Chapter One

Detective Janet Bennett sat a round table in front of Federal Medical Investigators’ ten-passenger jet. Janet didn’t like riding in airplanes, not because she was afraid of heights or had motion sickness. No. Her reason stemmed from a friend of hers dying in a plane crash five years ago. She knew the odds of an airplane crashing with her in it was extremely low.

Agent Frank Littlefield of the Federal Medical Investigators, who now sat to her right, said, “I noticed you appeared anxious after taking off from Ocala International Airport a few minutes ago. After we released our seat belts and walked over to this table, you still appear anxious.”

The table sat in an opened area at the end of the row of seats.

Janet glanced down, then turned toward Frank. “A friend of mine died in an airplane crash a few years ago. I know it’s irrational thinking.”

“Not at all,” Frank reassured her. “You’re not the first person to experience this fear. Let me put your fear in perspective. You and the rest of us have a one in eleven million chance of being involved in a plane crash. Our odds to become president of the United States are one in ten million, and are one in seven hundred thousand to being killed from a meteorite.”

Janet grinned. “Thanks. Those facts make me feel a little better.”

Agent Jean Cliftwood, sitting to Janet’s left, added, “Flying in airplanes isn’t one of my favorite things in life, either. I’d rather take a car or bus. Time is essential when we need to investigate mysterious, unexplained deaths in the United States. Too much time can be our foe.”

Janet still couldn’t believe she’d accepted the position as an agent for the newly formed Federal Medical Investigators’ team. She was getting complacent as a detective for the Marion County Sheriff Department. Besides, she didn’t have any responsibilities as a divorced woman with no children.

Simon Woods sat across from Janet. Several manila folders sat on the table in front of him. “I’m going to give you FMI’s oath. All you need to do after I read it to you is to say, ‘Yes. I agree to uphold FMI’s oath.’ Frank will be video recording the proceedings on his iPhone. There’s no formal ceremony.”

Frank glanced around as if looking for something. “Dang. I don’t see it.”

Simon frowned with a puzzling expression. “See what?”

“The champagne to celebrate and toast this event.”

Simon chuckled as he shook his head back and forth. He stared at Janet. “There isn’t any pomp and circumstances, including champagne.”

“I figured that,” Janet responded.

She already knew Frank was a jokester at times.

Simon read the oath. Less than a minute later, he asked Janet, “Do you, Janet Bennett, accept FMI’s oath?”

“Yes. I agree to uphold FMI’s oath.”

“You are now an official member of our team.”

He picked up the manila folders and handed one to Jean, Frank and Janet. “Reach into the folder and remove its contents.”

Everyone complied.

Janet removed several papers and photographs. She stared at pictures of six people with backpacks, along with headlamps attached around their heads. They were inside a cave. The victims were lying down without any apparent trauma to their bodies. The cave explorers appeared as if they were all sleeping, either on their sides, stomach or back. In fact, each of them was deceased. “It looks like they’re sleeping.”

“That’s what it looks like, doesn’t it?” Simon said, staring down at the photograph in his hand. “Each diagnosis on the autopsy reports from Franklin County Medical Examiner, which each of you have a copy of, states, Undetermined Death.”

“This is something new for us,” Frank said, with a grin.

He was obviously being facetious, thought Janet.

“I’m assuming the toxicology report didn’t show anything, such as an overdose of drugs, poisoning or any abnormal levels of a chemical?”

Simon chuckled. “Spoken like a true major crime detective.”

Janet stared up at Simon. “Ex-major crime detective.”

Jean said, “It says in the autopsy report two of the victims had urine saturated on their underwear. Three of the victims had bitten their tongues. You can see these conditions after a person has a seizure.”

“Very good, Jean. You’re right. Some or all the victims could’ve had seizures. This is what’s so puzzling. If in fact they all had a convulsive episode, what caused the six people to have them simultaneously? Plus, having a seizure doesn’t mean you’re going to die from it. A seizure is a brief episode of signs and symptoms. They can be due to abnormally excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. We need to find out what caused their convulsions, which will determine if their deaths were accidental or deliberate.”

“This is why they pay us the big bucks to solve mysterious and unsolved deaths,” Frank said. “We’re FMI Death Agents.”

