The Vanishing

by Gary Winston Brown

  “Yeah, except your master plan was so well executed you ended up becoming enemies of the state. What a stroke of brilliance that turned out to be.”

  Ahead, Virgil stumbled and fell.

  “On your feet, Lutt!” Fallon called out.

  “I… c-can’t… f-feel my leg.”

  Fallon ran past Martin to the fallen man and delivered a brutal kick to the side of his body. Virgil attempted to roll, deflect the blow, but his damaged leg would not allow him to move. He cried out, then collapsed to the ground. “Get your ass up!” Fallon yelled.

  Earl Bentley stepped between Fallon and Virgil. “Pretty tough for a pissant with a gun,” he quipped, hands fisted at his sides. “Maybe you’d like to try this old trucker on for size. I’ll even let ya have the first one for free.”

  Fallon chambered a round and smiled. “You want a shot at the title?” He pressed the gun under Bentley’s chin, forced his head up.

  Earl struggled to reply. “Like I said, nothin’ but a pissant. A gutless little pissant.”

  Fallon removed the weapon from Bentley’s chin. “I haven’t got time for you now, old man,” he said. “But trust me, before the night is through, you and I are gonna dance.”

  “It’ll be my pleasure,” Earl replied.

  “Now get him on his feet,” Fallon demanded. He walked away.

  “He ain’t goin’ nowhere,” Earl said. “Neither am I.”

  “You’re really beginning to piss me off, grandpa!” Fallon yelled. He grabbed Claire by the arm, pulled her out of the line, pressed the barrel of the gun against her temple. “You have exactly five seconds to get your newfound friend mobile or I reduce our happy little hiking party by one. Five… four… three… two…”

  “Fallon, no!” Amanda cried.

  Bentley raised his hands, yelled. “All right! Ya made your point. Leave the lady alone!” He knelt beside Virgil.

  Fallon pushed Claire aside and walked back to the old trucker. “I told you. Don’t fuck with me, old man. Next time you don’t get a count. Understand?”

  “Yeah,” Earl replied. “I understand.”

  “Good. Now let’s go.”

  Martin helped Earl get Virgil back on his feet. “Don’t worry, mister,” Earl said. “We got ya.”

  “Thanks,” Virgil replied. He winced. “I think he broke a rib.”

  “Better a rib than dead,” Martin replied.

  “I suppose,” Virgil said. He hobbled along the path, supported by the two men. He looked over his shoulder at Fallon as they approached the edge of the woods. “He’s on the run, isn’t he?” he whispered.

  “By more organizations than you’d want to know,” Martin replied. “Do you have any idea who you’re involved with?”

  Virgil shook his head. “Until last night, no. But now I do.”

  “Fallon and Krebeck are walking laundry lists of criminal charges,” Martin replied. “Escaping lawful custody, kidnapping, murder, espionage, treason... take your pick.”

  “I shoulda kicked his ass when I had the chance,” Earl Bentley said.

  “That makes two of us,” Martin replied.

  “You came to arrest him, didn’t you?” Virgil asked.

  “No,” Martin said. “We came for Amanda.”

  “I heard them talking,” Virgil confessed. “Krebeck killed her parents.”

  “We know. When this is over, would you testify to that in court?”

  “Absolutely,” Virgil replied.

  “Good,” Martin said. “Then try to keep your cool. Help is on the way.”

  “You got somethin’ up your sleeve I don’t know about, junior?” Bentley quipped, “’cause as far as I can see we’re pretty much on our own out here.”

  “Yeah, I do,” Martin said. “When Krebeck surprised us back in the forest, I activated an emergency locator beacon in my car. It’s like a panic alarm. People from my office are already in the area looking for us. They’ll find us soon.”

  Bentley smiled. “Pretty slick.”

  “Just keep your eyes open and be ready for anything. When it goes down, it’ll go down hard and fast. You take care of our friend Virgil here. I’ll watch out for the girls.”

  “You got it.”

  “If your friends can help us,” Virgil said, “They better get here soon. We can’t go to the cabin.”

  “Why not?” Martin asked.

