“I don’t play Ben,” Chris said reaching up and pushing the hat off his suit, so now it looked like a head sitting on top of a bush.
Gene had known Chris’ dad and had known Chris since he was a young boy. A young boy who’d dreamed of serving his country and he did. Before Chris had left he was funny, always laughing and had tons of friends. Eight years and several wars later, Chris had come back with none of those things. Chris still loved his country, but despised the government that ran it. Not one time had Gene ever asked why, because if it could change Chris that much, he knew it would change him.
“How is it behind us?” Gene asked spitting.
“They have a team moving up Binarch Mountain Road about two miles away, heading for the highway,” Chris shrugged.
“You pulled out of the woods with a team heading this way?” Ben gasped.
“Scott and Pete are still back there,” Chris said digging in his suit and lifted up a drinking tube for a hydration bladder.
Ben looked up the tree-covered slope behind the house. “Do I know them?”
“Nope,” Chris said putting his drinking tube away.
Looking at Chris, “Do you trust them?” Ben asked
“Yep,” Chris said looking up with a blank face. Hearing that, Ben was satisfied. He liked Chris, though he was over a decade older than Chris. He thought Chris needed to relax more. “What are you two thinking so hard about?”
Ben waved his arm at the ten people left. “How fast our help is leaving.”
“If the shit had gone down, only one or two would’ve pulled the trigger,” Chris said holding out his hand to Gene. Gene groaned, but pulled out his can and handed it to Chris. “The only ones I’m counting on are you two and the ones with me,” he said thumping the can.
“So, you just come down to get a dip?” Gene said, watching Chris shove half the can in his lip. As Chris brushed the tobacco that fell in his beard off, he closed the empty can and passed it back. “Thanks,” Gene said putting the empty can in his pocket. The only one who got a bigger dip was Ben. As it was proved again, if both got a dip from the same can, the can was empty.
“No, waiting,” Chris said spitting.
“Waiting for what?” Ben asked turning to the road. “You think they are going to try us today?” Ben asked taking his AR off his shoulder.
“No, I wouldn’t be down here Ben,” Chris said spitting, “Waiting for reinforcements.”
“Already?” Gene shouted.
Wiping his beard after he’d spit, Chris nodded. “Seems Buck left and headed straight there, then headed back to help at the blast site till midnight. The feds have the scene closed now.”
“How do you know?” Ben asked.
“Just do.”
“Well from the looks of Buck, it was bad,” Ben said slinging the AR back over his shoulder.
Chris looked over with a twinkle in his eyes. “It looks like a small nuke went off. The blast area alone is three hundred yards across.”
Stumbling back, “You’ve been there?” Ben asked in a whisper.
“Yeah, went to check it out last night,” Chris said then turned to Gene. “Thanks.”
“No, thank you,” Gene said. “I always knew you were part of the crew.”
Chris gave a rare big smile and then it slowly dropped away. “You’d better be convincing.”
“Your momma never found out about your dad getting arrested, did she?” Gene asked.
His normal small grin that barely moved his bushy beard popped up on Chris’ face. “No,” he said.
On the highway, they could hear a line of trucks slowing down. The house was set over half a mile away from the highway and you couldn’t see it. Turning off the highway, you went through a small group of houses then down the long drive that led to Sonya’s. They had moved the dozer back to the long drive to Sonya’s since they were way down on manpower.
“Move the dozer, these will be for us!” Chris shouted. The deputy waved at him and pointed at one of the guys standing around who jumped on and fired the dozer up.
“You’re that sure?” Ben asked and Chris gave a slight nod. They soon saw a line of trucks and SUVs pulling trailers and a huge dump truck. Holding his tongue, Ben turned and stood beside them as a black Suburban stopped in front of them and the deputy came running over.
Ben’s mouth fell open seeing it was Ernest Porter. He owned car dealerships all over the state and had other businesses he had inherited. He was wearing tactical gear that really accentuated his shaved head and face. Reaching back into the SUV, he pulled out an AR as the deputy shouted behind him. When Ernest turned, the deputy visibly cringed. Ernest had money and knew people.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Ben asked in a low voice, pointing as Ernest talked with the deputy.
