Page 3 of A Gathering Storm

Kinsley opened the door and called the dog before stepping outside. “I’ll see you soon.” With those parting words, she waved and headed back toward the lodge.

Eva waited until Kinsley and the dog had disappeared inside the building before she closed the door. Her fears for Sadie’s future had never been greater. Sleep would not be a possibility with so much weighing on her mind. She kicked off her shoes and lay beside her sleeping child while contemplating the world ahead for all of them. Would they be forced to live in hiding for the rest of their time here on earth?

She was no longer a member of Mossad. With just a few words uttered by Kirkpatrick, she’d become a hunted woman.

Through the years, Eva had grown tired of facing down dangerous people. Situations. The last mission was to be her final one. She had no idea that it would reunite her with the man she loved and give her a chance to right the wrong she’d done by not telling Cole about Sadie.

Tears filled her eyes. She brushed them aside and put her arms around her daughter. As a mother, she wanted Sadie to have a life where she could be free to choose what she wanted to do. With the world spinning out of control, the future’s end was quickly approaching. There was work to do before that happened. People were desperate for the truth, and they wouldn’t receive it from Kirkpatrick. Just the opposite.

Chapter Two

“Abby, what’s going on there?” Victor answered the call from his pilot who was leading the three-person team in Pennsylvania to rescue the president and his wife.

“We’re safe for now and some distance from the Illinois border.” The tension in Abby’s voice confirmed the flight had not been an easy one. “Thanks to Bob Owens’s network of friends, we refueled without being spotted by Kirkpatrick’s people.”

“I’m happy to help, Abby. I’ve texted you the next group of contacts that should bring you here to Idaho safely,” Bob weighed in. The former architect had proven invaluable to the team and had a wealth of contacts across the country that rivaled James’s connections.

“It’s much appreciated.” The phone crackled with cabin noises confirming Abby was back in the air. Having secure locations to refuel was a tremendous help, but the team still had a long way to go to reach Idaho. “Did everyone make it safely to the new compound?”

Thanks to God, almost all of Strike Force were in the new headquarters except for Abby’s team. “They did. We just need you all here. What can we do to help?”

Abby was a confident pilot who had flown under some pretty hairy conditions, but the threat against the team had never been greater.

“Pray. We could use all the prayers we can get.”

“You got it,” Victor affirmed.

“We had some time while we were waiting for the fighter jets to clear the air space in Pennsylvania and watched the videos James posted on the website. I still can’t believe what happened in Israel. I sure hope people listen to what’s being posted there and not to what Kirkpatrick is spouting.”

The supernatural event had taken the entire Strike Force team by surprise. While Cole and Eva were on a rescue mission to bring home their daughter, the skies above Israel had been filled with enemy fighters, intent on annihilating Israel. But God had intervened with lightning strikes that took out the enemy while the team’s helicopter remained untouched. But Kirkpatrick had managed to keep the entire event secret from the world.

“Exactly. We need you all here because the world appears to be on a collision course with eternity, and I wouldn’t put anything past Kirkpatrick. Be safe, Abby.”

“Copy that. We’ll see you soon.” The call ended. Victor lifted up a prayer for their comrades’ safety before he addressed the team gathered there. “I know everyone is anxious to talk about what happened in Israel, and I’ve asked Ben to help field questions concerning that; still we have a more pressing matter at the moment. Martin Collins.” Earlier, Doctor Oviok had cleared Collins to answer questions and there were many that Victor wanted answered. If Collins agreed to tell the truth and not string them along.

“Ben, you and Cole come with me.” Victor motioned toward the two people who had been at the forefront of Legion’s attacks almost from the beginning. “Kaid and Sidney, I want you there as well. Those of you who went through the attacks over Israel, I’d like you to write down your thoughts while they’re clear in your heads. This was a historic event that we need to be clear on when we post our thoughts on the website. In the meantime, James, can you and your team work through the red tape on the property here to make sure there isn’t a way Kirkpatrick’s team can tie it to us?”

“We’re on it already.” James assured him. “The good news is the former owner had already started the process of getting power up here. We just have to make sure there’s no way it can be tied to us before we set it up.”

“That would be a godsend. We’ll burn through a lot of fuel using the generators, but it’s the middle of winter and we don’t have a choice. We need another heat source, but I’m afraid if we use the woodstoves, we might draw unnecessary attention to ourselves.” With so many people and more on the way, keeping the camp secure was Victor’s top priority.

With the people who had been at his side since the beginning of the fight against Legion, they left the war room and started toward the medical ward.

Doctor Oviok and his medical staff were still organizing the hospital. The doctor glanced up as they approached. “He’s in here.” There was no doubt why they were there. Finding out what Collins knew was critical at this stage.

The doctor pointed to the room where Deacon and Tegan stood watch outside the door along with Samson.

“Thanks, guys.” Victor shook hands with the men who had faithfully guarded the man the team had once believed was the true leader of Legion. That theory had been blown to smithereens by a simple call from Eva to Cole revealing the truth.

Victor turned the knob and stepped inside a room that was as stark as most the rooms in the lodge. Collins was propped against several pillows, both hands secured to the bed.

The man lying in the bed had caused much heartache to so many people including his sister and his own child. Lizzy Grayson had no idea her father was responsible for ending her mother’s life and almost destroying hers.

Collins had been a legend at the CIA when he’d faked his death and forced the men under his command to do the same. He’d gone underground in Afghanistan, and until recently, Strike Force believed that’s when Legion had originated.

Collins scanned the faces of the people standing before him. The only emotion showing was a hint of surprise when his gaze landed on Victor. “I told your people I’m not saying anything until the death penalty is off the table and I’ve spoken to my sister and daughter.”

Victor pulled up a chair beside the bed. Collins was going to make the discussion adversarial from the start. “I’ve heard your demands. What I haven’t heard is why I should give you any consideration when you’ve provided us with nothing useful so far.”

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