Babylon, Iraq
“General I assume you’ve taken command of the Center.” Brett Reed spoke sharply into the phone.
“Yes sir. We have detained the Director and most of his men. Only two remain at large. A Conrad Owens and Travis Dekker. Dekker is in Israel with the man sent to assassinate the two men in Jerusalem, and I have men searching for Owens as we speak.” The General reported.
“Were any lives lost?”
“Just four. Lt. Yates’ information led us to discover some underground escape tunnels. We brought the tunnel down on them as they were trying to escape.”
Brett smiled. “Good work General.” Brett lightly touched his cheek. “And what about Keller’s wife. Is she in custody?
“No sir. I sent men to retrieve her but she was not at their residence. I’m assuming that she could be with Owens. A few of my men spotted his vehicle at the Keller residence just a few nights ago.”
Brett’s face went red with fury. “I want that woman found!”
“Yes sir. We’ll find her, I guarantee it.” The General said nervously.
“You had better.” Brett growled into the phone. “She is very dependant on her husband. I wouldn’t be surprised if she somehow tried to get Owens to try and free him.”
“Yes sir.”
“I want Keller kept alive. Parade him around in the yard. Make sure he’s quite visible to anyone planning to break him out.”
“Yes sir.”
“What about Dekker? Is he one of Keller’s men?”
“Yes sir, he is. If Lt. Yates had come forward with his information sooner, I would have never let the man out of the center.”
“Do you have a way to contact Dekker?”
“Yes sir. He has a satellite phone.”
“Have Lt. Yates contact him. If he has a satellite phone he should be easy enough to track. We’ll have soldiers on the ground in Israel deal with him.
“Yes sir.”
Brett disconnected the call. He walked to his window and looked out. Absently he rubbed his cheek, the cheek that Tansy Keller had dared to slap. In his mind he envisioned all the ways he would retaliate for that indignity. He could still feel the humiliation he felt in the moments after Tansy had stuck him. He hadn’t been expecting the slap and he head had turned so hard he had felt his neck pop.
Brett could feel the blush of embarrassment staining his cheeks as he remembered it. Shaking his head he grit his teeth. “You’ll pay Tansy. You and Frank will both pay.”
“General I assume you’ve taken command of the Center.” Brett Reed spoke sharply into the phone.
“Yes sir. We have detained the Director and most of his men. Only two remain at large. A Conrad Owens and Travis Dekker. Dekker is in Israel with the man sent to assassinate the two men in Jerusalem, and I have men searching for Owens as we speak.” The General reported.
“Were any lives lost?”
“Just four. Lt. Yates’ information led us to discover some underground escape tunnels. We brought the tunnel down on them as they were trying to escape.”
Brett smiled. “Good work General.” Brett lightly touched his cheek. “And what about Keller’s wife. Is she in custody?
“No sir. I sent men to retrieve her but she was not at their residence. I’m assuming that she could be with Owens. A few of my men spotted his vehicle at the Keller residence just a few nights ago.”
Brett’s face went red with fury. “I want that woman found!”
“Yes sir. We’ll find her, I guarantee it.” The General said nervously.
“You had better.” Brett growled into the phone. “She is very dependant on her husband. I wouldn’t be surprised if she somehow tried to get Owens to try and free him.”
“Yes sir.”
“I want Keller kept alive. Parade him around in the yard. Make sure he’s quite visible to anyone planning to break him out.”
“Yes sir.”
“What about Dekker? Is he one of Keller’s men?”
“Yes sir, he is. If Lt. Yates had come forward with his information sooner, I would have never let the man out of the center.”
“Do you have a way to contact Dekker?”
“Yes sir. He has a satellite phone.”
“Have Lt. Yates contact him. If he has a satellite phone he should be easy enough to track. We’ll have soldiers on the ground in Israel deal with him.
“Yes sir.”
