Unwitting Alliances - Hunter Blake Series by Peggy Lea Baker
Chapter Twenty-four
The violent storm managed to blow through overnight with much calmer winds blowing by daybreak. The rain had stopped and the few remaining clouds were giving way to blue sky and a bright morning. Birds were already out taking advantage of an abundance of available puddles.
Hector was up and feeding the fire that had reduced itself to glowing coals. He and John chatted quietly before slipping outside so the others could sleep. They headed for the helicopter only to find it was empty and their partner nowhere to be seen.
“Now what’s he up to?” Hector wondered aloud.
Both men scanned the area until they saw finally him standing at the farthest end of the airstrip.
“Should we join him, or wait?” John asked.
“Let’s stay here,” Hector said. They leaned against the side of the Helicopter and waited until Hamilton finally joined them.
“Sleep well?” John asked him.
“Sure, like three or four hours is plenty,” Hamilton said. “Actually, I was restless all night.”
“Me too,” John said. “So, are we sticking to our game plan?”
Hamilton nodded. “We have to. We’re committed. In the meantime, I’ve been trying to figure out how anyone has been able to keep a step ahead of us,” he said. “That may or may not have some bearing on whether or not our plan will actually work.”
“And if they don’t take the bait?” Hector asked.
“I guess we’ll have to move on to Plan B. Either way, we need to get everyone ready to move out before our expected guests show up,” Hamilton said.
“And if the leak is someone on our team?”
“That would also include everyone inside.” Hamilton nodded toward the cabin. “The leak could easily be someone completely oblivious to what’s been going on and simply shared information unwittingly… which could include any one of them, however, it's rather unlikely it would be Samantha, Betty, or the Wesleys since they never really had any contact with the Allensbys, Randy, or Dirk… whether direct or indirect. One way or another after today we should have a better idea who and how many.”
“Let's hope so” John said.
“Yeah,” Hector agreed, “because that leaves the rest of us… us, Janet, Brian, Charlie… and possibly Hunter.”
“And Frank.” John said soberly.
“And Frank,” Hamilton repeated thoughtfully staring at the airstrip then gestured. “It’s still in pretty good shape,” he said. “Even with that storm. Too bad we couldn’t have brought in a plane large enough to fly everyone out of here.”
“And you still think it was a good idea to bring them all here?”
“Maybe not a good idea, but our best opportunity to flush someone out. So, Yes. It’s like loading the bases and hoping for a grand slam. The bait had to be tempting enough or it wouldn’t work.” He looked toward the cabin. “Make sure everyone eats a good breakfast. It may be a while before they get another meal.”
The sun had already crested the eastern mountain range casting its golden glow on the trees opposite the airstrip.
John nodded toward the cabin. “Hunter’s watching us. You two need to talk,” he said, “before you go hauling off to save the day.”
Hector agreed. “Now is as good a time as any. See you inside.” He and John started for the cabin greeting Hunter coming toward them as they passed by.
Hamilton stood with his arms folded, watching Hunter approach but said nothing.
Hunter stopped a few feet from the helicopter and waited. Finally, he asked, “So... how’d you sleep?”
“Good enough.”
Hunter nodded.
Hamilton stared.
“You gonna say anything?” Hunter asked.
“Like what?”
“How about good morning?”
“Good morning,” Hamilton repeated.
Hunter shifted and set his jaw. “Dammit Drew!”
“What!” he replied straightening up, his arms now at his side, fists clenched. “What did I do this time!”
“I don’t know! You... you... well hell! When did you learn to fly a helicopter for starters!”
Hamilton let out a laugh. “You think you’re the only one who can learn to do things like this? Is that it?”
“No! I just want to know!”
Hamilton stared again. “Okay, five years ago. Satisfied?”
“Yeah, okay. Five years ago. Great.”
Hamilton squared off with him. “What do you want from me?”
“Straight answers!”
“Okay. Here’s one. I don’t need you anymore. I’m doing just fine on my own!”
Hunter looked at him in exasperation. “So why call me recently... more than once, as a matter of fact? What was that all about? Checking up. You never check up on me. What did you want!”
