Cornerstone (Phantom Squad Series Book 1)

by J. M. LeDuc

  “They will be here.”

  “They better.”

  Omar balled up his hands into fists. He was practically foaming at the mouth with hatred.

  Falcon laughed when he looked at the old man.

  Omar cringed. The infidel’s laughter was like nails on a chalkboard.

  Omar kept his eyes on his new ally until he was no longer in view. “Mark my words, you American pig,” he fumed, “you will be dead when this mission is over.”

  Later that day, one hundred and six men, some in U.S. uniforms carrying U.S. weapons, others in traditional Afghanistan robes marched out of the mountains and began the trek toward Alpha.

  CHAPTER 45

  The directorate and Phantom Squad met for one last meeting with President Dupree in the conference room.

  “I would be remiss if I didn’t ask one more time,” Maddie said. “Mr. President, your trip is a logistical nightmare, will you please call it off.”

  “No.”

  Maddie sighed. “Very well.”

  “It is my understanding that all the pieces are in place,” President Dupree said.

  “They are,” Seven responded.

  “Then why the meeting? Did you find the mole?”

  “Not yet, sir,” Joan answered. “I have narrowed it down to ten possibilities, but I don’t have a confirmation yet.”

  “Keep working on it. I would love to know who it is before I leave.”

  “That’s one reason I’ve asked for the meeting,” Seven replied. “I would like you to postpone until Joan has a definite on the identity of the spy.”

  “No can do, you know my schedule is tight. I need to be back in D.C. one week after the junket. I want the leeway,” President Dupree said. “You said one reason, you have others?”

  Seven glanced over at Scarlet. “Just one. I received a message last night from your office that you asked for Scarlet to remain behind.”

  “It wasn’t a request,” the president said. “As your Commander and Chief, I am ordering my daughter to say in Palm Cove.”

  Seven bit his bottom lip. He looked at Scarlet who was looking back at him with pleading eyes. He then addressed President Dupree. “The squad is a five-man operation. Just because Brent is not here, that hasn’t changed. Scarlet goes with us.”

  President Dupree pointed to the monitor. “Damn it!” he yelled, “I told you, my daughter stays here.”

  Seven spit in his cup. “Yes, you did. And I told you that I would keep you safe. For me to keep my promise, Scarlet needs to be there.”

  The president stood, placed his hands on his desk and leaned into the camera. “If anything happens to her, I will hold you personally responsible.”

  “I don’t mean any disrespect, but if anything happens to Scarlet, it happens to all of us.”

  The president’s face turned crimson as he stared into the camera. Seven stared back.

  Maddie finally broke the stalemate. “If there is nothing else, sir, we will see you in a few days.”

  The president broke his stare. “My plane will touch down in Palm Cove in three days at exactly five a.m. Be ready to leave. I want no further communication until I see you in person.”

  The screen went black.

  “That went well,” Joan said.

  Seven looked at her and spit. “Better than I thought. I thought he would put up a bigger stink about Scarlet being part of the mission.”

  “He wants to protect me, but he trusts your judgment,” Scarlet said.

  Seven nodded. “I wish it wasn’t my judgment. Where the hell is Brent?”

  Everyone turned to Joan. She stared back like a cat that had swallowed a bird.

  Maddie decided to press the issue. “How is it that you can break the Pentagon’s security software, the best in the world, but you can’t find a technologically inept man?”

  Joan didn’t even flinch. “The technologically inept man hasn’t tried to use the internet, his phone or any form of communication. He is totally off the grid.”

  “What about the young officer who is with him?” Seven asked.

  “The same. He is totally black. I spoke to his family yesterday. They are worried about him. They said that even when he was deployed, he always managed to contact them at least every couple of weeks. It’s been forty-one days since he left Palm Cove and they haven’t heard anything.”

  Maddie glanced at Seven and then back at Joan. “Keep trying. I want them found before the squad leaves for Afghanistan.”

  “Yes, Director. If there is nothing else, I have a lot of balls to juggle before President Dupree arrives.”

  “Dismissed,” Maddie said.

  Joan left and the airlock engaged.

  “She’s lying,” Maddie said.

  “I’ve seen her frustration build over the past few days,” Alana said. “She is up half the night trying to find Brent. Why do you think she is lying?”

  Maddie leaned over the table, and pointed a perfectly manicured nail at Alana. “Because I know her like a mother knows her daughter. She might be able to fool the rest of you, but not me.” She pointed to Scarlet. “Press her. Find out what she knows.”

  “But . . .”

  “But nothing. I want Brent found. I need Brent found.” Maddie placed her palm on the scanner and the door hissed open. She turned back to the squad. “We all need him found.”

  Seven shook his head. “This day just keeps on getting better and better.” He eyed each person in the room. “I want to run through a final scenario today.”

  “What would that be?” Jefferson asked.

  “Helter Skelter.”

  “What’s Helter Skelter?” Scarlet asked. “I’ve never heard of it.”

  Seven eyed the squad. “That’s the scenario if everything goes to shit.” He tapped his tobacco tin out of habit. “We meet in the armory in thirty minutes. Dismissed.”

