Page 28 of Chinook Winds

“Is there a place we can use as a workroom?” Victor asked as he glanced around at the enormous house. His heart was filled with joy at this fortunate turn of events. There was no doubt in his mind God had been directing their steps throughout the entire journey. Back when they’d first discovered the missing VX gas in Afghanistan. When they’d all been naïve enough to believe they were dealing with a single terrorist known as Serpent. Since that time, they’d discovered it was far worse. The terrorists they were fighting were homegrown. People within their own government.

“There is. Follow me.” Bob’s grin assured him they were in for another surprise. He headed up the stairs to the second level of the house.

“Most of the bedrooms are downstairs. There are a few up here.” Another set of stairs led to a third level. As soon as they cleared the stairs, the entire space was one open room.

Multiple computers were set up against the back wall. Windows provided natural light on both sides. Victor could imagine the views available from here, even though it was growing dark outside.

Bob flipped on the lights and the massiveness of the room became apparent. A built-in workspace covered two walls.

“That’s a lot of equipment,” Victor said as he looked around the room.

“Bob’s been compiling information about what’s happening for a long time. He saw things coming.” Tom clamped a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“People would call me a conspiracy theorist. I like to think of myself as a pre-cautionist.”

“I’m glad you are.” At one time, Victor couldn’t imagine the world they were living in. He was grateful that Bob could. When he’d first come in contact with James and learned about his past, he found some of his theories far-fetched until they came to pass.

“I have secure wi-fi, so you should be safe using any of the equipment in here as well as your own.” He eyed the multiple laptops James was setting up. “There are security cameras all over the property. If someone were to happen upon this place, we’ll know about it.”

“Thank you, Bob. Why don’t I let you and Tom assist James and Emily as they get things set up in here?” Victor swung toward Kinsley. “We need to reach out to Tegan and see if they have any word on the weapons.”

James nodded. “I’ll get our equipment set up so we can start working, and then I want to check in with our team in Canada. Brookes still has a long way to go to be completely recovered. With all of us here, and the team in Afghanistan, they’re running short on people who can protect them, and I’m sure Legion is searching for our location there.”

Victor had no doubt. “That’s a good idea. I’ll check with our people in Afghanistan, and then we’ll get all three locations together. But before we all meet, I want to talk to Duncan more in depth. He knows more than he’s said so far.”

James agreed. “It would help if we could pinpoint Collins’s and Kincaid’s hiding place before they try something else.”

From James’s mouth to God’s ear. Victor took Kinsley with him downstairs to where Duncan and his wife sat in the living room talking quietly with Tom’s wife. Duncan’s arrogant façade hadn’t returned.

Victor stopped in front of him. “I’ve a call to make, but when I’m done, we need to talk some more. By now, I hope you see the extent Collins is willing to go to shut you up. Now that they know you’re with us, he wants you dead.”

Duncan flinched at his directness.

“That tracker was placed in your arm to keep tabs on you in case you didn’t report in. You know too much, Howard. And I need you to tell me everything you do know.” With those words, Victor stepped into the room that Bob had said was his media room along with Kinsley. He closed the door quietly and went over to the window. The events of the day still hadn’t fully sunk in.

Kinsley came over to his side and touched his arm. “I know this is hard. But with Duncan’s help, we stand a chance of finding out where Collins and Kincaid are hiding. If we can capture them, we can bring down the rest of Legion’s men before they can retaliate.”

His expression softened as he looked at her pretty face. He so wanted to believe what she said, but they were virtual prisoners in Bob’s house. “Through all the battles I fought in Afghanistan, I never encountered such evil before. I’m worried, Kinsley. If Collins is cornered, who knows what he’ll try.”

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist pulling him near. “That’s why we have to stop him. Now. Before he can use those weapons.”

He held her against his heart and wished more than ever that he could stay here with her like this. He loved her. There was no doubt anymore. But would they have their chance to be together when the world was so unstable? Guilt tore at his heart. He still had a duty to his country. The American people needed someone steady to calm their fears. Victor gazed into Kinsley’s compassionate eyes and realized at this moment, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. The rest of the ugly things they faced could wait. He tipped her chin back and did just that. With all his heart.

She hesitated but a second before she returned his kiss. They’d both been dancing around the edges of what they felt for each other for a long time. But that was a discussion for another day. If that day came.

He regrettably ended the kiss. They stared at each other for the longest time before she stepped back, and he let her go. Victor struggled for something to say, but there wasn’t anything that would make it better for either of them. He took out his phone and called Tegan. The wind was so loud, hearing Tegan proved almost impossible.

“We’ve got them. We found the weapons.” The excitement in Tegan’s tone drowned out all other noise.

Victor hit the speaker button. “The nuclear weapons are in the cave?”

Tegan quickly confirmed. “They are. We just have to find a way to get them out of here without Hassanzai figuring it out.”

???

“I’m not sure how they spirited so many nuclear weapons out of the US, but I’m guessing Hassanzai’s diplomatic connections played a part in it,” Victor confirmed the information to the team in Canada. Thanks to James’s expertise, they’d managed to tie in all three locations into a video call. “Finding the nukes was key,” Victor told them. “Moving the weapons now would be too risky.”

“When we arrived here, there were men stationed near the house. But they just left. I don’t understand it at all.” Deacon appeared on the screen.

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