recited the data. My spirits soared. Numbers in, numbers out. Now I was in my element.
“What are you thinking?” Mark asked as he finished giving me the sequences. “Flashes of light conjure up images of World War II sailors flashing SOS messages. Do you think he’s using Morse code?”
“That’s where I’m going first. It’s the most logical. I’m running the analysis right now. Give me a moment. I’m in the zone.” My fingers ached from the typing.
After a few minutes, I sat back in my chair. My spirits, which moments before had been in the stratosphere, crashed and burned. “It’s not Morse code.”
Mark slumped. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. It would have been too easy for a nutcase like him.”
I swept my notes onto the floor in frustration. “Damn it. He’s playing me. He knows I’m never going to find it in time. I thought we had it.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. He probably altered or switched it up. He wants to keep you on your toes.”
Pushing my hands through my hair, I kneaded my scalp. “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m tired and scared, not to mention way too emotionally invested in this situation. I just thought I had it.” I knelt to pick up the sheets of paper.
Mark joined me on the floor, helping me. “Look, I don’t know if it will make you feel better, but if I were in your shoes, I’d be a complete basket case by now. I’m surprised you’re still able to hold a coherent thought.”
I sighed as he handed me some papers. “I’m a freaking mess.”
“Well, you don’t show it. Hang in there. We’re going to figure it out and save your friend. We have to. At least we have something to work with now.”
“I know. It’s just everything takes time. It’s the one thing we don’t have in abundance. Come on, let’s take another crack at it.”
We sat back at our respective laptops and got to work. Mark was typing something while I sorted through the next best approach to tackling the coding sequence. I was leaning toward working up a Caesar Shift Cipher when Mark spoke.
“Did you know the world doesn’t even use Morse code anymore? It was officially retired in 1999 when the Global Maritime Distress Safety System globally replaced it on a whim. I tried the GMDSS with what we’ve got, but nothing panned out either. I thought it was worth a shot.”
“That was good thinking,” I said and then froze. “Wait, that gave me an idea.” I started typing.
Mark peered around his screen. “What idea?”
“Global. You said globally. That reminded me I used the global or international Morse code key, the ITU. But I forgot. There’s another key. A historical key exclusive to America.”
“Hey, now that you mention it, I think I actually knew that.” He started typing, but I was way ahead of him. After a moment, I pushed back my chair.
“Holy crap. I think we’ve got it.”
Chapter Fifteen
Mark leaped from his chair and stared at the screen over my shoulder, reading my translation.
“We’ve got what? A message? What does it say?” He read aloud from my screen. “‘A man’s faith might be ruined by looking at that picture.’ Huh? What does that mean?”
I didn’t have a chance to answer him because Dex Woodward stepped into the room followed by several more people.
All the same crowd from yesterday filed in except I saw a young woman who hadn’t been in here before. She was probably in her early thirties with long chestnut hair pulled back in a bun and eyes so light brown they were almost gold. She carried a large file stuffed with papers and was dressed in a navy suit with a photo badge hanging around her neck. She gave me a small smile as she came in and sat next to Woodward.
I gathered up my notes and laptop and made room for the others. I didn’t see Slash, and some guy took his seat next to me. After waiting a moment, Woodward made a motion and someone closed the door.
“Okay, we’ve all had several hours to attend to our
“What are you thinking?” Mark asked as he finished giving me the sequences. “Flashes of light conjure up images of World War II sailors flashing SOS messages. Do you think he’s using Morse code?”
“That’s where I’m going first. It’s the most logical. I’m running the analysis right now. Give me a moment. I’m in the zone.” My fingers ached from the typing.
After a few minutes, I sat back in my chair. My spirits, which moments before had been in the stratosphere, crashed and burned. “It’s not Morse code.”
Mark slumped. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. It would have been too easy for a nutcase like him.”
I swept my notes onto the floor in frustration. “Damn it. He’s playing me. He knows I’m never going to find it in time. I thought we had it.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. He probably altered or switched it up. He wants to keep you on your toes.”
Pushing my hands through my hair, I kneaded my scalp. “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m tired and scared, not to mention way too emotionally invested in this situation. I just thought I had it.” I knelt to pick up the sheets of paper.
Mark joined me on the floor, helping me. “Look, I don’t know if it will make you feel better, but if I were in your shoes, I’d be a complete basket case by now. I’m surprised you’re still able to hold a coherent thought.”
I sighed as he handed me some papers. “I’m a freaking mess.”
“Well, you don’t show it. Hang in there. We’re going to figure it out and save your friend. We have to. At least we have something to work with now.”
“I know. It’s just everything takes time. It’s the one thing we don’t have in abundance. Come on, let’s take another crack at it.”
We sat back at our respective laptops and got to work. Mark was typing something while I sorted through the next best approach to tackling the coding sequence. I was leaning toward working up a Caesar Shift Cipher when Mark spoke.
“Did you know the world doesn’t even use Morse code anymore? It was officially retired in 1999 when the Global Maritime Distress Safety System globally replaced it on a whim. I tried the GMDSS with what we’ve got, but nothing panned out either. I thought it was worth a shot.”
“That was good thinking,” I said and then froze. “Wait, that gave me an idea.” I started typing.
Mark peered around his screen. “What idea?”
“Global. You said globally. That reminded me I used the global or international Morse code key, the ITU. But I forgot. There’s another key. A historical key exclusive to America.”
“Hey, now that you mention it, I think I actually knew that.” He started typing, but I was way ahead of him. After a moment, I pushed back my chair.
“Holy crap. I think we’ve got it.”
Chapter Fifteen
Mark leaped from his chair and stared at the screen over my shoulder, reading my translation.
“We’ve got what? A message? What does it say?” He read aloud from my screen. “‘A man’s faith might be ruined by looking at that picture.’ Huh? What does that mean?”
I didn’t have a chance to answer him because Dex Woodward stepped into the room followed by several more people.
All the same crowd from yesterday filed in except I saw a young woman who hadn’t been in here before. She was probably in her early thirties with long chestnut hair pulled back in a bun and eyes so light brown they were almost gold. She carried a large file stuffed with papers and was dressed in a navy suit with a photo badge hanging around her neck. She gave me a small smile as she came in and sat next to Woodward.
I gathered up my notes and laptop and made room for the others. I didn’t see Slash, and some guy took his seat next to me. After waiting a moment, Woodward made a motion and someone closed the door.
“Okay, we’ve all had several hours to attend to our
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