I returned the glance and said, “There are three of them against an army. We’re all going to be fine. Let’s go inside so you can finish your interview with Greg, you need to know what’s fit to print.”
Casey jumped down off Annie’s lap and we went back inside. Greg picked up where he had left off and to my surprise, let Annie in on everything. He included information on the insider who worked on Nellis Air Force Base, the home of the elite flying squadron: The United States Air Force Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds had intentionally leaked out information regarding their schedule prior to it being publicly released. They purposely posted information regarding the Stealth Bomber being in the Windsor Locks Show on social media. The Stealth being part of the show was initially intended to be a surprise. The Stealth was not going to be flown, but it was going to be there as a show and tell. It would give the public an opportunity to see one up close and personal as opposed to the fly-overs it had become famous for over the years. People would only be able to view it from the outside, and they had planned on-scene interactive simulators of the Stealth, on a much smaller scale, to give the people a real life feel of what it would be like to climb aboard one, and sit at the controls.
“So, let me get this straight, this inside guy leaks the info to the North Koreans and the Russian, and now you don’t know where any of them are, is that about the size of it?” Annie asked.
“I like you better when you’re meditating, but yes, it’s where we are,” Greg answered.
“And you’re going to have the Stealth at the show even though you’ve no idea where these people are, am I right?” Annie pressed.
“The Stealth is a large piece of bait, Annie, a super huge worm. How else are we supposed to catch them?” Greg asked.
Adelaide shook her cane at Greg. “Don’t you dare compare Henry’s grandfather’s friends’ invention to a worm, I’m warning you!”
Greg leaned on the counter and dropped his head in his hands. “I swear I’m going to cry, it’s one of the greatest inventions to hit the Air Force. It’s a fixed wing, not a worm! God help me!”
“You need help good buddy?” Mike slapped Greg on the back.
Greg blessed himself. “I suppose I have to go to Church this weekend, your timing is perfect, Mike.”
“Careful, Greg, I’ll remember what you said.” Adelaide scribbled a note on her calendar.
“What? I have to go, look at the time. Laura, get your things,” Greg mumbled.
“Greg, I’m not ready, I still have to take a shower,” I said.
“Fine, then hurry up. I’m waiting outside. Annie, if you want to settle this interview whatever, come outside with me.” Greg headed out the door.
Mike glanced around and asked, “What in the world did you three women do to the poor guy? He makes breakfast for you and you unravel him? Women, only women can mess with a guy’s head like that so fast.”
“Mike, you just this second walked in, you’ve no idea what’s going on. First he tells us the end of the world is coming and then he says it’s no big deal and I’m trying to get a decent interview out of him.” Annie was nearly out of breath.
“So much for meditation.” Adelaide let out a snort.
“He still hasn’t told me what I can or can’t print,” Annie said.
Adelaide pointed to the door. “He distinctly said to follow him outside and he’d give you the rest of it.”
Annie turned around. “Oh, well, why didn’t you say so.” She picked up her things and ran out the door.
Mike scratched his head and asked, “Adelaide, would you mind if I made some coffee while the nuts settle down and do whatever it is they’re doing?”
Adelaide smiled and responded, “Not at all, I could use a cup after going from relaxing to silly to bats. I’ve no idea what happened.”
Mike prepared the coffee and handed a cup with milk to Adelaide. She watched it swirl and looked across the counter at Mike. “I pray this works out. It seems it can go one way or the other, but I feel as if Jack’s spirit will be watching over all of you and protecting his plane.”
Mike nodded. “I believe that too, Adelaide.”
The front door slammed and Annie stormed in. “I think I have my article but I’m not sure. First Greg says I can’t say there’s an inside guy, then he says I can because it’s a key part. Then he says I can mention the Stealth, than he says I can’t. Then he says I have to be careful how I bring up the trio.” She dropped her things on the counter and sat down.
