Knights of the Golden Circle

by Eugene Lloyd MacRae

  Skye slipped across the lawn to the side of the house. She moved slow, watching the darkness around her as well as each dark window she passed. Reaching the backyard, she waited, listening. Everything was quiet. Moving to the back door, she gently turned the knob. Locked. She moved over to the far side of the house. There were definitely no lights on downstairs. Moving further into the backyard and away from the house, Skye turned and looked up. The windows above her were dark but there was a light glow. A light was on upstairs in one of the inner rooms. She wanted to see inside before she penetrated the house. There was a cast drain pipe running up the back wall to the roof. It ran past a second-floor window on this side of the house. Skye moved to the bottom of the pipe, tested it and then began climbing hand over hand, using her feet against the old boards where she could. She reached the window, braced her feet against the house while holding on with one hand, and reached over. The window was not locked and she slid it up and open enough to get inside. She placed her hand inside the window frame and swung herself over. Slithering through the open window on her stomach, Skye found herself in a bedroom. She knelt on the floor and listened. She could hear low voices. Moving to the bedroom door, she reached up to the doorknob and opened it a crack. A light spilled into the hallway on the other side, from an open doorway about 20 feet away on the left.

  "C'mon Jesse," said a deep voice with a southern drawl, "this will go much better if you tell us where the other items are."

  "And I keep telling you, I have no idea what you're talking about," a female voice said. The voice sounded both frustrated and scared.

  "Jesse, Jesse, Jesse," chided the deep voice, "you disappoint me–"

  I disappoint you," the female said with anger in her voice. "We went to school together, Vern. I thought I knew you–"

  "I know how loyal you were to your grandparents," continued the deep voice as if the woman was never even talking, "and I admire that loyalty. But we're on the same side. We've also been protecting the knowledge and information–"

  The door exploded in on Skye Steele, knocking her backward. She rolled over smoothly and to the side as a large form filled the open doorway. The light glinted off the barrel of a handgun.

  Chapter 27

  A LARGE STATE TROOPER had burst into the bedroom, using his shoulder as a battering ram. Fortunately, he was right-handed and he had used his left shoulder to bash his weight against the partially open door. The handgun was in his right hand, so the gun had been pointing away from Skye. But now he was swinging it around towards her.

  Skye had a brief opening to act. She sprang forward from her crouch, her own right shoulder catching the state trooper in the stomach and knocking him hard back against the door frame.

  But he was a big son of a gun and he stayed upright. His gun hand moved towards her again.

  Reaching out, Skye placed her right hand on his elbow, pulling it up as her own weight pressed his hand downward.

  The big state trooper grunted in pain.

  Skye heard the weapon hit the floor and she looked down, trying to see it in the semi-darkness

  But the big state trooper grabbed Skye's red hair with his left hand and tried to yank her away from him.

  Grimacing in pain as her hair was yanked backward, Skye grit her teeth and threw her weight against his lower hand, jamming the elbow again.

  The trooper grunted in pain and released the grip on her hair.

  Dropping to the floor, Skye swept her arm out, sending the weapon sliding across the floor before she rolled away and then came up in a defensive stance.

  The trooper stumbled forward and bent over, reaching for his weapon on the floor.

  Sky moved to the right, grabbed a lamp from a small dresser and threw it at his head.

  The lamp smashed to pieces over the trooper's head and he yelled in pain as he stumbled to his knees. A moment later, he came up in a rage, forgetting about the gun and moved quickly across the room after her.

  Moving aside nimbly like a matador, Skye used his momentum against him - placing a hand on his back and pushing.

  The big trooper smashed into the small dresser, turned and came back after her again, growling in anger.

  Skye knew she had to end this quickly before reinforcements for the trooper showed up. She took a calculated step back and then moved deftly to the left as the trooper lunged. She used his momentum once again to push him past her.

  The heavy bulk of the trooper's body easily smashed through the wooden frame of the window and he screamed all the way to the ground two stories below.