Jean sighed. “I hate that name, Frank.”

“We are FMI agents investigating deaths. Aren’t we?”

Simon stood. “You all can go back to your seats. We’ll be landing in Hagerstown in about ninety minutes. For our newest member of our team, Janet, there’s a refrigerator at the back of the plane stocked with sodas, water and juices.” He glanced at Frank. “No alcoholic beverages.”

FMI’s ten-passenger jet plane landed at Hagerstown, Regional Airport in Maryland a few minutes before nine-thirty in the morning. An unmarked black SUV awaited them on the tarmac. They got onto I-80 and headed to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

“It’s twenty-four point one miles to Chambersburg. It should take us about thirty-three minutes, depending on traffic conditions,” Frank announced, sitting behind the driver seat, after glancing down at the vehicle’s GPS on the dashboard.

Janet sat in the back seat with Jean. Simon sat in the front passenger seat. Janet thought about her five years as a detective for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. She had formed a relationship with her partner, Bill Matters, and…

Simon interrupted her reminiscing as he turned toward the back seat and said, “We’ll be going to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Spurrier will be taking us to the site of the six deaths.”

An amorous chill bolted up Janet’s spine as she stared into Simon’s eyes. Get hold of yourself, woman. Yes. You like Simon. Yes, he’s good looking with brains.

She grinned, then said in a serious tone, “Have all the victims’ pasts been looked into regarding anything possibly connecting their deaths?”

Simon smiled. “Probably. You’ll need to ask Detective Spurrier this question when you meet him.”

Janet frowned. “Why are you smiling?”

“It’s a-a-a compliment. What I mean. You’re a great asset to the FMI’s team. None of us have your detective prowess.”

“Thanks.”

I’m not so sure that’s what he was smiling about.

~ * ~

Simon turned back around and thought, I gotta be more careful in my expressions when I’m with Janet. I know she didn’t believe my answer.

He did state the truth to Janet, although it wasn’t related to her question.

His smile reflected his admiration toward Janet for both her beauty and intelligence. He didn’t want to spoil their working relationship as FMI agents. There was no FMI policy about agents having friendships. Of course, his feelings about Janet infringed upon an amorous perspective. His previous serious relationship with a woman had ended up in turmoil and heartache, something he didn’t want to go through again.

“If I may interject,” Jean said. “I’ve noticed since first meeting Janet how easily she can read a person’s body language, including expressions. I’m sure part of this attribute she learned from being a major crime detective.” Jean raised her eyebrows as she glanced at Janet.

“Thanks for all these compliments. Does this mean I’ll be getting a raise?”

Everyone chuckled. Frank then added, “I guess some of my fast and witty tongue has worn off onto our newest agent.”

“I’d never take that honor away from you, Frank.”

Simon knew he made the right decision asking Janet to join their team. Each agent had a different personality and ESP ability. Even with these differences, everyone got along together. Frank with his super sense of smell. Jean with her vision of a yellow glow around a person or persons who were about to face an ominous event within the next twenty-four hours. Janet with her forewarning feeling prior to opening a door, turning a corner, or prior to her answering a ringing phone. Finally, his visions of people in ominous events taking place within twenty-four hours, including his ability to visualize objects surrounding a person when talking to them on the telephone.

Janet asked, “What are the circumstances or criteria directing us to unexplained deaths in the United States? Who makes these decisions?”

“Good questions,” Simon answered. “First of all, there are many unsolved deaths in the United States. One of our criteria is unexplained multiple deaths. We must investigate these deaths within seven days of their occurrence.”

“That’s two reasons. Isn’t it?”

Simon rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself. “You got me there. Yes, I gave you two criteria. Since we’re a division of CDC, it gives us jurisdiction when there’s a possibility of a contagious factor in multiple, unexplained deaths. To answer your next question, Brian Littlefield determines our cases following FMI’s criteria. Do you have any other questions for me?”

“No. I can’t think of any more right now.”

Jean nodded and smiled as she nudged Janet’s elbow. She leaned toward Janet and whispered, “That-a-girl.” Jean apparently agreed with Janet’s assertiveness.

The remainder of the ride to Chambersburg was uneventful without any other significant statements or questions from anyone.

