Return of Our Country

by David M Burke

  A moment later, the confirmation came through the speaker. They could do it.

  The General explained, “We had each plane fly a path parallel to commercial flights. Hold on, this’ll take a minute.”

  As the president and Madison listened, the General gave the orders and then listened as the plane began to encroach on another plane flying towards the US. Then, when the planes were relatively close, a woman’s voice directed them by saying, “Switch.”

  There was a slight jump on the screen they were all looking at, and everything appeared normal. One plane headed south west, and the two images of the planes got farther apart on the screen. The General hadn’t given an indication of success or failure.

  Finally, the General listened with relief as the woman said, “It looks good from this end General, and it appears the SAS is following the decoy.”

  The General turned to George and said, “There you go Mr. President, another flight of gold is safely on its way home.”

  Madison hadn’t put all of the pieces together. “General, so what just happened?”

  “The SAS suspected our plane had gold in it and diverted a few of their fighters to intercept it and force it to land. So, we had a decoy plane already identified. When we got the word, our plane moved closer to the decoy plane and we switched their transponder signals.”

  “That’s when we saw the blip on the screen?” Madison asked.

  “Yes, Senator. Then our plane peeled off and resumed its original course under a different transponder signal. We just had to wait to ensure the fighters were following the decoy.”

  “Won’t they know something’s up when they force one of our military planes to land?” Madison asked.

  “Well, it’s not actually one of our planes.” After a short hesitation, the General said, “It’s a civilian plane.”

  “A civilian plane, isn’t that…”

  The General interrupted Madison in mid-sentence. “It’s mostly full of media people who were returning from London.”

  George’s forehead creased. “Don’t you think I have enough problems with those media people?”

  The General said, “We didn’t plan it that way sir, but when we looked at the most viable flights to establish as decoys, this flight was the best choice for this plane and, well, we thought it was fitting. It must be fate. Maybe it’s a good tweet in the making.”

  The president’s smile could be seen half way across the room as he shook his head.

  Madison nodded and said, “Well, good planning General. Gabby would be proud.”

  The president looked at the General. “Speaking of Gabby, has anyone heard from them?”

  * * *

  Gabby moved seamlessly around the stable area. She had been brought up around horses in rural Maine she knew what she needed to do. As soon as Adam and Sonya entered the stable, Sonya grabbed a map of the estate from the desk. She began highlighting the route. Gabby, noticing the look on Adam’s face, began helping him.

  A moment later, Sonya walked swiftly up to Adam and said, “Here, take this route. It’ll lead you to the back of a small tavern.”

  Gonzalez added, “Mauricio and Krieger will meet you there with a car.”

  With that, Gabby mounted a huge chestnut and Adam mounted a black gelding a half a hand smaller.

  The second Special Forces agent came into the barn. “The Colonel told me to cover you.”

  Kimball said, “Good, we can use the help. You follow me. Grab a horse.”

  Captain Kimball mounted a beautiful bay mare and said to Adam and Gabby, “We’ll go at a brisk walk until we hit the woods. As soon as you’re out of sight, get out of here as fast as you can. We’ll stay back and cover your tracks. We’ll cut across the path a few times. If anyone’s following, maybe it’ll slow them down.”

  In a flash, the three of them were off.

  Chapter 70

  As soon as they hit the woods, the Captain looked back. A few people were walking towards the stable. One was rather fit and large. You didn’t see those kinds of guys at a castle. He continued into the woods until he came to the first fork in the trail. He and his partner dismounted. They stripped branches from a large tree and wiped the tracks clean from Adam and Gabby’s horses. Then they turned right, went down the trail about fifty yards, then went off the trail, before doubling back and coming out at the fork again, where they went right again. Their horses were leaving hoof prints that now gave the impression that four horses went right.

  ***

  The British SAS had deployed their entire D squadron of approximately sixty-five men and women to Ireland. Commanded by a Major, one of four troops was on the castle grounds. They were being commanded by a Captain. One of the other troops had been tasked with surrounding the castle grounds. The two remaining troops were following up on other leads.

  ***

  Adam and Gabby had pulled up to the back of the bar. From the edge of the woods, they watched for vehicle pulling up that might be Mauricio or Krieger. None had shown up yet.

  A moment later, the captain pulled his mare to a stop. He listened and said, “They’re behind us.”

  The captain dismounted and pulled out his cell phone and dialed Mauricio.

  He looked at Adam. “He’ll be here in a few minutes, but we don’t have that much time, these guys will be here in a minute,” referring to whoever it was chasing them on horseback.

  Gabby dismounted and wrapped her steed’s bridle around the bridle post. She walked directly towards a young couple coming out of the bar.

  A moment later, the couple looked at each other and nodded. Gabby reached into her pocket and handed them some money.

  Walking up to Adam she said, “Okay hun, they’ve agreed to take our horses back to the estate for us so we can go in and have a few drinks. I gave them some money for their troubles and so they can get a ride back.”