  “Fallon doesn’t know that I know about it, but I do. My friend is there, so is my family. I told them about Krebeck and Fallon and what I’d overheard. I sent them there for their own safety. Now I think I may have got them killed.”

  “No one’s going to die tonight, Virgil,” Martin replied. “Not your family, not us. I guarantee that.”

  “I wish I could believe that,” Virgil replied. “I want to do something to help, to protect my family, but I can’t. Look at me, I’m useless. I can barely walk, much less fight back.”

  “You just hang tough, my friend,” Earl said. “I’ll do your fightin’ for you. That includes lookin’ out for your family. Everything’s gonna be okay. You’ll see.”

  “Everybody hold up!” Krebeck yelled. “Stay where you are!” He walked to the end of the line, gestured to Fallon. “Come with me.”

  The two men stepped far enough away from the group that their conversation could not be heard.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Look straight at me,” Krebeck whispered. “Don’t look around.”

  “Okay,” Fallon complied. “Why are we stopping?”

  “We’ve got trouble. One hundred yards, on my left. In the woods.”

  63

  CROUCHED BEHIND A tree, Mark placed a call on his cell phone.

  “This is Pike,” the voice answered.

  “Jonathan, it’s Mark. Joseph Krebeck and Reginald Fallon... you want ‘em back?”

  “Hell, yes.” Pike replied. “Hot or cold. Makes no damn difference to me.”

  “That’s what I figured you’d say. I need your help, pal. And I need it yesterday.”

  “Name it.”

  “We’ve found your boys. But if we move in now, our principal’s going to die. How soon can you deploy a tactical unit to my coordinates?”

  “I’ve got a hot chopper and live-round team on the tarmac as we speak. They’re scheduled for a training exercise, but I can prep them en route. Where are you?”

  Mark gave his GPS coordinates to the CIA Special Operations Commander.

  “Christ! You mean these bastards have been in our backyard all along?”

  “It looks that way, Jonathan,” Mark replied.

  “Well, that just plain pisses me off,” Pike said. “Inform your people, we’re on our way.”

  “Tell your pilot to look for several small buildings near a clearing at the base of the mountain,” Mark said. “I can’t risk dropping smoke or using a landing flare. You’ll have to locate our heat signatures using infrared.”

  “Copy that. How long can you hang in?”

  “Not long. They’re on the move. So are we.”

  “Consider us in the air,” Pike replied.

  64

  REISA OPENED THE creaky cabin door and peered out into the rain-soaked forest. Water fell from the trees, smacked loudly on the rickety wooden verandah, pooled on the path, and drowned out the peaceful silence of the night.

  He looked back. Sky was shivering.

  “You cold?”

  “Freezing,” she replied, her arms wrapped around Blessing. The little girl sat in her lap and played happily with her doll.

  “Sorry I can’t make the place more comfortable,” Reisa said. “I can’t risk starting a fire. No one’s supposed to be here. The smell of the smoke would be a sure-fire giveaway where we are. Anyway, Virgil should be here any minute. Then we’ll decide whether to stay or go.”

  “I know,” Sky replied. “Thank you for helping us, Reisa. Virgil should think himself lucky to have a friend like you.”

  Reisa shrugged. “I gave him my word I’d ke
ep you both safe, and that’s exactly what I intend to do. Besides, there ain’t nothin’ he wouldn’t do for me. Just try to stay as warm as you can. We’ll be out of here soon.” He looked at Blessing as she talked quietly to her doll.

  “How’re you doin’, sweetheart?”

  “Fine,” Blessing replied. She stroked the doll’s hair. “But Miss Emily’s getting a cold.”

  “Really?”

  “Yup. She’s got the sniffles. And she’s been coughing a lot, too.”

  Reisa played along. “Well, you tell Miss Emily to keep herself wrapped up tight in her blanket. As soon as daddy gets here, we’ll take you both someplace nice and warm. She’ll be feeling better before you know it. Okay?”

  “I guess,” Blessing hesitated. “Where is daddy, Uncle Reisa?”

  Reisa heard branches snapping on the path. Someone was coming.

  “Sounds like him right now, honey,” Reisa said. He turned to Sky. “I’m gonna go see if he needs help. You two stay put. Don’t open this door until I get back. Understand?”

