by Bobby Akart
The whirlwind of events exhausted everyone. As the afternoon came to a close and the sun dropped on the western horizon, the final two wedding traditions took place.
At first, Sook hesitated to relinquish her bouquet of bluebonnets. Although it was early February, bluebonnets had begun blooming in parts of the Big Bend area of West Texas. Espy had arranged for a supply convoy headed to Camp Lubbock from Fort Bliss to pick the flowers. One of the camp’s soldiers had made the special delivery in time for Duncan’s wedding.
Sook gave them a final look and prepared to fulfill the wedding tradition. The bouquet toss should have been anticlimactic, as Palmer was the only single woman in attendance. With a knowing glance from Palmer to Espy, Sook turned her back to Palmer and heaved the bouquet over her head.
She overpowered the throw, and the flowers flew through the air, beyond the outstretched hands of Palmer, and hit Riley squarely in the chest.
Boy, it was awwwn then.
The laughter and teasing was relentless as Riley turned fifty shades of beet red. He didn’t know what to do. At first it appeared he was gonna throw the bouquet of bluebonnets back at Sook to give her a second try. Thinking better of it, he sheepishly walked over to Palmer and presented them to her. She immediately danced in circles as if she’d just won both showcases on The Price is Right.
Next up was the ceremonial removal of the garter. Sook had been warned in advance of the two options available to her new husband. Duncan could respectfully remove the garter before flicking it toward the eligible bachelors. Or he could take the cruder approach and pull it off her thigh with his teeth. After hearing both choices, Sook was calm when she issued her instructions to Palmer.
She’d said, “Tell your brother if he takes off this garter thing with his teeth, I will unleash all the fury of my taekwondo training upon him, which might prevent us from having children someday.”
With that settled and Duncan forewarned, he carefully removed the garter in front of their guests, making certain he respected Sook’s modesty and kept his teeth to himself.
After she gave him a gentle kiss as her way of saying thanks, he turned to the eligible, unmarried guys—Cooper, Riley, and Espy—lined up next to each other. They eagerly awaited Duncan’s stretching of the elastic garment to let it fly.
Duncan wrapped one end around his left thumb and pulled the other side back with his right hand. He set his aim for the eagerly awaiting bachelors.
The resulting toss was less of a flick and more of a rocket projectile. Operators, go full throttle. It came at the guys so quickly that none of them were able to react before the garter smacked Riley in the chin.
“Ouch!” Riley shouted as he snatched the garter out of the air before it hit the ground.
“Way to go, bro!” shouted Cooper. “This is the first time in history the garter and the bouquet were snagged by the same person!”
“Yeah, no fair!” shouted Espy.
As everyone laughed, Duncan piled on. “Would the Riley wedding party please step forward? Riley, party of one!”
Riley playfully charged his brother before their dad intervened.
“Son, this will be difficult to explain to the president, but I’d be glad to get you a marriage proclamation the next time I’m in Austin.”
Riley had had enough. “Come on, y’all. I’m not the marrying kind anyway.”
It was Lucy’s turn. “Really? Neither one of you? Surely there’s a groom or bride in there somewhere.”
And the laughter reached a crescendo.
Chapter 51
February 7
The Reinecke Caretaker’s Home
The Armstrong Ranch
Borden County, Texas
As a wedding gift to Duncan and Sook, everyone had worked together to create a bungalow getaway of sorts at the former caretaker’s home located on the Reinecke property adjacent to the ranch. Formerly occupied by the Slaughters prior to Holloway’s attack of two weeks prior, the home was cleaned, decorated, and stocked with food to allow a brief honeymoon for the newlyweds. The plan was to get away from it all for three nights before returning to the ranch to start their new life together. Somehow, the lone rider on horseback approaching from the ranch that morning was an indicator the honeymoon might be over.
Duncan quickly dressed and greeted Cooper as he arrived at the backyard. He had a serious look on his face and was carrying one of the satellite phones that connected the ranch to Major at all times.
Duncan shielded his eyes for a moment so they could adjust to the rising sun. “Hey, Coop. Is everything alright?”
Cooper didn’t bother to dismount and rode up alongside of Duncan. He tipped his hat and caught his breath. “Mornin’, Duncan. Dad said it wasn’t an emergency, but he does need you to call him right away. He sent me over to bring you this.”
He leaned over the side of his horse and handed the satellite phone to his brother.
Duncan took it and looked up. “Did he say what it’s about?”
“Nah, just that you need to call,” replied Cooper, who changed the subject as a disheveled Sook emerged on the back stoop. “Hey, Sook! Y’all need anything?”
Sook shook her head and retreated to the house. Duncan thanked Cooper again and returned inside to call his dad. He stopped for a moment. He shouted to Cooper, who’d already turned his horse around and was about to ride off.
“Hey, Coop! Tell Momma we’ll be home for dinner, okay?”
“Uh, sure. Are ya gonna cut your time away short?”
“I don’t want to, but I’ve gotta hunch. We can always come back. I kinda like it over here. It’s quiet, ya know?”
“Are the cows botherin’ y’all?” asked Cooper.
