Deadly Deception

by Tami Kidd

  In unison, the three men said, “No.”

  Benny laughed. “You guys are terrible liars. Come on let’s get you three back to civilization.”

  Minus JD, the four rode in style and comfort in a silver Cadillac Escalade. Not a speck of dirt could be found on the vehicle, even though they usually traveled on unpaved roads. Alex marveled how the lifestyle the brothers projected was so different from their image. He felt his eyes getting heavy. The warm night air and the motion of the vehicle made him tired, wishing he could catch a nap. Maybe I’ll rest for a minute.

  Alex’s head rocked forward, jolting him awake. Orienting himself, he heard Doyle and Benny talking about the area. From the cast of the headlights he determined they were on a stretch of highway nearing a convenience store. With his face pressed against the window, he leaned when Benny pulled the big Escalade into a parking spot in front of the store. “What are we doing here?” Alex asked, shielding his eyes from the bright lights.

  “Waiting,” Benny said.

  Alex released his seatbelt and leaned forward. “Waiting for what?”

  “You’ll see soon enough.”

  Doyle looked back at him and shrugged his shoulders. Kale mimicked his buddy.

  “Well, Benny, thank you for everything.” Alex reached over the seat and offered his hand. Benny ignored the gesture. The vehicle locks clicked. Alex reached down and wiggled the handle and realized Benny had engaged the child locks. “Why’d you lock the doors?”

  “Cause you have to wait here a bit,” Benny replied.

  “We have to be somewhere and need to get back to our vehicle, so unlock the doors, now.”

  “Benny, let us out,” Doyle said. “We have to go.”

  Benny stared straight ahead.

  Beads of sweat ran down Alex’s neck and his gut told him something wasn’t right.

  Five minutes later, three black SUVs pulled into the parking lot of the store. Alex, along with his two companions, watched several men in dark suits emerge from the vehicles. One man in sunglasses sauntered over to Benny’s side of the Escalade. He tapped the glass, motioning for Benny to roll down the window. “Benny Pratt?” the man asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Benny replied.

  “I’ll take over from here; you’re dismissed.”

  Benny disengaged the locks and started the engine.

  The man in sunglasses said, “Gentlemen, come with me please.”

  Without a word, Alex, Doyle, and Kale exited the vehicle, jumping out of the way before Benny rolled over their toes as he backed out of the parking spot and drove off. He left his charges surrounded by men in black suits.

  Thirty-Four

  Alex got in behind the driver. Doyle sat in the middle with Kale next to the window. The man in charge, Mr. Sunglasses, slid into the front passenger seat. Who wears sunglasses in the middle of the night? The driver put the SUV into gear and drove away from the convenience store. One of the other SUVs pulled in front of them and the other behind. All three vehicles pulled onto the highway.

  “Where are you taking us?” Alex asked, leaning forward so he could see through the front windshield.

  Without turning around the man said, “We’re taking you someplace safe.”

  “So, I assume you’re feds. Are you the SAC?”

  “No, that would be Agent Carter. You’ll meet him shortly.”

  “What’s SAC?” Doyle asked.

  “Special agent in charge,” Alex answered before Mr. Sunglasses could reply.

  “I didn’t catch your name.”

  “That’s because I didn’t give it.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into a driveway that led to a beautiful old two-story farmhouse. Acres of fallow land and a few large oak trees surrounded the house. All three vehicles parked in the circular driveway, everyone exited, and made their way inside.

  The exterior facade of a rural American farmhouse ended when they walked past the screened-in front porch that led inside. Alex studied the rooms. To the left, he noticed a waiting area with a television. To the right, his gaze locked on a bank of five computers, each with dual monitors occupied by men and women, their eyes glued to the screens. Some wore headsets with mouthpieces and spoke softly into them. Directly ahead of where Alex stood, a set of stairs led to the second floor. Part of the kitchen was visible through a window in the wall off the waiting area. Adjacent to the computer stations, an area with a large conference table occupied almost the entire space.

  Mr. Sunglasses escorted them into the room with the conference table. He pulled the doors closed. Looking at the three, he said, “The SAC will be down in a minute to brief you.”

  “There is a woman out there who needs our help,” Alex said. “Her life is in danger, and every minute we spend here increases the chance that she will be harmed.”

  “The SAC will answer all your questions and address your concerns.” He walked through the doors and closed them behind him without making a sound.

  “What time is it?” Doyle asked.

  “Midnight,” Alex said looking at a digital clock on the wall.

  The trio glanced at the door as a man in his thirties carrying a blue folder entered the room. He stood tall and lean at six feet. The crew cut made his dark hair appear almost non-existent. A scar over his left eyebrow looked like one a boxer might receive during a nasty fight. In a couple of steps, his long stride carried him across the room to the conference table. He sat at the head of the table and opened the blue folder. After silently reviewing his notes, he scrutinized the three men.

  “Gentlemen, my name is Reece Carter. Please, let’s go over the details quickly so we can rescue Ms. Byrne.”