  Sky nodded. “Be careful, Reisa.”

  “Nothin’ to worry about. I’ll be fine.” Reisa pulled his collar tightly around his neck, stepped outside, and shut the door behind him.

  A stiff wind blew down from the mountain and through the trees as Reisa walked down the path. The chilly night air passed through his jeans and made him shiver. The cabin was too damp and cold for Sky and Blessing. They would need to leave tonight.

  The muddy path was slick from the rain. A fallen tree limb lay beside the path. He picked it up, used it for support as he negotiated the treacherous terrain. Several times along the way his makeshift cane saved him from falling as he stepped into unseen potholes or slid over lichen-smoothed rocks hidden beneath the blanket of wet leaves. When he had reached a bend in the path, he stopped and listened. The forest felt preternaturally still, as though on guard.

  “Virgil?” Reisa whispered. “Where are you?”

  A figure, steeped in shadows, approached from the foot of the clearing.

  “Geez!” Reisa exclaimed. “What took you so long? I was beginning to get worried that somethin’ might have happened to…”

  Moonlight glinted off the silver barrel of Fallon’s gun as he stepped into view. He trained it on the big man. “Somehow I just knew you’d be as stupid as Lutt,” Fallon said. He advanced up the path, met Reisa. “To assume otherwise would be an insult to my intelligence.”

  Reisa looked past Fallon at the small group that accompanied him.

  “It’s true, Reisa!” Virgil called out to his friend. “Everything I told you about Prophet and Amanda. It’s all true!”

  “Shut him up!” Fallon yelled over his shoulder, his gaze never wavering from Reisa. To the big man he said, “You’re going to head back the way you came. My guess is you know about the cabin, so you’ve just been elected as tour guide for this romantic evening stroll.”

  “Ain’t gonna happen,” Reisa replied firmly. “Why don’t ya just put the gun away before ya hurt yourself with it.”

  Fallon ran his fingers through his wiry hair. “Now that is simply not the response I was looking for.” He pointed the gun at Reisa and fired.

  The bullet tore through Reisa’s leg. He cried out and crumpled to the ground.

  “No!” Virgil screamed. He tried to break free from Earl Bentley and Martin. “Reisa! REISA!”

  Reisa lay on the ground, unconscious.

  Fallon walked back down the hill and faced the group. “Listen to me!” he yelled as he paced up and down the line. “I warned you all… do not fuck with me!” He pointed to Reisa. “That man is going to bleed to death tonight because he was a fool. Unless you want the same thing to happen to you, I suggest you do exactly as I say. Now move!”

  Virgil shuffled along the path, spoke to his fallen friend. “Oh God, Reisa,” he said. “I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry!”

  65

  MARK PLACED A call, tried to downplay the urgency in his voice. “Jonathan, we have shots fired. Where the hell are you guys?”

  “Shot’s fired,” Pike acknowledged over the thrum of the helicopter rotors. “We’re six minutes out.”

  “Not good enough,” Mark replied. “I need you here now!”

  “Copy that, Mark.”

  Pike yelled at the pilot. “Get us the hell out to those coordinates!”

  “I’m doing my best, Commander,” the pilot replied.

  “Then do better, dammit!”

  The engine revved. The nose of the chopper dipped abruptly, picked up speed.

  “Sir,” the pilot yelled. “Time to target is three minutes.”

  “Copy that,” Pike confirmed. To his men he yelled, “Lock on. Stand by for my go.”

  The four members of the tactical team stood two aside on the helicopter landing rails and fastened their safety harnesses.

  “Two minutes to target, sir!”

  “Roger that!” Pike yelled. “Give me a heat lock.”

  The Bell LongRanger swooped sharply over the peak of the mountain and began its descent to the Brethren compound.

  A narrow beam of light struck the ground. The laser measured the distance below. “Clear to deploy in 300 feet,” the pilot called out. “200… 100… 50… Teams are good to go, sir!”

  Pike yelled. “GO! GO! GO!”

  The tactical team dropped their fast ropes into the darkness below, zipped down the line, landed on the ground, then quickly spread out, covering the perimeter of the compound as the helicopter touched down. Pike jumped out through the open door.

