Megan looked around at the motley crew. Two federal agents, four McAllister brothers when Caden came to join them, a vet, computer nerd, and three dogs. They would release the wolf. Though Billy’s gait was steady and he claimed to suffer no ill effects, Luc knew he wouldn’t voice them unless under extreme duress.
“You guys can stop watching me like a hawk any time now. I’m fine,” Billy grumbled but studied Kilregard, who drummed his fingers on the kitchen table.
“Pot and kettle, bro,” Matt retorted.
“I’m just glad the buzzing in my head stopped and I’m relieved to not wobble when I walk.” Kilregard downed a half glass of water in several gulps.
“Can’t wait to entertain the rest of the family with Billy’s premier video.” Lucas grinned under his older brother’s glare.
“I guess I should be thankful I wasn’t taped while being led through the woods with a blindfold.” Ethan shook his head and thumped Billy on the back. “This is one time I don’t mind taking a back seat to an older brother.”
“Now that we’re all in one piece, how about some information sharing?” Kilregard finished off his drink.
Metger and Kilregard’s stared open-mouthed as Lucas summarized the information obtained from Schmidt. Megan used diagrams of the electronic net and stolen research to outline the organization’s intent before explaining in layman’s terms the function of the advanced science and technology.
“Jesus. This sounds like a TV horror show.” Metger studied one of the reports.
“On the contrary, in the UK, 2007, neurosurgeon Dr. Nijaguna Mathad and ENT surgeon Salil Nair began using the technique of entering the skull through the patient’s nose to remove tumors. You can google it if you like.” Megan shuffled through her ream of papers until finding Schmidt’s documentation verifying the results.
Kilregard lightly touched the bridge of his nose. “Then Schmidt brought the technique here—with his own twist. Sick motherfucker.”
Matt pushed another glass of water toward Billy and Kilregard, the message clear. Each finished in several gulps.
“How are we gonna know who’s infected and who isn’t?” Metger stood and paced the small interior, his agitation contagious as Luc ambled to peer out the front window.
“We won’t after the bruising goes away. Morfran thinks he can control us through Billy, so, we have a slight jump on him in that regard.” Lucas tilted his head to get a better view of the sky through the filthy window.
“We have their list of targets, starting with Captain Faulkner in Portland PD and congressman Knolter who chairs the committee governing imports, exports, and tariffs.” Matt handed a copy of the list to each of the feds.
“Hell, we’re gonna need help. We don’t have time to do surveillance, find out how many men they have, and where they’re positioned. No doubt, they’ve done some rearranging.” Kilregard mumbled obscenities referencing maniacs and mad scientists.
“We can help with their security system.” Lexi confirmed. “I’ve viewed it and Megan has been inside the facility.”
“We kinda all have, at least visually,” Matt added.
“Ah, the hacker. Right.” Metger rubbed his jaw before ambling to the back window and checking the surrounding area. “Just, don’t tell me how you came by your information. As far as Reinhardt’s death—”
“I didn’t kill him. He did, however trip and get a couple shiners, but that’s the extent of his injuries under my care.”
The men stood fixed and quiet, the gossamer threads of trust stretching while each estimated the others’ intentions, not as men, but as experienced investigators.
“Do you think Morfran paid the CEO a visit and presumed he’d been compromised? If so, he’s gonna pull out all the stops to find us.” Megan’s stomach burned despite the peanut butter and jelly sandwich soaking up acidic juices.
“Either way, we’ll find evidence the killer left behind.” Metger eyed each person in turn. “We have a crew on the East Coast, ready to take over the parent company. As soon as Schmidt began singing, the Agent-in-Charge over there prepped his team. We’ll converge on our targets at the same time.”
Kilregard nodded toward Megan and Lexi, sitting at the other end of the table. “The women aren’t trained to infiltrate or fight. We’ll have to put them in a safe house.”
“You need me to verify the antidote with their equipment, and you need Lexi to navigate their computers and security system.” Megan realized she faced the possibility of running into Morfran again.