  Skye was on the move quickly, rushing to the open bedroom door. She looked into the hallway, wary of other troopers. The hallway to the left was empty. A set of attic stairs was just off to her right. She could hear heavy boot steps in the attic. Someone up there was heading for the stairs, no doubt alerted by the screams of the falling trooper. Black boots and gray trooper pants appeared on the top step. As the trooper started down the stairs, Skye made a quick decision. She ran for the foot of the stairs and lifted them. She had just enough leverage to lift them 6 inches off the floor.

  The state trooper grabbed for something to hold onto, dropping his weapon in the process.

  Skye let the stairs go and they hit the floor hard under the weight of the trooper, throwing him backward and tumbling down the steps.

  The state trooper hit the floor hard, landing flat on his back. He groaned as he sat up, then turned and reached for his weapon on the floor.

  Skye kicked the trooper's handgun away. It spun like a pinwheel as it slid all the way down the hallway and stopped at the top of the stairs to the first floor.

  The trooper cursed at Skye as he rose to a crouch, preparing to attack.

  "That's not very nice talk," Skye said.

  He lunged at her.

  She turned sideways on her left foot and buried the heel of her right foot into the state troopers face, knocking him cold.

  The trooper's body thudded face down to the floor.

  Skye automatically went into a defensive crouch, alert to another attack.

  Nothing happened.

  She moved quickly but quietly down the hallway towards the open door where the light was coming from. Placing her back against the wall, she peered around the door frame into the room.

  A woman sat in a chair in the middle of the room facing the door. The ropes around her chest told Skye the woman wasn't there by choice.

  Behind the woman stood a tall, thin man with salt-and-pepper hair and a white mustache and goatee. He held a handgun against the woman's head.

  "Welcome to the party," the man said. He had a very smug smile on his face like he was in total control of the situation.

  Skye imagined the woman had to be Jesse Flint. That should only leave one player if she was right. "Hello, Vernon," purred Skye.

  The smile left the man's face, replaced by a startled look. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Skye.

  "Strange situation for a judge to be in," she said.

  That comment unsettled him as well. This was definitely Judge Teague. And he appeared to be a man used to being in charge...a man who knew and presided over every player in his courtroom. And right now, that wasn't the case. He didn't know who this player was and he looked uncomfortable with the situation. "If you know who I am, then you know how powerful I am," Teague said as he tried to regain his composure.

  Skye looked at the woman, "He's right, Aunt Jesse. I know that you trained me to take care of the–" Skye stopped talking and looked up at the man as if she had said too much.

  Teague's eyes lit up, "You know where the items are?" He pressed the gun barrel hard against Jesse's head, making her wince. "I want them now."

  "Not if you hurt her–"

  "This is not up for debate," Teague said harshly. He pressed the gun barrel harder.

  Jesse tilted her head, crying out in pain.

  "They're hidden," Skye said quickly, "and you won't ever find them if you hurt my Aunt Jesse."<
br />
  "Tell me where they are. Now!" Teague bellowed.

  Definitely a man used to being in charge, thought Skye. "And if I tell you where they are, you kill us both. I'm not that stupid."

  Teague considered what she was saying. He blinked as if he couldn't figure a way out of this stalemate.

  "Why don't you let her go and I'll take you to the items," Skye offered.

  "And if I leave her behind, she warns the rest of your friends," Teague reasoned. "You see, I'm not stupid either."

  Skye nodded. She couldn't stretch this out much further here. She had to get them all out of the house, in case the judge had more state troopers coming. "Then how about we all go for a drive," she offered. "Once we're in a secluded spot, you can let her go...."

  Teague narrowed his eyes as he considered his next move. "Okay," he finally said. He waved the handgun at Skye, "Move back down the hallway, away from the stairs, and don't do anything stupid." He reached down and made a tugging motion. The ropes loosened around Jesse Flint's chest. "Up," Teague said.

  Skye backed quickly away from the doorway and back down the hallway. She had to trust Judge Teague wouldn't simply shoot her as she stood exposed since he needed her alive. She glanced at the fallen trooper to make sure he was still out and then waited.

