by JJ Aughe
They had only taken a few steps up the trail when Carol indicated tracks in a sandy area. “There are two sets of clear tracks,” she whispered. Then, “But the next set has a boot print partially over them.”
Bailey knew that meant Almed was following the women and did not wait to hear more, but was immediately at a trot, his weapon held in position to fire at any instant.
Just after Carol left Sean to alert Dennis:
The medics had ultimately ignored Carol’s direct order to help Sean get word to Dennis. They insisted that he wasn’t in any condition to move around. Finally, Sean had had enough. He beckoned one of the medics closer on the pretext that he was in pain. As the medic bent over him, Sean belted him on the jaw, knocking him backwards and into the other medic. Knowing it was going to hurt like blazes but intent on his mission, Sean got up and hobbled away in search of Dennis.
That man was already organizing a squad to check out the shot they had just heard when Sean found him. He was informing Dennis of Melissa’s going after Almed and Bailey and Carol following to back him up when a second shot interrupted him.
Dennis immediately turned to his assembled men. “Listen up!” he ordered. “As you all know the leader of these terrorists has escaped. He is believed to be down by the river. I have just been informed that we have three women and one man missing. The man is Bailey Gilmore. You all know who he is and will recognize him. Special Agent Carol Winfrey from D. H. S. is one of the women. The other two are Ms. Jessica Melano and Ms. Melissa Calahan-Hough.”
“Detective O’Donald has informed me that Ms. Calahan-Hough followed Almed into the brush along the river and Ms. Melano followed her to give back up. Soon after that, Gilmore and Agent Winfrey followed the women. I’m certain that the two shots we have heard were from two different weapons. Not hearing any more gun fire may indicate that the two women and maybe all four of our people are in trouble.”
“Now,” he continued. “The foot recon and satellite image of this area revealed there are four trails or foot paths that could be used to get to and from the river. I want a five-man squad on each of those paths. I’ll lead Alpha squad. Jones, you lead Baker and pick the leaders of the other two which will be Charley and Delta. Lieutenant Maris will be in charge up here until we return. When we get down where the trails are I’ll tell each squad which path to search. Should you make contact with any of our four people or the terrorist you will immediately report it to me!”
Dennis then turned a concerned frown on Sean. “Sean. I know you are worried about Melissa and are itching to search for her. But you and I both know you are in no condition to go traipsing through the brush down there.”
“You stay here, Sean. My laptop is in the tent where you were treated. I want you to monitor the real time satellite images that are already running on it. Press Control/f-7 at the same time. That will zoom the image in on this area for visual recognition so you will recognize anyone you see in the brush down there. Should you see anyone or anything that is not one of our four missing personnel, and I mean any movement at all down there that might give us a clue where Almed is, you contact me immediately by hitting Control/Shift/m. Report to me too, when you locate any of our four people, or if any of them return to camp.”
Dennis gave Sean a tap on the shoulder, pointed to the Medic tent, then gave the order for his troops to move out.
Chapter 22: A Bridge To Safety?
“Hang in there, Melissa,” Jessie urged. “It’s not too far now. I can see the footbridge through the brush up ahead. It’s just around the next bend.” Melissa had become so weak from loss of blood that Jessie had been almost carrying her for quite a while. Now, her own reserve strength spent, she was going on nothing but adrenaline. Seeing the footbridge had bolstered her spirits though. The campsite was near. Yet, there was still one big obstacle to get past.
On the far side of the bridge the trail cut into the bank by the Forest Service was steep. To make matters worse, about three quarters of the way up that steep cut, she remembered water from a spring seeped onto the clay of the trail. From there down to the bridge the surface was muddy and slippery.
Jessie had worked out at the gym so much that she thought she was in great shape and her body could do almost anything. But, first supporting, then almost carrying Melissa since leaving the river had taken a big toll on her back and leg muscles. She could feel the burn and knew she needed to rest, if only for a minute, just enough time to let her leg muscles relax. Yet she hesitated to stop, her better judgment telling her to get across that bridge and to the top of the cut before she rested.
