by Robert Boren
“Shut the hell up,” Howard said, pointing the gun at her face. “Help me move him, and I might let you live.”
That snapped Amanda out of her crazed state. “Where, in here?”
“Hell, no,” Howard said. “I was trying to figure out how to get rid of this maniac. You just helped. Pick up his legs. I’ll take his arms.”
“You aren’t going to kill me?”
“I might kill you, if you don’t shut up and follow instructions,” Howard said sternly.
“Okay, okay,” she said, standing and picking up his feet. Howard grabbed his arms, and they dragged him roughly down the steps and onto the dirt, a few feet away from the coach.
“What now?” Amanda asked.
“Now I drop you off somewhere, and we forget we ever met,” Howard said. “If that’s alright with you.”
Amanda shook her head yes, silently, tears starting to flow now. Scott started to move. She saw that, and got a terrified look on her face.
“Howard,” Scott said weakly. “Get me to a hospital. Quick, or I’ll bleed out.”
“Get in the coach,” Howard said to Amanda. She hurried up the steps. Howard followed her.
“Hey,” Scott said. “Stop. Help me.”
Howard didn’t turn around. He got into the motorhome and got behind the driver’s seat, starting the engine. “Get in the front seat,” he said roughly to Amanda. She sat down, and they took off down the road.
“You’re crying,” she said, looking at him.
“He used to be my best friend,” Howard said. “I wanted it to end, but not this way.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home. I’ll drop you off near where we picked you up. Can I trust you to behave until then?”
“Yes,” she said quietly, trying to keep her eyes on the road instead of on him. “He’s not dead yet, you know. He might live through that.”
Howard gripped the wheel tighter as he drove. Chet’s voice kept playing in his head over and over again…don’t kill my boy.
Back in Kansas, dinner was about over, and people were slowly starting to leave the clubhouse. Frank motioned Jerry over. George and Malcolm were sitting nearby, with Heidi, Jane, and Jasmine. They all gathered around.
“What’s up?” Jerry asked.
“I think we should try to get ahold of General Hogan’s son again,” Frank said. “What do you think?”
“I think we should do that,” George said. “I also think we should put a copy of that names file in my drop box for Sam.”
“I was going to suggest the names file, too,” Jerry said. “Maybe they can quietly start rounding people up.”
“Well, they can at least plan it out,” George said. “My advice would be to wait until exactly the right time, and nail as many of them at once as possible.”
“Yeah,” Jane said. “Otherwise some of them are going to disappear.”
“Exactly,” George said.
Frank pulled out his cellphone and hit the contact for General Hogan. It rang for several minutes. Frank stopped the call. “Let’s give it a minute. Worked last time.”
“I hope the kids didn’t get snatched,” Jerry said.
“You and me both,” Frank said. “I’ll try it again.” He hit the button again. It rang twice, and then there was a click.
“Frank?”
“Is this the General’s son?”
There was silence on the line for a moment.
“Yes.”
“He’s still being held at the base?”
“We don’t know. Are your going to help?”
“Is the entire base under enemy control?”
“No. We were there today. He might not be there anymore. We looked around, and didn’t see anything.”
“Do you know how to use the app on this phone?”
“Yes, my dad showed me. There are bad guys showing up around the base still.”
“Good. We can see the bad guys. They’re in one building…according to the map of the base, it’s building 395.”
“I remember it, Frank. It’s a warehouse building. There wasn’t anybody around there. It looked like it was sealed up.”
“Yes, that’s what we figured. We need to alert the commander of that base, but we need to make sure he’s careful in how he handles things. Your dad’s life depends on it. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
George got Frank’s attention.
“Hold the line for a second.”
“Okay, Frank.”
“What, George?” Frank asked.
“See if you can find out the name of the commanding officer or any of the other high ranking people there. I can put it in the drop box and have Sam get in touch with them.”
“Great idea,” Frank said. He put the phone back to his ear.
“Hello?”
“I’m still here, Frank.”
“Good. Do you know the name of the commander at that base, or any other high ranking officers?”
“Yes, General Kincaid is the commander. Major Healy is over security.”
“Good, then sit tight. We’re going to see if we can alert them through DC.”
“Okay. Do you want me to do anything?”
“You aren’t on the base, are you?”
“No, I’m hiding in the city nearby, with the rest of my guys.”
“Why?”
“Dad told us to lay low until we got contacted. It’s been too long. That’s why we went to the base today, but we came back here afterward.”
“How’d you get on?”
“We went to the PX. We have IDs.”
“Okay, I’ll get back with you. Keep out of trouble.”
“Thanks, Frank.”
Frank put his phone back in his pocket.
“You guys know that was pretty risky, right?” Malcolm said.
“Yes, I know they might be monitoring that phone,” Frank said. “We’re running out of time. George, how quickly can you get ahold of Sam?”
“I think I’d better just call him,” George said. “Malcolm is right, this is risky, but the clock is running on the app release. We’ll need to work quickly, and come up with some back story on how we found General Hogan to fool the enemy.” George pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed.
“Sam?”
“George. How are you?”