The GPS announced, “You’ve arrived at 157 Lincoln Way East.” Frank pulled in the parking lot of Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

A moment later, the FMI’s team walked up to the front counter. A deputy stood behind the counter.

Simon cleared his throat, then said, “We’re here to see Detective Spurrier.”

“I assume you’re from CDC,” said the deputy.

Simon glanced at his name plate on the front of the deputy’s gray shirt. “Yes, we are, Deputy Olson.”

“I’ll call him and let him know you’re here.”

“Thanks.” Simon, along with his agents, walked over to across from the front counter and sat.

“Oh, my God,” Jean whispered, as she stared at a female sheriff deputy walking through a doorway to her right.

“Does she have a yellow glow?” Simon asked Jean.

“Yes. I need to get her name.”

“Deputy, can I talk with you a minute?” Simon asked walking up to her.

The deputy stopped and faced him. “What can I do for you?”

Simon glanced down at her name plate, M. ROBINSON. “We’re new to Chambersburg. Do you know a good restaurant nearby?”

“Sure. Aunt Sarah’s Restaurant is down the street about two blocks. You’ll make a left when you get outside.”

“Thanks. Appreciate it, deputy.”

Deputy Robinson walked up to the front counter and began talking to Deputy Olson.

Jean touched the palm of her hand against her cheek and breathed in deeply. “How are we going to tell the deputy about her possible deadly fate in the next twenty-four hours?”

“Not sure,” Simon answered, glancing at each agent. “There’s gotta be something we can do. Think people. Detective Spurrier is going to be here any minute.”

“We need to alter her routine today, change her assignment or somehow delay her from doing her normal duties. Any of these things will change the timeline, preventing her from serious injury or death.”

“I have an idea,” Janet said getting up from the bench.

She turned toward Frank. “Give me your cup of coffee.”

“I didn’t know you liked iced coffee.”

“I don’t.”

Frank handed her a sixteen-ounce paper cup.

Janet removed the plastic lid. The cup was half filled. She gave the lid to Frank. She walked over toward the front counter and said, “Deputy Robinson,”

The deputy turned around. “Can I help you?”

Janet stumbled forward, throwing at least eight once of cold coffee on the front of the deputy’s shirt and pants. “Oh…I’m so sorry.”

The deputy’s jaw dropped, and her eyes widened as she gazed down at her coffee soiled uniform. She then stammered, “I-I-I don’t have a clean uniform in my locker. I’ll have to go home and change my uniform. I’ll also probably have to take a shower to get the coffee smell off my skin.”

“I’ll pay for any dry cleaning. It’s the least I can do. Again. I’m so sorry. My shoe must have struck something sticky on the marble floor.”

“No need to dry clean. I’m sure the coffee stain will come off in the washing machine. Accidents happen. That’s why they call them accidents. I was about to go out on patrol. I’ll have to let the duty officer know.”

“Good thing you live a couple of miles away,” Deputy Olson stated. “Your patrol car will be here when you get back.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

The deputy turned and walked back toward the door she’d come through earlier. She stopped and opened a locked door with a plastic card by swiping it in front of a security scanner. She then stepped into a hallway.

Janet turned around and walked back over to her FMI comrades with a smile. She handed Frank the empty cup. “I owe you a cup of iced coffee.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Janet. I’m glad I brought my iced coffee with me. I don’t know if we would’ve had a plan B.”

Before anyone could respond to Frank’s question, the door to the left of the front counter opened. A man, who stood about six-foot four inches, of medium build and wearing a gray suit, walked through the opened doorway. The man looked at the FMI’s agents and said, “I’m Detective Steward Spurrier. I’m glad you all got here safely. Our department appreciates your help in these tragic deaths.”

Simon stepped up to him, reached out and shook his hand. “We’re pleased to help in every way we can. I’m Agent Woods.” He continued to introduce Frank, Jean and Janet. “Everyone has reviewed the file you sent to our director, Brian Littlefield.”

Detective Spurrier looked at Frank. “Are you…?”

“He’s my older brother,” Frank interrupted.

“Oh, I see.” Spurrier turned to Simon. “Are you ready to see the site of the six deaths?”

“Yes. We’ll follow you. We’re driving a black Chevy Suburban.”

