“Why? I would think you’d feel right at home.”
“I’m not really active, Mom,” he whispered. “If anyone finds out, we could both be in a lot of trouble.”
“Come with me. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
***
“Sgt. Billy Toth, I’d like you to meet my PA, Sgt. First Class Eric Rush,” Allexa said. “Sgt. Rush needs some reassurance regarding his, um, safety here.”
Billy stood and offered his hand to Eric. “It’s an honor to meet you. Your file, your career, and your secrets, are now safe and classified, sir,” he said in a low voice, a snicker tugging at his lips.
Eric glanced over to his mother.
“I told you not to worry,” she said. An announcement on the PA system interrupted them.
“This is Major Kopley. All officers and all non-coms are to report to the promenade at 1700 hours. No exceptions.”
Allexa glanced at the wall clock. “Looks like we have only a few minutes to get there. Care to walk with us, Billy?”
“This is something I don’t want to miss.” He grinned and tapped a few keys to secure his computer and the three walked to the meeting area, chatting among themselves.
***
“After communication with the Pentagon, I have an announcement,” Major Kopley said from a slightly elevated balcony. “Lt. Colonel Smeth, would you join me up here please?”
Allexa and Eric both went on high alert. Billy grinned, knowing what was coming. Allexa stood and walked toward the major. Eric stayed a few feet behind her and stopped at the base of the ramp that led to the balcony.
“Lt. Colonel Smeth, the Pentagon has taken notice of you and has requested your silver bars back.” She took a deep breath, her face stony as she stared at the major. He leaned closer and whispered, “Trust me.”
She unpinned the bars and handed them to Major Kopley, who slipped them in his pocket. “The Pentagon has also taken notice of your recent contributions over the past two years and has deemed a promotion is in order. Congratulations, Colonel,” he said with a smile, and pinned the shiny silver eagle to her collar. At which point he gave her a salute and a handshake, and the crowd below them applauded. He leaned closer and said, “The dress greens look more appropriate, Colonel.”
Me? A colonel?
Allexa was stunned, but kept her face neutral. “Thank you, Major Kopley.”
Eric took a few steps forward and stopped. He wanted very much to hug his mother and knew he couldn’t, not yet.
“Colonel Smeth, I’d be honored if you joined me for dinner in the officer’s mess,” Kopley said. “I have a bottle of red I’ve been saving for a special occasion and I think this is worthy.”
“I’d be delighted, Steve.”
***
Sgt. Billy Toth sat at his computer, grinning. He pulled up the program that intercepted all communications in and out of Sawyer and the Soo. He made a simple notation that would never show. It was he, not the Pentagon that had issued the orders for Lt. Smeth’s promotion, although the email had indeed been routed from the DC location from General Langley.
***
Eric took a seat at a table. Alone, he could keep an eye on the door and on his mother. He ordered a sandwich and coffee.
Allexa and Kopley ordered the lasagna special. He opened the wine and poured them each a glass. “Would your PA like some wine?”
“At the moment, he’s my bodyguard, so no. And that was a cruel joke, Steve, asking for my bars back.”
“Had you going for a minute, didn’t I?” he snickered.
Major Kopley swirled his glass and took a sip. “I’m curious, Allex, what is Operation Boy Scout?” He peered at her over the edge of the long stemmed glass.
She eyed him, weighing how much she could get away with, while cementing his friendship and loyalty. “You know I can’t tell you about my orders, Steve. Let me ask you something. What’s the Boy Scout motto?”
“Be prepared,” he said, curiosity evident across his weathered face. After he mulled that over, he went on. “What could that little town of Moose Creek have to offer the military? I know it’s right on Lake Superior and once had a deep water port of refuge, not to mention it faces another country.” Realization dawned on him. “One that has been aggressive recently. Has the Pentagon deemed Moose Creek to be a… strategic piece of real estate?”
Now that would be a good mission statement for Operation Boy Scout, she thought, silently thanking the major for making it easier for her.
Without answering his question directly, Allexa said, “Ever since the first earthquake over two years ago, I’ve integrated myself into the community, as a civilian. With an AOC of Public Affairs and emergency management, it was easy to fill the position.” Allexa took a sip of wine watching his reaction closely and wondering when lying came so easy to her.
“You’re a ghost?” he whispered, more as a statement than a question.
“I want to reassure you that the mayor of Moose Creek has been completely cooperative with our military presence. He is also aware of my position and rank,” she added, ignoring his question.
Now he won’t question me not being in military garb if he shows up and why someone else is running the town.
“We have found it much easier to work with the local government rather than try to control them. We have limited military personnel, so we also use locals for patrols and it makes them feel part of the infrastructure. However, as cooperative as they are, only military does any… enforcing,” she paused, thinking. “Once Col. Andrews returns, you must come for a visit. Until that time, Major, you are to leave Moose Creek alone. Is that clear?” She had told him nothing, confirmed nothing. He came to conclusions on his own – conclusions she was happy for him to have.
“Yes, ma’am. I have an unrelated question. May I ask why Jim felt it necessary to present you as only a lieutenant when he brought you here a year ago?”