“What do you care! It doesn’t matter now anyway. I got my answer.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I won’t call you again. How’s that?”
Hunter threw up both hands. “Okay... okay. Just stop. Let’s stop and...”
“And what!”
“Let’s just stop and start over.”
“Why? You hate me. You’ve always hated me!”
“I don’t hate you! Why would you say that!”
“Because it’s true! You hate me. You hated my dad. I guess the only person who mattered to both of us was mom,” Hamilton said.
Hunter took a breath and blinked. “I’m sorry I yelled,” he said.
Hamilton, surprised at Hunter’s sudden change, muttered, “Yeah, okay. Me too. All of this excitement is getting everyone stirred up.”
“Can we talk?” Hunter asked. “Not yell. Just talk.”
Hamilton looked at him for a long moment before answering. “Climb onboard.”
Both got settled in the passenger compartment and Hamilton closed the door.
“Drew,” Hunter began, “it’s obvious your life has changed. I don’t know what you’re doing, but Hector and John seem pretty damned impressed with you.” He fished for the right words. “I don’t know. I just wonder what you’re doing, that’s all. I mean... watching you pilot this rig in that storm last night... hell, I’ve never had to fly in a storm like that. I have to admit, I was really impressed. You say you’ve only been flying for five years?”
“Helicopters for five years. Planes longer than that. Mom helped pay for the lessons. Other than that, there’s not much else I can tell you, Jimmy.”
Hunter grinned. “Jimmy. You know the last time I was called Jimmy was just a few days ago. I saw Uncle Joe and his new wife, Vera. I like her. She’s good for him. They’re both doing real good.”
“Uncle Joe. How long has it been?” Hamilton asked. “I miss him and Aunt Ella. I finally found out she died.” He paused. “It felt almost the same as losing mom.”
“Yeah. I know,” Hunter said. “And I just found out that Uncle Joe got remarried.”
“I’m glad he’s found someone to keep him company,” Hamilton said then looked at Hunter. “Jimmy, there’s not a lot I can tell you because of the nature of the work I do. And please don’t immediately assume I’m in trouble. I’m not. It’s just that what I do is kinda like being... undercover. I have to be careful who I talk to and what I say.”
Hunter looked at him then glanced toward the cabin. “And John and Hector?”
“We work together.”
“So are you like a spy or something? Are you FBI too?”
“The less you know the better,” Hamilton said. “When I called you recently, I really did want to know how you were doing and if everything was okay. Now that you and I are both here hiding out, and with what John and Hector have been filling me in on lately, I know that you’ve been having some issues. I had already suspected that was the case because of a couple of other things I overheard recently.”
“Canada,” Hamilton repeated. “You were in Canada?”
“Yeah. We flew there when we left Uncle Joe’s place.”
“Where’d you stay? At the Inn by the Sea?”
“Yeah,” Hunter said and looked at him curiously.
“The McKinney’s still running that place?”
“They are. You know them?”
“Nice people.”
“They’re not spies too, are they?”
Hamilton laughed. “No. They’re just nice people. A little nosy sometimes, but other than that...”
Hunter nodded. “For a minute there, I thought you were going to tell me they were running some kind of a racket.”
Both men laughed aloud at the thought.
“No. But I’ve stayed there a few times. Not recently, but a couple of years ago I had occasion to be up there more than once. I liked it. But now I’m worried that maybe they might have said something inadvertently to someone else... about you being there.”
Hunter didn’t respond, although his mind was racing regarding a phone call he’d made to Frank.
His brother continued. “You’re probably wondering why all these things have been happening to you, Jimmy,” he said.
“Damn right. Do you know why?”
“I have a pretty good idea.”
“You want to tell me?”
“There are some people who aren’t too happy with me. They’ve been trying to set a trap... to catch me, but so far, nothing’s worked.”
“A trap? Why? Why do they want to catch you?”