“Reinforcements,” Chris said with a nod. “Ben, I’m sure by now Gene has talked to you about grown-up conversations. You’re about to hear one, so please don’t embarrass me.”
Gene snorted so hard that snot flew out his nose. Wiping his nose, Gene looked up as Ernest walked over, holding his hand out to Chris. “How’s it here?” he asked.
“Team moving toward the highway on Binarch Mountain Road, Pete is shadowing them and Scott is on OP on the mountain,” Chris said and Ernest nodded, turning to Gene.
“Gene,” Ernest said holding out his hand.
“Ernest, it’s been a while,” Gene said shaking his hand, knowing Ernest only in passing and by reputation. “So, you come to join up in protecting Joshua’s family?”
Ernest studied Gene’s eyes and then smiled. “Yes,” he said glancing at Chris. “Seems someone found out and asked for help.”
“Ernest, Scott is your son and has been up my ass for the last three days. I’m telling you, it wasn’t me and anyone that says different, I’ll take my chainsaw to.”
Nodding, “I know and I haven’t asked Scott, Chris. It just bothers me that someone knew,” Ernest said.
“Well, we have a few on the department,” Chris said adjusting his AR across his chest. “Not saying they talked but you know how easy it is to put two and two together and Buck is sharp as a tack.”
Turning away, Ben saw more men getting out of the vehicles and all were dressed like Ernest. Looking at the trucks and SUVs he suddenly realized none had license plates. “Um, someone steal your plates?”
“No, I don’t like people knowing who’s driving,” Ernest said not looking away from Chris. “How bad you thinking?”
“If it happens, real bad,” Chris said. “They are expanding the area around the Forestry Station and setting up huge generators. Generators big enough that they are also putting in a power substation. They have engineers doing the work and it looks like they are getting ready for a few thousand.”
“I would rather help an innocent man in the field Chris, but I gave my word to Buck to make the stand here,” Ernest said as Sonya and the others stepped out. “Sonya, good to see you, under the circumstances.”
“Ernest, what are you doing here dressed like that?” she gasped running over. “You can’t be seen here or they will come after you. Think of your wife and kids.”
“Those of us here will take steps later, but they aren’t watching us here now,” Ernest said. “We’ve come to make sure they don’t try their tactics again.”
Looking past Ernest, Sonya knew many of the people walking toward her yard and they were all upstanding citizens with great jobs or businesses. Cutting her eyes to Chris, then to Ernest, Sonya shook her head. “Things are falling into place and making sense now.”
“I beg you to keep those to yourself, please,” Ernest smiled. Reaching inside his tactical vest, he pulled out an envelope and passed it to Sonya. “Stanley presented Joshua’s case to the grand jury yesterday and they refused to charge him. Now, this means nothing because the feds are still pressing charges, but legally, Joshua hasn’t broken state law, so no state law enforcement can apprehend him.”
Taking the envelope, Sonya
sighed, “Thank you.”
“It wasn’t me, thank Buck,” Ernest said. “Sonya, may my men use Joshua’s shop as our barracks? We need to spread out some.”
“Joshua owns that and the feds seized it,” she said holding the envelope.
“Beg to differ,” he said pulling out another envelope. “This is a written statement for me and my men who have been recently deputized to safeguard this area and that shop. No agency or law enforcement may enter unless approved by the lawful owners; like you,” he nodded. “Or are accompanied by the sheriff. Even with a valid warrant, any action otherwise is to be viewed as hostile.”
“I want friends like you, sometimes,” Ben mumbled and everyone looked at him. “Josh is the best friend ever, but he can’t pull weight like this. If he could, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Yes, we would,” Ernest said. “Joshua knew a lot of people and that didn’t help him at all. Like I said, I wanted to be out there.”