  CHAPTER 46

  Brent heard Brother Ezekiel approach from his left. He remained still as he tried to determine the monk’s next move. Before he could adjust, Ezekiel swept his feet out from under him. Brent hit the stone floor hard.

  “Perhaps all your late nights are impeding your progress,” Gregory said.

  Brent’s frustration grew as he picked himself up off the floor. “Perhaps, you should go check on Tag and see how he is doing.”

  “I already have. Your young friend has mastered the staff and is sparring with Michael.”

  When Brent heard Gregory’s words, he white knuckled his staff in frustration.

  The monk placed a hand on Brent’s shoulder. “Come, I have something to show you.”

  Brent shrugged off his hand, “I need to train.”

  Gregory replaced his hand and squeezed. “You need to follow my lead. Right now, I need to show you something, and then you can train.” Gregory let go of Brent’s shoulder. “Come,” he said as he walked out of the room.

  Brent sat on the wooden bench in the dining hall with a hot mug in his hands. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. “Coffee, you’ve been holding out on me, Brother.”

  Gregory took a sip from his cup. “Brother Jonah picked it up in the village. I thought a little reminder of home would be nice.”

  Brent took a slow lingering sip. “You have no idea.” Placing the mug on the table, he pulled his hair back and waited for Gregory to speak.

  He didn’t.

  Brent began to rise from his bench. “If this is just a coffee clutch moment, I have training to get back to.”

  “Please sit, Ambassador,” Gregory said.

  “My name is Brent.”

  Gregory lowered his voice. “I think that is the problem.”

  “Come again.”

  Gregory reached over and clasped both of Brent’s wrists. “You are the Ambassador, you are the Chosen One, you a
re the Enlightened One. Whether you choose to be called by those names or not, it doesn’t change who you are.” Brent opened his mouth, but Gregory squeezed his wrists harder. “I noticed you had a tattoo on your chest. ‘Affectus mos adepto vos occidit.’ Latin for ‘Emotion will get you killed.’ ” Brent swallowed hard. “I imagine those words must mean a lot to you?”

  “They’re not just words, they are what keep me alive,” Brent answered. “They are part of me.”

  “Ahh,” Gregory said. “It sounds like those words are part of your identity.”

  Brent nodded.

  Gregory let go of Brent’s wrists and rose from his bench. “Maybe you should have had Ambassador, Chosen One and Enlightened One tattooed below it.”

  Brent took another sip of coffee as he heard Gregory leave the room. He sat quiet for a moment as the brother’s words reverberated in his mind. He brought his hand up to where the tattoo was and traced the words. In that moment, he knew what he had to do. Today and tonight.

  Back in the training room, Tag and all the monks gathered in a wide circle. In the middle of the circle, Brent and Brother Ezekiel were about to face off in a duel.

  Brent clutched his staff and squatted in the middle of the room. He could hear the whir of Ezekiel’s staff as the young monk circled the room. Although he was blind, Brent could see the movements inside his head. The image of Ezekiel was cloudy, as if he was looking through turbid waters. But it was clear enough. He knew where the monk was and he was able to predict his movements.

  Brent closed his eyes and took a deep, cleansing breath. He rose from his squat and began to twirl the staff like a baton. He waved Ezekiel to approach with his free hand. The monk attacked, bringing his staff low as he tried to strike Brent behind the knees.

  Brent countered and blocked his staff with his own.

  Tag could see the look in Brent’s expression. It was the same look he saw when they fought the tribal gang on the train platform. Brent’s expression or lack of one made Tag smile.

  For the next ten minutes, Brent blocked every attack of Ezekiel’s. He could feel the strikes becoming weaker and knew it was his time to attack. He again stood in the middle of the room and waved for the young monk to approach. When he did, Brent turned, took three steps toward the wall, jumped, sprang off of the wall and flipped over Ezekiel’s head. In the same fluid movement, he landed and swung his staff, clipping the monk’s and knocking it out of his hand. When Ezekiel bent to pick it up, Brent swung again with both hands. His staff was aimed directly at the young monk’s face. At the last second, he checked his swing and stopped the momentum of the staff inches from his face.

  A collective sigh could be heard from everyone in the room.

  Brother Gregory began to clap and the rest of the monks, including Ezekiel followed suit.

  “Come, Brothers. We shall celebrate.”

  The monks began to funnel out of the room, but Brent and Tag waited to be called.

  “The celebration is for the two of you, I hope you are coming,” Gregory said.

  “We are just being respectful, Brother,” Brent said. “We are waiting for you to call us.”

  “I did,” Gregory said. “You have proven yourselves worthy to be called Brothers. Come.”

  After dinner, Gregory asked Brent and Tag to follow him outside. Once they were in the cold night air, he handed them each an axe.

  “What are these for?” Tag asked.

  “You have proven yourselves worthy of your own staff. Come and follow me.”

  They walked up onto the foothills of Mount Ararat. Brent spent the time shadowing Tag and then Gregory. Even with his blindness, he never missed a step.

  “Here,” Gregory smiled and pointed at the two trees in front of them. “It is our tradition that all brothers choose their own tree, but I have had my eye on these two. They grow strong and true. If you would permit me, I would like to give you these trees to carve your staffs from.”