Hamilton held up one hand. “That’s not important. What is important is they found out about you. I’ve kept my relationship to you under wraps for years. But especially since I hooked up with John and Hector and started working with them. Somehow, though, these people found out about us. You and me. So they obviously have been trying to cook up some way to nab you to lure me out. In fact,” he paused, “do any of your friends know that you and I are brothers? Besides John and Hector, that is.”
“I don’t think so. At least as far as I can tell. No one has said anything to me or asked, but then I haven’t advertised that I have a brother.” He stopped. “Well, Frank knows.”
“Frank,” Hamilton repeated.
“Yeah. Frank Bradley. Karen’s husband.”
“Yeah. I know who he is,” Hamilton said. “Okay, well I don’t want these folks to know, at least not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because I said so, that’s why.” Hamilton gave his brother a stern look.
Hunter nodded thoughtfully. “Okay.”
Hamilton changed the subject. “So tell me about Samantha. What is your relationship with her?”
“Relationship?” Hunter seemed amused. “We’re not in a relationship. I barely know her.”
“There’s got to be some reason they think you’re involved with her, even if casually.”
Hunter sat back and stared at his brother. “You mean... you think she was kidnapped because someone thinks she and I are in a relationship?” He laughed. “These people must be pretty desperate to grasp at straws like that. Heck, I ran into her... literally ran into her, with a shopping cart at the Home Center in Coeur d’Alene. Then Jim and Diane invited me to dinner one evening and there she was. She was staying with them while her house is being renovated. That’s it. Nothing else.”
Hamilton sat thinking. “That’s odd then. Unless...”
“Unless what?”
“I need to think about it some more.”
“Okay,” Hunter said. “Then tell me how you ended up with her.”
Hamilton smiled. “I can’t go into the details of how I found out about her, but I can say she’s quite a woman. She’s opinionated and stubborn. Strong in some ways, but at the same time vulnerable. She reminds me of someone... and she loves to ask questions. Lots and lots of questions.”
“Questions?” Hunter asked with a look of amusement.
“Yeah. One after another.”
Hunter laughed. “That’s funny. She hardly said a word to me at dinner that evening.”
Hamilton chuckled. “Can you blame her? Sitting at the same table as world-renowned Hunter Blake? Famous movie star?”
“Yeah, okay,” Hunter said. “So, who does she remind you of?”
Hamilton looked away.
“I’m sorry,” Hunter said. “I didn’t mean to...”
“It’s okay. I should tell you,” he said. “So... did mom ever mention to you... that I got married?”
“What? No! When? Who?”
“Her name was Melissa. She was wonderful. I was so happy with her. We were both happy. I finally had someone in my life who could just love me the way I was and for who I was.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Hunter asked.
“You and I weren’t talking to each other. You told me you didn’t want me calling, that I was a bum and to leave you alone. Besides, I doubt you would have approved of her anyway, that’s why.”
“I’m sure I would have liked her,” Hunter said. He watched his brother. “You say her name was Melissa. What happened?”
“She was killed. Shot. Point blank by some thug who was strung out on something. She pleaded with him but he just laughed at her and pulled the trigger. He and his partner had followed us home one evening and forced their way into our apartment. They wanted money. One of them tied me up while the other one...” he hesitated. “It was...” He stared at his feet trying to compose himself. “It was our first anniversary. We were going to celebrate...” He struggled to keep his emotions in check. “They rummaged through my wallet and her purse and were going to kill me when someone out in the hall started yelling and banged on the door, so they climbed out a window and left down a fire escape. I couldn’t even get to her. I was tied up and gagged but she was still alive and I couldn’t do anything to save her. I had to sit there, Jimmy, and watch her bleed out and die, while someone finally managed to break down our door.”
Hunter rubbed his face and blinked. “I’m so sorry, Drew. I really am.”
Hamilton wiped his own eyes. “I found out someone was going to kill Samantha. I didn’t know who she was or why she’d been taken but somehow Carolyn Allensby was involved and that meant trouble. I knew they wouldn’t let her live, whoever she was, but I couldn’t let that happen. I did what I had to do to protect her because... because I figured she was special to someone. It hurts when you lose someone you care for so deeply. It really hurts and the pain doesn’t go away. I didn’t want someone else to experience what I did.”