All three McAllisters groaned.
“Shit. I can justify taking the McAllister brothers because they’re all cops except Caden, but you women are civilians.” Metger seemed to weigh the pros and cons with a tilt of his head. “Where’s your brother—Caden?”
“Watching over the folks and our sister,” Ethan replied.
“Morfran’s talented at finding people. Perhaps I could help with that detail.” Metger’s sideways request for information met a united front of McAllisters.
“No,” Said in unison by each McAllister.
“All right. I have two of my agents keeping an eye on ClickChip, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a hidden entrance. From what I understand of Reinhardt, he was as cagey as he was paranoid,” Metger looked to the younger fed. “What do you think?”
“A definite possibility. And I have backup in the wings who will help. He’ll join us when the time comes.” Kilregard looked away from Metger’s shocked stare.
“Who? Why didn’t I know about it?” Metger scrubbed a hand over his jaw, frowning in concentration.
“Because I wasn’t sure about the size of this conspiracy or how deep it ran.” Kilregard’s retort, measured and moderated in furtive regard, hinted at suspicion bordering paranoia. He’d earned the right in the depths of unconsciousness and an unauthorized surgery.
“A smaller infiltration group means less chance of discovery. From what I understand, we need to move fast. Let’s rehash and assign responsibilities.” The older fed offered wisdom born of experience.
“Megan found the hidden passageway to the basement from Reinhardt’s office.” Kilregard’s admiration earned Luc’s grumbled warning.
“There might be another entrance to the basement, maybe from the outside. There has to be some reason they’re so selective of who patrols the perimeter.” Billy suggested.
“That makes sense but doesn’t point to its location. That’s a large perimeter.” Matt looked to Metger, whose edginess had carried him back to the front window.
“Ethan and I will go over the schematics again to see if anything stands out.” Lexi gripped Hoover’s collar when she growled low in her throat, her attention directed to the front door.
Damien stood, stiff shouldered and alert, the rumble in his chest preceding Leyna’s explosive snarling.
The bark of a pistol coincided with a small hole appearing in the dirty windowpane by the older fed’s face. “Fuck.” Metger ducked and grabbed his temple, hit by flying debris. “Everybody down. Shit. It didn’t take ’em long to find us.”
Small spiderweb cracks bled to a two-inch circumference around the aperture. Two more pops yielded like-sized breaches and goading a flurry of activity. Each man diving to the floor with Ethan and Lucas covering Lexi and Megan. Within several heartbeats, every window, front and back, bore asymmetrical patterns from deadly intent.
“Looks like their electronic spy got a signal out.” Luc smoothed his fingers over Megan’s head. “You okay?”
“Yeah, but the cabin is surrounded.” Internal chaos jumbled Megan’s thoughts to prevent her logical mind from focusing. Cold sweat covered her body while small breaths burst in and out. Slight trembling morphed into uncontrollable shaking. It wasn’t Morfran threatening just her, the entire group faced an assassination squad.
“Billy, help me with the table.” Matt heaved one end after Lexi latched onto her computer. Papers sailed off to scatter around the floor. The improvised barricade added
both bulk and weight when shoved against the front door.
Behind them Kilregard and Ethan shoved the dilapidated sofa in position to cocoon the group.
“Morfran’s goons.” Lucas urged Megan lower and covered her with his body as more shots broke through the front windows and plinked against the interior walls. Glass tinkling to the floor foreshadowed their deaths.
Matt snatched and distributed their cache of weapons then passed along spare magazines. “If we sit tight, they’ll burn us out. We’ll have to make the next move.” After tossing ear mics to each of his siblings, he added. “There’s no badges, no rules here. We aim to survive.”
“If that shot had come from a sniper’s rifle, Metger would be dead now.” Kilregard shook his head as he checked his weapon. “They’re not trained assassins.”
“Lucas McAllister, come out and bring the Mindy bitch with you. It’s the only way she gets out of this alive.” The grating, disembodied voice boded ill.