Greg walked in and sat down next to Annie and quietly said, “Okay, mention the inside guy and say he’s from an Air Force Base, but I can’t give you his name and don’t say what base. Mention the trio and I did give you their names. Say they’re wanted for the bombings and they were students at Soundview Technical, but leave out the connection to Kim Jong Un. Mention the Thunderbird Air Show, but not the Stealth because it is a surprise and it’s not on the schedule. That covers it and it might draw them out, or at least get them to e-mail Laura. Got it?”
“Thanks Greg. Sorry if I got frustrated.” Annie flipped the switch on the recorder to off.
“You didn’t get frustrated. Not at all.” Greg grinned and jumped off the chair. Annie chased him down the hallway into the living room and began throwing pillows at him.
Mike sipped his coffee and said, “Glad to see things are back on track.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Adelaide agreed.
“Okay, I’m ready to go, and I see the kids have made up,” I said walking into the kitchen.
Greg and Annie walked in and Greg said, “I see we’re ready?”
Adelaide smiled. “I’ll have to keep in mind it’s a combination of meditation and pillow fighting that works.”
Greg nodded. “Apparently, with wrestling now and then and always humor—without humor, we’d be in a world of hurt. And now it’s time for work. Mike, Laura, let’s go.”
“Adelaide, do you mind if I leave Kai and Koa here with you?” I asked.
“Not at all, dearie, Chloe would love the company. Besides, Annie’s working from here today.”
Mike announced, “Let’s not forget Game Four of the World Series is on tonight, and Game Five is tomorrow night, so stay sharp people.”
Greg pushed Mike out the door. “Remember, stay sharp and focused, otherwise we’ll never accomplish the task at hand.”
I followed behind, tossed my backpack with all my supplies for the range into Greg’s backseat and hopped in next to it. I thought it appropriate to let the boys sit together. I wanted to think over what had been discussed earlier and begin to focus in on the upcoming range training. I didn’t want to let Mike down.
Chapter 29
I closed my eyes, and leaned my head back figuring I had a good half an hour to sort through the various angles of the case to date when I felt the car ease to a stop.
Mike tapped me on the knee and said, “Hey, sleepy head, we’re here.”
I opened one eye and retorted, “I wasn’t sleeping wise guy, I was sorting. Greg said we were going to the State range, so I thought it would be farther away not down the street.”
Greg opened his door, turned around and stared down at me. “Are you coming or are you staying in the car?”
I grabbed my backpack, got out of the car and shaded my eyes. “We’re at the golf range, and there’s a hiking trail over there.” I pointed to the right. “I’ve been here before, okay not for quite a while, but I remember walking here a long time ago with Annie, her pup and a pup I no longer have. We used to go through to the back, down to the reservoir and on our way back, kick golf balls we’d find to them. They loved to chase after them. It was before Kai and Koa’s time.”
Mike walked up alongside me and asked, “Do you recall the range you crossed through to get down to the reservoir?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake, we’re going there? What a great day for an outdoor shoot!” I headed straight down the path in the direction of the range.
Mike motione
d to Greg and said, “We’d better hurry up, she’s liable to start without us.”
Greg broke into a run, shouting, “No way, those are department targets, if anything happens to them, the colonel will have my head. Laura, wait up, don’t you touch a thing until I set everything up. You hear me? Laura!”
Mike cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “You’d better run faster, Greg. Laura’s like the wind and probably already has the targets up and ready to go.”
Another car pulled up and the rest of the crew walked up with their bags over their shoulders. Crosby spoke up first, “What did we miss?”
Mike turned and answered, “Laura outran Greg to the range and Greg’s freaking out about the targets.”
Kai grinned and raised his fist. “That’s my girl, go Laura!”
Grady reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “My money is on Laura, any takers?”
Reggie furrowed his brow and said, “What a sucker bet, of course Laura’s going to win. But we have to be there to see it. Last one’s a rotten egg!”
