Page 42 of Alistair

“You boys worry about you, and I’ll get the food ready.”

“If this is where they’re making this shit, we’re going to have to move in from all sides to prevent them from running. We’ve got twelve men, but they might have a hundred. Take everything we have,” said Alistair.

“We shut this down,” said Dan. “All of it. Blow the whole thing and send a message that it won’t be tolerated. Then we hunt for the Steiners. If we can’t find them here, we’ll find him at the red-carpet event.”

“Can you guys hear me?”asked Clark.

“Loud and clear, baby,” said Alistair with a grin.

“They filled me in on everything that was happening there. Victoria played the voice for me of the man you heard, then played a clip of a movie for Lance Stone. I remembered. I didn’t remember initially, but he was there. Lance Stone was there. I glanced up in all the chaos and saw a flash of his face in the firelight. Then he was gone. It didn’t dawn on me who he was. When she played the movie clip for me, I realized that I heard and saw him. The other guys remember as well.”

“It’s probably one of those situations where it’s so out of context it doesn’t make sense at the time. You just needed a reminder, babe,” said Alistair. “Now, at least, we know why he wanted all of you dead. You must have seen him first thing as you left the chopper. That’s why he knew you all would recognize him.”

“I remember he had a weapon on him, but that’s all,”said Clark.

“We’ll get this taken care of,” said Alistair. “I’ll call you when we’re back at the inn tonight.”

With their food in hand and well wishes from Iris, the SUVs took off up the mountain toward the location the drone identified as the manufacturing site. They knew they would have to walk in once they hit a certain point but stopped well before that, hiding the vehicles in the brush.

None of them were worried about a long hike. They were used to long runs and walks with fifty to eighty pounds of ruck on their back. This would be a piece of cake.

At first, Alistair and a few others were concerned about the distance for Alec and Tailor. They should have known better. The two men not only kept up with them but, at times, were well ahead of them. If anyone saw them coming, they’d think they were two Bigfoots traipsing through the mountains.

Holding up a fist, Dan signaled for the others to kneel.

“It’s just up ahead,” he whispered. “Be watchful of booby traps and trip wires. Circle the location, and we’ll close in on them. Once we have them secured, we’ll blow the entire thing.”

The other men nodded, moving off in pairs to encircle the camp. Fires were burning bright, clearly indicating these men didn’t believe anyone was smart enough to have found them. As they moved closer, Alec heard Roper’s voice telling the men they’d be paid with the drugs this week and cash the following week. It seemed most of them were on board.

“I’m gonna kill him first,” growled Alec.

“I count fifteen,” said Sor.

“Same,” said Rett. Alistair nodded at the other men, moving quickly toward the center of the camp.

“Then let’s have some fun.”

Alec and Tailor moved toward Roper first, knowing that he wasn’t using the drugs and was the most capable of running. He was so shocked by the appearance of the two men he didn’t even notice the others closing in on them. Hoping to not fire any shots, they were lucky that the men were clumsy and most likely drugged.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?” snapped Roper.

“Yep. I’m dealing with Bernard Steiner, brother to Milton, a.k.a. Lance Stone,” said Alec, staring at the man. His eyes were so big they thought they might pop out of his head. “Where is he?”

“Fuck you,” he said with a sneer.

“Not nice, little man. Where is your brother?” asked Tailor.

He turned his head to the side, staring at the other men in their group. Silently, he was counting heads to ensure there wasn’t one person that might save them all. The look on his face told them that they’d gotten everyone.

“What do you want?”

“Your brother,” said Alistair. Dan, Gator, Kev, and Matt stood over the zip-tied men, all lined up like sitting ducks.

“Like I said, fuck you,” he said, looking the other way.

“No problem. You’ll die never knowing what happens to this story.” Roper laughed, shaking his head. But Tailor wasn’t amused. He took a step forward, pressing his own weight down on Roper’s leg. When he finished screaming, he spoke again.

“You don’t understand. He’s untouchable. The whole world loves Lance Stone, and the fact that he’s making a drug to make the world thinner, healthier, is only going to make him more revered.”

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