  Jesse Flint appeared in the doorway, her face a mask of fear. Her feet shuffled as Teague pushed her out, hiding behind her like a shield.

  As Teague move backward towards the stairs, pulling Jesse with him, Skye began to move forward, following them. She had to keep his attention on her and hoped this worked.

  Teague had the gun up near Jessie's shoulder, but as Skye moved forward, he placed the gun against Jesse Flint's temple, "Don't do anything stupid. I'm warning you."

  "All I'm doing is going with you, right?" Skye asked. She placed her hands up in the air and stopped for a moment as well.

  Teague started backing up again, glancing behind him.

  Skye began moving forward again, a little faster this time and to the left side of the hallway to attract his attention.

  Putting his eyes back on Skye, Teague shook his head as he moved with Jesse backward and to his right to counter her move and maintain the woman as a full shield, "No, no. Take it nice and slow–" He took another step backward and emitted a cry of surprise. He had stepped on the trooper's weapon that Skye had kicked down the hallway to the top of the stairs. The Judge's arms flailed as he tried to catch his balance. His weapon fired into the ceiling as he fell backward, pulling Jesse Flint with him.

  Skye shot forward and reached out.

  Jesse Flint made a cry as she reached out for something to hold onto.

  Skye and Jesse locked hands and Skye was pulled forward by the other woman's momentum.

  Teague fell backward, tumbling down the staircase.

  Skye and Jesse Flint's weight countered each other and they fell safely to the floor at the top of the stairs.

  The sound of Teague's body rumbled down each stair to the floor below.

  Skye pulled Jesse quickly to her feet, "There's no time to wait. Let's go." Not waiting for a reply, Skye led Jesse down the stairs.

  At the bottom they found The Honorable Vernon P. Teague lying very still. His open eyes stared vacantly up at the ceiling. His head was bent at an awkward angle.

  "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy," Jesse hissed as she jumped over the body

  Skye pulled Jesse Flint out of the house and down the street, running as quickly as she could go.

  "Who are you?" Jesse asked. "And do you have any idea what Vern was after back there?"

  "I'll explain everything I know once we're away from here," Skye said.

  Jesse shook her head, "Vern was talking stupid nonsense about me and the KGC treasure."

  "Shhhh. There might be more after you yet."

  Jesse went quiet suddenly and stayed that way as she was led through the houses to the backstreet.

  "What the–" Jesse stood still in shock as soon as she realized what was parked on the street. "You have got to be kidding me," she whispered.

  "Welcome to Golden Airlines," Skye said as she grabbed Jesse's hand and pulled her towards the plane. She helped the woman to climb onto the wing and into the second seat. Then she scrambled into the pilot seat and started the engine. The sound of the 1100 hp Pratt and Whitney turboprop engine cut through the night air as Skye swiveled the plane around on the roadway to give her a longer take-off area. Pushing the throttle forward, they began rumbling down the road. They gathered speed quickly. The crop duster vibrated, then the nose pointed upwards just slightly as the wheels left the ground.

  Skye pulled back hard on the stick.

  "Oh, mercy," Jesse Flint said as a line of trees suddenly loomed dead ahead.

  The aircraft shuddered as it clipped the top branches but cleared the trees.

  "Woo-hoo! Crop dusting, tree trimming, and rescue work. We do it all." Skye yelled.

  Jesse Flint began to laugh, relief very apparent in her voice.

  Chapter 28

  IT TOOK FIFTEEN LONG HOURS of driving before Rory pulled to the curb in front of Donna-Lou Haney's house. Donna-Lou had taken turns with Rory in driving back from Mississippi but right now she was in the back seat, asleep with the kids. Rory wanted to sleep as well but there was no time. The threat of an atomic weapon being used on American soil was just too serious a matter. He kept the car running as he leaned forward over the steering wheel and examined the windows of the dark house. Everything looked quiet.

