The 22nd Secret Page 26
“Teach me how to fly,” Pam said. She took hold of the wheel in front of her and placed her feet on the pedals. “Teach me how to fly, Jim.” Her eyes radiated with excitement.
“Well, the foot pedals control the rudder.”
“I know that. If I push forward on the wheel the plane goes down.” Jim had relaxed his grip on the wheel when he leveled and trimmed the plane out. The heavy plane practically flew itself on calm days like today. So when Pam pushed the wheel forward, it slipped out of his hands. The engine revved up as it unloaded and the plane pitched down toward the ground. Jim didn’t have time to grab the wheel and pull it back, before Pam skillfully brought the plane back up and positioned it to gradually climb. It was exactly what he would have done had his hands made it to the wheel before Pam corrected it. He took hold of the controls again making sure his grip was tight enough to control any crazy moves Pam thought to try.
“Teach me how to fly, with your mind. Control my body like you do when you’re making love to me. You can do it. We can do it. That’s what just happened there.”
“I don’t know Pam. Flying a plane can be pretty tricky. One mistake and we’re dead.”
“Come on, Jim. Just try. I promise I won’t do anything on my own, just what you make me do. You’ll be surprised how fast I can pick this up. Please, I’ll do anything.”
“Okay, just for a little while and all you’re going to do is fly straight and level, okay?”
“Okay, take your hands off the controls. I’ll just hold the plane exactly like it is.”
Jim slowly moved his hands away from the controls as Pam looked straight ahead. “Am I flying now?”
“You’re flying. Don’t make any sudden moves, okay? Just keep it steady.”
Pam felt electricity running through her. “Make me do something. Make me turn or something. Just a little turn, please.”
Jim thought this was crazy, but they were at least three mistakes high and he would have plenty of time to retake control of the plane. He positioned his hands just inches from the wheel and thought about the movements of his hands and feet necessary to slowly turn the plane to the right. To his amazement, Pam responded as if she were him. She executed the simple maneuver perfectly. Pam laughed as the plane responded to her control. Jim made her bank the plane to the left, back on course.
“This is wonderful. It’s so much fun. Close your eyes, Jim. Come inside my mind. I’ll let you in. You can do it. Concentrate on trying to see the sky through my eyes. Take total control of my body. Teach me how to fly like that.”
“Hold the plane exactly like you are.” Jim closed his eyes, but he didn’t know why. He felt like he was in some kind of hokey mind-reading show, concentrating on seeing the sky with his closed eyes. Pam helped him more than he realized, as the clear blue Alaskan sky appeared in his mind. Jim was not experienced enough to recognize the difference between what he was seeing and the memory of what he saw in front of the plane a moment before. He instinctively looked down to check the gauges and realized he saw Pam’s hands on the controls directly in front of him. The placement of the gauges was wrong. He was suddenly sitting on the right side of the plane. No, it couldn’t be. He was looking around the cockpit through Pam’s eyes. The experience was too bizarre for Jim to look at himself, sitting there with his eyes closed. So he looked back up at the sky in front of the plane.
He heard Pam’s voice in his head. Teach me how to fly, let me learn what you know about flying. Jim relaxed as he began to put the plane through some basic maneuvers while Pam absorbed his entire knowledge of flying.
Pam was so preoccupied with flying the plane that neither noticed that Jim was no longer controlling Pam’s movements. It made little difference, since Pam had ample opportunity to absorb Jim’s knowledge. She simply needed time in the air to refine her skills. She was especially proud of the slow graceful turn to the north she executed when the plane reached the coast.
“Jim, dear,” she said, realizing Jim’s mind was not helping her fly the plane. “Jim, I’m flying north up the coast. Do we need to do anything before we land?”
Jim slowly opened his eyes. He looked down at his body to make sure he was back inside his own mind. He sat straight up and surveyed the instruments and landmarks. He realized he had completely lost himself deep in Pam’s mind. “I think I better take over now,” he said, grabbing the controls.
