“Tom, Bill is on the far side of the barn checking on some carpenter tools I asked him to fetch. If you hurry, you can set up your conversation on the other side of the truck.”
Tom and Rick walked into the barn. “Rick, I’m going down to Ashland alone. I’ll take you and Bill later. The opposition leader wants to talk to me alone. I’ll meet him at the Ashland Airport terminal around midnight. Keep this to yourself.”
They discussed a couple other topics and left the barn.
Tom was pleased that they would finally find the spy. He liked both of the suspects but felt terrible that he’d have to kill one of them. “Well, it looks like the trap is set. I’ll leave after sundown. I’ll keep my radio on.”
*
Chapter 10
The Clark Ranch – The Old cabin
Tom left, heading south in the old truck but doubled back and traveled north about a mile from the ranch. The going was slow due to clouds blocking the moonlight. He parked the truck in the woods behind the cabin and covered it with brush. Tom was cautious as he snuck up to the house but didn’t see anything. He opened the door and was surprised at how much better the cabin looked, thanks to Alice and James preparing it to be their new home. He didn’t start a fire because he wanted to stay hidden. The spy could just as easily meet someone here as anywhere around the ranch.
Tom checked the surveillance system he’d help Jack and James install around the cabin. They hadn’t finished and only had cameras around the house, but did have sensors circling the cabin's perimeter out about one-hundred yards. No one could slip up on him or get past the sensors without sending an alarm into the cabin’s monitoring computer. The computer would cause a red light to glow, plus start a beeper beeping from barely audible to an ear-piercing shrill.
Tom laid his AR on the kitchen table and checked to make sure the blackout drapes were in place. He didn’t want to broadcast his stay at the cabin. He made himself at home but kept checking the monitor, even though nothing showed on the screen. He’d fallen asleep, and around midnight the beeping started. He awoke, ready to fight with his pistol in hand. Wiping his eyes, he gazed at the monitor as he silenced the beeper. His breath was rapid, and his heart pounded in his throat, but then Tom saw a shadow. Suddenly, two does with a buck chasing them flashed across the back door camera. He exhaled a deep breath and fetched a glass of water.
Tom was surprised at the number of deer and cattle that roamed around the cabin. Nothing happened of any consequence that night or the next day, so Tom found a deck of cards and played solitaire until he couldn’t stand the game. He decided to take a nap and bundled up in his sleeping bag.
Tom dreamed about all of the men he’d killed. It was more of a nightmare than a dream. He could vividly see their faces when they’d died. He was restless and woke a dozen times, but his mind always snapped back to his nightmare. Tom had turned side to side over and over until the beeper started raising cane. He dreamed a big buzzer went off every time he killed someone. Then his eyes popped open and reality set in on him. He glanced at the monitor and was surprised. He thought, This doesn’t make any sense.
“Rick, look at the monitor! See the figure skulking out of the barn’s back door? I couldn’t see who it was, but it’s a man. Let’s go!” Jack hollered.
Rick woke Jackie and Kate and then followed behind Jack. They ran up the steps and through door after door. They were only a couple of seconds behind their spy. The night was cold, and a frost had settled down in the clear patches of ground. They separated about fifty feet to cover more area. They ran as fast as possible with their rifles ready for action.
Rick flashed his light on Jack to get his attention. Jack veered to his left to join Rick as they continued to follow the spy. Rick slowed and said, “That’s him up ahead. I’ll tackle him, and you be ready to shoot the bastard.”
The man didn’t hear the sound of footsteps until a second before Rick hit him from the side. The man had turned ready to fight, but Rick's tackle had knocked his rifle from his hand. There was a fierce fight, but Rick got a chokehold on the muscular man, and the fight was over. Rock rolled the man over. “Well, just as we thought.”
The man started to speak, but Jack jabbed his rifle into the man’s stomach. “Shut up! You’ll get a chance to talk before we lynch your sorry ass.
Rick bound the man’s hands behind his back and pushed him along. The man waited a few minutes and pleaded his case. “Rick, I would never harm the Clarks or anyone living here. They took me in and saved my life. I went up to the barn to check on my pup and to find Betty. We’ve been meeting in the barn, and well, you know.”
Rick said, “Save your BS for someone who gives a crap. I don’t.”
They interrogated Bill for twenty minutes, and he stuck to his story. Rick tried to reach Tom to no avail. After trying for over a half-hour, they took him to the door of the bunker. Jack and Rick manhandled the guy through the multiple entries and stairs until they were down in the bunker. They pushed him into the kitchen and zip-tied him to a chair. Granny B looked