Crosby patted Mike and Grady on the shoulders and pointed to his car. They ran back to it and jumped in. Crosby gunned it and they roared past a running, sweating Reggie who cursed them both and mustered his energy for an additional burst of speed.
Frustrated at being left behind, Kai slipped on his backpack and took off after the rest of the group at his top speed.
Reggie arrived after Mike, Grady and Crosby and walked through the opening in the hedge. He strode over to the tables and put his pack down. He opened it up and removed a towel and proceeded to wipe his face and arms with it. He turned his back to us so we wouldn’t see how hard he was breathing, then he faced us and attempted to speak. He took a long drink of water, and said, “If you ever pull anything like that again.”
“Hey Reggie, want a peach, they’re a little out of season, but they’re still good.” I smiled and tossed him one from the table where I was sitting.
Reggie leaned against one of the telephone pole type supports, which held up the slanted shingled roof. Range shooters could either shoot from selected positions underneath the roof, or sit and relax and have a bite to eat at any of the picnic tables provided by the state police. This wasn’t a shelter that protected one directly from the elements, unless it was a driving rainstorm— even then you were bound to get wet. It was built to withstand any and all windstorms since there were no sides to it and the roof was sturdy enough to deal with the heaviest of snows, hence the pole supports.
A serene setting had been chosen, one which lent itself to total and complete concentration on the task at hand; improving one’s ability to work with the tools of the trade. We were slightly uphill from where the targets would be or could be set up and this could be done at varying distances anywhere from twenty yards up to one hundred. At the end distance, there was an enormous dirt berm which had been built to absorb the fired ammunition. Through the trees, you could make out the reservoir. A twin rail had been built so targets could be moved across the width of seventy five feet. I noted metal targets, already on the range grounds as well as a stack of paper targets Greg had brought with him. There were also mock wooden doorways and hallways for us to practice with; all to help us prepare for whatever we might encounter when and if we met Jelly and her cohorts at the Thunderbird Air Show at Bradley International Airport in a few short weeks.
Unlike indoor ranges I’d practiced in, there were no specific lanes here. When indoors, individuals were partitioned off into separate lanes and targets were pinned on an extender arm and the shooter pressed a button, setting it to the desired distance, anywhere from ten feet up to fifty feet. It was a guarantee Greg would insist on our wearing ear protection though, so I had brought my bright orange set I used for mowing the lawn and blowing the leaves. At least they would see me.
I had a feeling Greg was going to have us shooting from a variety of positions: One knee, standing, prone, running, following each other, or teams of two, coming out of a roll, or anything else he might come up with. I was checking out trees Crosby might like for a sniper perch when I felt something brush against my shoulder. “The tree, right behind you.” Crosby pointed to a Sugar Maple inside the tree line and about twenty yards behind us.
I spotted the tree and turned to the range and looked back at him. “I’m not doubting your ability, not after what I’ve seen, but it’s further than the shot you took at the reservoir.”
A smile creased his face. “Exactly why I want to give this a go. I want to push myself,” Crosby said, picking up a peach. “One hundred yards, by my calculations.”
Greg laid out a map of Bradley Airport on the table and pointed to the southern portion and said, “This is where the show will take place, out of the way of the normal traffic of the airport. It’s where Connecticut’s Air National Guard is based, and it’s where the Stealth will be on display both before and after the show. In answer to your question, ‘cause I know you’re going to ask, the Thunderbird schedule is now up on the internet; easily obtained. The Stealth being at the show was supposed to be a complete surprise, and we’re fairly certain it came from Teddie, because Reggie says so.” Greg paused for Reggie’s confirmation.
“It’s what my contacts say.” Reggie nodded.
Mike crossed his arms and said, “I think it’s about time you told us who these sources are we’re trusting. We’re putting our lives in their hands.”
“Really?” Reggie crossed his arms, mimicking Mike.
“It’s a fair request,” Crosby said, taking another bite from his peach. “Let me take a guess, is it military?” He asked as he pulled the pit from the peach.