Brett disconnected the call. He walked to his window and looked out. Absently he rubbed his cheek, the cheek that Tansy Keller had dared to slap. In his mind he envisioned all the ways he would retaliate for that indignity. He could still feel the humiliation he felt in the moments after Tansy had stuck him. He hadn’t been expecting the slap and he head had turned so hard he had felt his neck pop.
Brett could feel the blush of embarrassment staining his cheeks as he remembered it. Shaking his head he grit his teeth. “You’ll pay Tansy. You and Frank will both pay.”
- Zags
________________________________________________________
Jerusalem, Israel
Travis turned on the satellite phone and saw that he had two messages. Dialing into the voicemail he felt his face drain of all color.
“Travis. The center is compromised. Sebastian ratted us out to the General. Frank and several of the other guys have been taken prisoner. I’m taking Tansy you know where. Whatever you do, DO NOT go back to the center. Don’t answer if the center calls you. As a matter of fact, get rid of that phone. They can probably use it to track you. My prayers are with you buddy. You know where to go if you make it back.”
The second message was from Sebastian at the center. Travis shut the phone off without listening to the message and looked at Mikhail who was still sleeping.
“Mikhail.” Travis said loudly.
Mikhail sat up a knife in his hand. He spotted Travis and lowered the knife.
“We have to go. Now.” Travis said his voice panicked.
Mikhail stood up. “What’s happened?”
“One of the guys at the center betrayed us all. We have to get out of here ASAP.”
Travis turned on the satellite phone and saw that he had two messages. Dialing into the voicemail he felt his face drain of all color.
“Travis. The center is compromised. Sebastian ratted us out to the General. Frank and several of the other guys have been taken prisoner. I’m taking Tansy you know where. Whatever you do, DO NOT go back to the center. Don’t answer if the center calls you. As a matter of fact, get rid of that phone. They can probably use it to track you. My prayers are with you buddy. You know where to go if you make it back.”
The second message was from Sebastian at the center. Travis shut the phone off without listening to the message and looked at Mikhail who was still sleeping.
“Mikhail.” Travis said loudly.
Mikhail sat up a knife in his hand. He spotted Travis and lowered the knife.
“We have to go. Now.” Travis said his voice panicked.
Mikhail stood up. “What’s happened?”
“One of the guys at the center betrayed us all. We have to get out of here ASAP.”
- Zags
_______________________________________________________
Rabat, Morocco
The flight out of Jerusalem had not been much of a problem except for the three hour delay in Rabat, Morocco. Mikhail had bleached his hair and his beard after shaping it into a goatee. Travis had darkened his hair to black and used tanning lotion to darken his skin.
Mikhail hurried through the airport Travis on his heels. His newly blond hair shone in the sun as he exited the terminal and made his way out onto the tarmac toward the waiting Learjet.
Travis scurried behind him a cell phone to his ear as he spoke quickly. “I do not care how much of an inconvenience it is. My employer wishes his plane to be in the air within ten minutes. He has important business to attend to. Mr. Morrata is not a man to be trifled with.” Travis snapped the cell phone shut after a few moments.
He hurried aboard the plane and rushed to his seat. He glanced at Mikhail. “We will be in the air shortly Mr. Morrata.”
Mikhail gave a regal nod and bucked his seatbelt.
Within ten minutes the plane was on the runway cleared for takeoff.
As soon as the plane was in the air Mikhail lifted his hand toward the lone flight attendant. “Leave us. I have much business to attend to.”
With a nod the attendant disappeared toward the cockpit.
Travis looked at Mikhail and let out a sigh. “I don’t know how you pulled this off, but you da man.”
“Thank you. The Valdez’s are long time business associates of my former employer. I’m sure once they discover I am no longer in the business they will greatly regret allowing me the use of their plane.”
Travis scratched his newly darkened hair. “Now what?”
Mikhail pulled out a notepad. “Draw up a schematic for the center to the best of your memory. I will need to know each and every exit, and any escape routes that were added to the buildings. I need to know where the detainees are being held and where they might be moved. I do not know if the General would expect an attempt to be made to free the detainees, but I am going to assume he would.”
