Page 29 of A Gathering Storm

The dig was Walton’s way of letting him know that Daniel wasn’t the only one with direct contact to the master.

“Then you know the future direction.” Daniel’s cell phone rang. He recognized the number of General Jackson. The man wouldn’t be calling unless there was word. “Yes,” he answered.

“We have the general area of their camp. We’re closing in on an exact location.”

“I’m on my way to you now.” Daniel ended the call without waiting for a response and moved to the door. He opened it and faced Walton again. “Set the conference up for the afternoon.” By then, Strike Force should be nothing but history. He stepped out into the hall where the guard stood at attention. Closing the door, he swiftly descended the stairs.

Daniel was in the best shape of his life, his body humming with energy. He was tall and good-looking, and he dressed in the finest suits. Unlike Walton’s grandfather appeal, Daniel presented an image of a true leader. He’d worked hard to reach this goal because he knew it would be important to continue with his mission.

He noticed many approving glances from the women in the crowd at the press conferences he’d attended as well as here at the castle, and while he enjoyed their attention, he had a purpose to fulfill, and he intended on doing it with precision.

Daniel opened the door to the room where his team worked on sniffing out the enemy. President Lancaster had slipped out of his control but only for the moment. People were combing every square inch of the country for him. With that much attention, Lancaster wouldn’t stay hidden for long. “Well, where are they?”

The room that had been abuzz with activity now stopped. The general appeared to steel himself as Daniel approached.

“We believe they are somewhere in central Idaho.”

Daniel’s frustration exploded. “Somewhere? I gave you a mandate. Somewhere doesn’t end the problem they’re causing. How long before you have their exact location?”

The general visibly flinched. “Soon.” The word was unsteady.

“Soon? I need a time frame, not soon.”

General Jackson peered around at his team of people who were listening to the conversation with fearful expressions on their faces.

“We should be able to pinpoint the location within the hour.”

The incompetence of this man was infuriating. “Have the cruise missiles with the W80 warheads moved into position and ready on my command. I want them obliterated. Now.”

“Sir, there are innocent men and women who will be killed in the process if we do this.” The general stopped speaking when Daniel whirled toward him once more.

“Make it happen. I want confirmation it’s done within the hour.” He left the general to his stunned silence and returned to his suite. If the man failed to carry out this order, he’d be as dead as the members of Strike Force soon enough.

Chapter Ten

Angry clouds boiled up in the sky above like nothing Cole had seen before. The snow had stopped shortly after daybreak. The sunshine had made for a pleasant day. But as they gathered members of Strike Force to begin the mass exodus up the mountain, the weather appeared to be foretelling something alarming on the way as if the sky was witness to its approach. Huge gray clouds the size of aircraft carriers exploded in the skies above, rolling across the horizon.

Dozens of people were being evacuated into the mine that Cole and his team had uncovered. Though the conditions were not ideal, there was a source of water that would provide for the team until they could come up with another plan.

As he and the search team returned to the camp, a pressing need to hurry wouldn’t let up. There was a limited supply of horses to carry the older members along with supplies.

Cole and Eva walked with Sadie between them along with Samson who had rarely left his daughter’s side. It was almost as if the animal sensed she needed his comforting presence, and he was determined to give it.

Keeping Sadie focused and moving forward was a task in itself. He smiled despite the fear inside him that was matching the growing turmoil above.

“Look, daddy, a deer.” Cole was surprised to see a small doe tucked into some trees watching the crowds of people passing through her homeland.

“I see her, honey. She’s a beauty.” He loved the innocence children possessed. Never hating, always trusting.

“Can I pet her?” Sadie turned her little face up to his.

“No, honey, I’m sorry, you can’t.” Cole did his best to tell his child about the balance between the animals in the wild and those domesticated.

“How much further to the mines?” Sadie asked. Cole was grateful for his daughter’s innocent questions because it took his mind off the urgency surrounding them.

“Not far.” He lifted the child into his arms and pointed to the spot where the mine waited for them. Cole prayed that the massive stone walls of the mountain would protect them from what he believed was coming. “See that dark spot up on the mountain?”

“I see it,” she said and faced him, her eyes twinkling.

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