I Will Fight No More Forever

by E B Corbin

  “Still haven’t made up my mind.” Henry frowned at Toby.

  “Looks like you ran into some trouble there, friend.” Toby pointed to his forehead in the same spot where Henry sported the Band-Aid.

  “Yeah, looking for you.”

  “Mac told me about it.”

  “You talked to Mac?”

  “Sure. I couldn’t leave him hanging for a bartender.”

  “But you could leave your mother hanging.”

  Toby shrugged. “Couldn’t be helped. She wouldn’t understand.”

  Buckley cleared his throat. “Gentlemen. This is not the time for small talk. I’m trying to determine if either, or both of you, can be trusted. I’m going out on a limb here, and I don’t like to do that. Still, I believe in taking some chances. Would never have been elected if I didn’t.

  “Both of you still need to prove yourselves, and I’m willing to give you that chance.” The senator picked up his empty glass and went to refill it. As he plucked ice from a small freezer, another knock on the door stilled his hand. “Yes? What is it now?”

  A young man dressed in a navy-blue uniform opened the door. “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but you have a call on the main line. They said it’s urgent. It’s the lieutenant governor’s office.”

  Buckley sighed. “Very well. I’ll take it.” He waited until the young man stepped out. “I’m afraid I will have to cut our talk short tonight. We’ll arrange another meeting very soon. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me.”

  Henry and Toby stood. Each accepted Buckley’s hand as he reached out to shake theirs and watched him lumber out of the room.

  “I guess that’s our cue to leave.” Toby winked at Henry. “I’ll walk out with you.”

  The same dour-faced man who’d let Henry in stood at the door to ensure their exit. Henry couldn’t help himself. He smiled at him and swatted him on the back. “Thanks, pal.”

  Toby looked at Henry as if he were crazy. “What was that all about?”

  “The doorman or Buckley?”

  “Both.”

  “The doorman: just because I wanted to shake him up. Buckley: I’m assuming the same reason as you.” Henry followed Toby down the steps. “Where’s your car?”

  “Around the block. Couldn’t find a closer spot.”

  “Then let’s walk. I’d like to get away from this place.”

  Toby shuddered. “Yeah, me too.”

  “Didn’t want to say anything in the building because that room might be wired.” Henry strolled next to Toby as if he were completely at ease. In truth, a low buzzing began as soon as they reached the sidewalk.

  As they approached the taxi, Toby said, “Hey! Isn’t that your friends? What are they doing here?”

  “Watching my back.”

  “How can they watch your back from out here?”

  “I’m wired. And we’re being followed right now. Keep walking. Pretend like you don’t see them.”

  Toby’s head swiveled from side to side and he tried to turn around. Henry grabbed his arm. “Don’t look.”

  “I didn’t see anybody. What makes you think we’re being followed?”

  “Because Buckley told me.” Henry was not about to mention the buzzing, but he knew the source had to be around somewhere even if he couldn’t see them.

  “He told you? Why would he do that?”

  “Because he doesn’t quite trust me and he wants me to know it. He doesn’t trust you, either. So you probably warrant a tail, too.”

  Toby stopped dead. “Somebody’s following me?”

  Henry grabbed his arm again. “C’mon. Keep moving. Don’t let them know you suspect something.”

  Toby shook his head. “Jesus. I told Mac I wouldn’t be in tonight. I was planning on going to my mom’s place. Maybe I should rethink that.”

  “Probably better if you stayed away. I can have White Cloud let her know you’re safe.”

  “She’ll freak out when she learns what I’m doing.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “The same thing you are. I think.” Toby stopped and dug keys from his pocket. “Here’s my ride. Do you want me to drop you anywhere?”

  “No thanks. It’s only a short walk from here.” Henry glanced around casually. He thought he noticed a figure duck into an alley a few feet away. “Listen. Be careful. You’re not trained for this stuff.”