“How’d I do?”
“You got us here, didn’t you? We didn’t crash, so I guess you did good enough.”
“It was great. Can I fly some on the way home?”
“Sure, but this time I think I’ll watch from my own eyes.”
They landed without trouble and slowly unfolded themselves from the plane’s cockpit. They walked toward the office of the private plane hangar looking around at the other parked planes. Pam was quickly growing into a plane enthusiast.
“What kind of plane is that?” Pam asked, pointing to a sleek aerodynamic plane. “It’s a Canard.”
“It’s beautiful. Tell me about it.”
“It’s a Beech Starship, a real advanced design corporate plane. Some idiot who made millions in six months in multi-level marketing and lost it all in three bought it. He hired a pilot and went broke. Other than having it flown up here, I’m not sure he’s ever used it. I think it’s for sale.”
“Is it fast?”
“Hell yeah it’s fast. Not as fast as a Lear but a hell of a lot more advanced. It’s supposed to be great to fly and ride in, more comfortable then a Lear. It’s a great airplane.”
Pam walked over to look at the exotic plane while Jim talked to Buddy, the hangar’s manager. He knew Buddy well and Buddy knew Jim’s plane. Buddy also knew how valuable it was and how particular Jim was about its care. Even so, Jim reviewed what he expected which included keeping it in the hangar and not tied down on the tarmac. He stressed how important it was that no one went near it, not even a curious mechanic. “Don’t even bother to wipe off the windshield,” Jim said.
Pam approached Buddy and pointed toward the Starship as Jim walked back to the Reliant to taxi it up to the hangar. They exchanged some words and Buddy slipped Pam his business card just before Jim returned.
Jim rented a Lincoln Navigator from the airport and drove them to the hotel. They got a two-bedroom suite and spent a quiet evening watching a pay-per-view movie, talking, and making love. Pam asked about the expensive twin-engine corporate turbo jet during their room service dinner. Jim told her of his admiration for its design and how much he would like to take the multi million-dollar plane up for a ride. The next morning, after they made love, Pam showered while Jim ordered room service. Jim took his shower after eating breakfast. When Pam heard the water she pulled a card out of her purse and called the number on it.
The day was spent at the mall, and what a day it was. The new wardrobe Jim bought for Pam cost over $5000. It filled the back of the Navigator with boxes and new luggage. He spent an additional $500 at Victoria’s Secret, where he seemed most interested in silk stockings and a flimsy silk dress that barely covered her. Pam agreed she would wear it for Jim, but in private only. Their most important purchase – and the one that meant the most to Pam – was the $30,000 engagement and wedding band set. Actually, it was three rings. One of which was a modest wedding band that Pam would never remove once Jim put it on her finger. The set included a one-carat solitaire engagement ring trimmed with small begets, and a knock-your-socks-off three-carat solitaire that Pam could wear at special occasions. Thanksgiving would be the first such occasion.
They got in the elevator to go up to the room after Jim had tipped the doorman a $50 to have their purchases brought up to the room. They were alone in the elevator, so Pam hugged Jim’s side and ran her leg up his.
“I love you so much,” she said. “Thank you for all the gifts you gave me today, especially the rings. Let’s make tonight special.”
The elevator doors opened at their floor. At that moment they began the rest of
their life - together.
Epilogue
The story of Pam and Jim’s life together was just beginning. Pam’s parents came for Thanksgiving dinner, along with Bill, his wife, and their four children. Bill’s sister and her two-year-old son were there. Both were thankful to have been abandoned by his abusive father. Tom Walker was there, as were the President with his family, and Captain Carnes.
Jim and Pam announced their engagement and plans to move to Colorado to everyone assembled. Pam’s mother objected at first and cried. She had only just met Jim and wasn’t ready for the news. Pam’s father took an instant liking to the handsome man Pam had chosen. They would become best of friends. Their passion for the outdoors and love for Pam gave them more than enough reason to quickly bond; not to mention the fact that they were both lifelong Denver Broncos fans. Roland Koller was one of the few people Jim would let touch the Stinson with a tool.
