“Sir, we’ve had a little problem,” said Leeds.
“A little problem?” asked Flagg. “I’m monitoring a half-dozen 911 calls originating from Pallux Way alone, reporting everything from car crashes to wildfires. Even a few mentions of guys running around with guns. Sound familiar?”
“We’re still on track,” said Leeds. “This’ll add to the confusion and drama surrounding Fisher’s disappearance, and his eventual discovery near the border.”
Flagg stared at the digital navigation map, trying to figure out why Fisher’s car was headed south, without the rest of Leeds’s vehicles.
“Help me out with something,” said Flagg. “If I didn’t know better, I’d guess that Fisher had escaped and was driving south. But I know that’s not possible. That would have been the first thing out of your mouth, right?”
When Leeds didn’t answer him immediately, Flagg pressed down on the touch pad with enough force to warp the plastic.
“Maclean is driving the car south,” said Leeds. “We’re still looking for Fisher and his family.”
“How the fuck do you consider that to be still on track?” yelled Flagg. “Wasn’t he there when I talked to you? Where did he go?”
“He was tipped off by the Marine and escaped over the back wall of his yard.”
“And evaded the team you had watching the back?”
“He neutralized the team. One KIA. One critically injured.”
“Fisher did that?”
“No. The Marine did it,” said Leeds. “David Quinn. Infantry captain stationed at Camp Pendleton. He killed Carrington with a single headshot in Fisher’s backyard, and somehow lit up Olmos’s van, taking out most of the team. I have two confirmed KIAs and an unknown number of wounded in the van. We’re going to need—”
“Stop right there,” said Flagg. “An infantry Marine does not by himself take out a Cerberus black-ops team. What the fuck are we up against, Nick?”
“Quinn arrived and left Fisher’s house alone. All of our sensors confirmed this,” said Leeds. “We saw the same vehicle leave the area after Olmos’s van was hit. If he had help, they either squeezed into the jeep with Fisher and his family or melted back into the neighborhood.”
“Or Fisher never left the neighborhood,” said Flagg. “They could have stashed him in someone’s backyard and lured you away.”
“My money’s on a different scenario,” said Leeds. “Quinn is taking Fisher to Camp Pendleton, where he thinks they’ll be safe.”
“Your money!” screamed Flagg. “You don’t have any money in this game! What are you doing to find Fisher? And don’t tell me you’re driving cars in every direction until you stumble across a black jeep!”
“I have two Ravens in the air. One headed for the 805. The other for the I-15. We can’t track the jeep using state tracking data, because it’s a DOD-registered vehicle.”
“Of course it is.”
“But we can take them up high enough to transmit a live stream, then overlay CALRES tracking screens over the drone feeds,” said Leeds. “They won’t match up perfectly, but we’re looking at light traffic. We’ll find the jeep.”
“I’m glad to hear your brain damage was temporary,” said Flagg. “When did you get the Ravens airborne? They have a limited range.”
“I got them up less than sixty seconds after learning Fisher drove away,” said Leeds. “They’re flying northeast and northwest for their respective highways at forty miles per hour. Quinn is stopping, turning, waiting at stoplights, and generally obeying the speed limit to avoid attracting attention. My drones will beat him to the highway.”
“But you won’t.”
“We don’t have to,” said Leeds. “I just need to find them with the Ravens. We won’t be that far behind. Hold on, sir. I’m getting a report—shit, I just lost one of the SUVs.”
“Another attack?”
“Hold on,” said Leeds, requesting information. “Negative. Rear-tire blowout.”
“The vehicles are equipped with run-flat tires.”
“Just like they’re supposed to stop armor-piercing bullets?” asked Leeds. “Cerberus might want to look into the vehicle supplier.”
Flagg ignored Leeds’s comment and expanded the digital map in the center of his array to include the southern edges of Camp Pendleton. He gauged the distances and made a few quick mental calculations. The math didn’t add up.