“Didn’t Jim himself show up here as only a captain?” she said with a raised eyebrow, smoothly evading yet another question.
“Point taken,” Kopley said, wondering how she knew that.
***
Eric had escorted his mother to her officer’s quarters and was returning to the enlisted barracks when Major Kopley intercepted him.
“Sergeant, may I have a few words with you?” Kopley said.
“Certainly, sir,” Eric replied, immediately on alert.
“Mainly out of curiosity, I’d like to know more about Col. Smeth. How long have you known her?” the major asked.
Eric knew he had to answer his superior officer, though he had to dodge these questions somehow. “I’ve known her and her family all of my life, sir, and it was she who encouraged me to join the military. I know that her family is completely devoted to her, as am I. She saved my life,” he answered truthfully.
“Interesting. How did she do that?”
“I had been attacked and severely injured,” Eric said, thinking of the wolf attack over a year earlier. “She risked her own life to get me back to safety.”
“She’s a remarkable person. How long have you been in the military, Sergeant?”
“I joined right out of high school at seventeen and I’m now thirty-five, sir.” The questions were making Eric nervous.
“How old is Col. Smeth?”
“Personal questions of that nature are best asked of her, sir.” Eric smiled and turned to leave.
“One final question, Sgt. Rush,” Major Kopley thought for a long moment. “What do you know about Operation Boy Scout?”
“I know it’s top secret, and I can’t discuss it with you any further. Now, if you will excuse me, sir.”
Major Kopley stared at the young sergeant’s back, more confused than ever.
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Are you ready, Sgt. Rush?” Allexa said after their quick breakfast the next morning.
“Yes, ma’am.” Eric picked up the cooler the kitchen had packed with sandwiches and fruit. The thou
ght of fresh apples and oranges made Allexa’s mouth water. They had local apples and grapes in Moose Creek, but the oranges were going to be a real treat later. “I have a request though,” he said, watching his mother slip her new ID into the visor.
“What’s that?” She had always found it near impossible to deny her first-born anything.
“Since we’re so close, I’d really like to see the rift and the new dam.”
“I’m curious about how the dam came out too. Make a right once we clear the check-point.”
“I’m curious about something else too, Mom.” Eric glanced in her direction. “What is it you did to get the UP back online? I didn’t think you knew that much about computers.”
“I don’t know about computers, but I do know about human nature,” she said, still looking straight ahead. “You met Billy. When I first met him at the Soo, he was sweeping floors, a real waste for someone that has a doctorate in computer sciences. What I did, Eric, was give him a chance. I told him what I wanted and I turned him loose. The same for Kim Ki, his counterpart who is still in the Soo. I trusted them. That was something no one else was doing.”
Eric grinned. “So, you were being Mom. That’s how you treat Jason and me. You have such faith in us we don’t want to disappoint you.”
She mulled over what he said and changed the subject. “Make another right at the intersection. They’ve improved the roads. It won’t take us nearly as long to get there as it did the colonel and me.”
“Where do you think the colonel is?”
“I really don’t know, and before you ask, yes, I’m very concerned about him.”
Fifteen minutes later they pulled up to the guard gate that led to the dam and handed over their IDs yet again.
“Your business here, Colonel?”
“I’m interested in an update on the dam, Sergeant. Is Captain Argyle still here?” Allexa asked, leaning across the newly installed vehicle radio.
“Yes, ma’am. Building with the red roof.” He lifted the gate to let them pass.
***
“Captain Argyle,” Allexa caught his attention as he was leaving the building. “Do you have a few minutes for a quick tour? I promise we won’t take up much of your time.”
“I would be my pleasure, Lieut…um…Colonel,” he said, doing a double-take at the much higher rank on her collar than he was remembering. “There have been a few changes since you were here last.”
He walked them over to the dam itself. The cranes and cables were gone and the Chinook helicopter was nowhere in sight. The area had been cleaned up of all visible construction.
At the very top and center of the new dam was a dry spillway. Allexa smiled. “I see you took into account that this river was one of the water level regulators.”
“Oh, yes. Now that the water is rising, and much quicker than we anticipated, we need to plan for the future, and we certainly don’t want the Superior shoreline to flood when it reaches its previous level.”
Eric peered down into the crevasse. “That’s a lot of rock, sir. How many truckloads did it take to back-fill the dam?”
“I lost count,” Argyle laughed. “I’m afraid you must excuse me. I’ve got another priority project I’m working on.”
“I appreciate the time you’ve given us, Captain. And I must say it certainly is impressive.” Allexa and Eric walked back to the Hummer with the captain.
***
“Thanks, Mom, that was really spectacular!” Eric said, heading west on M28, then took 94 around Sawyer and picked up the road that would take them back to Marquette.
“It was really humbling to watch the crew in action installing all those concrete slabs. I’m glad you got to see the finished product.” They drove in silence until they turned on to US41. “There’s the road that leads to the subdivision.” She pointed out the entrance a few minutes later.