  Toby took offense. “If I can help stop whatever they’re planning, it will be worth the risk.”

  “I don’t want to tell your mother we lost you.”

  “I can take care of myself.” Toby got in and slammed the door shut. He started the engine and peeled out, leaving Henry on the sidewalk with a frown on his face.

  Henry pulled out his phone and pretended to talk to a caller. “Meet me back at the room. Park a couple blocks away. Then you and White Cloud should split up so you’re not together. They may have someone watching the hotel entrance. I don’t want them to know we’re working with White Cloud.”

  In the taxi, White Cloud nodded. “That is wise.”

  Sam watched Henry’s stride pick up as they drove past him. When they were two blocks past the hotel entrance, the White Cloud pulled into a parking garage. “It is best not to get out on the street. They cannot follow us in here very easily.”

  Sam jumped out. “See you in the room.”

  “I will be right behind you.”

  Sam hated to admit it, but she felt better having someone watch her back. When she stepped out of the parking garage, she scanned both sides of the street in every direction: a few businessmen heading home after working late; a skateboarder weaving in and out of traffic; two couples laughing and holding hands. Nothing to alarm her.

  She remembered that she now had to be on the lookout for a woman, but she saw none in her immediate vicinity who were alone. She was growing tired of dodging her father’s minions even though it was the price she had to pay for confiscating his money. She picked up her pace, anxious to discuss the latest developments with Henry.

  When she arrived at the hotel, Henry was already in the room.

  “Took you long enough,” he said.

  “You told us to be careful. We were only following orders.”

  White Cloud knocked on the door, and Sam let him in, saying, “You didn’t miss anything except Henry telling me we were moving too slow.”

  He looked at Henry. “You told us to be wary.”

  “Yeah, I know. This is making me nervous. He’s got people watching me which is going to make it that much harder to act freely.” Henry ran his hand through his hair. “I thought Buckley might spill the beans tonight, but then he got that goddamn phone call.”

  “What do you think that was about?” Sam asked.

  Henry shrugged. “Don’t know. I think it might have been some legislative thing.”

  “You don’t think the lieutenant governor is in on it, do you?”

  “I sure hope not. It’s hard enough trying to entrap a state senator. If it goes much higher, it may become impossible.”

  “One thing’s for sure: the FBI isn’t part of it.” Sam hung her jacket over a chair.

  “At least, you hope not.” White Cloud stood near the door as if ready to leave. “I called Nina and told her Toby was all right. She has some news to tell us.”

  chapter twenty- two

  “Well, I guess we’d better find out what she discovered.” Henry pulled out a chair at the table and sat. “It’s too late tonight to run over there.”

  “I told her we would be by tomorrow morning.” White Cloud remained near the door.

  “White Cloud, sit down. You’re making me nervous looming over me.” Sam sat up straight and pushed her hair behind her ears.

  He lingered in place. “I was thinking I should leave soon if you are not going out again tonight.”

  “We’re not going anywhere. But we need to plan our day tomorrow.” Henry had not had time to scan for bugs yet, but since he was being followed as well as Sam, he s
aw no need to remain silent while in their suite. Eluding their stalkers was a moot point under the circumstances. They’d just have to be careful what they said. Thanks to Buckley, he knew the chick who placed the bug was not working with the senator.

  Sam stood. “Meanwhile, I’m going to transfer the money again.”

  “You do that often.” White Cloud joined Henry at the table.

  “Have to. Can’t risk Jules finding it. Also I want to get Nina’s banking information so I can transfer her money to her. The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned.” Sam went into her bedroom to retrieve her laptop.

  “Nina does not seem interested in the money.” White Cloud frowned. “She is more concerned about her son’s safety.”

  “For now, Toby’s fine.” Henry ran his hands through his hair again. “I can’t guarantee how long that will last, though.”

  “Then we need to act fast,” Sam muttered as she returned with her attention riveted on her computer.

