Just then Ellenshaw and a blanket wrapped Matchstick hurried up to them.
“What the hell—,” Charlie stated to ask.
“Jack!”
Carl heard Anya’s voice, and everyone sprinted back toward the entrance.
Carl was the first to see Anya with Niles in her arms. He was bleeding heavily from his left shoulder. But Anya was crying and pointing in another direction. Jack turned and saw Sarah sitting on the ground next to a car with a flat tire. She was looking at him. He saw the perfectly round hole in her chest. Niles was attempting to shake off Anya’s hold and go to Sarah, but Carl moved in to help her keep the director still, but his eyes were on the scene in front of him.
Jack let the pistol he was holding drop to the ground as he hurried to Sarah’s side. She tried to smile but blood started to drip from her mouth.
“I think…I tripped…Jack.”
Collins saw the wound and he didn’t know what to do. His eyes became blurry as his mind went to a state of incomprehension at what he was seeing.
Charlie, Matchstick, Ryan, and Will were frozen in time as they watched Jack cradle Sarah in his arms.
“Oh, short stuff, you’re fine. Just clumsy.”
“Jack…I think…I hurt…myself…,” she said as her eyes started too close. They opened with difficulty. “Tell me about…tell me...about…our honeymoon.”
Jack broke down as tears started to flow. He didn’t hear it but Anya was wailing, and the others turned away. Carl went down to one knee and then lowered his head and started to sob.
“Oh, baby, it’ll be great…I was thinking Tahiti…,” Jack again lowered his head and brought Sarah close to him and hugged her.
“I think we…waited…too…long, Colonel.”
Jack felt Sarah’s head fall heavily into his chest as she died.
Will was crying as he walked up to a parked ambulance and started slamming his fist into the windows, shattering each one. Ryan finally had to pull him away as his hands were broken in several places.
Hospital personnel ran to the scene and started attending to Niles who was yelling and screaming for them to leave him alone and go to Sarah.
Anya stood with blood all over her clothing and helped Carl to his feet. When she saw Alice running out of the hospital doors with her I.V. drip dragging behind, both had to stop her from approaching.
Charlie Ellenshaw threw off his glasses. Then he turned and saw the Matchstick Man simply walking away. He ran to stop him. He picked him up and they both started walking and crying.
As for Jack, no one could get him to release Sarah. He held her in his arms for five straight hours. The hospital and police stopped trying to get Sarah’s body free from his embrace but the cordon of Event Group security was far better armed than them, so with the encouragement of Special Agent Wilkerson of the FBI who had red eyes himself, the local police and sheriff’s left them be.
Epilogue
Ending of a Dream
* * *
Event Group Complex,
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
With only four months left in office, the President of the United States didn’t have to hide much in visiting the complex as much as he had in the past as the world had stopped paying attention to him and began to devour the two men left in the presidential election. He sat across from Niles Compton who refused to stay in the hospital any longer than it took to stitch up his shoulder where the bullet had passed through. He was wearing another cast and sling as he stared at nothing as the President read the final report. When he finished he placed it softly on Compton’s desk.
“What a nightmare. If this hadn’t been you and this Group, I would swear I was reading a grade C movie script. A Grey? Witches? I can’t fathom it.”
Niles was silent as was Alice Hamilton who had escaped the hospital and dared anyone to stop her, and she had emphasized that fact with a pointed and cocked nine-millimeter pistol.
“Jack?” the president asked.
“No word. The last bit Europa and Xavier had was that he was spotted in the Ukraine. That’s where the first five bodies were found. All Shadow Committee members, all shot in hiding. He’s tracking them all down one at a time.”
“How about Colonel Farbeaux?”
“Vanished.”
“Jack’s not going to show for Sarah’s funeral?”
Compton just shook his head.
“Niles, we have to stop him.”
Again, Niles didn’t say anything.
“Interpol has warrants out and the FBI will take him in when he’s caught. Jack’s going to start a war.”
Niles remained silent as did Alice.
“I’m sorry Niles, but I can’t leave this mess for the next president. That means you have to have clean hands in this.”
Silence.
“I wish I could stay old friend, but it would cause too much wild talk. I will fly to visit Sarah’s mother and Virginia’s family. The Master Chief’s funeral I can attend. His headstone will be placed at Arlington, and Virginia’s name will be right below his on the cross, I’ve seen to that.”
The president stood. “Mrs. Hamilton, watch over things.”
Alice gave a brief nod of her head.
“Niles, I am so sorry. This country owes you and your people more than they can ever—,”
Compton stood suddenly and held out his hand.
“Have a safe journey home, Jim.”
The president nodded his head at his oldest friend and took the directors hand. He nodded at Alice and then left the office.
The two sat in silence for five whole minutes. Then Niles smiled at Alice.
“Ready to go and pick up Mrs. McIntire at the airport?”
“Yes, I think I am,” Alice said tossing her ever-present notebook on the desk.
Before they could leave, Carl Everett came in and handed Niles a sheet of paper. He turned and left without saying anything. Niles read what was written and simply nodded his head and then took Alice by the arm and they left the office.
* * *
Niles pulled into the arrivals area at McCarran airport and parked. He had difficulty with his left arm in a cast but managed to get Alice and himself there in one piece. Instead of leaving the car he pulled out a cell phone and punched in a number that he had preprogrammed. He looked at Alice and gave her a weak smile as the phone on the other end was picked up. Alice took Niles hurt hand in her own and held it.
“Variable,” he said and then waited for his code word to be answered correctly. “He was last seen in Siberia at 89 Catalan Street. He goes by the name of Lovesko. The name he used in 1973 was Stanovich. He was a Colonel in the KGB.”
Niles listened.
“No, tomorrow afternoon. I will. Yes, she is.” Niles looked at Alice and managed to squeeze her hand and smiled.
He listened.
“I’ll let them know, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell them that which they know so well.” Niles started to lower the phone, but Alice took it before he could hang up. “You and Henri get the son of a bitch!” Alice listened for a moment. “Good luck, Jack.”
Niles accepted the phone and tossed it out of the car window. He watched as the cell phone sizzled and burst into flame. It melted.
“Hm,” he looked over at Alice. “Tell Doctor Morales his first secure phone worked.”
Season of the Witch Page 34