Gene reached up and grabbed Ernest’s shoulder, startling him. “I promise you, Joshua doesn’t need our help and we would get in the way. We need you here because I’m telling you, they will try us.”
Ernest grinned, “And here I am.”
“Ernest, he’s in charge here,” Chris said with a flat expression.
“So I’ve been told and at first didn’t like it, but now I understand. Chris, will you give him a crash course on our tactics while I bed the boys down?”
Chris nodded and turned to everyone. “We need to get on the porch,” he said walking through them toward the house. As they moved, they heard the dump truck beeping as it backed up on the yard. As the bed lifted up they saw it was stacked to the top with filled sandbags.
“Gene, you’re in charge but if I may make a suggestion, if the shooting starts, let Ernest have control. He’s done this,” Chris said.
“What about you?” Ben asked. “The shit you’ve shown us over the years proves you know what you’re doing.” Sonya popped his left arm as Barbara popped his right.
“The boys are here,” Barbara said.
“I cuss worse than that when you’re not around. Last week I taught Sammy how to properly enunciate his swearwords,” Ben said rubbing one arm then the other.
Barbara rolled her eyes up as her head tilted back. “He doesn’t need instructions, Ben.”
“Yes he does!” Ben shouted. “If you don’t say a word properly when you are degrading another man, they don’t take it seriously. If other men find out you cuss funny, you are seen as a little sissy.”
Dropping her head till she was looking at Ben, Barbara’s mouth fell open, then she looked around at the others. “Is it me or did that not sound right?”
Chris shrugged, “Well, I’m taking Ben’s side on this, though this is a private matter, but he has a point.”
“It isn’t right to teach them that young, but Ben does have a point,” Gene nodded.
Barbara turned to Ben who stepped back. “I’m not going to pop you because they agree with you, but stop it.”
Throwing up his hands, “Hold on Barbara,” Gene said. “We said he had a point, but if you feel the need to pop him one, you shouldn’t suppress those urges.” Everyone busted out laughing as the men with Ernest formed a line and started passing sandbags toward the house. They started stacking them at the base, building a wall up the side.
“I’ll go and change to help them,” Sonya said running inside and followed by the boys.
Ben took his AR off and laid it on the porch table. “The day I have to change clothes to work is the day I’m lying in my casket,” he said marching over to help.
Chris started taking his AR off and Gene stopped him. “Back on the hill, I know and trust you with my life. I trust these men because you do, but I want to see them earn that trust as I do theirs.”
Nodding, Chris quickly explained how they identified each other and the passwords used. Gene didn’t understand until later that day when all the men pulled balaclavas over their faces, leaving only their eyes exposed.
As Chris walked up the slope behind the house, he prayed his friend’s home wouldn’t become a battlefield. But if it did, he was prepared to fight, kill and if necessary, die to protect his friend’s family.
Chapter Twenty-One
Late that afternoon, Buck was sitting on his deck beside Priest Lake at his house north of Coolin. Relaxing in his chair, he stared at the water as the clouds continued to build threatening rain. “May I join you?” he heard behind him and sighed.
“I didn’t really think you would come, Moore,” Buck said waving a hand at the chair beside him, but didn’t turn away from the lake.
Sitting down and relaxing in the chair as he sat his laptop down, Moore sighed. “Now this is a beautiful view.”
“Yes, it is. I waited for years to buy just the right house on this lake that me and the missus liked.”
Nodding, “It was worth it,” Moore said.
“I trust this isn’t a social visit.”
“No,” Moore groaned, just wanting to sit there and stare at the lake and mountains. “Sheriff, I’m here begging for your help. If this goes on, it’s going to be bad. I’m sure you’ve heard about the work at the Forestry Service airfield.”
“Yes, you’re planning on bringing in more agents rebuilding the task force to find Joshua. This afternoon you put out an APB on two state troopers wanted for questioning about the murder of a federal agent and three others missing. And this afternoon I heard that ‘Ivan the Terrible’, otherwise known as Homeland Senior Agent Benjamin Wagner, has been assigned to the task force.” Moore’s mouth fell open. “Moore, I may only be a sheriff of a small county, but I have friends.”