  “Hard to do anything until Buckley incriminates himself on tape. So far, he hasn’t said enough to take it to your FBI friends.” Henry tapped his fingers on the table. “You both heard what was said tonight. What are your thoughts?”

  “It does not sound good,” said White Cloud.

  “I think they have the missiles but don’t have a clue how to use them. I think that’s what they need you for.” Sam shut her laptop and looked up.

  “That’s the impression I’m getting too. It doesn’t seem like anyone in their organization has the training on how to use these missiles.” Henry stilled his fingers. “I can’t understand how they made the connection to buy the damned things in the first place.”

  Sam wiggled in her chair. “I did some research. Seems like back in 2003 or so, thirty-six missiles went missing. They never did find them.”

  “You think somebody’s been hanging on to them this long?”

  “I’m sure that’s not all the missiles that have gone missing. That’s all that the government admitted. Besides, we’re selling them to a bunch of other countries. These missiles could have come from anywhere.”

  “It does not matter so much where they came from as what these people are planning to do with them,” White Cloud said. “How much damage could they do if aimed at the reservation?”

  “Depends.” Henry leaned his elbows on his knees and rested his jaw in his hands. “The missiles were mostly designed to hit armored tanks and other vehicles. The older ones have a shorter range and are not as accurate as the newer ones. They were designed to penetrate armor and stop the tanks. They don’t have a large damage radius. Still, it explodes and anyone next to it will get hurt or killed.”

  “Would they have to see the target to hit it?” Sam knew little to nothing about missiles. They were only a miniscule part of her FBI training and she never paid much attention since she had no interest in joining any antiterrorist detail. “And how close would they have to be when they fire it?”

  “That depends, too. The newer ones have a range of about two and a half miles. Once they lock on to their target, they pretty much travel on their own. If it’s an older one, they may only travel under a mile.”

  “So, assuming they’re going to launch the missiles from their compound, the target can’t be farther than two and a half miles.” Sam looked to White Cloud. “How big is the reservation?”

  “Over one thousand acres. I do not know in miles. But I would guess that any targets would be in the town of Warm Springs. It is not far from where the reservation ends on the other side of the national forest. I believe the white-supremacist compound is near that end also.”

  “What about other towns or possible targets?”

  “The most logical ones would be the casino or the museum. Both are close to Warm Springs. It is the only place you would call a town on the reservation.”

  Henry nodded. “Makes sense. They want to cause the maximum amount of damage; they don’t want to be shooting their missiles into the woods.”

  “But then they’d have to get within view of the casino or museum.” Sam leaned forward and mimicked Henry’s pose with her hands on her chin.

  “If they know the coordinates, they can program them into the missile without actually seeing them. It’s not as safe or as accurate, but it would work. The missiles are designed to lock in on a target and make any corrections needed while in flight.”

  “Can you disable them?” Sam asked.

  “I can but I have to know where they are first. So far, Buckley hasn’t mentioned their location. He didn’t even really mention missiles. He was careful to just say ‘weapons.’ Could mean anything.”

  “Then we have to turn over what we have to Pete and hope it’s enough.”

  White Cloud shook his head. “It will not be.”

  “Let’s give it a little while longer.” Henry nodded. “Buckley wants to meet again real soon.”

  “That means that whatever he’s planning is going to happen soon.” Sam straightened her back.

  “Yeah, probably, but we still don’t know where or when. And we don’t have him on tape giving any specifics.”

  “Pete might not need specifics. They can get him for conspiracy or something.”

  “Do you really think that would work? You were there. You heard him say how they had to be extra careful with these groups today.”

  Sam grimaced and slumped against the sofa pillows. “You’re right.”

  As she spoke, Henry’s phone rang. He signaled for them to be quiet, though they all knew it had to be Buckley or his minion. He put it on speaker. “This is Samuels.”

  “Henry, I’m glad I was able to reach you. We’d like for you to go to the compound tomorrow morning.” Buckley’s voice boomed through the phone.

