“My…” Mark stuttered. “My… family. Where are they?”
“Outside, Nolan said. “Go. Ian is out there. We are going to clear the house.”
Mark and Cain rushed from the kitchen. Nolan and Anthony quickly moved to cleared the house. They headed outside to find the family standing by the SUV hugging each other. Anthony moved towards Mark and grabbed him by the throat.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Anthony said. “You almost got everyone killed.”
“I was trying to protect my family,” Mark gasped.
“Anthony let him go!” Nolan ordered and pulled Anthony’s hand off of Mark’s throat.
“Thanks to you they found out about the farm,” Anthony said. “You blew the whole operation.”
“Not yet he didn’t. They don’t know what we are going to do. Do they?” Nolan asked.
“No, I didn’t tell them. There is an agent who lives out here working for them. I think this Major knew the last name.”
“A Major?” Nolan asked.
“Yes, do you know him?” Mark asked confused.
“I do. We need to get moving fast if Major Fulton is here.”
Chapter 21
Final Meeting
“You can’t be serious?” Mr. Schweppes said. “You want to take down these CIA agents? For what purpose?”
“We need to close any holes that could trace us being here,” Captain Underwood said.
“Don’t you think the CIA agents not coming back, would send that message?” Mr. Schweppes asked.
“If they have any information about who was here or what we wanted we can’t let that get back to the States. If we take them out we can maybe make it look like Domino Defense was the one who committed the crime.” Captain Underwood said.
Sarah hadn’t thought about this. They could make it so that Domino Defense would be working with the D.I even though they wouldn’t be. It was a great plan. As long as they hadn’t sent information back to the government then the plan could work.
Everything Captain Underwood had explained seemed to make sense to Sarah and it seemed to make sense to Jonah but that didn’t stop him from being displeased.
“You understand that there is a good chance that they have relayed the information they have learned back to the States right?” Mr. Schweppes said.
“I understand the possibility is there. We don’t have proof though. Without that, we must act as though they have not delivered the intelligence.” Mary said.
The team had been mostly quiet during Captain Underwood’s explanation of what they would be doing. Sarah had almost forgotten that they were there.
“This isn’t something we want to do,” Mary explained. “This is part of war. We have enemies here. If they did tell the government we are here that is fine but we still need to take them out. It would be fewer agents to work against us later.”
This logic sparked something in Jonah. He had military training. The expression on his face meant he was coming to the understanding of their mindsets. Everything they do is an act of war now. Had this been several months before The Battle of The Fortress things might have been different. Jonah stood in silence for a moment rubbing his thin beard.
“Ms. Hill approved this?” Mr. Schweppes asked.
“She did,” Captain Underwood said.
Mr. Schweppes sighed before speaking again. “If she approved of it then that is what we will do. We are on a time crunch. This cargo ship I arranged leaves tonight. They won’t hold the boat for us so we need to make sure we are on that ship before it takes off for Michigan.”
“We can do that,” Captain Underwood said confidently.
“I hope so,” Mr. Schweppes said. “I will call for a meeting. Have the rest of your team meet here.”
“Thank you. I do need to ask one favor of you,” Captain Underwood said.
“What is that?” Mr. Schweppes asked. The tone of his voice had a what-else-could-you-want tone to it.
“We need some gear. Silencers if you have any,” Captain Underwood explained.
“Ammunition also,” Steven added.
“You are a gearing for a real fight?” Mr. Schweppes asked.
“We came semi-prepared. We didn’t think we would need weapons honestly,” Mary said.
“I can do that for you,” Mr. Schweppes said.
He looked thoughtfully at the ceiling as if he could picture how he could get what they need. When he came back to reality he smiled at them.
“I know how to get it,” Mr. Schweppes said. “I think I am going to come along as well,”
“I am not sure that is a good idea,” Captain Underwood said.
“I am going to be on the run with you, might as well join in the fighting. It has been a while since I have trained but I still practice with weapons regularly.” He smiled as if this was exciting to him.
“I don’t think we can let you fight. You are too important to the Insurgence. You will be under our protection.”
“I don’t need protection. I was a member of the SAS for years,” Mr. Schweppes seemed insulted by the idea of needing protection.
It was then that Sarah realized that this entire time Jonah has had no personal protection. Mr. Reese seemed to have a crew around him at all times. Sarah seemed to have a growing respect for Mr. Schweppes. In their business, it would make them large targets. She came to the conclusion that not having to protect was either very brave or very stupid.
“I am coming with you,” Mr. Schweppes said. This time in a tone that suggested that he wasn’t asking but he was telling them.
“You are going to hang back during the raid with Ms. Hill.” Captain Underwood said.
Sarah knew this wasn’t the same as participating in the raid but Will wasn’t going to budge. This was the closest to action Ms. Hill and Mr. Schweppes would get. Sarah knew Will would cancel the whole mission if it meant keeping Ms. Hill safe.
“I guess that will have to do,” Mr. Schweppes said.