Hunter blinked hard as he studied his brother. “You care for her, don’t you?”
“She was an assignment. That’s all.”
Hunter nodded. “I don’t really know her all that well,” he said. “The Wesleys do. Like I said, she was staying with them while her house was being repaired. All I did was offer to put her up at the Resort where she would be more comfortable.”
Drew looked up at him. “Who knew that? How many people knew that?”
“What do you mean?”
“How many people knew that you were paying for her to stay at the Resort?”
“Well, the Wesleys and... I don’t know. I don’t remember if I said anything to anyone else because I didn’t want Sam to find out that I was paying for her room, and the repairs on her house.”
“You were also paying for the repairs?”
“Yes, but it was just Jim and Diane that knew that. I made them promise not to tell her. We made up some story about a group of people who do that sort of thing, you know? Help people out in situations like hers.
“Frank,” Hamilton said thoughtfully. How did you meet him? You pick him out of the phone book?” he half-smiled.
Hunter chuckled. “No. I met him at a fund-raiser.”
“I see.
“Is there a problem with that?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
Hamilton hesitated before answering. “There’s this one particular organization, I’m aware of, that generates capital through fundraisers. They make their acquaintance with notable people, usually at other fundraisers or special occasions. They profile people, looking for just the right ones who will take the bait and eagerly agree to sponsor a socially worthwhile event... usually something that the person is already passionate about. Then they encourage him to invite all his friends, business associates, and so on, to come and fork over some money.
“The organization creates presumed charities with all the necessary documentation, legal papers, all of it, and holds events in snazzy venues with live entertainment, a notable guest list, exotic foods and beverages... whatever it takes to entice participation. As a result, the company rakes in millions of dollars that they say is going to worthy causes such as starving children, abused women, animal cruelty, environmental issues... all that sort of thing, when in fact, the money is redirected into other activities.
“The people who attend don’t bother to check to ensure things are on the up and up. They trust the function’s host. They get assurances from the organization's lawyers and corporate leaders who provide all kinds of manufactured documentation to prove their legitimacy. Then the party begins. People come. Throw their money around. Get their pictures taken to accompany write ups, newsfeeds, anything to lend authenticity to the event, touting what good-hearted souls they are for being so generous.”
Hunter shifted uncomfortably.
“Do you have any idea how gullible people can be?” Hamilton asked.
Hunter let out a laugh. “I guess I’ve been one of those gullible people,” he said. “I’ve been to a couple of those types of fundraisers.”
“I’m not saying they’re all illegal, Jimmy, but you should always approach anything like that with a measure of caution, before you hand over your hard-earned cash.”
Hunter smiled at his brother. “I am beginning to gain a whole new appreciation for you Drew. And thanks for the tip,” Hunter said then sigh. “So now what?”
“We have a plan. Everyone needs to hang tight and be sharp.”
“Maybe we should take turns standing watch,” Hunter suggested.
Hamilton nodded. “Right now, though, I could use some food. As Samantha would say, some real food.”
Hunter smiled. “She definitely had an effect on you.”
“No. I told you, she was just a job.”
“Right.” Hunter laughed as he climbed out of the helicopter.
“Seriously.”
Hamilton hurried after his brother. Back inside the cabin, both men were greeted with the aroma of pancakes and sliced canned ham frying in a cast iron skillet. Diane and Betty fussed around making sure there would be plenty for everyone.
“Janet?” Diane called out. “Would you mind going to the cellar and look for another can of fruit of some kind?”
“Sure,” Janet said and stood up from where she and Hector had been sitting in front of the fire. Using a flashlight, she scanned the shelves and found two large cans of peaches. As she got ready to go back upstairs, she noticed a beat up foot locker sitting nearby. Curious, she put the cans down and opened the lid. “Wow,” she whispered. Reaching in, she moved some items around and noticed guns and ammunition but also something familiar.
Pulling out a vest that look similar to the one Brian had been wearing she impulsively removed her baggy sweatshirt and put it on over her T-shirt. “Interesting,” she said.
“Janet?” Betty called down to her. “Did you find anything?”
