Page 25 of Chinook Winds

She opened her eyes and smiled up at him as if she understood.

“There’s the spot.” Tom pointed up ahead and guided the boat toward the shore. As he drew close, he dropped the anchor. “We’ll have to wade up the rest of the way.”

Not exactly a surprise, but everyone on the team was running on fumes and had been for a long time.

With the anchor in place, Tom led the team to the boat’s ladder. One by one, they descended into chilly water that was waist-deep.

Victor reached for Kinsley’s hand again and held it as they slowly made their way to the shore. Once everyone was on land, they headed into the foliage.

“The road’s not far from here.” Tom was trying to keep up a positive front. “Bob should be there waiting for us.”

As good as that sounded, Victor realized they only had a moment’s reprieve. And one thing became crystal clear. If Legion had this much manpower searching for them, then they weren’t going to give up control easily. They’d keep coming until everyone who opposed them was dead, or Strike Force managed to take them first. Victor’s phone rang and he answered it. Chase Carpenter’s number appeared on the screen. Victor put the phone to his ear. “Are you okay?” A frown drew his brows together. He was worried about his friend. Legion had to know Chase was still in the D.C. area somewhere. He wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t searching for him. Chase wouldn’t be contacting him now if it weren’t important.

“I am, but I received a call from Seth Lancaster, the Speaker of the House. He wants to talk to you right away. Says it’s urgent.”

“Any idea what it’s about?” If Legion had taught him anything, it was that no one was above their reach. Was Lancaster working for them? Trying to lure Victor and his people out into the open?

“I’m guessing it’s about the latest propaganda Legion’s minions have been spreading around the air. They claim Kincaid was working with you and the others. Kincaid is no longer in office, according to Lancaster.”

Victor’s shocked gaze met Kinsley’s. Whether Kincaid was alive or not didn’t matter. Collins no longer found him useful to his cause. They’d be looking for someone to take Kincaid’s place. No doubt, Collins would be grooming Lancaster to take Kincaid’s position. Either because he worked for them, or they thought they could maneuver him into doing what they wished.

???

“What do you mean he got away?” Collins ground the words out. A team of more than thirty of his most skilled people had been sent to bring in Duncan. And they’d failed.

“We believe they discovered the tracker and removed it,” Wilkes said. “And it gets worse. . .” The man’s hesitation warned the worst was yet to come.

“Well, what is it? Spit it out.” He struggled to control his anger. Things should never have reached this point. Duncan and Kincaid had both sworn to stick to the purpose no matter what. And what happened? At the first sign of trouble, both had been looking to protect themselves.

“He’s been in touch with Douglas.”

“What are you saying?” Were they too late?

“Strike Force has him. It’s only a matter of time before he tells them everything he knows. They’ll be broadcasting all of it on the internet soon enough.”

Collins gripped the phone tight. “Get me Duncan. Now. And get rid of Douglas and the others. I want them destroyed before they can ruin everything,” he all but screamed the orders.

Wilkes’s silence had him wondering if his faith in the man was ill-placed.

“I will do my best,” Wilkes said quietly.

The man’s weak attempt only infuriated him. “Where were they when you lost them?”

Wilkes explained about the houseboat on the James River. “We’ve found the boat. It’s abandoned. Someone was there to pick them up.”

“Are there cameras?”

“No. At least not at the rescue site. But we’re searching the roads near there.”

“Get the military involved. I’ll place a call to my second-in-command at the National Security Guard. He will be in touch with you. I want the entire area locked down. Now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Collins barely heard Wilkes’s answer before he hit End and called his second-in-command. Straight to voicemail. Two more calls proved more of the same.

Paul Stuart was a mealy-mouthed man whom he’d recruited to do his bidding. Stuart was terrified of him. Knew better than not to answer his calls. Where was he?

Collins tossed the phone across the sofa and rose. Outside, the massive wilderness surrounding the property stretched out before him. Darkness was descending. The first inkling of despair sank into his gut.Ten years. He’d planned this for more than ten years. Accomplishing every piece of the plan with perfect precision. He’d made sacrifices to bring his strategy to this point. And now, he was about to be taken down by Howard Duncan?

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