He left the room to make a phone call to Mr. Reese and organize the meeting. Mary told Captain Underwood that she would inform the others about the meeting and the plan tonight. Sarah went to speak to Captain Underwood in private while everyone was distracted.
“Will, when we find out where it is we should send someone to keep watch,” Sarah said in a whispered voice.
“Think so?” He said. He looked at her as if she would reveal information that she had kept secret.
Sarah confessed she had a funny feeling. “I figure, if we keep a look out then at least we make sure we aren’t walking into anything. Reese must know by now that he won’t be joining.” Sarah said.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Captain Underwood said.
He ordered Sergeant Miller to take the SUV that Mr. Schweppes had brought for them and go pick up the others. He did as he was told. It wasn’t long before Mr. Schweppes came back with news of the meeting.
“The meeting will be at the restaurant in one hour. He seemed pleased,” Mr. Schweppes added. “He never seems pleased.”
“He might think we have finally given in,” Steven suggested.
“That is possible,” Mary said as she hung up the phone. “I told the others what was going on.”
“Good. I think I will go and keep an eye out for any activity at the restaurant. Lord knows I am not allowed in that meeting.” Captain Underwood said.
Jonah offered up his car to Will and handed him his keys.
“Call when you are leaving,” Captain Underwood said.
“Will do,” Mary said and kissed him.
Sarah realized that they don’t kiss on a mission very often if ever. She didn’t know why she thought about it in this moment. When Captain Underwood left the group stood for a moment wondering what to do next. Mary seemed to take control at this time.
“Sarah we need to go over what is going to happen in this meeting,” Mary said to her.
Steven stood behind them and listened to how the meeting was going to go.
“Mr. Reese had taken an interest in you. I want you then to do most of the talking. You can stand up to him and match him. This is something we need. We want him to give us up to the CIA. If he isn’t mad enough to call right away then there goes our opportunity.”
“Making him mad shouldn’t be too hard,” Sarah said with a laugh.
“Maybe we should let Will go to the meeting?” Steven said.
He was being sarcastic but they all laughed either way. They talked about how they will explain the entire group not being there. Steven suggested that some might wait either with Captain Underwood or at the townhome.
“If Will is secretly keeping watch then we can’t send people to him,” Mary said. “It might blow his cover and scare the agents away.”
“Jonah is going to have to be hidden,” Sarah added. “We will have to have some people take him back to the safe house.”
Steven started, “Orson will have to be waiting to listen in on the calls. We could have Jonah there with him and Ms. Hill.”
“Not a bad idea,” Mary said. This sounded more like she was thinking aloud. “Even if we give up the safe house we will be long gone.”
“You still think Jonah might be against us?” Sarah asked.
“No but I am staying on the side of caution,” Mary replied. “At this point, I am worried that Reese might have Jonah followed. He is just as apart of this as the rest of us.”
They all agreed on this point. The door opened and Jonah walked in followed by the rest of the team. Agent Young, Agent Mason, Sergeant Miller. As they expected Orson had stayed behind. Sarah checked the time and they had twenty minutes until the meeting. Mary then cleared her throat to inform the group what was going to happen.
“Listen up,” Mary called out. “Jonah you are going to head to the safe house and wait with Orson and Ms. Hill. When he gets the trace on our CIA friends then we all meet and take down them down. Jonah, you still need to get the weapons for the raid?”
“I do. It shouldn’t take long,” Mr. Schweppes said.
“Agent Mason,” Sergeant Miller said. “Go with him and help him out.”
“I don’t need an escort,” Mr. Schweppes said.
“You are under our protection. We need to keep you safe,” Mary said.
Jonah didn’t argue this point any further.
“After we get the supplies we will meet at the safe house and wait with Orson,” Agent Mason said.
The team stood in silence. Mary looked around at each of them.
“What are we waiting for?” Mary said.
Everyone moved to their positions. Sarah grabbed her things and they started moving the gear into the SUV. Jonah and Agent Mason left the complex. Sarah didn’t like the idea of another member not being there for the meeting. Sarah watched as Mary called Captain Underwood to inform them that they would be on their way.
When everyone was ready they got into the SUV and headed for the meeting. Sarah remembered how to get to the restaurant. She was happy she did her best to memorize how to get there during their first meeting. It somehow now felt as if she was more prepared for what was going to happen.
Captain Underwood sat outside Cibo Familiare. No surprise to him the restaurant was the same as it had been when they first came to it. Will looked around for the possibility of other people watching the restaurant. Captain Underwood tried to see if anyone else had been sitting in the cars along the street. As far as Will knew the cars on the streets were empty. He checked the time the meeting was to take place in twenty minutes. Will knew that the team was gathering and getting ready to arrive. He was impatient. He wanted this mission to end. He got distracted with the possibility of heading back to headquarters. From the start, this mission hadn’t gone as planned. The more he thought about it the more he knew there must have been other companies that could join.