Reggie squared his jaw and asked, “Are you tapping my phone? If you are, I’ll have you up on Federal charges so fast.”
Crosby grinned. “Nope, I know the right questions to ask. Okay, for the second one, which branch?”
“Air Force. You happy now? It’s one of my old buddies I served with back in the Gulf and I don’t like talking about it, so don’t go nosing around. He’s still in and can get me the information I need when I need it.” Reggie pointed his finger at each one of us and was adamant when he said, “You’re not going to get me to talk about it, either. I was just a kid when I signed up, not even eighteen years old. I was a couple months shy and saw more than a teenager should have, but it was a way out for me so I took it. Damn you, Crosby, why did you have to go there!”
Greg cleared his throat and said, “You’re not alone, Reggie, I did a couple of tours with the Marines in Afghanistan as did Crosby and Grady. Mike was Army Airborne in Iraq, so I’d say we’re well represented here. We don’t discuss it if you don’t want to, it’s our code, but we’ve always got your back and it’s also our code. Let’s say we get back to the business at hand, which is going over this map and working out some details of our positions. Once it’s accomplished, let’s shoot. Agreed?”
Everyone nodded their assent and refocused their attention on the map.
Greg traced a line with his finger around the perimeter of the airport the Air Guard occupied and said, “We’ll have Air Guard troops securing the entire perimeter, checking everyone who enters and exits, regardless of the fact it’s a free show. There’s one gate and that’s it and all bags will be checked. Parking will be restricted to one area and one only. When it becomes full, the remaining visitors will be requested to park outside of the gate and walk in and as with the others, anything they bring in will be properly scanned. For those who have difficulty with walking, there will be several bus shuttles running back and forth between the parking areas and the line-up area to be scanned prior to entry to the base. Bomb-sniffing dogs will be on hand and they can detect guns, too. If these three are planning to enter with weapons, I don’t see how it’s possible.”
I raised my hand.
Greg turned to me. “Go ahead, Laura.”
“What’s the possibility of either another mole, or the current one being able to use his cr
edentials to gain access to this base in order to hide the weapons for Jelly and her crew beforehand?”
Reggie tapped Greg on the shoulder. “May I?”
“Sure, go ahead,” Greg said.
Reggie rubbed his chin and then looked at me. “That’s a damned good question, Laura and it’s one I ran by my buddy because I have the exact same concern. If one set of credentials can be made up, why not two? If there’s one mole; why not more? This is not a small operation by any means and if it were me, it would have been in the planning stages for months if not longer. You don’t go about stealing the Stealth off the top of your head even if you are a wing nut. So, my buddy said he would check it out and that was yesterday. I normally hear back from him in a couple of hours on this particular matter, but I haven’t been able to reach him either on his work phone or personal one. I texted his colonel on the way over, and he didn’t show up for his shift this morning, so, Greg and Mike, I owe you an apology for blowing up the way I did a few minutes ago. I’m worried about my buddy. I’m waiting for a call or a text from his colonel and I fear the worst because of all the digging he’s been doing.”
“Hey, Reggie, if it was my buddy doing so much for me and I hadn’t heard, I’d be worried too.” Mike patted him on the shoulder. Reggie narrowed his eyes and nodded. Mike took a step back and returned the nod.
“Um, Greg, I just got a text from my funny friend, the one I told you Mike and I met at the Farmers’ Market,” I said, handing my phone to Greg.
Greg reached for my phone and said, “Right, the kid with the weird name, A. Twist. Let me see what it says: Heard from Jelly she has guns & ammo stash 4 show. Laura, text him back and see if he knows where the weapons and ammo are stashed?” Greg handed the phone back to me, and I texted as fast as my fingers would allow. We huddled around my phone waiting for the chime. I could hear my own heartbeat along with everyone else’s, or so I thought.
“Finally!” I gasped.
“What does it say?” Greg demanded. “Sorry, please read it, but make it snappy.”
Case of the Mouse Trap Legend Page 15