  Adam’s eyes got a little wider and he smiled and dismounted. “You ride pretty good?”

  “Been riding our whole life,” the one young Irish lad said as he and his companion both nodded.

  As the two mounted their horses, Gabby added, “We do appreciate this. Like I said, the castle has strict rules against drinking and riding.” Then Gabby added, “Oh, they’re all warmed up, and this one really runs.”

  The young man looked at the Captain, realizing they were questioning his role. The Captain said, “Take that trail to the left and run them as hard as you want right now.” Then changing up his tone to one a little sterner, he added, “But cool them down as you get to the castle.”

  The young man gleefully said, “Yes sir,” and then turned to Gabby and Adam. “Thank you.” He turned to his female companion, saying something, and she took off first, with him in chase.

  The captain heard the thunder of approaching hooves. He turned to Adam and said, “Stay out of sight until Mauricio gets here.”

  Kimball and Davis rode off with the plan to catch up to the two guys and see if he could bait them into a race back towards the castle.

  ***

  Krieger turned right into the pub, slowing as he went to the back. I don’t see any horses.

  A moment later he saw Adam’s silhouette emerge from the concealment of a spruce tree.

  Adam immediately recognized Krieger. He was squished into the small vehicle.

  Just as Krieger stopped, another vehicle came skidding to a stop on the dirt parking lot, inches behind Krieger’s vehicle. Mauricio bounced out of it before Krieger could pry himself from behind the wheel with a groan.

  Krieger looked around as he approached Adam. “Sir, it’s damned good to see you.”

  “Well, the feeling is mutual. How’d they ID me?” Adam asked.

  “Somehow they got a lead that we may be at the castle,” Mauricio answered. “Then they finally got enough of your face from when you mou
nted the horse at the stable.”

  “The stable?” Adam questioned. He had been extremely careful not to look up everywhere else.

  “Sir, this is Europe, they have cameras everywhere.” Mauricio knew it wasn’t Adam’s fault. It had only been a matter of time.

  Krieger wanted to get moving. “So, here’s the situation. We have a Special Ops team on their way, but they won’t be able to get to your extraction point for about two hours and it’ll take you about two hours to get there. Until then, it’s the four of us, so we’re going to have to split up.”

  “Split up?” Gabby questioned. “Colonel, I’m beginning to get the feeling that you don’t like our company.”

  Krieger always appreciated Gabby. “Understood ma’am, but it’s more the company you draw. The good news is we’ve got you a clean phone.” He motioned to Mauricio, who handed Gabby a small phone in an unusual looking case.

  Mauricio explained, “At least this time you’ll be able to contact us, but realize they’re tracking every electronic communication in this area right now, so don’t use it unless it’s an emergency. After you use it, even though it’s encrypted, they’ll have your location, so they’ll be able to pinpoint you; it won’t be long until you have company.”

  As Gabby started to open the case, Mauricio explained, “Keep the phone in that case before and after you use it. These guys have some of the best tracking technology available and that bag is designed to mask the signal. For most tracking technology, this case masks the phone, but then again, for every technology there’s a counter technology, so that’s why you should only use it if you absolutely have to.”

  “Understood,” Gabby said as she secured the phone back in its case and put it in the pocket of her tight jeans.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Adam questioned.

  Krieger had had a new extraction point chosen until they’d been compromised at the castle, necessitating yet another change. “While you drive to the new extraction point, we’ll divert them to the location on the west coast. That way, while you’re going east, we’ll draw them west. We have an unsecure phone with us. We’re going to take this second car and go west and begin communicating. That should match all the intelligence they currently have.”

  Mauricio handed Adam a map. There was already a circle on it. Mauricio pulled out a highlighter and drew another circle. He said, “We’re here. You go east and follow this road about five miles and take your first right on 334, then your next right on 83. Just follow the highlight south and east and it’ll take you right there. It’s deep there, so the sub will be able to get close. There are only two numbers programmed into the phone, one is ours and the other will get you in contact with the operations commander. They should meet you in the parking lot, but just in case, their number is also in the phone.”

  Mauricio then handed Gabby another small device. “Take this. It’ll show you a map just like directions on your cell phone, but it’ll identify official vehicles, like police and official military vehicles. They’ll be shown as a red dot.” He then emphasized, “It won’t show every under-cover vehicle from agencies like MI6, but it’ll help.”

  Gabby took the device. “Thank you.”

  “Roger that,” Adam said to Mauricio. He turned to Krieger and asked, “Is there anything else we need to know?”

  “You have plenty of gas,” Krieger said, “so don’t stop for anything. Keep your heads down and drive normally. This car is from a friend, so it won’t be reported stolen. You shouldn’t have any issues. Just leave the keys in it when you get there. A small task force will meet you and get you down to the sub, but again they’ll be just getting there about the time you do.”

  “What about you?” Gabby questioned.

  “We plan on being there too. But don’t worry about us, and don’t wait for us. We’ll improvise as need be. You just get on that sub.”