Spurrier chuckled. “Don’t all federal agency guys drive black SUVs?”

Simon raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. “Not sure. Most TV crime shows seem to display this type of vehicle.”

Detective Spurrier led the FMI team out of the sheriff department’s parking lot. Jean leaned forward toward the front seats and said, “I’ll be anxious to know if Deputy Robinson will have an uneventful next twenty-four hours.”

Janet reached over and briefly touched Jean’s forearm. “Thanks to your ESP ability, I’m sure the deputy will avoid any tragic event.”

About forty minutes passed before they reached the area of the cave. They parked their vehicles on a meandering one-lane dirt road. On both sides of the road stood densely spaced evergreens and deciduous trees. Simon couldn’t see any visible path through the denseness of the forest. They were about a quarter of a mile from the base of Black Mountain. Wrapped around a tree to his left was a red ribbon marking the direction of the cave.

Detective Spurrier told them about the ribbon before leaving the parking lot. Detective Spurrier summoned them to come over to him as he stood in front of the opened trunk of his car. He handed each of them small LED circular lamps. “You’ll need them to light your way through the cave.”

Spurrier removed a long, metal cane from the trunk.

“I didn’t know you needed a cane,” Simon said to the detective. “I didn’t see you using one at the sheriff’s office.”

“The cane isn’t used for helping me walk. It’s to defend myself against any crawling creature on the ground. I’ve walked from here to the cave a few times and haven’t encountered any snakes yet.”

“It’s the ‘yet’ that bothers me,” Jean said, reaching up and wiping off sweat cascading down her forehead.

Detective Spurrier grinned. “I’ll lead the way, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”

Spurrier led the way through the forest. Red ribbons tied around saplings, every twenty feet, marked their way to the cave.

About ten minutes past where they had reached a small opening void of trees, a cluster of bushes at least six feet tall encompassed the area. Someone had recently cut down bushes in front of them at the base of the mountain, exposing an opening to a cave. The irregularly shaped crescent opening measured about six feet wide by seven feet high. Vines had once draped down, partially concealing the cave entrance. The recently cut vines lay on the ground to the right of the opening.

“This is the place. The cave had been inconspicuously hidden from human eyes. No one knew the cave existed until the six cave explorers found the concealed cave five days ago. Some people felt maybe methane or ammonia gas killed them. Of course, this theory proved false. The medical examiner didn’t find any cause of their deaths. That’s why your team was called to find the cause of their demise.”

“I assume,” Janet said, “you looked into the background of each caver to see if there were any grudges or conflicts between them which could’ve motivated one of them to commit an evil act?”

“Yes.”

He peered down at Janet, pursed his lips and flung his shoulders back in a defiant manner. “You should know what normal police procedure since you were a previous major crime detective.”

“I didn’t mean to insinuate you don’t know how to do your job. I understand you have an outstanding detective department.”

Detective Spurrier’s shoulders slumped as a smile appeared. “Thank you. We try to do our best. I’m sorry I offended you. I know you’re trying to find answers to these unexplained deaths.” He looked around at the team. “Turn your lamps on. I’ll show you the spot where the cavers were found.”

He turned and faced the opening to the cave.

Simon stared at Janet. “Anything?”

He wanted to know if she had an ominous premonition feeling about entering the cave, as she did a few days ago at the parking structure in Greek Town. If she did, they’d wear protective equipment, N95 masks, googles and a body suit.

She whispered, “Nothing.”

Everyone turned on their LED lamps and followed Detective Spurrier into the cave.

Simon walked beside Janet while Frank and Jean walked behind them. A musty smell overwhelmed Simon. “I wonder if all caves smell like this?”

“According to my research of caves along the Black Mountain range near Chambersburg, there usually is a musty odor. Most of them in this mountain range are comprised of sedimentary rock mainly limestone with a mixture of numerous minerals. Depending on moisture and if a water source is near them, there can be a variety of smells inside of them. Different species of fungus can grow in a cave’s environment. Another name for cave explorers is ‘spelunkers.’ There’s…”

“Thanks for the information, Frank,” Simon interrupted his dissertation on the composition and environments of caves.

“No problem, boss.”