“You’re down to two vehicles, split between two interstates that are twelve miles apart,” he said. “Camp Pendleton is less than thirty miles away along the coast. Add about ten miles to that total if they take I-15. Whichever route Fisher and his new partner in crime chose, you’ll never get the second vehicle across in time for a roadside takedown. You’re in surveillance mode for the rest of this op.”
“We can take care of this,” said Leeds.
“I can’t let Fisher reach Camp Pendleton, or wherever they’re headed. Especially now. We don’t know how Quinn fits into the picture, but he went through some trouble to sneak Fisher away,” said Flagg. “I’m launching an armed drone from Ramona. We’re done playing games with this guy. I need you to find the jeep, and mark it with a laser for the drone.”
“You’re going to blow him up on the freeway?”
“Exit 54 in Oceanside empties right into Camp Pendleton. You want to try to pull him over on the freeway with the surveillance van, in front of a hundred cameras? Or ambush him right in front of the base’s main gate? I’d rather let the latest in Lockheed Martin guided-missile technology clean up this mess.”
“I’m pretty sure detonating a twenty-pound high explosive charge on a federal highway will leave more of a mess,” said Leeds.
“They won’t have enough forensic evidence left to determine who was in the car, beyond Quinn,” said Flagg. “And that’ll be an educated guess.”
“The car is registered to his wife.”
“Hmm. Then perhaps we should pay her a visit once this is done,” said Flagg. “Make it even harder for authorities to figure out what the hell happened tonight. Who knows? This might work out even better than the original plan.”
CHAPTER 36
Nathan Fisher wanted to crawl into the backseat to be with his wife and son, but was worried he might cause an accident. Quinn was completely amped, teetering on the edge of barely functioning as a driver. The last thing he needed was Nathan jostling him as he squeezed between the front seats.
Quinn had blown through several stop signs bringing them to Black Mountain Road, narrowly escaping at least two potentially fatal accidents, yet somehow to this point avoiding law-enforcement interest. Quinn had eased up on the gas enough for Nathan to risk diverting his attention from the road. He twisted in his seat, finding Keira on her knees in the middle of the rear bench seat, watching the road behind them for pursuers. Owen clung to Keira’s side but otherwise looked alert.
Nathan reached back and grabbed his son’s shoulder. “You okay?”
Owen nodded, easing his grip on his mother. “I’m fine.”
Nathan ruffled his hair. “I’m proud of you, buddy. You did good back there.”
His compliment barely made a dent in his son’s worried expression. Nathan gently touched the back of his wife’s neck, drawing her attention away from the scene beyond the rear window.
“How is Mom doing?” Nathan asked.
She turned her head and forced a smile. “I’ve been better.”
“Maybe you should turn around and buckle in.”
Keira went back to scanning the road behind them between the headrests. She held Owen tight with one arm and used the other to grip the headrest support for balance.
“She needs to buckle in,” said Quinn.
“Keira?” asked Nathan.
“How am I supposed to watch the road if I’m buckled in?” she demanded.
“We’re safe for now,” said Quinn.
“Yeah, I feel really safe,” said Keira.
She faced the front and buckled in next to Ow
en. Nathan met her stare, which told him to leave her alone for now.
“What’s the plan?” asked Nathan.
“The plan?” asked Quinn. “I’m taking you to Pendleton. My wife reserved a room for you at the Ward Lodge.”
“Do you think that’ll be safe?”
“Pendleton, or the lodge?”
“Either,” said Nathan. “The lodge is one of the first places they’ll look. They know who you are, where you’re stationed. Everything, by this point.”
Quinn looked deep in thought for a few moments. “I need to make a quick call.”
“You want me to dial the number?”
“Why? So I don’t crash?” asked Quinn, digging through the center console for his phone while watching the road. “I’m good to go now. Just a little postcombat adrenaline.”