Gritting her teeth as she neared the bridge she mentally prepared herself for the ordeal, repositioned her arms around an almost unconscious Melissa and took a step onto the bridge. Pain immediately shot up the Achilles tendon on the back of her left leg causing her to lose her balance. Getting a tight hold on Melissa with one arm, she caught the bridge railing with the other one. Putting her back to the railing, her breath coming in short, quick gasps, she knew there was no help for it. She had to stop or she would never get Melissa safely up that steep cut in the trail.
Melissa roused enough to worriedly ask, “Why are we stopping?”
Jessie, not wanting to let on that she was flagged out and injured to boot, tried to give her friend a smile to assuage the worry she knew her own voice revealed, but only succeeded in making a short grimace. “I’ve got to rest a minute before going on,” she admitted. “It’s going to take everything I’ve got left in me to get you up that trail.”
Though it made her feel like she was going to pass out again, Melissa turned her head and gazed up the trail to the top of the cut. Recognizing where they were, she knew she could not let Jessie try to get her up that muddy, slippery first section by herself. When she tried to speak, her throat hurt so bad that her voice came out as a croak. She tried again, finally getting out, “Jessie. Don’t try to get me up there. I know you have been carrying me since we left the river. You have to be just about done in.”
“I have to, Melissa,” Jessie insisted. “That is our only way back to camp.”
Her mind racing, trying to come up with a solution, Melissa sagged against Jessie. “There has to be another way.”
Inspiration struck and, excited, she attempted to yell but pain in her throat made that impossible so she croaked out, “Use your pistol, Jessie! Fire three shots in the air! That’s what Grandpa always told me to do if I was in the woods and needed help! It’s the universal signal to summon help!”
Jessie’s arms were around Melissa’s waist, her fingers locked together. “Good thinking, Melissa! I’ll have to let you slide down to the planks first though. So, get ready, okay?” At Melissa’s nod, Jessie unlocked her fingers, quickly placed her hands under Melissa’s armpits, slowly lowering her friend to a sitting position against one of the posts of the bridge railing. Her own legs gave out then forcing her to sit facing Melissa as she pulled the pistol from her waistband.
Releasing the clip, she checked to make sure there were enough cartridges. Satisfied there were plenty she shoved the clip back in. As she did, her glance fell on Melissa’s face and alarm sent chills up and down her back! The woman’s eyes were wide open as she peered past Jessie’s shoulder, her lips beginning to tremble.
Behind her, Jessie heard a pleased voice. “It’s so nice of you to sit down and wait for me to catch up, Miss Melano.”
On instinct, rather than conscious thought, having her pistol grasp in both hands ready to fire into the air, Jessie reacted. Falling onto her back, she threw her arms over her head and fired and kept firing until her pistol clicked on an empty chamber.
Jessie’s first bullet struck Almed in the chest. With surprised incredulity in his eyes, his legs went out from under him as his own automatic pistol fired, the bullets going wild. His airborne body jerked each time one of Jessie’s bullets hit him, sending his body over backwards, where he lay still.
Before Jessie could even begin to rise t
o check if Almed were still alive, Bailey rushed onto the bridge, dropped his rifle and pulled her into his arms. “Jessie! Are you hurt?”
His arms around her felt so good as he embraced her that she could only shake her head. To her chagrin, reaction set in then. Her body started shaking and unstoppable tears flowed from her eyes as hysteria took over.
Bailey tightened his hold on her slim body, brushed his lips across her forehead, gently kissed away the tears streaming from her eyes. Then he captured her lips with a deep, ferocious, mind-boggling kiss.
Behind them, Carol stopped, knelt to check Almed’s body for any sign of life. The pattern of the six bullet wounds spaced within a hands breadth in the man’s left upper chest told the story sending chills throughout her body. Yeah, he is dead alright, she thought as she shook her head. She got to her feet, studied the scene before her for a second or two. Noting that Bailey held Jessie in his embrace and didn’t seem to be going to release her any time soon, Carol stepped past them to check on Melissa, who hadn’t moved since falling sidewise as Bailey had rushed to Jessie.
