Page 40 of Firestorm

And it would be his pleasure to make an example of Simmons, should his “idea” fail.

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Emily Pearson came into the room. “I just received a text from Aiden. Pamphili has issued the order to raid the compound in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He said he believes they will be doing simulation raids of all our former compounds.”

James stopped what he was doing and went over to her. “That will give us some reprieve.” Still as soon as the compounds were cleared, Pamphili would continue his search. “But he’ll keep coming.” James was certain they’d done everything possible to keep their location safe, but if he could find a way to create a plausible diversion to keep Pamphili chasing his own tail, they would have the opportunity to establish the rest of their safe houses. It was a reprieve of sorts, but for the rest of their time here on earth, they would live in fear of being discovered. James shared his thoughts with Emily.

“It could work if we leave enough clues to lead Pamphili to a certain location and then somehow manufacture evidence that we’d left in a hurry. It won’t be easy.”

“No, but it might buy us time to set up our network so we can communicate among the different safe houses.” He’d been concerned about so much work to be done with them having to look over their shoulders constantly.

“What do you want me to tell him?” Emily asked.

James checked the time. “Let me gather my team. If we can manufacture a possible hiding place to send Pamphili’s men to, then we can give the location to Aiden. Have him find a way to leak it to Pamphili without it coming back to Aiden. I don’t want to put him in anymore danger.”

James glanced back at the team of people working hard to set up safe houses for those desperate to escape Pamphili’s threat. Sarah was typing on the computer. Every time he gazed at her, he thought about the future he wanted. He believed she felt the same way. But the world had changed drastically, and they now faced something that had never been experienced in human history. The beginning of the end.

He stepped out of the building along with Emily. “Have you been able to reach Janine yet?”

Emily nodded. “I have. I spoke to her briefly. She’s concerned for her husband. Janine told me Aiden had explained we’d be in touch and that we were going to try and move her to a safe house.”

James sensed a but coming. “Doesn’t she want to come?”

Emily’s brow strung together. “No, she’s fine with coming, but I get the sense that she isn’t a believer.”

James was surprised. “Really? Aiden is.”

“Yes. I was able to speak to Janine in depth. She told me Aiden had recently become a believer through our website. He’d been listening to our testimonies and started reading the Bible. But she’s not there yet. Janine believes Pamphili is a dangerous man, but she’s not convinced about God yet.”

James shook his head. “I just hope she doesn’t wait too long. As soon as we have a safe place to send her to, we’ll move her from D.C. With Pamphili leading an attack on the Blue Ridge compound, they’ll focus a lot of their spotlight on that area. Anything out of the ordinary will call attention.”

James held the door open for Emily who slipped inside the computer building. All of his team was there working. Most grabbed snatches of sleep whenever they could.

Once the team gathered, James explained what Emily had heard from Aiden and what he would like to do to set up a fake hideout to fool Pamphili. “Of course, we don’t want anyplace close to our current location. In fact, if we could come up with a site as far away from here as possible, that would be ideal.”

“How about the Northwoods of Maine?” Garrett quickly pulled up a map of the state and zeroed in on a remote location in the wilderness. “There’s a former trapping camp that might work.” He enlarged a location near the Canadian border. “There don’t appear to be any close neighbors.”

James leaned in close to the screen. “That might work. Now, how do we set it up to look like there have been a lot of people there recently?”

All stared at the screen.

“We have a contact close to there.” Jordyn pulled up a name on the computer. “I’ll give him a call and see if he can help us out.”

James nodded. “Good. Start on that. If you need help, let me know.”

Jordyn nodded and punched numbers into her phone.

James faced Emily. “Text Aiden. Tell him what we’re working on. When he can talk again, I’d like to have everyone together for that discussion.” James stepped out into the new day dawning. So much was happening he felt the need to assure them that they were safe here.

He started for the woods to check on the perimeter cameras when Sarah stepped from the building where she’d been working.

He went over to where she stood. “You okay?” he asked because she appeared troubled.

Sarah forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just needed some air, I guess.” But there was more to it than that.

“Come with me. I want to check the cameras around the place.”

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