“We need help, and we can’t wait for the drop box. This line isn’t very secure.”
“It is what it is. What do you need?”
“We know where General Hogan is being held, right down to the building. He’s at the base we discussed.”
“Shit, so he’s right under our noses. Building number?”
“It’s 395. Just a sec.”
“Frank, what was the commander’s name again?”
“General Kincaid,” Frank said.
“Sam, the commander is General Kincaid.”
“Yeah, I know him.”
“Can you trust him?”
“I think so, George. I’ll get him on the horn, on a secure line this time.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t mention it. You wouldn’t have done it this way if you didn’t have too. Hopefully the bad guys aren’t listening in. I’ll leave a follow-up in the drop box.”
“Good, I’m putting a present in there for you, too. It’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Great. Stay out of trouble, old friend.”
“You too.”
George took his phone away from his ear. “The names file?”
“Already emailed it to you,” Frank said. “It’s not a huge file. It’s just text.”
“Okay, I see it. I’m sending it to the drop box now.
“How about the General?” Jerry asked.
“Sam’s going to contact the base now, and get General Hogan freed, given a little luck, of course.”
“Hopefully he’s still alive,” Jerry said.
“So what do we do now?” Jane asked.
“We wai
t,” George said.
Scott was in intense pain, crawling over to the wall of the barn. He pulled himself up along the wall, lifted his shirt, and looked at the wound. He was bleeding, but not as bad as he expected. What about internal bleeding? That knife wasn’t very sharp but it hurt like hell going in. He wasn’t dizzy enough to have really fast internal bleeding. Can I walk? He tried a couple of steps along the wall. He started to fall, but caught himself on the rough wood of the barn. He kept walking along the wall until he got to the door. He managed to keep going, letting go of the wall. He was outside now. I might have a chance.
“Howard, you bastard,” he shouted at the top of his lungs as he tried to get over to the road. He saw a light come on in the house, down the road about a hundred yards. Is that the old family farm house? He continued to stumble forward, breathing hard, but he wasn’t feeling dizzy anymore. He was getting tired, though. He needed to sit, but if he didn’t get down the road, he’d die. Yell!
“Help me!!!!!” he shouted. He walked a few more steps. “Help me!!!!! Please!!!!! I’m hurt!!!!”
The porch light turned on, and he could barely see the front door open. Keep going. “Help me!!!! I’m hurt!!!!” he shouted again at the top of his lungs.
He felt suddenly dizzy, and fell onto the gravel road. He could hear wheels approaching. He got up on his hands and knees, then fell, then got up again, and crawled. He could see the headlights now. “Help me!!!!”
The car was almost to him. He heard it stop, sliding in the gravel. Then he heard two car doors open and close, and the sound of footsteps on gravel, getting closer and closer. Suddenly there was a flashlight beam hitting him. He looked up as the two men approached.
“You okay, fella?” asked a voice. Scott could only see the flashlight beam.
“I’ve been stabbed,” he said. “Abdomen. Hurts like hell.”
“Who did that?” asked another voice.
“Some dumb bitch,” Scott said. He felt hands on both of his shoulders, pulling him up, dragging him to the car. They opened the back door and slid him onto the seat. They got back into the front, and started driving. Scott got dizzy again, and felt himself starting to pass out, but he fought it as hard as he could. No use. He drifted off. He woke up when he was being carried up onto the lighted porch, to the door of the house. The two men laid him on the couch and turned on more lights. He felt somebody lifting his shirt.
“This doesn’t look as bad as I expected,” the first man said.
“C’mon, Kerry, you ain’t a doctor,” the second man said.
“I know that, Blake. Don’t you think I know that? Geez.”
“Hey, he looks familiar,” Kerry said. “That’s Cousin Scotty!”
“Oh, hell, you’re right,” Blake said. “Scotty, can you hear me?”
Scott opened his eyes. It was his cousin’s boys. The twins. He started laughing. They weren’t too bright, and they looked even dumber than they were.
“Call Johnny,” Blake said.
“He’s only a paramedic,” Kerry said.
“He’ll know how bad it is,” Blake said. “Maybe he doesn’t need to go to the hospital.”
“Mom’s going to find out where we are if he does,” Kerry said.
“We can’t just let him die,” Blake said. “He’s blood.”
Chapter 15 – Traitor at the Base
Daylight. Terry was startled awake by the wind, rocking the trailer. He could hear it rushing through the trees. Tornado season? No, it’s a few months before that starts. He raised himself enough to reach the curtains and pull them back a little. Dust was blowing across the park. He saw Jake, Gabe, and Dobie walking, hunched over a little, holding their hats. They were heading for the clubhouse. Princess followed Dobie closely, looking around while she walked.
“A little breezy,” Trish said lazily, turning towards him, watching him look at her form under the sheets. “You like?”
He answered her with a kiss, which she broke quickly, laughing.
“What?” Terry asked.
“Our breath,” she said. “Geez, doesn’t that bother you?”
“No,” he said, kissing her again. She started to get into it now. He moved closer to her.