“Yes. Two cans of peaches. I’ll bring them up.”
“I can come get them,” Betty said.
“No, that’s okay. I’m coming.” She quickly pulled the sweatshirt on over the vest, closed the lid of the locker, then picked up the cans and went back up to the kitchen.
“Oh, good,” Diane said. “That’s perfect.” She and Betty finished getting the food on the table and asked the men to come sit down. Karen remained in a chair, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames.
Hunter walked over to her. “Karen,” he said. “Why don’t you come sit with me?”
“I’m not very hungry,” she said.
“You need to eat something.” He took her by the hand. “Come on. Just a couple of bites won’t hurt.”
Reluctantly she stood up and he pulled her chair to the table. She sat and stared at her hands folded in her lap. Diane gave Hunter a worried look and he nodded in return then waited quietly as Jim offered a blessing on the food.
After breakfast, Hunter suggested he and Karen take a walk outside. Without a word she allowed him to take her by the hand. Heading away from the cabin, they ventured out beyond the helicopter and further down the airstrip still wet from the previous night’s rain storm.
“It’s a beautiful morning,” Hunter remarked. “Watch for puddles.”
Karen nodded.
“A lot of birds chirping up in the trees,” he said. “They’re probably just as glad that storm is gone as we are.”
She nodded again.
“Karen,” he began.
She stopped and faced him. “You don’t have to fuss over me, Hunter. I’ll be fine. I’m just worried about Frank, that’s all. I haven’t heard from him and that’s not like him. Plus...” she glanced back at the cabin, “I overheard John and Hector talking this morning while the rest of you were sleeping.”
“Oh?”
“They mentioned Frank’s name. They were whispering, but I could hear them. I didn’t catch everything they said as they went outside, but I didn’t like their tone. I got the feeling they don’t like Frank or don’t trust him or something. Do they know him? I know they’re all FBI but...”
“I don’t know, Karen. What I do know... is right now we have to trust them... a little.”
“Okay... I’ll do my best.” They continued to walk. “What were you and Brad talking about this morning? You were out there with him for a long time.”
“Brad? Oh... I was telling him… how much I admired how he handled that helicopter last night... er, I guess it was this morning.” Hunter forced a chuckle. “So we talked about flying. You know... that kind of stuff.”
She nodded again. “Of course. That makes sense.” She started to tear up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound distrusting of you. I’m just...”
“I know.” He pulled her close and put his arms around her as she finally released her emotions and began to sob. “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “Cry all you need to. I’m here for you. You know that. We’re friends. Family. Have been for a long time and I’m here for you.” He kissed the top of her head and continued to hold her tightly.
Janet stood at a window watching.
Diane joined her. “Everything okay?”
“He’s holding Karen.”
“That’s good. She’s having a hard time with all of this. She needs him right now. Hunter’s been a good friend… to her and to Frank.”
“How long have they been friends?” Janet asked.
“Several years, I think. Ever since Hunter first met Frank.”
“I see,” Janet said, then sat down in front of the fire again next to Hector. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re working on it,” he said. “Just a couple of details to iron out first.” He stood up. “I think I'll go outside to look around.”
“Good idea,” John
“Diane did most of the cooking,” she replied.
“You helped. I watched you.”
Betty made a face and picked up some dirty dishes to take to the sink.
“You need help with those?” John asked.
“Nope,” she replied without turning around. “You can go be with your friend.”
Janet was amused and walked over to Betty as John left. “I can help you.” Together they began washing dishes and continued to do so in silence until Janet teased her. “He’s hitting on you, you know.”
“I know,” Betty replied, focusing on what she was doing.
“Why don’t you humor him? Just for laughs.”
Betty put down the dishrag and faced Janet. “I don’t want to give him the impression that I’m interested. That wouldn’t be fair. I’m not interested in getting involved with anyone.”
“Why not?” Janet was curious. “He’s a nice guy.”
Betty nodded. “I know but I was married for over thirty years before my husband suddenly died of a heart attack two years ago. “I loved him very much and I still consider myself married to him. It just wouldn’t feel right, that’s all.”