“Nope. They’re all pretty happy. We only hear them lowing occasionally. I’d better make this call.” Duncan held the satellite phone up and then waved goodbye. He’d dialed his dad, and the two were talking before he was back inside the house.
“Son, we have addressed this subject lately, but I wanted to make you aware of something.”
“What is it, Dad?”
“I was in a meeting today with the adjutant general and his sister-in-law, the spy. I’m still leery of her.”
“Yeah, me too,” said Duncan. “Did something come up?”
Major hesitated for a moment and then continued. “Sorry about that. Someone walked by, and I didn’t want to be overheard. Listen. I’m told by Pauline Hart that Billy Yancey arrived in Texas last night.”
“How did he get here? Can he just fly in and out of Texas as he pleases?”
“He has a ranch on the west end of Greenbelt Lake outside Clarendon,” replied Major. “You know where that is, right? It’s about an hour southeast of Amarillo.”
“Yeah, I vaguely remember. Dad, when you think about it, we’re not exactly patrolling our airspace, are we? What would stop someone from flying in and out with nobody noticing?”
“You’re right.” Major seemed to be in a hurry. “Son, I’m not going to tell you what to do at this point. I don’t know if the information is reliable or not. Yancey’s place is on the reservoir at the end of a road called Reservoir Way. Whatever you decide, be careful and know that I love you, son.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Duncan disconnected the call and tossed the phone on the sofa. Sook was in the galley-style kitchen, making them some coffee. Although she only heard Duncan’s side of the conversation, she could tell it affected him emotionally.
“Is your father okay?”
Duncan didn’t answer right away as he paced the floor. The home was small, so he was able to cover the distance from the front door to the back door in five paces.
“Duncan?”
He forcibly shook his head to shake the hundreds of thoughts that were racing around inside. The first thing he needed to decide was whether he should confide in Sook about Yancey’s presence in Texas. She knew about the anger Duncan held against the CIA man who had left him and Park behind. She also
was aware Duncan had placed Yancey on the short list of people that her husband wanted dead.
“I’m sorry, Sook.” He joined her in the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her. He gently kissed her on the neck before he reached for the mug of coffee she’d just poured for him. Duncan took a deep breath and then pointed toward the couch. “Let’s sit down for a moment.”
“Okay.”
He drank some of his coffee, hoping the caffeine would help give him clarity. Sook was an excellent listener and had proved to be a reliable sounding board in the past. Duncan sighed and then laid it out for her.
“You know how I feel about this man with the CIA, Billy Yancey.”
“Yes. You want him dead.”
Duncan tilted his head back and forth and smiled. “You don’t mince words, do you?”
“Mince words?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face. “Is that the same as not beating around the bush? Palmer taught me that.”
“This is why I love you. Yes, it’s the same.”
“Okay. Is he in Texas now?”
Duncan nodded. “Dad was given information that Yancey arrived in Texas last night. If it’s true, he may still be at his home north of here.”
“Are you going to kill him?” she asked, once again not mincing words.
Duncan shrugged. “Sook, things have changed for me now. I’m a different person. I am still a soldier, but I’m not a killer.”
“My husband, you will always be a killer, and you should not stop being one because we are married. We need both Duncans—husband and killer.”
“Okay, I can do that. But what I’m considering is different from fighting an enemy. I am getting even. I am killing for revenge, which is something I have never done.” Duncan emphasized the word am with each sentence.
“Is it still important to get revenge against Yancey?”
Duncan flopped against the back of the couch. “I honestly don’t know.”
Sook turned toward her husband and massaged his shoulders. “There is only one way. You must look this man in the eyes. Then you will know.”
Chapter 52
February 8
Greenbelt Lake
Near Clarendon, Texas
After Duncan got Sook settled in from their shortened honeymoon, he summoned Espy to help him make his travel arrangements. Espy only asked his commander once about the nature of the trip. Duncan curtly, but politely, told his newly promoted lieutenant that this was one operation he wanted no part of. Content with Duncan’s explanation, Espy arranged for a civilian vehicle to be ready for his commander at the Amarillo International Airport. The arrival of Duncan’s helicopter there wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.
It was likely going to take most of that Wednesday afternoon to locate the ranch and then identify the subject. Duncan had only a vague recollection of what Billy Yancey looked like, which he coupled with the description his father had given him previously.
Duncan packed light for the trip. He didn’t bring his sniper rifle, the weapon of choice when assassinating one of his targets. With his deadly accuracy, he could achieve his goal and have a one-mile head start on any pursuers.
This time, Duncan needed to get up close and personal with Yancey. He agreed with Sook’s advice. Not because he needed to determine Yancey’s level of guilt in giving the order leading to Park’s death and almost the loss of his own life. His suspicions coupled with Gregg’s dying words gave him an answer on that count.
Duncan was now wrestling with a far greater issue. Was he still a cold-blooded killer?
As he traveled alone from Amarillo to Clarendon along Highway 287, he alternated between being angry with Yancey for the betrayal and visions of life at the ranch with Sook. Each time he tried to weigh the pros and cons, his mind went off on a tangent.