  Henry said, “What compound?”

  “Oh, you’ll have to excuse me. I forgot you’ve never been there.” Buckley chuckled as if it were a joke. “I’ll have someone meet you tomorrow at ten at the Totem Pole. I know you know where that is. They’ll take you to the compound.”

  “I’m not sure I feel comfortable walking into a place where I recently had a confrontation.”

  “No need to worry. They have been disciplined.”

  “Disciplined?” Henry repeated in disbelief. He thought, What is this, fifth grade? but managed to keep it to himself.

  The senator chuckled again. The sound grated on Sam. “Suffice it to say, they won’t be around to give you any problems.”

  “What about the rest of the people there? Those guys must have friends.”

  “They do but only a few. Most of the thousand or so people that are on the compound live in scattered cabins or tents. Very few are close together, so they don’t socialize a lot.”

  “Probably their problem.”

  Another chuckle. “That may be. But when necessary, they will come together.”

  “Like the Beatles?”

  This time the senator laughed out loud. “Hopefully for a longer period of time than that. This will be a whole new world.” His voice sobered. “Can we count on you?”

  “I guess. I’m not keen on going out there, but I’ll show. Make it eleven instead of ten.”

  “Done.” Buckley wheezed into the phone. “Eleven it is. I’ll see you are compensated for your time.”

  “That’ll help.”

  “Until tomorrow, then.” The senator disconnected without saying goodbye.

  “That was quick.” Sam raised an eyebrow. “They must be pretty desperate.”

  “And I’ll bet the missiles are somewhere on that compound.”

  “Do you think you can defuse the missiles tomorrow?” Sam leaned forward.

  “Maybe. I’ll have to play it by ear. If all the missiles are in one place and they don’t have some of them stashed somewhere else, there’s a good chance I can make them inoperable. There’s a lot of software and training involved in locking on the target. I certainly can’t teach them how to do it in one day.”

  “But if you d
o make them inoperable, they would know it was you,” Sam said.

  “Maybe not. The missile operator has a lot of last-minute adjustments to make. The Army never sent anyone out as an operator until they had hours of training. Plus these goons they’ve managed to sway to their way of thinking are not the brightest bulbs in the box.”

  Sam pondered Henry’s words. “You might be able to pass the blame to one or two of them, but will they believe all of them screwed up?”

  “Didn’t say it was a perfect plan.” Henry shrugged.

  “Sam is right.” White Cloud patted the table. “It is too dangerous. When the missiles do not fire, they will blame you and come looking for you.”

  “Exactly.” Sam jumped up and started to pace. “We have to get the authorities involved.”

  “Even if they do believe us, they don’t have the manpower to arrest a thousand people in the compound.”

  “If we cut off the head, I’ll bet the rest scatter like rats.” Sam stopped pacing and swung around to face them.

  “We don’t have any authority to arrest Buckley. You’re not suggesting we knock him off, are you?”

  Sam snickered. “No, of course not. I mean we’ve got to convince the FBI or some other law enforcement agency to do it.”

  “That will be difficult,” White Cloud said.

  “Well, I think we at least need to try. We need to get the tapes we have to Pete Singer.”

  “Even if we wanted to, we can’t go waltzing into the FBI building. We’re being watched, remember?”

  “You’re being watched. I doubt they’re watching me or White Cloud.”

  “Maybe not them, but don’t forget you have a tail, too.”

  Sam began pacing again. “Whoever that damned female is, I’m sure I can handle her.” She spoke the words loud enough to be heard clearly wherever the bug was placed.

  “I don’t like it.” Henry lowered his head to his hands and tried to think of an alternative. “Can you email the tapes to Singer?”

  Sam nodded. “I don’t see why not. At least he’d have to commit one way or the other.”

  White Cloud stood. “I do not think the FBI will be any help, but if that is what you want to do, I will not argue with you.”