Travis bent his head to begin drawing. “I don’t know how much good this will do. Sebastian knows about this stuff. He helped us build it.”
Mikhail nodded as he booted up a computer. “I understand that. But I have a plan. I just need to know where they will be guarding the building the heaviest.” Mikhail let out a sigh. “No internet.” He slammed the laptop closed.
He noticed Travis scratching his head. He had begun scratching within minutes of applying the hair color.
“You should stop scratching.”
Travis didn’t even look up from his sketching. “I’ve always had allergies. I’ll take an allergy pill as soon as I finish this.”
“You have an allergy to most alcohol as well?”
“Yeah.” Travis muttered. “I’m allergic to barley. Not deathly allergic though. Most times if I drink whiskey it makes me sicker than a dog.”
“Why did you drink on the plane on the flight to Israel?” Mikhail asked out of curiosity.
Looking up from his drawing Travis grinned. “Because Trevor told me you might be a borderline Christian. I figured you’d want to do some recon as soon as we got there so I drank some scotch. I knew I’d be sick and you’d have to go alone. I was hoping if you were to hear the two witnesses you’d come on over to our side. If not I didn’t want to see you…you know…get killed.”
“You deliberately made yourself ill so I could go see the two witnesses alone?”
Travis ducked his head back to his drawing. “Yeah.”
Mikhail smiled. “Thank you.”
Travis looked up. “No problem.”
- Zags
_________________________________________________________
Black Mesa
Conrad punched in the code to the inner cave and almost ran into Skunk.
“What are you doing here?”
Conrad gripped Tansy’s hand and pulled her close to his side. “I need to talk to everyone.”
Skunk turned and headed back down the tunnel until he reached the main room.
“Hey everybody!! Something’s up!!” Skunk shouted.
Mo and Nathan walked into the room and saw Tansy with Conrad. They looked at Skunk and he just gave a shake of his head. Leon, Renee and Kristen all took seats around the table. Conrad sat Tansy down next to Kristen and waved his hand at the rest of the group to join them.
Tansy sat softly sobbing and Kristen reached over and took her hand. She could feel Tansy shaking and she looked at Conrad. “Is Frank…” Her voice trailed off.
“Frank’s alive as far as I know. Sebastian betrayed us. He told the General about all of us being Christians, and our plans for the center.”
Renee let out a gasp. “But he’s a Christian as well!”
“Obviously he’s not.” Mo said quietly.
Nathan had a disgusted look on his face. “He’s a traitor.”
Skunk nodded. “Probably always has been.”
“Every one of our brothers and sisters in Christ are now detainee’s of the General and the Global Family.” Conrad said. “And with Sebastian knowing about all the escape routes we can guess he’s told the General. I think Ray and a few of the boys were caught in the tunnels.”
“Are you sure?” Leon asked.
Conrad nodded. “I was on the phone with Ray and he said they were in the tunnels then I heard an explosion. It was too loud for them not to have been caught in it.”
Kristen gripped Tansy’s hand. “We have to get them out. All of them.”
“Kristen…how are we supposed to do that?” Mo asked gently. “We can’t just go rushing in there. We need to come up with a plan. That’s gonna take some time. The General has what, forty soldiers. We have five guys and three girls and none of us are trained in this kind of thing. We are seriously out manned and I guarantee the General’s men are highly trained.”
“We can’t just leave everybody there.” Renee objected.
“That’s not what I’m saying. We need to wait. Let the General think no one is coming for them. Then when they have relaxed a little bit and we’ve come up with a plan then we can try.”
“I say we go now. My aunt and uncle and cousin are prisoners there. I refuse to let them sit and rot.” Nathan argued.
“Mo’s right.” Conrad interjected. “We have to come up with a plan. Something the General would never expect. We can’t just go barging in there, or we’ll all be stuck in there until Argryos starts ordering heads cut off.”
Renee flinched. ‘’Well then we need to come up with a plan.”
Conrad punched in the code to the inner cave and almost ran into Skunk.
“What are you doing here?”
Conrad gripped Tansy’s hand and pulled her close to his side. “I need to talk to everyone.”
