Bug Out! California Book 16: Darkness to Light, page 7
“Roger that,” Sebastian said. “You two okay?”
“Hell yeah,” Lewis said.
O’Conner nodded. “Yeah, I think we’re on the same page. Let’s get the details worked out. The team will be here in half an hour.”
“Excellent,” General Hogan said. “Talk to you soon.”
The call ended.
“This happened quicker than I expected,” Ted said.
Sam nodded in agreement. “We’ve got to change plans. We don’t have a reason to release drones at Maggie’s estate.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll need them for the deep state operation,” Albena said.
Ivan grinned. “Yep, once we know which people we need to target, we can release these drones in their offices.”
“This solves a problem I foresaw, too,” Albena said. “After what happened in the early 2020s, email retention is lower than it was. Even after I find the right names and recent traffic, it would be hard to put a case together due to incomplete message threads.”
{ 6 }
Horror Road, Kansas
Sebastian drove south on Maine’s Highway One, almost to Rockport, where his friend Clive had a boat shop. Lewis and O’Conner were with him, O’Conner in the back, Lewis riding shotgun.
“You’re full of crap,” Sebastian said, shaking his head at Lewis.
“No, really man,” he said. “Snuck into her quarters last night. She’s a dirty girl. Told me she knew I was coming.”
“Why would she think that?”
“I told her what we found under the seat of the limo, remember? Oh, and she gave them to me afterwards.” He pulled a pair of lace panties out of his pocket. “See?”
“Don’t get close to her,” O’Conner said.
“He probably grabbed those from the car himself,” Sebastian said, shaking with laughter.
“No way, man. Why’d you say not to get too close to her, boss?”
“If she goes with her employers on that yacht, she’ll likely be killed, that’s why, and you can’t tell her.”
“She’s part time,” Lewis said, “and she’s been nervous for a while. She’s leaving when her contract is up. That’s only two days from now. The limo driver’s contract already ran out, and he left for the same reason. They know something bad is gonna go down.”
“Well, like I said, mum’s the word,” Sebastian said. “Get it?”
Lewis smiled. “Hey, she was good for a roll in the hay, but I don’t plan on seeing her again. We won’t even be back there before she’s gone.”
“I hope that’s the case,” O’Conner said.
“Here’s our turn,” Sebastian said, taking Main Street east. “Lewis, keep your mouth shut while I’m talking to Clive. We aren’t going to be totally honest.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, dude,” Lewis said.
O’Conner snickered. “You were banging the maid at our client’s base. If I’d known that, I might not have included you in this.”
“It’s okay, I won’t blow it,” Lewis said.
“If you do, it might be fatal,” Sebastian said, shooting him a serious glance. “Keep that in mind.”
“I get it.”
The road went down to the bay, curving around to the docks and launching facilities, a huge building to the east of the road.
“That’s Clive’s place?” O’Conner asked.
“Yep. Big operation.” Sebastian parked in the lot, and they got out, walking towards a door in the front labeled Office. A buzzer sounded when Sebastian opened the door. There was a long counter, and chairs along the outer wall for waiting, complete with stacks of magazines and a coffee machine.
“Sebastian, long time no see,” Clive said in a slight British accent, smiling ear to ear. He was a large man with a beer belly and a black and gray beard. “You want a decoy boat? Setting somebody up?”
“Yeah,” Sebastian said, shaking his hand. “This is Lewis and O’Conner.”
“Good to meet you,” O’Conner said. Lewis nodded in agreement, not speaking.
“How much can you tell me, beyond the need for phony military capability?”
“Is this boat insured?”
Clive laughed. “Yeah, for more than it’s worth. It doesn’t look that good. The wood needs a refinish job, but there are expensive non-cosmetic fixes needed, and the engine and transfer case only have a few hundred hours before a major overhaul. The interior looks good, though, and most of the systems work.”
“Will it handle the weather getting to Islesboro Island?” O’Conner asked.
“Oh, she’s seaworthy, she just looks like hell, and in this market, might as well have a dead engine.”
“Where is she?” Lewis asked.
“Tied up at a mooring in the middle of the bay. She’ll need a little clean-up, but like I said, the interior is in pretty nice shape. Who’s going to pilot her?”
“I am,” Sebastian said.
“What?” O’Conner asked.
“Yeah. We’ll work out the details.”
“You should take me onboard,” Lewis said.
“Yeah, you want at least two people on that tub,” Clive said.
“Count me in too,” O’Conner said, with a little less enthusiasm.
Sebastian chuckled. “Don’t worry, we’ll survive. I’ve got a plan.”
“So did Custer,” Clive said. “You’re gonna scuttle her. Don’t count on being able to swim away. That water is icy. You’ll last only a few minutes.”
“We’ll figure that out,” Sebastian said. “Can we go look her over?”
“Yeah, meet you outside,” Clive said, going back through the door behind the counter, then leading the men to a launch on the side of the building, in the nearest slip. They got in, and Clive took off as soon as everybody was sitting.
“Damn, cold out here,” O’Conner said.