Nathan removed the phone from one of the cup holders under his elbow, at least a foot from where Quinn was searching, and thrust it in front of the steering wheel. “Yeah, you’re good to go,” he said, flinching when Quinn swiped the phone from his grip.
Quinn pressed the screen a few times and placed the device to his left ear. “Alison, I need you to listen. Things went very badly in Mira Mesa,” he said. “No. No. Hey! I’m not kidding. Don’t worry about what phone I’m using. Where are you right now?”
Nathan could hear her muffled voice but couldn’t tell what she said.
“Perfect. Do not leave Pendleton for any reason. Head to the Mainside Center and take as much cash as you can out of the ATM. Is anything open over there?”
Quinn paused to listen.
“Forget about the room at the lodge. We need to think off the grid. I really can’t talk right now, Ally. Get the cash, and wait for me to call you.”
He shook his head and sighed. “It doesn’t matter where. Just don’t leave the base. I’ll call you when we get through the gate.” He nodded sharply. “Yes, it’s that bad. I love you,” he said, disconnecting the call.
“I’m really sorry about this,” said Nathan, glancing into the backseat.
Keira met his glance briefly before burying her forehead into the top of Owen’s unruly mop of hair. Quinn just stared at the road ahead, slowing for a light that had been red for a while.
“And thank you,” said Nathan. “I can’t imagine what would have happened if you didn’t show up.”
Quinn glanced at him and nodded. “You can thank my dad—your dad, too. I was doing them both a favor.”
“You could have driven home after dropping off the phones,” said Nathan, pointing at the green light.
Quinn gunned the engine, launching them through the intersection and building up speed.
“I knew my dad was right when I saw what they had stacked outside of your house,” said Quinn. “Life as I knew it ended the moment they read my license plate. This Cerberus group is serious business.”
“Who are you, exactly?” asked his wife, suddenly talkative. “And what is this Cerberus?”
“David Quinn. Captain. United States Marine Corps,” said Nathan.
Quinn turned his head to Nathan. “You remember me?”
“My dad was sergeant major for First Radio Battalion when your dad was CO,” said Nathan. “You were a freshman at San Clemente High for the last year of that. I graduated that year.”
“My dad spoke highly of your dad—and you,” said Quinn. “He was really surprised when you left the Marine Option program at Davis.”
“Apparently everyone was surprised, except for me,” said Nathan.
“How about we catch up on old times a little later,” Keira cut in. “What is this Cerberus group? Nathan’s dad didn’t say anything about them on the phone. Only that our lives were in danger. His included.”
“David, this is Keira,” said Nathan.
“Sorry if I come across unfriendly,” she said. “But I wasn’t expecting a gun battle in my neighborhood. Cerberus?”
“My dad didn’t go into detail,” Quinn said, “but it sounds like Cerberus International is the enforcement arm of a massive international conglomerate called the Sentinel Group. Bottom line? Sentinel uses Cerberus like a private army, to make sure Sentinel’s best financial interests are protected worldwide.” Quinn shot them each a glance. “They can be very proactive in their approach, as we all just witnessed.”
“Hold on,” demanded Keira. “What does this Cerberus have to do with the police investigation into the nuclear desalination plant?”
“What do you mean?” asked Quinn. “Cerberus is working independent of the police.”
Nathan’s skin tingled. He’d completely forgotten that he hadn’t told Keira the full story about the boats and divers he’d seen at the beach. Given their imminent departure from California, he hadn’t thought it would make a difference. In fact, he’d convinced himself that he was better off not telling her. She’d been anxious enough after the lieutenant governor’s assassination. Now that a group linked to the boats had attacked them, she was likely to explode.
Nathan saw an opportunity to steer the conversation away from the beach. “Cerberus is very possibly linked to the assassinations,” he said.
“And the group that tried to kill us is Cerberus?” asked Keira. “Are you sure that wasn’t the police?”
“They weren’t cops,” said Quinn. “I saw them up close and personal behind your house.”
“Why would this mystical black-ops group be interested in us?”