Skunk turned and headed back down the tunnel until he reached the main room.
“Hey everybody!! Something’s up!!” Skunk shouted.
Mo and Nathan walked into the room and saw Tansy with Conrad. They looked at Skunk and he just gave a shake of his head. Leon, Renee and Kristen all took seats around the table. Conrad sat Tansy down next to Kristen and waved his hand at the rest of the group to join them.
Tansy sat softly sobbing and Kristen reached over and took her hand. She could feel Tansy shaking and she looked at Conrad. “Is Frank…” Her voice trailed off.
“Frank’s alive as far as I know. Sebastian betrayed us. He told the General about all of us being Christians, and our plans for the center.”
Renee let out a gasp. “But he’s a Christian as well!”
“Obviously he’s not.” Mo said quietly.
Nathan had a disgusted look on his face. “He’s a traitor.”
Skunk nodded. “Probably always has been.”
“Every one of our brothers and sisters in Christ are now detainee’s of the General and the Global Family.” Conrad said. “And with Sebastian knowing about all the escape routes we can guess he’s told the General. I think Ray and a few of the boys were caught in the tunnels.”
“Are you sure?” Leon asked.
Conrad nodded. “I was on the phone with Ray and he said they were in the tunnels then I heard an explosion. It was too loud for them not to have been caught in it.”
Kristen gripped Tansy’s hand. “We have to get them out. All of them.”
“Kristen…how are we supposed to do that?” Mo asked gently. “We can’t just go rushing in there. We need to come up with a plan. That’s gonna take some time. The General has what, forty soldiers. We have five guys and three girls and none of us are trained in this kind of thing. We are seriously out manned and I guarantee the General’s men are highly trained.”
“We can’t just leave everybody there.” Renee objected.
“That’s not what I’m saying. We need to wait. Let the General think no one is coming for them. Then when they have relaxed a little bit and we’ve come up with a plan then we can try.”
“I say we go now. My aunt and uncle and cousin are prisoners there. I refuse to let them sit and rot.” Nathan argued.
“Mo’s right.” Conrad interjected. “We have to come up with a plan. Something the General would never expect. We can’t just go barging in there, or we’ll all be stuck in there until Argryos starts ordering heads cut off.”
Renee flinched. ‘’Well then we need to come up with a plan.”
- Zags
_________________________________________________________
Somewhere Over the Pacific Ocean
Mikhail looked to see if they had internet and was surprised to see it was up. He looked over at Travis and saw that he had fallen asleep. He brought up a map of New Mexico and quickly printed out a map.
Taking a highlighter he marked the route they would take to Black Mesa.
Then he went to Argos Earth Live and typed in Boise City, Oklahoma. He began zooming in on the town until the Center filled the screen. He began counting soldiers and making notes. He looked over the drawing Travis had made and looked back at the image on the screen. It was night and it made seeing entrances difficult and the perimeter fence was in total darkness. Deciding he would have to wait until it was daylight to find what he was looking for he powered down the computer.
Running his finger over his bottom lip Mikhail’s thoughts raced as he plotted a way to retrieve his new brothers and sisters in Christ.
Mikhail looked to see if they had internet and was surprised to see it was up. He looked over at Travis and saw that he had fallen asleep. He brought up a map of New Mexico and quickly printed out a map.
Taking a highlighter he marked the route they would take to Black Mesa.
Then he went to Argos Earth Live and typed in Boise City, Oklahoma. He began zooming in on the town until the Center filled the screen. He began counting soldiers and making notes. He looked over the drawing Travis had made and looked back at the image on the screen. It was night and it made seeing entrances difficult and the perimeter fence was in total darkness. Deciding he would have to wait until it was daylight to find what he was looking for he powered down the computer.
Running his finger over his bottom lip Mikhail’s thoughts raced as he plotted a way to retrieve his new brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Zags
_______________________________________________________
Southeast Colorado
Becca was up and running a little past dusk. She was determined to make it at least twenty miles tonight.
