Page 13 of Logan

“I appreciate that. But we’re not up to our full capacity as a security company worthy of LSI. We still need some equipment, and I know we’re working through some issues with a few of our vendors. Sadie, I need you here on logistics. Cole, I want your pilot skills here in case I need to call on you. I just gave out three security assignments yesterday, so Timothy, Frazier, and Sisco, you already have jobs to do. The rest will assist with whatever I might need. This assignment might last a week or a month. Landon, I’m leaving you in charge while I’m gone.” He chuckled as he shook his head. “And Bert can take care of the animals.”

An hour later, he made the call to Donald. “Okay. LSIMT is in. I’ll be the one taking lead.”

A slight smile crossed Donald’s face, but Logan had no idea why.

8

Sanders.

Where the hell is he?Logan stepped out of his H10 at the small airstrip closest to Ester, Alaska, a tiny suburb of Fairbanks. Originally, it was the site of a goldmine strike in the early 1900s. Now known more as an artists’ community, he had read that most Ester residents were employed in Fairbanks or at theUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks,an interesting fact since terrorists were recruiting from the university.

It was only two days after Logan had agreed for LSIMT to work the DHS mission, giving the Keepers little time for preparation. Donald had made the preliminary arrangements, including the compensation for the owner of the small airfield tohireLogan as a part-time mechanic. It seemed the man was more than happy to do so, getting paid while having a licensed mechanic help him out. Donald had already taken care of the house arrangements with the landlord and had sent the information to Logan, including a street view. Mary acquired the key, and Sadie scoped the area, reviewing the aerial photos and maps.

Now, in Ester, he only spied the airfield owner, but no scientist to greet him. He introduced himself to Oscar, a tall, leanman with a wide grin. Logan wondered if he was always happy or just very satisfied with his compensation from Donald. Glancing around the small facility, Logan had a feeling Oscar could use the money and the mechanical assistance.

Once the introductions were made, he discovered Oscar to be unconcerned what hours Logan worked, when he’d show up, or why he was even in Ester. Hiding a grin, Logan felt sure Donald had impressed upon Oscar the need for discretion.

“You haven’t seen a Mr. Sanders around, have you?”

The wrinkles in Oscar’s forehead deepened, and he rubbed his chin. “I can’t say that I know anyone by that name.”

“Well, he was supposed to meet me here today.”

“It’s only been me around today that I’ve seen,” Oscar said.

Thanking him, they shook hands again, and Logan moved back to his helicopter for his bags. Grabbing them, he walked over to the vehicle the Keepers had arranged for him. Eyeing the old, beat-up, dark blue Ford F-150 with approval, he climbed inside and started the engine. He’d told Casper to make sure that his vehicle would serve his needs while blending into the local environment and not stand out.

Setting his GPS, he looked at his watch. Donald had assured him the scientist would meet him at his arrival to coordinate when they would begin working together. Normally, he would have already communicated with anyone involved in the mission, but Donald had been adamant that they wouldn’t meet until their arrival in Alaska for security reasons.

It was now already thirty minutes past the time Logan said he would arrive, and he wasn’t willing to wait longer.Sanders can find me… I’m not waiting around for him.

Reporting in, he called the compound. “Sanders isn’t here. I don’t know what hotel Donald put him in, but I’m heading to the house.”

“Logan, why wouldn’t he give you his contact info? This is bullshit,” Mary argued.

“Sanders is on a need-to-know basis, but I agree. Keeping us in the dark until we finally meet face-to-face seems like overkill, even for Donald. Well, fuck it for now. I don’t need him until I discover what’s being concocted, and then I’ll only need him to find out how to neutralize it. I’ll let you know as soon as I get to the house.”

“There’s one more thing,” Mary said, her voice sharp. “The inside security cameras you ordered to be delivered have been delayed. I’m so pissed and gave the company my assurance we wouldn’t be using them anymore.”

“Fuck,” he grumbled. “Can we get more, or do I need to look here?”

“It’s already taken care of. Bert found a new vendor, using someone Carson’s group has contracted with. I’ve assured them that if they get the items to us tomorrow, then we’ll continue to use them. Cole will fly them to you once we have them.”

“Okay, but I’ll coordinate with Cole once I get the lay of the land.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, and Mary? Good work, and pass that on to Bert, as well.”

“No thanks needed, boss. Only doing what we were hired to do.”

He disconnected, pissed as hell about the delay but certain that Mary and Bert would take care of the vendor issue. He sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face. Starting any new business certainly meant there would be multiple issues, especially finding vendors that would fulfill the orders for the special equipment required in many of their various missions.

A few miles down the forest-lined road, he pulled into a shopping center, eyeing a grocery store Sadie had alreadydiscovered for him in her planning. An efficient trip inside allowed him to grab the necessities. Grumbling at the uncertainty of whether the house had a microwave, he skipped the nuke-ready meals in the freezer case, opting for sandwich fixings. Placing the bags into his truck, he continued on his way.

Seven miles later, he turned onto a gravel road, observing the occasional house dotting the lane surrounded by thick trees. The area was heavily wooded, maintaining privacy for the residents but also keeping the satellite images Sadie wanted to search from being visible—the encroaching forests hid the houses. Reaching the end of the street, he came to a round cul-de-sac with only two houses.

A quick look assured him this was the right place. The twin houses, single-storied ramblers, were adorned with weather-beaten wooden planks that gave evidence of their age. Todd had checked the floor plans of the original houses, and Logan knew they were mirror images of each other, a fact that would undoubtedly streamline his efforts to gather intelligence.

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