  Alex smiled. I like this man already. He doesn’t waste time.

  “Mr. Strange, satellite imagery indicates a compound a few miles north of where the Pratt brothers picked you and your friends up. It also revealed three individuals located on the grounds. We believe one to be Ms. Byrne and the other to be Special Agent Michael Porter who works directly for the White House Chief of Staff. The third individual has not yet been identified.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go get her!” Alex sprang to his feet.

  “Mr. Strange, in the interest of safety, I’m going to ask you to stay here while we extricate these people from the compound.”

  Alex’s mouth dropped open. “What? No. I’m going with you.”

  “Mr. Strange, with all due respect, you’re a civilian. I can’t in good conscience allow you to participate, not only for your safety but also for the safety of my team. I will not endanger their lives or yours.”

  “With all due respect, Mr. Carter, I am not going to sit here and wait. I’m going with you. I’ll stay back and won’t get in your way. I promise. I’m a private investigator and trained to use a gun. I can be an asset.”

  Reece looked down at his folded hands and smiled. “Mr. Strange, you will monitor the situation from the mobile command center. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Crystal.”

  “Good.” He stared at Doyle and Kale. “Mr. Fisher, Mr. Kapena, you will be staying here. As of now, you are in federal custody.”

  Doyle and Kale looked at each other wide-eyed.

  “But, sir, no harm came to Mr. Strange,” Doyle said.

  “No, we were good to him. We even took off his cuffs,” Kale added.

  Doyle snapped, “Shut up you idiot.”

  Reece waved someone inside. “Please take these two upstairs to the holding room. Post a guard on the door.”

  “Yes, sir,” the man replied. He motioned for Doyle and Kale to stand. They complied, both holding their hands out, but the man glanced back to Reece.

  He shook his head and said, “Restraints won’t be necessary, gentlemen.”

  Doyle and Kale waved Alex goodbye and walked out with the agent. Alex watched as they climbed the stairs. “They’re not bad people, just misguided. I could have escaped whenever I wanted, but I knew they were leading me to Mara. We w
ere almost there when the Duck Dynasty dudes commandeered us.”

  “Mr. Strange, we’re going in at first light; it’s too dangerous to go blind. I’ll explain on the way, but we have to get them out before they try to escape.”

  Thirty-Five

  The mobile command center impressed Alex. The thirty-six-foot freightliner with one pneumatic slide-out was a high-tech masterpiece. Its sleek black exterior, minus any logos, obscured its purpose or what agency it belonged to. Inside it contained four workstations manned with serious technicians. Above them, three equipment racks holding servers and satellite equipment buzzed. A conference table and two 38-inch LCD monitors mounted on the wall on each side of the large event clock, sporting red digital numbers, gave the impression of a large war room. A compact galley and lavatory completed the interior.

  Agent Carter urged Alex to take a seat at the conference table. He and the computer techs were the only staff occupying the large rolling command center. Reece put on a headset and began instructing unseen men. He told one tech to bring up an overhead shot of the target area, and then asked the tech to zoom in on the compound.

  “Okay, we’ve got a visual and RT.”

  Alex assumed RT meant real-time feed from the satellite. He thought of Mara. All this high-tech gadgetry would be fodder for her writing.

  Carter got up and went over to the overhead screen displaying the compound, leaned in close, and turned to Alex. “All looks quiet; there’s no movement around the compound.”

  Standing to get a better look, Alex studied the image. “What are we waiting for?” He kept glancing between Carter and the screen.

  “The demolitions team.”

  “Why do you need them?”

  “The area outside the compound may have been rigged with explosives. Before we go in, we have to confirm it one way or another.”

  Alex felt the blood drain from his face. “Holy shit.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll get her out.” Carter peered at the screen and pointed. “They’re all inside the main residence. I’d say they hunkered down for the night. We don’t believe they will try to escape until the morning.”

  “How’d you locate them?” Alex asked.

  A young woman sporting a ponytail and glasses turned to Carter. “Sir, I think you should see this.”

  Alex studied the screen from over Carter’s shoulder. The tech pointed to an area south of the compound next to a body of water. “What are we looking at?” Alex asked.

  Turning to address the men hovering over her, the tech said, “There’s a slow-moving vessel, probably a boat coming up the shore, close to the target area. FLIR,” she said, directing her explanation to Alex, “or forward looking infrared, is picking up three heat sources.”

  “Zoom in,” Carter ordered. “See if we can get a closer look.”

  The young woman nodded. “It’s hugging the shoreline. The overhanging brush and trees are obstructing the view.” She tapped at the keyboard with lightning speed to adjust the picture’s angle for an optimal image.

  Carter turned his focus to Alex who listened intently on the interchange. “Is everything all right? You look odd.”

  Alex’s eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch as he nodded. “I think I know who’s in the boat.”

  “Who?”

  “Mara’s brother, Noah, and two men he brought along to help me.”

  “Good Lord, how many more people do we have to deal with?”

  Alex shrugged. “I think they’re it.”