As he thought of his new wife, he envisioned summer in West Texas. Signs of life were everywhere as the ranch began to look like the days before the attack on North America. He could visualize himself walking along the river with Sook, a tiny baby bump barely visible under a flowery summer dress.
Duncan turned off a deserted county road and headed due north toward the reservoir. His recollection of Greenbelt Lake was that every side of the reservoir except the west end was surrounded by lakefront homes and a marina. If Yancey had a place tucked away, it was most likely at the end of Greenbelt Way where the Salt Fork Red River opened up into the lake.
As the paved surface changed to packed gravel, Duncan could tell from the transition that he was getting close. The rougher terrain was symbolic of his state of mind as his mind switched back to that cold, dark morning on the mountain of Sinmi-do.
He remembered Park getting injured and how he’d hoisted his friend and partner onto his back to flee the pursuing North Korean soldiers. As the road narrowed and a gated driveway came into view, Duncan subconsciously flinched as his body recalled the bullets riddling Park’s back, knocking them both to the ground, where Duncan slid over the edge of a cliff to the icy waters of the river below. Park had unknowingly saved Duncan’s life that day, and as a result, Duncan felt he should honor Park with revenge against the man who caused his death.
As the anger returned, the visions of a pregnant Sook were quickly replaced with thoughts of his powerful hands wrapped around Yancey’s throat.
Duncan briefly closed his eyes as he pulled the vehicle into a thicket of brush and trees. He heard his voice in his head, hissing at Yancey, This is for Park.
Duncan took a deep breath before gathering his things. A man of Yancey’s training wasn’t likely to leave his driveway unprotected or at least unmonitored. Duncan would have to hike through the woods along the ridgeline overlooking the driveway, which ran parallel to the small river.
He had some comfort in knowing that Yancey’s position with the CIA didn’t warrant his own security detail. Yancey’s background and history within the intelligence community had most likely prompted him to install security measures, which would remain in place in a grid-down scenario.
As Duncan ascended the ridge and began his slow jog toward the end of the gravel driveway, he considered the outcome. Do I really care if Yancey detected my approach? Let him fire on me. It’ll make my decision easier.
He slowed his jog to a fast walk after thirty minutes. The CIA must pay this guy well, Duncan thought to himself as he considered how far he’d traveled from where his car was parked. The deserted area suited him, however. It provided him several points of view to study his prey and little chance of detection once the deed was done.
After another fifteen minutes of hiking through the woods, Duncan spied a clearing up ahead. The land was fenced and cross-fenced, but there was no indication of any livestock in the fields.
He pulled out his binoculars to take a closer look at the buildings within the compound. A single-story ranch-style residence was located in the center. A barn was well to the rear of the home, and a four-car garage was set off to the side. Two of the garage doors were open. One contained a pickup truck, and the other bay was empty. A second pickup was parked in the driveway near the garage.
Suddenly, Duncan heard the faint rumble of some type of machine coming from the far side of the compound. He stood and inched closer, finding a fallen tree to use as cover. He searched through his binoculars, trying to catch a glimpse of what was making the noise, which was growing louder.
“There!” he muttered to himself as he caught a glimpse of a camouflaged four-wheeler appearing out of the woods near the river. Then a second one emerged from the same trail.
Duncan followed their path as the two riders came into view and sped onto the circular driveway. The lead driver stopped his ATV, stood on the sides of the all-terrain vehicle, and raised his arms over his head.
“I am still the best!” the voice proclaimed as the second rider waved his arm at the self-proclaimed champion.
Duncan focused on the men’s faces. The rider who stood victorious was a younger man in his mid-twenties. The second rid
er was much older, Duncan surmised, from the graying hair and the pudgy middle-age belly that protruded under his sweatshirt.
“You’re right, son!” he shouted back. “Do it again tomorrow?”
“For sure!”
Duncan shifted his binoculars to the front porch as a woman appeared. “Hey, guys, chili is ready when you are!”
She appeared to be in her mid-twenties—perhaps a sister or wife to the younger man. Duncan realized he knew nothing about his mark. He didn’t know if Yancey was married or not. Are these his kids? Are there more inside? So many unanswered questions, which was dangerous for someone in his line of work.
Duncan put away the binoculars and crouched below a nearby tree. It was beginning to get dark, and as the light faded, Duncan waited. Darkness was the assassin’s ally.
Chapter 53
February 8
Greenbelt Lake
Near Clarendon, Texas
After it was dark, Duncan moved closer to the ranch house. Lights were turned on throughout the home as Duncan made several trips around the perimeter of the compound. He was comfortable with his determination that there were only the three occupants he’d identified earlier. Further, based upon the interaction between the younger man and woman, he determined that they were romantically connected.
After the three shared a meal in a breakfast nook, which was located at the side of the kitchen, they made their way into an open family room, where they sat around a fire and played a board game, which appeared to be Yahtzee.
Duncan checked his watch. It was approaching nine when the group began to turn in for the night. The younger couple went to a bedroom located at the far-right side of the house nearest the river. The older man moved into what appeared to be the master bedroom. Yancey’s house, Yancey’s master bedroom.