication. Hawk caught Juliette’s look at him. She was puzzled.

He shrugged. “An old-school map must lead to an old-school clue.”

The clanging bell of the crossing signal sounded, the safety arms of the signal lowered, and the train clacked past them. They pressed against the shack to remain as out of sight as possible from the view of the passersby. Once the train had passed, the crossing signal fell silent, and Hawk began checking the windows on the shack. One was not fastened shut and slid up easily. He leaned inside and scoured the inside of the outpost with his eyes. Nothing stood out; a few things were placed on the floor of the shack, all of them items that would be used and stashed by the maintenance crew. Nothing he saw looked like a clue.

“Well?” Juliette spoke softly behind him.

“Nothing.” Hawk straightened up and once again began to visually inspect the shack.

Juliette’s phone began playing a ringtone; it startled both of them for a moment, then she opened it and began speaking to her caller. Hawk moved around the shack, looking for anything that might be or contain a clue. He was still looking along one side of the structure when Juliette ended her call.

“I’ve got to run.” She shook her head. “We seem to be having a bit of trouble dispersing and relocating all of the media people we have stacked up over at Epcot.”

Hawk tilted his head and waited for her to continue.

“After all, they have all gathered to report the attempts on your life”—she smiled—“which has become a lot less intriguing to them since they’re hearing very little from law enforcement, and you as a target have been completely silent since the attempts.” She shrugged. “Now we’re trying to get them moved so they’ll be safe if the storm hits. Apparently some of the crews are being instructed to cover the impending storm, so they want to stay put, and well…it’s just tough to find a good story to cover these days.”

“Oh, well, some days you can’t get what you want.” Hawk nodded for her to do what she needed to do. “I’ll be fine here. I don’t live that far from here, you know, I can get home.”

“Yes, but I want you to get home and stay safe. Which, right now, appears to be something that’s nearly impossible for you to do.” She pointed a finger at him. “Call me when you know what you’re doing next. Let me help if I can.”

“Juliette.” Hawk smiled at her calmly. “I asked Al Gann to get some additional protection for you, Tim, and the kids. I want you to be safe. I need you to call Al, tell him where you are and what you’re doing, and make sure he gets a security detail to wherever you are.”

“I think we’ll be fine.”

“I’m not kidding.” Hawk allowed a slight warning tone to deepen his voice. “You already had one run in with Kiran. She and her band of hoodlums have raised the stakes this time. You get your family here at the resort and hunker down somewhere to ride out the storm. Let Al protect you. Be safe.”

His intensity concerned her, not only for her family and herself, but also for him and what he was trying to do. “I will,” she promised.

Hawk hugged her goodbye, and she crossed the tracks to head back to her car. He turned his attention back to exploring the shack. It was an old-school clue; he had followed the map,
X
marked the spot, and he had ended up here…at a point of desperation. He tried to think like a storyteller, which Farren Rales had told him to do many times. Years ago, when he had first met Rales, he had asked Rales to help him. As a preacher, he believed he was called to tell the greatest story ever told. Yet he felt like often, he didn’t tell the story well enough for people to remember it, or have the story move them and cause them to respond like they should. He countered that with the reality that Disney was the greatest storyteller ever and the stories Disney told were remembered for a lifetime. Rales had opened up so many ways of not only how to tell a great story, but to find the story in the places around you. So again, Hawk tried to think of the story Rales was telling him. What would he need if he were here, at the crossroads, at a point of desperation. Then he saw it. It was on the front of the shack. Hidden but not hidden, right in plain sight.

One of the essentials anyone needed to survive was water. Strategically placed on the front of the shack was a canteen. What if the clue was inside the canteen? Hawk reached up and grabbed it, releasing it from where it was fastened. He shook it and thought he felt something moving inside. Turning the lid, he looked inside and saw something rolled up inside. A note?

With a flip, the canteen turned upside down; he shook it and a note fell out and dropped to the ground. Replacing the lid and reattaching the canteen to the bracket on the shack, he quickly retrieved the note and unrolled it. It was the clue; he knew it was, because it was written in Rales’s distinctive handwriting. He read the clue silently.

I am a container that holds keys for which there exist no locks…yet these keys are trying to unlock souls but cannot. Maybe they will unlock for you how to find that which you are searching for.

Hawk furrowed his brow and reread the clue.
A container with keys for which there exist no locks
, that
can unlock how to find that which I am searching for
…He tried to formulate what the clue could mean. A train whistle startled him, and he heard the clanging once again of the warning bell of the train crossing. A train was on the way around the curve coming toward him. The sound snapped him back to look at his surroundings; across the tracks, a man stood staring at him. As the crossing bars came down, Hawk moved slightly to see the man better. Short, black hair and sunglasses were the first things Hawk noticed. As Hawk focused in on him, the dark-haired man smiled. Instantly, Hawk knew where he had seen him before.

This was the assassin who had tried to kill him in the hospital. The man nodded as though pleased to see that Hawk remembered him. He took a step toward Hawk. The whistle from the train screamed at them, and with a powerful force, the train rolled between them. Now the assassin was trapped on the other side of the tracks, and Hawk knew he had to move. He raced into Magic Kingdom, running on the path that carried him into Frontierland. He didn’t have long; the train would be past quickly.

Glancing over his shoulder as he ran, he caught a glimpse of the dark-haired man jumping up into the air, trying to see him. The man’s sight line was broken by the train moving past. Turning his attention back to the path in front of him, Hawk raced into Frontierland and began cutting between the guests who moseyed along the streets of the Western frontier.