She longed to see her family and her heart ached with remorse. If only she had not stayed behind in Colorado Springs she would be with them.
Shaking her head she muttered to herself, “You can’t change anything. Just keep running toward home. Hopefully Maddie will have a roast or a stew simmering with fresh baked rolls dripping in butter.”
Her stomach growled at the thought of Maddie’s cooking and Becca groaned. “Stop torturing yourself Becs.”
Becca ran all night and when dawn was just beginning to light the sky she rolled up in her bedspread. “Please Lord, please let me make it home tomorrow.”
Becca was up and running a little past dusk. She was determined to make it at least twenty miles tonight.
She longed to see her family and her heart ached with remorse. If only she had not stayed behind in Colorado Springs she would be with them.
Shaking her head she muttered to herself, “You can’t change anything. Just keep running toward home. Hopefully Maddie will have a roast or a stew simmering with fresh baked rolls dripping in butter.”
Her stomach growled at the thought of Maddie’s cooking and Becca groaned. “Stop torturing yourself Becs.”
Becca ran all night and when dawn was just beginning to light the sky she rolled up in her bedspread. “Please Lord, please let me make it home tomorrow.”
- Zags
_______________________________________________________
Northeastern New Mexico
Travis sat behind the wheel while Mikhail jotted notes on the drawing he had made. They had left the plane at the small airport in Raton and ‘procured’, as Mikhail called it, a car.
Travis felt guilty about stealing the car, but he was desperate to make it to Black Mesa. He knew Kristen would be pushing for a rescue attempt. He flipped open his new cell, but the satellite phone he had sent out to the cave went straight to voice mail. He left a message telling them that he was on his way and he should be there in a few hours. “Don’t do anything crazy. Mikhail is working on a plan. I’m talking to you Kristen!!” Travis flipped the phone shut and looked at Mikhail.
At Mikhail’s quizzical look he merely said. “You’ll understand when you meet her. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll absolutely adore her. Everybody loves her. I’d lay down my life for that girl, but she can be a bit of a pill at times.”
Mikhail was really beginning to look forward to meeting Kristen.
Travis sat behind the wheel while Mikhail jotted notes on the drawing he had made. They had left the plane at the small airport in Raton and ‘procured’, as Mikhail called it, a car.
Travis felt guilty about stealing the car, but he was desperate to make it to Black Mesa. He knew Kristen would be pushing for a rescue attempt. He flipped open his new cell, but the satellite phone he had sent out to the cave went straight to voice mail. He left a message telling them that he was on his way and he should be there in a few hours. “Don’t do anything crazy. Mikhail is working on a plan. I’m talking to you Kristen!!” Travis flipped the phone shut and looked at Mikhail.
At Mikhail’s quizzical look he merely said. “You’ll understand when you meet her. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll absolutely adore her. Everybody loves her. I’d lay down my life for that girl, but she can be a bit of a pill at times.”
Mikhail was really beginning to look forward to meeting Kristen.
- Zags
________________________________________________________
Somewhere Near the Oklahoma Border
Becca had woken up early. She waited impatiently for the sun to go down. She kept checking her map and knew she was within twenty to twenty five miles of home. She checked her compass and looked into the distance. She could see the faint outline of the landscape. Somewhere in that surprising beauty lay home.
She had been stunned the first time she had seen the area. She had assumed that all of Oklahoma was flat, boring farmland. Seeing the rock formations and volcanic remnants from a long ago eruption had surprised her. It was a beautiful surprise this little piece of heaven on earth.
Becca took note that the sun was still taking it’s time making it’s way to the west. She took a sip of water and took out last of the candy bars. Tearing it open she thanked God for providing for her throughout her journey.
All along she had come across water when she needed it, and her food supplies had lasted much longer than she had expected. Finishing off the candy she twisted the top off the last of the beef jerky. She chewed on it as she thought about all God had done for her.
Finishing the jerky she took another drink of water. As she sipped began to wonder how she would find the cave in the dark. She had never gone to it on foot and she was approaching from a direction she had never gone before. She began to doubt her navigation skills. “Lord, I need your help. Please guide me home.”
