“What else, Lance?”
“I guess the other hard part is not just transferring leadership from them to one or more of their guards, hoping to make a name for themselves,” I replied. “They will all be armed, no doubt, and I’m not sure it can be done.”
“I’m not either,” Mike agreed, “but I’m going over tonight and I’ll do my best to keep you all out of it. Just set up extra security here.”
“You can’t do it alone,” I said, shaking my head. “We can help.”
“No. I don’t want you there, not anyone. Besides, I’m not liberating their camp. They are.”
“What does that mean?” asked Lonnie, saying aloud what we all were thinking.
“The brother, the one about to inherit the camp, has a big group of supporters waiting for him to step up. They say they will back him with blood.”
“Who told you this?” asked Lonnie.
“Mitch did, and I see no reason for him to be less than truthful. So, to continue, we give them one chance to do it, with a little help, of course. After that, they are on their own, and we’ve done all we can do. Do we need to vote on this?” Mike asked us.
“I don’t,” I said.
“Me neither,” replied both Jake and Vlad.
“Lonnie?” he asked. “What about you?”
“I’m not sure it’s the best idea right now, but it’s not right what’s happening over there. I’m okay with you giving it one shot if you want Mike, but if it goes bad, don’t bring them all our direction. We’ve got too much to lose.”
“If it does go bad, you all move on up the mountain, and I’ll catch up if I can,” replied Mike.
* * * *
“Heads up, guys!” called out Steve from up on the lead trailer. “We’ve got company—ten or so at 6 o’clock in two trucks from across the lake, and they’re armed, best I can see.”
“Spread out guys,” called Lonnie. “Get the kids and anyone without a rifle inside the vehicles now!”
We scrambled to get the camp locked down and took sniper-type positions, waiting for a fight.
Mitch and his girl were offered a temporary spot inside the circle and were happy to accept.
“Just stay down,” said Lonnie. “I’m not sure why they are here.”
Both trucks stopped 50 yards out, and the call came. “We own this lake and a mile out on all sides—you’re trespassing.”
“Wait,” said Lonnie over the radio. “Nobody respond.”
All was quiet for the longest 30 seconds since, well, since only a couple days ago, I thought.
“You’ve got our brother, and we want him back.”
Mike had a quick talk with him before telling him he could leave. Mike called out loudly as the man walked back towards his brothers.
“He is unharmed and just came here to talk. We have been ordered by him to pack up and leave tomorrow. We will honor that and will just have to find another place to call home.”
“How many are you?” came the reply. “How many men and women?”
“Interestingly, they didn’t ask about the kids,” I said to Jake.
“Nope. Right now, they are just trafficking women,” he replied, “but another week or two, and I’ll bet those sick guys will find buyers for the kids as well.”
“We’re just passing through now,” said Mike, not answering his question.
There was a brief discussion, including the guy Mike had brought back and three other men, presumably his brothers. With one truck honk, they turned around and headed back around the lake.
“That was odd,” said Lonnie as they drove away. “I expected face-to-face, at least.”
“My guy did what I told him,” argued Mike. “Now I know I can trust him, at least for today.”
* * * *
Mike spent the rest of the day with his binoculars, spying on the group. He spotted no real security beyond some guys carrying guns around and looking like they were going through the motions.
Dinner was easy. Canned ravioli in meat sauce, with eight large cans heated in a pot over the fire.
Lonnie and Vlad made sure only essentials were used, in case we had to move quickly in the middle of the night.
Security shifts started in earnest at six p.m. Three adults took three-hour-long shifts. I drew the second shift, with Aiden and Nancy, from 9 p.m. till midnight.
* * * *
Mike slipped out at dark without using his flashlight or any light source at all.
The drums banged just as my shift started, and I said a silent prayer for Mike.
Mike stayed just off the lakeshore. With its smooth beach-like shore, it was easy to navigate in the darkness.
He wound around makeshift camps, easily identified by small campfires, and he wondered how many of the men he passed had eaten fish tonight while their better halves were being held captive or already sold.
“Lord,” Mike said quietly, “you’ve got a whole lot of bad guys around here that don’t make me look so bad now. Am I right?” He knew better, but he had to ask.
The pit, as they called it, was off the main camp by 200 yards.
Torches lit up the grounds, yet disguised faces like so many high-school bonfire parties he had attended, a few even with his brother and sister, Arthur and Lilly. His mind continued to wander as he thought about his siblings.
After he beat up Arthur’s bullies, nobody would even look at Lilly while he was around. She was the most beautiful and popular girl in school. She could have been mad that his reputation ruined her love life, but she wasn’t.
“Michael,” she would say,