Alarmed by the fresh blood covering part of Melissa’s face and right arm she grabbed her cell phone to call for help, realized it probably would be useless, shoved it back into its pouch at her waist and started checking Melissa’s wounds.
As Melissa opened her eyes, smiled weakly and tried to speak Carol heard the soft squish of boots moving rapidly through the mud of the steep trail and reached for the pistol in her holster. What she saw when she looked up had her breathing a sigh of relief.
Four men behind him, Dennis O’Donald, almost at a run, quickly slogged down through the mud of the steep trail. He ordered the medic of his squad to check Melissa. Then surprised Carol by pulling her to her feet and crushing her to his chest in a hard embrace. Dennis took her by the shoulders, pushed her to arms length, gazed into her eyes with a stern expression, shook his head and pulled her back to his chest. His voice catching, he rasp out, “What in the hell were you thinking, woman! When Sean told me you were following Bailey without back up I almost went crazy!”
Carol leaned back in his arms, gave him a surprised look. “Why Dennis O’Donald!” she teasingly breathed. “A person might take that as meaning you have romantic feelings for me.” Seeing his startled expression, she smiled knowingly. “But I know that could not be true, don’t I, Dennis? A man of your status having amorous feelings for a subordinate would be completely against the code of conduct. Wouldn’t it?”
In answer he shifted a hand to the nape of her neck, tilted her head back and covered her mouth with his in a kiss that most definitely said otherwise.
He was still holding her when they heard a yell from the top of the cut, “Attention the bridge. We are Delta squad. May we approach?”
Achim Abulla had been checking for survivors in the brush north of the campsite and, being out of sight when Dennis’s force struck the campground, had been able to escape. Hiding in the brush near the river he witnessed Almed being shot and his later death. Incensed that a lowly woman had taken his leader’s life, he vowed to avenge his leader if at all possible.
That evening, having found where Siamahd had stashed his motorcycle, he reached safety at the Auburn home of another of Almed’s terrorist cell, he sent encrypted messages to the men in charge of the rest of Almed’s cells, ordering them to gather together at the lake.
The next day, with no actual leader to direct them as to what they were to do and no idea what other objectives they could go after, Achim asked for suggestions. One of the men told about following two sets of footprints and discovering Bailey’s cavern. Achim decided ruining the cavern was what his dead leader would want them to do and set the men about the task. None of the terrorists were skilled explosive experts. That being the case, they were unaware the explosive supply they had on hand would not be sufficient to do more than collapse the entrance of the cavern. Thinking the explosion would destroy something of great value to America, Achim and the thirty-four terrorists left the lake behind as the explosives detonated.
Hoping to get back to their homeland via any means possible the terrorists stole a large RV from a farm. Achim didn’t want to take the chance of the RV being spotted on The Mountain Highway by going through two small towns to get to the highway that would lead them to the main freeway south. Instead he opted for the only other recourse, to travel the Forest Service roads through the National Forest to the only other highway that could get them where they needed to go.
Twenty minutes after the terrorists left the farm the owner and his wife returned. They immediately reported the RV stolen and that the thief or thieves had left an inoperable assault rifle leaning against one of the interior walls of the RV garage. A half-hour later Forest Ranger Maddie Hays, who had just checked a campsite along Skate Creek, noticed the RV pass. She had received instructions not to try to contact or apprehend the culprits, but to immediately contact headquarters. The dispatcher at headquarters immediately contacted the State Patrol.
Previously apprised of the Bugle Creek incident and because the presence of the assault rifle made him suspect the two incidents might well be connected, the Commissioner of the State Patrol wasted no time informing Dennis O’Donald of D. H. S. That man immediately took command of the situation.