Simon had stopped correcting Frank’s use of the word “boss” when addressing him. Simon knew he used the jargon with no ill will or disrespect. He relied on Frank’s expertise with the computer, and of course, his ESP ability of smell.

Their LED lamps lit up a cavern with a height of about twenty feet, a width of approximately sixty feet and a depth of about two hundred feet before the cave began to narrow. “Up ahead is where we found the six dead cave explorers,” Detective Spurrier announced, as his deep voice echoed through the cavern.

In a couple of minutes, they stood at the point where the cavern narrowed to a height of six feet. Roots hung down, resembling a curtain covering the back wall.

As Frank looked up and around the cavern in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree scan, he said, “I don’t see any bats nesting in here. I’m not an expert on bats, but from what I’ve read, there should be bats in here.”

“You would think there should be. A medical examiner employee who helped remove the bodies, who also was a cave explorer, stated the reason there weren’t any bats in this cave was because there wasn’t any significant opening at the entrance to the cave for the bats to enter or leave. Made complete sense to us. We also invited Shippensburg University’s Geology Department to explore the cave in a couple of days. We’re hoping they’ll find something unusual in the cave. Anyway, here’s the spot where we found the six dead cave explorers.” Detective Spurrier pointed down at the rock floor to his left.

“From what I read in your investigative report, the bodies laid here for at least twenty hours before they were discovered by one of their friends.”

“You’re correct, Agent Bennett.”

“Call me Janet. Agent Bennett sounds so formal.”

Simon huffed to himself. I’ve heard that line before. Instead of Agent she said Detective to me. Simon sighed. I’m not dating her. What’s come over me?

He couldn’t believe a jealous feeling overtook his emotions. She was being congenial, not flirtatious. Simon turned to his left and stared at the wall covered with roots. “Strange all these roots are covering this wall.”

Spurrier turned around, nodding. “Apparently the roots aren’t uncommon according to the medical examiner’s assistant. We’ll be getting more information when Shippensburg’s people explore the cave.”

Frank walked over to the rooted wall, bent down, and inhaled a deep breath. “I smell the odor of almonds. I think the odor is coming from the other side of this wall.” He began pushing the densely tangled roots aside. “There’s an opening through this wall. The opening is large enough to squeeze through on my hands and knees.” He moved forward. The front half of his body disappeared through the opening. “The odor of almonds is becoming stronger.” A few seconds later, his body disappeared.

“What did you find, Frank?”

No answer.

Simon shouted louder, “Frank. Are you okay?” Did he succumb to what killed the six cavers?

“I’m all right.” His voice was muffled. “There’s another cavern about half the size of the one you’re in. Bats are living in here. There’re numerous stalactites and stalagmites throughout the cave. The odor of almonds is prevalent in here.”

Simon sniffed in deeply near the opening. “I don’t smell anything.”

Of course, Simon wasn’t going to smell anything. He didn’t have Frank’s ability of supernatural smell.

“Besides, not all people can smell the bitter odor of almonds.”

“The odor of almonds can be present during cases of cyanide poisoning,” Spurrier said. “Was cyanide responsible for the deaths of the cave explorers?”

“Cyanide is naturally present in bitter almonds and many other plants used as food, including apples, peaches, apricots, lima beans, barley, sorghum and flaxseed. Of course, a person would have to eat a tremendous amount of one of these foods to feel its adverse effects.”

Spurrier removed his cellphone. “I’ll call the ME and see if he checked for cyanide poisoning.”

He pushed “call” on the medical examiner’s phone number. A few seconds later, he glanced down at his phone. There’s no reception inside the cave. I’ll call when we get outside.”

A thunderous roar crescendoed toward them as the cave’s floor shook. Small rocks and dirt began to fall from the ceiling, striking them. “It’s a cave-in,” shouted Simon. “How is it on your side, Frank?”

“No problem over here.”

“We gotta get out of here. Our only chance of surviving is through this opening. You go first, Jean”

She crawled on her hands and knees through the opening, followed by Janet and Spurrier.

Simon had difficulty breathing due to the increasing dust and dirt-filled air. He got into the crawling position as darkness enveloped him due to the rocks smashing his lamp. Larger rocks began striking the back of his legs. I don’t want to be buried alive.