“Complete schematics to the national park,” Arthur demanded. “Specific directions to an address. Access to your helicopter. Ask no questions.” Dexter brought Michael to the counter. “Otherwise, this young gentleman will lie on your floor in a pool of his own blood.” Arthur turned to Michael. “Sorry, sport.”
The ranger nodded. He wore only a white t-shirt and boxers, his feet bare. The ranger came to his feet and followed Arthur’s instructions. Christian flipped on the computer, examined the other available tech, and studied the wall map behind the counter.
No one spoke for several minutes, but Michael recognized their smiles: They were making progress. Only when Jonathan burst into the office did the quiet tension change.
“Out back,” Jonathan said. “She’s exactly what we need.”
Moments later, Arthur and Agatha reviewed the property owners database. Suddenly, Agatha lit up.
“There,” she said. “Walter Pynn.” When Christian offered a quizzical look, she added, “His birth name. Not as clever as I would expect from dear Walter.”
When apprised of the address, Jonathan added a note of excitement.
“The helicopter has GPS. We’ll be right on top of the target.”
Agatha instructed Jonathan to fly the bird. As Christian grabbed the maps, Agatha stopped her son.
“I believe your opportunity has come, Christian. Perhaps you should join Mr. Cobb in the air assault.” Christian’s eyes lit up. His mother turned to the ranger. “You, sir, did an exceptional job. For the moment, Mr. Cooper here will not have to die. But you, unfortunately, have too many answers.”
Agatha leveled her gun at the ranger and fired point-blank. As the ranger dropped behind the counter with a thud, Michael jerked.
“Shit.” His heart raced; the truth could not have been more evident – they weren’t going to leave any witnesses behind.
Agatha stood over the body in silence for a moment. She looked first to Christian, an empty pall in her eyes.
“You understand, Son?” She asked. “While our cause is morally just, we must temporarily abandon whatever foibles we might have regarding the sanctity of life.” She stretched her attention to Arthur and the Cobb brothers. “The slightest hesitation, and we lose to Walter. Yes?”
They nodded with enthusiasm and hustled outside.
The Cobbs opened their car’s trunk and distributed heavy-duty weapons Michael recognized from news reports about the wars overseas. These were M16s, the U.S. Army’s assault weapons of choice. Agatha gave quick instructions, all of which concerned the need for perfect timing. Michael found himself in a fog as Dexter forced him into the backseat. Agatha took the wheel as Jonathan and Christian bolted into the darkness toward the helicopter. Michael knew his death sentence would be complete if they found Jamie and the Hugginses in the lake house. The digital clock on the dashboard said 5:05.
Michael looked to his right. He had a free path to the door. It was his only chance, but his courage wasn’t focused. Before he realized what happened, the car returned to Highway 39. Michael felt his life slipping.
Arthur held the wheel, and Agatha communicated with the helicopter crew; they were confident the assault would succeed. Shortly after the car turned off Highway 39 and headed toward the lake, Agatha gave new orders to her son.
“We’re less than three minutes from the target. The next time I contact you, commence your attack run. Understood?”
Michael looked through the window to his right. Dense forest opened up to unveil a swath of ebony glass – Lake Vernon. He guessed the road was fifty yards above the lake. He recognized the bluffs along the northern face. The car moved at a swift pace, but the speed was limited by the road’s wild curves.
Agatha turned around and faced him.
“Mr. Cooper, I fill the need to clarify what you witnessed at the ranger station.” Michael did not take his eyes off the bluffs as she continued. “We are not murderers by trade or by choice. Our mission, however confounding you may find it, has always been to serve the greater interests of humanity. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain this contradiction, except to assure you that for everyone who will be sacrificed today, millions of lives – some of them yet to exist – will be saved.” She sighed. “I wish you could have experienced my English class. Naturally, you would have failed, but I believe your undisciplined humor might have been appreciated on occasion.”
He knew what was coming next. Michael chose life.
He flung himself through the passenger door without being shot. However, he knew he was in trouble as soon as he hit the edge of the pavement, kneecap first, and rolled over. He scrambled to his feet, hoping this was nothing more than a stinger. His right leg wobbled, and he collapsed in agony. He knew better than to ponder the wound, so he balanced himself on his left leg and shuffled forward on one working foot.
Brakes squealed, and his heart sank. If he scrambled another ten, twelve feet, he’d roll down the bluff, pray that something less than deadly would catch his fall, and the lunatics with assault rifles wouldn’t waste time tracking him.
He wasn’t halfway when the car stopped bathed him in high beams. He expected his ex-track coach to hit the gas