Nathan squirmed in his seat, barely meeting her gaze.
“Because of the boats,” Quinn said matter-of-factly.
“What boats?” she said, looking directly into Nathan’s eyes, confused.
“You didn’t tell her about the boats?” asked Quinn.
“I saw some boats at the beach,” said Nathan, holding her stare. “The same morning the reactor cooling pump failed.”
“What kind of boats?”
“I don’t know. Military-looking boats. Low-profile stealth stuff. They picked up a team of divers.”
“And you kept this from me?” she said, not looking so confused anymore.
“I didn’t think it would—” He shook his head. “I never thought something like this could happen. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Keira glared at him for a few seconds. “We don’t have time for this right now.” She looked away to the rearview mirror. “How far do we have until Camp Pendleton?”
“Thirty-five minutes or so,” said Quinn. “We should have a reasonable head start on them. I’ll go west on State Route 56 in a mile.”
“Interstate 15 is closer,” she said.
“They’ll expect us to take Interstate 15,” said Quinn. “And they’re short at least one vehicle. Maybe two. I weakened a tire on the SUV behind your house.”
“They might have more in the area,” said Nathan.
“Possible, but not likely. They could have easily sealed the neighborhood with a few more vehicles, but they didn’t. I think we saw everything they brought to the show—which is still more than enough to end our trip,” said Quinn. “Can your wife work one of the MP-20s?”
“I grew up in a liberal, gun-fearing Bay Area household,” said Keira. “I never saw a gun until I visited Nate’s parents in Idaho. His dad carries one in a holster—in the house.”
“It was an unforgettable moment,” said Nathan, hoping to elicit a smile.
She ignored his comment. “I suppose I can make an exception in this case.”
“Give her the one I was using,” said Quinn. “It has a fresh mag. Check the safety again.”
Nathan lifted the MP-20 by the hand guard, keeping the barrel pointed at the jeep’s soft-top. He checked the selector switch, verifying that the safety was engaged.
“I know you’re not talking to me right now, but here’s how it works,” he said, putting his thumb on the switch. “It’s set to safe. If you need to fire the weapon, press down on this switch for one click. That puts it in semiautomatic, which means—”
“I kn
ow what it means. How does the sight work?” she asked, taking the weapon away from him.
“Integrated holographic sight,” Quinn broke in. “Center the green dot on your target and pull the trigger. You won’t see the green reticle unless you’re looking directly into the back of the sight.”
“Point and shoot,” said Nathan. “Worked for me.”
“It more than worked for you,” Quinn said. “Half of my Marines don’t shoot that well.”
Keira glared at Nathan. Because of the blatant distaste for firearms she’d inherited from her family, he’d always downplayed his proficiency with the tools of his father’s trade. “Any other secrets you want to confess?” she asked, laying the weapon on the seat next to the left passenger door.
“Is your son up for an important job?” asked Quinn.
Nathan glanced at Owen, whose eyes brightened. His wife looked skeptical.
“As long as you don’t expect him to use the other machine gun,” said Keira.
“I know how to use the MP-20,” said Owen. “I use it all the time in CDV.”
“CDV?” asked Keira.
“Call of Duty virtual online gaming,” said Quinn. “All of my younger Marines play it.”
“Where do you play this?” Keira demanded of Owen.
“At all of my friends’ houses.”
Keira shot Nathan a dark look. “His obsession with guns is all your dad’s fault.”
“Why don’t the two of you sort that out later,” said Quinn. “I was just thinking he could wear the night-vision goggles I found in the SUV behind your house.”
“Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to wear them?” asked Keira.
“We have plenty of light to see if someone’s coming up behind us. I need him to continuously scan around us for infrared lasers. We can’t see them with the naked eye, but they show up bright and shiny in the NVGs. It might be the first indication we get that we’re being targeted for surveillance—or worse.”
Fractured State (Fractured State Series Book 1) Page 17