“Sure, on the second Tuesday of next week,” Lucas muttered among his brothers’ snorts and snickered comments.
Megan expected the demand. “Morfran must’ve discovered Schmidt has been compromised.” If she thought it would save the others, she’d go.
As if reading her mind, Luc grasped her arm. “You know he’s lying. They’re just trying to divide us to make easier targets. They won’t leave anyone alive, at least not intentionally. Look how they’ve covered their tracks so far—in Delaware.”
Metger nodded in agreement before adding, “They have no way of knowing our number. They might think it’s just Megan, Lucas, and me, if they even saw me clearly.” A brief nod to Matt confirmed their joint assumption.
“Morfran’s the type to do his homework. They’ve been looking for us all, according to Schmidt. They have to at least suspect we’re all here.” Megan swallowed hard, looking at the grim faces, the family who’d put their lives on the line for her.
“If we could nail one of them, they probably have radios and we’ll pick up more information.” Luc tucked a lock of hair behind Megan’s ear. The gesture seemed natural to him, as if he faced annihilation every day yet took the time for normal and to alleviate someone else’s tension.
“We can’t go out there, and we can’t stay here.” Megan tasted the fear in her mouth, sour, prolific, and spreading.
“No, Megs. Whatever harebrained idea is wafting through your head, its fear talking, and that rarely leads to an acceptable outcome.” Luc’s softened tone, slight hesitation in his voice, and the hard glint in his gaze, suggested a plan forming, one that would earn Lexi and Megan’s criticism yet provide the best chance for all to see the sun set. He’d proven himself calm under pressure more than once. “Ethan, you stay here and help provide cover fire. Billy, Matt, and I, will go out the back. I’ll take point. Kilregard and Metger can keep our company busy so we can zero in on our targets. Once we’ve dealt with the rubbish in back, we’ll circle around front and finish with the garbage. We’ll let the dogs out afterward to make sure we didn’t miss any stragglers.”
“As senior agent, I’ll go with you. And Kilregard’s an expert marksman.”
Metger’s suggestion fell on deaf ears.
“No. McAllister brothers work as a team, we’ve trained together and stand a better chance as a squad,” Matt asserted.
“Two minutes, McAllister. That’s all you get. If we have to come in, you both die.” The incorporeal threat asserted victory a foregone conclusion.
“That’s not Morfran. Do you think he’s out there, too?” Megan huddled closer to Lucas, needing the physical reassurance.
“I doubt it. He’s probably collecting designated recipients to undergo surgery to help with damage control,” Luc replied and nodded to Matt. “We need to move it.”
Matt motioned to his siblings. “All right, let’s head out, but I’m going first. I’m the fastest. Billy, you go next. Stay low and stagger your gait. Luc, you’re the best shot, you’re last.”
Lucas snarled but nodded. “I’m the slowest, you mean.”
“No. You and Ethan are both attached.” One brow hiking up indicated Matt’s understanding his brother’s unspoken affections.
The flow of expressions crossing Ethan’s face as he regarded first Lexi then his siblings spoke of a world where he couldn’t live without them all. The same apprehension rippled over each brother.
Megan closed her eyes. Fear for the family who’d come to her aid without question marked her soul with an indelible weight.
Luc’s warm breath brushed her face before his lips lingered over hers. When they settled firmly and his tongue demanded entrance, she silently obeyed, praying they’d have another chance, an opportunity to get it right.
“When this is over, we’re gonna talk.” Mumbled against her lips, his words carried the promise of a fresh start.
Despite his recently acquired baggage and her dowry of long hours and taking in strays, she knew the time had come. She wanted the picket fence, kids, and a man who grumbled when she considered something dangerous. Part and parcel, she wanted it all. “Count on it.”
The epiphany carried an ironic sense of timing. Her heart hammered a tumultuous beat that battered the remnants of self-control. Luc was last because of his limp. The marksmanship would be of benefit since the fight could be fast, up close, and personal if he made it to the woods while his brothers drew initial fire.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lucas edged low to one side of the back door, his mindset having adopted the cold calculation that bared his teeth and slowed time to a crawl.