The sun slowly began to sink and Becca packed up her belongings in the bedspread. Rolling it up she secured it with the bungee cords and hoisted it onto her back.
She was ready as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon and she began to run.
Becca had woken up early. She waited impatiently for the sun to go down. She kept checking her map and knew she was within twenty to twenty five miles of home. She checked her compass and looked into the distance. She could see the faint outline of the landscape. Somewhere in that surprising beauty lay home.
She had been stunned the first time she had seen the area. She had assumed that all of Oklahoma was flat, boring farmland. Seeing the rock formations and volcanic remnants from a long ago eruption had surprised her. It was a beautiful surprise this little piece of heaven on earth.
Becca took note that the sun was still taking it’s time making it’s way to the west. She took a sip of water and took out last of the candy bars. Tearing it open she thanked God for providing for her throughout her journey.
All along she had come across water when she needed it, and her food supplies had lasted much longer than she had expected. Finishing off the candy she twisted the top off the last of the beef jerky. She chewed on it as she thought about all God had done for her.
Finishing the jerky she took another drink of water. As she sipped began to wonder how she would find the cave in the dark. She had never gone to it on foot and she was approaching from a direction she had never gone before. She began to doubt her navigation skills. “Lord, I need your help. Please guide me home.”
The sun slowly began to sink and Becca packed up her belongings in the bedspread. Rolling it up she secured it with the bungee cords and hoisted it onto her back.
She was ready as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon and she began to run.
- Zags
______________________________________________________
Black Mesa
Mo and Skunk looked at each other in exasperation. They had spent most of the day arguing with Kristen, trying to point out the flaws in each plan she had come up with.
Now she was insisting the could find some way to use the tunnels in to the Center.
“It’s perfect. Nobody would be expecting us to use them to get it. Didn’t you say you dug several false tunnels. We just need to find the end of one of those dig our way down and we’re in!” Kristen clapped her hands.
Conrad felt like pulling his hair out. “Kristen. We have no idea where the tunnels are located from above ground. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack!”
Kristen’s face fell, then lit up. “Well what about..”
“What about doing as Travis said and stay put and wait on him?” Nathan asked for what seemed the hundredth time.
“We don’t know how long it will take Travis and Mikhail to get here. Then I’m sure Mikhail will have something in mind, but he won’t have a solid plan for probably a few days. We’re just coming up with some idea’s to help him.”
Skunk let out a sigh. He stood up from the table and walked over the refrigerator to get himself something to drink. A buzzing sound went off signaling that someone had tripped the perimeter alarm.
Kristen burst from the chair and ran for the tunnel leading to the parking area.
Mo and Skunk looked at each other in exasperation. They had spent most of the day arguing with Kristen, trying to point out the flaws in each plan she had come up with.
Now she was insisting the could find some way to use the tunnels in to the Center.
“It’s perfect. Nobody would be expecting us to use them to get it. Didn’t you say you dug several false tunnels. We just need to find the end of one of those dig our way down and we’re in!” Kristen clapped her hands.
Conrad felt like pulling his hair out. “Kristen. We have no idea where the tunnels are located from above ground. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack!”
Kristen’s face fell, then lit up. “Well what about..”
“What about doing as Travis said and stay put and wait on him?” Nathan asked for what seemed the hundredth time.
“We don’t know how long it will take Travis and Mikhail to get here. Then I’m sure Mikhail will have something in mind, but he won’t have a solid plan for probably a few days. We’re just coming up with some idea’s to help him.”
Skunk let out a sigh. He stood up from the table and walked over the refrigerator to get himself something to drink. A buzzing sound went off signaling that someone had tripped the perimeter alarm.
Kristen burst from the chair and ran for the tunnel leading to the parking area.
- Zags
_______________________________________________________
Black Mesa
Mikhail flexed his fingers. He stared at his hands for a moment. ‘Hands of a killer.’ He thought to himself.
