Page 29 of Triple Threat

“Drone says it is clear, but the guys at the guard shack are organized and about to head your way,” he said.

“Bring the lights back on,” I said. I heard the clatter of a keyboard and a few seconds later, the power was restored and the chaos quieted. The survivors came together and closed what numbers they had. Leaderless, they weren’t going to come after anyone, not when more than half of their posse was dead, dying, or lying in a pool of their own blood.

Reaching the door was easy enough, and I slipped through it, and eased it shut.

“Guard shack team is almost to the front door. The kid is calling the shots, but looks like a morale problem. His men don't want to go, and it looks like he is a lead-from-the-rear type.”

“That’s fine, have the police been notified yet?” I asked.

“Yes, just now, several reports of gunfire and noise complaints,” Roan said.

“Good, put in a call and tell them gang violence, and bring SWAT.”

“It's done,” Roan said. “And it looks like our kid is making a run for it.”

“I don't really like you calling him a kid,” I said. “Dossier said he was thirty-five.”

“Fair,” he said. “Reese is getting into a black SUV with two bodyguards and they’re leaving the property.”

“Not going for the helicopter?” I asked.

“Negative. I’ll follow them with the drone, or do you want air support?”

“I’ll take the air support. Can I call in an air strike on the front of the compound, or the guard shack?”

“You know what I mean, this isn’t Afghanistan. We don’t actually own any bloody gunships.”

“After this, we could afford one, though.”

“Technically, yes;one,” Roan capitulated.

“Thank you,” I said. I shouldered the AR-15 as I came around the side of the building. I could see the taillights of the SUV as it burned rubber turning onto the street. The remaining personnel were in a serious state of disarray, and as long as they didn’t see me, were no threat. I doubled back and retraced my steps through the dead orchard. Fifteen minutes later, I was back in my room, sitting on the veranda, watching as police vehicles swarmed up the drive to the gate at the Final Prophecy Center. I listened to the shouts through a bullhorn, some errant gunfire, and then silence as the survivors were rounded up. It looked like every emergency vehicle in a dozen counties had shown up.

I sipped a gin and tonic and watched the police swarm across the hill.

I was cleaning the guns when the first news helicopters flew over.

By morning this place would be a zoo. I tabbed my mic to see if Roan was still online. “Whatcha need, Lach?”

“Has our bird come to roost yet?” I asked.

“The chicken has made for the coop,” Roan said. “About thirty miles south of your location. It’s a four-way stop on the highway, Silence, Texas.”

“Silence?”

“Yeah, I’ve been running a matrix on it, not much there. Looks like a dirty-spoon diner, a bus stop, trailer park, and the remnants of some roadside attraction – maybe one of those awful home zoos that were a thing a few decades ago.”

“Drone actually make it that far?” I asked.

“Easily, I’m still recording and have connection to it. Landed it on top of their SUV and the rear rotor caught under the luggage rack on top.”

“Handy, I think I am going to pack up and head that way then.”

“I wouldn’t. Wait until morning. They’re bunkered up in a trailer. Probably tweaked out on something, and definitely on high alert. Get some rest and make sure you’ve not been shot.”

“I think I would know,” I said, but did check. I had run on a high of adrenaline for most of the job and in that state, riding that wave, I could probably run on broken bones and not notice something like a flesh wound. Thankfully, I was fine. I looked at myself in the full wall mirror in the bathroom. Yeah. I wasdamn fine. “How’s Sadie doing?” I asked. Now that the mission was done for now, I could afford a little distraction.

“She’s settling in, better now,” Roan said tartly. I ignored him.

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