  Chet had been sleeping and he now stirred in the passenger seat. Stretching his good arm, he yawned and looked out the passenger side window, "Are we there?"

  "Yeah," Rory replied. His attention was focused on a couple of cars parked further down the road under the street lights. Neither looked like a police car but they couldn't afford to be caught off-guard.

  Chet turned in his seat, reached over and placed his hand on Donna-Lou's knee, shaking it gently and whispering, "Donna-Lou. Donna-Lou."

  Rory looked in the rearview mirror, then the side mirror, checking the street behind them for police cars or anything else suspicious.

  Donna-Lou stirred, "Hmmmm?"

  "We're here," Chet said in a low voice.

  Donna-Lou wiped the sleep from her eyes and sat up, glancing out the side window, "What time is it"

  Chet glanced at the car's clock, "It's just after five. We have an hour or so before sun-up. And just so you know, Rory got a call from his sister Skye two hours ago. She's taken Jesse to Greenville. Apparently she found her tied up at her house by a couple of state troopers. And guess what? Circuit Court Judge, The Honorable Vernon P. Teague was also there with the troopers."

  "What?" Donna-Lou sat up wide awake. "You mean Teague is KGC?"

  "Looks like he was."

  Donna-Lou swore, "No wonder he wouldn't help much with finding the kids. He was part of it."

  "I know. But he's dead."

  Her eyebrows flickered at the news and then she leaned forward, dropping her voice, "But how many others are involved, Chet? That's the question. I mean...are we surrounded by them?"

  Chet nodded and shrugged, "I don't know. But at least there's one less."

  That didn't seem to offer much comfort to Donna-Lou. She glanced at Corry, sleeping beside her, and she frowned, her jaw clenched in anger.

  Chet decided there wasn't much more he could offer and he turned back around, opened the glove compartment and pulled out a pair of Glock 19, 9mm semi-automatic pistols. He looked across at Rory, "Are we still going inside?"

  Rory took another quick look down the street ahead of them. Then he took another look at the dark house. Finally, he nodded, "Yeah. Hopefully, nobody's broken in to get the flag or anything else we need. You up for it?"

  Touching his wound gingerly, Chet, nodded, "Yeah, I guess I have to be."

  Nodding in return, Rory looked over the back seat, "You should get the kids up."

  Donna-Lou reached out and gently br
ushed the hair off Corry's forehead. She smiled. Corry and Emma had fallen asleep against each other and they looked so cute. "Can't we let the kid sleep a little longer?"

  Rory looked over at the seat at the kids, "I'd like to, but we don't have any time to spare. And it's definitely not safe to leave them out here alone. If any members of the KGC show up before we get back out here...."

  Donna-Lou nodded, "You're right." She shook her son, then Emma, "Wake up you sleepy heads. C'mon, wake up."

  The kids stirred, stretched and sat up, yawning. Instead of saying anything, both of them rubbed their eyes, looked at the darkness outside the car and then plopped their heads against the seat and closed their eyes again.

  Rory pulled his Baby Eagle handgun from his shoulder holster and looked across at Chet, "I think it's best if you and me check around the outside of the house first. Just to make sure before we all go in."

  Chet nodded, "Okay, that sounds good to me."

  Looked back over the seat, Rory asked Donna-Lou, "Were all your doors and windows locked when you left?"

  Donna-Lou nodded, "Yes. We always make sure to do that when we leave." She shrugged, "We don't have much but...."

  Rory looked at Chet again, "Okay. Watch for unlocked or open windows. Same for the doors. Donna-Lou, I want you to get behind the wheel and be ready to drive the kids away from here and to safety if anything happens."

  Donna-Lou nodded and got out on her side as Rory and Chet opened their doors and got out.

  Chet handed her one of the Glocks, "Be careful out here."

  Donna-Lou took the gun and whispered, "Uh...about that kiss back there...."

  "It's okay. It was the heat of the moment and all that," Chet whispered. He waved a hand, "I've already forgotten about it–"