Tom replied. “Of course. How are they doing? What are they shooting?”
Bill said, “They’re becoming quite the markswomen. We’re just shooting pellet rifles. You said not to use the firearms due to the noise.”
Tom thought for a minute. “Bill, just go on about what you were doing until the girls are ready. I just remembered a task Rick and I have to accomplish. Follow me, Rick.”
Tom waited until the others had left to go outside and motioned for Rick to follow him into the barn’s corridor. Tom stopped in the fake supply room and found a hidden switch. A secret door opened, and Tom led Rick into a space that looked like a combination of survival bunker and command center. Monitors and electronics covered an eight-foot table and the wall above the table. Tom looked at Rick, whose mouth was agape. “This is our last hope for survival bunker and command center for every surveillance device. Every room except the bedrooms and bathrooms has listening devices and cameras. I need you to take on more responsibility.”
Rick was surprised at the advanced equipment in the room. “You know I’ll do anything to help the family.”
“I know, and with your wedding on the horizon, it was time to bring you into the loop. Frankly, trying to watch all the surveillance footage and listen to the recordings was wearing us out. We needed some help to find our spy.”
Rick deliberated for a few seconds. “Have you eliminated anyone from the possible suspects?”
“Yes, Granny B, Jackie, you, Kate, and me. I’ve only eliminated Kate because she wasn’t with us on the plane and didn’t know Samantha before we captured her.”
Rick’s brow dropped, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Doesn’t that eliminate Jack, June, James, and Alice?”
“Maybe, maybe not. They had a bunch of contacts with outsiders who squatted here and could have known someone in Carlos’s crew,” Tom said.
“But why would they have contacts with Carlos’s men, and if so, why didn’t they tell him about this place?”
Tom looked up, astounded at the question. “I hadn’t thought of that. What we know is Carlos was tipped off about Sam and my team being in Ashland, but Carlos’s men never came to the ranch.”
Rick tilted his head, and his brow wrinkled. “How do you know Carlos’s men haven’t visited the ranch? Thugs burned the ranch down. Another thing is that someone was looking for you when you took Bill and Brenda to Medford. They chased you on your way back also. Now, the big one. No one has attacked or chased us since Bill and Brenda left us.”
Tom replied. “But they’re back with us and have been here for over a week. We need to set a trap. Carlos can’t care much about the rest of you. I think he wants me.”
Tom was silent as he went out to the archery range. He had a lot on his mind and no concrete plan to find the spy.
*
Chapter 3
The Clark Ranch – East of Ashland, Oregon.
Tom had asked Kate to train Granny B and Jackie on the hands-on part after the classroom training. He wanted them to take the class seriously, and didn’t want to worry about pissing them off. Kate could bust their balls and get away without much of the scorn they’d pile on him. They’d split the team down the middle with a mixture of men and women. Tom took Greta, leaving Lucy with Kate. Tom still didn’t trust Greta with a bow that could accidentally shoot Kate since Kate had killed Greta’s mother by accident.
Tom and Kate were dividing their trainees. “I’ll take Greta, and you take Lucy. That will keep Greta from accidentally shooting a bolt in your butt.”
Kate tersely replied, “I’ll take rabbit lady, and you take Lucy. That will give me a chance to bond with her.”
They only had two crossbows, so the hands-on training went much slower. They started them out shooting at targets only ten yards away. Everyone was soon hitting a tight circle, with only Lucy struggling a bit. Tom took her to the side. “Girl, you’re shaking a bit. Pretend you have to stay still to hit Carlos between his devil’s eyes.”
“I’m aiming at the man who kidnapped my mother. Carlos would never harm Mom. When we find her, I’m going to put a bolt right between the jerk’s eyes.” The little redhead placed the next two bolts in the center of the target’s head. Lucy still couldn’t believe her mom was dead.
Lucy was soon as good as the others. Tom worried a wee bit because every time an arrow hit its mark, the girl had a wicked grin on her face. Tom began to notice the women were getting tired, even with the crank handle taking most of the strain from cocking the bow. “I think we can call it a day. Everyone has made great progress and can hit a man’s chest at forty yards. I want everyone hitting a pie plate-sized target by next week. I need Jackie, Rick, and Kate to stay behind with me. The rest of you can leave.”
Kate walked over to Tom and bumped him with her hip as he leaned against the back of the barn. Tom placed his arm around her waist and watched the others leave. Jackie had a wicked grin on her face. “Well, this is a surprise. I never thought my brother would have that kind of smile again.”
Tom looked at Kate, ignoring Jackie. “My sister likes to tease people a lot. You can hit her if she plays too rough.”
Kate laughed. “Jackie and I are becoming best friends. I knew we had to be the first day I set my eyes on you.”
Jackie snickered. “I