  Carter spoke into his mouthpiece. “Parker, get team one ready to go. Beck, monitor the boat and let me know if it changes heading or speed.”

  “Roger that, sir.”

  Alex listened to the exchange between Carter and the technician, and for each second that ticked by, the knot in his stomach clenched tighter. His pulse raced and his hands shook. He lowered his head into his hands and closed his eyes.

  “Here. Maybe this will make you feel better.”

  He looked up and saw Carter handing him a bottle of water. “Thank you,” he said taking it.

  “You probably should have stayed at the safe house till this is over.”

  “No. I’m fine. I just hate the waiting.”

  “I understand. It’s hard. Especially when all you want to do is barge in there, guns blazing. We operate by the book though.”

  Alex swallowed, forcing down the bile that had crept up his throat. He unscrewed the cap on the bottle and washed down his fear. Better.

  Beck said, “Sir, I think you should see this.”

  Carter walked to the tech and studied her monitor.

  “What is it, Beck?”

  “Sir, the boat changed course and is now advancing into the cove,” she said pointing at the monitor. “It appears to be heading toward the compound.”

  “Keep your eyes peeled, and let me know when it stops.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Carter pressed his hand to his headset. “Viper One, this is Fido. Do you copy?” He waited a beat and then said, “Three UIs are approaching the target area. You and your team make a visual and report. Do not make contact.” He turned his focus to Alex and said, “When the team makes a visual, they will report back. Viper One has an infrared helmet cam, so we will see what he’s seeing.” On his queue, Beck tapped a few keys. Almost instantly, the image on her monitor displayed woods illuminated by the full moon.

  Alex found the movement disorienting and leaned on the counter to steady himself. “All this technology is amazing.”

  Carter turned to Beck and asked, “How are things looking inside the compound? Any changes?”

  “No, sir, I still read three signatures with no movement inside or out.”

  “Thanks,” Carter said to the tech. He turned and patted Alex’s shoulder. “How much do you know about Ms. Byrne’s abduction?”

  Alex sighed. “Not a lot. However, I do know every minute that goes by, the greater the chance she could be harmed. We don’t know who the other person is, or whether they’re hurt or being tortured. It’s critical that we get her out of there ASAP.”

  “You’re right, but Michael Porter is a good man. He’s prior military and handpicked by the president, so I think his skills make him more than qualified for the task.”

  “Just what is his task?” Alex asked.

  “To protect Ms. Byrne.”

  “Well, with all due respect, he hasn’t done a very good job so far.”

  “Sir, we’re picking up something on Viper One’s helmet cam,” Beck called out.

  Carter walked to the monitor and Alex followed, curious if it was indeed Noah and his group approaching.

  Lit by the moon, three figures stepped out from behind the trees. Alex recognized Noah immediately. He turned to Carter and smiled.

  Thirty-Six

  In the dark, Mara searched the ceiling, but her eyes found only ghosts. Invisible to others, only she could see them floating around like feathers. Ghosts from the day she discovered Thomas had died; the day she found the keys in his tackle box that led to the infamous letter. Life seemed impossible. Nothing would ever be the same. The clouds of doom enveloped her until she thought she could not continue; she didn’t want to continue. Without Thomas, her life had no meaning. The day she met him, her life had changed forever. When she lovingly gazed into his deep-blue eyes on their wedding day, she knew it was forever.

  Her heart ached. She wanted to scream and cry at the same time. The man she vowed to love forever was now under the same roof. If she listened hard enough, she could hear him breathing. God, what am I going to do? Emotions rushed through her like floodwaters. Giving in to sleeplessness, she swung her legs to the floor.

  On the other side of the partition, Thomas lay on the cot, barely visible beneath the blanket. Kneeling next to him, Mara studied his thin, frail body as her tears fell. She hated to wake him, but the desire to talk overwhelmed her. Touching his arm felt foreign, yet familiar. She lowered her head onto the cot as if in prayer. A hand patte
d her gently on the head.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered.

  “It’s okay. I wasn’t sleeping that well anyway,” Thomas muttered. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve been thinking about the day you…you died. It was the worst day of my life. The days, months that followed didn’t improve. I lost all desire to live. Poor Lucia was beside herself trying to pull me out of the dark place I had surrendered to.”

  “I bet. She’s a good friend, loves you like a sister.”

  “I know and believe me, I didn’t treat her or anyone else very well during that time.”

  “I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” Thomas whispered.

  “No, no,” Mara said as she placed a hand on his cheek. “It pales in comparison to what you’ve had to go through.”

  Thomas patted the cot. “Here, get off the floor.”

  Her knees sore, Mara obliged. “I’ve been thinking about our wedding day. I meant every word I said. The vows, I’m—” Her voice quivered as the words caught in her throat.

  “Shh, you don’t have to—”

  “No, I want to say this; I need to say this. I’m not going to abandon you. You’re my husband and I love you, still, after all that’s happened.”

  Thomas cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes. “You don’t have to. I know you and Alex are a couple now. I can’t ask you to—”