Page 36 of Firestorm

Pamphili straightened. “You have your orders. Find them.” The leader of the free world stormed from the room.

“You heard the man,” Simon Canton, the new director of the CIA and the man under Pamphili for the world police force, was all too happy to assert his authority.

Canton came on the scene of the CIA quickly, replacing former Director Larsen under very mysterious circumstances.

Aiden checked the clock. The call with members of Strike Force was supposed to be happening now. He couldn’t step away after Pamphili’s demands. Aiden pulled the phone from his pocket and made sure it was still on vibrate before he typed a quick message letting them know what was happening.

I will call once I can take a break. A lot to discuss.

Aiden glanced at Simon and then around the room. Members were breaking into teams.

Carl approached. Aiden stuck the phone in his pocket.

“I’ve got a hunch,” Carl told him. Aiden’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He glanced up. “You need to get that?” Carl eyed his pocket.

Aiden shook his head. “No, it’s just my wife. I’ll call her later.”

Carl smacked Aiden’s shoulder with a grin on his face. “My man. Now, you’re getting it.”

Aiden forced a smile. “Yeah, this is important work. What’s your idea?”

Carl enthusiastically pulled up a chair. “Our people lost them over the air in Wyoming, but what if that was a ruse?”

Aiden held his gaze. “A ruse?”

“Yeah. In the past they’ve been known to hide out in abandoned camps or ranches and such. They’ll know we’d expect that now. We need to take a different approach.” The gleam in Carl’s eyes confirmed he believed he had the answer.

“What are you thinking?” Aiden asked while wishing he could look at his phone.

“I did some research.” Carl lowered his voice. “When Lancaster took over as president, he met the members of Strike Force outside of a compound built into a mountain. It would make the perfect place to hide out.”

“You think they went back there?” Aiden asked. Nothing about the theory added up. ”Wouldn’t that be risky?”

Carl’s expression hardened. “Maybe, but think about it—it’s the last place we would think to look. We should have our people check it out. I don’t want anyone else claiming the glory for our win.”

Aiden decided to play along. “That’s a good idea. Who do we trust not to betray us?”

“Not our boss, that’s for sure,” Carl scoffed. “Did you see that guy’s face when Pamphili chose us over him? Let me call some of our colleagues.” Carl rose and pulled out his phone.

“Sure thing. In the meantime, I’m going to have some people check the other places where they were known to have stayed.” Aiden stood and started for the door.

“Where are you going?” Carl asked.

Aiden peered around before he stepped close enough for only Carl to hear. “There are too many ears in here. I’m going someplace private to have the conversation. I’d suggest you do the same.”

Carl slowly nodded. “Smart thinking.” He kept his voice low. “I’ll wait for to you return. We don’t want to draw undue attention.”

Aiden gave him his best conspiratorial look and slipped out the back door to keep from being questioned by Simon. Aiden’s pulse hammered against his ears as he slipped out of the room. The marble floors in the hall echoed each step loud enough to overpower his heartbeat. He held his breath as he kept the door to the castle in sight while half expecting Pamphili to appear before him and demand to know where he was going.

Several armed guards watched the entrance. Aiden nodded at them as he passed by and stepped out into the night. He kept walking until he reached the place where it was safe to talk, and then he called the number for Strike Force.

“Glad you can talk, Aiden,” a male voice informed him.

“Thanks. Listen, I don’t know where you all are hiding, and I don’t need to, but if you’re at the compounds near the Blue Ridge Mountains, or any of your other former hideouts, you need to vacate them quickly.” He did his best to explain about Pamphili’s directive. “You probably know I work for the NSA. I’m here at Pamphili’s request along with another agent by the name of Carl Simmons.”

“We’re not at any of them,” the man told him. He could understand his reluctance to give information. At this point, Aiden could be a spy trying to ferret out their location for Pamphili.

“Look, I know you don’t trust me, but Pamphili has made it the directive of all the intelligence agencies around the world to find you all. He’s coming after you full force.” Aiden told them about the meetings he’d sat in on and the sense of pure evil emanating from Pamphili. “I believe he’s the one referred to in the Bible as the antichrist, and he has everyone under some type of spell. It’s frightening.”

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