Janet dried a few more dishes. “That’s sweet,” she finally said. “He must have been a wonderful man.”
“He was,” Betty replied and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Janet was instantly remorseful. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Betty nodded and managed a smile. “I know.”
Outside, John and Hector waited for Hamilton to join them then discussed some last minute plans.
“One of you needs to move this van up on the fire road in case we need to go to Plan B and get everyone out of here that way,” Hamilton said. “The satellite phone is under the driver’s seat, right?”
“Yes,” John said. “It’s ready to go.”
“Okay. Contact Charlie. Let him know of our possible change of plans. “My gut tells me we’re out of time so I’m going to get going now.” He looked around. “I’m going to miss this place. I won’t be able to come back anytime soon, that’s for sure, now that its whereabouts are more than likely known.”
“Yeah.” Hector said. “It is too bad. It was a great place to hide out between jobs.”
Hamilton nodded. “Okay. You two decide who’s moving the van and I’ll hurry to get out of here, but first I want to talk to our folks.” He shook their hands. “If I don’t see you again, it’s been a pleasure. You guys are great to work with and even better to hang out with.”
“We’ll see each other again,” Hector said. “I’m not all that ready to give it up yet.”
Hamilton smiled. “Okay. Until we meet again.”
John volunteered to move the van while Hamilton and Hector hurried back inside. Hector called everyone together. “Brad wants to talk to us for a minute before he leaves.”
Hamilton stood near one of the front windows and faced everyone. “I just want you all to know that dragging you up here without much explanation was a difficult decision to make. There are some really nasty people in the world doing really nasty stuff. We’ve been trying to take down a very dangerous syndicate... a drug and human trafficking cartel. They’ve managed to elude us, for the most part. We’ve gathered a few bits and pieces both here and in Mexico, but we’ve never been able to pin down any of the upper management, if you will. They’ve been pretty clever.
He shifted and glanced out the window before continuing. Most of you should have never been drawn into this. Unfortunately there’s not much we can do about that now. So... in essence you’ve all become bait, for lack of a better term. And I’m really sorry.
He continued. “Our primary plan is for me to leave in the helicopter and attempt to draw attention away from here. In the meantime, Hector and John will see to it that you get away from here safely. Our hope is that these people will think everyone’s still here and show up anyway.
Hunter put up his hand. “Excuse me, but... what’s going to happen when they get here and we’re all gone... then what? Are we still going to have to look over our shoulders everywhere we go? Are they still gonna come after any or all of us?”
Hamilton looked at his partners.
Hector stepped forward. Ham, John, and I will take care of things here. Ham will draw them away long enough for all of you to get away, then we’ll engage them and hope for the best.”
“Wait!” Samantha spoke up. “Ham?”
“Uh... Brad. H-Ham’s a nickname we’ve given him... for being such a ham. He gets a little crazy... sometimes... and ham’s it up.” Hector shot a glance at Hamilton hoping that would suffice.
“Okay,” Samantha said studying Brad’s face. “But I’m still confused. Who exactly is trying to find you?”
“Well that’s what we hope to find out and confirm,” Hector said quickly. “In the meantime, we need to get all of you out of here as soon as possible.
“And our only way out of here is in the van,” Jim said.
“Yes,” Hector replied.
“I see. So we’ll drive out the same way we came?”
“No,” Hector said then stopped as everyone suddenly reacted at the sound of the van starting. Jim stepped to a window and watched as John pulled away. “Where’s he going if we’re supposed to drive out of here in that thing?”
“He’s moving the van out of sight,” Hector said. That way anyone flying over won’t spot it.” He faced the group. “Look. The three of us aren’t accustomed to handling rescue missions like this. We work on general plans of action in completely different types of situations where it’s just us. We improvise as we go. I mean, that’s what we do. That’s how we operate. This has been different because we’ve had to protect all of you at the same time and it’s not that we don’t want to but...”