After Thanksgiving, Pam and Jim flew to Denver in the plane Pam bought for him as an engagement present and had an attorney arrange for them to purchase Smith’s Ranch.
Life was good to the people that gave thanks together that year. Tom eventually married Bill’s sister. Tom and Bill became partners operating White Bear Lodge for Jim. Captain Carnes thought the guest list was particularly unique. The only normal guests were the sheriff and his family. Besides them was Tom Walker – made famous by Pattygate, and Jim Mitchell – famous for pleading the Fifth for two days behind closed doors during those same hearings. The President and First Lady were there along with the usual Secret Service detail. Finally, there were the Kollers, the radiant bride-to-be, and a variety of wealthy jet-seetters.
Tim Carnes joined the President and other men seated around the great stone fireplace after dinner for whiskey and cigars. He didn’t find it the least bit unusual that Pam joined them with a glass of champagne and no cigar, rather than help Maria with the dishes as the other women did. After all, she exuded power in a way that none of the men did.
The children were scattered among the guests in the Great Room of the lodge, closely watched by the First Lady, who seemed to enjoy the lack of attention.. Captain Carnes wondered why he had been invited in out of the snow while his men kept a vigilant guard over the lodge. He stopped wondering when the President asked him if he was ready to take on a new challenge, one that would require a lifelong commitment. Carnes mistakenly stared into Pam’s eyes as he pondered the question.
He and a select group of his men would transfer out of the Army and form an elite personal guard. He had been to Aspen on vacation and looked forward to the selection of ladies it offered over the backwoods of Alaska. Besides, who was he to turn down a request from the President? Jim added that this was not the CIA, or anything to do with the United States government. It was beyond that. It was about a very special person to everyone in that room – to everyone on the planet – who had a very special reason to give thanks that year. At that moment, the small group gathered around the fire all looked at Pam, who looked directly at Captain Carnes as he silently committed his life to her protection.
Pam thought their ranch was the most beautiful place in the world. Besides the hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, Jim had built a private ski area complete with a chairlift and an ice skating arena. Jim added a concrete runway and large hangar capable of handling everything up to small private jets. The ranch became the destination for political figures from around the world, along with movie stars and other celebrities. The accommodations at the mansion Jim had built overlooking the beautiful Aspen Valley were the finest in the world. They included a heated pool that allowed underwater passage from inside to outside.
A stay at the ranch was by invitation only, for those lucky enough to receive an invitation had everything they could desire at their disposal, all at no charge. This included a massive amount of private security. An invitation was a status symbol, widely recognized throughout the world. Parties of all sizes could be held in its several great rooms.
Only the closest of friends and family were ever allowed into the cozy private family room that featured a stone fireplace reminiscent of the one at White Bear Lake Lodge. Unlike the rest of the house, this room was decorated with family heirlooms, including several of the Indian rugs and other memorabilia from the lodge in Alaska and Pam’s childhood home in Idaho.
Money doesn’t buy happiness, but happiness can make anyone rich. The Mitchums of Colorado were fortunate enough to have both. They were a loving family with rich, famous, and powerful friends. More importantly, they were close friends, closer than any friends anyone has ever had.
Life was good for Jim and Pam Mitchum.
Prepare to return to the life
of Jim and Pam in
False Secrets
Enjoy the mystery
intermingled with a touch of romance
and intrigue in the sequel to
The 22nd Secret
Visit
www.the22ndsecret.blogspot.com
for more details
About the Author
Randal Lanser was born in Missouri and grew up in Colorado where his parents were both educators. He is a CPA and currently living just outside of New Orleans after having lived in Texas for many years. He is married and extremely proud of his six children and ten grandchildren. A lifelong model railroader, he also enjoys riding his Harley Davidson and driving his Mustang GT.
www.the22ndsecret.blogspot.com