“I love it,” Lewis said. “Reminds me of surfing off Monterey.”
“I thought you looked familiar,” Clive said. “Seen you in the surf magazines back in the day. You were in that movie, too.”
“Liquid Fury,” Lewis said. “They showed that around here?”
“I lived in Huntington Beach for ten years, while I was in my early twenties. Got into surfing big time.”
“Why’d you move here?” O’Conner asked.
“Inherited the business from my grandfather.”
“I thought you were English,” Sebastian said.
“Half. My mom was American. Family has been over here since the 1810s. This business was originally started in about 1870.”
“Wow,” Lewis said. “I’ll bet you’ve got a great story.”
“I do. There she is.”
“What a hunk of junk,” Lewis quipped.
“Told you.”
“How are we gonna get Maggie and her friends onto this thing?” O’Conner asked.
“We’re gonna portray it as adding to the stealth,” Sebastian said. “The interior will make up for it.”
Lewis laughed. “You already knew about this boat. That’s how you came up with the idea, I’m betting.”
“You’d be right,” Sebastian said, an impish grin on his face.
“If you’ve got the time for elbow grease, this could be a nice cheap way to get into the yacht game,” Clive said. “Assuming you had the time to work it yourself. You could buy a better boat for cheaper, which is why I’m still stuck with her. Get ready on the ropes.”
Lewis and Sebastian got up, grabbing ropes as Clive maneuvered to the back of the boat, pulling up next to the big step.
“Teak back here isn’t that bad,” O’Conner said. “Actually, she looks better up close than she does from a distance. That’s unusual.”
“The prior owner started working on renovations. Did the interior first, and certain parts of the outside.”
“What happened?”
“To the owner? Killed in the nuke attack. He was buying it on time from me. Nobody in his family was interested in completing the sale, so I repossessed it. Even gave them back some of the money.”
“You’re a good man, Clive,” Sebastian said.
“He was a friend. If this is gonna nail people involved in the war, I’ll be a happy guy.”
“It is,” Sebastian said. “All I’ll say. You don’t want to me mixed up in this.”
Clive nodded. “Shall we?” He cut the engine as Sebastian and Lewis finished tying off the launch, then climbed onto the rear step, turning to help O’Conner, opening the door so they could get onto the back deck.
“This is lovely, actually,” Lewis said, checking out the partially restored back deck. “Nice fighting chair.”
“Yeah, this is a good fishing boat,” Clive said, walking to the door into the salon, opening it for them.
“How big is this boat?” O’Conner asked.
“Sixty-two foot,” Clive said. “Needs a little airing out. Smells like varnish.”
“Staterooms?” Sebastian asked.
“Four, all below. Twin diesels. It’s got decent electronics. Radar still works, and the radio too. Entertainment systems are new. Don’t know if they’ve ever been turned on.”
“How long since she’s been run?” O’Conner asked.
“Month,” Clive said, walking to the inside pilot’s station. He pulled the keys out of his pocket and started the engines, which cranked and sputtered, settling into a rough idle. “Batteries are almost new. We should let her run for an hour or so to charge everything back up.”
“Wow, this guy spent a lot of money on the leather,” O’Conner said, sitting on a nice bench in the salon. “How are the staterooms?”
“Go on down and look,” Clive said.
O’Conner nodded, getting up and walking to the stairs, taking them down, Lewis behind him.
Clive eyed Sebastian. “I don’t want you dying on this thing.”
“I won’t. How much money do you need?”
“Insurance will cover it,” Clive said.
Sebastian chuckled. “C’mon, man, you know the insurance company will stop payment once they figure out what happened. We’ll get paid by our targets. I was planning on giving you a good chunk of that money. We’ve also got funds from another of these guys, now deceased.”
Clive sat in his chair, thinking. “Any of those folks know boats?”
“Probably. Why?”
“What were you going to ask for this tub?”
“Six hundred thousand. Maybe seven hundred.”
“Anybody who knows yachts won’t go over about four hundred for a boat like this, assuming it was in better condition than this one.”
“There’s some urgency, though.”
“You’ve got to be the judge of that… I’m just telling you what’s reasonable.”
“So you want four hundred for this thing?”
Clive laughed. “I said assuming it was in better condition. This boat is worth about three hundred, maybe two seventy-five. I don’t want any money.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re gonna use this to waste some of the people behind the damn war. You just told me that.”
“Funders,” Sebastian said.
Clive sat silently for a moment, his eyes tearing up. “Sounds like a good way to avenge my friend, and others I knew who were vaporized by the harbor bombing. Take her for free. If you want to do something for me, make it out alive. I’ve lost too many friends as it is.”
Lewis came back up. “Nice digs down there. I’m sure Maggie and Harriet will be quite comfortable.”
“Yeah, the interior looks great,” O’Conner said. “We’ll be able to sell this.”
“How’s the fuel?” Lewis asked. “A lot of the fuel docks are gonna be closed this time of year.”
“She’s full,” Clive said. “When do you want to leave?”
“Got to make some calls,” Sebastian said. “Tomorrow morning okay?”