“You look nervous.” Travis said as he took his eyes off the terrain for a moment.
“Keep your eyes on where you are going. You could drive us off in a ravine and leave evidence for soldiers to find.”
Travis hid his grin and did as he was told.
Mikhail frowned and began rubbing his finger against his bottom lip. It was a habit he had when he was concentrating.
A few minutes later Travis remarked. “We’re getting close. They have alarms that go off if anything crosses a certain point to let them know someone is coming.”
Mikhail nodded. “Do they approach from the same direction all the time or do they vary their routes?”
“They vary it. There’s not much to leave tracks on out here, but driving the same way every time is bound to start leaving some signs of traffic. They have vehicles parked in other caves out here. If they need to they can walk to get to a car.”
Mikhail nodded again. His forearms began to ache and he noticed he had clenched his fists again. He forced himself to relax. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly releasing the breath he opened his eyes and Travis began to slow the car to a stop.
Mikhail looked at the solid rock wall that stood about thirty feet in the air.
Travis got out and walked up to the wall. Seconds later a big bay door began to rise.
Travis waved for Mikhail to move behind the wheel and pull the car into the opening.
Crawling over the console Mikhail did as instructed and was surprised to see several other vehicles parked in the cave.
He parked next to an SUV and shut the car off while Travis closed the door.
He opened the car door and was about to step out of the car when he heard a girls voice let out a squeal.
“Travis!!!” He turned to see a small teenage girl run at Travis and launch herself into his arms.
Travis staggered back as he caught the girl. Laughing he hugged the girl close and swung her in a circle. He set her on her feet and threw his arm across her shoulders.
Mikhail swallowed nervously as Travis turned the girl toward the car. He got out of the car, slammed the door and walked forward to meet them.
“Kristen, I’d like you to meet Mikhail Mekhdiev. Mikhail this is Kristen Holt.”
Mikhail gave Kristen a nod and was completely caught off guard when she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him as if she would never let go.
Mikhail flexed his fingers. He stared at his hands for a moment. ‘Hands of a killer.’ He thought to himself.
“You look nervous.” Travis said as he took his eyes off the terrain for a moment.
“Keep your eyes on where you are going. You could drive us off in a ravine and leave evidence for soldiers to find.”
Travis hid his grin and did as he was told.
Mikhail frowned and began rubbing his finger against his bottom lip. It was a habit he had when he was concentrating.
A few minutes later Travis remarked. “We’re getting close. They have alarms that go off if anything crosses a certain point to let them know someone is coming.”
Mikhail nodded. “Do they approach from the same direction all the time or do they vary their routes?”
“They vary it. There’s not much to leave tracks on out here, but driving the same way every time is bound to start leaving some signs of traffic. They have vehicles parked in other caves out here. If they need to they can walk to get to a car.”
Mikhail nodded again. His forearms began to ache and he noticed he had clenched his fists again. He forced himself to relax. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly releasing the breath he opened his eyes and Travis began to slow the car to a stop.
Mikhail looked at the solid rock wall that stood about thirty feet in the air.
Travis got out and walked up to the wall. Seconds later a big bay door began to rise.
Travis waved for Mikhail to move behind the wheel and pull the car into the opening.
Crawling over the console Mikhail did as instructed and was surprised to see several other vehicles parked in the cave.
He parked next to an SUV and shut the car off while Travis closed the door.
He opened the car door and was about to step out of the car when he heard a girls voice let out a squeal.
“Travis!!!” He turned to see a small teenage girl run at Travis and launch herself into his arms.
Travis staggered back as he caught the girl. Laughing he hugged the girl close and swung her in a circle. He set her on her feet and threw his arm across her shoulders.
Mikhail swallowed nervously as Travis turned the girl toward the car. He got out of the car, slammed the door and walked forward to meet them.
“Kristen, I’d like you to meet Mikhail Mekhdiev. Mikhail this is Kristen Holt.”
Mikhail gave Kristen a nod and was completely caught off guard when she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him as if she would never let go.
- Zags
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