The resonant thud of the bullet striking wood after slicing through his partner’s flesh reverberated in his mind, his subconscious warning him to protect the ones he loved. A glance over his shoulder revealed tears tracking Megan’s cheeks. The same fear graced Lexi’s countenance.
Ethan crouched behind him, a tap to the shoulder indicating readiness to provide cover. Matt and Billy each hunkered in front, assessing the back woods. The door’s slight opening issued in silence, punctuated at intervals by the pop of exchanged fire. Kilregard stood beside the back window, ready to help Ethan with cover fire.
Less than a month ago, Lucas had craved solitude, to be left alone in his dismal perspective, but fate hadn’t finished mucking in his life. Instead, it threw him into another shitstorm of insanity involving cyclone Megan and her sidekick, Leyna. He offered a silent prayer that the bastards outside were as poor at planning as they were at shooting. So far, his luck had held. The pricks could have flushed them out with fire.
Matt’s hand signal preceded him yanking the door wide.
Behind them, Leyna, Damien, and Hoover, snarled their eagerness to fight, straining at their collars while Megan and Lexi struggled to hold them tight.
Matt bolted out and darted north, his zigzag pattern drawing immediate fire that kicked up clods of dirt. Kilregard and Ethan returned fire. Billy’s sprint eastward drew a barrage answered by Ethan. Lucas hustled straight out, determined to make his shots count.
They didn’t use a sniper rifle for their first shot. Amateur mistake. Even rookies get lucky. The best chance of gaining the upper hand came during the initial firefight when the assailants gave away their positions by trying to pick off a charging McAllister.
Luc tacked left to avoid a direct sight line with the back door. Muzzle flash defined his first mark. A slight tug of his jacket indicated the near miss intended to kill. In his last firefight, he hadn’t felt the pellets tearing through his flesh until the battle was over, the adrenaline high flushing all but his objective from thought.
Green jacket and baseball cap contrasting bare limbs drew his focus to the glint of metal at the woods edge. Potential death spewed from the center of the outline and further narrowed his focus.
Dirt kicked up at his feet from the next shot as he sidestepped and returned fire. The solid hit threw the gunman back and out of sight amid dying growth. He might be wearing a vest.
A v
olley of shots to his right and left indicated his brothers still engaged their targets.
Thirty yards later, he entered the forest to find his man down with a mortal chest wound. A light touch of his neck confirmed a thready pulse that wouldn’t last long. He had no ear mic or radio. Lucas retrieved the pistol and took cover beside an oak, at the same time tapping three times on his ear bud to indicate himself in one piece. Silence followed a quick double tap, Billy’s signal.
To his left, radio silence. Matt had veered in that direction and was either down with a bullet or still searching for his target.
Instinct urged him to move toward Matt, yet he waited for Billy to join forces. Together, they had better odds if a shooter circled behind them.
The cannonade sounding from the front confirmed the battle raged while a second to listen to the various calibers validated his belief. No one fired a rifle or shotgun.
The rise and fall of a robin’s song was as welcome as it was out of tune.
“Luc.” Billy’s whisper filled the void created by their struggle. “Matt’s quiet. Any visual?”
“No.”
A low whistle brought their attention back to the cabin. As usual Ethan followed the beat of his own drummer. He acknowledged their communication with an altered plan.
All three dogs charged off the back porch, loud and fast. The notes of intensity in their sharp, staccato warnings blended with deep growls to leave no doubt of their goal.
Still crouched, Luc whistled to redirect the canine assault. “Leyna, Hoover, come.” Calling Damien was a lost cause. The animal would focus on his guardian.
Leyna made a beeline for Lucas while Hoover veered off to the left to follow Damien.
“C’mon. Let’s move it.” Billy jumped when the bark of a pistol from Matt’s direction was answered in kind. “Damn, Ethan let the dog out to find Matt, knowing the shooter would think himself the target.”
McAllister Justice Series Box Set Volume Two Page 22