After winding through a few downed tree limbs and the broken pavement, they turned where the large spruce tree still blocked the road and partially blocked the driveway.
“Wow,” Eric said, stopping in front of the massive three-story Tudor house. The dark stained contrasting board and bat accents were starting to show signs of neglect and the cream stucco was now streaked with creeping moss and green mold.
They stepped out of the Hummer into the soft spring breeze.
“Cover me,” Allexa said, making her way to the area she had hidden the house key.
“Are we really expecting trouble, Mom?”
“Merely a precaution. Once we’re inside we clear each room,” she said, carefully unlocking and opening the ornate door. The black slate foyer was dusty, and undisturbed. The large living room with the Michigan fieldstone fireplace was exactly as Allexa and the colonel had left it, complete with the two mattresses stacked out of the way.
They checked each room on the main level then ascended the wide, sweeping staircase to check the upper level. Intentionally, Allexa had left all the doors open, except one. Eric put his hand on the closed doorknob.
“Don’t!” Allexa warned him. “There are five bodies in there.” Eric dropped his hand. They checked each room and found them all empty, as expected.
Back on the main floor, Allexa holstered her gun. “Out behind the garage is a propane tank. Would you turn the gas on, please?”
“Are we staying the night?” Eric said hopefully. He knew he should keep his mother away from Moose Creek a bit longer than one night to give Jason enough time to finish their surprise.
“Maybe. Either way, the propane is for the generator that will give us lights.” She headed to the bathroom where the breaker box was, while Eric went out to the tank. When she heard him come back in, she flipped the main circuit breaker to start the whole house generator. As before, she heard the clock start ticking.
***
“Where do we start?” Eric asked, rubbing his palms together, anxious to get started.
Allexa noted to herself that the colonel had done much the same thing, and she wondered again where he was. Shaking off the odd feeling, she opened the inside door to the three-bay garage. “We need to get the Humvee out of sight. Another precaution.”
The overhead door rumbled loudly and Eric drove the big vehicle inside. He then found a spray canister of lubricant and oiled the now noisy track. Allexa smiled at his thoroughness.
“It’s been a year since I was here, Eric. I’d like to check the basement for what we left behind,” Allexa said.
“All you brought back wasn’t everything?”
“We intentionally left some things, hidden of course, in the event we ever came back. Some wine, liquor, and canned goods.” She opened the basement door and flipped on the lights, flooding the stairwell with artificial brilliance.
They descended into the coolness. Allexa pressed the mirrored panel beside the bar and it popped open. Eric was astonished at the finished basement and delighted with the hidden room.
“I’m surprised the two of you didn’t stay longer. Look at all this stuff!”
“I think I’d like to take a case or two of wine home. Maybe all of…” She stopped. “Eric, I just realized I don’t have a home anymore.” A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and she wiped it away.
“Mom, you have often told us that things always happen for a reason and that eventually things work out.” He gave her a hug. “So don’t worry, things will work out.”
He couldn’t tell her what they were doing; she would find out soon enough.
“Mom, I’ll take these cases of wine upstairs and be right back.”
Allexa put a couple cans of salad shrimp in a box and looked through what remained while she waited for Eric to return. She set a few things aside, knowing that if Jim made his way here, he would need some supplies. If he found a bottle of Gray Goose and a couple cans of diced chicken back in the wine cellar, he would know she had been there. It was their private signal. A bottle of red wine and a can of shrimp would have been his signal to her.
Eric
returned to the basement and selected various bottles of liquor that had been hidden in the wine cellar.
“These people either entertained a lot or drank a lot,” he observed.
“Likely both,” Allexa remarked. “Let’s take this upstairs and decide what we want to do.”
***
With the wine and liquor waiting by the back of the Humvee, they sat at the long food island, snacking on the sandwiches from the mess hall.
“Personally, I’m rather curious about where the other road goes,” Allexa said.
“Why didn’t you and the colonel check it out before?”
“We had been on the road a long time, Eric, and I was anxious to go home. Besides, with what we found on this street alone, that trailer was full.”
“I’m glad I packed the chainsaw,” Eric grinned.
“I think we should leave the tree as is and go on foot. Much quieter. We have no idea what may be up that way,” she reminded him.
“Good point.” He stood and put their dishes in the dishwasher. “It’s still early in the day. No time like the present, Mom.”
“I know your weapon is locked and loaded. How many extra magazines do you have?” Allexa asked.
“Two spares. You?”
“I have two also. I don’t expect trouble, but we need to stay alert, and two extras should be more than enough.”
They locked the door as they left and set out on foot. At the fallen spruce tree, they cut into the woods for a few yards, and then moved back to the cracked asphalt.
“I know it’s easier walking on the pavement for your knee, Mom, but as soon as we see any houses, we should be cautious and approach from the woods,” Eric said.
Allexa nodded, knowing her son was right.
They walked quietly for twenty minutes and finally came to the cul-de-sac that ended the street. After seeing several real estate signs, the lone building they saw was a house only partially built and that construction had come to a halt long ago.
The Journal (Book 6): Martial Law Page 14