“Please help me get to Joshua before they do, and end this,” Moore begged.
Taking his eyes off of his beloved lake, Buck turned to Moore. “The grand jury didn’t indict, so Joshua’s broken no laws here.”
“He killed an IRS agent in Spokane,” Moore said solemnly.
Setting down his glass, “You know, Joshua wasn’t born yet, but we could pin the Kennedy Assassination on him,” Buck said.
“He left a calling card,” Moore said pulling out an envelope from his laptop bag. “It was a chainsaw wrench with his thumbprint, stuck in an air conditioning unit. If he wouldn’t have left it, we wouldn’t have known where the shot came from. He’s letting us know; he’s at war.”
Turning away and grabbing his glass, looking at the lake, “It’s called a scrench,” Buck said taking a sip. “And Moore, you already know he’s at war. Spokane isn’t in my county, so my position hasn’t changed.”
“He killed an innocent man,” Moore said putting the envelope back.
“That may be, but you’ve tried to do that as well by killing Joshua, the only difference was your guys missed. Your innocent man became a fugitive and you kidnapped his son to get at him. Moore, just how far do you think you have to push a man before he fights back? I’ve always followed the letter of the law, Moore. I know for a fact, you can’t say the same,” Buck said taking a drink.
“If presented with a valid warrant from Spokane county or Washington State, if I see Joshua, I will detain him. But if I only see a federal warrant, I can with a clean conscience, just wave at him if he walks by. You and your people created the monster, Moore. A monster that threatens you, and only you.”
“Sheriff,” Moore said with a sigh. “What would it take for you to help me?”
“Oh, you think you can buy me off? I love how the insurance claims were paid before they were even filed on the houses around the lodge. How those families that were standing in the county prosecutor’s office ready to file charges suddenly left. Nice houses were provided for them for a whole year, from some kind of government grant that nobody’s heard of. No Moore. I’m bought and paid for by the people of Bonner County. They bought me with their votes and that’s where my loyalty lies.”
Feeling the world sit down on his shoulders, Moore turned to the lake and leaned back
in the chair. “You know what’s coming, sheriff. I’ve been told there are paramilitary men at Mr. Anderson’s house, turning it into a fortress.”
“On that, you can thank me,” Buck said raising his glass. “Never even knew they existed, and some are my deputies.”
“Militia?”
“No Moore. I know all the militia around here and have talked to them as well. They were getting ready to make your life a living hell. They stopped when I told them I would put their asses in jail if they attacked you. But I also told them if you attacked them on private property without a valid warrant, I would come to their aid,” Buck said setting his empty glass down.
Buck glanced over at Moore. “Just to warn you, they called everyone they know who lives in your search area and offered their services to protect their property. Of the three militias here with two hundred members, all of them are in your search area now, waiting.”
“Sheriff, I only got a report from a video feed from a drone. Those at Mr. Anderson’s home don’t move like want-to-be SEALs. They have training, and it’s good training.”
Chuckling, Buck rolled his head to look at Moore. “Oh, you have no idea. You try your little stunt there like you did at the school; you will get your ass handed to you with both hands. I’m sure you’ll find out sooner or later, but they call themselves the Panhandle Minutemen. Now, I would be very careful who you told that name to, it could have bad consequences for you. In case you’re wondering, I was given permission to tell you and only you who they were, for some reason. They aren’t some rowdy country boys thinking he’s John Wayne, they are real Americans who love this country.”
“If they are Americans, then they should be helping us,” Moore said lifting his head. “We are the government.”
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,” Buck said laying his head back. “Sound familiar? I can recite it, if you wish. Unlike now, when I was a kid, you couldn’t graduate fifth grade until you could recite The Constitution. I can also recite the Declaration of Independence, but didn’t have to learn it until seventh grade.”
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