  “Are you serious,” Tag said. “These trees must be thirty feet tall and four feet in diameter.” He then brought his small hand axe up in front of his face. “You expect us to cut them down with these?”

  Gregory’s smile widened. “It is our custom.”

  Tag turned and clinked his axe blade with Brent’s. “It’s going to be a long night, Kimosabi.”

  Brent felt the tree with a soft hand, blindly looked up into a starry sky and belly laughed.

  For the best part of the next five hours, Gregory instructed them how to fell the trees, how to peel back the bark and finally how to trim each layer of wood from the tree until all that was left was the core—the heart—of the tree.

  Once the staffs were cut, the three men made their way back down into the monastery and there they saw the monks standing in a circle tapping the ends of their staffs off the hard stone floor. A form of celebration. Gregory led the brothers in a short prayer service before they all went to bed.

  CHAPTER 47

  Brent waited until everyone was sound asleep before slipping out of his room. He made his way towards the staircase which led to the Khor Virap chapel. He hesitated, waited, and listened. A smile came to his face as he heard the familiar footsteps of Brother Gregory.

  Brent turned toward the monk. “Good evening, Brother.”

  “And to you, Brother. It seems you have me at a disadvantage.”

  “Oh?”

  “You knew I was coming, but I don’t know where you are going.”

  “Do you ever sleep? You seem to be everywhere.”

  Brother Gregory looked at Brent’s heavy backpack. “That’s funny, I was about to ask you the same question.”

  Brent’s expression turned serious. “It’s time I went in search of the beginning.”

  “Alone?”

  Brent nodded. “It’s what God is telling me.”

  “How will you climb without sight?”

  “Since I have been out at night with Tag, I have discovered that I can see the light from the star.”

  Gregory handed Brent a leather bag. “Here, you will need this.”

  Brent felt the outside of the pouch. “What is it?”

  “Dried fruit for your time on the mountain.”

  “How did you know I would be leaving?”

  “The star you speak of. It has been getting brighter over the past few nights. Tonight, it is shining like the sun.”

  Brent tucked the pouch inside his backpack. “Thank you, Brother. I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “Ask, Chosen One.”

  He handed the monk a note. “Please see that Tag gets this note and make sure he doesn’t leave until I get back.” Gregory grasped the note, but Brent didn’t let go. With his free hand, Brent grabbed Gregory’s wrist. “Don’t let him leave here, no matter what he hears, no matter what happens.”

  Gregory tugged again. This time Brent released the note.

  “You are expecting bad things to happen?”

  “Yes, not here, but . . . yes.”

  The old monk turned to leave. “We will do what you ask, and we will await your return. Go with the love and protection of God.”

  “Always,” Brent said as he ascended the stairs.

  The air was crisp as Brent walked the foothills which led to the base of Mount Ararat. He could see an eerie glow being given off by the star, and his other senses were in tune with his surroundings. The staff came in useful as the climb became steeper. He could still feel the rock and gravel under his boots. He knew from his visions that the ark would be found high on the summit where the mountain was covered in ice and snow. Based on his research, Brent knew he had at least a day’s climb before he would feel anything other than rock.

  He continued his climb for the next ten hours before he had to stop and rest.

  That should put enough distance between me and Tag, he thought. He l
ay down in a protected crevasse, away from the wind, closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.

  Back at the monastery, Tag became furious when Brother Gregory gave him the note and told him Brent left to climb the mount. He ran for the exit, but was stopped by the brothers. He swung his fist at the stone wall when his efforts to leave were countered by the monks. Luckily, Gregory blocked the strike with his staff.

  CHAPTER 48

  Joan and the girls sat in front of the television in her bedroom getting ready for the best part of their day. She had received a signal from Brent asking for a live video conference at eleven p.m. Joan returned the message asking him to push it back until one a.m. She wanted to be sure Lucille would be sleeping.

  The four of them—they now referred to themselves as ‘three ladies and a princess’—waited in front of the screen for Brent to connect from his end.

  “I’m a little worried about Brent,” Joan said.

  “Why? What do you know that we don’t?” Alana asked.

  “Brent didn’t encode his message earlier. That’s not like him.”

  “Hmm.”

  Joan’s thought was interrupted by the beeping signal on her laptop.

  All attention shifted to the screen. Even Faith had grown accustomed to the sound. Instinctively, she reached up and took hold of Alana’s hair. The connection went live and they were taken back when they saw Tag staring back at them.

  Joan’s spidey sensors were firing on all cylinders. “Lieutenant Achak, where is Brent?”

  Tag’s demeanor lightened momentarily when he saw Joan. “Please call me Tag.”

  Joan blushed and she fumbled with her words.

  Alana rolled her eyes. “Lieutenant, I will ask the question again, where is Colonel Venturi?”

  Both Tag and Joan snapped out of their fog.

  “That’s why I called this meeting. That and I don’t know how to prerecord a message.”

  “Where is Brent?” she asked again.

  “He is . . . he is on a mission, but he left me a note and asked me to get this to you as soon as possible.”