“My dad isn’t outside, is he?” she whispered.
“No, I saw him, Gabe, and Dobie walk over to the clubhouse.”
“Good,” she said, smiling, pulling him closer still. They melted into each other, their passion building. Terry pulled back the sheet, feasting his eyes on her, and started kissing her all over as she moaned. They were beside themselves now, passion building to a fever pitch.
They lay on their backs next to each other afterwards, hands with fingers intertwined, still breathing fast, but slowing, faces still red.
“Did you decide yet?” Terry asked, looking at the ceiling.
“I wasn’t going to decide,” she said, turning to look at his face. He turned towards her. “I was going to think about it. We are going to decide.”
“Okay,” Terry said. “Which way are you leaning?”
“Which way are you leaning?”
Terry chuckled. “It’s going to be like that, is it?”
She giggled back at him, and pulled her hand loose so she could tickle his side. He convulsed, laughing.
“Okay, I’ll tell you what I’m thinking,” Terry said. “I think we shouldn’t decide yet.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because we’re days away from actions that will either end this war or, or at least blow everything wide open. It’s gonna get crazy. I think we should watch what happens for a little while.”
She studied his face, as he watched her for a reaction. She was silent long enough for Terry to get uncomfortable.
“Well?” he asked her.
“I think you’re right,” she said with a sigh. “I wish you weren’t. It’s going to be hard to wait. We’ll have to start using protection, then. We pushed it a little this morning.”
“I’m good with that,” Terry said. “We have something to look forward to, and that can be delicious, you know.”
“I know,” she said. He touched her face, and she flushed, moving herself closer to him, trembling. “Geez, I want your baby in me so badly. I’ve never felt like this before. I’ll be fighting myself. You’ll have to be strong.”
“I know. We’d better get up, or we’ll be back at it,” he said.
“We can play longer, you know,” she said.
“I hear your dad and the others coming back,” he said. He stretched his neck up and peeked through the curtains. “Yep, there they are, carrying coffee. The wind died down. They’ll probably plant themselves under one of the awnings.”
She pulled him over for one more kiss.
Frank got out of bed. Jane was still sleeping. He got dressed quietly, and then snuck out the bedroom door. Mr. Wonderful walked over, tail in the air, meowing at him. “Good morning sir,” he whispered. Lucy trotted over too, tail wagging. She stretched and yawned, looking comical. Frank chuckled as he bent down and petted both of them. “Our children,” he whispered to himself. He heard the bedroom door slide open, and Jane came out, giving him a groggy smile. She was dressed already.
“Good morning,” she said.
“I thought you’d sleep a little longer, honey,” Frank said, while he turned on the coffee maker. “You didn’t even stir when I got out of bed.”
“That wind woke me up earlier,” she said. “I was just dozing.”
“Yeah, I heard the wind. It died down all of a sudden. Strange.”
The coffee machine rumbled and creaked as it heated up. He went to get the k-cups.
“We’re running low on those, Frank. Maybe we should sneak into town and hit the Walmart.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t mind going there anyway. I’d love to see if Howard is around or not.”
“You feel a little less pressure now?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Frank said. “I’ve done about all I can do at this point. I’m sitti
ng on pins and needles about the file, though. Anxious to find out what Sam Hinton thinks about it.”
“I’m sitting on pins and needles about General Hogan,” Jane said.
There was a knock at the door. Lucy barked, and Mr. Wonderful headed for the bedroom. Jane looked out the window. “It’s Jerry.”
Frank opened the door. “Hey, Jerry, what’s up?”
“You been looking at the apps?” he asked, smiling, walking up the steps into the coach.
“Not yet,” Frank said. “Just getting up. Why?”
“The icons at the base are in a different building now, and two of them are missing.”
“Really,” Frank said.
“I hope that’s good news,” Jane said. Just then Frank’s phone rang. It was still in the bedroom. He ran back and grabbed it.
“Frank here.”
“Frank, it’s General Hogan.”
“Oh, thank God.” Frank made the thumbs up sign to Jane and Jerry.
“I’ve got to thank you, Frank. You guys saved me.”
“General Kincaid got you freed?”
“No, he was a traitor. Sam Hinton figured that out, and went around him, to the security chief.”
“Oh, yeah, a Major, right?”
“Major Healy.”
“Anybody get hurt, General?”
“A couple of our guys got killed, and a couple of the bad guys. We captured Phillip. You were right about him. He’s a blowhard. Way too stupid to be leading this thing.”
“Daan Mertens is the brains. Maybe Saladin too. Don’t know him. You know we’ve got some help now, don’t you?”
“Yeah, Frank. Don’t mention his name anywhere. If Saladin finds out he’s involved, he’ll probably try to leave the country.”
“What are your plans now?”
“Sam Hinton is asking for your location, via the drop box. I’d like to pay a visit, and plan some strategy with you and our friend.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Your kids alright?”
“Yes. I’ll bring them along.”
“Good.”
“We’re going to win this war, Frank. The hardest part will come later.”
“What’s that?”
“Rooting the evil out of our government without destroying our whole society. Talk to you soon.”