He ordered a National Security alert to all law enforcement in and around the National Forest, Mt. Rainier and to all cities in the area. To seal off the area he ordered roadblocks set up in strategic locations on all roads leading into and out of the area. The area of special concern, Skate Creek Road North would be blockaded at the junction to Packwood so that no civilian vehicles could enter or leave the area from the north or south without being thoroughly searched. The northern section of Skate Creek Road would be blocked by at least six law enforcement and or emergency vehicles at the junction of the National Forest road to Big Creek Campground, effectively sealing the terrorists, if they were that, in between the two positions. He finished by directing all available National, State, County, and even City Law Enforcement personnel south and east of that area to mobilize any heavy machinery or trucks available and immediately converge on the Packwood Wye.
Thinking they were home free, so to speak, the terrorist in the RV were smiling as their driver slowly drove along. They had changed their plans and now planned to ditch the motor home outside of Packwood, steal another and head for Yakima then to I-90 and the dense forests of Montana. A good plan, if it had worked. It didn’t.
At the Packwood Wye, the terrorists tried to crash through the two bulldozers and eight forestry vehicles blocking their escape. When that didn’t succeed they put up a fight. Some of the terrorists were captured as they tried to flee on foot, others, refusing to surrender, died in the brief firefight.
With info from Almed’s laptop Dennis and the HS forces were able to apprehend another twenty of Almed’s well placed terrorist spies insinuated into positions in different law enforcement, city government and civilian businesses, two actually working at the Department of Homeland Security installation, effectively putting an end to the largest known terrorist cell in the United States.
Chapter 23: Five-Finger Lake
Two and a half months later:
Jessie turned in her husband’s arms, giving him a quick, happy kiss on the cheek. Looking back over her shoulder she watched as the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Sean O’Donald, returning from their month long honeymoon at a resort in Belize, deplaned from the new floatplane Cessna had delivered only the day before to C&G Aerial Adventure Charters. They were now being rowed ashore by none other than Sean’s nephew, Dennis O’Donald himself.
After hugs all around and the usual questions asked, Jessie turned to Dennis, put a pout on her lips and inquired, “Where is Carol? She was supposed to be with you. You didn’t send her on some errand for Homeland Security, did you?”
“Man!” Dennis exclaimed. “Absolutely not! We were only married four days ago! What do you take me for? A slave driver?” Then he
smiled and explained Carol’s absence. “I told her you would be upset! But she begged off coming with the excuse she had some important shopping to do. I told her that Bailey’s new pilot would fly her down in the rental floatplane when she finished. So, unless she gets too involved in shopping, she should be here in, say, two hours or so.”
Bailey’s plane being destroyed, the newly hired pilot and the rental plane had been Bailey’s only recourse to service his clients. He had willingly taken that step. His willingness was rewarded when the new pilot, being an archeology buff himself, and informed of the cavern and his new boss’s recent marriage, informed Bailey that he could handle everything involved with the business and for Bailey to take all the time he needed for a honeymoon and to get the excavation going. Bailey had taken the man at his word and, almost three months to the day since he had met and fallen in love with Jessie, the excavation of the cavern was well underway.
When Jessie had nothing to say in return for Dennis’ excuse, Melissa caught Jessie’s eye. “What’s going on, Sister mine,” she innocently inquired.
Jessie smiled while thinking she couldn’t love this woman any more if she were her real, blood sister. “Oh. There has been a lot going on since you two left a month ago, Sis. The. . .”
Exasperated, Melissa stopped her in mid-sentence. “I don’t mean all the activity I saw up on the mountain as we flew over, Jessie. That activity was expected. I meant with you. You look so, I don’t know. So ravishing, I guess.” Suspecting the answer to the question uppermost in her mind, she cocked her head sidewise a little and coaxingly inquired, “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Jessie gave her friend a look that could only mean ‘Later,’ took Melissa by the arm, surreptitiously nodded toward the tents and trailer set up on the beach near the now heavily used trail to the excavation site, leading her and her wheeled suitcase in that direction before replying, “Nothing that is important anyway.” When they were far enough from the three men on the beach that Jessie was sure she couldn’t be overheard, she told Melissa she had something important to ask her.