  “Mark, do you have your eyes on?”

  “Copy,” Mark replied as he watched the helicopter land. “Hostiles and friendlies are in the woods. Have your team advance to our location.”

  “Copy that. On our way.”

  66

  “WAIT HERE. KEEP an eye on them,” Fallon told Joseph. He trained his weapon on the front door of the cabin. “I wasn’t expecting Stone, and we sure as hell don’t need any more surprises. I’ll check it out. Wait for my all clear, then bring them.”

  “Maybe we should just keep moving, Reginald,” Krebeck replied.

  “And go where?” Fallon said angrily. “Fuck it! We do this now, then we’re done with it. The two of us can manage fine on our own. But if we take them with us, we’re as good as dead.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “Lock them in the cabin.”

  “Then what?”

  “Burn it. Like Kampala. No witnesses.”

  67

  KAREN RADIOED MARK. “There’s a cabin beyond the ridge. That’s probably where Krebeck and Fallon are taking them.”

  “Are they mobile?” Mark replied.

  “Negative. Fallon has separated himself from the group. He’s checking out the cabin. Krebeck’s guarding the others.”

  “What about Martin and Claire? Are they okay?”

  “I think so.”

  “And Amanda Prescott?”

  “She’s with Claire. Wait a minute. Fallon’s on his way back. He’s moving them into the cabin. If I can get a little closer, I can probably take him down.”

  “Negative!” Mark replied. “CIA tactical is moving in as we speak. Hold your position and stand ready. All teams confirm.”

  “Copy,” Karen replied.

  “Affirmative,” Dan responded. “Cynthia and I are in position.”

  “Good,” Mark replied. “When this goes down, I want our focus to be on getting to Martin, Claire and Amanda and extracting them to a safe zone.”

  “Copy that,” Dan said. “Ready when you are.”

  Mark spoke to Pike. “Are your men in position?”

  “Roger.”

  “They understand Krebeck and Fallon are the objectives?” Mark continued. “I don’t want my operatives or any civilians caught in the line of fire.”

  “Don’t worry,” Pike said. “They’re clear on the targets. Quick and clean. That’s how we operate.”

  “These
bastards have gotten away before.”

  “Not this time.”

  “Good enough,” Mark said. “Then let’s do it. From here on it’s your op, Jonathan. Good luck.”

  Pike placed his hand on the collar microphone around his neck and gave the order. “All teams engage,” he said.

  68

  “EVERYBODY IN!” Fallon yelled. “Move!”

  Krebeck ushered the group through the door and into the small cabin. Martin and Earl helped Virgil into a chair. His teeth chattered. Violent spasms racked his body. A worn blanket lay crumpled on the floor between the chair and the wall. Amanda wrapped it around Virgil to warm him.

  “Virgil!” Sky cried. She ran to her husband. “Are you all right? What did they do to you?”

  Blessing ran to the corner of the room, held tight to her doll. The frightened girl began to cry.

  Claire removed Virgil’s blood-soaked compress, examined the wound. “This man has lost a lot of blood,” she said. “He’s going into shock. He needs to get to a hospital right away.”

  “I don’t care,” Krebeck said. “Deal with it.”

  Fallon removed a kerosene lamp from a hook on the wall and turned around in time to see Earl Bentley rush Krebeck. “Joseph!” he called out. “Behind you!”

  Too late, the old trucker tackled Krebeck, knocked him to the ground. Before he could subdue the writhing man, he was rendered helpless by an unseen, crushing blow to the head. He slumped to the ground.

  “Get up, old man!” Fallon said. He pressed his gun against the trucker’s forehead. Slowly, Earl rose to his feet.

  “Damned if I’m gonna just stand around and watch you walk out and leave us here,” Bentley said. “I know what you’re plannin’ to do with that lamp. You’re gonna burn it down.”

  Fallon helped Krebeck to his feet and pushed him out the cabin door. “Move an inch,” he said, “and I’ll kill you where you stand.”

  Outside the cabin, Fallon set down the lamp, picked up a broken branch from the ground. “Get the door, Joseph.”