Will kept track of every car that passed the building and if there was a car he thought passed more than once around he would make a mental note of it. A black sedan pulled up in front of the restaurant. Maximillian Reese stepped out. He was in a black suit. Will thought he looked like someone wanted to have the persona of power around him. However, Reese seemed on edge. Will couldn’t put his finger on what seemed to be wrong with him. He checked his phone once again. He still hadn’t heard from Mary. The meeting was going to be starting soon. He should have heard from them by now. As Will thought about this his phone had started to vibrate. Mary was calling him. He thought to himself, ‘she read my mind’.
“How are things going?” Will asked.
Mary explained what their plan was. Will was pleased how little instruction he gave her before he left but how she had done everything he would have done. He felt an immense sense of pride in the soldier his wife had become, so much more than a great soldier she was becoming a leader.
“Reese is here now,” Will said.
“We should be leaving soon,” Mary said through the phone.
“He seems off so stay on your guard,” Will said.
“Of course, dear,” Mary said.
Even through the phone he could tell she was smiling.
“I’m gonna let you go,” Mary said.
“I’ll see you soon,” Will said.
They told each other they loved one another. Will hung up the phone. He checked the time. He figured it would take a possible ten minutes at most to get to the restaurant. Will glanced at the restaurant. His passenger door opened. This startled Will. Before he could react he was looking down a barrel of a gun.
Sarah was in the front seat of the SUV. Sergeant Miller was driving, Mary was behind her. Steve and Agent Young sat in the back seat. The team didn’t talk much as they drove. They turned a corner and Sarah could see the restaurant. She alerted the team that they had one minute until they arrive. This was pretty obvious but Sarah knew this helps people focus when they are told how soon they will arrive. Sarah could feel adrenaline run through her body.
The car arrived in front of the restaurant. Sergeant Miller and Steve would wait in the car while Sarah, Mary, and Agent Young would go inside.
“Remember anything goes wrong in there hit my number,” Sergeant Miller said. “You have it on speed dial right?” He asked
Sarah and Agent Young both responded “yes”. If they hit the speed dial then Sergeant Miller and Steven would storm the restaurant and rescue them. This was a worst-case scenario. Sarah opened her door. She scanned the area and spotted Mr. Schweppes’s car. She didn’t acknowledge that she had seen it. The rear two doors opened and Mary and Agent Young exited the SUV.
“I’ll see you soon Scott,” Agent Young said.
Sergeant Miller smiled as Agent Young closed the door.
As predicted the restaurant had security. The restaurant didn’t open for another couple of hours. This meant they were able to be searched without guest of the restaurant getting worried. When the group passed security they were shown into the dining room where Maximillian Reese was waiting for them. He was drinking a glass of wine. He seemed very casual. Mary warned them that something seemed off about Reese. At the moment though, Sarah didn’t see it.
Mr. Reese stood when they entered the dining room. He smiled but it was different than his smile the first time they had met. She couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong. Agent Young waited by the door as the others moved into the room. He shook their hands.
“Please take a seat,” Mr. Reese said. “I see we have a missing member. Our group grows so small. Where is the Secretary?”
“I am afraid she wasn’t feeling well. She sent us on her behalf,” Sarah said.
He held out his hand in a kind offering the chairs. Sarah and Mary sat. Reese took a seat and sipped his wine. He asked if anyone would like anything they all denied any refreshments. He adjusted his suit before clearing his throat.
“I am pleased you all wished to meet again,” Mr. Reese started. “Am I to assume that you have good news for my demands? I am sure I don’t need to remind you how
much you need my company.”
“We understand what your company would mean to our cause,” Sarah said. “You have unreasonable demands.”
“I don’t think it is unreasonable. I just want the choice as to where my people go,” Mr. Reese said. He stressed the my, and Anger flared in his eyes. “You all aren’t hiring us. You are asking to work together.”
“I understand that,” Sarah said. “We are going to be a democracy. That means one person doesn’t make demands. The group decides.”
“There is a group?” Mr. Reese asked. “I was under the impression that Mr. Powell was calling the shots.”
Reese emphasized the mister. This didn’t go unnoticed. Mary and Sarah both had expressions on their face as if they had smelled something foul. They suspected he was trying to get information by getting them to name the people in charge of the Insurgence.
“Of course. A Democracy isn’t run by one person no matter what Mr. Marshal has to say about it,” Now it was Sarah’s turn to emphasize the mister.
“You are telling me that I am not getting that demand?” Mr. Reese asked.
“That is exactly what we are telling you,” Sarah said.
Reese sat back in his chair. He took a big gulp of wine. He grabbed his napkin and whipped his face.
“You all are young. Have you ever been in a war?” Mr. Reese asked. He didn’t give them a chance to answer before he continued. “I have. In war, you have to make sacrifices. Without that, you can’t expect to win. You all didn’t want to do that. I had a simple request. I wanted to do what was best for the people who work under me.”
Mary interrupted. “What do you think we are doing?”
“You can shut your mouth while I talk,” Mr. Reese snapped. “From the beginning, you all have disrespected me. I am not having that.”
Resistance Rising Page 22
