Page 4 of Storm Surge

Chapter Two

David Kincaid did his best to keep the car at an even speed while watching the chopper in the distance. It circled above a certain location near the lodge where he’d been held.

Every mile of the way, he’d expected Collins to emerge from the heavy brush along the road and kill him.

It was a stroke of luck that he’d left the lodge while Collins was in a heated argument with his father. He’d seen the car keys on the kitchen island, grabbed them, and ran.

As soon as he’d started the car—shoved it into reverse—he was positive Collins would come running out of the lodge firing. Only there were bigger problems waiting for the former man in charge of Legion. That helicopter closing in on the property was hunting for Collins, Kincaid was certain, and it would contain members of Strike Force. They’d located Collins’s lair and were closing in for the kill. Well, he wasn’t about to go down because of Collins’s bad decisions. He floored the gas pedal and kept going. Best to put as much distance as he could between himself and that cursed place.

Kincaid was positive Strike Force would be searching for him next once they captured Collins.

The urge to call his wife was strong, but Collins had told him he had men watching her. Even if those men were now in custody, Strike Force would be monitoring Marissa’s calls. Would he ever see his wife again? If it came to never seeing her and saving his own life, he’d look after himself above all else, as long as she was safe.

Once he’d traveled for a while, he relaxed. A small town came into view. Would they be looking for him there? He was, no matter how briefly, the former president of the United States and before that the vice president. His face would be all over the news by now. Going into any town without a disguise was risky.

Kincaid pulled over on the side of the road, out of sight amongst a group of trees. The sunglasses in the cup holder wouldn’t give much coverage. He searched the car’s glovebox for something to use as a disguise. What he found was a Smith and Wesson handgun and a cell phone still in its box. Kincaid smiled to himself. Collins was paranoid about his phone being bugged. He always carried multiple burners.

“Thank you, Martin,” Kincaid whispered and searched the car’s center console. An envelope produced a wad of cash. A least a couple thousand dollars. Collins had escape kits stashed everywhere. This car was one of them.

Kincaid popped the trunk. Was thrilled to find a change of clothing that would be snug, but he’d make them work. He also found more money, another phone, and several weapons.

“What a fool.” Kincaid shook his head and rifled through the pockets of the backpack. They contained a map of Idaho with a location circled. A key tucked into the same compartment appeared to be a house key. A wallet with a half-dozen credit cards under a name Kincaid had never heard of. No doubt, another one of Collins’s aliases.

He found a knit cap inside and a heavy jacket. Nothing else. Kincaid pulled the cap over his head and put on the jacket. Once he climbed behind the wheel, he slipped the sunglasses into place and looked at himself in the mirror. No one would peg him for the former president.

The gas gauge read almost full. He’d keep going until he reached the place on the map, and then he’d decide the best way to get out of the country. With or without Marissa.

Putting the car into gear, he headed toward the town. As he neared the outskirts, four sheriffs’ vehicles blew past him. He kept careful watch in the rearview mirror, but they had no interest in him. They were heading to the lodge. Strike Force had probably called in the local authorities to assist in the search for Collins.

He kept his speed a little below the posted one and eased through town without incident. The place was small. Probably little more than a couple thousand. Some would call it a slice of Americana. He called it a dump.

Kincaid had struggled most of his life to put his humble roots behind him. Studied hard throughout school to earn a scholarship to one of the most prestigious school on the east coast. He’d married Marissa because she came from the right pedigree to get him into the places he wanted to go. Soon, the political arena opened up to him. And then, he’d met Martin Collins.

His mouth twisted in a smug smile. Biggest mistake of his life. Collins was a sociopath who had fooled some of the most powerful men in the world into believing in his cause.

Once Kincaid cleared the town, he drove on toward Idaho. Collins had told him once he had safe houses scattered around the world. Probably in every state. Kincaid sure hoped the people of Strike Force would take Collins down before he had a chance to escape. He never thought he’d be rooting for the enemy, but in this case he certainly was. He wanted Collins six foot under, and all his secrets buried with him.

If Strike Force managed to capture Collins alive, there were all sorts of things he could share that would be damaging to Kincaid.

Where was Ahmad Hassanzai, the Afghani who was responsible for assisting Collins when he went into hiding. Had they captured him? The nuclear weapons Hassanzai had stored in a secured cave?

Kincaid shook his head. When he first realized the monster that lurked inside of Martin Collins, he’d tried to speak to others on the team. Let them know about the troubling things he’d glimpsed, but everyone was so enraptured with Collins they couldn’t see this coming. And now it was too late. What could have been the perfect plan was now in ruins because they’d trusted their leadership to Collins.

As he drove, Kincaid studied the map. Many hours loomed ahead of him before he reached the place indicated, and he had too much time for thoughts. There was no saving the plan now. All he could do was make sure he got out of the country with what was left of his life.

???

The cabin appeared in a clearing in the woods near the cliff where he’d witnessed Collins arguing with the man Will believed was Edward Buckley. Collins had taken out his own father without so much as a second thought. If there ever was any doubt about how truly depraved Collins was, it had been wiped away for Will.

Movement appeared in the window of the cabin. Someone was home. Will grabbed his gun. Motioned to Garrett and Henry who did the same.

Was it another member of Legion waiting to take them out? Will kept a careful eye on the window and pointed toward the back of the house.

Garrett nodded and carefully eased around the side.

Will stared at the front of the cabin. The place was small. Perhaps a caretaker’s cabin? He eased toward the steps and up to the porch.

With a nod toward Henry, they climbed the stairs in unison. Henry moved to the edge of the porch where he could keep a close eye on the exchange at the door and still have his partner’s back. Will waited until he was in place before knocking.

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