Rising Force
Page 24
Satisfied, Charity sat back in the middle of the backseat. “How did you know where I was?”
“Your father died ten years ago,” Stockwell said, quietly. “He was all you had.”
“You got a lot of balls interrupting me. I saw you in the lighthouse.”
“We were just going to wait,” Stockwell said. “We really do need your help. You know the man’s true worth better than anyone. Even Deuce.”
“Who’s this guy?”
“Agent Charlie Bremmer,” Stockwell replied. “He can tell you who he works for.”
“Well?” Charity asked, bumping the back of the other man’s seat.
“I’m the Associate-In-Charge in the Miami recruiting office for Tactical Homeland Research, Logistics, Linguistics, Intercession and Enforcement Division,”
“Do what?” Charity asked. Travis grinned slightly.
“The Tactical—”
“I heard you the first time. Quite a mouthful.”
“I get that a lot,” Bremmer said. “We’re working on it.”
“And just what does this word vomit organization want with Jesse McDermitt?”
“I can only talk to him about it,” Bremmer said, with a gulp.
“So call him,” Charity said. “It’s what I do.”
“We don’t know how to reach Captain McDermitt.”
Charity leaned forward and glared at Stockwell. “And how is this different than what we did before?”
“For one thing,” Travis began, “It seems to be privately funded. No government oversight.”
“And nobody gets killed,” Bremmer added.
“Seems to be?” Charity asked.
“A few others have been approached, besides me. But none of us have been given very much information. I was asked to find you, so you could help find Jesse.”
Charity sat back in her seat. Stockwell and Bremmer slowly turned their heads. Though she looked relaxed, it hadn’t escaped Stockwell’s attention that both the suppressed weapon and his Colt were leveled at the middle of their backs.
“All I’m allowed to say right now,” Bremmer began, “is that our organization is on the good side. We’re well funded. And our intent is to thwart evil without hurting anyone.”
“You think I care about money, Bremmer? I have more than I can spend in two lifetimes.”
“No, I don’t,” he replied confidently. “That’s part of the reason most of you were chosen. That and your individual skills.”
“What individual skills would that be?”
“In your case,” Bremmer said. “Your notoriety as one of the best Olympic swimmers of modern times. In Captain McDermitt’s case, his reputation as a commercial boat captain.”
“You’re tipping your hand,” Charity said. “Anyone who knows Jesse knows he never really liked chartering tourists.”
“Yet he was once very successful at it,” Bremmer said. “We’re looking for a crew to operate, and supply logistics to, a small fleet of remarkable research vessels.”
“Research?”
“The full scope of our plans will be unveiled to very few, very closely vetted, former operatives, who believe in justice and self-determination.”
“Big words,” Charity said. “But that’s not enough to get me back into the fold. Jesse, too, considering his current state.”
Stockwell turned in his seat. “What current state?”
“Mostly drinking,” she replied honestly. “And hanging around with the wrong people.”
Bremmer’s finger tapped the wheel as he studied Charity in the mirror. “I can tell you one more thing,” he said. “Our goal is to collapse the plans of those who would oppose liberty in such a way that they won’t be taken seriously by anyone again.”
“Collapse the plans?”
“Outsmart them and make them look like fools,” Stockwell said. “I asked the same question.”
“The meeting will be at the sundial at Coral Castle,” Bremmer said. “At the time of the vernal equinox.”
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Rising Force
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