Page 19 of Chinook Winds

James ended the call as Danny pulled up in front of an old cabin.

All Kinsley could think about was the conversation with Tegan. Would they find the nuclear weapons there? It certainly appeared to be a good hiding place for them.

Kinsley leaned forward and squinted out the windshield. “The place looks as if it’s been added onto several times over.”

Danny laughed. “That’s because it has. I lost track of the times Tom told me his dad and he added a room to the place.” He killed the engine and climbed out. Everyone else piled out of the van.

Kinsley kept close to Victor as they stepped up on the porch and waited beside Danny who took out a key and unlocked the door.

He stepped inside and they followed.

“Tom, you around?” Danny called out.

Kinsley glanced around a living room filled with what appeared to be handmade pieces of furniture. A woodstove sat in one corner, a couple of wooden rockers in front. Antlers hung on the walls. Everything about the place was inviting. She could almost imagine living here. Surrounded by woods for miles around, there would be no danger here. Just a chance to be in touch with nature and spend time with someone she loved.

She glanced up and found Victor gazing at her. She smiled and looked away. Was he thinking the same thing? Her heart wouldn’t let her go there. Too many things separated them. And he had a nation that needed him.

A man entered the room along with a woman. Kinsley recognized him immediately. The officer who had helped them escape D.C.

Tom shook their hands. “Glad to see you all made it here safely. This is my wife, Patricia.”

The woman smiled at everyone. “It’s nice to meet you all. Tom has said great things about you. Welcome to our cabin.”

Danny explained about having to land in the field. “The plane is at Herman’s place. From the road, it’s out of sight, but from the air. . .” He didn’t finish, but it wasn’t necessary. If Legion’s people were searching from the air, they’d see the plane easily enough.

“Where’s Duncan?” Victor asked. “I’d like to have a word with him.”

Tom turned to his wife who smiled.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this. When Tom told me when you’d be arriving, I started some of my homemade beef stew. It should be ready soon.” She headed from the room.

Tom watched his wife leave. “Follow me.” He started down the hall while Victor and the rest of the team fell in behind. To be able to interview one of Legion’s inner circle was significant. Tom entered a newer section of the cabin. Another living space had an enormous fireplace on one wall. A man and a woman were seated on a sofa near the fire.

The man rose when they entered the room. Kinsley had never met Howard Duncan before, but she’d seen photos of him. He appeared to have aged ten years.

For the longest time, no one spoke. Then, Duncan stepped forward and extended his hand to Victor. “Mr. President.”

Victor ignored the hand. After a second Duncan let it fall to his side. He faced the woman beside him. “This is my wife, Wynona. She is innocent in all of this. My wife didn’t know anything about what was happening.”

Kinsley knew Victor well enough to know the hands clenched at his sides indicated his anger. Duncan was still trying to downplay his involvement in Legion’s plot.

“Wynona, why don’t you give us a moment?” Duncan smiled at his wife who appeared worried.

Kinsley had no doubt the woman was yet another innocent victim of Legion.

“I’ll be okay,” Duncan assured her, and she finally turned and left the room. Once she had gone, Duncan said, “I’ll answer any question you have, Mr. President, but I’ve told you everything I know.”

D.C. was a small place when it came to gossip. For years, Kinsley had heard about Duncan’s arrogance. Now, she was face-to-face with the man, and she knew it was no exaggeration.

Victor smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Kinsley had seen that look on his face before—many times, when he was facing off against some political agenda. “I don’t believe that’s true. You know more. And you will tell us everything as if your life depended on it. Because it does, Duncan. It really does. You know the price for treason.”

Duncan’s arrogant expression froze in place. “But you promised.” He looked past Victor and spotted his former employee, Emily Pearson. His eyes widened and his face flushed before he faced Victor again.

“I promised you wouldn’t end up in prison if you told us everything. You haven’t done that,” Victor said. “Not by a longshot. I want to hear it all. I want Collins. Kincaid. The others.”

Duncan stared at him for the longest time before he blew out a breath and the façade crumbled. The man finally realized he was no longer in control. “All right, I will tell you everything.”

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