Hamilton jumped in. “What he’s trying to say is, if we could plan everything down to the last detail, we would, but we can’t. There are always too many variables. So we plan for the worst and hope for the best, as they say. There’s an escape tunnel out of the cabin, running from the cellar to about thirty feet into the forest with an emergency exit hatch. The hatch is usually covered in fallen debris so it’s not likely anyone is going to easily find it. From there, you’ll make your way to a nearby fire road, find the van, and go get help. There’s a satellite phone and a bunch of maps in it.
Betty sat frowning and looked at her friend. “Sam?” she said.
“We’ll be okay.” She took Betty’s hand.
Janet and Karen both sat listening. Janet put her arm around Karen. “We’ll stick together, you and me. Okay?”
Karen nodded but didn’t say anything.
Jim stood up. “Okay, then let’s get started.”
Diane looked at her husband in surprise. “Jim?”
“Honey I don’t like this any better than you or anyone else in this room, but we don’t have much choice in the matter at this point. So we do what we can and get ready to leave.” He looked at everyone. “Right?”
A few heads nodded.
“I gotta go,” Hamilton said. “All my best to everyone. You’ll be fine. I have to get some things before I bug out,” he said and ran down to the cellar. In the meantime Hector began to explain about the tunnel.
“We access it from the cellar. Like Ham said, it goes for about thirty feet. It’s reinforced and there’s an exit hatch at the opposite end.” He looked at Hunter and Jim. “Come on. I’ll show you both the entrance.”
They passed Hamilton as he came back up. He stopped long enough to look at Samantha. “I really wanted to get you home safely. I guess I have to break that promise. Didn’t quite work out the way I’d hoped, I’m afraid. I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. You saved my life, and after staying in that junky trailer and eating gourmet meals with you, I think I can handle this.”
He grinned. “I know you can.”
She leaned in closer and whispered, “But someday you need to tell me who you really are and what your real name is.”
He grinned then looked at everyone else. “Okay. There are a couple of backpacks in the cellar along with food and supplies. Pack anything you want to take with you just be sure you can carry it.” He looked at Samantha again and grinned. “There are plenty of emories down there.” Samantha made a face.
“Okay, girls,” Diane said. “Let’s get moving.”
Hector, Jim and Hunter hurried back upstairs from the cellar.
Hamilton looked at his long-time friend. “Hector. Take care, man.”
“You bet. We’ll see each other again.”
Everyone jumped into action as the brothers looked at each other. Without saying a word, they embraced.
“You look out for yourself,” Hunter said. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
The women went to work pulling items together to take with them while Hamilton hurried outside. Hector stood on the porch to watch as his long-time partner climbed into the cockpit. Hector started to wave then stopped to listen. It was an unmistakable sound. Instantly, he was off the porch and raced to the helicopter.
Hamilton had just started the systems check when he heard Hector call out to him.
“What!” he shouted to Hector.
“It’s too late! I hear them coming! You’ll never get up in time!”
Hamilton immediately shut everything down and hurried back to the cabin with Hector.
“We’ve got company,” Hector said as he burst into the cabin. “Ham and I will stay up here. The rest of you take the tunnel to the forest. Get out and stay out. Hunter. Follow the map I gave you. Find the fire road and keep walking until you reach the van. Don’t come back here for any reason. Is that clear!”
He nodded.
“Okay. Go!”
Jim led the way, with the women anxiously on his heels. Hunter hung back.
“Drew. Let me stay and help.”
“You will help by taking point and staying with Jim and the women.” He started to turn away then stopped. “Take care of Samantha, will you. I promised her she’d be safe. You’ll have to make sure of that now.”
Hunter nodded. “I will. I promise.”
“Okay. Now get out of here. And I meant it when I said don’t come back. It won’t be safe. Understood?”
“Understood,” Hunter said then disappeared into the cellar.
Hector hurried after him. “Hold up,” he said then opened the foot locker. “Here.” He handed Hunter two nine millimeter handguns and two extra clips. “For you and Jim. This is all we can spare, I’m afraid, so if you have to use them, make every shot count.”
Hunter accepted the weapons with some trepidation. “I... uh...”
“Hey. Ham said you could shoot.”
“I can. But I’ve never shot at people before.”