“Fine by me,” Clive said.
“Okay, let’s get back to our hotel,” Sebastian said.
***
Albena was up and running on her new machine, working the leads that Ivan gave her earlier. She started with the FBI contacts, breaking into their system without too much trouble. She’d delegated the other agencies to her team-mates. Robbie had the CIA, Ben had NSA, Morgan had Homeland Security, and Jasmine had the Treasury and State Departments. Penko was the email server expert, ready to help the others after they got into their systems.
“You’re already on the FBI system?” Penko asked. “Wow.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of this lately,” Albena said. “These government systems aren’t the best protected. At least it’s better than what the UN had.”
“You ready for me to help?”
Albena shook her head, eyes not leaving the screen. “I’m building a matrix of buildings and offices first, so we know where to release the drones. Doubt the emails we’re seeking exist anymore.”
“I could use you over here,” Ben said. “Got into the NSA system.”
Penko nodded, going to the table Ben was working at. Ivan walked in a moment later, going straight to Albena.
“How’s it going?”
Albena looked up at him. “I’m in the FBI systems. Gathering up location data on our targets first. You know that evidence might be hard to put together.”
“From an indictment and trial perspective, you’re correct,” Ivan said. “Might get them with the drones. I’m more interested in finding out who’s guilty, not being able to prove it.”
She eyed him for a moment. “We’re going to hit them.”
“We’re going to take them out of action by any means necessary,” Ivan said. “Hope you don’t object.”
She smiled. “These folks caused the deaths of many people who were dear to me, including Stefan.” Her eyes glassed over, Ivan seeing it. “Want to take a walk?”
She nodded, getting up. Ivan took her hand again, and they left the intel room.
“Why are you holding my hand?” she whispered.
“Do you mind?”
She shook her head. “I like it. There’s something between us.”
They walked silently for a moment, Ivan holding her hand tighter.
“Stefan was your husband,” Ivan said, as they entered the main part of the hangar, walking alongside the C-17. “It still hurts you.”
“At least he went fast,” she said. “He was close to the bomb. Maybe as close as a few feet.”
“Who else went with him?”
She eyed him for a moment.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Ivan said.
“No, it’s okay. Two people he worked with in his longshoreman days.”
“They were part of the resistance?”
“The resistance didn’t really start until after the bombing,” Albena said. “You didn’t say anything.”
“Huh?”
“I said there was something between us. Am I misreading that?”
Ivan stopped, looking at her with an intensity almost unnerving.
“Sorry,” she said quickly.
“No, I’m sorry,” Ivan said. “I’m a little damaged. It makes me reluctant to get close.”
“And yet you’re holding my hand.”
“Let’s sit,” he said, nodding to a bench against the wall.
“Okay, we’re sitting,” she said.
Ivan laughed nervously. “So we are, and I gave you your hand back.”
She smiled, taking his hand again. “This will be difficult. I don’t care, though.”
“You’re better at this than I,” Ivan said, his eyes focused on her again. She moved closer, kissing him gently on the lips. Ivan returned it, trembling as he held her. They didn’t part for more than a minute.
“Wow,” Albena said, feeling the warmth of her flushing cheeks, moving closer to him. “That was intense. More?”
They embraced, their passions rising as they kissed again.
“Oh geez,” Albena said. “What is this? It’s different.”
Ivan looked at her again, the intensity rising.
“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” she asked softly. “It’s like you can’t believe I’m here.”
“Do you believe in fate?”
Albena sat back for a moment, dizziness hitting her. “Yes. Were we together in a past life or something? I already know you, but that’s not the weirdest thing.”
Ivan laughed, shaking his head.
“I don’t believe in that,” Albena said, “but this is strange. It’s something like that.”
“You see our lives intertwined, extending into an endless future.”
“Oh, shit, that’s what it is. How do you know that?”
“It’s what I see. I can’t explain it. Alex is involved somehow too.”
“I have feelings about him also,” she said. “Not romantic. More like family. Are you related to him?”
“Not that I know of,” Ivan said.
“You’re intuitive. Off the charts intuitive.”
“So are you, Albena.”
“Not like you are, I’m sure. Where is this going? What do you want?”
“I want you.”
She was silent for a moment, looking down at her lap, then back up at him. “I’m yours, but you already knew that. So did I.”
“When did you know that?” Ivan asked.
“I don’t know. Before I knew about you. It’s this feeling that something’s coming, rushing at me headlong.”
“Like dread?”
She shook her head. “No, and you don’t feel that either. It’s more like ecstasy. I used it, when it looked like I was about to be killed. Why bring up dread? You know it’s not that.”
“Yes, but this seems too good to be true.”
“So what now?” Albena asked. “We don’t even know each other. It’s not like we can date.”
“We don’t need to date. We’ll just let what happens happen.”
“You mean let nature take its course?” she asked. “I hope that’s what you mean, because I’m ready for that right now. I’m bursting for it.”
They kissed again, more passionate this time, both of them panting as they broke it.
“Think we can sneak onto the airplane for a little privacy?” Albena asked, her eyelids heavy.