  Adam replied, “Understood.” He knew Krieger would do whatever he could to divert the Special Reconnaissance Regiment towards himself.

  Krieger replied, “Good luck sir.”

  After watching Adam and Gabby jump in their little car and head east, Krieger and Mauricio got in their vehicle and sped off to the west.

  Adam gave the map to Gabby. “We’re looking for the right turn.”

  Gabby looked at the map and said, “We’re going to the Cliffs of Moore.”

  Chapter 71

  Adam had just angled off to the right on route 83 when he and Gabby saw two cars speeding in the direction they had just come from. Gabby turned around and looked behind them. They weren’t being followed. She turned back around and said, “That was a little too close for comfort.”

  The first half hour was tense though uneventful.

  It was at about that point Adam and Gabby had their first indication that things were beginning to heat up.

  Gabby studied the screen of the device Mauricio had given her. She said to Adam, “There’s one of these red dots coming our way.”

  “How far out?”

  “It could be two miles.”

  Adam knew neither of them had ever used the device before. The vehicle would drive right past them on this two-lane road. Even if Adam and Gabby kept their heads down, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t rouse a second look. Adam thought it’d be best to hide, but he didn’t see a viable option. He pushed the gas pedal to the floor.

  “They look to be less than a mile out,” Gabby said.

  “Affirmative,” Adam said as he navigated a turn as fast as he could. Then, up on the right, he saw a truck pulled over. He could see the highway up ahead in the distance. He’d never make the highway so he focused on the truck while looking for the vehicle coming over the horizon.

  He hugged the right side of the road. As he approached the pull off, he followed the truck’s path and slowed. The terrain dropped down several feet on the right. Adam pulled within inches of the truck’s right tire. As he slowed to a crawl, Adam asked, “How much space do I have over there?”

  Gabby opened her door a crack to look down. “About a foot.”

  Gabby held the tracking device up to Adam. He nodded, cracked his window and then inched forward. He could hear the gravel crunching below the weight of the tires. He could also hear an approaching vehicle.

  Gabby noticed he was gripping the steering wheel tighter.

  When the sound of the approaching vehicle reached the point where it was almost parallel with the truck, he had reached the front bumper. Adam cut it in front of the truck as close as he could and stopped.

  The sound of the car faded in the distance. Gabby saw on the screen that the vehicle had continued.

  She smiled. “Good job. I’m impressed.”

  He looked back at her. His grip relaxed and he smiled and got back on the road.

  On the highway, Adam hid on the right side of two trucks as other cars approached, just in case. They were now half way to the extraction point.

  Heading into Clarinbridge, Gabby looked as the screen and said, “There’s another official vehicle behind us. It looks like there’s a few more just appearing on the screen in front of us.”

  “How close are they?”

  “This is crazy,” Gabby said. “The ones up ahead are a few miles out and the one behind us is maybe a mile.”

  “Is he gaining?”

  Gabby studied the screen for a few seconds and then gasped and nodded, saying, “He must be moving quick, because he’s gaining fast.”

  Adam had been following Krieger’s directions and going the speed limit, but now wasn’t time to throw caution to the wind. Again, he pushed the gas pedal to the floor.

  “How far?”

  “Just under a mile. Maybe three quarters.” Gabby turned around and looked out the rear window. “No sight of them yet.”

  Adam navigated a few turns as quickly as he dared. “Keep an ey
e out over the ridges.”

  Gabby was watching behind them when Adam said, “We’re coming into the town. I’m going to have to slow down. Where are the other vehicles?”

  “There’s one on the far side of town,” Gabby said, “and another one that looks like it’s in town, but neither of those are moving. They must be parked.”

  “That makes sense. They’re probably watching all the entrances and exits from the towns. The one behind us, who knows. It might have been following a lead out of town or something.”

  “Well he’s gaining quickly.” As Adam crested a hill, Gabby caught a brief glimpse of the vehicle behind them. Its lights were flashing.

  She turned back around as they entered the town.

  “I don’t see another vehicle on this end of town, do you?”

  She looked at her device. “No.”

  Adam slowed. “Let’s hope they were watching this end of town and are heading back to their position.”

  Gabby agreed and added, “Or they have seen us and want to check us out.”

  “Good point,” Adam said. “We need to get off this road before they catch up to us.”

  “There’s only two other routes out of town,” Gabby said. “And they both have surveillance.”

  “Look for somewhere to hide, anywhere.”

  Gabby looked at the row of buildings to their right. They must have been over a hundred years old.

  Suddenly, Adam screeched on the brakes and skidded. He took a hard right into a parking lot.

  He said, “Here, it’s a good luck sign.”

  “What good luck sign?” Gabby looked around.

  “Paddy Burke’s restaurant and bar,” Adam said. He straightened the car, then quickly turned right again and came to a complete stop.

  “Shit, no place to hide,” he said. He looked back at the road. “They’ll be able to see us.”

  Gabby glanced back and realized he was right. She looked at her screen and then out of her window. In the distance she saw lights reflecting off windows. “They’re coming.”